Bostonian

Very impressive team on paper from Somerset. Year on year these guys manage to get a decent side together. Good set up, track and a management. That will always go in the rebels favour when signing riders!

So pleased to see the panthers have made it, massive well done to the promotion and everyone who chipped in! No speedway fans likes to see clubs in trouble, so let's hope that the fans will now turn out and support a good PL outfit.

2 great signings for the hammers, great to see AJ back in the elite league. God, I'm excited about these 2 and I'm not even a hammers fan!

Having thought about it all, I've got a slightly different view point from what I thought yesterday. I still disagree about the fact the way tier 1 riders were graded, but looking at the bigger picture I'm just pleased to see all the reserve berths taking by british riders, who are obviously improving and trying to make their way in the sport. The idea from the bspa is a good one, tweeked from last season to improve it, and I'm sure it will make for much more competitive races between these guys, against the second strings, and maybe even a blast against the heat leaders. Hats off to the bspa for finally trying something, because by god something needed to be done! These steps are all in place to improve the standard of british riders, and considering some of the success we had from it last year (i.e Worrall, Garrity etc) then it can only be a good thing. Now the dust has settled, and looking at it as a whole, each reserve pairing is a lot more solid this time and much more of a level playing field. I see that as a step forward!

I'm not one to believe all this about Matt Ford, Poole & the BSPA, but how is Newman being graded at 6 in tier 1? And then giving Poole 2nd pick in tier 2, when they clearly have the best FTD from last season already protected? I agree with a lot of other posters, it should of been graded on their EL averages (which they should of assessed last season) and not PL averages.

100% agree. All season people moaned that birks etc weren't in the draft, now they are and people moaning they now shouldn't be. Now there are 2 less teams plus adding riders in, will make the reserves position a lot more competitive and fair to all teams. I'm sure if the likes of Garrity etc are wanted in a top 5 then they can do so, if not they can be added to the draft. I just hope the race format changes to give these guys a more difficult challenge (such as facing the heat leaders) otherwise Worrall, Kerr etc won't continue to improve like last season. I think all in all I feel quiet positive towards these new rules etc. Improved points limit, guest rule for the play offs, doubling up rule, taking GPs into account more. Just hope race format is improved and be interesting to see draft list. Only disappointment is to see the league is still ending in October after last years weather problems. Regarding GP boys and the 7+ average rule, do you really think ALL the gp lads would come back anyway? You will get 3 or 4 at the most and thats not particular going to matter to the 7 point rule. Also seems it will stop the better financed teams i.e Poole, not going so top heavy and teams being more balanced against each other. Last point, the black and yellow helmet colour change isn't there to 'bring back the fans' it's just a small change but they have announced EVERYTHING they are changing for next season, so why would they not put it in the statement?

Valid post and I agree with most of that. Leicester is a great stadium but the track is unfortunately not of the same standard. I would think Coventry and Poole are the best for seated viewing areas. On Sheffield being the best stadium. I don't actually think many people say that, what riders and fans do say is that its one of the best race tracks in the country. Having been a few times last season, I can agree with that statement as well as there always seems to of been some exciting racing.

No Bridger for 2015, sounds like he won't be riding speedway at all. All his equipment on sale on his twitter also..

I think the fast track draft has been a success on the whole. A few teething problems are obviously needing to be sorted but on the whole I think the idea is great and some riders have really benefited from the system. Others are prehaps not up to scratch but with there being 2 less EL teams next year, plus adding in Birks, Auty, Roynon & Wright and there will be a good pool of young british riders for the draft and guys like Greaves, Halsey etc can be re-introduced in a few years. If teams such as Coventry want to promote Garrity into their top 5 then thats great, and it's what its all about. James Sargeant is a great example of the FTD working, seems to of really improved over the past few months, even beating the best draft rider IMO (Newman) on Monday night on his home track.

