500cc

We shouldn't forget that Tai became world champion on the back of being invited (not qualified) to the GP series. That was based on a perception and a body of work built up in the previous years. There was certainly an argument to be had that he wasn't the most qualified to become one of the four wild cards. We should remember that when considering the ten nominated, they had a season of achievement on the back of previous pedigree. In mainstream sports a Tai could have come through, but its just not going to happen in speedway. The sport has to be recognisable. The Paralympics has given Para sports a platform to build from for example. I really don't think you can blame the BBC here. The BBC is no longer at the forefront of British sport. The media as a whole has the bigger influence. My experience is that the BBC do consider all sports; I seem to remember Matt Dawson being on a panel for the coach of the year award and putting forward Fab Flournoy (Basketball) as Coach of the Year.

We need to be realistic here. We can object as much as we like, but like many things in this world its about improving your profile. in sport we know who the best are because they win, they become world champions. But Sports Personality is about bringing together that high profile success. I'd love to see Tai there, but in the end its about raising the profile of the individual and the sport. Ben Ainslie has made the cut off a high profile background that had a specific successful performance this year. No other Brit would have made the Top 10 had they been in the boat instead of Ainslie. It's about building the profile over time. And Murray gets in the Top 10 year on year, but needed the Wimbledon success to make him favourite this year. The success of the programme requires the public having association with most of the participants. We might not like that, but its the truth. I hope they put their effort into getting Tai included in the actual show as opposed to just complaining; don't forget the BSPA doesn't take kindly to whingers on the internet !!!

But Giggs was probably an example of where the award was made on personality (all round personality, not charisma) as opposed to sporting achievement. Had is affair been known at that stage you can be sure he wouldn't have won.

Sorry, got to pick you up on this. I follow a lot of cycling and I don't believe that would have happened. Last season Wiggins was as dominant a rider as there has been across a season for many a year. By the time the season reached the TDF, I found it difficult to see how he could be beaten It's so easy to underestimate the impact of a team, but Sky so dominated the 2012 race that nobody got a look in. It was actually a fairly boring race because of that, but Wiggins was the ultimate in what has become the incredible planning and preparation of British cycling. What we saw was Froome making a couple of points in the mountains where he accelerated. But he and Wiggins knew it was about being steady. Like Wiggins, there are a number of riders capable of blowing away from Froome on the hills, but like Wiggins his strength is regaining the distance over a period of time. They could have battled each other and let Nibali into contention, a bit like two riders forgetting to team rider to win a meeting and instead thinking of themselves. Froome is/was the better climber, but Wiggins learnt how to maximise his potential, better than any rider I've ever seen. The only time they were in direct battle were the time trials where Wiggins gained over two minutes on Froome. At no other point was Wiggins treating Froome as a competitor. The real reason though I believe Wiggins would have won a one-to-one battle with equal supporting team strength is Wiggins rode the tour to perfection doing everything that was asked of him. You'd be amazed what happens when a rider gets isolated and/or attacked. Froome didn't directly face this because his team was controlling the tempo for Wiggins. The opposition were targeting Wiggins as he was the leader, cretainly at the points of the race there was still a realistic chance to overhaul him. Later in 2012 Froome was given free reign to win the Veulta Espana. In the end three Spaniards picked him to pieces in the mountains and he was a very distant 4th overall. In truth that was the end of a long hard season which took its toll, but it emphasises how these riders are riding to the limit. This season Froome was looking the better rider, but last season it was Wiggins. Don't get me wrong, Froome was excellent in 2012 (and to be a ticket holder stood on Hampton Court Green in front of the podium watching him get an Olympic Bronze in the same race Wiggins took Gold was a moment I treasure), but Wiggins was the better rider in the TDF.

In truth it will be highly unlikely that Tai will make the Top Ten. The ten will feature sports men and women who are more household names. That's not a fault of the BBC, but the profile of speedway isn't high enough at the moment. I expect the experts will have Tai on their long list, but in the end he is unlikely to make the cut. However, there is some potential in him being used in a different way. He has a story that is of interest to sport followers. Ride in to the studio on his bike, quick discussion on the speed and no brakes (I know !!!!), Eurosport clips of his crashes, his cycle ride to Cardiff, quick discussion of his injuries, a show of his tattoos. Cliched I know. Focusing on crashes (which we all know what can happen), but it is part of the sport. But the story of what he's overcome to succeed this year will strike a cord. Success over adversity is always of great interest. Speedway is difficult because of the extent of the adversity (injuries). But that is a way to move him towards a household name and the admiration of his sporting peers.

