Ben91

No, if you're a sportsperson you have to accept that you'll receive criticism, founded or unfounded. I'm not saying that is right but it is a fact.

It doesn't depend though, it has always happened and always will, the validity is another matter in my opinion. As a sportsperson, particularly if you are one who is influenced negatively by criticism, you shouldn't be on forums, Facebook groups etc where you know you may be criticised.

As a sportsperson you should be ready to receive criticism regardless of age or ability. No need to be over dramatic and say that words on a forum hold back careers though. I'll judge the kid when I see him on a bike personally.

Spot on, this is a sport, it is ultimately about winning and not about entertainment. Granted fans need to be entertained but first and foremost they want to see the best team they can representing them. I'd have no problem watching a team of seven gaters if they were winning home and away week in week out.

I could think Steve Boxall is better than Tai Woffinden, doesn't make it true...

Could be a decent prospect but simply the wrong signing to make. No reason he will be any better then Branford yet he's 1.5 points more expensive. If we're going to sacrifice having a strong reserve at all times then we need another heat leader.

Unless they are being televised then league football games are all pretty much played on a Saturday afternoon at 3pm so there is no comparison, fans know that if they wish to attend they need to keep weekends free. Two teams changing race night shouldn't slow things down, teams should hand the dates they wish to race home meetings on to the BSPA and one person should compile the fixture list then hand it back to the clubs. It shouldn't matter to us what is happening in Poland, this is British Speedway, if riders are going to miss lots of PL meetings to race in Poland then teams shouldn't be signing them really.

White and two sugars please seeing as the kettle's boiled. If reasoned response is trolling now we may as well close the forum.

Not the "if you haven't raced a speedway bike you can't comment" line again... Fans pay to watch, therefore the money they put into their speedway club helps to pay riders their wages, therefore they can comment all they like. If I buy some steak and I don't like it I'll complain, I've never been a steak though. Riders race for themselves, because they enjoy it and/or want to make a career out of it. Nobody puts their life on the line riding a motorbike just for the sake of entertaining others, that is a by-product.

Of course they will if they are taking their entire family, or even if just going along with a partner. That extra £3 per person a week adds up very quickly. Then on top of that there are programmes, food and drink etc.

Harris would be a good signing, it'll only be his second full year of league speedway, he did better in 2014 than last year but the potential is there. Cousins has had a year in the league, the majority of which was spent in the main team at Kent, there are worse options out there.

How so? 20% of £1 is 20 pence whichever way you cut it. Be it £10 or £13 the taxman is taking 20 pence from each £1. If it costs less for the punters then more are likely to attend.

We've lost a far better Dane this winter.

We'd be foolish to bring in a five pointer and push Kasper into the main team.

They do really well in the GPs.

It'll be Smith or JPB.

Bowen is a cracking signing, as it stands you have a better rider than Morley on a cheaper average. Mason has had his day and his availability is generally poor, using R/R for him isn't going to be pretty, especially if the reserves don't cut the mustard. Verge just hasn't got anything about him, should have tried to get Clifton at reserve for the start of the season really.

It's important to not get carried away about Clifton I feel, there are no guarantees he will go well. It is likely he will hold his own but he is as much of an unknown quantity as the other new three pointers coming into the league.

The Eastbourne team doesn't look that fantastic to me to be honest, doesn't mean it's a bad team though. Opinions are wonderful things and this place would be boring if everyone thought the same thing.

For every Sundstrom there's a a dozen duff riders though, it's not as clear cut as signing someone, he beds in in his first season and then dominates the second year. It isn't worth sacrificing a solid reserve to bring in an unknown, just look at Maassen this season. It either has to be a like for like swap for Klindt or two changes with Branford, a known quantity and improving, and a heatleader coming in.

If it's true I'd sacrifice another rider and bring in Branford and a big hitter. A five point unknown is unlikely to improve and we'd be bumping Kasper into the team, may as well sign Branford on an average he can improve and some decent back up for Eddie.

All the rough and tumble would be going on behind him.

Steve Boxall, sometimes he doesn't clean his kevlars or bikes between meetings.

It looks alright, not the standout team though. Birmingham and Lynn look better IMO, the Isle of Wight side could be better too if Smart gets back to his best, Baseby can carry on how he ended 2015 and one of their three pointers can hold his own. This side will probably make the play-offs though, that's all they need to do at the end of the day.

Sounds like he has continental and grasstrack experience. The leagues below the NL are important don't get me wrong but there are riders who don't need to go through them talent wise, time will tell if Bowdery is one of them I guess.