Denis99

It might take a brave promoter to try this sort of approach, but Apple make most of their money from the extras they provide, as opposed to the actual products. Lower the entrance cost. Hopefully more people attend, tempt them to spend more in the stadium with Food, tea, coffee, cold drinks, bar etc Proper track shop with memorabilia. Buy proper race night programmes. Offer to buy or subscribe to the meeting via DVD , or link to an upload. If it's a good meeting, many might be prepared to pay to watch the meeting again, or keep as a collectors item. Good discount on season tickets etc , more people take up this offer and hopefully spend more at the meeting, see above. Short term meeting discounts. Watch the next six meetings for the price of five? Better entertainment, racing value. If we are to keep the interval for riders to rest, adjust machinery, then lets have some junior racing whilst this is going on. Must be more ideas that people can think of? Have a suggestions box for better value, feedback on the team website. Can't stop the engine technology, it's here to stay.

Using flash on the outside of the track is the domain of the truly amateur photographer who doesn't understand how to use their camera. A lot of compact cameras will default to firing off the flash in low light. Just look at televised football matches with people in the stands. Flash is only effective at reasonably close quarters. So the requests at tracks for photographers to stop taking photos is usually down to the true amateur who just doesn't understand. I have used flash on the inside of the track and you get reasonable results, but I never understood how the riders coped with it. The outside of the track is probably an instinctive reaction with the red light. Therefore anyone firing off a flash is not going to blind the rider, just distract them ( from the outside). Focus tracking which sends out a red beam is a total no no as well. The main problem is that most people don't know or understand photography. And yes, I have taken photos at speedway for a long time, used to post up the link to the photos on this site.

Proud Panther Yes, there would be an immediate shortfall, but if UK riders knew that teams needed more riders, then perhaps the semi professional / amateur status might bring back riders that simply found the cost , travel, bike tuning just too much to support. I just can't see how the existing clubs can continue on a business sense. I'm an ex Newport Wasps supporter and it was never a viable business operation. There seems to be a lot of clubs barely surviving for a dwindling supporter base. I can't understand how the promoters of the clubs can continue for the next season or two. There has to be a proper plan for British Speedway to survive and then improve.

I have read through the entire post, and perhaps the Richey Worrall story really hides a wider problem. Speedway is in decline in the UK and costs are spiralling for any nationality rider. I believe we just have to accept that speedway in the UK does not have enough support and the EL clubs paying some high point money doesn't make any long term sense ( regardless of rider nationality). Perhaps what is required is a realisation that speedway in the UK ( if it is to continue , and hopefully recover) needs to go back to a semi professional / part time speedway rider that doesn't require high state of tune and maintenance equipment. A single league consisting mainly of British riders is probably what is needed. It's the racing that matters, even if the heat times are say 2 seconds slower, it doesn't matter, it is the quality of the racing that counts. 8 man teams, meaning less rider replacement / guest riders. There would be greater team recognition week to week. The better riders seeking world class rides would have to seek teams in Sweden and Poland, but we need to recover the sport and reduce the costs for riders and paying public. Riders will have to realise that if they are to ride speedway in the UK , then the sport as it stands simply cannot pay riders £250 a point, as the paying public through the gate cannot support this. We need to go back to a single league that is predominantly filled with UK riders, although I am not against foreign riders, but all riders need to understand what the long term sport can support. Or is this to simplistic?

The oldest guy in the GP certainly knows how to gate. The young guns should study the video of the meeting and learn a few things.

Thanks idh for an entertaining evening. Good to see the ex Wasp riders doing so well for you as well. Don't get to see that much speedway these days with the demise of Newport (I live near Swansea, so Somerset is a 200 mile round trip). Somerset have a great racing track this year - the Tigers were really poor opposition - oddly enough the only other track I've visited this year was Sheffield when they raced Somerset. Got to say, Sheffield is probably the best race track in the UK - wish I lived nearer , even with a poor Tigers team this year. I'm sure the Tigers will regroup next season with a more competitive team. Rebels look very strong 1 to 5 - will take some beating this season.

Main stand looked pretty full to me, quite a good crowd considering the weather conditions. I've seen more supporters at previous seasons, but we've had an awful lot of rain building up to this meeting. The track staff did an excellent job of getting this meeting on, track got better as the heats progressed. Just on a positive note, considering all the negative responses about the format. The organisation are trying to stage an out of season event - all the riders know the format beforehand, some will be glad of the competitive racing, others have a chance to try some new equipment without too much pressure. I for one look forward to this meeting each year, well done to all the riders and Newport speedway for a bit of speedway action in the close season.

Can't wait, hope the weather holds up. Good annual get together in the winter season. Well done to the promotion for getting a good field of riders. Difficult to say who will win this - going for one of my favourite riders - Ricky Ashworth - always rides Queensway Meadows well.

Thanks for the kind comments. Very good meeting today - some excellent racing. Hope Todds engine repair isn't too expensive.

Photos from todays meeting at the link Enjoy http://denis99.zenfolio.com/p1041693694

No dust today - thanks for the kind comments. Light was a little low today - but the meeting was entertaining , Ben Barker & Steve Boxall in particular were very spectacular - but credit to all the riders for coping with some difficult track conditions. Good crowd - great meeting to feed the speedway hungry fans.

Link to the earlier meeting today - enjoy. http://denis99.zenfolio.com/p440155418

Leaving all the politics to one side - congratulations to Buxton on being the 2010 National League champions. I'm actually glad the meeting was run, as the championship was decided on the track - as said no politics, perhaps next year there will be better planning from all concerned - but well done to Buxton. The Hornets have had a really good season also with a young team.

Thanks Bill - as others have said - it wasn't the greatest of meetings , but I thought there was some spirited riding from the Hornets. Tony Atkin was very good today, as was Todd - but young Worrell had 10/10 for sheer effort - it was good to see his enthusiasm to race. Just what the NL need , young British riders given the chance to compete. And that's not knocking the commenwealth riders - it's just that he tried so hard for little reward. I'm sure he's got a bright future infront of him (as a Hornet?) But credit to Kings Lynn today - they deserved the victory and were the better team. Speedway and sunshine in October - felt more like June.

Images from today's meeting - see link below - enjoy http://denis99.zenfolio.com/p847018110