RobMcCaffery

I thought it was a mix of reserve teams and stand-alone, just like NDL.

Belle Vue 1982. England v USA. England manager Eric Boocock sweeping out flooded pits, stops, points to sign out on centre green and says "Hope those bloody yanks have read that". Sign reads: "Keep Off The Grass"

That mention of the Wimbledon fans is one of the most touching comments I've read for a long time. Nearly half a century on Tommy Jansson's light still burns in faithful hearts. This troubled sport can still make you gasp. It's people like that who will never let the sport die.

I was trying to explain why they raced midweek, not on the specific day. I certainly remember them racing regularly on Tuesdays. The logistics of running an amateur sports team in a national league from an offshore island (just) are extreme and the normal rules don't apply. Getting cheap ferry travel is essential so meeting Wightlink's needs is equally essential. So far it seems like the IoW management are keeping the balance well. I just hope that Plymouth can plough the same path. They also have access problems in the form of distance but there's little prospect of getting help from someone like Wightlink. Having been to the SBA I do wonder if it has the physical capacity to pay for higher league racing. In many ways that was Rye House's downfall. Even if you could have filled the place (and that would have been a very tight fit even before the stadium became dilapidated) I wonder if the gate receipts could ever have been enough to cover costs at the highest level, but then they were relying on Sky money that was never going to come.

Re the NDL itself I fear that we may be seeing a two league structure next year with an expanded top tier operating between PL and CL level and a second tier for the remainder operating between CL and NDL level. The risks are stark - too many tracks trying to operate at a level with higher costs but minimal increase in crowds. Apparently it seems to have worked for Ipswich and Eastbourne this year though. A sport is really only as strong as its grass roots so a strong NDL is essential because the way professional speedway is heading in Britain it may be our only future.

Both have three leagues. Thev Swedish third tier is very similar to the NDL but Poland's is more like our Championship level. They do have a large number of midweek junior meetings staged on tracks of all three divisions. So, juniors racing at weekends for senior clubs on a 'sink or swim' basis then get a chance to ride in meetings just with riders of their own status. I'd say level but World under-21 contenders Drabik, Smektala and Kubera are eligible for many of them. They attract minimal crowds.

The Isle of Wight operate on Thursdays. It has been stated that they have to run midweek to get the discounts on ferry travel for riders, officials and supporters at what is an off-peak time for Wightlink. That's a bad choice of example.

Let us pray he's not the number 1!

Is the ESS retaining the nine team league with Thursday racing next year? Anyway, more importantly, congratulations to Smederna for bringing the playoffs to life. The narrow win over Vetlanda followed by the comprehensive thrashing of Dackarna is an achievement to be truly proud of. The dark days of a few years back must seem very distant now for Ghostwalker and his fellow fans/administrators. Gleb Chugunov was a true delight to watch. Most of all I'd like to thank ESS for their legal streaming service this year. 82 matches for less than £80 has to be one of the best bargains I've ever bought. It has been a real privilege for the first time in five decades of watching speedway to watch a complete league season. I never dreamt I would ever get that opportunity. I just hope that despite the C-More deal next year I can still watch the complete season, even if on demand rather than live. This sport can still be wonderful, if it's given the chance. Congratulations Smiths, the team of Tommy and Bengt Jansson. You truly deserved it

Do I hear the sound of a bubble preparing to burst? When you look at the many junior events held in Poland, albeit in front of one man and his dog, it's clear that there's a fair supply of juniors, but the standard is in question once past Drabik, Smektala, Kubera and based on last weekend at least Krakowiak. Mind you, the first three would be more than enough for most countries. This all seems to relate to eroding the bargaining position of riders. Certainly talking of putting eight seniors out of work would suggest that, but I wonder if opening up the junior berths to non-Poles is a response to excessive demands by their own youngsters? These measures, if adopted, would clearly be about cost-cutting. Just because the income in Polish Speedway is huge, it's irrelevant IF the costs are too high, or possibly even higher? It wouldn't be the first sporting league to find its riches ruinously disappearing into competitors' pockets.

