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Obviously youve never been there have you? The Arena is rented from a local school. Speedway share the pitch side dressing rooms and allow for them to keep a rugby pitch behind the back straight. There is little scope to widen the track as there is only about a 15ft walkway between the stand and rugby pitch. No point in lengthening the straights as that would create problems for riders with the extra speed going into the tight turns. I have been a heavy critic of the state of the track preparation over recent few seasons. To the point of Mark Phillips saying he would ban me.! I say what I see and that doesnt sit easy with some people. We had several meetings called off because of the state of the track, not the weather. That said, Mark has worked his socks off in remedying the situation. I cant possibly argue with that. The last couple of meetings of 2019 you could see the effort paying off. The track did improve a fair bit. In 2020, Plymouth ran 2 meetings under very strict Covid regulations. Their organisation was absolutely top notch. Clear instructions from volunteers at every pinch point throughout the meeting. The track itself stood up very well indeed. How much of that was due to constant preparation ,lack of weekly action, I dont know. But, in my opinion, it was a good as its ever been, if not the best ever. Before the start of the 2nd meeting. I bumped into Mark and congratulated him personally on his fore thought and arrangements. I felt 100% safe. Add in the superb stand along the start finish straight, they made for a a good atmosphere with everyone that I know going home with a big smile. Indeed it was very disappointing when they cancelled the next fixture because the Covid situation had changed, I totally accept that. For Mark and his team to go out and gain promotion and deliver two excellent signings shows his intent. He IS listening to fans on just about everything. I applaud him and his team on their efforts so far. I wish them well for 2021, except of course against Poole!

That's okay,,, is normally Ipswich number 1s that can't ride Foxhall very well

Some say guests are a 'necessary evil'... They are not, it's simply become the 'easy, lazy way out' rather than try and not use them.. A fit for purpose rider replacement facility would eradicate many of the needs for guests, as would a fixture list that doesn't plan meetings in whereby you already know you need them to complete either, or both, teams.. Doubling up/down is though a 'necessary evil'.... There are simply not enough riders to go round and, if no doubling up/down, not enough meetings for riders to make enough money to justify their outlay to ride...

Totally agree with every word Bob Track was far better than my 2018 visit with Brummies Facilities and Stand a great improvement. Stewarding and Match Presentation far better. Communication radically improved with some new blood brought in. If they can maintain 2019 standard and not slip back will be welcome addition to CL

I visited Stoke in their last season and was impressed how the place had been tidied up. The track was also decent, but the water bowser broke down mid meeting. It had its faults, but the sport can't afford to lose any venues.

Whoooosh

That's no way to talk about Brady...

A truly great life has come to an end! I think Olle Nygren started riding in the late 40's and was still riding in the mid to late 70's. Also did road racing and scrambling and in the 50's especially if he'd of concentrated solely on speedway he wouldn't of been far of a World individual title. He was a top rider for Norwich in the 1960's then I saw the now veteran Nygren signed by Ipswich to help with their move into the top flight in 1972. He was past his best and not very quick but could gate and would use his track craft to block faster riders from overtaking. He was well known for sticking out his leg to stop riders coming through. A fracas with Coventrys Rick France one night then Olle getting on the mike to offer to meet a lout who I think chucked something at the parade truck are memories that come to mind in them early Division 1 days at Foxhall in the early 70's!

The national league in the late 80s also proved that you could run a league competition without guests. The issue like so many within speedway it's the easy way out. Just look how far the sport has fallen since Ipswich's final national league season in 1990.

Unfortunately you maybe disillusioned but speedway is NOT a big sport in the UK at the moment and if you think putting a race track in the middle of a field is going to get supporters in just because the track is big is far from the truth. you exspect the sport to survive on people that go just because they want to see a good race and that’s it is million miles from feesable. you now need to make it a package to come and watch speedway. You need there to be music, entertainment, things for kids to do, you need competitions, good toilet facilities, good drinking and eating facilities. Of course you need good racing too but that’s not going to bring fans in alone. Plymouth is growing as club because a magnitude of things..... 1) the mascot kids love it, if kids are happy so are parents. 2) the track is now being brought up to a good standard 3) the announcer does a great job of keeping everything up to date and the new people informed as well as the more experienced supporter. 4) they have made new stands and seating areas that are much more pleasurable to go on. 5) the food bar serves some brilliant food now especially the curry that is made from the Indian up the road ! 6) this year the team has big names people will want to come and see them 7) the team will have one or two fans favourites people will want to come and see them. 8) you can get close to the action to watch, Litterally on top of it at the back straight. The place isn’t the NSS but it’s never going to be after the amount of money spent on it. BUT my god they are trying to make it a family fun day/evening out and a respectable stadium and club and personally I think it’s working and Plymouth are very much a team on the up. unfortunately I think you have something against Plymouth speedway I don't know why nor do I care. For what it’s worth I enjoyed going to stoke the last time Plymouth went, the track was about 3 inch deep in sludge and yeah it wasn’t great sat on cracked steps with weeds coming up or the fact that you can’t walk around the track and get close to the action, but that’s what made stoke Stoke same when I’ve been wolves, Coventry etc they have something unique and special about them.

