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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.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223593035144 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223593034636 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223593034276 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223593033891

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

No

Our Championship League campaign begins in earnest on Saturday(29th) vs. Scunthorpe Scorpions. lets get behind the ladsmmmmmmmm. (Where have I seen that before).

Of course, attendances have been falling for years, but not to the embarrassing level they are at now. There are more people in the pits today than on the terraces... I've said this many times before, but speedway used to be a city-centre sport. I am sure (as iris says) that there were complaints from local residents, but not to the level - or voracity - they are these days. People used to be more tolerant - BSF members please note!!! When you think of the tracks that used to be right in the middle of residential area, it's incredible... Steve

Yes, Aldershot took over the Southern Rovers fixtures, so at the end of the season, all Southern Rovers fixtures were noted as Aldershot fixtures, so, officially Aldershot did race the 31 May fixture at Eastbourne even though they were not in existence at the time! If that makes sense....

Congratulations to James Shanes - winner!

Madsen's bike is quick and he is super exxciting to watch on a track that allows passing. Heat 5 and 6 top grade.

So that's not really offensive calling people thick.

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

Good luck with that.

58.4 58.7 57.8 58.2 59.4 59.3 58.2 59.8 59.4 59.6 interval 61.3 61.6 60.6 60.9 59.3

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

To be honest the shape of the track argument has been debated many times on this forum, the track size or shape is not going to change so we have get on with what we have. But it would be untrue to say we don't get good racing with the current shape but we don't get it on anything like a regular bases that must come back to track prep in the days leading up to a meeting.

Well after a rocky gate and go start at Chapman's EoES circuit where a fast time seemed to be the indicator of quality, things have settled down and the last three meetings have produced some of the best racing you'll see anywhere. The only bit that affects us is not enough racing but that's pretty standard for us over the last 15 years. Individuals outside of the GP don't interest me and without significant finance to focus rider's minds (which speedway doesn't have and would only use unwisely if it did) then a cheapo GP inspired format would be doomed to failure IMO.

Sheffield for sale says it all

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

When is the World ( and the BSPA in particular) going to wake up to the fact that the National League is a great product which deserves to be treated better ?

Is that because promoters have lost the skill of promoting the product to would be sponsors. Years back many tracks staged individual meetings with local companies putting up prize money. However I think it is impossible to get it right, some fans want to watch a format of league racing only which is almost unsustainable from a financial perspective with allegedly insufficient riders to fill team places. To fill the teams you need a cross section of skills because of rider shortage but many moan about the NL quality riders and all they want to watch is fully fledged riders in their team but do not have the patience to support those riders who need to hone their skills and learn track craft. I believe you either have a mix of meetings or go back to the 13 lap format and a second half open to reserves and second strings. What I don’t understand is that most will watch a GP or European championship meeting but not an individual meeting at your local track, they may not be GP riders but the quality of racing is just as good.

Those that thought that Berwick would pull this round on aggregate were deluding themselves I`m afraid and so it proved, in fact as I posted beforehand Berwick would have a job on just to win on the night and so it proved as Leicester ran out worthy winners and looked what they are, the best team in the league. One or two members in the Berwick team under performing of late and that needs to turn round very soon as more home defeats are likely if that isnt addressed

The word dire crops up so often that the word racing should be dropped from the title of "Speedway racing". And the intractability of promoters to accept that that is the case and is at the heart of what is driving people away from the sport. Interest dies for the majority when there is no "racing" part of speedway racing. When will the BSPA wake up and see that unless the quality of racing improves extinction looms for UK speedway? I watched the first round of the World Under 21 Championship yesterday and there were three passes ( after the first half lap ) in the whole meeting and just as is mentioned above, the track allowed the very best of the worlds "young guns" NO chance of racing - just to take part in a high-speed procession. Thankfully I did not travel all the way to Lublin to watch it.

Is it April 1st already ?

I have used Microsoft Excel for years......there is so much you can do with it. Adding notes ie score chart, results etc etc etc.

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

Gary Flints positivity failed to rub off on the riders, very poor from some members no excuses beaten by a good Leicester Team.

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.

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

What normally happens in this case is that Swindon will wait until the play off cut off date and if there a few points off the play offs and Peterborough are in, then they appeal, win and the points are awarded to Swindon and removed from Peterborough, the wind up merchants do there job, Peterborough fans defend there team and get called whinging moaners the play offs are run and Peterborough's season ends.

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?

Thanks everyone for the bits of advice... I've looked and all hotels within walking distance have no rooms available!! But since that shopping centre is within walking distance, might park my car there nice and early as the Premier Inn at Great Barr has rooms available... Too far to walk, thanks again and looking forward for my first speedway meeting at Birmingham (That I can remember) Question... If I park my car at the shopping centre at 6, I'd be alright leaving it there until after the meeting