Ben91

Right, what difference is there between a 50+ year old existing fan going to speedway and having to listen to music befitting of the exciting sport they are watching and myself, also an existing fan but only 22 years old having to listen something more suited to a wake when I go to watch speedway? Why is someones opinion suddenly more valid because of their age or the length of time they have been attending Speedway? Times change, it isn't too much to ask for a sport that wants to attract new fans to follow the times. Music that goes with the event is a bare minimum we should expect. That doesn't have to be R'n'B, Dubstep, Drum and Bass or whatever genres find favour among younger people these days. I listen to all of them myself but they sit alongside The Rolling Stones, Elvis, The Beatles, The Who, The Jam, Duran Duran, Stevie Wonder etc in my music collection. The list goes on. Another bare minimum is a good presenter/announcer, preferably a duo who can bounce off of each other, one in the box to give race times etc and another on a roving mike to add comment, interview riders, fans, promoters and anyone else of interest. Get those two things right to complement the racing, fill intervals and unexpected breaks in racing due to crashes etc and it would immediately make Speedway a more polished product. I'm pretty certain I could put together a list of 50 or so songs that would touch on a majority of popular genres, offer something for all fans attending a Speedway meeting and most importantly fit in with what is happening on the track.

Think Manzares is good enough to average at least 4 this season. The Witches key man IMO is Hawkins. If he can be nearer the rider he was when he was at Workington than the rider he was when he rode for us then it'll ensure Ipswich always have two good reserves.

Word on the street has the witches down for a 75-15 win Hopefully making the trip up, two even sides. Can see the Witches winning, hopefully we'll take a point.

They are terrible, terrible songs too! I hope the riders didn't pick them themselves!

1. Jacobs 8.71 2. Williamson 3.33 3. Worrall 7.09 4. Perry 6.30 5. Nielsen 8.00 6. Phillips 3.00 7. Freemantle 3.00 All will up their averages IMO.

A decent meeting last night. Lynn will do just fine this year. They have one of, if not, the best side in the league. If Zielona Gora had gone to race Eastbourne or Lakeside they may have been caught out by the track early doors but Lynn is a circuit that would have held no fear for them. Adamczewski looked a decent rider and Protasiewicz impressed for Zielona Gora too.

Unlike the full time GP riders from Australia he isn't racing in all the top leagues and earning a lot more money than a PL second string either.

To be fair we have accommodated Peterborough in making this the League Cup meeting as you will be missing riders on the original date for the cup fixture. These things work both ways.

Very early for such speculation, Lambert may not even qualify for the event, but as a fan who will attend the NLRC I want to see riders who get to the event on merit. Look at the laughing stock that the ELRC became as it was made up of second strings in the last few seasons. Personally I want to seethe best 16 riders in the league at the NLRC.

Peterborough will win but not by as big a margin as some are suggesting. Kennett will score solidly, whilst Tresarrieu, Garrity and Boxall can all perform on big circuits. The reserves hold the key, Bowen isn't know for big track prowess, however Lambert is probably better on the bigger circuits. If he does click he has enough experience and skill to put in a better performance than Jacobs and Greenwood.

Kasper can be something of an enigma, fantastic battler, terrible gater. If he adds the ability to gate to his game he'll up his average.

Wright was quality, could of gone a long way. I'm sure I heard he got a concussion too somewhere along the line. Think it's a lot more simple than the concussion still lingering on, he took a big knock to the head and it made him lose his bottle a bit. Can't blame him, I'd be the same. If he comes back the rider he was when at Workington first time round then he'll be an asset to the league.

I'm still bewildered that the whole event has been re-branded to attract the best riders in the world and it's just 15 Elite League riders and a rider who is taking his first season out of racing here for 10 seasons. Oh dear.

The reason for the re-arrangement was that the Panthers would be missing riders too, surprised we agreed to that considering Bunyan is generally very good at Peterborough. R/R won't muster as many points as Bunny would have at the Showground.

Noise is to be encouraged at any track where there are no restrictions on it. Air Horns, whistles etc make atmosphere. When you don't have enough people in the stadium to make atmosphere with their voices an air horn can make all the difference. That, however is down to the fans not the clubs. As a Rye House fan, there are a few simple changes that would improve presentation no end. Music befitting of the event: Listening to smooth jazz or now 54 on a loop doesn't scream motor racing to me. When Craig announces the song that is playing just gets paused. Half of one meeting last season was punctuated by Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, not only is it depressing it is a complete contrast from the thing people have paid to come and watch. A roving mike man: If Craig was complemented by an announcer to go interview riders/management in intervals/between heats then the breaks in action wouldn't be so bore some. A proper presentation: Send the riders around on their bikes to wave to the crowd, or bring the bikes out, then the riders, then let them do a few laps. Simple but it'd make a world of difference.

Scunthorpe are doing this right, there can be no doubt about it and any argument saying that they should build a stronger side so that other club's gates don't suffer when they are in town is incredibly flimsy. Scunthorpe have proven by developing lots of raw riders into PL standard or higher over the last few seasons that they are on the right track. I hope the Stags cause a few shocks this season and make people sit up and take notice. I've not seen any of the young riders in this side so far race except Mogridge, however I would not be surprised to see at least one or two in the Premier League in 2015/6 if Scunthorpe's track record is anything to go by.

Happens lots and hey, he's our rider so he should be at our P+P day really. Heading down tomorrow, looking forward to my first taste of speedway this year.

Edinburgh win for me. If both of their reserves ride to their potential of course. Berwick have Jensen, depends what Carr will bring to the table to back him up. Surprised nobody has mentioned Rye House yet, Luke Bowen is always a shoe in for a 5 point average and if Simon Lambert can up his game we know he is capable of a high 4 figure.

If the points limit was to be lowered it would be the same for all teams and encourage sides to use up and coming riders. I'm not one for pandering to stand alone clubs and the argument that they have to be competitive to get support, if the points limit is the same for everyone, as it would be then they could still build their sides to win within the lower points limit.

Got a feeling that the Kings will steal the spoils here. Lambert, Morley and Compton are a stronger top trio than Webster, Reade and Smart. The engine rooms look evenly matched but the Kings have the stronger riders in reserve.

Whilst that is true to a degree that cannot be an excuse for promotors (not aimed at Stoke here, the sport in general) to hold fans to ransom by offering a poor product then saying "well it's better than us pulling the plug." To make your business successful you have to maintain a customer/fan base, not expect them to be there.

So why weren't Swindon as bothered by Sheffield wanting to sign Josh Bates as they were when they allegedly went for Nick Morris? http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/10919382.Robins_react_to_alleged_approach_for_Morris/ The issue is that Bates had his EL spot before his PL spot as far as I can see, it's not as if Swindon drafted a Sheffield rider.

Of course he is, this is 2014 where people are allowed opinions, not nazi Germany.

Bates had an EL space, he has chosen not to take it, therefore he should not be put on the reserve list. Other riders who chose against being part of the draft have not been added to the reserve list so why should a rider that has been given a space and then decided he doesn't want it be given another shot.

So there's one rider I count named so far who isn't riding in the EL this year. Hardly worth rebranding just to have Freddie Lindgren race in it.