RPNY

I wouldn't say it's no longer as good as it used to be. Our top league in the UK is weaker, but as a whole I wouldn't say Speedway is any worse these days. Some of the racing we get now is out of this world. There's just a gulf of the standard (riders racing, facilities, whole package basically) between the Top Level such as GP's etc and the league racing we get. Also, people always say there are not the big names anymore but you always hear that. Heard it when I first started watching about Penhall etc then same when Nielsen/Ermolenko/Hamill left the world stage, same now Crump, Gollob, T Rik have gone. We all look back with rose tinted glasses...

Is the BF live on Sky this year?

Well yes, why dont they do it?!!

I sat next to a lady from Manchester on a plane ride at the weekend, her son rides motorcross. I asked if she'd heard about Belle Vue and the new stadium. She said she had but said it's really not promoted at all. And it's not the first time I've heard this. I find it staggering they would put all that money & effort into building the stadium and then not promote it proper.y.

How long till karger is replaces?

As bad as this has all been, once it's done it will be fantastic for British Speedway. Onward and upwards.

Bit confused as a few people on here made out he'd be thrown straight in jail if he ever stepped foot on UK soil...

Now that I can understand my friend.

Yup and thats the sole reason... Seriously.

Oh yea Im the one with the blinkers on hahahaha

Have a look at what he did in 2014 as world champion and get back to me.

He didn't just ride to raise his profile. He rode out of his skin. Dislike him as much as you want but you cannot knock his effort when representing GB.

Tai has ridden for GB since 2010 (I think) and I'd imagine been our top scorer in all but a couple of those SWC's. He's ridden his nuts of while representing GB and that to me means more than him missing the BF this year. I'm a huge Scotty Nicholls fan and actually sponsored him for a season but let's not kid ourselves, he never rode for Team GB for all those years because he wanted a weeks holiday rather than riding for a team he knew had zero chance of winning. Tai, Middlo and others publicly asked him to return and he had no interest. Now it's on his home track, we have a decent chance of getting on the podium he fancies it again? Come on people... Another thing people should realize, is when Tai turns up to represent GB he's prepared. You never hear him complaining of not being 'dialed in' or 'used to European tracks' or not got their 'set up right' any other crap excuse we've had to listen to for over a decade. For all their bulldog spirit, I've had enough of Bomber (and I think hes a legend by the way) etc being ill prepared yet again for big meetings, trailing half a lap behind race after race... Even the Latvians and Yanks have put up better shows than us in recent times, it's embarrassing. Yes it's a shame Tai's not going to be in the BF this year but that's the way modern sport is these days. No different from top players not playing in the FA Cup. Once such a highly regarded competition now way down the list of a premier league clubs priorities. It's a shame and I think he's should be seeded through to the final, but I can't say I really blame him.

As for Emil's agenda.. yeah, that would be it wouldn't it. He grew up with a dream to be World Champion. All he ever spoke of was his desire to be World Champion. He entered the GP's and rode through injuries because of his desire to be World Champion. When his father died he dedicated himself to being World Champion in his memory. Along comes the SEC run by a very dodgy organisation and suddenly he 'can't afford it'... despite being one of the richest speedway riders there is.. when it became obvious that was completely bogus as he is most certainly not lacking in equipment it became "spend more time with family"... which of course is bogus as well. He rides in just as many meetings during a season as Tai does, often racing in meaningless events in Germany of the weekend. Isn't it strange that the Laguta's have had this same attitude transformation! Must be a Russian thing...... Emil has all the ability in the world and in league racing there is nothing between him and Tai... but as said, until Emil shows the guts to fight for World Championships again he will never be in the same bracket. Have to agree with this and I'm a huge Emil fan.

Lets give them a season at least before we write the new promotion off. We'd all been moaning a LONG TIME about the old guard. Lets go into this with some optimism

The series is a MUCH poorer place without him. I for one hope he's give a wild card for next year. After coming 3rd in his debut season & nearly winning it in 2013, he had some horrendous injuries, plus the death of his father and being cheated out of a ridiculous amount of money by his old polish team. I cannot blame him for not wanting the added pressure of the GP's. Also, we have no idea what's going on behind the scenes. If it's true about the amount of pressure that was being put on him, then it's no shock he's chose to sit out. We can all sit here and say I wouldnt care about the money I'd want to be world champion. But it's a very different scenario when you have a wife, young kid to provide for and bills to pay. Let's just hope he's back in it sooner or later. I can only imagine how good a series with Tai, Emil & Darcy would have been. So sad we'll never get to see it again.

