Hawk127

That would work but how many clubs would run out of time and be up against a curfew so you get riders turning up but not getting an outing. If the powers that be really cared they would not allow the NDL to fall apart but do something constructive. Alternatively they could stop being total a..holes and allow any rider not attached to a club to ride in Nora arranged meetings without the threats that they have dished out in the past. As someone has already mentioned you have so many blank weeks during the summer months at many tracks when it is allegedly a summer sport so why not get clubs to fill those blanks with some form of meaningful competition for NDL riders.

Agree. Not totally sure how bad the track is but this is becoming a habit as far as Leicester are concerned and it is about time that the BSPL and management of clubs got together and stopped the farcical situation of finals taking place in October. Most clubs have enough blank dates in the summer months and it is about time that a crack down took place not least on the cancellation on a whim which seems to be catching. Years back riders raced notwithstanding and got on with it, now you have whimps and those in charge need to get real about the sport that they are involved in and do whatever it takes to get a meeting on.

No that would have knocked some sense into him, alas he is one of the many who have been brought up as a free spirit and think they have some god given right to be rude, unprofessional and believe that this sort of behaviour is acceptable. One day it will come back to bite him and hopefully he will pay one way or another. Until then and until speedway authorities have a decent code of conduct and recognise when someone brings the sport into disrepute nothing will happen and his ilk will continue to stick two fingers up at the fans and the authorities as long as you have clubs and sponsors willing to employ them, it is what it is. The sport comes down hard on promoters etc who over step the mark but not the riders. Ask the BSPL or one of the other fantasy groups who control speedway.

In few no one will remember Tai. He is neither a legend nor a great advertisement for the sport. The real legends are still remembered by many who have since long forgotten about speedway. Ivan Mauger , Ole Olsen, Tony R. Mr Gollob, Barry Briggs, etc. to name but a few. Woffinden is yesterday’s chip paper.

Can someone silence Ollie Allen. Whatever the rights and wrongs some biased little rubbishe like him needs to be put out to grass. The end of season competition is a joke and Eurosport having dragged it to its nadir and then giving air time to Allen sums up why the sport is where it is. If it were a decent broadcaster they would have pulled Allen off air for his comments thus far but this is speedway and something that is on the periphery of what might be called entertainment. Done with this now. Back to watching Bake Off, more excitement.

Missed who is the FCW commentating with Tatum. Is he Steady’s side kick? What a dip stick.

Now that the banter is over it is down to business. Good luck to both teams and let’s hope for an injury free meeting. Seems like a decent crowd as well. Two good teams of riders, let’s see how things pan out.

It keeps a few stadiums open without which speedway would not be viable. Having grown up from the early days of banger racing and stock cars at Rayleigh back in 1969/70 when some banger races followed the speedway and they had to turn the stadium lights off to stop the bangers racing, it is different now but over the years the support seems to outstrip speedway. I remember going to world championship stock cars at Rayleigh and Chick Woodrofe and the stadium was packed. It has not changed that much in terms of support whereas speedway has fallen off a cliff supporters wise. Maybe it is because it is an evenings entertainment and lasts three or four hours with a good number of races rather than just fifteen or twenty minutes of racing over two plus hours. Speedway needs bangers/stock cars more than the other way around.

When you see what they get at Ipswich for banger racing, the stadium is packed to the rafters, speedway does not come near it. Take a look at any video for bonfire night bonanza and I know how busy it can get, I have queued to park, to get in and find a place to sit and that was two plus hours before the start. That does not happen even for the witches. Chalk and cheese when it comes to punters through the turnstiles.

Shafted by the powers that be and TV. Support Chris but two fingers to the rest. Those in charge really don’t get it. Would for example Belle Vue or Wolves faced the same if the local football clubs were at home on the same night?

Do they change them as frequently as speedway clubs book guests? Joking aside I do not understand going up against the tractor boys and I cannot believe Chris did it voluntarily and probably put up an argument against but possibly television and the BSPL had a hand in the decision. Sums up many people’s views, Mickey Mouse arrangements and no one with a genuine interest in the well being of speedway and by that I mean those cohorts who run the sport would normally sanction such a decision and force a club to run on a night like tomorrow where they know the Witches will not benefit as much as they could had the meeting been run on another night. Screw the BSPL who are showing their true colours.

Is it just as much about another club not going out of business and trying to keep the sport going when it is under threat from so many angles. Birmingham may not be many people’s cup of tea but give credit to those running Birmingham speedway for looking to keep the club going. They may not attract Wolves fans but you still have many Speedway supportes who do not follow one club but the sport as a whole and for what it is. Other parts of the speedway world don’t solely rely on club/league racing and do quite well so let’s all get behind those willing to invest given you have others walking away (Chapman and Peterborough.

