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Doesn't cost money to who? The fans, the riders or the promoters? To put on a decent presentation and to promote the sport properly will definitely cost money, a lot of money which isn't in the sport, maybe never was, probably not for many many years. For speedway (or for 4 riders going round an oval shale track to survive), in my opinion, it needs to go back to grass roots and build from the bottom. The sport needs more tracks and more homegrown riders. The sport needs to be far cheaper for everyone, the riders the fans and the promoters/organisers. It needs to be an amateur sport, similar to grass track. More tracks will probably mean 'tracks in a field', but does that matter? If a rider wants to ride, they will ride for free or even pay to ride, as grass track riders do. The sport needs to get back to everyone loving the sport, i.e. the riders, organisers and the fans. At the moment, everyone is gathered around the patients bed watching the patient slowly die and everyone feeling depressed. However, there are a minority who feel all is well and are ignoring the fact, the emperor is wearing no clothes!

Great gesture from a top ambassador for the sport.

On the other hand....This is what Bartosh Zmarzlik, double world speedway champion wrote today on his social media site. Tears, joy, happiness - this is how I felt when I entered the finish line in Toruń, in the final round of the Grand Prix in 2019 It was then, for the first time, that I won the title of the Individual World Champion Now, for the auction for Nina, I am presenting something extremely important to me, which I dreamed about since I was a child and which I was striving for step by step - it is a gold medal for winning the world championship I decided to pass the medal on the auction to help Nina, who is at the start of her life and also has her dreams. Let us help her (on https://www.siepomaga.pl/en/nina) so that she has a chance to fulfill them

Why have Birmingham waited this long ?, this was foreseen by everybody and should have been done as soon as England won ! Thats besides that it should have been awarded to Redcar in the first place.

Surely you are grasping at straws. He wasn’t fit in last week’s match and they can ill afford a number 1 who isn’t fully fit with the results they have been getting. It’s the right decision and gives Jason more time to recover.

Agreed. Think we should enjoy the fact we have live speedway and be thankful for that. For a long time it looked like there would be no team so I’m very thankful Rob Grant took over. He may not be everyones cup of tea but deserves a lot of credit.Hopefully enough people come through the gates when restrictions are lifted to get us through this condensed season and we can all look forward to 2022 with renewed optimism. Sundays without speedway just wouldn’t be the same.

Wightlink Wizards Ready To Roar In To 2021 In Summer Spectacular At Smallbrook Stadium Following the news that Danno Verge is to be the first rider for the Wightlink Warriors in 2021, supremos Martin Widman and Barry Bishop continue their theme of rider announcements with the exciting news that they are able to present the complete Wightlink Wizards side, all of whom are regular attendees at My First Skid, the speedway school based at the Smallbrook Stadium. Barry Bishop said, “We view the Wightlink Wizards as a vital part of our presentation package offering riders a development opportunity and to be part of the main event and not just a fill-in. All of these riders came through our speedway school and we want them to continue to push for Warrior places while remaining race hungry for the Wizards, and that’s exactly what we have here. We are extremely proud of the commitment and ethos of all our Wizard teams over recent seasons and we are sure that this one will be the same. We are also incredibly excited to announce Tony Cook (“Cookie”) as the Wightlink Wizards Team Manager. Cookie, an experienced track motor cyclist in his own right, has been everything to the club, sponsor, volunteer, handyman, mechanic, comedian and now to add Wizards Team Manager, I know he will get the best out of the squad.” Tony Cook (pictured) said, “What an honour and privilege it is to be asked to be the Wightlink Wizards Team Manager. It is an incredible group with lots of talent to nurture and I know we can all expect some great action on the track. Personally, I cannot wait for racing to start on July 22nd.” The riders are also relishing lots of track time. Jamie Sealey said “I’m absolutely over the moon to be back racing for the Wizards. It’s been a long wait to be able to get back racing and I can’t wait to get started again.” Morgan Williams added, “I’m delighted to see the return of speedway to the island following what has been a very difficult time for the promotion. As the “local boy” I’m very keen to progress and show that the island can, and will, produce from the grassroots of the sport. I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity to compete in what will no doubt be a summer series of fantastic racing.” Chris Watts said, “I am delighted to be back racing for the Wizards again in 2021. When the news came out, I was quick to show my support towards the Isle of Wight set up and wanting to race for them. In previous years, I have always been their highest average rider and top point scorer and I will be doing my best to keep that up, scoring big points and helping out the team wherever I can.” Jamie Evans said, “I’m the new face for the Wizards. After learning to ride speedway at My First Skid, I cannot wait to finally race for the team and especially meet up with all the fans.” Steph Whitlock said “It’s great to be back involved with the Wizards team once again. I can’t wait to get back on track racing as I feel I’ve developed a lot since getting back on my bike after the restrictions were lifted and I cannot wait to see everyone.” The team lines up as follows: 1. Jamie Sealey 2. Morgan Williams 3. Chris Watts 4. Jamie Evans 5. Steph Whitlock Team Manager Tony Cook

No because Ford/Middlo got wins......

