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i feel for the clubs that are holding out as they've obviously invested greatly in the team and want to keep it. unfortunately, that "winning" feeling this year will just be getting to the tapes, not trophies, and the kudos will come naturally if that does happen. run a season how Denmark do with smaller teams, see if it works, if it does then keep it, if not then there's the old trusted to fall back on. but something has to be done now, no good waiting as the moment will be lost, and this decision really could be the difference needed for the future. please promoters for once stop squabbling and go for the big picture, it might get rosy for you after

Would suggest Workington would disagree...

Yup watched the Russian video-Ove Fundin had a segment of his memories of Gab in English, and mentioned a thing I remember- Gab Kadirov always looked a happy guy -great memories.

Yup, Gab the Beatle-saw him with the Russian Touring team in 1965 at Newport. I would rate him fourth of that team, after Plechanov, Samorodov and Kurilenko

The Mason's must be flush!

Wether they can afford it is another matter. I lived on a diet of non league football since late August, averaging about £8 a game. I've turned into a right tight wad during lockdown. I'm certainly going to be more choosey when elite sport gets going for fans again.

You can only imagine that one, or maybe more, teams think they are sat on a 'killer team" which will allow them to win the league.. A victory that may even see them mentioned in the local "Gazette" or "Tribune", with maybe even a photo of them (possibly even in colour!), being put in just below the local Darts and Crib League results.. Who knows, their local mayor may hold a "buffet lunch" for them (post Covid obviously), which could attract up to 100 or so followers to attend and celebrate such a momentous, globally resonating achievement... Name in the local paper? With maybe a photo too? And a buffet lunch with the local mayor? Now that's got to be worth potentially f×××ing up a whole seasons Speedway for hasn't it? Hasn't it?

NORDIN, Göte Born: July 2, 1935, Falun, Sweden. A Swedish speedway legend and one of the best riders in the world never to win the World Championship, ‘Gentleman’ Göte Nordin was a complete stylist and was much respected by fans throughout the U.K. He had started his career with the famous Gentingarna club in the mid-1950s and quickly progressed to the international side, making his debut for his country in October, 1955 against Poland at Stockholm. It was not until the early part of the 1960s that he became an automatic choice for his country and he made his league bow in Britain in 1960, joining Belle Vue and averaging over six points per match in the National League for the ‘Aces’. He hit the big time the following year - despite riding just one match for the ‘Aces’ - as he qualified for his first World final – the first ever to be held outside its traditional home of Wembley. The final took place at Malmö and Göte crowned a superb night for the host nation as he finished third behind the champion, Ove Fundin and runner-up Bjorn Knutsson. He was now firmly established as one of the top riders in the world but rarely appeared in league racing in Britain as he preferred to concentrate on domestic speedway in Sweden and the lucrative continental scene. Further World final appearances followed in 1962 and 1963 and he was part of the Swedish World Team Cup side that dominated the competition in the early part of the decade. Finally, in 1964, Göte was tempted to ride a full league season in the U.K., joining Wimbledon as the ‘Dons’ looked to fill the gap left by the retirement of Ronnie Moore. He had a superb season at Plough Lane, averaging 10.33 points per match and finishing second in the league figures behind Barry Briggs. The non-resident Swedes were frozen out of the newly formed British League in 1965 but Göte was back the following year for what was probably his most memorable season in the U.K., riding for the Newport ‘Wasps’ at Somerton Park. He was absolutely magnificent that year as he proved to be almost unbeatable at home and regularly chalked up double figures on away tracks, boosting his average to almost ten and a half points per match and drawing in the crowds wherever he rode. His beautiful style and impeccable fairness won him the deserved ‘Gentleman’ tag and the next team to benefit from his point scoring abilities was Poole, for whom he again turned in an excellent season. By this time Göte had reached his mid-30s and his chance of the World title had passed, with the 1967 campaign at Poole being his last as a full-time British League rider as he quit the ‘Pirates’ after just one match in 1968 to take over the running of the JAWA franchise in his home country. Over the next few years Göte faded from the international scene somewhat and became a man that British clubs would turn to when they needed an experienced and accomplished rider to get them out of an injury crisis with short spells at Coventry, Wembley, and finally Halifax in 1972 where he replaced the broken leg victim, Dave Younghusband. His last appearance for Sweden came in the World Team Cup final at Olching that year and soon afterwards the curtain was brought down on the career of one of the finest and most popular Swedes ever to have graced the sport. Year Club Division M R P BP TP CMA FM PM 1960 Belle Vue NL 15 69 91 18 109 6.32 - - 1961 Belle Vue NL 1 5 7 0 7 5.60 - - 1962 Norwich NL 2 9 26 0 26 11.56 1 - 1964 Wimbledon NL 14 60 154 1 155 10.33 4 - 1966 Newport BL 32 146 367 14 381 10.44 10 3 1967 Poole BL 34 147 356 11 367 9.99 8 - 1968 Poole BL1 1 4 11 1 12 12.00 - 1 1969 Coventry BL1 3 13 25 3 28 8.62 - - 1971 Wembley BL1 11 46 101 3 104 9.04 - - 1972 Halifax BL1 12 51 97 7 104 8.16 - - Individual Honours: World Finalist 1961 (3rd), 1962 (8th), 1963 (5th), 1966 (6th), Swedish Champion 1965, 1971. International Honours: World Team Cup winner 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, World Team Cup finalist 1965, 1966, 1972, Swedish international 45 caps, 379 points.

