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This is the last paragraph - nice to see some praise. “word for the Redcar promotion. What a great setup they have, centre green immaculate, track in great condition and everything running like clockwork. A super place to watch Speedway.”

NOT sure that is even true any more. Plenty of vacant dates for any track to stage an individual meeting but none do because they know it will lose money.

£1057 collected by Two junior rider's fantastic effort everyone

First time have agreed with anything "mr hunter" has said but yes the place looked a picture last night , spotted fans from sheffield volves belle vue and a nice mention for us comets fans from " wanting woy " lol.wont be last visit , right off to peterboro talk about a busmans holiday !

So in the good old days, even 2 of the gate-n-go-races, won from the gate with no passing, had overtaking?

Exactly what I can see happening. One league, two or three, the only way I can see to reduce costs is to stop giving in to riders' demands. Riders need to realise that the sport in this country cannot afford full time, all year round professionals.

They should st least try the British champs over a certain amount of rounds

The tracks that are able to stage other events etc could put on other types of meetings such as perhaps the likes of Ipswich, Lynn, Boro and Mildenhall staging their own mini series of the Star of East Anglia. Obviously what I am saying is that perhaps someone like Sky Sports and a branded sponsor can make a 10 round series work financially for riders, let's be honest here also the "Super 16" in what would be the top flight many get income from riding in other countries. If promoted well you could get 4,000 to 5000 spectators at Foxhall alone for one round, I know alot of speedway supporters are over a certain age where routine is everything and team speedway means everything but this is my point, team speedway only means it to fans, it doesn't mean it to riders Go back years where there were genuine rivalries between clubs, fans and riders, now in a fans head rivalries still exist however for clubs and riders they do not.. Riders due to doubling up and social media are all mates, how do you feel when your team in the championship tweet that Rory Schlein scored 9 points tonight for Wolverhampton (as an example) why would YOUR club tweet about your rider scoring points for another team? Because he is not your rider is he, that's not a team sport Then how much team riding is there anyway in this gate and go, win at all costs no matter where your team mate is because winning maximises my own income. Personally I'm one who prefers individual meetings and can see speedway has no way of coming back from where it is now despite how many times the BSPA gloss over it every season

It will scrap itself... Those who say they wouldn't go if team speedway was scrapped surely cannot take what they watch now (masquerading as a team sport), seriously can they? The sport should just try and sell the spectacle in whatever guise it can do credibly.. If it can do Team Speedway 'properly', then go for it, if it can't then try something else to get the punters interested.. I went to the Colts v Kent meeting in Thursday and I would say the crowd was around 400, yet hardly any of them were under the age of 18... And it is completely free for them... Yet the crowd was made up of literally hundreds of Mum's, Dad's, Grans, Grandads, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, Sisters etc etc with relatives under 18 years of age Yet they cannot seem to get these relatives to come along.. The racing is great at the NSS, therefore is it the concept that doesn't interest the younger generation? My lad watches with pretty much zero affinity to the Aces or Colts, as even at 16 he finds the rules used ridiculous, but loves watching Speedway both live and on TV.. Presume there must be similar of the younger generation out there who would follow the 'sport' if ran from 'event to event' but not necessarily bother about following a team? If even free entry doesn't get them in to watch 'their team' then maybe it is time to try something else..?

Yes I remember the good old days of 40-38 happiness. People still forget there was a lot of strung out races as well tho back then!

Thats a great effort, maybe the club could've included the finishing total either in their report on last nights match or they post it on the clubs Facebook page

Just over a thousand I think

Does anyone know how much was raised for young Sam last night?

But g13webb didn't say there were 4 heats with no overtaking, he did say " 4 heats were won from the gate " So in 2 of them there was passing for the minor places. 13 - 4 = 9 + 2 = 11 Heats with overtaking.

The potential for a good racing circuit is there World Under 21 was a classic example a fantastic meeting possibly the best at Berwick? Why can’t we have the track like that all the time ?

Totally agree,i was just saying the way Lynn have to do it within the current rules.