You can put the speedway authorities in that category. Not sure if I can think of worst example of a business that has not only failed to embrace the modern social media but more pertinently is also actively antagonistic towards it's customer's who do. I'm aware that by posting this I'm just adding further fuel to their view. I'm not a fan of social media, but have come to realise that is the new way of the world. Many of the rider's have grasped the reality and have enhanced their reputation by their behaviour in this environment. Whilst I appreciate its not easy, those with influence in the sport need to avoid the confrontation that occurs. Speedway does tend to specialise in criticising its customers.

I blame the BSPA. The ultimate "they couldn't organise a ..... in a brewery" !!!

It's good to see a proper fixture list. 2 Home and 2 Away. I'm sure though, very soon we'll hear from riders who object to that level of commitment. Fortunately the new points limit doesn't require a team to employ riders from the category where we will hear the discontent from. I'm a MASSIVE believer in getting more Brits into the EL, and have argued before you need to take one step back to take two steps forward in this area. But even I fear this has gone to the extreme. Depends what really happens, but it shouldn't be NL directly to EL. The fact it's a money cutting exercise under the guise of British development tells you everything you need to know. But at least the exercise involves British rider development. Hopefully all the mistakes in this process (there will be many as loopholes are encountered) actually turn out to enhance this for those youngsters.

Although a great opportunity for youngsters, that is quite a change to designate where a rider must ride. The US sports system basically dictates where a college sportsman plays his professional sport. Even in the US it isn't unheard for a player to refuse to go to the team that drafted him, instead (for example) playing in Europe and effectively forcing a trade. Not sure any of our UK professional sports force a player to go to a team they don't want to. Not sure if teenage speedway riders is necessarily the time to buck the trend !!! Therefore, I'd be surprised if it was a draft in the typical US style.

If it comes off then I absolutely agree that should happen. I think there probably will be a TV deal. For the BSPA to agree to it, I think the TV company will have to agree to cover all production costs which aren't inconsiderable. I very much doubt there will be any direct sponsorship. So that is a shortfall of £100,000 per team. Plus I expect each team will need to contribute money towards a fee to Terry Russell for brokering a TV deal. There is a heck of a lot of money the British Speedway must source from somewhere. We understand Peterborough were losing a £100,000 a season. We know that each extra fixture (we have 4 more this year) for a number of teams is just a further financial loss. Like you I'd love so see money going towards young British talent. I actually fear any money will be required to actually enable the season to finish with the same starting 10 teams.

Hasn't anybody realised why its NL riders? NL riders are British only. The BSPA believe that restricting reserve positions in a fully professional league is illegal. They've also tried to convince the Swedish authorities if the illegality. IT ISN'T ILLEGAL under EU rules. But the BSPA still don't understand this.

The problem with that is its effectively the equivalent of only one riding in the UK. Surely it would be preferable if they were to both ride but for different teams. That has always been the case historically and there is nothing about he modern situation that should mean that's not applicable (with the exception of whether the UK can afford them in the first place. The other issue is that a job share would generally cover all dates. It doesn't resolve a Friday night at Lakeside the night before a GP. In fact, in terms of preferred meetings you'd assume they'd choose virtually identical meetings. And more generically what would other teams do in this situation, because I just don't think many of the top riders are interested full-stop. My view remains. Don't prevent Holder and Ward riding in the UK, but equally don't create a rule specifically to suit their needs, especially one the option to ride for different clubs in the UK exists. There are enough holes in the strategy of UK speedway. Don't make it worse by making some clubs stronger and others weaker in order to support individual riders who are probably out of the price range of British Speedway as a whole.

Just for clarity on my comment I do see some slack here: 1. I don't object to an otherwise unavailable rider attempting to participate in GP qualification rounds to try and keep alive next season's dream. 2. I also don't object to a rider returning from injury, or even working through an injury and choosing leagues he will and won't ride in. I do object to riders picking and choosing the country they ride in ad-hoc. This miss one, ride one syndrome is just taking advantage of the situation. You either sign yourself off the UK for a period or you ride. In the end it all returns to the attitude of riders. You could fairly easily compile a list of which riders would pick and choose the UK and which would be all in.

