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Doesn't cost money to who? The fans, the riders or the promoters? To put on a decent presentation and to promote the sport properly will definitely cost money, a lot of money which isn't in the sport, maybe never was, probably not for many many years. For speedway (or for 4 riders going round an oval shale track to survive), in my opinion, it needs to go back to grass roots and build from the bottom. The sport needs more tracks and more homegrown riders. The sport needs to be far cheaper for everyone, the riders the fans and the promoters/organisers. It needs to be an amateur sport, similar to grass track. More tracks will probably mean 'tracks in a field', but does that matter? If a rider wants to ride, they will ride for free or even pay to ride, as grass track riders do. The sport needs to get back to everyone loving the sport, i.e. the riders, organisers and the fans. At the moment, everyone is gathered around the patients bed watching the patient slowly die and everyone feeling depressed. However, there are a minority who feel all is well and are ignoring the fact, the emperor is wearing no clothes!

Great gesture from a top ambassador for the sport.

On the other hand....This is what Bartosh Zmarzlik, double world speedway champion wrote today on his social media site. Tears, joy, happiness - this is how I felt when I entered the finish line in Toruń, in the final round of the Grand Prix in 2019 It was then, for the first time, that I won the title of the Individual World Champion Now, for the auction for Nina, I am presenting something extremely important to me, which I dreamed about since I was a child and which I was striving for step by step - it is a gold medal for winning the world championship I decided to pass the medal on the auction to help Nina, who is at the start of her life and also has her dreams. Let us help her (on https://www.siepomaga.pl/en/nina) so that she has a chance to fulfill them

Why have Birmingham waited this long ?, this was foreseen by everybody and should have been done as soon as England won ! Thats besides that it should have been awarded to Redcar in the first place.

Surely you are grasping at straws. He wasn’t fit in last week’s match and they can ill afford a number 1 who isn’t fully fit with the results they have been getting. It’s the right decision and gives Jason more time to recover.

Agreed. Think we should enjoy the fact we have live speedway and be thankful for that. For a long time it looked like there would be no team so I’m very thankful Rob Grant took over. He may not be everyones cup of tea but deserves a lot of credit.Hopefully enough people come through the gates when restrictions are lifted to get us through this condensed season and we can all look forward to 2022 with renewed optimism. Sundays without speedway just wouldn’t be the same.

A good performance by Ipswich but in fairness this is Championship speedway. The powers that be need to get the sport sorted and stop pretending. It does not and will not ever compete with Poland so stop dreaming and give joe public regular weekly racing with local riders and teams that the punter can relate to not the mis- mash you have today and put the meetings on when you have the best chance of a decent gate and stop using the excuse of rider availability. Make work or shut it down.

You think turning the sound on would give you an answer?

Just when you think speedway can't make itself look any more stupid,,, we have a ref making rules up

Wightlink Wizards Ready To Roar In To 2021 In Summer Spectacular At Smallbrook Stadium Following the news that Danno Verge is to be the first rider for the Wightlink Warriors in 2021, supremos Martin Widman and Barry Bishop continue their theme of rider announcements with the exciting news that they are able to present the complete Wightlink Wizards side, all of whom are regular attendees at My First Skid, the speedway school based at the Smallbrook Stadium. Barry Bishop said, “We view the Wightlink Wizards as a vital part of our presentation package offering riders a development opportunity and to be part of the main event and not just a fill-in. All of these riders came through our speedway school and we want them to continue to push for Warrior places while remaining race hungry for the Wizards, and that’s exactly what we have here. We are extremely proud of the commitment and ethos of all our Wizard teams over recent seasons and we are sure that this one will be the same. We are also incredibly excited to announce Tony Cook (“Cookie”) as the Wightlink Wizards Team Manager. Cookie, an experienced track motor cyclist in his own right, has been everything to the club, sponsor, volunteer, handyman, mechanic, comedian and now to add Wizards Team Manager, I know he will get the best out of the squad.” Tony Cook (pictured) said, “What an honour and privilege it is to be asked to be the Wightlink Wizards Team Manager. It is an incredible group with lots of talent to nurture and I know we can all expect some great action on the track. Personally, I cannot wait for racing to start on July 22nd.” The riders are also relishing lots of track time. Jamie Sealey said “I’m absolutely over the moon to be back racing for the Wizards. It’s been a long wait to be able to get back racing and I can’t wait to get started again.” Morgan Williams added, “I’m delighted to see the return of speedway to the island following what has been a very difficult time for the promotion. As the “local boy” I’m very keen to progress and show that the island can, and will, produce from the grassroots of the sport. I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity to compete in what will no doubt be a summer series of fantastic racing.” Chris Watts said, “I am delighted to be back racing for the Wizards again in 2021. When the news came out, I was quick to show my support towards the Isle of Wight set up and wanting to race for them. In previous years, I have always been their highest average rider and top point scorer and I will be doing my best to keep that up, scoring big points and helping out the team wherever I can.” Jamie Evans said, “I’m the new face for the Wizards. After learning to ride speedway at My First Skid, I cannot wait to finally race for the team and especially meet up with all the fans.” Steph Whitlock said “It’s great to be back involved with the Wizards team once again. I can’t wait to get back on track racing as I feel I’ve developed a lot since getting back on my bike after the restrictions were lifted and I cannot wait to see everyone.” The team lines up as follows: 1. Jamie Sealey 2. Morgan Williams 3. Chris Watts 4. Jamie Evans 5. Steph Whitlock Team Manager Tony Cook

No because Ford/Middlo got wins......

Surely this is 'withholding services' & blatantly trying to cheat a win??

Bet the Blue Oyster man cave is rocking at the witches winning !!!!!

