Teromaafan

I was thinking the same, but it was the likes of Belle Vue and Ipswich with two big hitters that often cleaned up in those two heats. But like you say, if the apparent one 8 point rider rule is introduced, heats 13 & 15 might not be so predicatable.

Going on averages, Lions would lose the best No.1 in the league and be left with the worst (no disrespect to Dougy) going by the rumours of a five team league. This is of course assuming that each of the other teams (except Lynn) will be able to retain a current big hitter. Still too many unknowns at the moment.

Agreed, but I was referring solely to its implementation in British Speedway.

Don’t know about the BPSL (sorry Iain!) but the BSPL ( or is it BSPA!) AGM has now been put back to 30th Never to allow them more time to think up excuses for a 5 team top tier who will share the only 20 riders prepared to still race in the UK following the reduced points limit and clamping down on doubling up. The fixture list will be carefully compiled to make sure that Bomber is not lined up to race against himself in any meeting.

Has it not occurred to you that the life of the owner of Glasgow might not be reliant on speedway and if push comes to shove, he will just say I’m out of here. How would that sit with British speedway? You cannot hold a club owner to ransom relying on their passion for a sport where the most successful clubs do well to break even.

Fair enough, take your point, but the system is still a farce!

Yes the draft pick system when the RS idea was introduced a few years ago was based on where a team finished the previous season (as I recall/understand). This made perfect sense and is in line with the way American sport operates. Unfortunately, this idea was not enforced and soon evaporated. This is what disappoints me with the sport in this country. On the rare occasions that sensible ideas (as scarce as rocking horse rubbish) are introduced, they are seemingly dropped without reason.

Yes the draft pick system when the RS idea was introduced a few years ago was based on where a team finished the previous season (as I recall/understand). This made perfect sense and is in line with the way American sport operates. Unfortunately, this idea was not enforced and soon evaporated. This is what disappoints me with the sport in this country. On the rare occasions that sensible ideas (as scarce as rocking horse rubbish) are introduced, they are seemingly dropped without reason.

Hopefully Mr Dickson has realised the importance of contributions from a team's RS after the last two seasons. Ideally I'd like to see Dan Gilkes back or even Luke KIlleen. Frustratingly, we carried our No.7 throughout last season and still got within a whisker of doing the double.

Where have you heard/read that Fricke will not be at Leicester? Not saying you’re wrong, but where has this come from?

So you are basing that on a points limit of 36 then? Do know that for certain?

So you are basing that on a points limit of 36 then? Do know that for certain?

Northampton Hamptons?

Scunny will be in the Championship, so he will almost be untouchable at that level.

The last two sentences of my post are not a contradiction, but you've tried to link them. The reference to outsiders not knowing who the elite are was to emphasise that if they were not riding in the UK, any newcomers drawn to the sport following the departure of these stars wouldn't care less so long as entertainment is provided on track. The borrowing of riders from each other relates to the guest system. Newcomers coming on board to the sport will soon realise that riders are representing more than one team during a season (which is the where sport lacks credibility outside those that follow it). The fewer the teams, the greater the likelihood of guest appearances from the same rider. This has nothing to do with elite level riders, so where's the contradiction?

No rider should be bigger than the sport or an individual club. Clinging on to the top riders by satisfying their financial demands is not the way to evolve British Speedway. The current crop of GP riders in this country will move on/retire before you know it and the sport in this country still needs to be standing when they do so. Powers that be need to be brave and if necessary have a total reset instead of applying fresh sticking plasters to see the sport through following season. Competitive racing with riders of a similar ability distributed across teams has to be the focus. How else do you attract fresh interest which the sport desperately needs? The people whose interest and money we need have probably never heard of the sport’s current elite. A league of five teams that can borrow riders from each other now and again isn’t the way to attract outsiders.

As with life in general, everything comes down to money. The money that people running the sport should be chasing is that from people currently having no interest in the sport. This will come from sponsorship and the paying public. Whilst this is an obvious market, tapping into it continues to be the problem, as those of us following the sport all know. Like everyone else on this forum, I don't have the answers, but seeking revenue from these sources has to be ultimate priority for the sustainability of the sport. Decisions relating to one league or two, hanging on to GP level riders or not etc, should not really British Speedway's priority. The reality is if new people and their money can be drawn to the sport, they will not have a clue (or care) who the current top riders are and will judge speedway racing by what they see on the track. The closer and more competitive the racing therefore the better. The future and structure (what ever form it needs to take) of the sport therefore needs to take this into consideration.

Factor in guest appearances and you could well see Bomber every other week. Might as well give him his own bay with name plate in the pits at every track.

Agreed. He’s been great for British speedway, but in view of his recent massive injury and his age, he is unfortunately only going in one direction.

When was the last time he completed four laps and finished last? This can be costly if another rider then pulls up when the score is tight. As I have said before, I’m surprised Dickson tolerates this. Out of respect for the paying public, riders should be completing four laps unless there is a genuine mechanical failure.

When was the last time he completed four laps and finished last? This can be costly if another rider then pulls up when the score is tight. As I have said before, I’m surprised Dickson tolerates this. Out of respect for the paying public, riders should be completing four laps unless there is a genuine mechanical failure.

A decent RS is my wish, as this is the position we've struggled with in the last couple of seasons. I really liked what I saw in Dan Gilkes in his brief stint before he got injured and would love to see him back as our No.7. I'd trust Dickson in his judgement with the other six riders.

Good post MBV! Some well thought through comments which not will unlikely resonate with people in charge of the sport in this country. Looking at this forum over all,

You shouldn’t dismiss riders who are still teenagers (how do you encourage youth?) but there has to come a point when you say a rider has had enough racing experience to conclude that further improvement is unlikely.

Would have been a good marketing opportunity for any local undertakers who could have been bothered to attend tonight.