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I agree with much of what you have said but you have to question why Eastbourne are on the verge of closure when 70 miles along the south coast it is - by all accounts - boom time at Isle of Wight (I am reliably informed that last nights attendance was the biggest ever under the present promotion). Smallbrook is no less inaccessible than Arlington, and you need a car to get there (you can walk but having done so a few times I certainly wouldn't recommend it - with no streetlights and no pavements, its like a rather nasty game of chicken with speeding motorists). I think the stupid BSPL decision to run before Covid restrictions were removed and before the vaccination programme got into its stride hamstrung Eastbourne (and indeed all the other clubs) That meant reduced capacity (Wolverhampton, for instance, described that as a 'financial disaster') and people - rightly or wrongly - still being nervous about attending spectator events. Isle of Wight, in contrast, waited until all Covid controls were lifted and more had been vaccinated, and therefore suffered no limited attendances nor misgivings about actually being there, nor were they burdened by financial loss in the early part of the season. Covid has actually worked in Isle of Wight's favour, at least to a point. Its likely that the amount of domestic holidays in 2021 has been greater than at any time since the early 1970's (every day I seem to read about how packed Cornwall is) and the Warriors have really cashed in on it. You have to ask why Eastbourne - which is in no less of a holiday area - have not done the same. Part of the reason might be Isle of Wight's furious attempts to publicise the sport on the Island, recognising that many visitors might be unaware of the speedway's existence. In my many trips to Eastbourne, I don't recall any such attempts at all. Then there's the fact that Isle of Wight have substantially diversified their activities on race night. That might not be to everyone's taste (me included) but is anyone going to suggest it doesn't work ? The main factor, though, I think is financial responsibility and that is taken extremely seriously by the Isle of Wight promotion. Whatever else might have been said about the Warriors, they operate on the basis that income must reasonably cover expenditure. To me, its seems clear that Eastbourne grossly overestimated income and/or grossly underestimated expenditure and that's why one club is in the black (more than that, much more, I suspect) and the other is on the brink of closing down.

Riders were not happy with the track which caused the start to be delayed half an hour,,So now it was a race against time to beat the ludicrous curfew ,,A few riders tried the normally fast outside line to no effect so the match became follow my leader round the white line,,,,,there was no time to grade and water the track and a huge blue line developed on the inside.....This was the only bad meeting of the season so far ,,ok we won ,,but i go there to see exciting racing and this was not ...where the fault lies i do not know but once again speedway shoots itself in the foot ,,and a few more lost fans the we can do without in these difficult times for the sport we love.........

Another decent crowd and another perfect summers evening to watch it in. The sun blazed down throughout before disappearing behind the copse beyond the flyover. The track appeared to prove a little difficult for the riders early on, but some remedial work seemed to sort it. The latter half of the meeting it looked really smooth and there was more passing. Plymouth certainly have provided excitement and value for money to their fans this season with yet another last heat decider. This time, coming from behind when the Brummies looked certain winners mid meeting. Riss, looking fast and stylish and the battling Castagna looked particularly dangerous and with Chris Harris enjoying his return to the south west, the Brummies looked like running away with it Led by the outstanding Crump, this week, the “engine room” provided back up. Pedersen not quite having his gating gloves on this week. It really is a pleasure watching the 3 times world champion once again. Hopefully he will continue next season. I noted his son was assisting him in the pits...an absolute spit of his father with that familiar shock of ginger hair. The crowd seemed bigger than usual, undoubtedly swelled by the presence of Harris. He still remains one of the most exciting riders I have ever seen. He simply never gives up and is one of only a few riders these days that can execute the “dive bomb” inside pass. He did this brilliantly passing Bowtell, and in heat 15, Pedersen. For a second or two it looked possible that he would catch Crump, but his chase ended when Crumpie realised he had Harris on his tail, and he sped away. Harris repeatedly acknowledged his young family who were sat in the NHS stand, and he always speaks well on his Centre green interviews. Additionally, he is still a superb team man, and is first out of the pits, sprinting across to team mates that have come to grief. Plymouth have a fine set up and deserve the healthy crowds with the financial risks they have taken this season. The slow but sure development of Cook, Bowtell and Ruml have produced a competitive side and the recruitment of the shrewd and experienced Garry May has certainly helped.

