Conkers in Gravy

You'd think so, wouldn't you? But the fact is the Premier League (while being a pretty good product in itself) hasn't done nearly enough to bring on new British talent. There are far too many third-rate foreigners earning easy money in the league and British riders seem to reach a certain level and sink into a comfort zone. Sure, Woffinden came through the PL, but where are the other British riders (Bomber excepted) capable of challenging for a GP place? Progress for British riders is painfully slow compared to the Scandinavian countries, Kyle Howarth, Ashley Birks and others are good lads, but shouldn't they be regularly winning EL races by now? Don't get me wrong, I really like the PL, but in reality it's a stand-alone, semi-pro league that hasn't been about rider development for many years. Putting two and two together (and probably making five) I suspect the EL promoters are deliberately easing the PL to one side with the aim of using the NL as a direct source of home-grown and (hopefully) cheaper talent. Without knowing what the heat formula will be and exactly how riders will be allocated it's hard to predict how this will turn out, but if it does bring on young British riders and maybe reduce the need for guest reserves then I can't see the problem. And, of course, Terry Russell can now go to Sky and tell them an agreement has been reached which will keep Tai, Darcy, Chris, Niels and so on, in British racing, while the brightest British talent will be fast-tracked into the league - TV loves that kind of stuff.

I'm a bit worried by the inclusion of NL riders in EL meetings. While it's great to give young riders a chance at a higher level, do we really want to see NL lads up against GP riders. I hope there's some consideration being given to tweaking the heat formula to make sure races are more balanced.

It's possible that you may be in the newspaper's circulation area, but the track isn't - local papers can be very parochial. Coverage of speedway and many other minority sports in local papers usually depends on having an enthusiast on the staff. Otherwise papers are dependent on freelance writers and that costs money which editors on very tight budgets are reluctant to spend. Get in touch with the sports editor and ask - politely - if the paper has any plans to cover the sport.

That's just not true. County championship games on midweek afternoons may be watched by only a handful, but the one-day game is thriving and Test matches in England sell out despite high ticket prices. There were 19 million ticket applications for Sachin Tendulkar's last Test this week. Cricket is a major international sport which Sky are prepared to pay millions for without being begged.

I think you're misunderstanding burrito's point. Football gates have been rising for 20 years. In the few seasons before Hillsborough and the Taylor Report, football crowds were in serious decline at the majority of clubs - the stats are out there on the web and in Rothmans/Sky Football Yearbooks. Almost all clubs moving to new stadia or making major improvements to existing grounds have reported an increase in crowds. Take Middlesbrough as an example. At Ayresome Park (one of the tattiest grounds in English football) they averaged 16,500 in the Premier League in 1993. Three years later at the Riverside, a similar quality side was attracting nearly 30,000. More recently Shrewsbury Town were watched by an average of 3,500 at the ramshackle old Gay Meadow. Last season at their smart New Meadow ground on the outskirts of town they averaged 5,700. As far as speedway is concerned, I'd be happy to stand in a field to watch a meeting on a properly prepared track and I suspect most of the few remaining fans feel the same. However, new "customers" are unlikely to be impressed by the facilities at some tracks. It's good to hear that improvements are being made at Plymouth - I went in 2012 and the toilets were like something out of Trainspotting.

I quite like the play-offs, except for the fact that there's no real advantage in finishing top (I feel the same about football's promotion/relegation play-offs). Rugby League has a convoluted play-off system, but it does at least mean that the higher a team finishes, the better their "draw" in the play-offs. I don't understand why a team that finishes third or fourth should start on a level playing field with a team that finishes first or second.

There's some really interesting ideas here which I would hope that open-minded speedway promoters would at least explore. Doesn't help me much as I live in Orkney and our broadband speeds are dismal, but, with a lot of TV now moving towards internet broadcast, it would seem to be a possibility and maybe even the way to start a small, affordable 'in-house' production company to provide pictures to existing TV channels in the future. -- I notice Terry Russell is due for a meeting with Sky next week.

Nigel is an old friend and former colleague, so I can hardly be impartial. However, I know few people in sports journalism who work as hard as he has for the last 20-plus years, much of that time spent covering and promoting speedway, while his involvement in the Heathens project underlines his commitment to the sport. His commentating may not suit everyone, but it reflects his passion for speedway and the style his employers want - for my money he does a very good job. As far as his attitude towards social media, he has never been one to suffer fools and the dogs' abuse he gets on Twitter in particular is totally uncalled for - more power to him for fighting back. If you don't like his style, it's fair to say so, but many of the comments here and elsewhere cross a line. As Mr Sensible so sensibly says: cut him some slack.

