Teromaafan

Doubling up is the sport’s biggest problem for me. Whilst you could accuse riders of being greedy, they are only going along with what the controlling body permits. For that reason, you cannot blame riders for wanting to maximise their earnings. We all know that Premier League footballers are paid obscene money…..but if someone is prepared to offer these amounts? The BSPA are afraid of the (short term) consequences of doing away with doubling up, but it is essential for the future of the sport if it is to move forward. As I’ve said previously, riders should only be allowed to double up if they’ve been kicked in the b*lls.

And just how many people do you think are prepared to spend this amount of time travelling to watch speedway on a regular basis?

Basic life economics and totally relevant.

Good post. Promoters are always bleating about the lack of punters coming through the gate despite their (apparent) efforts to promote the sport, yet here we are with a team supposedly ready to compete in the next few weeks and nobody in the area is aware of what is going on! If this was a business venture, you'd expect the owner to at least make the public aware of their intent and efforts to be up and running this season, with a back up scenario of being ready for the following season if time runs out. This happened when Leicester returned, with the initial intention of running in 2010, but did not come to tapes (can't remember the reason) until 2011. The difference here though is that Leicester had a fan base in place because their campaign to brought the sport back to the City. The situation is being totally driven by the BSPA. My glass remains half empty, but like everyone else on the forum, I'd love to see it work.

My prediction… Bomber to ride for every team at least once during the season. The sport’s credibility will be upheld however due to careful fixture planning to make sure that he does not roll up to the tapes for a race and look across to see himself representing the opposition. I have total faith in the BSPA for the forthcoming season and trust that clubs have plans in place to cope with inevitable crowd level surges based on the exciting future of the sport pitched by the BSPA at the end of last season. Just hope I’m quick enough to get my season ticket (when they are released) before they sell out. Sarcastic?…..Moi?……

Hmm.....maybe it was a typo in the press release, perhaps they meant this year?....its only February!

With all due respect, whoever buys the club should be seeing it as a business venture with a view to making (hopefully not losing) money. Nostalgia does not unfortunately feature highly in the business world…….Unless of course the buyers are seeking to satisfy an ego like most club owners. In which case, it cannot be considered a business venture.

Where has the one rider over 8 points come from? It can’t be introduced at this stage of a (admittedly ridiculous) pre-season. Now if there was a sudden ‘one ginger’ per team rule introduced, that would be more in line with British speedway credibility and explain why Kurtz hasn’t been named by the Aces.

More negativity towards Saville. He once kindly arranged for a friend of mine to milk a cow blindfolded when he was a kid!

I recently upset someone and they sent me a one word email response. I was surprised that they couldn’t spell ‘can’t’!

The BSPL are clinging on to two tiers due to the excessive number of riders reliant on doubling up for their earnings. The riders are calling the shots. I don’t see how this sport can move on until the doubling up monster is tackled.

Exactly, why is there this obsession with the ‘top’ flight? The sport in this country has no credibility. The shrinking numbers that still follow the sport aren’t that bothered about which league their team compete in. Less than a handful of GP level riders is the only difference between the Premiership and Championship. The top tier is so attractive that it has got to the point where they literally are begging clubs to take part! This is not something you would include in your sales pitch when trying to attract new spectators/sponsors to the sport.

Did you mean ‘wink’ or is that a typo!😂😂

Based on predicted attendances…….Northampton Nomates!

Dickson should impose a small fine on Kemp for not completing 4 laps (excluding genuine engine failures/falls/exclusions). That would change his attitude immediately.

Wish I was as confident as you! I'm hoping than Dan T will continue on the same trajectory and maybe push for that third heat leader spot. I see him as the one that could put the most on his average in this team.

So everything hinges on the pit gate then! 😀

It looks like we will have an RS that can offer something this season (the No.7 position cost us the league last year) but losing the league’s best rider makes the team weaker over all. Can’t see any team giving the Lions a hiding, but when scores are close they will come up short in the all important heats 13 & 15.

Thanks for that Fromafar!

I’d probably give Sedgmen another go.

With all the rumours of the strained relationship between Dickson and Kemp I would have thought that Dickson would have considered Sedgmen. Going back a couple of seasons to the Premiership pairs competition, for their home leg, Dickson selected Fricke and Sedgmen based on the number of heat one 5-1s they’d racked up in the league up to that point. The tactic died on its arse though as Sedgmen hardly trapped all night!

Reading this thread you wouldn’t think it was the same individual that rode for Leicester and Berwick. Out of interest, how often did Kemp complete four laps and finish last for the Bandits?

Whilst I had a pop at someone who now has a criminal record for violent crime I did not say that he shouldn’t be given a second chance. People will have different views as to whether Garrity should be given another shot at speedway. The only opinion that really matters to him is that of any potential speedway promoter willing to take a punt on him. The onus is on Garrity. Let’s see how keen he is to impress any employer. Who knows, he might be driven by the achievements of Havelock and Lee and go on to be a world champion! (yeah…..right 🤣).

Yes, he does, just. Interesting that he won't be starting the season with a Championship team place despite averaging over 8.0 at that level.

The fact that Cookie has been given yet another opportunity to ride is a reflection on the short fall of riders willing to race in this country. Whilst I hope he can ‘find himself’ next season for the benefit of Worky and UK speedway, the Comet’s promotion should already be looking at eligible replacements on his average in readiness for the inevitable.