False dawn

Perhaps a way around this problem is for riders to make a long term commitment. So if you ride in a "National event" for one country, you are barred from riding for another for say. five years. This should be in addition to the current British requirement of passport holding and residence etc. You could even make such riders make themselves available for the National team in the SWC and so on. Whoops, sorry Scott.

There are always ways. I've been to all the Bees fixtures this season and although we might be pushing water uphill, I'll go to all the others. Sadly, with this cancellation and the silly predicament at Leicester, we might not see anymore. Oh, I know it's a tough call and we may be looking at the death throws of a once famous club, but I ain't ready to throw in the towel just yet. There are people who have as much as millions of pounds "invested" in Brandon. I have (this latest period) 47 years of my life, man and boy, invested in this club. Before that, I went with my Dad as a nipper. Stadiums come and go (ask Belle Vue). But a club has life all it's own. The odds ain't good but they are not non existent.

Sometimes it's hard to comprehend what I'm reading in terms of the track conditions at KL. What has happened? This was a promotion that prided themselves on preparing the best of racing circuits. I know what the track looked like first hard just a handful of years ago. Albeit on a sidecar. But I did know a well prepared track when I saw it (I ate some of that shale last time I was there). I went to Oz twice and people out there asked me what KL was like and I compared it to Gillman in Adelaide which is considered one of the best circuits out there (I crashed there too!). There is nothing wrong with the shape, the bends, the banking and when I knew it, the shale. Why, oh why, do I keep reading these poor reports?

It's June. No "R" in the month. Sorry, I don't mean to be flippant. But, many weeks ago, I gave up trying to keep up with the rules. Especially those pertaining to averages and team building. Am I alone in this?

But only if there's an "R" in the month

False dawn, on 21 Jun 2017 - 10:02 AM, said: I repeat my questions

You are right in your analysis. But the immediate feeling, the feeling that the best rider in the World had lost, watching Ivan being covered in shale while he lay on the track whilst his Polish rival completed the run off and the historical nonsense that was written that day all left me wondering why I'd made my way to Katowice to see that meeting. Even the Poles said the wrong man won (although they meant Zenon Plech, who I could have accepted).

Sadly, one of my earliest memories of the Poles was the 1973 World Final. I was there Mind you, I did learn something that day. The poles are ferociously enthusiastic fans and at the same time good to be with.

I have some sympathy for Rye's point of view. However, when did Bomber sign for Peterborough? When did Eddie commit to the long track meeting? These things didn't just happen. Please, plan a replacement date.

That little known number "Extra Manoeuvrability"? Or perhaps "Your Cheatin’ Heart" or "Naughty by Nature". [sorry Matt!] Or Poole playing by the rules....... "It's impossible" What Kind of Fool Am I? Oooo. this is thread that just keeps giving

Quite correct. 8 + 1 from 4 completed rides. Had the almost inevitable fall and excluded in his other ride.

I was. A few stats (nerd alert).... DK rides = 5 and a bonus SW rides = 10 and a bonus That is almost enough to make the difference. But BV provided 11 of the heat winners but also provided 9 of the last places. tbh the real difference was the three 5-1's by Nick Morris and Kenneth Bjerre Leicester pulled off some good race results to keep themselves in it. But when it came to outright speed from the front BV just edged it. There was some spectacular riding round the outside, notable Erik Riss. The pity was that it was a very quick track (track record in heat 1) and overtaking was at a premium. Jim Lynch, in his match report points the finger firmly in Lasse Bjerre's direction. True he never was at the races but he has shown real promise in earlier results. Not the best entertainment. Certainly the hour long delay due to the sun was irritating. But I saw enough to go back. A warning to other teams, Leicester, on their day, can beat anyone.

I did decide to come to Leicester tonight. A nice night and the novelty of a full Leicester team. Well I got that wrong. Danny announced at the last minute as absent and now an hour's delay because the sun. We are getting fed up

Now RR for Danny King Now RR for Danny King

Ah but. Yes the financial side has to be considered (I want Leicester to succeed given that they are willing to put this meeting on at all). Would the riders accept a lower point payment? 3/4 of the proposed rate would do it. And given a good field wouldn't the gate return be better anyway? If the 4 "Bees" riders signed by Leicester ride for Leicester (which seems right) and Kenneth doesn't ride, we are faced with fielding a 2 man team with 5 "guests". Hardly keeping the Bees name alive.

I did suggest an individual meeting instead of a team challenge. All 7 Leicester riders plus as many of the intended Bees as possible and then the likes of Bomber, Rory, Robbo and any other ex Bees who could be encouraged to take part. I even suggested a certain GP rider might make an appearance. But the idea was rejected on the basis that the Leicester promotion, who are paying all the expenses and points money, bless them, would end up paying for more points, 120 (plus a semi and a final) vs 90 odd for a team meeting. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

I know. Hence my underline. We want BT or Sky to cover multiple meetings including our domestic leagues and KO cup etc. not just a handful of dates. We risk losing TV coverage altogether of any speedway in this country if the best riders in the World choose not to ride in certain events.

Nice to see at least one forum poster can have his mind changed!

You speak with real passion and I read with interest your report on a meeting that clearly left the fans short changed. Taking up the suggestion elsewhere why don't you repackage your two postings here and send them to Buster? In the past he has worked tirelessly to put on a good show. Express your disappointment and who knows, it might have an effect. At the very least he might respond and give his side of this. King's Lynn is a club with a long history who should be at the top of the sport.

Tai rode for us last year as a similar key player to Greg in the USA team and we got a silver medal. He knows that the USA has a chance of achieving a respectable result (ok, not a silver medal) with his help and regardless of his numerous appearances should be both proud to wear the stars and stripes and know that when your country calls, you should answer the call. Bringing on the youth of your national side is best done by leadership, not by sending them to certain defeat. Oh but I'm biased. If Greg rode in the King's Lynn round I'd go and see him. If all the best riders in the world rode in all the rounds, I'd take my friends and family and their friends and anyone else who I could persuade to go to a world class meeting. I might even use it to lean on the TV companies to cover the SWC as well as our domestic meetings.

Rory winning makes a nonsense of all this analysis. And embarrasses us all on July 22nd

I wasn't there and only have live updates on which to judge. But for Rye to lose this one looks unforgivable. A draw would have at least been fair but not the right result. To select Robbo for heat 15 ahead of Danny King given their respective race results (not just points scored) is somewhat of a mystery. I think Rye to have a hard think about running fixtures when they know key riders are going to be elsewhere and then not trusting their guests to give of their best when it matters.

Well that's a very good question. Reading a "roughly" translated article is risky, at best. I could extract any "truth" from that, that I wanted. Standby the forum truth seekers.

That's sounds like common sense. Now let me check. Common sense + the speedway authorities + the forum. Does not compute, does not compute, does not compute.....

So we have two of the leading riders in the World not taking part in the World Cup. Hardly a satisfactory situation. Nothing against the other riders, but the prospect of Greg and Tai going up against each other at King's Lynn is (was) something to be savoured, surely?