I understand your opinion that we mustn't get too bogged down in the sport's past and need to look to the future, but I think it is important to find out why people have stopped going. Equally, it would be good to find out why Sky are going to drop the sport (as seems likely). Is it just cost-cutting or is it the poor standard of the meetings over the last couple of seasons or the ramshackle stadia with sparse crowds or the haphazard, confused fixture list? If Phil Rising is correct it seems Sky will just let the contract run out and walk away without a word. It would be useful to know why this has happened.

Usually it's not the writer/reporter who would be locked up, it is the editor or, in this case, the moderators who take the ultimate responsibility for anything published. Still, if that makes you feel big and clever. . .

Some posters seem to be struggling to grasp something that's fairly simple. Gustix and Arthur Cross are dead right. You may want to debate or comment on the case on the forum, but the fact is that you cannot - it's illegal. Even the mildest form of comment on someone's past or their character is considered potentially prejudicial. Forums and any other websites in the public domain are subject to exactly the same the rules as newspapers, magazines and the broadcast media. The penalties for breaking these laws are heavy, large fines are the norm, but there is an option of a custodial sentence. You may think it's all a bit of 'banter', but the law takes a very different view. Do everyone a favour and leave it alone until the case is over.

As Gustix said, any comment or discussion on this would be seen as prejudicial and even as contempt of court, something the law really doesn't like. Do yourselves and the forum a favour and leave well alone until it's all over.

In fairness, the BBC have given Tai more national coverage than any speedway rider for years - it doesn't hurt to get in touch and let them know there's an audience for speedway coverage. As far as Hawksbee is concerned, his style has always been immature, going right back to when he was writing for kids' football mags. E-mail or tweet Talksport to express disappointment, but keep it clean and polite.

I can't quite work out your constant negativity - you're not a member of the BSPA are you?

Most Sunday papers have crazily early deadlines for anything other than major stories these days so no surprise speedway didn't get a look-in. The fact remains the sport has had more national coverage since I can't remember when. If you read or heard something you liked, let that media outlet know. Positive feedback is always welcome.

I was a bit shocked too, but credit where it's due. Maybe a lot of positive, polite messages from us supporters thanking BBC for their coverage will see more of the same in the future. Looking forward to seeing Tai next week (assuming he gets the six points).

A great idea, but speedway would have to prove it has the potential to include far more youngsters than it does now. Far from being a "posh snobs" sport, tennis is pretty easy to get into for anyone - all you need is a racket and a couple of balls, municipal courts are inexpensive (free in some towns) and even club membership is generally cheap for children and a fraction of the cost of getting involved in speedway. For any funding application to work speedway must convince Sport England that it's not just a sport for boys with rich mummies and daddies. Good luck with that one

I remember Leicester causing outrage in the mid 70s when they turned up for a British League match with only one of their own riders (Doug Underwood, I think), so this is nothing new, but it does seem to be getting out of hand. Watching EL matches on TV this season would be a bit embarrassing if it wasn't for the fact I watch them on my own. The number of riders who are not only guesting, but doubling up, doubling down, doubling sideways has made a mockery of teams. We may as well have a list of available riders and stage a weekly auction for the promoters. Guests will always be a part of speedway - at least until a genuine squad system is introduced - but what is depressing is the fact it now seems normal for EL teams to turn up with only four or five of their own riders. For example, the Eastbourne v Wolves match went ahead with only nine out of 14 team places filled will full-time riders from Eagles or Wolves (seven if you take out two double-downers in the Wolves side). And that was a very long way from being the worst example. Blazeaway is dead right that there are more fundamental problems facing the sport, but to regain credibility there has to be a tighter rein on guests and doubling up.

Is there an opportunity for genuine promotion and relegation with two leagues of similar standard?

It was interesting to hear Tatum, Louis and Pearson last night talking up the Premier League meetings and admitting the EL matches had been pretty dull so far this season (not the exact words, but the sentiment was clear). Maybe we're being softened up for PL-only (or combined league) racing on Sky next season. On this season's evidence it's hard to argue that wouldn't be a good thing.

The Inside Track feature is improving each week and is a welcome filler, giving the impression something's going on between heats. It also makes a change from repetitive interviews of dubious quality.

I know I shouldn't bite, but - as a former speedway journalist - define "credible".

Last Wednesday's Press release on the Belle Vue website says the centre will be used as an RL pitch for St Peter's High School and "the wider community". Maybe that's changed now, but as a schools pitch can be smaller than the official senior RFL measurements it strikes me as good use of the space. It's good to see speedway for once being a senior partner in a multi-sports facility.

As far as I can gather from all the information on line, it will be student/schools rugby league played at the stadium. It seems basketball will be the main other sport in the complex.

Shortage of competitors is the obvious problem, but maybe it's worth asking what speedway does to encourage the involvement of 50 per cent of the country's population - apart from start-line girls that is. Football and rugby have enjoyed a massive increase in popularity among women in recent years, partly thanks to girls being encouraged to play the sports up to a high standard.