I don't think that IOW's 'circus' would work everywhere else. What i do think/know is that they know their audience and how best to please them / attract greater numbers. Its obvious that under the BSPL handcuffs that wasn't possible and is proving the same for a number of other clubs. I know fans can be fickle, there were calls at several NDL teams to step up to CL level for multiple reasons and yet the step up has brought financial issues to most of these (publicised or otherwise). What has often been needed is a brutal dose of honesty, we would like to move up but we just can't afford it or this is the best team we can build without breaking the club. Circus or otherwise IOW have two ringmasters who are calling their own shots, riders prepared to entertain and not be intimidated by the mafia and the only ones left looking like clowns are the BSPL.

Of course they can... they can explain on what has happened when they have spoken to Gi i guess they have seeing no stadium is being built after yet another broken promise. even if Gi have given no reply to there questions . if they are not trying to contact them then that is even worst . its hardly a lot to ask . The lack of pressure put on Gi by the club the press and the local mp has been shocking to be honest . Looks like yet again another con by Gi is going to work with a barely a wimper of oppo

Totally right for me speedway is just four guys giving there all entertaining us.Like you i like a meeting to start at 7.30 finish say at 9.30 job done come hopefully seeing a few good races.I have grand kids now and if you take them get them to enjoy it the speedway and other activities it has to be good something for everyone.My wife who is not a massive fan would love that model now at IOW go off and have a nose around at the other activities with money being spent makes sense.Both my boys followed speedway from 1995/ 2008 and are now aged 29 and 27 they don’t go they say it is overpriced and they both have other things to do now.But both still follow the sport still know what’s going on which is bloody frustrating but as you said things need to change.

Apparently Dale Allitt was talking on radio Norfolk the other day and he assured people there will be speedway at Kings Lynn next season.

Some of us saw the problems. Others were either too narrow minded or short sighted to see them and pressed ahead regardless unfortunately.

I would not term it as such but I have to admit that speedway for me is 15 heats with 14 blokes, nothing more. The difference between me and some others, though, is that I will embrace changes of the kind that Isle of Wight have introduced if it is going to benefit the sport and they won't, despite the fact that they know only too well that the one thing that speedway cannot do is carry on the way it is. You would think that the near closure of Birmingham and Newcastle and Eastbourne now in the balance - I am told they are relying on someone taking over - might have changed a few minds but it seems not.

Have just read the last dozen or so posts on here and they all pretty much hit the nail on the head. I think the riders in the GP saw themselves as a big attraction to their club and so did the promotion, so in their eyes it was a probably a win win situation for both, although ultimately its become a big loss for the British leagues and the fans

Almost all of those will be in corporate wrappers, and liability will be almost entirely down to the extent to which the various company bankers require personal guarantees of the directors/owners.

Not just 1st timers. I Ve been going to Kent since it started but won't be going again. Expensive rubbish experience.

And still very much the case today. The current farcical facade that pretends to be a bona fide league structure is all about appeasing the riders, rather than the paying customer or what benefits the business.... They'll never learn....

Farcical scenes at Kent tonight. The track looked rough before the start and clearly the riders were unhappy with it. At one stage i thought the meeting was going to be called off. The final straw was letting the kids go out on a tricky surface, which resulted in a tumble for one of the youngsters. A poor advert for the sport, which would have put off any first timers.

We thought that in the Ged Rathbone years, exciting as the big fish but always felt it was second best and the showground needs top flight racing for me.

Racing as been top notch all season on a well prepared track that's not prepared for home advantage like some I could mention.

Can only see a home win.

Gosh! Genius! I bet no one thought of that one…..

Len was there. He didn't seem too keen on coming down from his perch.

I’d guess league meetings could be? 6 Sept Belle Vue v Sheffield 13 Sept Wolves v Peterborough 20 Sept Peterborough v Sheffield

And while there are many issues with British speedway, one of the biggest remains current promoters sitting on the committee. It's completely shambolic and has been for years. Until a genuinely objective committee sit at the top table our sport will always remain a joke. Ex-riders / referees with an objective not speedway official should look after the sport to ensure decisions are made by people without a vested interest. This of course takes away from the incredibly sad news that is another institutional brand in our sport has gone. I only hope the Eagles can find a way back to the tapes in 2022.

IF the BSPL are holding things up with statements etc what about the riders? If the club is going to close they are running out of time to get fixed up elsewhere..

If every track in the country was as good as Peterborough then speedway wouldn't be in the mess its in now and crowds would increase ten fold. Always produces excellent racing on a track with no home advantage. Tonight was no exception with so many racing lines. Riders must be in dream land!

Exactly

last time buster had to deal with something like this Batchelor & Holder were on their way