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I appreciate your views and can understand that connection, but it was a two way thing. Riders rode for a club and belonged solely to that club, they didn't ride for a various others at the same time, so the loyalty was never in question. This belonging feeling that existed was paramount to the connection, the fans had with the club. This is why the terraces were always full. Every race meant something because the riders didn't want to let the fans down... It was as though you were a big family. Many nights after the meetings we stayed on to mix with the riders in the bar. Some nights it was so full you couldn't get in the place. But it all added to that emotional attachment. One of the big difference is now the top riders are free agents and ride for many clubs. They is no belonging to any specific club or their fans, the riders act like mercenaries, milking the situation that the rules have allowed . The powers that govern this sport have destroyed that connection the fans valued so much. the only attraction left is the actual racing on the track, and sadly , that at times is not very good... When I relate to the good times of yesteryear , I am referring to the whole package, the costs, the environment, the excitement, the belonging, the enjoyment, that all added to the actual racing that made it occasions you remembered...

Surely speedway is now much easier to promote with the Internet and free social media to get it out on at any time they like. It's more like they don't bother to promote properly or use the tools properly to do so.

How professional do the witches look in them suits ,first class ,love the clubs attitude,not like some

AND to Speedway Star for many, many years. Sad news.

Bears now have a youtube channel - a few races from last season on there already. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCArroFXv3grFM29EAjfdUng

Thank you for posting my question to Martin and to him for the excellent, well thought out reply. It's nice to be able to get an honest answer from a man who was at the centre of our sport when it was at it's best. Pity we don't have more promoters like him now.

But at least they would be trying. Having a YouTube channel is a good way to show what it's all about.

Clegg 8.63 (Heathens) Stoneman 7.61 (Gladiators) Rowe 7.26 (Kings) Priest 4.99 (Potters) Ledwith 3.5 (Kings) D Thompsen 2.0 (Cubs) J Thompsen 2.0 (Cubs) 35.99

New sponsors announced (and new 'powered by' backers, too) plus a new promoter on the block! Getting interesting now, folks!

You make a valid point (if I am reading you right?) and you are of course right, not everything is transferrable from the indoor arena to a speedway stadium. Speedway cannot simply replicate basketball in presentation terms, but there is a lot to learn in just the use of music, light and sound effects to add some drama and spectacle to the occasion. There is no dead time at all. It's all high impact music and effective use of spotlights and bright lights to crank up the atmosphere. I think the GPs do this much better than league speedway and I recognise they have much bigger budgets, but there is a lot can be done with a whizz kid at the keyboard and some decent equipment (bought by clubs pooling resources?).

As opposed to all seven looking a complete shambles from the get go? Some people still live in the past and that’s part of the problem Speedway has these days. I suggest everyone takes a look at the link to the Look East programme posted on the Ipswich thread. Ipswich look like a professional outfit of a professional sport, exactly the way it SHOULD be, instead of people harking on about the good old days of the 70’s when riders had individual identity with race bibs and numbers made out of gaffer tape that was half falling off. As I said, people need to stop living in the past.

Just read that Dennis McCleary is stepping down as Co promoter and cutting back on his work with Bandits and Football,wish him all the best,his contribution to the Speedway over the years was immense and will be greatly missed.A gentleman IMO.

I feel that if a rider is involved in British league speedway, he should offer to ride in the Bonanza. If, heaven forbid, he is injured in Britain and he's constantly bodyswerved this meeting, how could he have the nerve to ask for their help? As for riders who have been helped financially in the past, yet pulled out on Sunday, well.....

Makes a lot more sense than to run it the day after the fours

Recently I "rediscovered" an old recording of a 70's World Final (Briggs Olsen etc). Big crowds, but dreadful boring racing!! Lucky if more than 1 overtake the whole night....yes, felt better at the time, atmosphere & crowd plus youth reason, not the actual racing.

Hate to be "that person" who corrects you but Shanes did plenty of Speedway prior to signing for PL Poole. Starting out in the MDL before limited appearances at Plymouth & Coventry where he didn't pull up a lot of trees to be fair. Even when he signed for Kent he would score well but couldn't gate for toffee. His attacking style suits some CL tracks and thats where he started to gather interest before joining the Pirates. Not going to debate his ability/potential too much but fear his Grass style will continue to hold him back a bit on many more technical tracks and despite very strong sponsorship is still behind with the financial clout that Brennan & Zac Waj have.

Lets hope all 3 teams see regular features on Look East through the season that help boost the crowds and add to the atmosphere - make matches places that people get a buzz from and want to return for

That’s True Baggy who wants to hear about top of the League Norwich, or indeed Tractor boys fans looking forward to welcoming the likes of Accrington Stanley to Portman next season

Good piece on Look East, kevlars and bike covers look awesome. Refreshing to see speedway as the local sports news, makes a change from boring people with yet another Norwich win

Isn't that the point - Big sponsors more than likely won't sponsor at all with an amatuer look. With a more professional image they are more likely to. I still can't believe more teams (if any now actually) don't try and get sponsorship for fork covers. That is prime spot for every photograph being taken and is cheap to get manufactured. Win-Win!

Delighted to confirm that our FAN FORUM on Weds night (20th March) in the glass grandstand will feature three Promoters, three riders and the Team Manager. Starting at 7.30, we will hear from Matt Ford and his two new Co-Promoters, Anthony Tilley and Dan Ford, in the first half of the presentation. After an interval and opportunity to mingle, we will then be pleased to welcome, 2019 Pirates, Josh Grajczonek, Jack Holder and Richie Worrall along with Neil Middleditch. The event is held on behalf of, and for the benefit of, THE RIDERS EQUIPMENT FUND. Admission on the night is £5 with REF members benefiting from a £1 discount. Doors open 7.00pm

This years team suits did not cost the northern club any money they are sponsored same as last year

I think you are dead right. I also think that while there were some reasons to believe that Mildenhall couldn't raise a team that day the attempt to close this loop hole for riding absences is overdue. Basically, riders could opt out of a meeting for pretty much any reason and teams could get in guests to replace them. That's not on.

I love it when Alex Ferguson's reign is described as being easy as the richest club. The majority of the winning under Ferguson's reign was with players coming through the ranks of the club which is where the club's wealth came from. For me, Middleditch has just been Ford's puppet. Ford says who rides for him, who's sacked, which replacements are needed etc. Middleditch for Poole is exactly the same as a team leader / supervisor in business, powerless in hiring and firing and just there to fire up the staff employed by someone else. Matt Ford is the reason and only reason for Poole's success.

I hope no one is" taken in" by this rubbish.