The frustration is that there is still a decent market for the sport in the UK... It's just not a market that team Speedway regularly attracts due to the nonsense operating model that is allowed to pervade, the lack of jeopardy and consequence to so many meetings and the leagues, the seemingly lack of any "decent prize" for winning anything, and the admission costs which reflect the outgoings being paid, rather than reflecting the standard of what is actually being delivered to the punters.. The NSS will have around 2500 watching the PCMM (presumably being ran?), and around 6,000 will attend each night at the GP's... So. If you put some "Proper Speedway" out, you can still get a good following for it... The Aces this year will, once again, run with crowds much lower than the PCMM meeting, as many Aces followers simply won't follow up their PCMM visit due to not buying into the league structures being used, and also due to saving their cash for the GP's... Yet, like all other tracks, will see a significant increase come play off time due to its natural "make or break" nature, which finally gives off some semblance of relevance for the sport.... I would suggest the sport has as many close followers of it who don't attend each week as those who do... What an opportunity for growth if anyone could actually ever lead it properly, using Vision, Strategy, and Ambition...

norick returns which is good news, he struggled a little last year but hes still got time on his side, so im happy hes back, i like that we keep consistency with the team,    this confirms that the same 5 riders will be back, so its just which rider will replace lidsey   a new foreigner or jeppeson or kerr or someone like that 

They need to be upfront with the fans and the riders about the state of the sport and prepare both for one big league. It’s already been established what the make up of teams will be and that our future top stars are the current 1-2 in the Championship. Polish rules and random race-nights will see the current set of top stars disappear from the UK. Doubling up will end so even some current Championship 1-2 (or more) will jump ship and we’ll end up with an NDL+ product. Nothing wrong with that at all at £10-£15 admission but that won’t be possible. Crowds will drop due to what’s on offer so if anything admission will go up to cover costs as has been the case for decades. The only way to stop this is to pay riders less but then you have additional riders turning their backs on the sport and standards drop further.  Next season onwards we need to be looking at a semi pro/amateur level but unfortunately for us fans at an Elite admission (background costs remain whether Elite or amateur riders take to the track). I see crowds dropping further leading to the inevitable track closures. I think we’ll get to “celebrate” our centenary but after that it’ll be The Colts and the odd bank holiday meeting with top riders shipped back in to keep the NSS as a worthwhile operation.  There is an alternative but very little ambition, know how and collective responsibility to achieve it from most running our sport.   

They weren't going to say any different though, were they? Dont think they'd come out and say we've struggled, no-one wants to come here, etc.

I'm afraid Christmas has come and gone but the turkeys are still here!

Hancock came over in 89, spent most of the season at reserve achieved a 5.8ish average.  Started 90 at reserve but got into the top 5 quite quick over Handberg or Grahame (both had poor seasons) or Hamill (new to British League). Hancock was averaging 7.5ish after month or two of 90, making him Cradley's third eat leader (behind Cross & Pedersen) when he broke his arm. It was late summer by the time Hancock came back from that injury but by then Cross & Pedersen were out for the season so the team was being propped up by guests.  Hancock finished the season with a 5.9ish averaged, really struggled to come back from that injury.