Mike.Butler

Kerry Gray?

yes and no...on grip i agree, but bikes are too controllable on modern tracks that have to be so slick for the lay-downs, resulting in less mistakes out in front and less excitement generally.. Worst development ever changing from uprights IMV..

i've always called them 'bends'..but then I always refer to 'excluded' and 'first bend bunching'...clearly too set in my ways.

yes, but what have knitting and the GPO got to do with anything?

when i went, we travelled over on the thur, and then bought two tickets from the stadium the day before the meeting. (3rd row back, right at starting gate). Not sure its ever been a sell out.. the Poles were all on the back straight.

hull/scunny derby would be good..have they ever met anyone know?

like a lot of things..it's probably been quietly forgotten about...however, i expect Eastbourne will still schedule two 'reserved' home meetings next season for it 'just in case' the top 8 in the EL are invited..season tickets valid!

i can't sorry, best i can do is: the score is 21-26 and losing team have had a rider excluded, their 2nd rider then has an 'engine failure"., score goes to 21-31...forfeiting one point to gain 3 with a potential 8-1 instead of a 5-1. you're right and i'm wrong. I apologise: However, for some reason i perceive it is more common-place now and i can only think that it is because when only 4 pts behind in first example, the opportunity exists to pull level with a single maximum, and a 6 pt deficit is retrievable + a TS could be broiught in to any heat so a 6 pt defecit may come along in another eat or so.., whereas when 8 (10) behind a managers thinking is 'we've lost this match' - whats the best opportunity to salvage a losing bonus point, i know- our top rider is in next heat? - therefore can't afford to miss the opportunity since he's not out again till after heat 12..this make sense? but i'm probably wrong about that too... :blush:

not sure how many riders would actually pay to watch though? I imagine those not making money are doing it for their own adrenalin rush more than anything..and a big crowd must add to that ..

eh? old TS: the score is 25-29, instead of getting a 3-3 team deliberately lose 2-4, so score becomes 27-33, a 5-1 brings it back to 32-34, compared to a 3-3 (28-32) followed by a 3-3 (31-35) how is that gaining 8? Is it me????

Poole are in danger of becoming the equivalent of Glasgow Celtic.. Poole's relative wealth is bad for British Speedway. (discuss)

i just wish all the current corners offered the opportunity to pass on.

The big advantage for me the old Tac sub rule had was that there wasn't the same incentive to 'throw' a race in order to get 6 pts behind as there is now to get 10 pts behind, simply because you were potentially forfeiting 2pts to gain 4, whereas now you forfeit 2 to potentially gain 7...it's absolute crap and brings the sport into disrepute in my view.. I am sick and tired of the promoters ignoring this blatant loophole. How many times do they have to be told us fans don't want it!? i'm close to giving up tbh...the world cup being the biggest fiasco which has meant i refuse to watch them any longer..so a casual armchair fan is pandered to in preference to us who keep the sport (just) above water...FOR PETE'S SAKE _ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

it would be cheaper for a team 6 up to have a rider removed from a heat, and when 12 up remove both..

Us regulars don't worry too much about state of stadium, but i've a feeling any potential newbies might do. One thing i've noticed is the variance in the level of track lighting..Watching 4 riders disappear into shadows isn't clever

i was at mildenhall last night, and they were frankly stunned that their arrangements to host the first leg on Saturday had to be binned...Quite whether the IOW had seriously considered having to stae another meeting until after heat 15 i wouldn't like to say...

out of the blue i get to see an extra meeting tonight! excellent.

Go back to one-legged semis if we really have to have them..

i have been pretty negative on here this season about the EL. The no.of meetings I have attended is in gradual decline. 2007-43, 2008-45, 2009-35, 2010-37, 2011-30, 2012-29, 2013-24=lowest this centrury. Hope this still means i can contribute. I never watch EL speedway on Sky btw, it's too painful...

Magnus Zetterstrom would be my token Swede.. really enjoyed his efforts the year he qualified..

let's not bother with a league..at my chess club at school we had a ladder system...seemed to work alright..

don't know but might go if u can find out...

Jack Kingston has to be the current most frequent faller-offerer...but he's good box office tbh

I was actually there as it happens and 6.5k for a tier 3 football game is more than healthy thank you. I'm sure the atmosphere generated came over well on the box. Absolutely no comparison i'm afraid. nb play-offs for league 1 last year attracted 40k! your point is flawed. fact.

i never watch EL speedway on the tele as it's demoralising. ..somehow doesn't seem so bad in a one or two sided stadium when i'm there but seeing the gaps on the box it makes you realise what a minority sport we've become. Such a shame sky wasn't around in the sixties! I've said before that I think it would be best not to show EL as its such a shambles...but just the play-offs is ok I guess. Even showing some different meetings like the PL4TT that have spectators on 4 sides would be preferable to a league meeting IMV... It's not as though sky don't show League Cup/Johnstone's paint matches cos they aren't football league matches so what's the problem?