Gresham

The team that will win the league, will be the one who has 7 riders on the day, that have their personal engines firing on all cylinders so to speak. As simple as that. You may have well have drawn lots at the beginning of the season to see who was going to be in the top four. Sarcastic I know...but the season has been a total lottery, with teams made up of pretty much anyone who was available. I'd be interested to see stats showing what team had the most settled 7 riders competing over the season. It struck my mind when Rosco said last night, his concerns about Bellego and his engines not working at the moment. Wouldn't it just show what a farce league speedway is, if Swindon ( the most consistent team of the season ) lost the title, purely down to a rider who has been consistent, not getting HIS engines right in the play offs. How ridiculous would that be...

With the way things are going this season, I can see Poole winning the League title. Now wouldn't that put the cherry on the cake of one of the most ridiculous seasons.

Popped on the forum to see what was going on...completely forgot about this fixture. I started the season enthusiastically...but as it's progressed, have become seriously underwhelmed. Have witnessed some fine racing on occasion, but the whole situation of doubling up, RR's, Guests, so many riders missing, so many injuries, rain offs etc have pretty much killed it for me. Probably my least enjoyable season of watching racing since starting to watch the Rebels. Good luck to Swindon....hope they win the league title. They deserve it. Just a shame the whole season has been blighted by what it seems like, watching the same old riders over and over again. I'll make a decision about 2pm as to whether to bother or not. At least there are 6 extra races tonight with a small Junior Individual meeting.

So for the sake of argument, call it 1400. Take into consideration, concessions, kids, season tickets etc,...surely there is an argument to drop prices to get more people through the gates on a regular basis? Cash on the door. 3000 at £5 average, plus your programmes, food and drink, parking etc...also generates a better atmosphere. Makes sense to me.

Just goes to show what reducing the prices does. 3000 is a great number. What do Swindon normally get?

Joke

Both not performing to the best of their ability. Shame, as I can see the end of the season turning into a damp squib.

I'm not so sure mate...nearly a full side, plus they have RR for Fricke, Tungate coming back. Depends on how Cook rides I reckon.

Hopefully it will be ok...looks like they've changed the forecast for the better now. Rain then clearing up. Hopefully the wind will help dry it out.

How many Clubs are confined to what night they can race, by being controlled by local councils? That would also have an affect.

Can see this being rained off as well...heavy showers and strong winds, getting worse as day goes on.

Today from Rosco... SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter has joined the growing band of key figures to call for set race nights for the Premiership. Rossiter has revealed how riders doubling-up with Championship clubs is making it impossible to rearrange fixtures after rain-offs. And he says there is only one way to avoid the problem – by protecting two nights in the week for Premiership racing with the Championship and National League free to run on any of the other five. He said: “The situation has now become impossible. Clubs cannot agree to new dates because their riders are on duty in the Championship and they would have three or four riders missing. “We are really struggling to fill a gap next Thursday, August 24, after we lost the Somerset meeting through rain. “It’s no good for our business and no good for the fans who almost expect to turn up and see guests and rider replacement. “Thankfully on Monday against King’s Lynn there is no clash with other clubs, but to try and get a new fixture for next Thursday without riders missing is proving almost impossible. “Set race night must be brought in as a matter of urgency to avoid clashes. If Thursday is a Premiership night then no Championship clashes would occur. “Then there’s the debate about doubling up anyway and how fans get confused about who is riding for who. I can see their point. “With, say, two set race nights for the Premiership it would mean we would have all our riders available apart from injury or illness. “It’s a matter which needs to be top of the agenda at the next management committee meeting with a view to approving it at the AGM.”

Thanks for the offer...might take you up on that one day, although the missus might have something to say about it lol Somerset got me back into Speedway...I love the place and enthusiasm of the promotion and fans...but these rules and the fixture planning are really trying my patience and love for the sport again. Love the racing...hate the rest of the crap that goes with it.

No...I just think it hurts your brain full stop. I asked you a question...as in a conversation. That's how threads work. Read the question...then you answer. Nurse...someone needs their meds...quick I agree though...too much like hard work talking with you. All the best...have a good evening. PS...you're not a Promotor are you...they speak in riddles too...

Ipswich- Heeps Peterborough-BWD Redcar-Wright Sheffield-Grajczonek Scunthorpe- Kerr All riding the same night as the new fixture. What a cock womble of a joke this sport has become.

