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I'm sure I've made this point before, but I'll keep on like a broken record anyway. Speedway has to tailor itself for a family day out....it can do that on a Bank Holiday or Weekend afternoon, it simply cannot on a school night....and will end up with the same shrinking ageing hard-core. It has to reach out to a wider demographic...like football, cricket, rugby, horse racing, basketball, netball all do. Imagine a restaurant running its business only on a midweek night because its staff were in Poland, Sweden etc at the weekend?! That's what British speedway does. It's Einstein's definition of insanity. Plymouth is my local track now. It's a 40mins drive. Am I going to take my 8 year old kids on a Tuesday night, rushing there and back for £50 minimum? No chance. The weekend is different, we are time rich and looking for something to do as a family. Are there any matches at the weekend? There's nowt. Quite simply, they won't see me and thousands of other families this year.

It's almost impossible to believe that no Premiership team has given Josh P a run. I know there's a work permit needed, but when you look at some of the mediocre riders who are in Premiership teams it is just incredible how a true thrillmaker can be ignored.

A quality meeting today at the EWR ,the racing was top drawer . Ulrich as guest was very good for the Scorpions and did a job . Jordan Palin with what I believe was his highest score in the championship was outstanding at reserve, also think Ellis will be an astute signing when he gets up and running . Some brilliant racing from all the riders but I’m not win at all costs and the star of the show was Josh Pickering the best visiting rider to be seen this year he was superb and kept the scores close ,Sam Masters was off the boil but the winner today was championship speedway and I think I can honestly say The Scorpions won’t be winning the Wooden Spoon as predicted by many on here ,bring on the Bandits on Friday

The fact i attend bath, lingfield, brighton, kempton and salisbury races without the need for a mask is good enough reason to swerve speedway til these ridiculous restrictions are binned. If things arent back to normality by july 19 esp after upwards of 140, 000 are piled into the gp at silverstone there will be stadia shutting at an alarming rate

Anecdotal evidence would suggest Ipswich, Peterborough,Kings Lynn; Scunthorpe; Leicester; Eastbourne ; Plymouth have been least affected in terms of crowd sizes and restrictions. Similar that Glasgow ; Newcastle; Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Poole have been most affected by restrictions. Kent and Edinburgh seem to be mixed messages. Glasgow it seems able to continue via excellent Streaming as you'd assume would be Belle Vue. As for people "losing interest" if the only reason is masks or not being able to move around the stadium I think that both hopefully that will improve after 19th July but also a bit of a reality check as it only mirrors the reality of the past 15 months. I'm sure some of the more professional and forward thinking Promoters (and there are a few) are just waiting for 19th July to put in place some of the ideas to attract children and new families using some of the suggestions made. The one thing that has more amplified the rotten core of the inner sanctum though is the decision of Ben Duffill to walk away from the Sport. He's one of a few of the new / newer Promotions who have been a breath of fresh air to the Sport relatively speaking and he will be a big loss. Promotions like Glasgow (OK they have the clout), Berwick, Edinburgh, Newcastle; Redcar, Brummies; Plymouth; Eastbourne; in the CL do seem to be trying hard but the old dinosaurs at the top table seem hell bent on fiddling averages, stopping progress, buying substandard tyres and non existent bikes, screwing up the Rising Star scheme and in alienating a guy like Ben Duffill, you wonder how many of those more positive thinking Promoters will jump ship or just give up as well? It's not so much as walking away as being driven away by the politbureau who don't seem to care a jot

Spiegal is dead right; it is a clear case of restraint of trade. The problem might be that riders simply aren't willing to risk any potential action, however illegal it might be. In addition, there could be under the table sanctions taken in that riders might not be offered contracts in the future. The way I see it, if one rider does agree to ride on the Island we could well see the flood gates open. Isle of Wight are running meetings this summer, so I will take the opportunity to wish them every success. They deserve it.

With so much talk if lack of riders due to covid / Polish rules, isn't this the time for riders to stand up for themselves & support Speedway on the Island!

I was there and can't believe it was 20 years ago. Bjarne was brilliant in that meeting.

He was in the declared 1-7 but due to Covid he decided not to travel initially.

Maybe the decent crowds have more to do with the lack of alternatives. Covid regs mean many other events have been cancelled and/or attendances capped. If promoters actually got their act together and put on added value for money (, I.e. children’s entertainers/singers/ands are crying out for work) so it might be mutually beneficial. Perhaps just perhaps a few people might continue to go to speedway once other stuff opens up. Most businesses have had to adapt, speedway as usual has just stood still. I have just seen three pigs fly past the window

He had the same chores when he rode at Ipswich but there was no cups to clean there for some reason !!

From your posts on here, you clearly have been a passionate fan in the past. Its sad to see that you are losing interest. I have made no secret of my admiration for the Isle of Wight promotion and the way they have been treated has left me disillusioned and angry. There are other reasons, but that is a major one why my enthusiasm has waned and I haven't been this year at all. I can only trust that when I do attend the old buzz comes back.

