cinderfella

Think Becker and Blodorn are already committed to Sundays elsewhere. Sam Jensen who rode for Glasgow could be another one who is available oe what about Danny Gappmeier who did a job for Berwick?

I bet every rider in the PL and CL is on a guaranteed income otherwise they could afford to do it. Just as example James Shanes would be out of pocket after having to purchase two new helmets to continue racing after his helmets got damaged beyond use at Edinburgh on Friday. I imagine he wouldn't have much change out of £400 so without a guaranteed income riders wouldn't be racing I doubt

Paul Starke according to the Ipswitch website has aggravated an old wrist injury. It's worth remembering he suffered two broken wrist in a crash at the British Final at Belle Vue a few years back. I'm sure Paul, being the consumate professional, is missing for a legitimate reason as any "withholding services" would affect his Ipswich contract too.

Yip they are popping up more often than Chris Harris does as a guest.

Can't agree with getting twice the meetings. Say 18 teams which would mean 34 matches where as at moment with 6 PL and 11 CL teams they would get 40 meeting plus KO Cup and play-offs.

Has the fact that reserves are now considered part of a team a problem compared to the 'old days' when a team's reserve had to ride for his place week in week out against the other novices/juniors at their chosen track. Certainly reserves back then wouldn't have been trying to make a full time living from the sport but it kept young riders on their toes looking to break into a team

Thanks for your answer. As I said we've not had a Flat Track meeting up here in Scotland and we don't have grasstrack either which is perhaps why we have a lack of riders of a certain standard up here.

Just out of interest can anyone tell me (since we don't have in Scotland (yet???) how attendances and admission prices at flat track meetings compares to speedway and how many riders/heats/classes are there? I'm assuming flat track will be generally amateur so wondering how it compares and if speedway can learn anything from its cousin? Would having different classes based on engine size, age of machine etc make speedway meetings more interesting and/or entertaining. Would returning to semi-professional status reduce costs and perhaps even.make it more accessible for youngsters to try especially if we get away from specialised engines?

Have the got a new Press Officer yet or were they left at the gate again?

The other factor streaming solves is dodgy weather forecasts. If I was faced with the prospect of a 2 hour round trip and the possibility of a rain-off I know what I'd choose. Clubs have to be careful though because a £12 stream can be watched by a roomful of people in a warm room with a good atmosphere and that could be a couple of hundred pounds in lost revenue to the team. I know EMTV is not available within a certain distance of Armadale but if there is another attractive meeting being streamed from elsewhere that evening I'm sure the weather (or opposition) would influence the decision.

The thing is do people want meetings to be over quickly or do they want more entertainment, junior races, etc for their money. When you consider actual racing probably takes between 15 and 18 minutes depending on the length of the track speedway doesn't offer good value for money.

With all due respect to riders, that gulf in standard was obvious at Armadale on Friday night

Brings a new meaning to a speedway meat-ing

While that is true one of the problems is there isn't enough riders to go around without doubling up. I sadly believe the doubling up rule diluted speedway and I can't think of any other sport that does it. Is there really any credibility in a team sport that features team mates who are also rivals? Yes I don't want to see track closing so another solution is required such as cutting team sizes to 5 or 6. Whatever the solution is British Speedway needs a major overhaul.

I've always believed home 2nd strings should be capable of beating visiting heat leaders and equally reserves beating visiting 2nd strings. Surely that is what 'home advantage' is all about?

I'm sure we would let him guest for you at some point

But Craig isn't Glasgow captain this season

Actually thinking about this and reading back through the comments, including some of my own, I hope Danyon isn't reading this topic. The young guy did well and contributed massively to Glasgow's win. Being selected for ht 15 would have been a confidence builder for him yet any good that came of that has probably been cancelled out. So if you are reading this Danyon, thank you and onwards and upwards.

Aye but Tiger's riders should be used to that as they always take the break at the most inappropriate times

Bomber is riding better than he has for years. I just hope for Berwick's sake he doesn't burn himself out with all the bookings he is taking. All those meetings and travel must take its toll on both man and machine

Although he scored well perhaps a rider with more experience would have ridden in a way to get the required heat points.

I hope you're right but dropping a point like that or letting a visiting team take a point away from Ashfield could make a difference in who faces who in the play-offs. One of Glasgow's best managers got the shove after making a dodgy decision at Berwick before though I doubt history could repeat itself for various reasons this time.

I'd have thought it would have been worthwhile for the Promotion to have employed a professional with contacts and knowledge of how the media works in order to get the profile of the team out there. Whole ways for the limited cash to go are numerous surely 'promotion' of the product is important if more folk are needed through the doors? Look at the teams that are doing well and have increased their income and I'm sure you'll find they all have employed press and/or commercial managers.

Why bother signing riders at all then? Let's just have the names in a hat and you pull 7 out before each meeting. Using guests is unfair on the fans. I recall a number of years back that Edinburgh were chasing the league title when Freddy Schott picked up a serious injury while guesting. Equally last season Edinburgh used the same "guest" at reserve for several weeks. I think the having a named No8 in the PL should be a practice introduced into the CL too.

I once to spoke to a former World No3 and he said before signing a rider he suggested they should be asked to go out on an old upright and that would should exactly what set of skills they possessed. When he holds training schools he makes each rider spend time on an upright as he reckons that tells him more than seeing some young bloke going flat-out on a lay down.