My perception (and maybe wrongly) is that Polish speedway is bank rolled with some huge payments to riders that are way out of kilter with the general costs of that country. You ofcourse could make a similar claim about the English Premier League. Sweden is interesting. I was paying £5 a pint in Stockholm is the 90's, so it feels like a much richer country. To me its a bit like where the UK was in terms of most top riders having a British team. The set-up (as you mention) is far more suited to riders. Now maybe the wages are nearer Polish one's than I realised, but I'd thought they were good rather than extraordinary. Poland rides once a week. I'd expect riders to look for other income that was worth their while. If the bubble burst in Poland would the riders still get enough income from their other leagues. Would Russia be an alternative? I don't know in fairness. I just get the feel at the moment the it is Poland where the big money is based (SEC also for example) and everything would change if that were no longer the case.

rmc has touched on a very important point. Rider apathy. Granted Speedway is probably the most dangerous sport. But is there any sport in which the "players" have such an influence. I can understand where riding conditions are dangerous and why on those occasions riders may object to riding. Fine I get that. But in exchange for that you ride and put in the effort in all meetings. If for example the BSPA choose to run a competitive individual second half you ride. If not, stay away. If your injured, your injured, you don't pick and choose your countries to ride in. Most professional sport is effectively run in a dictatorial manner. Speedway riders are given a lot of slack due to the danger of the sport. In exchange you need to extra committed. This is especially an issue with top riders (not all). Riders need to take responsibility for these issues. Poland may look financially attractive. Somehow I don't think it will last. Not least if ultimately it's Poland or nothing for the big money.

Do you have any insight on the BSPA's strategy. To me there are to issues at play here. Television Coverage and Sponsorship. There is some correlation between the two, and currently of course they are totally entwined. Virtually all the sound bites from within the sport highlight the financial part. But is everything focused on a single egg in an old basket. If a deal can't be reached then what? If a deal is reached but simply for coverage (no sponsorship) then what? Yes BT Sport gets a mention, but again, if it isn't accompanied by sponsorship then what? It is quite likely possible Sky will offer coverage but at cost to the sport. Is TV coverage in its own right a target, or is the sport simply looking for money? If its coverage is a highlights package of interest or only live. I suspect its money that's what the sport wants (especially as clubs say they lose income when their matches are covered). To be honest that's the wrong way round. Building from the platform of media coverage should be the target, but I think the promoters are beyond that point. The very interesting interview with John Cook in todays Speedway Star touched on how promoters viewed an increase in meetings as just a further reduction in the amount of money per meeting from sponsorship. That is a very worrying trend for a business, let alone a sport. Very, very worrying. So are the BSPA actively looking for a new source of sponsorship, or is this a one trick pony; TV Coverage including sponsorship. I said in the past, Sky renewal may be the worst thing for the sport as they just seem to hemorrhage it. To have any chance of survival, speedway must build from the foundations. Another large influx of money without a coherent strategy to use it would be a disaster.

What worries me is I keep hearing about team plans based on a team without Sky and a team with Sky. Whilst there is some logic associated with that, I fear the key point may be being missed. Sky as a media outlet for the sport is obviously a good thing (if handled correctly). But I think the promoters are focusing on money. If Sky renew (which I doubt anyway), I'd be very surprised if it's more than just televising the sport. It's highly unlikely, I'd suggest, to include sponsorship (quite a coup to be honest if the sport pulled that off). Even worse, Sky may well go down the route they have previously with Basketball and Ice Hockey, and ask the sport itself to cover the production costs, whilst Sky air it for free. On a related topic. Who is heading up any negotiations (or at least the attempts) to renew with Sky? If this is the previous negotiator, are the BSPA clear of their clauses with him. Last time he received a percentage of the sponsorship money. If a deal is reached to show the sport, but without sponsorship, a middle man (if there is one this time) would still expect some form of recompense for brokering the deal. I trust the BSPA are fully focused on managing this situation. If not they can always chat at the imminent AGM !!!

But Matt Ford said a team wouldn't dream of signing Pawlicki on a 7. So that can't be true. Or is the aim to sign riders on a false average !!!

