MattK

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Surely Birmingham could have used Nermark as a replacement for Grajczonek in heat 13?

Speedway, bloody hell.

Swindon can't afford a broom to sweep up a bit of standing water, let along a roof for our imaginary new stadium.

But does British speedway need the riders more than the riders need British speedway?

I think they are referring to Sky+.

You'd think by now, they would have worked out how to size/shape and prep a track. Two terrible meetings in one week, one from King's Lynn and now this.

I suppose it depends if you want a rider for the future, like Fricke/Douglas or if you want someone who can come in to the team and hit the ground running. I think we might be able to scrap the play-offs if we get a secondstring who can score solidly from day one.

Obviously, without seeing the mythical list of assessed averages, it's hard to name names, but given Milik was assessed as a 4, there must be plenty of riders with an assessed average below what we have available. Personally, I still think we are better off dipping into the PL and getting a rider who already has equipment and set-up in the UK. I think the days of us being able to give foreign riders a generous golden handshake so they can set themselves up with top notch equipment and hit the ground running are long gone.

Will people please stop saying that.

The benefits of a doubling-up rider is that they will have good quality equipment in the UK, as they are riding here regularly. Gustafsson on the other hand has little incentive to invest heavily in equipment, as he is only in the UK once or twice a week. I reckon Ostergaard or Lasse Bjerre are our best bets. What is Fricke averaging this season?

Exactly. Rather than reducing the chances of a Coventry/Peterborough type situation, I think an independent committee would actually cause it to happen every year. At least with the current BSPA/AGM set-up, every club gets a vote and most seem to accept the democratic flaw that you will not always get what you want. I can't see clubs accepting an independent body effectively dictating rules and regulations which will effect their businesses and potentially cost them money.

So give an actual example of a recent issue that you think an independent body would have handled differently in order to reach a more satisfactory outcome to all involved?

These rider all rode last season and have averages lower than Gustafsson's: Olly Allen 5.19 Michal Szczepaniak 4.86 Kim Nilsson 5.18 Bobby Miskowiak 5.11 Ludvig Lindgren 4.48 Lasse Bjerre 4.28 Ulrich Ostergaard 4.43 Kauko Nieminen 4.62 Magnus Zetterstrom 4.98 Kevin Wolbert 5.04 Bjerre and Ostergaard are riding particularly well in the PL.

What kind of decisions do you think an independent group would make that is different to the current set-up? For example, they would be largely be giving by what the clubs want/need, so for example a method of cost saving, which has lead to the draft list and many of this season's concerns. Likewise, if Sky says they want a double-point rule in order to sign a TV deal, the independent group would be in no position to refuse. Some people seem to think an independent committee is some kind of panacea to speedway's problems, but I am really struggle to see what actual specific difference it would make.

I always assumed it was the other way around?

Is that backing from their governing body, Polish club or simply more generous sponsors?

Exactly. First things first, I'd like to see some British youngster prove their ambition by riding regularly on the continent, rather than in the safety and comfort of the Premier League.

Not when you could sign a Larsen, Sundstrom or Madsen for similar.

What is the line-up for the Leicester round?

I agree. "Family friendly" is a terrible marketing angle when they should be promoting the extreme nature of the sport.

You really want the BSPA "re-assessing" riders averages at the end of the season. Lordy!

I like the new race format, but the guest situation is a mess.

They are both out assets though, so we'd have got priority of both riders.

Birmingham should swap Kennett for Klindt which would give them enough points to replace Nermark with Smolinski.