Sadly, the one league that produces good racing is disappearing quickly. I fear for speedway full stop at the moment. Something has got to be done at this level to get clubs like Buxton & IOW back up and running, the sport needs them.

Feel free to ask him yourself. Quite a few riders aren’t a fan of the EWR. More down to track prep than anything.

Had a great night in the Leaping Salmon , didn't miss the speedway at all . Be back at the end of July

An equal - if not greater - loss is the Isle of Wight promotion of Barry Bishop and Martin Widman. Don't take my word for just how forward thinking, innovative and customer focussed these two guys have been - read the comments of the likes of Peter Oakes, James Easter, Bert Harkins and more. The way they were treated - and are still being treated - was and remains shameful.

Is that not the rule that can be overturned by the Management Committee "in the interest of speedway"?

Not your bad at all Iainb. Nothing to do with being an insider. It's purely a social night (many of us that go are not darts players or members of the supporters club). I think that the cups were brought along purely because there was no other real way of getting a photo opportunity with them, as the season had ended. In addition to the darts evening, the cups were also available for photo opportunities at the end of season prize giving when all of the riders and promotion were there, happily mixing with everyone in attendance. They normally get about 40 - 50 or so people turn up every Wednesday at the darts, including friends who may not have any particular interest in speedway. It's just a great way to break the long winter closed season and I know that many of us missed it last year when regulations didn't allow it. A few kids are there, made welcome inside the pub and are encouraged to play. There is no elitism and if it runs this year (as I hope that it does), why not come along and join in? You'd be made very welcome!

Wow never seen this coming at all.

Not a lot of dirt, so not a lot of lines! Not much passing. I had a good night though.

For Speedway to be potentially losing fans like you two guys should be telling Speedway its in crisis, if it doesnt then the those at the top table need to take off there rose tinted spectacles and quickly get into the real world before its to late thats if already isnt, we need every Track/Promoter/Rider/Fan and right now the BSPL/SCB leadership are not encouraging anyone Promoters/Riders/Fans alike to stay/come into the Sport, except for the favoured few. If it carries on in the way that it is then i dread to think what the Sport in the UK will look like in a few years time. We need to rebuild from the bottom up, not from the Top down because very soon there wont be a Top in the UK, actually there is no longer a top in the UK its second rate, can it survive when it becomes third rate led by Scunthorpe ?, never mind there will always be Amateur meetings we can go to . Its such a pity that some current Promoters with leadership skills are to busy trying to keep there Teams afloat to be able to give more time to helping the Sport move forwards, because with the present crowd in charge Speedway is almost at the point of no return.

Crump was never gonna be here today injury or not... Regards THJ

Isn't the conversion rate, PL average x 1.5.

The twins are involved with Team GB and Young Lions but with riding for a Saturday home track and having already had away matches at Scunthorpe,Berwick and Newcastle over weekends hence they have not been involved in any meetings on the continent. I think it’s fair to say that in their first season of professional racing they are doing well but are probably a bit behind the more experienced riders like Kemp,Flint and Rowe so when limited places are allocated in meetings then places go to these riders.

Good idea & it's a pity that we couldn't do a Plymouth/Poole double header down south & malas tours will ride again... Bush stops on the way

Quite frankly the Berwick site is an embarrassment, for example if you look at the fixture section you`d think Berwick never rode an away fixture. Also my own personal gripe there is no on line shop, other than to buy season passes. I am sure they will get round to telling us about Leon when it is of use to them.

Current table 1 Ostrow P 10 pts 17 2 Rybnik P 10 pts 16 3 Krosno P 10 pts 16 4 Gdansk P 10 pts 14 5 Lodz P 10 pts 10 6 Bydgoszcz P 9 pts 8 7 Gniezno P 9 pts 8 8 Tarnow P 10 pts 0

Magic Majic... Quality playing to the crowd..

First meeting this season for us. Must say was a little disappointed when seeing the visiting team line up looking woefully weak. No surprise then by the Lions raced to a record home victory over 15 heats. Leaves you to wonder why 6 days earlier they actually failed to pick up a point in the away fixture ! Thought the racing was okay considering the opposition and was really impressed by the Thompsons especially Dan who seems to be hitting a good patch of form and making coming from behind at BP look easy.

