Conkers in Gravy

Premier League football is a perfect example of the same thing. People are prepared to pay up to £60 for a ticket if it's something they really want to see. People on this forum talk about presentation, music, interviews and so on, but the bottom line is that the sport itself has to stand on its own two feet as an event. It doesn't matter how cheap the tickets are one week, what music you play, how many sweets you give the kids, how many furry mascots are dancing on the centre green, how many chubby 16-year-old girls are on the start line or how much inane babble comes from the bloke with the mic - if the racing isn't any good or if there isn't enough of it people are not going to part with enough cash to make the whole exercise worthwhile.

Massively disappointing. The promotion has a lot of questions to answer. They have admitted they knew they were in trouble last year, but went ahead with building a PL squad and selling season tickets anyway.

That's the arms of the Duke of Marlborough who put down the rebellion, although at the time he was just John Churchill. He gained his dukedom ironically for his part in deposing James a couple of years later.

Putting the politics to one side, maybe Somerset would change their logo to something more relevant to a team in the south west of England. Using the Confederate battle flag is pretty naff and actually quite lazy. Why not use the coat of arms of the Duke of Monmouth who led an army of Somerset rebels in an attempt to overthrow King James II in 1685? This is a simplified version of the coat of arms -it sort of puts me in mind of an old Canterbury race jacket. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=duke+of+monmouth+arms&client=tablet-android-samsung&biw=1280&bih=800&prmd=ismvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVt9W1187KAhWL7RQKHTdhB44Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=RZTDnAiPQGDP5M%3A The uprising ended in defeat at Sedgemoor, which may put folk off, but the American Civil War didn't exactly end well for the Confederacy either.

I'm not sure if the suggestion of a share with Wolves was a serious one or not, but it's a non-starter anyway with Ladbrokes firm that they want only one speedway night a week, so unless either Wolves or Cradley move on there'so chance. Besides which, who in their right mind would want to tangle with the motorways around Birmingham to get to home matches?

I wonder if all the people who insist Woffinden "feels Australian" have ever bothered to ask him. The only one on here I'm certain will have spoken to him is Phil Rising and he has said a couple of times that Tai has said he is happy to be British and proud to represent Britain.

Gareth Bale doesn't play for a Welsh club, but who has done more for the success of Welsh football recently? I don't think anyone in Wales is having a pop at him because he doesn't turn out for Newport County - most Welsh folk I know think it's fantastic one of their own is a galactico. We often say "only in speedway" and it must be "only in speedway" that we produce an exciting double world champion and a minority start whining about it - with fans like that who needs enemies? There's a very good reason Woffinden doesn't ride in Britain, the Elite League is a badly-organised shambles. Why should he flog himself to death flying in and out of Stansted, having to find the capital or sponsorship for another set of machinery, maybe pay another mechanic, van, workshop for a league that can't organise a coherent fixture list. I know Iversen and some others do it, but many others don't and frankly I don't blame them.

I never thought I'd see being born in a country (the prime qualification for international sport) being described as a technicality. Which part of "born in Scunthorpe" is so hard to understand? It doesn't matter whether he bares his backside during the anthem - he's British and entitled to race for Great Britain if he wants to. There's the persistent suggestion from a minority on here that he is "using" British speedway for his own ends. So what? He's entitled to as he qualifies to come through our system because he was BORN IN SCUNTHORPE. Even if he is "using" the system, the deal is a good one. He gains a career in the sport and we get a double world champion in return. I'll settle for that.

I'm not too bothered which of the tac sub and double points rules are the more or less fair statistically. I prefer the old rule which gave the impression that the team manager was doing his job, organising his resources. It was similar to a cricket captain changing the bowler or the batting order, or a football manager sending on a sub. It was part of a familiar sporting culture. The only thing you can compare the double points rule with is It's a Knockout. Double points wouldn't put me off going to speedway, I just think it's Mickey Mouse. I think it's fair to say DU has got out of hand, but you're never going to crack that nut until there's an acceptance that speedway is a sport which can support full-time riders only at the highest levels. Riders and promoters need to look at the terraces and have a reality check. Costs also have to be driven down to allow young riders easier access to the sport and to make it affordable for them to stay in the sport. I don't expect to see any of that happen soon.