The best survey I've seen was run on this site by Speedy19902006 with 399 respondees. Some of the results were very revealing and I'd suggest of serious concern to the sport. Figures like: 67.1 % have followed the sport for over 25 years 69.3 % are aged over 40 50.8% have an average round trip over 25 miles 29.1% rarely or ever attend speedway anymore 70% have attended a GP I'm somebody who falls into all those categories due to my total disillusionment with the way the sport is run in this country. Whilst the two teams I followed shut down in 2005 and 2008, it's only the last two years I've got totally fed up. I never thought I would. I find those figures quite scary, and whilst you can never trust statistics, I think the illustrate a sport that is (an unstoppable?) decline. I think nationally and globally the authorities have been asleep on duty. Their inability to evolve in line with the massive changes in how the world operates staggers me. Social media is an enemy (I'm no fan but a business these days must embrace it), the amount of money top (and many not so top) riders earn especially in Poland, the exorbitant costs of machinery and especially engine tuning, the slow running of meetings (unsatisfactory start and back to the pits is a joke in modern times), the total disregard to fixtures (both planning and cancelling), the public arguments between promoters, as starters. The Grand Prix series has its issues, but there is a product that actually looks like it fits the new millennium. EDIT: "I'm somebody who falls into all those categories". For clarity, I fall into the first two categories historically (!!!), but the latter three are where I am at now. Our "rarely" now consists of Cardiff only. As a weekly spectator for years, it's not good if others have the same "viewing" profile as we do now. Those first three categories aren't the type of viewing profile any sport would appreciate. The distance one alone is less of an issue (and even a positive in the right circumstances), but combine it with the age profile and that is really bad news looking forward.

Not quite as promising as it may read. Merton have designated it must include provision for Sport. Whilst that means an application could be submitted for sport in its entirety (e.g. two back to back stadiums), financially that will never happen. There is little doubt that housing will form part of any application submitted. What Merton (currently) won't support is an application with no sporting content.

Although from an Elite League standpoint its interesting. More than half of the top 30 rode in the UK this year and two thirds in the last two seasons.

That looks like Wembley could be losing its status then !!! I've suffered similar with copying text on to this site. Can go very small

The basis of the AFC plan has existed for over a year. The numbers may have altered a little and the community issues introduced, but this option has looked the fore runner for the last year. The Greyhound option has gandered some great publicity in recent months and improved its chances. Truth is the stadium is an eyesore, in fact so is the whole plot. It isn't a nice place to go into, and sticking everyone on the back (now front) straight makes it a poor overall spectacle. But whilst not their doing, as the main tennants the greyhounds will be linked to the decline. For years the old football ground was also an eyesore. In terms of the limitations of building so many flats, I think they've done an excellent job. If you ever are in the area walk into the middle, for someone who doesn't particularly enjoy that style of housing, I think it feels very relaxing and comfortable. In contrast the stadium really isn't good. Whilst its a real shame that housing must be included, either option will transform what is currently quite a rundown area. I'm in little doubt the the feel good factor is with the AFC but there is a BUT. When it comes to football there will be heavy objections. Whilst residential dwellings around the plot are virtually non-existent, almost immediately on exiting the plot you will residential areas. And supporters will head to multiple stations. Turn right out of the current main exit, upto the old football ground then you have left for Haydon's Road, straight on for Wimbledon and right for Wimbledon Park. Or left out of the exit, then left for a trek to Wandsworth Common (or shorter to Earlsfield) or right for another longish walk to Tooting Bec. In other words the hit on local residents is quite wide. Re-attendances with a modern 21st century ground I'd expect them to raise their numbers substantially. The original Wimbledon never had a ground of Football League standard, but despite the earlier claims their support was pretty good. More than doubled once they left Plough Lane and it was realised Selhurst Park was now home. Not sure getting a season's average to 18,000+ when never even reaching an 8,000 average during their football league career in Plough Lane is a failure. A big factor re their low current averages is the limitations of the current ground. It's just not conducive to giving a large number of supporters a good view. At least Plough Lane had a big terrace. Personally I'd love the sporting elements of the two projects to combine. The space exists to join two stadiums back to back. The greyhounds only want one real side of seating anyway. Dogs, Stockcars and Speedway in one. Football in the other. But financially it won't work without the housing. There needs to be a winner as letting the stadium fall into further disrepair is surely a non-option. I suspect football will win, because of the respect AFC have built up since 2002. They are a community club in action not words. Edit: Minor correction to say the plot is also an eyesore.

It was actually a compliment to IOW. I doubt they were that clever (but you never know). However, they would have known that Adam could ride at reserve in all competitions until his 4th NL meeting so would have looked to delay that 4th meeting as much as possible whilst fitting in the other competitions. Whether the 4th meeting was any later than it would have been I don't know, but I'm sure it would have been in their thoughts; and nothing wrong with that.

Until at least August. Currently will move to the main body for the Dudley home match on 6th August. Currently averages just shy of 11 due to a poor return of 15 and Mildenhall !!! Just one more match for his average to become effective, so almost certain to move to Number One. But still (rain-offs permitting) THREE more League matches at reserve. How clever have Isle of Wight been? Gets his new average after the away match with Kings Lynn (v Robert Lambert at reserve?), but before the seven day eligibility is up, a trip to Coventry and the home re-match with Kings Lynn.