21st century heathen

It would be fantastic to have airfences at every track, but sadly it's just not practical. I do feel that there must be some middle ground to be found though. Obviously some fences are better than others. Monmore, for example, is very forgiving compared to say P'brgh, for example. Doing something to improve rider safety is preferable to doing nothing. Any chance the powers that be will put their heads together, and find the best solution on a track by track basis? (no? didn't think so )

paulr - It's worse than you thought. You can only have one rider from the top two bands.

Lupus - You'll be shocked to hear that I do agree with you on at least one point. The fact that everyone starts even (on paper anyway) is one of speedways greatest strengths. It's a points limit that gives us this though. The grading system may back fire big time and produce some very uneven teams. Obviously I could be completely wrong on everything I've said, but the potential for things to go t1ts up really scares me. The future is very unsure. Is the grading here to stay? If so I think we are going to have huge problems in '05. '04 will produce a lot more grade A and B riders as the league will be much easier. Riders who underacheived this year through injury particularly, and the up and coming riders such as BJ and David H could be the ones to suffer. Using those two, and lets say Mark, Joe, Jason L, David N, Dean B (perhaps with easier rides could get into the top two grades), where are they going to ride? If grading disappears for '05 then, as someone has suggested, riders on inflated averages next year will be dropped for riders such as Lukas, PK etc who are clearly better riders, but will be on similar averages. Like I say none of us know how things will turn out, but I think a lot of us are just recognising the early warning signs.

If we take your arguement as correct then such tactics the EL would soon be run with only the 3 or 4 richest teams running. Sport doesnt reflect life in so much that if fans dont believe they have a chance of winning or at best being competitive they wont support you. Thats a fact of life, look at the numbers of man u or arsenal shirts you see in Coventry. Not necessarily the case. Look at Wolves FC. Everyone knew before the season started they would struggle, and they have. However, they can sell out every match. Fans will support their team. (in any sport)

That's what scares me. I don't have that much faith that they'll be changes for the better, have you?

If they're so desperate to keep the score close, and cut costs, why don't they call it even over 14 heats and just ride heat 15 as a decider...oh no that's right...can't...haven't got enough heat leaders left to ride in heat 15 any more.

I'm guessing the Elite League Morons Committee is just a fancy name for the Urgent/Panic/Ooops We've Dropped A Bo11ock Meeting.

Here, here!!! The first time was funny, second time was mildly amusing...now it's a bit Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Can the unthinkable happen? Have they really taken on board what we have to say? Damn! I was just about to organise a mass walk out of the first match next season. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! probably shouldn't get too cocky yet

So if I ask a non-speedway fan what a 'joker' is in speedway terms they will know what that means, but wouldn't know what a 'tac sub' is? Sorry, can't agree on that one. Neither term will mean 'jacksh1t' outside of speedway circles.

I took it to mean your named, top, ( grade A or B ) rider, at the start of the season. I don't think it means whoever is top of the averages at the time of the injury...I think... If it meant the rider who is the top of the teams averages in say June for arguements sake then there's another potential pitfall. Lets use Cov as an example, because this is possible with them. If they sign AJ and BJ it's possible that AJ could have a slightly dodgy season and that BJ could put another point on his average. So lets say that they are both averaging around 8.80 by mid-season. AJ has a slightly higher average and picks up a long term injury (say 6/8 weeks). Before he is ready to return BJ could have upped his average a fraction and become Cov new number one in the current averages (at that time). BJ picks up an injury, doesn't mater if he's out days or weeks. Would Cov be allowed to continue using a guest for AJ, who could still be out for a week or 2, and a guest for BJ??? Confused!!!

Did I really say I'd be along every week next season Hope nobody noticed.

If this were the team then lets examine what the Bees fans are going to get for their money. (for the record I don't mean any disrespect to the riders. i'm just making comparrisons in an in your face/black and white kind of way) Last year An ex world champion Two ex under 21 champions Two of the hottest young riders out of America for quite some time. BJ in particular improved dramatically A solid reserve/second string A try hard who struggled but always gave 100% and was entertaining especially towards the end of the season. This coming season 1 ex under 21 champion 2 reserves riding in second string positions (or 1 at heat leader depends if you count the teams as now having 2 or 3 heat leaders) Solid second string/reserve One of last years second strings now at 2nd heat leader position 1 3.something struggling reserve 1 kid who's never raced over here Now like I said no disrespect, but I think that clearly illustrates how much weaker the teams in the Depleted League will be this coming season.

Well I'm sorry to say I don't like this one either. I just can't see it working when injuries really kick in, which sadly they will. Either we are going to see teams struggle with half a team, can't wait to see how the GJ will work out then , or special dispensation will be unfairly handed out all over the place when they realise it doesn't work. I can't really see a squad system working over here. The riders want a team for the season not a match here or there. To use the example shazzy propossed (but using a Nikki as a guest), what if Max is injured for Wolves, so they recall Nikki. Who gets priority on his services if there's a clash of fixtures. He's a Wolves rider, but Eastie (for eg) have signed him for the season? What if Wolves are at Eastie? Obviously it looks like Wolves would be able to bring in PK instead...but that's a whole other issue!!! Perhaps that's the idea behing the grading system. To create a multiude of riders without a team, so they can be called in to guest?

