waytogo28

Oh Yes! Will there be a backlash in the next 50 years or will the interest in "tasting life in the raw" lead to humans really being dominated by AI and robots of all kinds by the end of this century? Maybe going outside and climbing trees will be an extreme sport for kids in 2075 and even a teenagers only event in the Olympics ( before their scrambled risk-taking brains settle down ). Think of the changes in society since 1900 and let your imagination visualise 2100! Wow! And speedway? Well, it will be viewed on antique digital devices and people will gasp in wonder at Tai Woffinden other GP warriors of today.

That was pretty much how it was for me Mr Webb. The excitement rose for me after the comeback on Monday at the NSS and with the signing of Eric Riss. Of course, as a Lambo fan, I was dismayed after his first two rides and even Niels looked off-colour in the early heats. An exciting see-saw meeting where to some huge extent my mojo returned. Well done the KLS promotion ( I know you will be surprised at that Trees! ) and my bum is firmly ( but painfully ) back on my seat. A superb home debut Eric! An 8/10 meeting for me.

Do be careful with that one. It is the betting in Japan at the autojo which means a meeting takes more than six hours with three races per hour. Very long gaps for punters to collect their winnings or place their bets on the outcome of the next race. Bloody good racing with loads of passing in every race ( because of the handicap system ). All on 600cc bikes racing on tarmac. And 50p to get in! Fast exciting races but such long gaps, I missed the tractor racing ( not now of course ).

My point was all about the decline in turnstiles clicks, as so many people are concerned about the crowd numbers falling away sharply. Even such meetings as those you attended and enjoyed do not seem to be bringing in new supporters and turning them on to speedway. Did any of those have more than 1,000 people paying to get in?

That is another problem of the BSPA. They linger on slowly hoping for the miracle that will draw in substantial numbers of new fans.

It's pretty much how I see it now. Re-structuring with one medium sized league etc etc is NOT going to bring in new fans and grow the fanbase. Why would it when it offers more of the same strung-out racing with so many heats over within half a lap. Only another form of motorcycle racing on dirt track ovals is likely to do that. Smaller capacity 250cc or 350cc - standardised sealed machines are a must. Slower but closer racing with more likelihood of passing might catch on. But the starting area must be changed ( to stop all gardening and speed up races ) races run immediately after each other with as little delay as possible ( to avoid boring and turning off the new generation of fans ). Even the name of the sport should be changed. Without such massive changes, speedway is beyond rescue. Way past the "last chance saloon".

Yes, it is far too long. back to the start straight away. Tarmac or concrete starting area, please. Get on sharply with the interesting bits.

Exactly my thinking and why I am not in favour of him in the team.

I am not a fan of Simon Lambert ( riding in the PL ) BUT a Big Thank You for his 3 points at reserve. For that ride take a bow.

We can all play a small part but really " get the word out = promoters job in the main. This week in the SS Belle Vue have a double page spread saying ( among other things ) that that is what is needed in Manchester. Has "get the word out" not been left far, far too late?

So that's how everything gets passed and agreed. Now I get it!

Speedway in the UK does need a huge change to bring thrills and excitement back and attract a lot more punters. It may well be something like this. Or even more radical - Le mans push starts, standardised - untuned bikes, it has to meld into something people will pay to see.

Sensible not to put your best matches on the telly because then supporters have to pay to see them and travel from all parts of the country, stimulating the whole economy of the Uk or even Europe. Pity not to have a Pay Per View option as I would have paid £10 to watch it live. Such a fixture should attract a very good crowd, how many I wonder?

Seems a quite reasonable point of view to take if you're an official at the BSPA.

What Mr Godfrey says, goes. Apparently. Should it be inconvenient it's your problem. "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem".

I am often a critic of the KLS promotion but can only now offer a Standing Ovation for this team change. Eric Riss should add a lot of spice to the rest of the season.

Now that's what I call gonads and now I will be going on Weds.! Some ambition shown and to be applauded.

This is one of the best ways I can see of increasing future involvement of young people in the sport ( I know you feel the same Skid Sprocket ) probably it's the only way. With BV having a two-page spread in the SS this week, ideas like this would be one of the best ways of investing money locally / regionally.

I think there may well be others with a similar predicament.

At least, to give him some credit, Buster Chapman after the last meeting off ( or delayed to the late-night slot ) at KL there will be 2 ambulances on duty to at least avoid such a delay again ( if Sod's Law does not strike ). I am sure that more fans would have joined the No Thanks crowd, if not. I am not sure speedway can afford NOT to sort out this problem of meetings cut short and VFM spiralling downwards.

Right to the heart of speedway's problem. Poor racing of not much interest, other than to purists. Speedway, never mind Glasgow ( which did well to put on such a match ) still has a lot of work to do on the bit that matters. If it is all over, in almost each race, within 150 yards we are unlikely to pull in the new fans the sport needs.

And being very "today" did it sell out a 2,500 capacity stadium? If not speedway has indeed had it!

I go along with that especially the part about R / B / W /YB being reserved for any riders from the official 1 -7 declaration who might be available. This also fits in with the gender self-identification concept in society today. This could lead to a way back to having at least one female rider in the team. This could really bring in new fans. Later they could bring in other gender labels so that the rainbow effect can be fully appreciated. This would also give supporters who might feel that time is dragging between heats a lot more work in filling in programmes or scorecards. With a prize for the only correctly filled in one.

God is very likely the only power ( working through His people on earth ) who might save Swindon from closing. Even for God, keeping the Robins on the same site looks impossible and would take a miracle.

They may go the other way of course. 200 fans at £50 and you are on your way. throw in a generous headline sponsor and go fully out for the grey pound ( people under 30 only pay £20 ). I think that is much more likely a scenario for 2020 after the BSPA get it wrong in 2019.