Gresham

It may make no sense, but people still do it....especially in Sport. Plus, it depends whether you want to tie your money up in fixed assets or not, and spread costs etc. How many speedway tracks do you think run at a profit? And if they don't, as a businessman, why run one? It's like advertising and sponsoring...do you think these businesses recoup their money from sales generated by sponsoring a speedway team? There are numerous reasons why people run businesses at profit and loss...and many reasons why people sponsor and advertise...and it's often not to make profit, but to cut losses.

Does anyone know how many promotors/owners have their Speedway Club as their sole business? Are there any? Do they want their Clubs to run at a profit? Or do they want to run them at a loss for 'Buisness' reasons?

Agreed...many forms of how different sports are run. Just a shame so many mistakes are made so many times with speedway. It doesn't help when Commentators and the actual promotors themselves talk about the balls up as well on Sky Sports. Like someone said to me many moons ago, when a sport has to keep changing it's rules almost annually, then you know it's in serious trouble. He's not wrong imo. Unfortunately, Speedway try's to come across professionally, and it does to some degree in the GP's. But the week in week out British league is a whole different ball game. It try's to be one thing...but comes across very much as another. My girlfriend who I've taken to recently to Swindon and Somerset for her first taste of Speedway, said it felt more like a Summer village fete or circus type atmosphere. She couldn't believe it was meant to be a 'serious' professional sport. Anyway...I've digressed away from the 'Ruling body' and rather looked at how the sport is promoted. It was interesting to hear from the eyes of a complete newbie.

It's an eye opener, when you google for a list of Sports and their governing bodies....and then read how they are actually run, some of them. Interesting the list the FIM regulate too.

Out of interest...what other Professional sports are run by the Promotors/Owners of Clubs? Maybe it's me, but wouldn't it be better to find ways of making things better for the future, rather than constantly looking at reasons not to do so? Is it really working now? Could it be improved? If so...how? If every promotor was singing from the same hymn sheet and had the same aims, then it wouldn't be so much a problem...but they aren't.

I actually prefer riders having their own individually designed kevlars...and just team race jackets. For me it's easier to pick out each individual rider...now I definitely have to keep looking at the helmet covers to know who's who. Some will disagree of course though.

It kind of is...especially when you take your girlfriend for the first time to Swindon, then the next time to Somerset, and she's scratching her head, thinking wtf! 'weren't this lot riding for Swindon last week?' Then explaining the reasons and averages...she just laughed and we enjoyed the racing. She's now hooked...she loves the racing but laughs at everything else...as in it's so bad, it's comically good. :-)

I thought BWD did well considering like you say, his bike looked sluggish. The drone freaked me out...red lights and a couple white ones...moving around like a UFO haha...certainly had a few wondering what it was. It was wasn't actually over the track though...it was over the next field. I'm guessing someone is videoing the speedway?

I felt a little sorry for the Exeter and MDL lads last night, who had to rush through their races, and still had to cut short the last couple races because of a time limit at the stadium. They could have easily fit this in, if it wasn't for the ridiculous rules of waiting another 2 mins after an unsatisfactory start. The last two meeting I've attended, the refs have held the riders way too long at the start, so no wonder there is movement. Swindon v Poole was ridiculous.

Very close meeting last night...was really impressed by David Bellego. Starke, Wright and BWD producing some fine racing again. Last two meeting I've attended, this and Swindon v Poole, have left me frustrated with the refereeing at starts. Never seem so many restarts for unsatisfactory starts. Why are they holding the riders so long...release the tapes sooner...no wonder they start moving. Then you get the bloomin farce of waiting another two minutes of watching riders getting focussed again. It's not rocket science is it...

What's the Somerset team tonight then?

Wasn't that at Coventry and the accusation pointed at a member of the pit staff there? I remember Nigel Boocock talking about it in my presence.