OK it must be my turn by now. I'll leave out the expletives to save our mods the hassle of editing. WHAT THE **** WERE THEY SMOKING/DRINKING/SNIFFING WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THIS ****!!!!!!!!!! THERE'S REASON THEY TELL YOU TO STAY OUT OF THE MIDDAY SUN!!!!!!!!! Right I feel able to type freely now. If you hadn't guessed I'm not 100% behind this one I totally respect the opinion of those that say give it a chance but...we are talking about a rule that just gives away points for absolutely no reason whatsoever. I do believe tha t/s it's former incarnation was generally just accepted because that's just the way it was. It was a little unfair on the lesser riders, particularly in heats 8 and 14. So why not introduce rule that says t/s can only be used in a race that's original line up includes at least one opposition heat leader. That way you wouldn't have Leigh against Jason B, and Robo (for eg) However if he fancied his chances he could come in against Billy in heat 10 (for eg) It still give the chasing team a chance to catch up without making it too easy. I like the GDTS because there is at least some extra worl involved that deserves the extra points. As we all know Greg/Billy are the only riders who should ever atempt it . Greg is a great team rider who can hold things up, and Billy in full flight will chase down anyone. If a pair can actually manage to get the rider from the back to the front, and the other rider still hangs on to second place...worth the extra points for me. Oh yeah, just in case I didn't make it clear... JOKER=PANTS

What strange logic you have and an amazing ability not to be able to compare like with like. Those meetings were run on a fair format, everyone met everyone else once and once only, everyone had to have at least one race off each gate position. None of those riders beat the champion twice. None met twice. its crazy to use a format where one rider can score 3,3,3 but then be knocked out by a sudden death semi-final after being given a poor gate on a poor slick track by the toss of a coin, whilst an opponent can score 0,2,2,R,2,2 and then be handed the best semi-final gate on the toss of a coin. There's no criticism of Nicki Pedersen whatsoever. He and his team perfectly exploited a flawed system and well done to them. Its a great achievement for an 8 point rider to lift the title ahead of better riders. I don't really agree with you, but I can see where you're comimg from. One quick point though. Nicki and Jason both drew gate three in the semis so there was no advantage to either of them. Nicki pulled off a fantastic move to get himself into the final, Jason blew it. I for one am very happy to see Nicki prove all the doubters wrong, including himself. I'm also gutted for Jason to come so close again.

Well if the fans give up then we really have got a problem :!: Keep the faith.

Well now I'm really p!$$ed off!!! Taken from the Cradley website. UPDATE ... Hopes for speedway to be introduced to the Castle Gate site in a multi-purpose stadium were dashed when Dudley Council accepted alternative plans by the St Modwen development company. Supporters will soon be too late to recognise any remaining features of the former Dudley Wood stadium as Barratt West Midlands have begun extensive earth-moving work, as well as erecting a temporary sales office for the houses due to be built on the land. Thought the council were going to do all they could help seccure a return for the Heathens. :roll: :x What a bunch of w*****s :evil:

Andrea Corrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :!: Nadine thingy from girls aloud has great legs and the Irish girl I met in Kos this summer was pretty cute. oh...and..yeah...bikes...tuners...tracks...riders...etc

I think Eddie Bull had a little bit to do with the 5 World Champs in 20 years... 8) Yeah but it's no good giving just anybody a fast, you need a bit of talent as well. ;-) mark - any talk of hot chicks are more than welcome on any thread

Oh GOD!!! :roll: lupus i have read several of your comments on here and you apear to be a rather small minded "fan" just because you support wolves does not automatically mean you should despise cradley -im a cov fan and i would give my right arm to see cradley back, i loved those easter derbys, beating them home and away ha ha Thanks for jumping to my defense there but Cradley and Wolves fans indulge in these exchanges on a regular basis, with no hard feelings. Hey sandman the Swedish girls are hot, but the Czech chicks will rock your world. 8)

Arsenal to finish second in the league :?: I had £2 on Crump at 3/1. Thing is I put £5 on Scotty and Greg so still made a loss. :roll: Better than nothing though.

So when we all die of old age, speedway dies with us :?: :? :roll: ;-)

Don't see how having a GP on each coast of America would help make it financially viable. :? The US is pretty big, and with the travel involved they might as well come back home. It would be interesting to try to get the Japs interested though. When they support someone/something they really do go all out.

If Scotty is improving all the time, doesn't that mean he must win it this time :?: :? Seriously I think only Greg and Scott are going well enough to challenge Jason. I tihnk Jason is fast enough to pass anyone else, but if either of these two get infront of him he's got a problem. It's pretty narrow and I'd fancy them to hold him off. Here's hoping anyway, cause I've got a bet on all three to win it. I've only ever picked Ryan at Cardiff as a winner before so my luck must be about to change. £5 on Greg at 14/1 would be nice. C'mon Grin!!!

Well it's America so at a guess I'd say the stadium is huge, and the track is half the size of Monmore. :roll: :clown