bluebee

Bit of rain here in Northampton. How's it going in Leicester?

Hoping to be coming up for this one but the weather looks difficult to predict. any updates on the meteorological front would be appreciated. Where would be the best place for any call-off notification? Don't want a repeat of my trip up to see Lions v Monarchs

Congratulations Kings Lynn. Maybe a change of manager helped foc us a few minds.

A poor match. Little passing. Is it always like that at Sheffield.

As I wrote earlier ' British Premiership Round 8' was the text for the listing. Doesn't mention Sheffield. Would a live football match be listed as match eight? It's sloppy. And is it clear what's on this coming Monday? Do I have to look at all club websites to find out? Looking at the speedway section there's no mention of tonight's match even. It doesn't do speedway any favours.

I was expecting to know what is on when - for the next seven days at least. Oh well, you pays yer money ...

Many thanks Baldyman. As you've probably gathered I find Eurosport very frustrating - it could so easily be better.

Thanks. I'm not doubting you but where on the website does it state that? There's round 5 highlights scheduled but what are they? Is that their description of their shape of a speedway track? And I see round 6 is on at 9. We complain about poor promotion by the speedway promoters but this is no better. I'd like to see a proper schedule somewhere.

Is this on Eurosport? I can't see any mention on it on their website but their website is as much use as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to speedway - the poorest website I've seen for a long time.

Have objected. E ric can you simplify the Facebook text - it would help subsequent objectors. And, of course, the best of luck. Hope Rye House and Brandon can return.

It seems to be beyond the comprehension of some people that in a league competition someone finishes at the bottom. This year it will be Kings Lynn. As a neutral I can only say thanks fro the match.tonight. There was some good racing from both sides. For Stars fans I can only say that if you don't support your team when they are going through a bad patch then you are very fickle fans. I supported Coventry and would love then to be bottom of the league! If you were nearer to me I'd be going every week.

Well the dark art didn't work and that was by admission of Leicester's own management! The track was slick and dusty and hope that the management can sort it out bit better the next time. If lessons are learnt then that's fine by me. On to a cheerier note I thought the crowd was good considering. It was nice to see a range of ages too which seems to contradict the impression sometimes given on this forum. Teenagers, young families at us oldies Leicester is the nearest track to me now Brandon has gone. It seems a nice club - all the people I interacted with - car park, gate, ticket office were very friendly and helpful. It was so good to be back at a speedway track again despite the problems. The best thing to say is - I'll be back!

Indeed that is a possibility. But it will be himself that he'll put at risk first. He's still young and I remember the promise he showed when I first saw him a Coventry. I don't want to see another rider lost to the sport. Support rather than criticism is clearly required. Back to the track. It was one of the dustiest I've seen for a long time. It needed more water than it was given - even during the meeting. I know track prep can be difficult but weather conditions were not changeable or difficult to predict. Leicester simply got it wrong on this occasion.

Hope that Josh Auty is OK. The crash in heat 11 didn't look good. Unfortunately had to leave early when it was clear there was going to be a delay waiting for an ambulance. The risers made a good effort but the track was so dry and dusty. Surely the weather was clearly going to to be hot so why wasn't the track watered more extensively before the start? Feel really sorry for Josh Bates. After watching him on TV for Sheffield he had another nightmare of a meeting. He is clearly trying - in fact, he's trying too hard. He clearly needs support as his confidence is shot. I worry about a rider who is so desperate - he's going to be impetuous and put himself at risk.

Leicester. the Whitby of the Midlands! Got a reply from Leicester (Linda in their office is certainly on the ball when it comes to queries) and should be no problem using my postponed tickets. Looking forward to the match but probably won't have time for fish and chips. Beginning to think I should do a grand tour of Leicester chippies after all the recommendations. Should be obligatory for all tracks I think. M ust start a thread and get it pinned.

I would think if you get riders on your side with plenty of expert opinion from managers, mechanics etc, plus statistics on rider injuries then the manufacturers would be getting rather worried. The opposite could be considered as well: what if a rider or iders(s) grouped together and the case that they were being made to use dangerous equipment to pursue their livelihood, Manufacturers are scared witless by any possibility of a case being brought about negligence. With the tyre change rule being brought in there is obviously ample evidence of a shoddy product not fir for purpose. Someone should try asking Anlas if they are prepared for a serious accident to be proved dto be own to a disintegrating tyre made by them. I don't think this issue can be swatted away. Lives and livelihoods are at risk if something isn't done.

If they have supplied a product that is not fit for purpose - never mind outright dangerous - then the tyre company should be considered in breach of contract! With the limited number of riders available to British speedway this is a crisis that cannot be ignored. Commercial interests cannot override rider's safety.

have my tickets from the called off Edinburgh match and want to go this one. Told they would be valid but what happens if number limit is reached. Don't want an hour's drive to be turned away again.