Popped along last night. Very good result for the Witches, even better that the Stars ended up with nothing despite it being pretty tight until the end. However the 'racing' was dire. All decided by the second bend apart from three occasions, when Cook barged his way past Heeps in the last heat, Lawson nipping past Lambert whilst he was looking round for King and the best race of the night, the battle for third between Jorgensen and Procter in heat three, half a straight behind the Witches pair. Anyone trying a blast round the outside simply went backwards, just one line, follow the leader stuff. It meant yet another long drive home feeling that I hadn't been entertained and why did I bother. Good results are important but the racing has got to be the main reason for going. If it was just about the result you might as well sit at home and use the excellent update service.

I've been thinking about this for a while, team speedway is not really a viable option at the moment in terms of riders doubling up etc across 2 or 3 divisions. I understand they are trying to do away with it over 5 years and that there are a crop of youngsters whom in 5 years time may be able to boost numbers. However, what state will the sport be in when 5 years is up, will there be a sport left? Personally i think team speedway is already on it's way out, it's only the fans whom cling on to team speedway purely as they have already built a relationship and affection with their chosen club. I think individual speedway is the way forward for the Sport perhaps not the way forward for clubs. I can see there being perhaps 4 divisions of 16 riders call it a Premier League, Division One, Division Two and Three Potentially ran to the same format as the speedway grand prix, with a broadcaster like Sky TV doing something big with the main league where the prize money can be something quite attractive to riders. Run from April - August covering 10 championship rounds, with some form of promotion/relegation bottom 4 riders in the premiership going down top 4 from Division One going up etc. All the way down to Division 3 Rounds ran on Friday, Saturday or Sundays to boost attendances Just for fun, which 16 would be in your premiership? Mine would be 1. Jason Doyle 2. Max Fricke 3. Troy Batchelor 4. Robert Lambert 5. Craig Cook 6. Kenneth Bjerre 7. Rory Schlein 8. Jacob Thorsell 9. Brady Kurtz 10. Jack Holder 11. Hans Andersen 12. Chris Harris 13. Danny King 14. Scott Nicholls 15. Richard Lawson 16. Dan Bewley Ten Rounds at Belle Vue Swindon Glasgow Ipswich Olympic Stadium Sheffield Poole Kings Lynn Birmingham Peterborough

Why start another thread when there is already one here http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/88097-championship-fours/&page=1??

Big gap between races too....heat 2 and then heat 13.

I certainly don't think the racing was any better back in the 70's, just certain tracks are much poorer these days. As many posters have mentioned the bigger crowds and atmosphere generated made it all seem so much more exciting. Though by no means perfect the league was bigger meaning more variety, top star names only visited once or twice a year, giving more incentive to go and the whole package looked more credible; it seemed worth winning back then. The regional early season warm up competition the Spring Gold Cup had more teams in it than the whole top league does now! Though back then as now the usual consequence of winning the league is the break up of the championship winning side...

Here's another one you should try explaining to a young kid... Broc Nicol scores 5 points for his team (Sheffield) on Friday night against Scunthorpe; on Saturday night he goes out FOR Scunthorpe and scores 15 against Eastbourne. How can anyone take this sport seriously?

Congratulations to James Shanes - winner!

Any word on how much, lot of notes in the helmet colours. Fingers crossed for a good amount.

Not a bad shout... What BT currently often shows won't grab many of the watching nation and give encouragement to attend any tracks local to them, that's for sure.. Therefore, maybe only show meetings that have credibility and, hopefully, a crowd level that reflects well on its brand.. Credible, well attended meetings being watched may make the viewer at least curious to find out more about Speedway.. And the clubs could maybe then start to grow their own crowds on the back of it....

Magic from Majic...

Indeed. For whatever reason speedway was not classified as a sport but as an entertainment which had a much higher rate of tax.

don't think anyone will be stupid enough to give Holders a job in Ekstraliga

Stop team speedway and that's me done with the sport.

Your welcome, I always write the times in

Problem is there is no atmosphere at live speedway these days, so you don't miss anything by watching it on TV. I watch ice hockey on TV and it is a bit dull, but go to a live match the atmosphere is electric with plenty of away supporters and lots of banter. I would always rather pay to watch a game live than watch it on TV.

