Deano

How about throwing Martin Dugard into the mix? Never made it on the individual world stage like others, but consistently at the top of the British League and Division 1 and Elite League averages when it was still considered one of the toughest leagues in the world.

I am Spartacus

I think we need to answer the question: Why would any Brit want to become a full time professional speedway rider? Can it support a family, pay bills and pay a mortgage? Until it can where is the incentive? Britain actually does a lot for world speedway... but not for Brits. We bring on young Danes, Swedes, Poles and most of all Australians. So yes I think for that a Brit does deserve a place in the GP's in the current format. If it was done through proper qualifying rounds, like the old one off final, then I can't see a Brit getting through.

It's on the BSPA website builderbob. 19/04/11 1930 Isle of Wight v Sittingbourne Select (Ch)

"Two years ago, finished the job as director of the series and was director of the slag at the International Federation of Sports Motorcycle (FIM)." I wonder who he's director of?

Spot on... what we are up against is Aston Villa and Birmingham City football clubs generate more income in a year than Birmingham Speedway would ever generate. Money and jobs can talk under these circumstances and unfortunately speedway doesn't have much money and doesn't employ a squad of superstars with huge amounts of disposable income.. Yes there is and some tracks have done "the fence" and the "banks of earth" thing, unfortunately (in Birmingham's case) the environmental agency stipulated that the source of the noise must be reduced, no amount of fences and earth would satisfy that objective. Birmingham council was one of the most anti speedway councils... but now, due to these silencers, we have a team. I guess the speedway authorities have seen this as a softening and feel many more anti speedway councils would not object so much. Bristol being another case. I'm glad the BSPA and FIM have finally recognised noise as one of the biggest threats to speedway, it's not the only one of course but goes a long way to sway decision makers.

Yes... For example.. I have two one hundred year old oak trees at the very bottom of my garden. Thirty years ago they built a row of new houses approximately 20ft from the trees (doh!). Four years ago someone bought one of these houses at the bottom of my garden (probably at reduced market value because of the trees).... Would you believe it, every year I get a letter through my front door asking me to reduce the height of the trees due to the fact they get no sunlight in their house. I'm told it's unbearable, they seek legal advice everytime and god help me if anything falls and damages their property or their health, the trees have now out grown their environment and should be halved. At the moment you can imagine what my response is, (the sentence is very short), but any change in the law could change that. Speedway here is no different.

No complaints from fans, riders, promoters, coaches or sponsors etc regarding speedway noise in the UK. It's people living nearby throwing european human rights rules into the air and giving councils a hard time... councils then find it easier to either not allow a new track to open or make it difficult for existing tracks to operated. It is no coincidence that every other speedway nation is affected by noise.... It's not just speedway by the way, it's all motorsport. We want speedway around for a long time, being anti-social and noisy will kill it eventually. I hope a nimby doesn't move into a Polish tracks back yard one day, I wonder how it would stand up in a european court if the Poles aren't using an accredited form of noise reduction.

How long will it be before the noise issue hits Poland.... It will eventually..

Sad news indeed. My gut feeling is perhaps Mr Ribbons's previous attempts at promoting speedway have gone against him. I'm a firm believer in people being given a second chance, perhaps this is the reason for the BSPA demands and late decision? Perhaps mildenhall is considered a higher risk than other clubs... maybe if there were more investors the BSPA would have looked at it differently?

Perhaps a new Weymouth promoter should learn from Buxton, a club that produces riders on what is a tight budget. Buxton have proved it is possible. It would also seem odd, if you were trying to attracted attention to a business you were selling, you would tell potential investors "Speedway just isn't viable in this town".

Exactly my thoughts.... I would advise fans need to read the application carefully, just in case, there are any other changes that could effect the continuation of speedway.

Switch codes??? Enigma codes... Post codes.... ?

I applaud the effort you are putting in... There was a disagreement on here recently when a youngster complained against his second half ride being canned. The response "It was canned because a genuine replacement for XXXX was given the track time, why would we allow this slot for just a wobbler anyway" sadly, I think the response pretty much sums up what you are up against before you turn a wheel. I personally think every track should pay into a pool and support free track time and bikes for any under 18's interested in Speedway.

And hopefully be able to put their money where their mouths are!

This is fantastic news... another opportunity to spread the gospel to the West Midlands that Speedway is the best sport around. What better for our own local teams that a local track is there to help bring on and nurture young men to help fill those elusive reserve berths with local riders. I hope the council see this as a fantastic opportunity to help youngsters train to earn a living and in turn help the local teams attendances by possibly having a local rider to cheer on. Hopefully one day we will see you in a Premier League capacity bringing fans together for a fantastic local Derby. Best of luck.... most of all keep fighting, Speedway and Planning is not an easy hurdle.

I'm only guessing, but with the guys personal circumstances perhaps he took his eye off the ball and the purse strings. Businesses can make you a lot of cash, but they can also eat a lot of cash, sometimes beyond peoples personal means. I think it's best to look forward now, what has happened has happened. I wish every rider and fan of Mildenhall the very best for the future.

All year round Speedway!!! Heaven...

A man with my sense of humour..

As much as I admire the efforts of Peterborough in bringing on young Brits, lets not compare our current 1-7 with Peterborough's offerings of the last 17 years. If we did the same and more why not just go back to the 40's. I'm not defending using an all Aussie line up, but please use a level playing field.

The Tamworth Pigs it is then.

I simply said "especially" as they were without Pedersen and were still in the running to win.

Hi Dave, I hope it wasn't me who gave that impression, personally I think the lads did over and above what was expected of them and there was some good racing too. The point I'm trying to make is there is a huge gap between fourth and winning, if Harris, Nicholls or Richardson had picked up an injury just before the World Cup... what do we have as back up? The Danes especially and the Poles wouldn't have any kind of problem, if they suffered injuries of a similar nature, they'd still remain competitive.

Yes, I have a lot of time for both Brian Buck and Brian Bott, you'll find at the top of the Cradley Heath supporters club you have the equivalent.

Keep the faith... who'd have thought Birmingham would be back on track with our previously negative council. While there is still a fan base there is a way and this attempt by Nigel Pearson is to give it national exposure and hit the message home to Dudley MBC..... "YOU ARE NOT GOING AWAY!".