Yes we know bell vue is a excellent track but also redcar is prepared right you can see cracking racing there too and that's not a big track.

Utter cobblers tbh

This is a Plymouth speedway thread. I come here to read about the Gladiators. All this other nonsense doesnt belong here. As it happens, I prefer racing on smaller tracks..

if a rider is missing then RR is the 1st option (unless its your no1) then if 2 riders are missing its 1 guest and RR. As for guests why not restrict them in the PL to only riders who do not ride in that league? If Ipswich needed a guest then they could look at someone in the CL (eg Eastbourne) but couldnt use Kerr or Brennan, but Kennett, Lawson Edwards and Newman would be ok.

Bloody hell you only been in the league a week not turned a wheel yet and already upsetting everyone.

Not hostile at all just pointing out the blatantly obvious I hope that you feel reassured enough to venture out. Proper stewarding will be required at all tracks

As has been said before on here John Berry proved over many years you can operate without guests - and still be highly successful.

I think he lived in Felixstowe?

Brady choking when the pressure is on at the end of a meeting.... imagine it

He is a danger on the track,his lack of control is worrying.He won’t go a season without injury IMO.

A few seasons ago I saw Plymouth v Berwick whilst on holiday. With Berwick being a big track , I wondered how they would take to a small Plymouth track.it was an excellent meeting showing great racing. Like all tracks which create good racing , they still have to be prepared well for riders to show their talents off I saw the Colts a couple of season ago.... the racing was just about ok. With regards to Stoke, I used to go many years ago when John Dews was in charge of the track... indeed I would go regularly except when the Aces were riding away. Great racing and atmosphere. I stopped going when the last management team were in charge... track frequently in a poor condition..... Poor racing ensued with inevitable decision never to give Stoke another penny of my money... No regrets... plenty of good tracks around to venture to.

I’ve said this many a time - it was a huge problem before the fixed race nights and riders missing matches left right and centre but problem was solved by the introduction of that. Aslong as riders attend every meeting (other than for injury) then it shouldn’t be an issue for any fans really. I always like the idea of a relegation play off at the end of the year, but understand that doubling up is just one of the reasons that can’t happen. Now, the guest facility.... that is a real problem!

Why would tai be living in rental accommodation? When he as got a big farm house in Lincolnshire. But he will not be at Sheffield that's fact

......Then you get the riders who sign up for a British team, then dump them when they get a better Swedish/Polish gig. They're called shystars*. (* spellcheck may be required).

It's all down to personal choice. I had no problem attending a few speedway meetings last summer and multiple non league football matches from August till December. Being a key worker, I've had the jab, but i can understand why some people won't want to mix with crowds at sporting events. For me personally, i can't wait for it to start.

I watched racing at both West Ham, Wimbledon and New Cross in the 60s. I always preferred Wimbledon and New Cross because I felt the riders got spread out too much but I know people who preferred the bigger West Ham track. That does not make me right and them wrong, it shows that people have different opinions and variety is good. Please can posters accept other opinions are genuine and therefore valid. I have a very good friend who like me enjoys oval car racing. He prefers the Hot Rods while I prefer the Stock Cars. We both enjoy watching racing and don't treat the others view as rubbish and neither should posters on this forum.

All interesting thoughts but lot of obstacles. What about Clubs with limited time due to curfew? What if not time to run a 2nd half team? What if some teams are in areas with few riders and can't fill second team in midweek? How about Clubs who can't compete Financially but do what they do very well at a lower level like IOW and Mildenhall? How do you pair Clubs up? 6 in PL and 12 in CL? What if a rider wants to ride for parent Club but not paired Club? How do you account for Clubs running on different nights, Monday and Thursday is fixed for top League? If you scrap NDL how do young riders enter the Sport? Can you explain why Promotion and Relegation is an issue?? Its not and never has been in Speedway? Tried and didn't work as relegated Club didn't want to go down and promoted Club didn't really want to go up?

