SteveLyric2

Lakeside looking to return to top flight next season according to Jon Cook interview in SS this week. He has asked to attend the pre- AGM (as an observer) to get the final league structure, fixed nights and points limits before discussing first with his Arena Essex Raceway landlords and then the BSPA.

It might carry more weight if you use the correct averages?! And we haven't even got the final figures yet, let alone the team-building points limit!!

'Independent'?? SCB? You must be joking!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

If the promo/rele meetings do happen I hope the respective promotions give themselves a stern talking to!! I can see Damian Bates huddled in a pit corner somewhere mumbling hysterically to himself!! :-) :-)

Personally I don't have any issues with Agent THJ guesting - if he does?! Even at reserve it'll depend on what machinery he's on. Even on his own bikes he's not exactly been racking up the points anywhere!! ;-)

Whilst accepting that most on here are rightly giving their opinion from a fans point of view, what about the sponsor's view? There are several - perhaps many more - that want to see the top (SGP) riders back because it adds value to their commercial brand. More importantly they would be prepared to fund them if fixed nights are agreed especially if TV are still involved. TV would also be keener to see some of the bigger names racing here.

Who are these 'handful of teams' in the upper league??? A 10-12 team 'upper league' is being talked about.

I'd have thought that if Swindon are paying for THJ to fly in from Sweden for Friday's meeting, they would want to get there moneys worth and include him on Monday also.

I hate to burst that particular bubble but there is no Monday 3rd or Weds 5th October in this year's calendar!! If you're talking the promotion/relegation meetings they are currently scheduled for Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th/Thursday 12th!!

Great to see all the reasoned discussion about the topic once again!!!

As I suggested in#583

....and it works for the majority of meetings A ORLOV!!

...As indeed have Bike/engine manufacturers, tuners and riders increased their respective demands!!!

What was the cost to attend in 1999?

I'm sure I read somewhere a while back that the BSPA will recognise One Sport events (SEC and Pairs) if they announce their dates when the international list is being compiled and agreed and the dates don't subsequently clash with a SGBP fixture - the latter being more than possible if the BSPA approve fixed race nights next year. In general I would agree with the BSPA's previous stance on this - if you give in to one Promotions company's decision to stage a meaningless competition just for the money it brings in, whats to stop any other Sports Promotion doing similar??

Posted Today, 09:57 AM I note in the press that 'QUEST' - sister channel from the Eurosport camp - is seeking to show more sports. They've shown speedway in the past. Not sure what platforms QUEST is available on?

I note in the press that 'QUEST' - sister channel from the Eurosport camp - is seeking to show more sports. They've shown speedway in the past. Not sure what platforms QUEST is available on? Oops sorry wrong thread.

Why not name who the prominent promoter is?! Its not as if the mag is likely to get an interview with him/her in the near future is it, if they think you're always putting speedway down?!

Why would the SGBC KO Cup fixture take precedence over the SGBP KO Cup Semi final?

So Swindon book THJ for the 2nd leg on 22nd - Good luck with that!!! I assume its for BWD who must know that despite 'ongoing assessment' he won't be fit by next Friday!?

Having someone like Gordon Pairman as a co-promoter (who also serves on the SCB and has lots of speedway experience at several clubs) is a real plus. Don't forget there are BSPA meetings every month or so throughout the season so its not all about the AGM. If I was in Matt's shoes I would question whether I would want to sit in a room listening to some of the same old 'stick in the mud' attitudes!!

Matt does have CO-promoters you know!!

Monday/Thursday Buster confirmed was being talked about!!! Until that's confirmed, the number of SGBP teams cannot be verified nor can the points limit. Hopefully the pre-AGM meeting will decide and it'll be leaked before the November dates!!? ;-)

I imagine the SCB official (referee) wasn't aware either!! Maybe the rule book was delayed in the post?!

If anyone's got this week's Speedway Star read the piece about Swedish speedway in the International section. I know British speedway has its issues but Elit Vetlanda - the league winners - and Piraterna have got serious financial problems requiring bale-outs from wherever including local councils. It is being suggested that their 'top' clubs will have to severely cut their outgoings if they are to run next year. Vetlanda's website reporting that they are cutting their rider budget substantially for next season if they are to run. (Lets not forget that this is at least the 2nd season that some riders in Sweden have not been paid everything they are owed!!) Logically this could well mean several of the 'top' riders looking elsewhere (SGBP?) for a team place, so the SGBP promoters could well find themselves with a lot more choice of riders, on the back of the Polish rumours that they will lessen their rider restrictions if the SGBP goes fixed racenights!! Obviously SGBP clubs will have to be able to afford it and there will be some clubs in a better position than others to do that!! :-) (I wonder if that's a topic of conversation for Greg Hancock at Glasgow last night?!) ;-)