How many guests are Hull using?

Those in charge had the opportunity following the pandemic to make some serious changes but they failed to get a grip and as usual it stumbles from one year to the next with the same old crap. Why can’t those who own clubs and rarely make a decent return recognise that the current set up is not working nor does it or will it attract new fans and is doomed to fail without some serious changes. The club owners have collectively not done anything to stop fans deserting in droves over the last decade and still does not even register as a pimple on the arse of the media who frankly turned their collective backs on the sport a long while back and even local coverage is tailing off. I don’t think anyone on this forum can understand the attitude of the powers that be and given these owners are the custodians of the sport, if they are unwilling to protect its interests, can they publicly explain why and why they have managed to drag the sport down to the level that it finds itself in. Not one of those promoters/owners who run clubs have the balls to come on here and explain why they have allowed the sport to almost reach its nadir. If they cannot cope with a forum use the Speedway Star to enter into a debate and explain their collective rationale and before anyone says the owners are not solely to blame and riders have an impact, yes that is true but they are employees and could be managed but again the clubs do not deal with the issues because they are ineffective managers.

Did whoever sent that not have a name? What a lot of bo....ks. Sums up why the sport is in the state it is. Still helps those up North justify why they have reached where they are. Never mind, I am sure that the Sheffield management and fans can accept the situation and I guess they are proud of where they are at. Yes some Ipswich supporters clamoured for changes but CL runs the club his way. As many have said already who cares any longer and any true supporters in Suffolk will be at the Portman Road anyway, the witches are not that much of a pull compared to the tractor boys.

Yep, drag all that equipment to the stadium only for racing to stop after heat 10. Oh sorry they have already done that one in the last week or so.

Thanks for the info.

Perhaps he realises it is a Mickey Mouse end to the season and directly clashing with Town is probably OK because he had not budgeted for this meeting so any income will do and to miss a few who will undoubtedly pick Town over a visit to Foxhole is not going to hurt the bank balance too much. With the change is it still on TV?

It goes to show that if you believe in the sport and invest from grass roots up, it makes a difference. One day the penny might drop with the BSPL but until then just look on with envy as to what can be achieved if you put your mind to it.thanks to the Poles and a special mention to Racers and Royals who goes out of the way to keep us all up to date and but for your posts many would miss so much. Thank you for all that you have done in 2023.

BS will challenge TR for the most number of wins but it was good to see Freddie battling through. Not a bad finish to the GP and let’s look forward to next year. Given the state of U.K. speedway the GP’s and the Polish top division are the only level worthy of support and free T V coverage. Subscribing to BSN is the next best option for domestic racing as Eurosport are a waste of space.

You could not make it up with all that has/is going on with regard to the oppositions riders and to add insult, Ipswich race on an off night to no doubt accommodate Sheffield who have limited nights available to race and so priority over race nights is conceded. One rule next year should include available nights to race and if the stadium owners consider that they can earn more money from other activities then the club has to have a question mark against it competing in the top league. At the end of the day it is a Mickey Mouse end of season competition and the real winners are Belle Vue who finished top and are league champions and Ipswich who won the cup, this end of season race off debacle are a series irrelevant fixture fillers.

As I said, not many really care now it has been devalued by the BSPL and rules which apply to the league but not the final, where they allow riders to be dropped at a whim during the season even if they are not injured and then allow clubs to almost select a team from those riders not riding in the Polish play offs. It is what it is and the current set up of the sport allows clubs to stretch the meaning of the rules. It use to be Poole that were the culprits but many now adopt a similar policy. As to Sheffield again who cares apart from a few hardy souls who turn up week in week out. You enjoy your final, I sure you think you have earned it.

If as seems likely Sheffield do get through you end up with a club who will do whatever it takes to win and the rule book goes out the window and one club who has basically stuck with the same team all season and has got to final on merit. Mickey Mouse sums it up and as you rightly say most will not care and will see it for what it should is a contrived event. Add to this the powers that be who have no balls and a TV company who really are not interested in domestic U K speedway the event has now become a sad reflection of what it use to be years back. Sadly not many on here will hold out any hope that the situation will improve in the future.

Scott really does have a downer on Ipswich. Ipswich were lucky and need to be on the game in the final but this sis speedway

Yep. Got Hawkins in charge and sat on his arse thinking it was all over from the first leg. It would be good to see the witches win through but they do not really deserve it based on tonight’s performance. Th Aces ought to go through on effort. If that happens then hopefully Hawkins is on his way out of speedway and Ipswich rebuild.