waytogo28

The Event 2 at Vastervik and the Race Off in the World Cup showed us that the thrilling, exciting core "heart" of speedway can still be offered up to fans and that could bring some back and new fans too if the BSPA find a way to move into the 21st century. Good tracks are at the centre of making racing more than processional.

I don't have any animosity towards Australia but the Russians ( and to some extent the Latvians ) wanted it much , much more and were dialled in from the start. The sensational, young Chugunov reminded me so much of Ove Fundin and if he can do half as well as Ove, he will have a great career! Australia seemed have lost belief after Doyle was excluded and most of their riders were well below their best at the "wrong " time. Well done to the Russians and it could really spice up the Final. Team GB need to have their gating brains fully engaged and show how much they really want it. We have seen that you can come from the back and make a race of things on that track.

There has been no official announcement yet. So will a postponement be a last minute thing? Pity for those who have travelled, not to know when and if the Race Off and Final will be. The Sat. forecast looks just as dismal for Leszno. Will both meetings be on Sunday which looks likely to be better weather? Is there a contingency plan?

One solution likely to be taken up by the BSPA - to satisfy riders, promoters and most people except the supporters? I suggest that the same riders are used for both leagues who race on different nights ( if the powers that be insist on having two leagues ) and a small pool of other riders are used for injuries / retirements etc The troupe of would be league riders should tour as a UK based GP tour to as many tracks as possible. The reduction in costs with less riders should satisfy the pockets of the BSPA and as everyone is doubling up, the furore over that issue vanishes. NO riders who wish to race in Europe should be permitted to race in the new set up. Those who wish to race here will be the first to benefit and riding in two leagues will give them the income level they claim they need. It's no crazier than the system we currently operate and New "stars" would emerge as they do at every level. Clubs could even be linked who run the same 7 riders in two leagues! Say Leicester and Ipswich.

I for one have not talked down the GB team's success - although doubting BEFORE the event at KL that they would do well ( mostly because of what we knew about Lambert's injury ). They were very, very impressive and as a team are making great strides forward. To cement that progress we need a good showing in the final in Poland. Success for me would be to get a medal and Bronze would do nicely to show that team GB CAN perform well abroad. Like all / most fans who cheer for Team GB I dream of a win! A Gold medal but that is a dream at the moment. These are all merely different opinions of fans interested in speedway.

It's not rocket science but it is a scientific approach and speedway is renowned for still being in the early 20th century re how the sport should be run ( 1928 ). As speedway got into the second half of the last century ( say 1965 ) it was deemed perfect by the BSPA and only tinkering has been allowed since. They just failed to notice the falling off of crowd levels in the last 30 years or so. If there is anything left of the professional sport by the 2028 Centenary - then, who knows a scientific approach might be considered.

Australia it is then into the Final on Saturday ( or Sunday ) Or is it? And in the Final Poland - Gold Sweden Silver GB / Australia in a Run Off for Bronze and ......that race is won by Jason Doyle. Even with a "new build" it can all go wrong - look at Leicester. Depends on the designer. Spot on at the NSS. They got it right at KL long ago but now.....

Philip Rising said of an earlier important meeting at KL " Buster worked for hours on end (under a blazing sun) to completely relay the track. No one could fault his work ethic but there was a feeling that the material then (and maybe now) being used on the track was not really conducive to lots of passing." That is the case now - no one doubts his work ethic - if anything it's OTT. But what we can question is what appears to be the same attitude years ago that he is always "right" especially when fired up! That is a negative aspect of him that is now destroying the love of substantial numbers of fans for the club. He will not listen and appears unwilling to even consider the views of others. They are the qualities of a dictator not a calming leader ( Chairman of the BSPA ) seeking to revive the sport from it's current doldrums. The BSPA after a number of years of treading water, gave Buster his head in the matter of the development of the sport. We do not seem to be making much progress.

The same old one trick pony! Tapes to flag after the 2nd bend. There were only four passes. Next week will be my last if it is no better. I have watched at KL since they first opened and seen much better VFM racing, more often than not, in the past.