Funny isn't it. Absolutely nobody would expect Sainsbury's to tell them five months in advance exactly what is going to be on their shelves, who'll be on the checkout or the name of the delivery driver. Yet when it comes to sports we simply all most know everything the exact minute the decision has been made despite us having absolutely no rights to the information and that knowing or not knowing this information right away makes no difference to whether or not we attend [noting that advance season ticket sales would be the only reason to make the information available early]. I think it's a form of FOMO and because we're all a bit jealous that we don't get to have our ideas implemented. And because we know they'll come up with something daft. But the truth is that us knowing what is going on behind the scenes is of no significance. We'll find out when we find out and decide if we like or dislike the outcome at that point. Doesn't matter if that's hot off the press last Thursday or in 4 months time.

Wouldn't that be an obvious part of the BSPL's remit to inform all riders of Brexit implications? Or maybe even the ACU? Surely any umbrella organisation will know the regulations and share them with everyone registered?

I saw Gote at his immaculate best in 1966 and 1967, when two successive wins in the Internationale at Wimbledon were achieved with sublime 15 point maximums against very high quality opposition.

So there is talk of teams needing to have British reserves at Championship level.... ... It just shows utter contempt yet again for the fans with all this secrecy and “details to be revealed soon” bull$hit. If it’s been sorted at the AGM why invite speculation instead of just releasing the facts and keeping everybody informed?

Many thanks...you're a star!

I used to go to Reading on a Monday. I went to Swindon on a Thursday. The crowds were big at one time. Youngsters went with no problem regarding school the next day. Reading crowds dropped massively when they lost Per Jonsson and the stadium became more and more delapidated. Then they dropped down a league which also affected crowds. Swindon dropped down to Division Two in the nineties. Crowds visibly dropped. I, myself, stopped going for a while when the standard of what I was seeing at Swindon dropped to levels that weren't enjoyable. Swindon crowds shot up when they became more successful and there were top riders there every week. They visibly dropped again when promoters weakened the product in the mid-2000s. What will bring crowds in is giving people a product that they want to see. that is what would get me, personally, going. Low standard leagues with only unambitious riders in them are not the way to go. Die hard supporters may well be happy with a weak league, but you're not going to get people in with that. Dumbing down the standard is what killed the sport in this country, and it was done just as the sport looked to be staging a mini-revival. Jason Doyle riding at Belle Vue may well not bring in an extra 200 these days, but Jason Doyle, and other top riders, NOT riding will take another 200 off the gate and then, before we know it, we are in crowds of 3 figures.

pretty sure they make a lot of income through hiring out hospitality facilities to cover any major loses and with nothing coming in could maybe lose it all nobody knows how long the hospitality will take to get back up and running