Hard to read through some of this thread in case I catch the 'negative' bug, god some people are hard to please! I really enjoyed last night. I thought the sky coverage was excellent, the racing was exciting with plenty of drama, both teams weren't prepared to give an inch and it made for a great ending to what has been a poor season for british speedway. I’m a massive fan of the play offs, it’s the exciting part of the season, it’s what gets stadiums full and like last night, it produces some great action and excitement! It’s certainly wets my appetite for next season already! Janowski, Newman & Pawlicki were exception for the Pirates and whatever you think of Poole, Matt Ford & Middlo, they know how to win titles and they know how to build teams year after year.

Thought Sheffield did well to only lose by 2 with the team full of guests again. Bellingo looked great, next season mr bates? Agree with 'tigerish' was a very end of season feel, could tell by the lower crowd also. Did anyone find out who the 'mystery rider' was? Didn't hear anything and didn't stay for the fireworks. And is it true Mr Screen won't be back next season? Be a great shame as I love the bloke and I'm sure he has helped out a lot of the riders this year with his experience and knowledge of the sport

Not sure on averages etc, but the sheffield promotion should be looking to keep Stead, Poole, Bates and Nico (depending on average). Lanham, wilson and compton are decent'ish riders but if they are to improve on this season they need to be looking at better. Certainly think the promotion will do well with team selection with a full winter behind them.

I got so wrapped in my first point I didn't even get chance to comment on the final itself. What a finish! Whether you agree or not with the joker, that's why it was brought in. To have a final race like that! Can see it from both angles, it penalises the team doing well, but without the joker, we would of probably had the last 5 heats of dead rubber racing which doesn't create entertainment. Fantastic from Iversen in the last.. Poor crowd AGAIN for the second time this year, think that'll be the last we see of Bydgoszcz which is such a shame.

Jesus.. He comes all the negativity again!!!! A weeks ago 90% of people were praising rosco and the team for the result at KL and reaching the final, which was an achievement in itself. A week later, like expected, we struggled in a final full of some of the best riders in the world. Some fans need to realise that GB are not as good as 15/20 years ago! I'm proud of our boys, yes we struggled tonight but even being in the final was an achievement (which a lot of fans were saying after last Saturday). We didn't embarrass ourselves at all, we tried our best and that's all that can ask for. I think tonight proves we do need to try the youngsters BUT stead and king deserved their chance in the final no matter what anyone says, for their great performance at Lynn. Rosco has given us a better result than last season, he can now build on that. He's right about the test matches etc, and I think he'll definitely follow through with that, just depends if the BSPA are willing or not. I'm fed up of the negativity and drivel I see people write. Get behind your country, or what's the point in supporting them? I've always said, moaning about things gets you no where, it's about staying positive through the tough times that will help us succeed, not moaning at every thing that happens. Who wants to make a change to things when all they would do is receive in criticism?! One final thing, Tai Woffinden is British! If he wanted to be an Australian he would of not rode for team GB and he wouldn't ride in the British final. He has won it twice, and said countless times how much it means to him to win it. Put it this way, if you were born In England and spoke English but moved to Spain and spent years living their, would you class yourself as Spanish or English?

Any chance we can move these boring, arguementative posts to a thread so us fans who want to chat about the speedway can do so?! Give it a rest will ya! Luckily was working up near Sheffield today so popped along to watch the meeting. Really enjoy my trips to Owlerton, a lovely stadium and seems the new promotion are really trying hard to make a success of it, which can definitely be done. All the facilities are there for it. I thought was a very good meeting and another good one for sky to be at. The track is super fast, and the big bends gives the riders chance to sweep round in the dirt. Some good close racing at times and Sheffield were unlucky to end up being beaten by 12 points, injuries really seem to kill their chances, although young Taylor Poole was superb. Meeting certainly over shadowed by Andre's injury and really wish him all the best, as well as Olly Allen.