If you're curious as to why many people in the USA find the Confederate flag offensive, then watch this footage of the Ku Klux Klan confronting black activisits. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2015/jul/19/ku-klux-klan-black-activist-group-south-carolina-video Whether the flag is offensive in Britain is arguable, given that it played little part in our history, so there's no real reason why Somerset shouldn't use the symbol other than it has absolutely nothing to do with Somerset. It's not like the speedway team is using it to suppress black people in Bridgwater. Having said that, there's a difference between giving offence and promoting the supremacy of one group over another because of skin colour. A bit of self-awareness never hurt anyone and the original question is one that's worth asking, given that the flag has become a symbol of some seriously bad people and their racist views. There's no reason why they shouldn't use the flag, but there may be a reason why they wouldn't want to.

Has anyone thought to ask Somerset Speedway what they're rebelling against?

I disagree. Slavery was the prime issue separating the northern states from the south from the early 1850s. There were other issues for sure, but slavery and the right to maintain state laws governing slavery were the prime causes of the war. I notice you earlier said Antietam was a Union victory which is highly contentious. The north had the better of the fighting, but failed to press home their advantage largely through poor generalship. The flag has undoubtedly become a racist symbol in the USA, but has less relevance here although I'd prefer it wasn't used. I always assumed Somerset were the Rebels because of the unhappy Duke of Monmouth rebellion against James II/VII which ended at Sedgemoor nearby. Perhaps a better logo would be a hangman's noose or a prison ship leaving Bristol for the colonies. You kind of said it yourself "slavery was behind the issue". I would argue "no slavery, no war". You probably disagree!

I remember that. Sam had a bike specially prepared, possibly in an attempt to persuade Morris not to retire. It wasn't an isolated incident and proves that a rider with a reasonable amount of experience (Morris had a lot of laps under his belt by then) will always do better on good equipment. Just common sense isn't it?

It's astonishing that, when the forum is full of posters screaming for imagination and action to save the sport, some can only criticise a promotion who show imagination and take action in an effort to improve the sport. Really, really amazing. You would think they would be, wouldn't you? However, the stunning lack of genuine progress in finding a new home since Dudley Wood closed its doors 19 years ago tells the true story. Speedway is an inconvenience and it seems even neighbouring Sandwell Council were more helpful in trying to find a site than Dudley Council. This ignores the fact that Heathens in a home of their own would possibly be the most watched speedway team in the country and easily the most popular sporting attraction in Dudley borough.

The schedule is unsustainable if you want to retain a reasonable class of professional league. It's not just GP riders who jet in and out of Britain each week. If you deny riders the chance to earn a reasonable living, the best you can hope for is they'll go part time and we'll end up with league racing that's on a par with Germany or the Czech Republic. It will also effect the number of British riders coming through the system. It's no coincidence that as the EL has been watered down, so British performances have suffered (Woffinden excepted).

Tai's come in for a bit of stick on here, but surely he's just stating the obvious. Most riders I've met love the sport and would race every night given the chance, but the British schedule is unsustainable and has harmed the sport at the top level in this country, driving down the standard of the top league. No motorsport I know of has the world's top competitors appearing in Britain 30-plus times a year - correct me if I'm wrong - so why should speedway be any different? We'd be doing well if we could see Woffinden, Iversen, Ward and so on 12 or 14 times a year. One night a week will only happen with fundamental changes to the league and even then it may not be possible because of track restrictions. The bottom line is that, if you want to watch the top riders in action you're going to have to accept a league of eight or even six ( I know Sky want eight, but how many tracks can you name that will be in business and be able to compete at the top level in three or four years?) riding each other once home and away. Having failed to establish a regular race night years ago, Britain has missed the boat and the sport is in such a fix they may even have to consider a four-team tournament style league like Denmark once had if they are to carry on featuring the top riders or to attract more of them. It's tempting to tell the few top riders (and how many are really left - six? seven?) to leave and let us get on with a beefed-up Premier League, but what would the future of the Premier League be without the EL? Add Poole, Wolves, Lynn, Belle Vue and Lakeside to the league (with Cradley moving up) and you have at six tracks capable of outspending every current PL track. Also, with no Elite League, many PL riders would not have their vital second income stream and could go part-time, go/stay abroad or retire. Whichever way, the standard of the sport in Britain will drop. PL fans are massively complacent if they think this problem has nothing to do with them. A good point spoiled by a bad example. Adam Skornicki is one of the best value foreign riders of the last 20 years. A cult hero at Monmore, he's popular just about everywhere he's raced and has been a great servant of British speedway.

All those incidents should be for the referee to judge - as in any serious sport. I know I picked out Nicki, but this should apply to all riders -and the examples you gave are good ones. Speedway is too dangerous not to have a proper disciplinary procedure that is clear to competitors, officials and the public. I don't want to see riders banned as a matter of routine, but public warnings, yellow cards and the threat of exclusions or bans as a last resort would add to rider safety and provide extra talking points. Can't see the problem.

