Najjer

Jack has already said he will be choosing Britain over Sweden. If given the chance, I’d expect Chris to end up doing the same I expect

Only if you want to spend 10 days at home isolating

6 man teams seems the obvious solution to rider shortage. That potentially saves on around 20 riders across the top two divisions.

What did Glasgow and Somerset say in the speedway star?

The problem that people in the past haven’t been happy about was when as an example, Paul Starke missed meetings for Poole in the top tier in the past because he was riding for Somerset on the same night in the 2nd tier. That’s just an example. This problem was then solved by the introduction of fixed race nights. Aslong as the riders signed up to my team attend every meeting then what’s the issue then? You’ve misunderstood my point on the guest rule that I have. I have pointed out that I think it’s a big problem that as soon as a rider is missing, guests are immediately deployed. I have suggested this shouldn’t be the case and should have to be the very last resort.... whilst also suggesting some form of restriction to prevent certain riders being able to ride for so many different teams. There was a ridiculous situation a few years ago when Scott Nichols rode for about 3 teams in a week before then riding against those teams for his actual team later that week. Just for reference, I’ve been a regular member of this forum for over 15 years

It’s been going on for years. I remember in that year I mentioned in 2008 it was actually seen as bad news when Simon Walker came back from injury. It’s too easy to use guests nowadays and nobody wants to watch a team full of guests. That is one of the biggest problems... especially when the chairman has said the reason certain teams can’t ride in the league because it limits his own choice of guests for his side!! D’oh!

What is the problem with doubling up and doubling down? The teams in the Premiership and Chanpionship never race eachother and they no longer ride on the same nights to create a clash of fixtures, so what’s the problem? The only thing it does is create a solution to potential rider shortage and fill up the quota of riders needed across both leagues. The problem is the guest rule - where you have one rider ride for several teams within a week before then riding against them for his actual team at the weekend. That is madness and should be limited and/or stopped. I’m a strong believer in that guests shouldn’t be allowed full stop if only one rider is missing. In which case rider replacement should be used. If two or more riders are missing then a guest should be allowed, but only on the value of their home or away average depending on whether they are at home or away. I remember back in 2008 at Somerset when we had guests like Craig Watson replacing Simon Walker away from home because of his inflated home average, when he was pretty useless away. A guest replacement should never make a team stronger. There has to be some sort of limit imposed either on the rider, the team or over a time period restricting how many times they can be used in my opinion.

Again, especially after the recent Glasgow press releases, how refreshing is it to see a promoter being so open and honest to his fans and paying customers? It goes a long long way I feel, and beats the whole “sit quietly and say nothing” approach that so many teams seem to adopt. Fair play to him.

The moment a rider signs a contract, they know the rules (or at least they should) and have therefore agreed to them. They can’t then claim restriction of trade when they have knowingly agreed to it.

It also does effect Championship sides potentially - rides in the 1st and 2nd division in the Polish league can only ride in 3 leagues. It’s still unsure how that could effect the likes of Riss, Becker and Masters to name just three. Does the Premiership and Chanpionship count as two leagues potentially ruling them out of the Swedish league (and any others)? As others have already eluded to, it is a knock on effect in that Pedersen, Lambert, Iversen, Tungate etc all need replacing and it will likely be they come from the Championship.

I didn’t say anything about how much experience they have - I said the quality. Every year the points limit gets lowered it weakens the teams from the previous year. That is a fact proven by maths. Correct - which the top riders will provide better racing than lower standard. They are more skilful and much more likely to carry off certain rides. Bartosz Zmarzlik for example is not only the best in the world but he’s the most entertaining too.

I can see the logic behind 6 man teams if rider availability is an issue, but not a cost saving measure. I have this arguement year on year that weakening the product will continue to reduce costs but continue to reduce the income too as more and more people give up on the sport as a result.

Ahhhh this arguement about the 45 point average always gets me! If ‘rider averages’ were calculated purely on average points scored, then there would be some legs in that arguement. Because rider CMA are calculated using points X rides / 4 - when you take into account heat 15 and riders taking 5 rides, it’ll work out that the total team points based on that calculation should be about 42.00-42.50. Years ago back in 2002 it was 45.00 including bonus points which is about right. Lowering the team total CMA year on year just weakens and weakens the product year after year. The strength of the second division is nothing compared to what it was, probably even 10 years ago let alone even further beyond that.