The track at Vastervik allowed those riders who really wanted to try to pass, to succeed ( and often be re-passed! ) What we saw at KL was almost a different kind of sport to what we saw at Vastervik. Passing was almost impossible at KL - sadly.

It will become an amateur sport or semi pro ( if it does continue at all ) . As well as fans it will be losing sponsors ( or failing to attract new ones ). I am sure we all agree with needing "scrumptious" speedway as at event 2 in the World Cup and I hope those in positions to influence the BSPA to think in that way ( and take any positive steps to make it happen - please do so ). It is scary and disappointing that the Chairman's track has usually provided only dire racing this season. A shift in thinking seems needed if speedway, as we know it is to continue and not be further diluted. But maybe it is only when it is much more diluted, will it improve and attract a paying audience on the terraces?

I am sure we all agree and those in positions to influence the BSPA to think in that way ( and take any positive steps to make it happen - please do so ). It is scary and disappointing that the Chairman's track has usually provided only dire racing this season. A shift in thinking seems needed if speedway, as we know it is to continue and not be further diluted. But maybe it is only when it is much more diluted, will it improve and attract a paying audience on the terraces?

A British win with no passing would be a massive loss to speedway as any new armchair would be fans would only nod and say " yes. first away from the start wins". "why bother to go", which is the problem we currently have.

Many of the fans of five years ago are doing that. I choose the ones I want to go to which I judge will good give VFM racing and have not seen any good ones this year. When I read of the ones I have missed, it is clear that I have not missed much. So it is likely I will stay at home more and more and just enjoy the GP on TV.

Truly "proper speedway" proving that us dinosaurs don't have false memories of when matches were often like this ( not every one I know ). 10 X better than the entertainment from KL but I DO celebrate the GB team's success. The track allowed the riders to demonstrate how much they did want it - and they really did want to win. A bloody nose for Denmark who did not so much as fail but were beaten by the better teams on the night. To get a medal in Poland Team GB will have to also show that they can go for it as much, when not on home shale.

I think Tai is a great rider and at his best is thrilling to watch. He has proven record of winning but my enthusiasm for him is waning. I feel he has distanced his fans and by withdrawing from the GB team has lost a lost of support that was his automatically as a Brit. I will be cheering on Cookie more than Tai I must admit. Cobwebs at King's Lynn that is a symptom of lack of interest in the club and there is now no "boss" who still cares enough to look around carefully or to listen. Sad fact.

He only has to score a point or less to pay the fine, so what's the fuss?

So why is Buster who still spends SO much time on the track not prepared to try such simple track adjustments. Is he really so set in his ways that nothing can shake his belief that he IS doing it right, HIS way? Seems ludicrous to me when few fans are satisfied with the racing they get at AFA and more and more vote with their feet because he won'r listen.

Suzi P. far too giggly for me! Even in very inappropriate places. is that her trademark now? Treated it in a far too jokey manner I thought.

The potential might be there but the track remains a problem if any of the top five fail to trap. Is it the track at fault or the state of speedway in terms of the bikes, when IF you get away and don't make a bad mistake you will win that heat regardless of your average and who is behind you. Even if there were no guaranteed match fees and double the points money, would the riders behind be able to pass any easier? Is motivation a factor?

Milan Spinka was a decent rider but seemingly has a poor understanding of strategy and tactics. To be honest Milik was a pale shadow of the man who only the night before had torn up the shale in Torun! At least for his first two rides.

Very much so, there was no excitement in the actual on track racing, only in if GB were to continue to capitalise on the recent fall off in form of Fricke and Morris (partly through injury ). I applaud the fact that GB did do the business but the racing closely resembled the way things are now at Saddlebow Rd for league matches. Gate & Go. There were only four passes between the top two teams. Poor VFM.

The World Cup needs to provide good, close exciting and entertaining racing if it is to retain a prominent position in speedway because it seems that only the GPs currently offer that to the spectator. Fingers crossed!

Are we really fighting for a place directly in the final? To be honest we are trying to avoid being beaten by the USA to avoid ignominy. Except for the place in the final it's almost a pointless meeting or it should be with the USA without Hancock.

Can't be a vast sum to plane down the track's many bumps and furrows and to relay the track?