Good man Im with you on that one bud

Nice idea Shads, they probably should have done that, but I personally don't blame BMR for incorporating their own colors. As long as they're improving the track, stadium and giving us a decent team to support that's not a top concern...

I have to agree with you there David. Please lets see how the season goes before we pass judgement. I'm struggling to understand why there are so many people complaining here. All I've read on here over the last 5+ years (probably since the the 2007 title winning season actually) is people complaining about what a load of rubbish it was at the club. Out dated, poor teams assembled, jobs for the boys etc. A new promotion has come in and changed a few things us and everyone is up in arms. I've no idea what the relationship was between them and Uncle Len was, but if I remember rightly at the start of last season he was still the man in charge with regards to team building etc, so I can't see how BMR are to blame for last season. I will always be grateful to Len. He brought my team back to life after 7 long years. But his time was up. BMR haven't even had a chance to run the show their way yet. Lets give them at least ONE season before we say they are good or bad. Reading what Robbo has to say on the website, I'm cautiously optimistic.

I dont think you're ever the deepest of thinkers.

British final should be at Coventry ELRC at Sheffield PLRC at Belle Vue 4s Peterborough Pairs Sommerset. Very easy!

It happens in every country as has been mentioned before. I think the EL will be gone before the Polish league will. At least they put themselves into good positions when times were going well. Stadiums, youth programmes etc etc. What did British Speedway ever do when they ruled the Speedway all those years?

I agree. Can no longer say Nicki gets stick just because he's Nicki. Doyle was given a tough time for the moves he pulled, Sundstrom for the World Cup, people are well aware of Kildermand and what he's like. If a riders dirty it's there for everyone to see, particularly in this day and age. With regards to Nicki, funny how he ALWAYS protested his innocence and in the interview he says 'I'm not a dirty rider ANYMORE' LOL

In the UK now it seems across most if not all sports it's only the top top contests that are well supported (as in sold out) Outside of the top 7/8 teams in the Premiership the stadiums are not all sold out. And certainly not the lower leagues. Standard league matches in Rugby, Cricket etc generally get very poor attendances. But Top of the league clashes, Champions league, Cup finals, 20 20 games etc pretty much all sold out. No different in Speedway really. If it's 2 top teams or (more specifically) the play offs the crowds are good. That is generally the shift across all sports. I follow boxing closer than any other sport and as mentioned earlier, it's only because Matchroom really stepped it up that it's having such a successful period right now. They pack the cards with 5/6/7 top fights, really giving value for money. Over here in the states they rarely do that and as a result the crowds arent great Unless its a Mayweather or manny pacquiao fight . Just the other week I went to a Heavyweight fight, with an American Heavyweight Champion and the crowd was 12,500 in an arena that holds over 20k. Not exactly brilliant. What Barry Hearne (and his son Eddie) have done is gone for quality over quantity. Consequently the public are keener to go and see events when they are on. That's what Speedway needs to do. Unfortunately it's still run by an old boys club then proper, decent promoters. Trim it down to a home meeting every 2 weeks, 6 rider teams if necessary, and have a standard that meeting should be 2 hours maximum. Of course with Speedway there's many things that can alter the length of a meeting however 2 hours should be the benchmark. The Promoters cannot complain about exposure anymore. The league is on Sky, the GPs on BT Sport, there's any social media, YouTube channels, a whole plethora of ways of getting it out there to the public. However the problem is too many are in it for self gain and can't or won't see the big picture. There are some nice Speedway Stadiums now. To mention a few, Belle Vue, Sheffield, Coventry, Leicester, Peterborough, Glasgow now looking good, there a few excuses to do better then currently are doing. However the people running it are in the dark ages.

Anyome saying Max will struggle at Sheffield etc obviously hasn't seen him at Kings Lynn the last couple of years. I for one hope he joins Rye.