Carlislecomet2

On another thread there was a comment about what other sport has supporters checking on the weather as much as speedway - and someone beat me to it and suggested cricket. This got me thinking, and while cricket use the Duckworth-Lewis method for determining the results of cricket matches which have been curtailed for various reasons (including inclement weather), maybe speedway could introduce a similar system - we could have the Laurel and Hardy method.

And what might have happened pray tell.

This is the problem. When rules are stuck to rigidly, people complain 'there is no room for common sense'. However when there is a hint that some common sense may be shown people say 'what is the point of having a rule book' I am sure it is the same people each time complaining each time, and just like to whinge and have a pop at all and sundry. Yes I have sympathy with their present situation, but in this instance there is no way Peterborough would pull back the deficit. They should be big enough to accept that and common sense should prevail.

This is the problem. When rules are stuck to rigidly, people complain 'there is no room for common sense'. However when there is a hint that some common sense may be shown people say 'what is the point of having a rule book' I am sure it is the same people each time complaining each time, and just like to whinge and have a pop at all and sundry.

Thanks Paul!

So sorry for any that travelled any distance, particularly the away supporters such as falconhammer. Just got home myself. That's another reason for the Comets to move to Carlisle - its a far better climate, dry as a bone here (and warm)

Shame about Ty if the reports are correct, he will be gutted. If Aarnio is the man brought in as cover he is almost an honorary marra already. Welcome back Tero, come join the party!

Great result tonight, but there is still a job to do and Lakeside's top three are capable of winning races at DP. Any news on Ty? Injuries are the last thing we need right now. Hopefully he is ok, but if he has to miss the rest of the weekend any idea who would be available?

Just read that too. Scumbags - probably spent it on drugs already. If by any small chance they are apprehended, their previous 253 offences will be taken into account and they will be told not to be naughty again!

THJ, unlike others I am not going to quote your comments verbatim - unless we are going for the longest thread in history. They are a great read and make a lot of sense but probably too much sense! As I have said on this thread earlier I don't think there is much wrong with the rules and regulations as they are, they just need to be overseen and ruled over by an independent body (including if possible a couple of ex riders). The 2 league single league would end doubling up which is my biggest bugbear and if some riders decide they are then not going to make enough money let them ply their trade solely in mainland Europe. Guests, which I think are inevitably going to be needed due to injuries to come from the 'other' league only. At least guests, though not ideal I know, help to ensure meetings remain competitive. We have all had seasons where our team has been decimated by injury and none of us want to want to watch a couple of National League riders trundling along half a lap behind for half a season. I hated the use of the joker and do not particularly like the tactical sub either - I would rather see a return to the bonus point system for whoever comes out on top on aggregate after the home and away meetings, however this could lead to tracks being over prepared to suit the home team (so maybe not). I have been harping on about trying to get a Barry Hearn type character involved for years, to grab hold of the sport and give it a real good shake but it is a bit of a chicken and egg situation as the sport really needs to help itself first in order to make it a more attractive and marketable proposition. Over to you THJ - now get on with some work!

Football, particularly at the lower level have a loan system to cover for injuries etc albeit for longer periods rather than one or two matches I grant you. So what is your answer in order to eradicate the guest conundrum? There just isn't the money in the sport to allow for a squad system and unfortunately injuries happen. I don't want to see my team or their opponents containing riders trundling around half a lap behind. The bigger problem is doubling up which is farcical when you basically have the same riders in each of the top 2 leagues. This obviously suits the riders but is another example of how much sway the riders have at present. This will have to change. It has got to go to one league and the riders paid what the promoters can afford/agree to. If it is not enough they can go ride in Poland/Sweden et al, but not in this country.

Due to the amount of rain that fell during the previous couple of days, I think we should just be thankful that we had a smooth, safe surface to race on. NB That applies to both meetings yesterday by the way.

Fitting that Ty got the point in Heat 15 to clinch it after sacrificing 2 points himself when trying to protect young Kyle in Heat 7. That is the sort of teamwork that has got us to the incredible position we now find ourselves in. I hope Rasser is ok (rider of the year for me), that looked a nasty one - I don't think I have ever seen anybody try to take our bends3/4 as fast

Sincere commiserations to Glasgow - that could have gone either way until the last bend of the last of the 30 races. It should have been the final.

