moxey63

So it's an attempt to secure the vein hope that we may attain a World Champion in the future that is allowing the sport to be cobbled together in a way you can whiff the sense of failure from afar. As for the dream-makers who fathom the rules in the hope of achieving World Championship gold... all I ask is: What good has Tai Woffinden's win achieved? I am a follower of domestic speedway first and foremost, and I expect most posters on here are the same. Without a sound league structure, the sport will slumber along and will need its equivalent of a food bank in the not too distant future. As for doubling up or down encouraging a world championship prospect, the only thing this will help is the individual who ahs just annexed the crown. After all, helped by riding in as many matches as there are days in the week, he’ll be in a better position to broker a more financially rewarding deal with his British club - or even decide not to race on these shores… as there are too many meetings in a league that gave him too many meeting to get him where he is! Look after the sport in this country first; hopes of amassing World titles one after another are a pipedream, a brave gamble… if the sport wants to be taken seriously. It is akin to putting your last pound on tonight’s lottery. Domestic speedway is a business on its own. So let’s run it properly. International competition and World Championships are merely interference. Just my view, that’s all. If allowing riders to race in three leagues is about getting World Champ success and hopefully warranting increased media attention, then I say we’ve been there and done that. The media isn’t interested. It treats us like a worn-out reality TV show that was once popular. Gary Havelock’s 1992 win was hailed as a turning point for the sport… I think his main achievement was on A Question Of Sport, which the Beeb feels obliged to invite most speedway world champions on to. Mark Loram ditto. Is cricket speedway's template then? It has just as much of an identity crisis as speedway, albeit less supporters probably sleep at speedway.... Next question: What other "professional" sport allows participants to race in several league throughout the world - and in the same week?

Before speedway can regard itself with any sense of credibility amongst non-speedway fans (people it is trying to attract through the gates), perhaps it better compare the doubling-up farce with other sports. What other professional sport (which speedway is always fashioning itself as) would have its sportsmen parading their prance in two and three separate leagues? Come on… there are enough riders out there for each club to raise seven men. All this doubling-up/doubling down is utter nonsense and is a stain on speedway’s attempt to be taken serious. Next lesson follows…

Myself, I feel SKY's coverage has reduced crowds on the terraces. There are a lot of other things, but when you can see live speedway in your front room (when not watching Jackanory), why venture to a match, pay, stand in the cold with a bunch of other strange type, get picked up by the roaming camera... and then get told later that week "I saw you on SKY at the speedway the other night - YOU'RE SACKED!" Seriously, if crowds weren't reduced by live coverage - why don't SKY or BT show Premier League Football matches at 3pm on Saturdays?

OOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Upset a few have I? Just sounds as if they can't be arsed, that's all, as they seem to be comfortable with losing the GPs and don't appear that rushed or fussed with the Elite League. Perhaps the announcement SKY have said they won't be sponsoring the league says something and offers a few clues. On the other hand, it's like that bird you've lived with the last 15 years locking the doors when you're out. You return home and still don't get the hint, despite her being locked in with your best friend - the Formula One fan - who she's dolled herself up for and is looking to chuck you.

Then people wonder why SKY feel disillusioned and have a can't-be-arsed attitude towards the sport after people's ungrateful attitudes. For all they have done and covered, you still get the smart mouths.

Sooner SKY shove on a match or two from the previous 15 years of their archive than sit through a review of what was basically (there's that well-worn word) a very poor season in which the Premier League boys really stole the show.

Not really too bothered about that, Sky not having a highlights show, it was just full of half-eaten races that we've seen the entirety of before, and a programme trying to make excitement from a season not three months on the shelf. Can't believe people actually watched the show (most then criticised it!) or similarly order those GP highlights as soon as the discs are advertised

As I said, the current rules are silly if your preferred the ones they replaced. The 2006 Reading v Peterborough match was exciting, but it also made the sport appear silly.. and indeed those rules were quickly tinkered with in speedway's off season - when I think 93 per cent of fans polled said they disagreed with them. As for keeping the season alive - I recall 1993, Wolves v Belle Vue, went right down to the wire... and no silly gimmicks either. Proper league. Give me a cup of tea with sugar, followed by a cup without, and I'd prefer the original, but wouldn't need to say I preferred the original - even if I said its replacement was horrid. Just saying I didn't like the next cuppa - the te without sweet - would have told you that I preferred the tea that had sugar. Get it? Reading PC's article, I knew by it that he didn't like some of the modern rules - the word "modern" telling me he preferred unmodern rules, meaning the old ones. Perhaps PC needn't have said he liked the old ways best... in that he said he didn't like the new system was eough for me. We have all said it... "I don't like so-and-so's new music." In itself, a comment that says you prefer the old stuff... Class ended.