Nail on the head Steve, all these things have eroded away and disappeared, and you can add Saturday tracks being reduced down often due to the many wide and varied FIM events that now take place... However.. To just accept that 'this is how it is' without any obviously needed fundamental, radical change of plan or ambition to change, has been criminal.. "Make do and mend, and keep making the best of a bad job" "Work around everyone else's priorities and put out any Speedway we can, regardless of its credibility" "Always accept the 'as is' without having, and working towards, a game changing 'to be'" "Fudge our way through, hope for the best, and having every track still 'alive' at the end of the season is our measure of success".. All the above could have been a 'mission statement' since the GP's started... I have said before on here, the BSB are an excellent organistion for the BSPL to look at.. A 'smaller' brother to the WSB competition who understand (and accept), that they will often be seen as a stepping stone for UK and Overseas riders, so ensure a constant stream of younger (mainly UK lads) come through by running events for them (including cost effective one make, entry level events), on their race weekends.. They run a very competitive series using UK and Overseas riders, with several 'coming back' from riding in WSB and MotoGP to see out their careers or taking the opportunity to 'try again' to make it back into the World arenas. They have also changed their operating model over the years to include differing races, ie less laps, more races etc to 'freshen up' their offer and keep their 'customers' interested.. In short, they "know their place" in the grand order of things, and build an operating model and business plan on the back of this... UK Speedway needs to do the same..

Those lads who want to better themselves should go to Poland and elsewhere if they see fit.. No issues at all with that.. However, if they want to ride in the UK then they will have a choice to be made.. In the eyes of so many Speedway is an entertainment over here, rather than serious competition, which means it should run when it can get its largest crowd in.. If that means racing on any day or night during the week then that is when each individual track should be given the right to run.. As long as every rider makes himself available for every meeting that the club wants to run, and when they want to run it, then all the riders can ride wherever they want... No disrespect intended, as I am only using him as an example as a GP rider, but Jason Doyle riding at Belle Vue on a Monday night wont bring a couple of hundred extra punters above the usual die hards in.. But a meeting on a Friday or Saturday night without him there, definitely could, given the amount of "non regulars" who still follow the sport but go only very occasionally... Belle Vue, as an example, seem to have around 1100-1200 who attend every/most meetings, yet can get 2500+ for Bank Holiday meetings. Which means there is an underlying fan base already there and all you need to do is get some of this extra 1300+ to attend more often. And I would 100% suggest getting them to attend more often at weekend is easier than getting them out on a Monday or a Thursday night.. The Aces have lost two riders from their initial 2020 team, Kildemand and Lidsey, however crowds wont be decimated by their absence, (again no disrespect as they are just examples), in fact I would be amazed if anyone decides not to go because they are not there, therefore the sport is pretty much down to its core, die hard support, so run it when you may get some "extra" in.. Bottom line is. Not enough punters = No Speedway. No Speedway = No Speedway Careers..

Rory

I entirely agree that the sport should be a weekend only event from now on. Friday night/Saturday and Sunday. If there are no riders who ride in Poland and over seas riding in the UK, it should not be an issue. Fans, after a while, will forget the top stars being missing has watered down the league. There will always be a top dog. If that is someone like Daniel King, so be it. If he is the top rider in the league, fans will look forward to seeing him. British Speedway desperately needs to start again from the bottom. If not, there is absolutely no hope at all. One big league, only one competition (league). A riders championship at the end of the season with each teams top averaged rider. And maybe a pairs event. Just no tournament that requires qualification meetings as there will be way too many fixtures and fans get fed up of seeing the same team visit each season. It has to be worth a try as absolutely nothing else has worked so far. No air fares, no prima donnas, no living expenses for foreign riders etc will mean clubs can charge a lot less for entry. Speedway, like it or not, is a ten quid sport. There would obviously be way more planning involved than this but its the basics of a restructure plan that needs to be put in place. Two clubs have dropped out before the AGM outcome has been revealed, how many more are going to be announced as closing by the time the outcome of the AGM is known? Id guess at least one more. Probably more. Youd think that half head Godfrey would be pushing things for the better to sort the sport out, I hear Scunthorpes crowds are low more often than not.

Surely there has to be a chance of British speedway tracks returning to a Saturday fixture day, now no international star rider will be riding in the Britain, the time has to be right. Any rider who does progress to the point he deems himself at the point he needs international experience to progress to “greatness” ,well, he will just have to leave Britain to make that progress. It get Saturday racing back if that’s what the need is for British speedway to prosper again. I always uses to go to BV on a Saturday, never been when it was a Friday.

Sheffield as No1

And Peterborough...

Or to put it another way... I doubt Batch would want to ride for Buster at Kings Lynn

Have to agree, we need to build again in GB.We certainly can’t compete with Poland regarding money and sponsors.We need to cut our cloth accordingly.IMO.We certainly won’t lose any fans,and we might attract some new ones if we get the entertainment factor right, without the “ Mickey Mouse “ rules.

What connection did Freddie have to Birmingham ?