Grachan

He's not one of the reserves. The list is in the Adver today (see the Draft Riders thread).

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/10842847.Ritchings_and_Reade_on_young_rider_list/ RIDERS PUT FORWARD FOR ELITE LEAGUE PLACES: Adam Ellis; Ashley Morris; Ben Reade; Daniel Halsey; James Sarjeant; Joe Jacobs; Josh Bates; Kyle Newman; Robert Branford; Simon Lambert; Ben Hopwood; Ben Morley; Charles Wright; Dan Greenwood; Darryl Ritchings; Jake Knight; Jason Garrity; Kyle Hughes; Lee Smart; Lewis Blackbird; Lewis Kerr; Lewis Rose; Liam Carr; Max Clegg; Oliver Greenwood; Paul Starke; Robert Lambert; Stefan Nielsen; Steven Worrall; Tom Perry.

To be honest the BBC would probably avoid having nominees from sports like Squash and Speedway as they are the type of sports that might encourage orchestrated voting campaigns and the nominees might end up winning. Then you'd have a SPOTY winner that hardly anybody has heard of!

Update on World Squash Championship. The winner was Nick Matthew. Nick Clegg even wrote a letter to the BBC in support of him getting a nomination. So he was probably above Tai in the reckoning. http://www.psaworldtour.com/news/20131120/nick-clegg-backs-nick-matthew-for-bbc-award_2281852_3543909

I didn't say the figures would be higher or lower. Just that you're not comparing like-for-like events. I'm neutral me! Remember when Tai won and featured on BBC breakfast? The following week they featured a Brit who won the World Squash Championship. He hasn't been nominated either. Anyone know his name? This British winner of the World Squash Championship? I don't. I'm sure in the world of squash there are plenty of people going into swearing fits on Facebook about how HE should have been nominated too. I'm sure there's plenty of others out there. The Ben Ainslie nomination is maybe a bit tenuous, but even if he hadn't been nominated the next in line wouldn't have been Tai Woffinden.

Actually, we're not comparing like-for-like here. If we're taking viewing figures from when the America's Cup was won then it needs to be compared with the GP viewing figure when Tai won it. Just saying. The thing with Ben Ainslie is people know who he is. I saw The One Show last night when they were doing drawings of each nominee. I think people need to be realistic here. Had they announced Tai Woffinden as a nominee and done their little sketch most of the people watching would have gone: "Who the hell is that?" In 1976 Peter Collins' World Final win made the front page of the Daily Mirror - and he still came nowhere.

I would have thought top-heavy was the way to go, with weak second strings still able to beat opposition reserves. It wouldn't be 13 heats because you'd have a second reserves heat and a nominated riders heat.

Apologies for the typo. Poole's track is 299.1m. The track record is 56.91. So that's 21 metres per second. Swindon's track is 363 metres. The track record is 63.86. That's 22.74 metres per second. Sheffield is 361 metres. The track record is 59.1. That's 24.43 metres per second.

Apologies. I thought the point was that Poole was the fastest track in the UK. My mistake. I feel embarrassed now.

Poole's track is 229.1m. The track record is 56.91. So that's 21 metres per second Swindon's track is 363 metres. The track record is 63.86. That's 22.74 metres per second. Sheffield is 361 metres. The track record is 59.1. That's 24.43 metres per second.

That's because you are very very stupid. No he didn't. He had no choice what he did. That's because he was a.. what's the word?.. oh yeah, slave. What you describe may not be ideal, but it sure ain't slavery. The riders do this out of choice and they have a choice not to do it if they prefer not to.

So earning £600 a week now qualifies as slavery does it? Kunta Kinte definitely missed out on that one.

Ye Gods, these prospective teams are looking weak!

Why not?

This certainly hints at it - although it could be a reference to the NL reserves ruling. http://www.swindonrobins.co/news.php?extend.2101

Polish carpenters don't need visas. Australians do. If, as someone stated, he has a UK partner and child then he may have leave to remain here.

I think it's far too silly an idea. My idea. Scrap the TR completely. No need to a TS. Just stick with the league points scoring system for wins/draws etc.

Would that depend on who they ride for? Or how good they are? Or both?

Yeah. I think we all miss the glory days of the "let's try to get speedway on the telly" campaign.

I would have done a reply saying that by God I meant Matt Ford - but I got beaten to it!

They still have play-offs though. And the play-offs aren't pathetic either. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but they are actually quite popular.

I don't understand the negative connotations that go with "chequebook speedway". There's a points limit in place and teams work around that as best hey can. If a team such as Poole has the resources to bring in replacements then surely that is a god thing. Would it not be better if all teams could bring in replacements rather than using R/R or guests? Why should a team be penalised just because they're not broke all the time? They are restricted by the points limit. Surely the top sides must have some leeway to remain at the top.

Could they not get Tai to present the trophy perhaps?

Can I just take this opportunity to point out that I haven't commented on this topic yet and don't intend to in the near furture. I may reply in the more distant future. I'll post in the near future to let people know if I intend to post in the more distant future. #michaellevellanddarcyward