Like most of us who don't like some of the current rules, PC could only be speaking about what he feels served the sport best and were perhaps more worthy to its credibility and boasting of being a professional sport… and not some rule change dreamt up over a few ideas (they seemed good at the time, I can only assume) at some Promoters' cuddle session. Perhaps PC is questioning why rules have been brought in that have just made the sport gimmicky and more likely doomed to a shelf-life equal to that of the latest X-Factor winner.

The way I see it, PC was saying what I agreed with... so I liked his opinions. In a way, it's like many posters on this forum, when a celeb says he eith likes or dislikes speedway... and said posters either send them flowers of tribute or angry letters to their 90 year-old grannies, depending on the celeb's opinion. I am not saying PC is right with his views... but I agree with them. Those saying there were just as many daft rules about when PC was active... tells me our medical and mental care has improved over a couple of decades, cos the terraces were pretty healthily busied with a mass sprinkling of daft people. But we still have daft people prepared to stand there, watching Golden Doubles, Jokers and Tug-O'-Wars between races. Thing is... where have all those daft people gone, people who put up with as many daft rules in the 70s and 80s? In fact, is it that the daft people remain on the terraces and that the sane ones (including myself) have gone? If so, perahps these are the ones our National Health should be focusing on and GPs encouraged to presribed MORE pills to. . those paying sums of £17 per week to enter a sport... only popular because it is staged away from pantomime season. Can hear fans now... "He's behind you"... in the next Golden Double race that's been already scripted. You decide... I'll be here until the medication finally kicks in

Don't have a problem at all. I, sir, was the gentleman who put it up for debate. One too many brandy sticks, is it? Carry on...

I am sorry... really sorry that people are actually willing to bail out on PC, just cos he said something that's caused them to suffer a little belly gurgle. As you say... it's about opinions... and PC was just expressing his.

Sorry I started this thread now. PC said his opinions and people are asking... if he pays to get in, he isn't a promoter so shouldn't have a say, and that there were just as many silly rules when PC was active... Give your collective heads a wobble. How many of those brandy snacks have you had? Fans who are prepared to stick with the way speedway is... well, they are still on the terraces, every race night. Ignore what the likes of my mate PC and me have to say. Meanwhile, while you're looking for the "ignore" options, ask... where have all the fans gone that took one rule change, one piss-take too many... and have theri own reasons for not attending. Fans who see nothing wrong with the sport are probably there every week, happy to pay the £17... until something appears not quite right. The fans who regularly attend... there's no need to change rules to keep theri interest It's the ones that make least noise... and just disappear... that the sport should be concerned over. Although I don't attend any more, lucky for you lot... I have nowt better to do and will post here until I'm pushing daisies. But others have long gone... and we have annual cries for help from clubs that need an imput of funds to keep running. I mean... PC was active in speedway's golden era. He isn't slagging off the sport but says what he doesn't like about it nowadays. Obviosuly it's another case of "Don't call my sport.... it's my loved one. I'll fight you on the streets... or, at the minimum, I'll clench my fist at you on this Speedway Forum." PC is one of us, he's stood on the terraces, and he's raced, and ran his own club. But his views are not important, because he doesn't pay to get in... Rewind back, and PC is talking about the days we've agreed... to when his exploits were worth the admission fee alone. How do memories fade over time? I'm fed up now. Somebody then questions why he's not like other ex-riders, why he hasn't put his mouth where is money is.... why he isn't running his own speedway gaff. But... maybe he's wiser than that, refusing to flush away his hard-earned cash into a sport... that is basically run by a bunch of people with all the power to make silly rules... that have probably driven more people away than they have attracted.

You can read my memories and feelings (My name: Alan Robertson) in that book,which is a unique publication and contains many good tales of the good times. A must read for anyone who likes stiting round a camp fire telling the young foes tales of yore... and have them falling a sleep before you get to heat 13. Happiness is 40-38 and all that jazz...

THe back wheel can spin and rider still remain stationary. Only when traction occurs will bike move. Otherwise the back wheel wouldnt spin, rider and bike career through the tapes, hence warranting a deserved exclusion.

Not really. A club only makes money if somebody pays to go through the turnstiles. For instance, If you pay £17, then it's income for the track. Until you hand over the pennies, don't think a club counts the revenue. The thing is, PC speaks sense... whether he pays to get in speedway or not. Some present day promoters take money out, make silly rules, and then blame a loss of revenue. Revenue should only be counted when it's banked, so persuading fans through the gate is important. The sport was a lot better value and worthy when PC rode. That I will acept no arguements over. As terraces showed, there was more revenue coming in.

