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No, that's what I've heard the WBD contract is paying. £100k per PL club, per year, circa £3.5m over 5 years

That was Sky TV money it's less, much less

You were making the comparison to golf though and they're not really comparable, in fact Speedway is quite unique in its setup (no doubt folk will give me loads of examples) but it doesn't know what it is... is it an individual sport or a team sport? and if it is a team sport why are riders "playing" for more than one club? I've said it before and I'm going to say it again I believe Cricket is the closest comparison to Speedway, they're both heavily weather effected, players play for more than one team (franchise cricket, IPL, Big Bash etc), International's, what it does not have is an individual tournament... maybe it's time to ditch the SGP Series? It's all pie in the sky though as without the money that a decent TV contract provides other than 3 or 4 clubs the rest of British Speedway in its current state just can't afford the top riders, even Ippo couldn't replace Doyle or Emil when they got injured last season.

I've heard around £100k each per year

Thanks to those who replied with their assumptions. I just wanted to know if anything was officially announced e.g. bike problems, aggravated an injury, heat exhaustion.

Out of interest does anyone have any inkling what each prem club gets from the current tv contract ? from memory Flagrag if he's still about was close to people in broadcasting maybe he knows/has some thoughts.

And here he is, the resident Poole correspondent, he just loves Poole, more than his own team Ipswich

BSN just posted a video of the track being watered and the sun is now out, so get all your friends to come down to the GT tyres Northside arena to support the comets

A lot of promoters would rather have cheaper riders in heat 15 if the result is not in doubt. Nominations are at Team Managers discretion so you do not have to use best riders.

Jordan posted on fb he needs more time to heal properly, and meeting up with surgeon to see what is the best way forward

Exactly, there was a MASSIVE gap and there was no contact whatsoever! Great move

The sizes of fhe sports are irrelevant.... There are fundamental basics which any sport should follow... And using your TV contract to make you look a decent popular proposition is one of the key ones... The UK promoters obviously don't give a monkeys how their product comes across when on TV given the lack of a decent crowd being accepted time and time again... People are sheep. (Look at how popular influencers are?). Make something look popular and you have a chance others might go along... Make something look like where your Grandparents go, (and dozens of other Grandparents go), and others probably won't go along... I think it is quite telling how many ex riders promote.. Which inevitably seems to end up with an operating model, and business plan, that seems more set up to suit the riders, rather than the paying public... I would be amazed if doubling up went snd one league would negate that... Meaning if one league did happen I presume home and away twice and five rides a night for those who currently DU? And plenty of guest opportunities given the six day racing structure...

Additionally these links: https://vk.com/video-53550004_456242323 https://vk.com/video-29678582_456247801

I'm coming over bugger it

People pay good money to see the best riders. Thats why in the main you put your best riders in ht 15.Another stupid comment.

I decided to have a look back at the set up for the top league in 1976, I just arbitrarily picked that year from a period when the sport was riding high. Though we had more tracks the issue of top stars not being available to all and the repetitive nature of the same clubs challenging was just the same. It’s easy to name certain riders when harking back to the old days but there just wasn’t enough to ride for each club. In 1976, Birmingham had Alan Grahame, Cradley John Boulger, Hackney Dave Morton, Halifax Christ Pusey, Hull Barry Briggs in his forties, Wimbledon tragic with a number 1 and Wolverhampton Jimmy McMillan. All fine riders but the gap between them and the Olsen & Collins of the time was the same if not more than the gap now. Jettisoning top rides is not going to save our top league, however if they had a 5-10 plan to get speedway back to where it should be and they could prove their reasoning then I’d accept it. I just feel if they did it then we would see no benefit and the sport would continue to die. I not saying this in a holier than thou way but Belle Vue’s operating model regarding team building needs to be adopted throughout. Dan (3.00), Brady (7.50), Jaimon (4.00), Norick (4.00), Tom plus Max (4.84) etc are riders brought to the club that we have invested time and effort in seeing them reach their full potential. This also generates an identity with the club that the fans can engage in. The problem for other clubs in doing this is the fact there is little longevity in top league participation. Ipswich (2019) & Sheffield (2021) are considered top clubs yet only recently did they move back up to the top league, I’ve got older soup in the cupboard and this doesn’t allow the rider development as mentioned above. If we can, we need to stop this yo yo ing of clubs from year to year. Having said that in the past, clubs would move up when ready and not when cajoled into it. When Ipswich moved up in the 70’s it was on the back of a very successful period of rider development with many team members moving up with them. The problem with doing that nowadays is the dreaded doubling up that has been allowed to grow at an alarming rate so you move up into a league where “your” riders are already participating with other teams. The sport once again painting itself into a corner.

I'm 1 mile from the track, had a little rain shower but the dampness is now drying up, sun trying to shine and blue sky trying to appear, should stay dry for the rest of the evening, leading to a good track and racing, UTC

Tiny shower an hour ago in Workington. None since. Rain and thunderstorms are all to the East of us and moving away now.

Thank you

It's the reaction of the fans, with everything at stake. I suggested they consider their reaction if it had been a Witch making such a pass a Star, and the Witch had been excluded ...

The Aces would, just as we have with Max to Leicester when they moved up and it was great to see Tom riding at number 1 last season at Birmingham. We wouldn’t want to and it’s hard to see our lads moved on after the work put in but there is a bigger picture here.

That’s amazing and has to be applauded. When you take into account you had the best crowds in the league back then, to increase them without the top stars, the cost of living crisis and many other factors impacting the sport, Poole really need to be coaching other clubs on how they increase crowds from an already healthy level. Well done.

I do feel you're not comparing apples with apples here, The Open is the SGP series, PL Speedway is the tour matches that don't attract all of the top stars but only a few at a time. You do make a good point about the timings... like PL running in a Monday and Thursday

Or in summary... A lineal decline in the UK since 2000 with not much at all done to even slow the decline down, let alone reverse it... Just listened to the R&A CEO talking about fan engagement and how the top stars' tee times go out to balance Europe and USA TV coverage... And that the slow play has meant the afternoon top stars finishing in front of half empty grandstands at 17 and 18 which "isn't a good look" for those non golf fans who they are trying to engage... He also said the the top stars need to be focused on because "every sport needs a shop window", and the best competitors provide that, especially to attract kids to the sport who see the best as being their aspiration... Amazing that UK Speedway believe something the complete opposite is the way forward..

Good result and one that was much needed. Thankfully built up a bit of a lead before Scotty blew off the cobwebs. Good to see a good away crowd, Hope they all had a great time in hospitality and definitely get your value for money with it imo. Credit to their club.