If the injuries continue then it can only be the next nail in the coffin. How long before riders with options elsewhere decide to give this country a miss. And who could blame them! We could be down to one smaller league very soon.

Well for about half of the match it was a close thing. Well done to all riders but especially Sheffield for making a match of it. It was a slick track and certainly very dusty at the end but the standard of racing was OK for the conditions. For those complaining would they have preferred the have watched the meetings at Belle Vue or Peterborough? Credit to both teams on the night. Hope the cameraman learns a bit about speedway. Close-ups on t he leading rider are rarely worth it - it's a team game with points for minor places worth scrapping over. Agree with Kelvin Tatum - the injuries are a major concern. We don't have enough riders to cope with this rate. Is it tyres? If so there should be an emergency meeting of BSPA to sort it our befiore R/R starts appearing in every heat.

I hope you are not implying that because I have doubts about the merits of jumping on to the Pride promotion that I am therefore homophobic. It's a cause that has become increasingly crtiticised even in Gay circles for its commercialisation and there are also issues concerning how other groups such as trans groups have co-opted themselves into the demonstrations. There are many both inside and outside the gay communities who have doubts about what it has now become. As for it representing a discriminated minority there are doubts about that too. We have gay people in top political positions for example and it is certainly not seen as a bar to advancement in the commercial sector. I think we should be pleased about that as we widen the talent pool to include people of colour, women, the disabled and many others. It is a fact in this country that your life chances are more likely to be determined by class than any other factor. We don't have months for all people of the so called lower class There may be some racists and homphobes on here. But calling people names to shut down a debate is clear signal of your own limitations. I agree straightwhitemale pride is crass but calling other people homophobes isn't any better.

Just a thought and am willing to be shot down on this: as home advantage is so predominant in the sport - as the point allocations for away wins testifies - would it not be an good idea to encourage close racing by giving gates 1 and 3 exclusively to the away team? If that's not a good idea what about allowing the losing team to have gate choices when they fall behind by a certain number of points. To many outsiders speedway is just gate and go and this might liven things up. Just thinking!

Definitely a genuine and pertinent question. I think Ray Stadia's response is a very accurate summary of the situation. There are limited funds for promotion and it's up to the promoters to use them wisely. Local and social media are obviously important and they can engage with the current fans. They are not all old despite current views on that subject - my 25 year old daughter enjoys going to speedway and her older sister would attend if she was in the country! As for local charities certainly care needs to be taken in that direction. The first question must be : would the time be well spent for speedway to get involved? Organized charity is not always considered as such a virtuous institution. Look at the National Trust. In fact the whole charity sector is increasingly seen as bloated and self-serving with many of the directors paid extravagant sums. I could imagine the response of older supporters who see the endless emotive adverts on daytime TV saying 'Not again!' when faced with a charity fund raiser at a speedway meeting. The Ben Fund is, of course, an honourable exception as it directly relates to speedway. I personally think there needs to be a significant shift in thinking at the BSPA. It is a promoter's forum and considers the sport with these people in mind. It would do speedway some good to have some independent supervisory body which takes into consideration the fan's experience. Unfortunately this idea was shot down some time ago. And I won't venture into that controversy. Anyway, good night! I'm still looking forward to my first meeting this season after a Leicester rain off after traveling for over an hour to the stadium.

I hope that did not sound in any way sarcastic, it certainly wasn't meant that way. I really think that this area of spot highlighting issues is becoming a problem. A good example is football and the knee. There was general acceptance of the Kick It out campaign but the knee has a connection with a political movement that has had well documented Marxist leaders. As for LGBTQI+ causes that has problems as well for many people and they are not all conservatives or reactionaries. Trans rights promoters such as Stonewall have drawn the ire of many including feminists who seek to safeguard women's rights. I think speedway has enough issues at the moment. Although the Speedway Matters posters may sound risible there is an important truth in it for all on the forum. The focus must be on promoting the sport in the most effective way.

That is quite an assumption. This forum has many different voices and just because there does not seem to be wholesale support for your chosen minority does not mean that there is no empathy for at least some of the LBGTQI+ cause. As a successful promotional initiative in basketball I have looked at your link and it is a rather subjective report. It doesn't really prove that it was a success beyond the fact that some who took part enjoyed it. There can also be a negative reaction to what may be seen as jumping on a social bandwagon - look at the kneeling at football matches, it has become increasingly controversial and divisive I think. I think speedway needs to focus on its real problem which is promtion of the sport not social issues.