I have often been regarded as a dinosaur, a misery guts, a speedway-caller-of-names, but after reading Peter Collins’ article in the current Speedway Star, I am not alone in my honest views of the sport, which we all love. The Master of Belle Vue’s Past has opinions that mostly echo mine – he thinks the Play-Offs have been detrimental to the British season, although admits they have been a success. He says (and I agree) that most league meetings are of no importance and that teams can fine-tune for the October PO showdown. He believes also that the Play Offs have shoved the KO Cup onto the backburner and dwarfed it in importance, that the Golden Double and Joker rules are pathetic for serious speedway connoisseurs (like me and PC), and that the four, three, two and one match points for a team winning depending on how big of a win it attains is also debatable. Another one of his gripes, races being called back for false starts/riders jumping the start. PC (and again I agree) says if a riders makes the starts (long as he doesn’t touch the tapes), then it is anticipation and not a jump-start. I have seen Stuart Robson punished several times on SKY for anticipating the start, the race being re-run despite Robson not doing anything other than having quick reflexes at that perfect time. Happy Christmas PC… and Best Wishes for 2014. Least I can sleep now knowing I’m not talking tosh, and somebody agrees with my views. What better man to have agreeing with old moxey63

A question I'd like to offer as we head towards the season of good cheer: If speedway fans oppose the so-called labelling of speedway as a minority sport by the BBC - then why do they feel true glee at BT Sport (a minority channel) giving GP winner (Tai Woffinden) their Minority Sports Personality?

Yes, it was a joke.... should have given you the hint before posting. Sorry. Happy Christmas to you... Which reminds me, reading the post from gustix, the slow kids from round 'ere just been trick or treating - two months late, at least the penny dropped with them!

Time to offer BBC a hand of friendship. Don't know if this has been posted elsewhere, but the gave several mentions today on Radio Five Sportsdesk that Tai Woffinden was staying with Wolverhampton for 2014. Think threats of boycotting SPOTY may have worked. Either that or a quiet news day (sportwise).

Step back pal, you're making an extreme spectacle of yourself now. Let's not argue... we know who wears the trousers (and she's beginning to look like your mother) in your house (X-Factor?) and I wouldn't want me to increase your misery by making you appear the forum's Prize Prat. Let's move on... or I'll tell the missus you don't like X-Factor. Step back pal, you're making an extreme spectacle of yourself now. Let's not argue... we know who wears the trousers in your house (X-Factor?) and I wouldn't want me to increase your misery by making you appear the forum's Prize Prat. Let's move on... or I'll tell the missus you don't like X-Factor. X-Factor... give me a Stenners anyday. Least you'll feel educatated in what you're proposing to support. Tell me... who won the X-Factor?

Nice try. I don't believe it... you watched last nigtht, didn't you... and now feel all miffed that you missed bath night. My attempt to raise a few tempers certainly worked with you... one of those sad people who probably stayed awake last night hoping for a speedway mention on the beeb. Bet you even have your pen and paper ready for a letter of complaint. Get A Life, my friend... and no, I won't advise you on where you would get one. However... as it's the season to be merry... perhaps you could have been interested in thishttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-25390071. Milton Keynes once had a speed track, you've been tickled by someone in a red suit once (Jim... who once fixed it for you you, so I believe). And, lastly, you follow a sport that's a bit of a pantomime and the promotion resembling this now defuct Christmas grotto. You'll be right at home with this story. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I am left to question the sanity of speedway fans this morning. I have long believed many only continue to watch the poor product because they have nothing really better to do with their nights - whether it's Monday at Wolves, Wednesday at Poole etc. This morning, I have further evidence that this is the case... because a lot of speedway fans, caught in a mid-winter break, couldn't find anything better to do than watch 3 hours of BBC SPOTY on Sunday 15th December. It was in the vain hope that a speedway rider would be mentioned by the Beeb's elite... and these same fans tutt and sigh all year when SKY hand over hours upon hours of airtime all because of a bit of shouting, female interviewer asking obvious questions about gearing etc... Time to get a life, chaps.

Tai was shown in the first few minutes.... and I've already finished for the night watching my internet streaming. Premature night all round. Tissues at the ready... can't see Tai winning now.

Watching BBC Sports thingy for three hours will be as much as a waste of time as watching a film as a youngster thinking they'd be a bit of nakedness from a female in it. I did it a few times, wasted many a night when I could have been out with the lasses... and am doing much of the same thing these days, 35 years on... thanks to the t'interent, my night isn't wasted these days. No need for female company with this superfast broadband. Advice: A wasted night for speedway fans of any vintage will be deciding to spend the evening watching all the gloss, the dross of BBC SPORTY and presenters/personalities saying things only they think are funny... a bit spine curling in my opinion. We aren't welcome in their little gathering. You may not hear me for the rest of the night... and, no, I won't be watching SPOTY. I have superfast broadband.