So is it fact, speculation, rumour or happening?

So what is the new planning applications (that’s in the local domain) actual purpose? Especially considering it is actually worded incorrectly according to you to say that the main racenight will actually be Friday with Wednesdays used as an alternative. That just seems a little backwards to me to apply for something they can already do, yet not alter the wording? Im not sure when the new Oak Tree business park is due for completion but you’d anticipate that would bring in a nice income. No idea on the Henry Atkins front and where that rumour has come from, but it’s been posted by two separate people now so there must be some legs in it somewhere. Either way, Atkins or not I’m very surprised that the team hasn’t/isn’t changing. Will take your word on that also until we see that actually officially confirmed. All speculation as you say... but isn’t that what a forum is for to discuss??

This is from the local planning applications: 12/20/00014: Oak Tree Farm, Bristol Road, Edithmead, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4HA: Variation of Condition 1 of Planning Permission 12/04/00005 (Variation of Condition 8 of Planning Permission 1/12/99/18 to allow alternative race night on Wednesday when opponent's race night is also Friday, when no other Friday date is available and fixtures cancelled due to weather. 14 day notification of any rescheduled fixtures) to allow for Speedway training days to take place on the track. Unless I’ve read that wrong, that implies the first condition is to switch main race night presumably to a Friday night - although it doesn’t specify which day but does mention Friday in the second part. The second condition being to allow for an alternative race night on a Wednesday and also allowing for training days, shows that Wednesdays are no longer the preferred main racenight. You’ll know better than me though.

It’s been a number of years since I last went to Plymouth, but I always enjoyed my visits down there. I also don’t know the background of the current promotion but from pictures of the track/stadium, the news coming out of Plymouth during the pandemic earlier this year, branding and efforts made to stage meetings look highly commendable - long may that continue.... and Friday night racing too!

I’m not privy to information about Plymouth’s situation and you’ll be much know in the know on that than myself - but I can’t get my head round that being a reason to block them joining the league... especially when we currently operate a fixed race nights system in the top tier! To use that as a reason for blocking Plymouth completely contradicts the Premiership racenight ruling. I think the more weekend racing in the Championship with non-Polish league riders the better!

Not getting muddled up at all - I’m well aware what league Łódź compete in. Although they aren’t usually scheduled to ride on Fridays, there was times this year when matches were rearranged to take place on Fridays in Poland in the Ewinner Divison 1. There was a few cases of this happening and I have no doubt that it will be the case in the future too. I highly doubt with some early start times usually on Saturdays that they would want Becker flying out a few hours before the scheduled start of a match over there too after riding here on a Friday night. Not to mention, in my original point that I had noted he would probably miss several away matches more than likely at the British League weekend tracks of which there are several in the Championship.

Don’t shoot me, I’m just the speculative messenger! It’s all subject to council approval and then more importantly as has already been eluded to, Mr Godfrey and his band of merry followers. For what it’s worth, I know of some fans who didn’t like the switch to the Wednesdays and I also know of some who disliked Fridays. You can’t please ‘em all! I’d assume though after being in the top tier on Wednesdays, dropping back down a league on a Wednesday, the want to switch back to a Friday probably tells you all you need to know in terms of attendance and revenue.

To add even more weight to my previous remark about Luke Becker and Poland, it now looks like Somerset want to return to their Friday night race night as oppose to Wednesdays - that doesn’t surprise me either.

Me too - I haven’t got deep enough pockets!

Damian Lotarski has left Grudziadz. They’ve now only got 2 juniors left in their ranks, weakening their already weak juniors even further!

I remember when # Name Removed #, Pavitt and Ronnie Russell came in “to save the day” at Somerset in 2009. It was like they see a golden egg and just wanted to try and rinse it as quick as they could before they were ousted. Wrong’uns!

The difference being that Etheridge and Flint are likely to be squad members, where Becker will be first teamer it is expected on a regular basis. That would result in him potentially missing a host of Friday, Saturday and Sunday away league meetings. If I was the Somerset boss, I wouldn’t be prepared to let that happen personally and would look at replacing him.