waytogo28

Over and done with, my memories of watching almost every match at Brandon from 1973 - 1997 ( when I lived in Northampton ). I was a biker for all of that time and loved the ride there ( although there were very few other bikers ). Some fantastic racing and controversies Thank you lads, Big Names or not but I remember vividly Andy Smith's amazing on track efforts among so many others. And oddly, the first race win Peter Lloyd ever had there ( maybe the only one? ).All consigned to the archive now and never to be replaced with new on track clashes and rivalries.

Fans talked about what happened during the race, years ago - especially the passing or close efforts to pass - but there is so little to say about 75% of races nowadays, that all you can say is X missed the start and couldn't cut back on the second bend - ergo race over.

As expected a total whitewash for "Honest" Rob Godfrey. BSPA and SCB closed ranks to protect their man regardless of their actions.

THJ not my cup of tea and feel that he will not improve much, even on his own equipment. Gino Manzares is much better bet IMHO.

Things first went awry around 1975 with the introduction of the four valve engine and then later with the lay down as they both increased the "first away wins" perception of speedway, which is what you see in 75% of races nowadays. Not enough on track racing thrills to keep people going back to see more.

Dirty, dangerous, raw? I reckon in the modern world the dirty tag may not appeal to a broad spectrum of the public who do not know of speedway. Dangerous , probably accurate but so was Wall of Death and that has long gone. Raw - well if the racing were closer and more exciting it could be marketed as raw. As it is in the 21st century I am not sure if it has a place in motorcycle sport. And take it off the TV it will disappear entirely from public view. Fast, Furious and Never Give Up might be another way to sell it. But if people don't ever come across it, or hear of it, it doesn't matter what you call it!

Hall and Konopka in the same team? A promoter with a death wish or one wangling the averages for changes six weeks in.

So if we get even 5% of these 400 motocrossers eager to sample speedway, wishing to stay on as riders, that adds 20 new riders to add to the current crop.

Konopka? How many chances does he need?

Indeed we have missed the chance to achieve something that might last longer than the present bodge up. We are told that there are not enough riders to run one big league, but I do not believe that would be the case. There is just too much resistance from the BSPA to work towards a sustainable future. It's the Emperor's New Clothes syndrome, as they do not see the reality of how interest in the sport is fading.

The key part for me , of the piece written all those years ago by PR is the above, except that what has changed is, there is no longer any "vast numbers of followers" left to become disenchanted. Of the estimated 25,000 active attending fans left in the country ( or lets be charitable and say 35,000 ) vast could not apply to them in any way. From the post war boom, numbers must already be vastly down by perhaps 90%? Moribund comes to mind.

Would be SO easy to rig races and matches.

That is my Big Hope too!

And that is the reality of GB Speedway when you think that only three clubs did not make a loss in 2017.

If he hasn't and he expects a return of a lot of fans to the AFA, he needs to make it his Number One priority. The quality of racing , which is the Big Pull for many supporters has been dire at times. Yes we are waiting for the Team Announcements and this "undreamt of "marketing and presentation era but that matters little if the track is the same old , same old. Buster has spent countless hours on an effort to make a silk purse of a track out of pig's ear, so fingers crossed for 2018.

So it turns out the Philip Rising and the Speedway Star have many of the same, very serious concerns about the state of Speedway GB, as a lot of fans do. The C word has now been openly used and not just about one of the several things wrong with speedway in the UK. It is chaotic and run chaotically. It is time that someone more balanced ( I nearly wrote sane ) took control of the situation and brought in a much more common sense approach to how the sport should be run. Is it too late for that to happen?

Don' blame us dinosaurs who are almost the only ones left. We've been handing over our earned cash for 40 -50 -60 years. And now dying or walking away. Blame the sport itself , or how it has been allowed to become all too often BORING. New younger fans will not settle for 1 minute of four lap racing, that may not even be exciting - every 10 minutes or so. They won't hang around - those newbies and they might get two or three close races, if they are lucky.Poor spectacle and poor VFM.

I think that Robert is capable of becoming truly world class but he now needs a totally different mind set and a fully professional back up crew. I want to see him continue to ride at KL but feel that he would do better away from there as a home track and perhaps away from the UK. If he is now living in Germany and fully independent he has much better chance of taking the next big step up over the next 2 - 3 seasons. It is ( or needs to be ) in his hands now.

Here's hoping that the bizarre world of UK speedway doesn't see Buster Chapman and Chris Holder kiss and make up! Too many at KLS wouldn't want to see him back there. Rye House it is then?

That would have been More Than a Few Quid Too Far - to have both Chris Holder & Doyle. A sponsor par excellence would be needed, as neither are less than expensive.

The lengthy waiting period seems to be linked to the concept of an "undreamt of marketing plan for 2018 " - we can decide of how wonderful it is, the night of the supporters forum. I am still waiting patiently for the amazing revelations. By drip releasing the team members during January, it is obviously now policy that it will greatly boost interest in the Stars for next season.

Lindgren or Iversen if a real No. 1 is to be signed.

Same with Ellis Perks - unless he has just clinched a place.

Despite being a critic of what has happened at KLS I wish Buster and the other key people running The Stars in 2018 - a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wait patiently for the full team to be announced.

Some of us really DO enjoy reading your perceptive comments on here. Truly. Merry Christmas