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My hopes on the AGM 1. A limit to the number of team changes each can make per year. This year was ridiculous. 2. Limit double up to British riders and foreigners who only race in the UK only. 3. Return the 3rd tier to a development league that pays only the basic pay rate (thus encouraging first and second tier venues to track a second team). 4. Have The Championship have more league fixtures and get rid of the Shield (give each club a more predictable number of fixtures, 10 league home matches is too low). Just my thoughts.

The more you look in to it John the more you realise what state our sport is in. Being involved as I have been over the last few years has really opened my eyes to the goings on and how only a few people who have money to dispose of can sustain running Speedway teams. Even the biggest and best make very little so something has to change or the slippery slide of clubs disappearing each year will only cease when the last couple close their doors. Costs need to be reduced as we can't get the crowds back like in the past. So many things to compete for adults money with these days, sadly 15 x 1 minute races at over a pound a race doesn't attract the newbies like say £10 did in the past with 13 heats plus a full competitive second half. I know it sounds crazy but one thing I reckon has made Speedway and other minority sports ( that's sadly what we are now ) suffer is school boy football. So many kids now sign for clubs from 5 or 6 year old, Dad is spending £20-£30 a week by the time they play on a Saturday and train twice a week. It all eats in to the disposable income which was available in the past. Riders at junior / national league level expecting £30 a point etc is just mad. This grass roots speedway should be non paid like motocross, trials, track racing etc. Riders wages need to fit in line with revenue for the sport. If you can only afford £40 a point then that has to be the wage across the board. I believe riders deserve more than premier league footballers but when crowds are 400-500 sadly its just not justified. Scrap new tyres for every meeting. As a new rider over the past 4 seasons some of the tyres Ive been handed off riders still have the factory nobbles on. This waist of money needs to stop. I could go on and on but sadly Ive not won the lottery and Im just a supporter who for 43 years watched from the terraces before the last 4 years being a rider and now a junior team manager.

Well a new friend said "that the best way to make a small fortune out of speedway is to start with a large one" and I fully agree with him following the experience I have had with my involvement in Speedway... but if you think about it and it isn't rocket science you can work it out on the back of a fag packet... (or Vape Box now just to be PC) (not that we do either Gav) Think of the one off costs to consider at the start of the season such as Licence & Track Licence; Bond Increase; Pre-Season Track Work (track work / materials / boards / paint); Accountancy fees ; BSPA Office Costs; Public Liability Insurance; Air Fence Repairs... Then the Meeting costs such as RENT; MILEAGE; SUNDRIES (Oil Tyres Green Regs Compliance) TRACK STAFF: MEDICAL COVER: REFEREE ; SECURITY; These are all to be paid for just to get the meeting on. Then you have the rider's wages on top. So; get this; and I can show the workings out, just to get a meeting on at Newcastle I reckon it costs 30 quid short of £4000:00 before you pay the riders a penny. All those costs spread out over an 18 meeting season is £4k per match... Now stick with me and still on the back of the same fag packet; if you pay your riders a modest average of £60 per point across the team and you average 51 points per meeting home and away including bonus points that's £3,060 in wages but what you also have to remember is you have to pay for your teams away points as well out of your home gate so that's £6,120 added to your £4k so your home gate needs to be approximately 625 fans paying £16 quid; how many do Newcastle get now? Now all of the above is savagely basic but it gives an idea what the club are up against and if the club were successful the wages figures obviously rise without enough coming through the gate to cover the cost.. The more I look at it the more I despair... Regards THJ Oh and don't forget that "Dammed VAT" (Boris/Corbyn need their slice)

Oop's I will come back later in hope that someone wants to talk about speedway.

Guys give it a rest !!! What's done is done , there's no point in what happened in the past , it's over !!! Both of you are going to regret some comments that have been made here by both of yous , so for the love of god , SHUT UP !!!

can't you girls do this via pm - i log on to see whats happening and see only petty crap i don't want to hear about.

Nobody should be criticised for trying new things, they might not work but we won’t know until they've been trialled.

Ok..so I do recall this regime, I kept going til the final curtain in 1981. What I can drag from the vaults of past-time is that Eddie (think that's the correct spelling) had a nice, little, Garage on the outskirts of Lowca (Whitehaven end of village) and next to it was quite a nice house. I believe Eddie lost all of that via speedway....like you say THJ his family inheritance...I do recall having sympathy for Eddie. It's sad that speedway just has a very bad habit of creating financial hardship for those who bravely try to run a team.