Where? Eurosport's main channels aren't even on Freeview! There seems to be widely-held fallacy that Eurosport in the UK is a free service, It isn't. Its channels however are included in most basic level pay-TV services offered by Sky and BT rather than premium services but they are most definitely not free to air or free to view. As for them being on Freeview! - That's the best one I've heard in ages. I'd suggest you're a bit out of your depth on this one. Stick to making excuses for Poole. They have Quest as a very occasional back-up but apart from EFL highlights it's very rarely used for sport. I've just checked their schedule until October 5th. Only sport is EFL football. Their only spare channels, apart from temporary ones set up for major tournaments such as the Olympics are those that are carried on their separate subscription Eurosport Player. Anyway, can I please have a list of these alleged channels and their epg numbers please? You can stick to Freeview and Sky. I know they're not on Virgin or Freesat. The only other normal broadcast Eurosport channel is Eurosport News but it is not operational in Britain. Anyway, if taking part in a discussion about a subject I actually know something about means having to fight off the ignorance of Skidder it's best if I leave you to the childish bun fights and head back to the sanity of the international section. Sometimes it really isn't worth it.

Not yet. Philip Rising has already suggested that they are serious contenders to relieve BT Sport of the contract a year early. I did say "prospect in future years" I had hoped that would be clear enough. Obviously I overestimated my south coast audience ;-)

Anyway if the deal is done we simply have to live with the consequences and after a year of potentially crazy scheduling and huge gaps in coverage, meetings being joined when 80% over and the prospect in future years of SGP fighting for a place on Saturday night's schedules again we'll be able to say this time next year. "Well, only four more years". It can be such a lovely sport but to be honest, it gets what it deserves through its short-termism and general stupidity of those allegedly running it. It's like asking your backstreet car dealer to front up a Maclaren dealership in Mayfair ;-)

Sadly the truth re Eurosport is - so many sports, so few channels.

They are all available on demand. You choose your match and watch anytime. The captions were appalling and the commentary and vast majority of interviews were in Swedish but overall it was very watchable and a unique opportunity to watch every match in a league campaign. This may be heresy from someone who's made his own share of speedway broadcasts but I didn't miss the extra cameras. After all, in the stands or on the terraces I only have one view.....

It's pretty clear that the BSPA have once more gone simply for the 'wonga', irrespective of the quality of 'service' that will in all probability result.The needs of the sports' supporters as always are secondary. Does nobody realise that it is possible to be a keen viewer of speedway both live AND on TV? The list of priorities is daunting and it's pretty obvious we'll only get airtime when they've got nothing better to show. The Olympic period will be a total non-starter for speedway. I fear we are set for more haphazard scheduling but if Eurosport Events are originating the feed themselves it would be stupid to treat the coverage as they have done with that originated by Eurosport Poland. Put simply, if they're getting a cheap programme off a sister network they may not be bothered when, if and how much they show as with the One Sport Events they may treat showing it casually, but if they've spent thousands going to a track to make it themselves they may treat it with more respect. Do we have a guaranteed number of meetings? Can you see Polish sponsors being remotely interested in the UK market? How many actually sell to this country? Fogo, Nice, Get Well? As for the GPs, lord help us if they do get their hands on again. The memory of their previous mishandling surely isn't forgotten? How much is that Eurosport Player again? Sadly it's all about the cash and not seeing the less obvious benefits. While I'm here, the ESS in Sweden, the equivalent of the BSPA have a live streaming service which has seen every Elitserien match covered this year, with up to six matches shown weekly, all but one with single cameras. The cost? SEK 189 - about £16. No, that's per month, not match. It was possible to watch over 80 matches this year for under £80.