I think you'll find in the Sunderland players case, that she courted him, but he found out her real age, then continued seeing her...so he was in the wrong. With respect...What is wrong in reporting what the Swedish are reporting? If he misses the next meeting, what are we going to say...'we can't talk about it?' We just brush it under the carpet like nothing has happened? Nothing has been alluded to, nothing has been alleged...we should all post like adults and be trusted to...this isn't Korea. We fought for free speech...as long as nothing is slanderous and spoken about in an adult fashion, there should be no problems. I for one hope it's all a storm in a tea cup...but the fact is, a prominent speedway rider has been arrested for rape on a 15 yo. To not observe that would seem strange on a speedway forum, especially when it has been reported on other speedway media outlets. Imo.

Correct...some fans will think it's a farce...some won't. Correct...factually the best British rider won't be there. You preferred the BF in the 70's, 80's and 90's...as did others...some still like it these days. Don't worry fella...I understand exactly what you are saying... I can't see anything in your post that indicates Everything was better in the past. It seems what you actually enjoyed and how you feel is not allowed, and you will be told otherwise. ;-)

Like I said...I'm not judging him and as far as I can see, no one else is on this thread. I've just posted what has been reported by the media. Others have spoken about laws of the land in different countries. It's up to the law to decide...I've no thoughts on it what so ever...until 100% accurate facts are known. As an outside observation to what you have said... A scenario... A 31 yo meets a girl who says she's 21...and you have no reason to believe otherwise, because she looks it and says she is. You end up sleeping together...she gets pissed off because you've not wanted to take it further. She gets upset and reports you because she's actually 15. It happens... Anyway....that has nothing to do with this report as far as I know...just a scenario to what happens sometimes in life.

This is the point I was trying to make...Rape and unlawful sexual intercourse are different. But apparently I've got my knickers in a twist for pointing it out. You can't win sometimes. Some media reports on this subject are reporting it as 'Rape of a 15 year old that happened in Feb of this year'. Whether it was forced or consented in another matter. I'm not speculating...just posting the words that are being reported by news agency's.

Apologies if you misinterpreted my comment...I was only pointing out what was written in that article. Plus in reply to SGB...no speculation regarding what I think has been made...just posting what has been reported by Swedish media.

Sorry...I wouldn't know.

He's not been arrested for underage consensual sex...he's been arrested for suspected Rape. That's a whole different scenario.

....The Indian driver Antonio Lindbäck was arrested by police after the match against the Lions last night. He had been charged in his absence and was arrested yesterday when the game was over. Crime of suspected of child rape, the prosecutor confirmed the P4 Örebro. Google translate. http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=159&artikel=6444428

It's an interesting read, but surely a bit of a worry? It was hardly baking hot and there is always a bit of a breeze at Swindon. With Summer months coming and hotter temps into the evening, if I were the Swindon Promotors, I'd be making sure there was always enough water supply.

I wasn't actually saying anything fella...just asking a question as to what was going on and whether people enjoyed it etc. :-) The thread has taken it's own passage it seems...which is good...it's nice to hear peoples thoughts :-) I agree though...second halves like in the 70's are a thing of the past.

It is a shame more people don't take an interest. But it is the same in many sports. Many people are only interested in the main event and the result...they have no interest in the sportsman's journey...they just want to see the finished article. It's good to read about young British riders being invested in heavily, and academy's being pushed and promoted. It's just a shame so much money has to be invested in finding speed for these youngsters, just so they can compete with the highly sponsored youngsters abroad. I'm guessing a lot of British talent has gone to waste because of the costs involved. Sad if you have the talent, but not the finance to compete competitively. I'm guessing you have two camps which has been alluded too...those who like the meetings, and their team, and those who follow speedway as a whole. I got my interest in following speedway and watching the youngsters develop, by staying behind for the second halves, and listening to my friend who was an ex rider, who would explain everything happening. Hearing it through a riders eyes and opinions certainly made it more enjoyable.

Agreed...great racing track...and a good amount of lines....but I have noticed it getting slicker of late....since Workington tbh.

I can't see how the euro fixtures are going to effect Speedway. A vast amount of the fixtures are being played in the afternoon, when most of us are at work or on our way back. And many football fans will only be watching the home nations...and dipping in and out of the other games. Can see many watching on catch up tv. Wouldn't it also be a good marketing tool to incorporate the euro's into a Speedway meeting. Play it in the bars...so you can keep an eye on both and have a bevvy whilst doing so?