In 2006 Olle and Ove Fundin, along with other riders and a support crew, rode thousands of miles across Asia on motorcycles. I think Olle was 76 at the time! Don't remember the exact details, but have vague memories of Olle having to return home after injury or sickness on the route? Maybe somebody else remembers more than me. This web site is all I could find, but it shows a few photos from the trip plus the incrdible route they took. It was in Swedish, but I did a Google translation. I found if I clicked on the word "translating" it opened the page. https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=sv&u=https://www.swes.se/2006/07/trans-asia-expedition/&prev=search&pto=aue

Utter rubbish ,your losing the plot.

some good ideas, not new. Promotion and relegation won't happen, it's been tried before. As for du/dd teams could be paired so that div 1 teams call riders from 2 div 2 teams. No guests, use r/r or a div 2 rider from yr partner team. There's enough riders of div 1 second heat leader standard in div 2. Then at least we won't have the grotesque spectacle of Ipswich riders helping Wolves, etc, they'd just come from their partner teams in Div 2

He used to live in Springfield Road in Taverham before moving to Felixtowe many years ago.

Belle Vue NSS is a great track. Would it have ever happened though without Kirky Lane, anything but a great Track shoe-horned inside a dog track. Sad fact BV NSS got Council Funding that no other track is likely to get. Stoke when properly prepared was a good place to visit. Sad its been bulldozed.

Might know the venues tomorrow.

I read Najjer’s post as using other rising star scheme riders who are on the list but don’t ride for another team in that league. Agree also it should be R/R unless two riders are absent. We HAVE to get rid of riders appearing for more than one team as much as is possible.

I know making several changes isn't likely to happen, difficult task given the limited rider availability! If the season gets underway, which is far from a given..it shouldn't be a case of just having speedway back. We need to reinvigorate interest, if we put a team out simply to make numbers up, that's my interest gone and probably forever.

has Glasgow moved to england?

I quite agree - guests should be an absolute last choice if there is numerous riders out injured within a team. They should never be able to be a first port of call. Rider replacement should always cover a missing rider in the 1-5 in my opinion. Especially now with the new ‘rising star scheme’, teams should be replacing reserves in the top tier with riders who don’t have a top tier side and can only use riders within the scheme from the second tier or riders without a team. Likewise in the second tier, they should be using riders who aren’t assigned to a team within the top two tiers. That way it gives riders who aren’t currently in a side to effectively form “a youth pool” and get a chance to showcase themselves and earn a team spot.

If any sport waits for Covid to be eradicated the sport will be eradicated before Covid. I assume you've not visited a supermarket or been out for nearly a year I'm approaching 70, visited very well organised meeting at Plymouth in September with 400 to 500 others. I've been to non League soccer in Autumn with similar crowds. No reason why Speedway can't start at any UK stadium once lockdown ended and spectator sports allowed. If you don't want to go that's your choice, if many of us vaccinated wish to go I'm sure that we will.

Not so well done then

Bad photoshop job here. Someone just trying to stir the pot.

Steve that's what I thought he as always said if he does come back it will be at wolves. Hope you're well Steve

This is where the rumours came from

If it is considered a new track, then there should be a 2 metre safety gap between the fence and the spectators i believe.

Don't think anyone will be brave enough to start speedway up at Bradford? But the state of speedway at the minute who knows ' hope I'm wrong.

I had the privilege of attending Olle's school three times in the late 80's. He wasn't that good a teacher as he never made me into a speedway rider. Well, thinking about that, it may have been my complete lack of ability rather than his poor teaching lol. But the best thing of all we that he liked a drink. Myself and one or two others sat up well into the night talking speedway, with Olle holding court which some great stories. A true character, gentleman and servant to speedway. RIP Olle

Maybe it’s the camera angle but the third/fourth bends look much narrower than I expected, has the hospitality building encroached onto the old circuit?

I really don't understand why people have such a problem with doubling up.

Just love the word 'suggests' which suggests you don't know but heh ...... So - - I would suggest that as he has a UK passport; didn't need a work permit in 2019; rode for the Belle Vue Colts, a NDL team, in 2019 then that clearly makes him 'British' in the eyes of the UK government and British Speedway governing body. Throw in the fact that he is only 18, having arrived in the UK when only 16, ending up with an 8.55 average for the Colts just after a few months, this alone should be enough to make him a rising star - better average than team mate Danny Phillips who is ranked as a 2* rider. Plus he won't be the first rider to take advantage of being able to ride in Australian championship meetings. For example, Tai Woffinden won the 2006 Western Australian Under-16 title, in Perth.

His commitment should never be questioned, but whilst he doesn't mind getting hurt, the other three riders in the race might have something to say about that! He will always be a risk until Dickson puts some glue on his a*se!