Well.. Reading this thread from start to finish, great to see everyone's opinions and comments on our great victory yesterday. Firstly, I'm so pleased for steady and king that they performed to the potential.. A lot of haters not giving these guys a chance before they had chance to show what they could do. Onto the meeting.. What a fantastic day out and absolutely thrilled for Team GB. Not a better feeling that waving my British flag to our boys, who rode superbly well all night. I couldn't care less if the other teams were under strengthen or whatever, I went to watch a good meeting (which it was), to take in the atmosphere, and to cheer on my country. The passion I saw from all of them was even better, seeing the boys fist pumping the crowd and cheering as they did their lap of honour was fantastic! Got to hand it to rosco, seemed like he really got them all motivated! A massive well done to Kings Lynn and their staff.. Put on a slick evenings entertainment, the track was maybe a touch slick, but it stayed true and at the end of the day, it was prepared well, it's up to the riders to put on the show. You cant blame Buster for the fact that for half the meeting there were 2 races in 1.. A full dull races but it happens, not every race is an edge of the seat thriller I'm afraid. When Woffy is racing ruml and castanga say, it's hardly going to be 4 way battle for 4 laps! It's not just about the track but the stadium is perfect for such an event, not many other British stadiums could do the same IMO. If you watched it at home, and are moaning it was boring, then a little tip would be to save up next year and go! The atmosphere was superb, all in great spirits, and the noise and flag waving was great to be involved with. Watching it again today and it just didn't give it justic at all. The fact Ward became the pantomime villain helped too! Speedway needs that sometimes I think. Anything else in the final is a bonus, because as a down to earth fan, I know just reaching the final is good for GB. But I'm gonna enjoy the win last night all week. Come on GB for Saturday!!

What an absolute bloody disgrace!! It baffles me how a court can take the side of 2 people, who by the sounds of it already knew the stadium was there, and then complain about it! How can they expect a small entertainment stadium to pay ridiculous figures like that when they didn't even bring up the case?! A small stadium that obvious gives jobs to people, and creates income for the local community and for families to go an enjoy a nights entertain will be lost because of 2 prats who can't handle a few bikes going round a track 1 or 2 nights a week!! Good luck Mildenhall, if only us fans could help out (Perhaps turfing these inconsiderate planks out of their house would help......)

No fact about it, Woffy doesn't contribute to a whole teams points, he contributes to a percentage of it. If Harris had performed to his average wolves probably would of won the meeting. Therefore a better guest should of been booked or Harris should of performed better.. 'They can' is a very poor comment. Are you saying every single rider is the same, prepares the same, and has exactly the same schedule? No, course not, because that is untrue. We don't know how much more Woffy may have done compared to darcy, maybe he's done more hours doing other things (ie his charity work) all this contributes to his obvious exhaustion. So to compare 2 riders is a poor statement to make. Yes I'm quiet aware of that, but I believe he's the wolves team management, so therefore he contributes to the teams performance, unless that's not what managers are there for?

Hahahaha what a hilarious comment.. Yes blame a guy who wasn't even racing, after all he controls the 7 riders out there racing tonight and also the management. Get a grip, just because darcy is managing it so far doesn't mean everyone else can. No 2 people are the same pal.... (Leaving it at that before I have to justify my comments anymore)

Results from the first round.. 1 7 Piotr Pawlicki 3 3 3 3 3 15 2 14 Vaclav Milik 3 3 3 2 2 13 3 12 Mikkel Michelsen 2 3 2 1 3 11 4 11 Kacper Gomólski 3 2 d 2 3 10 5 15 Mikkel Bech 2 1 3 2 2 10 6 16 Krystian Pieszczek 0 2 3 3 1 9 7 9 Jacob Thorssell 1 1 2 3 2 9 8 13 Lasse Bjerre 1 3 w 3 1 8 9 1 Nicklas Porsing 1 2 1 0 3 7 10 6 Szymon Woźniak 1 2 2 w 2 7 11 2 Fredrik Engman 3 w 1 1 0 5 12 10 Jonas B. Andersen 0 1 1 2 0 4 13 3 Gino Manzares 2 u w 1 0 3 14 4 Nicolas Vicentin 0 0 2 d 1 3 15 8 Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 0 1 1 0 1 3 16 5 David Bellego 2 u w 0 w 2 R R1 Michele Paco Castagna R R2 Giorgio Trentin

2 points on this for me.. 1. Why fix something that isn't broken? Cardiff is absolutely perfect! It's the biggest and best GP of the season, the city of Cardiff love and embrace it all weekend and there's not much more could be done to make it better. Hotels prices etc do go up, but London would be do exactly the same I'm sure, it's just the norm for most big stadiums. 2. Would 2 GP's a season affect Cardiff's attendance and importance? Like in my first point, Cardiff is known as the biggest and best GP, if there was 2 GP's a season I can bet a big percentage of the crowd couldn't afford 2 weekends a year, and possibly affect attendances at both GP's. Like I said, don't fix what isn't broke.. Keep on improving Cardiff if that's even possible!