The rumoured team is going to be correct isn’t it. Not a play-off team imo.

Karol Baran.

No2 in particular would be a massive move forward when planning in fixtures.. Let's be honest, doubling up is there for the riders to justify their outlay on kit and to make money, rather than a 'necessary evil' . Teams could simply reduce how many riders were in a team if it was simply down to there not being enough to go round, and at the same time putting clear demarcation between the league standards for progession purposes.. Therefore, it looks like it's here to stay and with FRN in situ both leagues should be able to run a regular and consistent fixture list if they only allowed DU'ing to those not riding in leagues outside of the UK.. In short. DU'ing means riders can earn more money and that's fine. However it shouldn't impact fixture planning by the teams as this impacts attendances.

No he's two million miles away... av offered twice and been knocked back... sorry to say there wont be a third time... It's to late... where's the riders... where's Dandelion when you need her... there ain't any one left of note to build a team around... a said a few weeks back that a was worried... even more so now... Pull the accounts for Newspeed off the Companies House web site and if anyone can square the circle send me a PM and I will stick some cash in... or at least more than I have over the last nine years... Here's a plea 10 companies or individuals set up a trust stick 5 grand each in each and pledge to do it for the next 3 years and that will potentially keep the place afloat... do that and I am in but you need to be aware that this will basically only cover the stadium rent of around 1600 quid which I believe is the second highest in the country and the medical cover of around a grand for an 18 home meetings season... Or find one person or company to stick in 50k but who would do that without wanting some control... Never say never but I honestly think we are at the nearly stage and here's another one... if as rumoured George walks will all his pals walk with him... from turnstile operators to track staff... that leaves one hell of a gap at the club... I'm putting wads of cash on that Euro and if I cop the lot it will be no problem but my company isn't big enough to back a Speedway team... oh but I wish it was... I am prepared to help but can't do it on my own unfortunately... Over to anyone else out there... (if it helps there is one other chap I have spoken to who is a genuine guy and two other possibilities) (So six more required) Regards THJ

Yes, that was daft. But it doesn’t mean that all innovation is.

That's all very well, but top guys want big money, signing on fees, vans etc, with crowds that British Speedway are getting where is the money coming from, most of the riders ride in both leagues anyway, (not Doyle of course), so if Somerset go for the top riders and pay big money, would that make you attend? if so you may enjoy it for the season, as after that the club would probably go bust.

Wolves run the olympique which is a handicapped staggered start.cracking racing.

First meeting I saw was Belle Vue v Hull in 1978...I can't remember all 4 riders but certainly Alan Wilkinson, Chris Turner and Ivan Mauger.. and a Hull rider I cannot remember.. . Pretty certain Wilkinson won it and not Mauger... I think Mauger only got 7 points if I remember.... Peter Collins got a max... In fact it was a good while until I saw Collins lose a race.. It was eventually Dave Jessup who was the first rider I saw beat him round Hyde Road for Reading a good few matches later.

Cookie will be at Glasgow whilst Anderson won't.

Are you sure you are spelling that correctly!

To be fair to Starman, I would say hes the master debater on here.

Jase was the bonus point king at Swindon, shepherded home Adam so many times. Could always be relied on in last heat, and most of the time didn't have to bovver as Swindon had it wrapped up well before. Helpful in the pits. Seems to have put his differences with Rosco aside now. Nice guy to chat to as well. Certainly in my Robins 7 of all-time. Rides injured a lot but ard as nails.

Being a speedway fan and someone who attends regularly, I sometimes wonder why I am on here.

Amazing as ever I'm sure it's like the swan on a pond which looks serene and beautiful above the surface but no doubt paddling furiously under the water

A service that many of us have come to take for granted. Which is all wrong, of course. We have to remember the time, effort and cost of bringing us heat by heat results of virtually every meeting held. Forget the pale imitations on Twitter etc. This is the most comprehensive results service anywhere. Keep up the good work and thank you.

Congratulations to Dan who today, in his first ever meeting in Australia, won the Jack Young Trophy. Kyle Bickley was third.

Please please please not Kurtz or Holder