I presume that due to the profile of the sport in Poland there is enough money to spread around to keep their squads happy. What would happen in this country would be that the likes of Glasgow would buy up the top riders and walk the league every year. I don't think there is a lot wrong with the rules and regulations of the sport. Maybe some tweaking here and there to simplify/clarify a few things and a new independent governing body having the b*lls to ensure everyone sticks to them. The sport is in desperate need of money through sponsorship which will only occur if the product is presented and marketed much better than it is at present. We have the World champion which is something to be celebrated and I think BT Sport do a good job of presenting the GP's. If we had one league and they chose the live matches more carefully or maybe just had a weekly roundup and highlights package (a lot of races/meetings are out there on youtube/via the clubs already) it may generate a bit more interest. But, like everything else in this world, it comes down to money.

How about Kingmoor in Carlisle? It has good transport links and was looked at recently as a possible venue for a new stadium for Carlisle United. It would certainly be handier for supporters of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Berwick and Redcar. Neither Allerdale Borough Council or the good people of West Cumbria seem to be interested in speedway, and it would keep the sport in Cumbria.

How would the likes of Scunthorpe have managed this season without competitive guests to replace their injured heat leaders and second strings. There just aren't enough quality spare riders hanging about twiddling their thumbs to fill the void. Therefore they would have been running with half a team of National League riders. Also there is no guarantee that guests will win the meeting for you, on the contrary quite the reverse is often true.

Who would make up 'the squad' if you had a squad of 8 or 9 riders and what standard would they be? As a supporter I want to see two well matched teams go head to head not one full strength team against one containing 2 poor quality National league riders. I think the guest facility is a plus, so long as promoters do not abuse it and the rule makers insist people abide by the rules.

I am glad you have enjoyed your speedway this year, as have I at Workington though our fixture list was a joke (from the outset). However your hopes of 2019 being the same as 2018 is a little naïve to say the least. Not all clubs are in the position to have the likes of stock car racing helping to subsidize speedway or having a fairy godmother to bankroll it. Looking at the bigger picture British speedway is in a perilous position and things need to done sooner rather than later to help safeguard it going forward. I am sure you'd soon get bored racing against Glasgow 10 times a season home and away. NB If your comments were tongue in cheek, you got me!

British speedway to be run by a new independent governing body including ex riders and people with experience of marketing /attracting sponsorship. It is in desperate need of a cash injection from somewhere! Not my idea, but Cinderfellas. GP series to be extended to say 20 events as F1, and these riders compete in this and this alone. One league (plus national league), with obviously no doubling up which is a sham in any case. Unfortunately this may result in fewer teams due to a shortage of riders. Look at ways of reducing costs, which should in turn should result in lower admission prices of say £10-£12. Scrap the play-offs, the one this year in the premiership was a farce (with a 'bottom half' team being crowned 'champions'). The champions should be the team who finish top after riding home and away against everyone else. Changing the rules to ensure supporters get to see competitive 1-7's each meeting. i.e. none of this having to use a national league rider nonsense.

Your suggestions make a lot of sense to me cinderfella, maybe there should be a new thread created as a platform for all speedway fans to put their ideas forward. It would also be interesting to hear the views of supporters of the premier league clubs, as listening to Kelvin last night on BT Sport he was making out that it had been a terrific season and everything was hunky dory ('top drawer' and 'no doubt about that'). My head is still spinning from THJ's run down of the various fixture permutations and YB's calculations regarding what Ty needs to reach the magical 7 point average. I think I am going to concentrate on my day job as a quantum physicist and leave the intricacies of speedway to others.

Hopefully a solution/new owner can be found to keep the Panthers going. A lot I guess will depend upon what comes out of what is going to be an even more vital than usual AGM this year. No speedway fan wants to see any team folding, but the structure of the sport needs overhauling to give all clubs the very best opportunity to survive and flourish.

Absolutely, but by the same token neither is it meant to resemble a script from The Three Stooges, The Witches of Eastwick or One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest!

Don't start!

Assuming Cookie is fit and with Comets having to go with rr for Dan it probably means Glasgow will be slight favourites, but hopefully the weather will play fair and we will see 2 cracking meetings. Bring it on.