Some of the comments I've read on this topic are a total embarrassment. Nope, I'm not a wolves fan, I've only seen them ride once this season (Lynn v wolves) but some of the criticism coming from some wolves fans towards tai is terrible. Let's go back to the start of the season, had Tai NOT signed for wolves there would of been uproar (obviously doesn't care now he's world champ, everything we've done for him now he's left us, etc etc). Tai signed, and everyone was pleased he had stayed, showing good loyalty to wolves and the elite league. Tai could of easily given up England for Sweden, where it's less meetings, more money, better opposition. But he stuck by British speedway and wanted to do as much as he could to put speedway back in the countries minds and on the TV. Now all of sudden he's had a reaction to all his great work, and all some of you fans can do is slag him off and say how you should replace him?! Absolute madness!! If it comes to after the WC and he says 'that's it for me, no more Britain - too hectic, not worth the wage, make more money in Poland/Sweden, no doubt you'd then slag him off for ditching you during the season. Seems like he can't win either way! He's been honest enough to say he's exhausted, he wanted to ride in each meeting because he didn't want to let any of his clubs down, that shows what a good guy he is! Just because he scored 4 on Monday and whatever it was in Sweden on Tuesday, doesn't mean naff all, he's still in the same exhausted state.. I just cannot get my head round the criticism he's getting, he can't do right for doing wrong!

Heat 15 made the nights entertainment worth it, other than from heat 13 it wasn't great viewing racing wise, but still always some sort of action going on made it a good watch for me. The Leicester promotion must be doing something right.. A good crowd who all seemed to enjoy it and keep on coming back! Nice to hear some horns as well during the meeting, think it makes for a good atmosphere. Regarding the track, definitely straights too long and corners too tight. Just a thought but couldn't they bring the track inwards.. Be easier on the corners if the straights weren't so long. Would that be possible? Feel sorry for the young reserves of Leicester too, especially clegg who seems to have zero confidence.. Digging them out In front of the nation on the tele is not the way to inspire/help 16 year old riders!

Watched the meeting back again today on TV and I don't think the TV gives out the atmosphere as loud as it was during the heats, maybe something to do with the commentators mic' s, I'm not to sure. Watching Tai's entrance again though was making the hairs stand up again, unbelievable atmosphere. Walking back to catch the bus last night, we over heard a family chatting 'so what you going to tell mummy about your first speedway meeting?' The little boy replied 'ooh it was just brilliant, fab, just amazing, I loved it!' Think that made my night the most, and I'm sure he wasn't the only kid saying that night. Fantastic stuff from everyone who was involved in making the GP what it was, thought the guy in the middle on the mic was superb as well, is he a regular at it for a club? Well done BSI and Cardiff stadium.. Bring on next year!

Wow wow and WOW! My first ever Cardiff visit, and what a showcase event for speedway that is! Can see why Cardiff is known as the main GP of the season. Atmosphere was absolutely electric, something I've never heard at a speedway event before. Without doubt having a Brit as good as Tai to cheer on as well makes the event just that little bit more special. So gutted he didn't manage to win the GP but can't begrudge a man like Hancock winning it, still showing the boys the way round at 44! Hard to describe how buzzing I still am now, 4 hours after it. Something like that must surely make more people want to watch speedway.. Huge credit to BSI and the track and event staff, put on a superb show. Just hope this can give clubs some idea that this is how you'll get more people through the turnstiles! Did I hear a nail taken out of the British speedway coffin?!?! (A reference to a post I made yesterday....) I did park and ride to and from Cardiff east.. £3 for both ways and back on the bus within 5 minutes after the event, if your anywhere near that for next year then try that