enotian

We've constantly been told over the last 20 years or so that if speedway ends at Brough Park for any period of time (excluding off season of course) then anyone wanting to re-start the Diamonds would need to apply for permission to operate a speedway team at the venue. And that application is likely to be turned down. Given the proximity to housing I would imagine. If someone takes over from Rob Grant and there is no break then that wouldn't be the case. But there is nobody waiting in the wings.

I posted on the Eastbourne thread about what I think the two tier structure should look like but I don't think Newcastle promoters could influence that. The majority seem happy that they have Chris Harris and Scott Nicholls available to them and I'm sure those riders and the rest are more than happy with being able to double up. One thing I have bleated on about to the point of boring myself is that there should have been a restriction on the number of 8.00+ riders to one per team. It was obvious there weren't enough to go around and the heat format is such that you can't compete without one. The promoters should have lobbied for that change at least. The richest teams would still be at the top of the table (as they'd sign the best 7.00 riders but at least the teams would have had more of a chance of being more evenly matched and the product better as a result.

You misunderstand. It won't be up to the speedway authorities. Any new owner is unlikely to get planning permission to run motorsports at Brough Park from the local authorities. You weren't to know this. Finding another site would be ideal but that's probably harder to achieve without any money to make it happen and you still need permissions from local authorities. As you say the sport can't afford to lose any more clubs but the BSPL have done their best to achieve just that. I chucked the towel in at the end of 2019, i.e. pre Rob Grant era as to be honest the level of entertainment wasn't worth the money and the meetings seemed to take forever for what is essentially 15 minutes of action. It's an extreme sport and it's presented like crown green bowls from the 70's. The Brough track doesn't suit the modern bikes/riders and Sunday only meetings mean the Diamonds have zero chance of putting together a decent team at the current CL level. A lower standard hybrid of CL and NDL would be ideal for the Diamonds where most riders are UK based. Absolutely crazy the the sport in this country only had one meeting on a Sunday in May. I think that makes it two meetings all weekend (excluding NDL and Friday nights). Totally bonkers imo not to run fixtures when most people have their leisure time. But it would appear everyone in the CL would prefer to subsidise the PL by offering their riders part time work.

What would Kelv's dirtometer have revealed???? Looks like they've discovered part of Hadrian's Wall!!!

you're generous. they appeared to be there as spectators for most of the 90 mins. I didn't see many of them actually playing

have you got their number? We should give them a call. You are not wrong about embarrassing though. The trouble is that once the Diamonds close there is every chance they'll not be allowed to return. Which at this point might be a good thing but a massive shame.

Wasn't the Newcastle license suspended last season due to track conditions? Until expert help was secured. If I recall at one point the bends were altered to make them wider to allow more passing. So that pic could very well be the kerb from the 20's never mind 70's. Surely should have been removed properly when that work was done? Imagine dysfunctional behaviour from a promoter desperate at any cost for home wins. Someone has created a monster. This won't end well.

I was thinking the same. I would imagine those concessions are a massive part of the match day income. So either Granty is benevolent or hasn't a clue about his customer base. Or maybe the crowd just look older than they actually are after years of terrible Diamonds teams.

And what happened in 1985? Newcastle closed, having finished last after being unable to sign an established BL No1, despite the efforts of Joe Owen. I think, from memory, a few other tracks also closed or dropped into the NL along with the likes of L Collins, G Kennett, D Jessup, who had all been World Finalists (rostrum placed even?) within the previous 5 years or so. You could argue that 1984 was the beginning of the end for top level league speedway in Britain, as the reliance on foreign riders became more prevalent and the National team suffered as a result. Importantly though, whilst mistakes were made by promoters pre 1984 season what could not be foreseen was the loss of Carter, Sigalos and Lee for various reasons. I think Sanders left us around the same time. Fast forward to 2022 and it was abundantly clear there wouldn't be enough No1 standard riders to go around (in the CL) unless they were regulated. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link and the state of Newcastle it's not a chain I'd want to pull. And guess what happens if you never flush? You end up with a pile of......

exactly. because there are too few to go around which was obvious at the end of last season yet they allowed some teams to track three whilst others have none and two have non existent No1's. It all leads in one direction with an increasingly smaller pool of riders who constantly guest for opponents. It's a team sport in name only now. Shame

This is now two of eleven sides using a permanent guest for their No1. Can't be good for the credibility of the sport but I'm sure the promoters and riders love it.

never thought I'd say this after his season for the Diamonds but thank goodness for Thomas Jorgensen. sounds like the Stars are carrying all sorts of injury and illness which no doubt hasn't helped.

I keep mentioning product and as a neutral there's nothing here to inspire me. The truth is the sport has moved on and the small technical tracks are no longer fit for purpose as it's all about building speed and momentum nowadays. Whether you like it or not. If you're going to have so few tracks in the flagship competition you really should make sure they provide the best entertainment. Shame for Wolves which looks like a nice facility but if it's not producing entertainment it's just damaging the product.

I'm presuming that information is exclusive to Discovery Sports subscribers!!! PS The Presenter, although used infrequently on the Eurosport coverage, seems really good.

most sports commentary is very earnest now though isn't it. don't ever disagree with one another it'll make people feel awkward. 70's punditry sadly missed here. Is Sam on Discovery doing analysis on the gates? 5 wins from gate 3 already.

it is boring but no more so than Poland vs ROW this afternoon. just goes to show you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Pearson was polishing turds like this for years. Like Crumpie as a pundit but too similar to Kelv/Louis.

don't they have transponders this season then? I found it curious that the blurred image was being consulted when the technology should be definitive.

I don't disagree but define 'legitimate cover reasons'. Rules are difficult but it's part of the game and they are there to be exploited for competitive advantage by those clever enough to do so. That does of course lead to the clever teams building their sides in a certain way which (without sounding like a broken record) has caused problems this season in how competitive the Championship is. You'd also need to ask if the current rules hinder the development of young riders handed the more difficult rides. If the BSPL are serious about developing young riders then maybe they do need to do something about it. Here's a thought. Why not just have one reserve rider who has to ride at No.7? Since all riders have to have three rides (plus in meeting IRR) there's no need to have two reserves. Of course we want to avoid 3 rider races as much as possible but unless it's the No.7 who gets injured that should be limited. Maybe a return to more than one TAC sub would help in that respect.

Hope Proctor is on commission for the scran van. Must have done a roaring trade today.

Was the lad in question not Tamas (Watch us wreck the mic) Sike???

Agree. I think Zmarzlik doesn't have the greatest of records at the Warsaw Round (if you can compare previous years) so maybe a chance for someone to take a win. As I posted earlier there might be a period of time (years) where we just have to accept the genius of Zmarzlik as an all time great. Not ideal for the series but he really does seem a level above the rest. It happens.

point taken. I posted my thoughts on that earlier

Well I'm certainly not and I don't see that from any contributors to a speedway forum. I think you might have lost the plot a little mate. The impact of any posts on here is zero. These are merely comments on effectively whether or not Russian athletes should be allowed to participate in International sport. I very much doubt any comments from here will result in increased military might by either Russian or Ukraine.

peddling war!! what does that even mean?

And two wrongs (if you believe either of them) make a right???? We're all subjected to propaganda in one form or another in all our daily lives, mostly pointless to sell us stuff. The fact that there is misinformation out there doesn't mean you can not decide between what is right and what is wrong.