This afternoon, i went to an excellent British Masters Grasstrack qualifier at the superb Dig Dog Lane circuit in Frittenden Kent. Over 40 races run at breakneck speed with the rain falling throughout. No track inspections, just brave riders doing their stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Sadly my interest hasnt been rekindled.... after a year "off" from speedway I had a few meetings pencilled in ... as always the British weather intervened and advance purchase of tickets is not something I am going to do with dodgy weather forecasts. Set my mind on going to see Jason Crump at Kent ... but sadly he was injured. The Championship speedway team at Kent has been decimated by retiring riders , injuries and even absent youngsters in championship qualifier meetings. Just Scott Nicholls as a heat leader. AS for the NDL thats now a training league, and overpriced at Kent. The little TV coverage I have seen on Discovery + has been appalling ......still the delayed starts and restarts ...... interspersed with so many adverts. Looking at a tasty encounter EB vs Glasgow , but the silly so and so's at EB have made it a DAYTIME meeting. Never seen a good one yet. Think I am back to where I was last year with little enthusiasm to visit my local tracks at least until I can turn up and buy a ticket, choose where I want to sit/stand and not have to wear a mask for 2 plus hours.

Good win for the Scorpions Monarchs dismantled, ah well that’s a shame never mind.

What a meeting! What a finish!

Thanks for your comments, it's good to have a fair a reasonable debate and I totally take on board what you're saying about covid retrictions etc. Not knowing exactly what's going on behind the scenes I'm not fully aware of what the extra issues are with putting a match on. And I thank you for your invitation to club social events but I like many punters just want to pay my £17 have a good evenings entertainment watching my team win, lose or draw. I make my comments on here and often seem to be stonewalled by seeming club "insiders" telling me that if I did want to see the league trophy paraded I should have gone to watch a cubs match, attended the end of season do or gone to a darts match and that because I didn't I've missed my chance and that the team that won that championship has been disbanded now so tough. I'm told that the riders didn't do a lap of victory after the Scunny match because they wanted to go home because they were at Newcastle the next day and it looked like it was going to rain... Come on! I've been following Leicester since the late 70's so I'm pretty hardened to being taking for granted by Speedway promotions by now, it's just that these things are easy wins at little or no cost and imo go a long way to building up a relationship and rapport with fans. If I'm honest, like I said I was at Glasgow on the night and have seen the trophy but I know the vast majority of fans probably haven't and it's not like we're habitual winners lol I just want to see Leicester Speedway thrive and for the place to be packed with fans and for it to be around for many years to come

He was actually in their 1-7 in 2019, so technically wasn't in the team the "previous" year!

To think they have apparently signed Kvech and are not using him

Fair comment Iainb. I take your point fully concerning issues re promotion. I belong to a byegone Leicester facebook group that often post old pictures of Blackbird Rd and am always surprised at the number of people that comment on how much they miss the speedway, oblivious to the fact that the Lions have now been roaring at Beaumont Park for many years! I'm not defending the lack of extra exposure of the cups to the supporters by the promotion, but maybe, the club have been exceptionally pre occupied with complying with all of the rules, regulations and restrictions set by the council to allow speedway to go ahead this year. W9, if you read any of this, any chance of a word with the gaffer to see if the cups can be brought down to Beaumont Park when restrictions are hopefully lifted at the end of next month, so that supporters can form an orderly queue to have their pics taken with them?

Whilst I don't recall opportunities at the track being given to have your photo taken with the cup (probably because, after all, it was won right at the end of the season and then Covid buggered up the following season), the supporters club ran an informal darts night every Wednesday at the local pub throughout the winter (when regulations allowed it), and the cups were brought up to those events for everyone to have their photos taken holding them. Hope that clarifies the situation.

Excellent reply Scooby.

OneSport Events so often suffer from badly prepared tracks. They have a talent to mess up even the best race tracks. How poor !

To be staged after Crumpy returns to racing (on Monday, at Ipswich).......?

So can afford to buy 300 programmes and still make make ton profit

Correct decision to call it off, heavy drizzle for a while now so we can put our conspiracies away until the next time.

Great guy was Fryer , and a superb rider too. In his pomp round Swindon he was nigh on untouchable - I remember even Wato and Smarty a couple of times couldnt get close to him round there. Brilliant. They were the days.

The track was ran slicker last night up to heat 8, presumably because of the threat of rain then Buster graded and watered the track and Lynn were then the better team. Shame it was nine heats too late but there was more fight in this team than the one for Wolverhampton.

I doubt whether any 'Brummies' fan would deny Redcar the victory! Just want to get back on track (no pun intended...) missing my 'fill' !

The 3rd turn bar is only open for the use of the toilets. You can see into the pits from the 4th turn. Belle Vue look stronger at 2nd string and reserve,heats 2/8/14 Tigers tend to struggle with at the moment so you'd expect the Aces to just edge it unless the Tigers three heatleaders go unbeaten... There's a pub on the other side of the church at the top of the car park,dunno what its like for food as I've never been in it.Plus McDonalds,KFC and Pizza Hut are across the road from the track. You could dine at the restaurant on the home straight, but you need to contact the Stadium and let the Promotion know so they can maintain the crowd numbers. Here's the link for lastnights meeting with information. http://www.sheffield-speedway.com/news.php?extend.2983

Perhaps they are just showing everyone how poor they are at producing dust at the end of a meeting , scunny has got them beat on that score as well .

That team would be above the points limit!

You most definitely would.