There's a big difference between reckless and daring. I'd happily watch daring racers all day long, but I don't want to see riders who are careless of others' safety. The fact that the three most recent world champions condemned Pedersen via the GP website shows how seriously riders view the subject. Pedersen at his best is great entertainment and he's an engaging personality off-track, but there have to be consequences for riders who put others at risk on the track. Referees need to issue warnings, fines, exclusions and, in the worst cases, bans. Red and yellow cards and maybe a sin bin would add spice to a meeting and perhaps make riders think a little harder.

Announcement on Speedway GP Facebook page: British fans can watch Tai Woffinden defend his World Championship lead in the Swedish FIM #Speedway Grand Prix live and uninterrupted from Malilla this Saturday via Freeview (38), Sky (167) and Virgin (172) channel Quest. More details: http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/3389/swedish-sgp-on-quest Eurosport are showing the meeting at 8.30 on Sunday morning.

Most sports in Ireland are governed by cross-border bodies, notably rugby, boxing and gaelic games. In theory we could still see a "Team GB", including Scots at the next Olympics even if we do vote for independence. Speedway shouldn't encounter any problems. I don't want to get involved in a discussion on politics (God knows there are enough places elsewhere for that), but the border was officially set in 1237 (two years before the birth of Edward I), having been in de facto existence for more than 100 years. The border was AGREED, not granted, at the Treaty of York by Alexander of Scotland and Henry III of England. It's one of the oldest borders in the world. It's true that Northumbria ran all the way north to Edinburgh and that the Welsh-speaking kingdom of Strathclyde/Cumbria at one time stretched from the Mersey to the Clyde, making Comets fans Welsh (kind of). However those kingdoms were swallowed up by the emergence of England and Scotland as nations. If you were to reinstate old borders (not that strict borders ever existed then) you'd have to revive Mercia, Wessex, Kent and East Anglia. Not a bad idea some might say. Berwick didn't become permanently part of England until 1482.

Best track. Lynn and Peterborough are both great tracks, Mildenhall was good in the 70s when I used to go there, but (and I admit to Midlands bias) a night at Cradley was hard to beat and Monmore has a well-prepared racestrip and entertaining action more often than not. Worst track Stoke isn't so hot these days, Coventry is better than it was in the old days, but still doesn't float my boat, Poole seem to have some issues with preparation, but Plymouth is the one I can't like. I don't mind small tracks at all, but there's a limit. The races just don't seem to get going. Maybe that's just me. Best food Fish and chips from the van at Mildenhall in the 70s, pork sandwiches at Cradley Heath. Worst food Pretty much all the others (never been to Berwick). Best facilities etc. Does Cardiff count? Otherwise Peterborough is a nice open stadium with plenty of choice for viewing. Worst facilities etc Kirky Lane always seems a bit of a soulless dump (roll on the new stadium), Stoke has always been terrible and never mind Swindon, the toilets at Plymouth were terrifying.

It's pretty simple. The track where a rider is the asset gets priority. Tracks who are missing riders for important matches might want to think about investing in their squad for future seasons.

Regardless of past history or the rights and wrongs of the racing incident, to kick an injured man when he's down is wrong and no serious sport would tolerate it..

Sky's renewal was in doubt right to the end of the season. In mid-summer I was told it would be a "bloody miracle" if Sky renewed, such was their disillusion with the sport's promoters. What changed was the loss of some key sports events and the prospect of getting speedway for next to nothing.

Music, cheerleaders, fly-pasts by the Red Arrows. . . they're all a matter of individual taste and depend on the budget available to each promotion. What would really improve the presentation of a speedway meeting is more speedway, more often. The pits at a meeting is a pretty busy place so promoters, officials and riders have little idea of how boring it gets on the terraces waiting for the next race to roll round. (And I know promoters should get out among the fans more, but they rarely do). They need to be told, politely and often, until the penny drops. Drop an e-mail to your promoter, tweet your favourite riders. There's no excuse for providing just 15 races in two hours, promoters and riders have to realise the sport is on it's backside and they have to provide more entertainment. Music (of any kind), a bloke from hospital radio asking stupid questions and a group of 14-year-old startline girls are no substitute for racing. Most tracks can rattle through a meeting in quick time when rain is threatening, so I'd be in favour of a four-minute warning to be sounded by the referee as soon as the riders are off the track from the previous heat which would move the meeting along a bit. I'd also like to see an independent body set up to monitor the way meetings are conducted and to check on the condition of tracks, but that's just my silly fantasy.