Some fantastic riders in the field that night who could go on to become world champion in the next 10-15 years

This is one area that really boils my pi$$ The gerrymandering around team changes linked to timing of average changes IMO if a change is made then the rolling average for the rider/s being replaced (and indeed coming in) should be updated at the date of the switch rather than use the out of date (albeit only by a few meetings) last months rolling average Too many times teams make changes at the end of a month to be within the limit only to be a point or two over come the 1st of the month without even riding another meeting

There was some quality racing when the likes of complin and clews raced , so your argument is mute

It’s a worrying situation and not just a Berwick problem

Because a pass doesnt have to be for first place.....

Good to hear no negatives about the track.

It's had a negative effect, but I can't see any other option they had. Sponsorship was difficult to attract, costs have been cut, even the riders took a pay reduction. You could take the radical step of reducing admission in the hope that there is a significant increase in crowds, but it is a hell of a gamble when you have already lost a lot of money.

Robert Lambert is still very much in contention with two rounds to go but his exclusion last night could come back to bite as a point or two in that race could prove crucial.

Probably the poorest meeting this season to be fair. But that's what happens when better riders get in front. Berwick beaten by a better team tonight. I do feel that there has been a lot of over-reactions on here though. I bet you could look back on every season and find poor meetings.

Don't know about the smoke, (I didn't see any) but I am pretty sure Lawson slowed, because he had a puncture.

Where on earth has this Heeps been hiding the last couple of years?! He was absolutely superb all night. That heat 15 was one of the best races I can remember - Stewart, Heeps and Wright all giving it absolutely everything. Stunning ride by Heeps to get past Stewart. For the Bears Stewart oozed claas, MPT and Wright both as excellent as always a solid showing for the reserves (against admittedly weak Monarchs pairing) Heeps was the standout for Edinburgh, Pavolaara and Andersson showed flashes but not much else for their good travelling support to cheer.

Heat 15 was a good a race as i have seen in allmost 50 yrs hats off to all 4, but thought edinborough were poor with pav the ultimate start tart .

What a great meeting, no stoppages & some excellent racing. CW. 11+1. Never gave up very good TB 4+1 did what he had to do good win in Heat 8 UO 4. Needs a couple more meetings to fully assessJS. 13 only beaten by the excellent HeepsMPT. 10. Only dropped points in a tremendous heat 13NG. 6. Rode very well got some points he should not have !JS. 5+2. Scored more than double his average Two races 13 & 15 were worth the entrance money . All credit to Cameron Heeps, brilliant all night but in these 2 he excelled Read more: http://bears-talk.proboards.com/thread/3555/redcar-edinburgh-saturday-22nd-june?page=1#ixzz5rc2RONQT

Couple need to pull their socks up (Wells and sedgy when back) another needs to take his socks back to retirement and stop ruining the good memories of who was once a very entertaining rider and is now just looks very disinterested (Lawson). Andersson and Palovaara pass marks and Heeps carrying the team in some meetings. Could be a long season ahead. No chance of points away from home and even home form looking patchy. And who we got next week.... Glasgow, God help us! Redcar are a good team at home and showed that. About time they had a bit more success on track, could get a few surprise results away and get into play offs.

Trackrat is just on a wind up again probably really fed up we won.

61.3

1.58.41 2.59.10 3. 59.40 4. 58.81 5. 58.76 6. 58.25 7. 59.25 8. 59.28 9. 59.19 10. 58.84 11. 58.75 12. 59.44 13. 59.78 14. 59.63 15. 59.85

The TV box recorded as scheduled, so watched allot of rainfall & about 8 heats. Assume Pirates we're well & truly hammered? Is the racing at Kumla usually as processional?

One advantage of those days from the past - there was little or no televised speedway, live or recorded So, if you wanted to watch the sport, if you wanted to see the "big name" riders, the ONLY way was to pay your shillings and pence at the turnstiles With a big league in operation, there was probably only one chance a season (two with a cup meeting) to see the stars when they appeared at your track