Kinnel... Read what you quoted... quote... 'The minor changes would be in relation to where GUESTS and replacements could be pulled from e.g sides chasing Play Off Places in the Premiership having to use replacements from the Championship if need be rather than riders from other teams in their league competing for the same place - a tightening of who could be used in such instances would help IMO.' I've got more chance of deciphering hieroglyphics, than trying to work out your English grammar.

See your post 139

Praying for rain and it being called off, otherwise can see Gary's May's select team getting absolutely thrashed with this line up. Predicting over 60 for Swindle. In saying that...perhaps Swindle will ease off knowing their play off place is secure and Somerset can still get to 4th.

No...I think you missed the point completely What I'm asking...is that your idea seems to insinuate, that you would replace as a guest, a rider of Doyles calibre, with another rider from a small pool of riders in the Championship that aren't DU's.

So you would propose for example...someone like Doyle, having to be guested if needed, by a rider from that small pool of riders not already doubling up?

I really am struggling to understand a lot of that. Your point of I quote... 'The minor changes would be in relation to where guests and replacements could be pulled from e.g sides chasing Play Off Places in the Premiership having to use replacements from the Championship if need be rather than riders from other teams in their league competing for the same place - a tightening of who could be used in such instances would help IMO.' How does that work?...a great majority of riders in the Prem are riding in the Championship ( doubling up )...so how do you propose to take riders from the Championship and place them in the Prem as a guest? That's what's happening already. You'd be left with a very small pool of riders to choose from, who aren't already doubling up. The majority of them, the lower end of the Championship level.

Your idea sounds ideal in a perfect world...but why do you think there is doubling up? There aren't enough riders in Britain willing to ride in the current situation. How do you intend to attract more riders, when there isn't the money or enough rides for just one team? How do you intend to attract 'quality' as you put it, from foreign shores, when there isn't the money? 'Quality' as you put it, at the standard you wish, is down to machinery. Which in essence is down to running costs...ie money. If you stop doubling up...you'll have a cream of riders riding for teams here and abroad...but the great majority riding for one club here, kicking there heels making no money, unless they have a second job, yet they still have to compete financially to maintain there bikes at a competitive level. How is that going to work? The gap between the have's and have not's will become even greater. Answer... One big league, riders who will commit to one club in Britain. Not allowed to ride for Continental Club if it has priority over British meetings. Cheaper running costs, with Standardised engines. Which will attract new riders. Cost is a major issue as to why people don't take the sport up and why less riders appear every year. Two nights a week fixtures. If it means watching the 'quality' as you put it, of the likes of Charles Wright, Paul Starke, BWD etc and they have two jobs, then so be it. We just don't have the money in this country to compete with the Continent. Before you know it, in the blink of an eye...we'll end up like the US and Oz...with very few tracks and riders just riding abroad or a few select individual meetings here.

That's a bit like saying, I want to drive a Ferrari, but can't afford it....and can only afford to drive a Ford Fiesta, but won't buy one, as it's not good enough in your opinion...so instead you'll walk. Cutting your nose off to spite your face. Speedway in this Country can't afford what you want.

I agree...and so it has become a catch 22. Riders won't want to change...fans want change. For me, the only way it could change, is to make one big league and stop doubling up. That will dilute the 'quality' that some fans have issues with...not me, as I think we need to take a step back to take two forward. Club speedway is what is important in this country. It's getting less each season. Clubs closing etc. What riders are going to ride for one Club in this country and have a second job? Not many, when they see the spoils of 'Professional International Speedway Rider' on the continent.

I really don't think DU is going to go away. There aren't enough riders who want to commit to riding in Britain. I should also imagine the riders wouldn't make enough financially ( to what they expect ) to ride just for one team. They see the money being earned in Poland, that dangling golden carrot, and want to ride their as well. If you amalgamated the leagues, and stopped DU, you would have a few riders riding here as well as Poland, Sweden etc. You would also have a good majority, that wouldn't have team places abroad. Hence having very limited riding time and earning potential. The have's and have not's void would become even wider. The costs for maintaining engines, is the same for all riders, so again the 'level playing field' would also widen. It really is a catch 22...riders want to make a decent living, to cover costs, so DU enables this, yet fans detest it and it will effect crowds, which in turn effect money coming into the sport. It has become a ridiculous situation. Riders want more rides, to make more money, and have ever increasing running costs. Spiralling North. Fans want no DU, teams that they recognise and more fixtures. Less riders are starting out, as has been posted by others, not just here, but abroad as well. Less Riders, Less Clubs, Less money, Less fans. There is only one way this sport is going in this country and it's staring everyone in the face, yet no one knows what to do to stop the rot.