Surely this is 'withholding services' & blatantly trying to cheat a win??

Because by doing it this the club generate some anticipation from the fans. After all, we are now all posting about the announcement.

Socially distanced of course Bar has just been restocked ....

If nothing else its added an extra bit of spice now to the meeting with Crump's absence and its generated a bit of banter on here Added to Cook and Heeps swapping sides and both teams desperation for the win hopefully it will produce a decent meeting .

You may be over thinking this, in speedway, 'debut' means first time this season!

Why don’t they just say who it is. Oh I forgot this is speedway.

That’s correct. The way averages are calculated is all laid down in the Speedway Regulations http://www.scbgb.co.uk/regulations (Chapter 10)

I can't resist...........I've said this a million times to anyone that will listen but here I go again League Speedway needs to be promoted with professionalism and taking itself seriously as a sport to attract new committed partisan supporters of local clubs. I DO NOT LIKE Speedway being promoted as a sideshow, you get the picture "extreme sport - no brakes" type of thing. That is not sustainable. It should be a serious sport. If it's a sideshow, people come along like they would to a 'monster truck' show then they've seen it once, the racing thrill soon wears off if they have nothing to support and they don't come back. A cultural phenomena that has really taken hold over the past 20yrs is more and more people getting into supporting a football team, wearing the merchandise and 'belonging' to a club. People will even wear team colours of sports teams from other countries. Put on a decent presentation (which doesn't cost money) and promote the sport as though it means something as a sport and not just a spectacle. And any 'promoter' who doesn't put some signposts up around the town or try to get the team into local newspapers/tv/radio should be shot! The general quality of UK league speedway PR is horrible

Totally irrelevant. It is a condition of allowing speedway to operate .It says it all over the ticket booking requirements. Its made clear on entry too. I agree, I dont think its necessary in an open environment. If its the difference in being allowed to operate or not, then surely its a no brainer to comply? The 'Im alright Jack' scenario doesnt cut it for me at all.

I have been to Belle Vue each meeting this year. there are a lot of missing faces.... but not necessarily due to lack of interest......there are fans that are very wary at the moment and will pick back up once the restrictions are eased. I expect crowds to pick up after July 19th......

Few outside the current followers have ever heard of many of the top riders (except for Polish supporters perhaps) and the lapsed fans may well take the view that “we have seen it all before but it won’t last” . It might be too big a financial risk for many running tracks. It is sad but the U K version has to find its own level and rebuild at club level. Outside that you have some talented riders who will rise through the ranks but for now it would seem that the best option for the weekly fix in the U K is to plough our own furrow.

You'd get few more in but not that many more cause I fear that the majority of lapsed fans who don't go can't be arsed with speedway full stop. A prime example of this is Mildenhall speedway. They don't want to move up to the 2nd Division even though the crowds are on a par with many in that Division cause crowd levels wouldn't increase by hardly any yet the costs would go through the roof. I'm afraid speedways a retro sport and when us 60+ age group, fans are gone their won't be many others left to make staging meetings worthwhile. In a way I feel blessed that I can still watch speedway in my retired years cause the few youngsters that attend meetings now I suspect won't have the same opportunity in their later years? - I hope I'm proven wrong!

I probably am, but I think they are hinting at someone new to the club, or why not just say "our new signing will be riding on Saturday"?

A bit of added spice. Auty v Scunthorpe

Agree wholeheartedly. Well done to the Glasgow fans that did travel. Made themselves heard, well, until Ht10 onwards that is! Do Covid rules not apply to the Scottish folk? Cammi hugging referee Christina Turnbull, neither had a mask on. Those fans on turn1, 8-10 of them...NONE wore masks throughout, despite regular announcements saying otherwise. Downright disrespectful to everyone else. They cant all have immunity, surely? Really enjoyed watching Tom Brennan. His Ht15 effort to keep Ostergaard behind him was superb. Easily Man of the Match, if only for that. NIghtmare journey getting there, 3hrs 30 mins, bloody roadworks. Going home?...2hrs 15 mins, as expected.

If he can keep his composure at the tapes he got every chance

I backed Bewley e/w at the start, definitely in with a shout if he can reach another final, cracking first year.