Yes, of course being there enhances the experience, and the appreciation of it. If nothing else there are too many distractions when watching at home, but sadly that is all I have to work with now due to my health. Being in good company and enjoying a great day out in an interesting part of the world puts you in a positive frame of mind and perhaps you remember the good moments rather than the bad. It seems to this remote observer that far too much of the incident at Gustrow comes from sneaking through on the white line. I'm a total fan of the big handful round the outside. I plead extensive experience of Belle Vue and Hackney in my youth as mitigation (the family Morton being a common denominator) ... There were a couple of outside moves at Gustrow but as the meeting drew on it began to fail to hold my attention. I do't enjoy the Eurosport commentaries either (I know, I'm a heretic) and I tend to tune out mentally , especially since the pro-One Sport statement abyss of last season during the pairs. I had a couple of years working weekly at Mildenhall and know exactly how good a track like it can entertain. Looking at Gustrow I see a missed opportunity - all it needs is banking and itcould emulate West Row and finally give Germany a track that people looked forward to seeing racing from. They're similar in length and plan, with the finish line just off bend four, hence my comparison. Okay, I'm still recovering from the disgrace that was Norden.

The money available in Polish speedway is surely encouraging the best young bike racers to look to speedway rather than other sports. Add in the best of equipment and it's inevitable that they will have a conveyor belt of talent. As for Gustrow, it's like Mildenhall without banking. Without its banking a great little race track like West Row would be an awful kerb-crawling paradise - like Gustrow. Someone praised the racing last night. It speaks volumes about the standard of racing they must normally endure. For every Katowice or Torun that One Sport use there's at least one dud like Gustrow. Sadly too many venue choices are based on anything but speedway.... .

"An ideal hotel conveniently located between Cardiff and Somerset"? Steep Holm & Flat Holm don't have hotels sadly and a problem to access ;-) Otherwise ideal....

Yes, "we" as a sport. Long time since I worked for a TV station...... The overall figures are quite disappointing considering how the channel's available to most on Freeview. It's an old adage in TV that the higher the number on the epg, the fewer can be bothered to explore.

Sorry, I'm reporting ratings. I don't work for them.

The most recent ratings for Freesports make interesting reading. Obviously in TV terms these are penny numbers but at least we're doing well, although the channel's main sport, ice hockey is only just getting underway. MLS is US Major League Soccer while Liga NOS is the Portuguese Football League. The Champions Hockey League is ice hockey's version of football's Champions League. Congratulations to Dave Goddard whose hard work is at least somewhat rewarded. Freesports 26 Aug 2019 - 01 Sep 20191 SWEDISH SPEEDWAY 2019 (THU 22:30) 36,3002 MLS 2019 (SUN 27:36) 32.6003 SWEDISH SPEEDWAY 2019 (THU 23:04) 32,2994 SWEDISH SPEEDWAY 2019 (TUE 17:56) 30,9005 THE MLS SHOW 2019 (TUE 25:31) 28,0006 CHAMPIONS HOCKEY LEAGUE 2019 (SAT 19:24) 24,1007 CHAMPIONS HOCKEY LEAGUE 2019 (FRI 19:24) 23,6008 WORLD SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 18/19 (MON 12:00) 23,4009 CHAMPIONS HOCKEY LEAGUE 2019 (SUN 15:58) 19,80010 THE MLS SHOW 2019 (WED 22:00) 19,20011 LIGA NOS 19/20 (SUN 20:55) 18,70012 CHAMPIONS HOCKEY LEAGUE 2019 (THU 19:25) 17,20013 THE MLS SHOW 2019 (TUE 20:12) 16,80014 WORLD SIDECAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 18/19 (SAT 12:59) 16,10015 RUGBY 2019 (SUN 10:01) 15,000

I think we can safely say that Leszno will be champions

Not working for me. Just looping. I've tried both menus to see if maniak or dhrtv were using different channels. The latter has been listing football all day until just now. Don't worry, I always check your back postings. Once a researcher........

Is the Latvian one the only one tonight apart from Goldvod?