Would you not support the individual riders from your team? That was one of the good things about the old individual meetings.

Personally I've got no interest in individual meetings. I support a team, not individual riders. When I go to a meeting to watch my team I have an emotional investment in it. Each to their own.

Has anyone ever seen Heeps and Proctor in the same room?

Cams best Ipswich performance of the season

Love the photos of the riders in their variety of club colours. Some are even in Kings Lynn and Ipswich colours...

British Speedway has been sold brilliantly so far. Referee has been bang on so far & every heats racing right out the top draw. Think we all need to stop moaning. Can't wait to get back to watching racing at the AFA

Surprised the referee didn’t give it as a dead heat as he can’t be bothered to make any other decisions.

Hang on, they’ve even got the cameras here! Did the referee not actually look at the footage like everyone else? There is a tapes rule in place, if you touch them you’re out. Nicholls touched them first so has to go! Unbelievable sh!te this is. Nobody from the Ipswich camp protesting that??

He was/is always a bit of an ar***ole. When he rode for the "Cheetahs" (albeit short term) he was always looking for trouble and personally I was glad to be rid of him!

How convenient

any word on the Prem Junior League line up to follow the meeting? Assuming there must be one as this is the 2nd league meeting between these two sides and the BSPL promised it would happen......

If the signings i've heard Leicester are making they certainly will win the league hans down, After they are announced if anyone thinks otherwise they'll be inzaine.

Im sure tonight’s meeting would have been discussed whilst they were on the golf course this morning..

Because by doing it this the club generate some anticipation from the fans. After all, we are now all posting about the announcement.

Socially distanced of course Bar has just been restocked ....

If nothing else its added an extra bit of spice now to the meeting with Crump's absence and its generated a bit of banter on here Added to Cook and Heeps swapping sides and both teams desperation for the win hopefully it will produce a decent meeting .

You may be over thinking this, in speedway, 'debut' means first time this season!

Why don’t they just say who it is. Oh I forgot this is speedway.

That’s correct. The way averages are calculated is all laid down in the Speedway Regulations http://www.scbgb.co.uk/regulations (Chapter 10)

I can't resist...........I've said this a million times to anyone that will listen but here I go again League Speedway needs to be promoted with professionalism and taking itself seriously as a sport to attract new committed partisan supporters of local clubs. I DO NOT LIKE Speedway being promoted as a sideshow, you get the picture "extreme sport - no brakes" type of thing. That is not sustainable. It should be a serious sport. If it's a sideshow, people come along like they would to a 'monster truck' show then they've seen it once, the racing thrill soon wears off if they have nothing to support and they don't come back. A cultural phenomena that has really taken hold over the past 20yrs is more and more people getting into supporting a football team, wearing the merchandise and 'belonging' to a club. People will even wear team colours of sports teams from other countries. Put on a decent presentation (which doesn't cost money) and promote the sport as though it means something as a sport and not just a spectacle. And any 'promoter' who doesn't put some signposts up around the town or try to get the team into local newspapers/tv/radio should be shot! The general quality of UK league speedway PR is horrible

Totally irrelevant. It is a condition of allowing speedway to operate .It says it all over the ticket booking requirements. Its made clear on entry too. I agree, I dont think its necessary in an open environment. If its the difference in being allowed to operate or not, then surely its a no brainer to comply? The 'Im alright Jack' scenario doesnt cut it for me at all.

I have been to Belle Vue each meeting this year. there are a lot of missing faces.... but not necessarily due to lack of interest......there are fans that are very wary at the moment and will pick back up once the restrictions are eased. I expect crowds to pick up after July 19th......

Few outside the current followers have ever heard of many of the top riders (except for Polish supporters perhaps) and the lapsed fans may well take the view that “we have seen it all before but it won’t last” . It might be too big a financial risk for many running tracks. It is sad but the U K version has to find its own level and rebuild at club level. Outside that you have some talented riders who will rise through the ranks but for now it would seem that the best option for the weekly fix in the U K is to plough our own furrow.

You'd get few more in but not that many more cause I fear that the majority of lapsed fans who don't go can't be arsed with speedway full stop. A prime example of this is Mildenhall speedway. They don't want to move up to the 2nd Division even though the crowds are on a par with many in that Division cause crowd levels wouldn't increase by hardly any yet the costs would go through the roof. I'm afraid speedways a retro sport and when us 60+ age group, fans are gone their won't be many others left to make staging meetings worthwhile. In a way I feel blessed that I can still watch speedway in my retired years cause the few youngsters that attend meetings now I suspect won't have the same opportunity in their later years? - I hope I'm proven wrong!

wonder how much it costs to get 1000 of those cardboard cutout supporters ...

If there is one team that could get points at Monmore it will be Sheffield. No Howarth last time so Wolves need to be on form tonight.

Has anyone seen ANYTHING for this new league ?

the signing ive heard means leicester win the league easy

I probably am, but I think they are hinting at someone new to the club, or why not just say "our new signing will be riding on Saturday"?

Perhaps the rain went down the back of his neck and he has a chill.....

Only in speedway. If i was Buster i'd be on one If they can do this, i wonder if Cam will have a poor meeting. Hawkins seems desperate.....

Surely you mean the Dzirtometerski

With the amount of rain that came at 2.55 it was obvious that it should have been called off. Sadly I have seen this so many times and the tracks are rarely salvageable Rider safety is of paramount importance and watching Jordan Jenkins hit the third bend then almost hit the air fence on the fourth Bend showed it would be dangerous to continue Unfortunately that’s not what the discussion is really about. Having done eighty miles to get there the last thing I wanted was to sit there watching tractors circulate the track. Not only should the Promotion and the referee be concerned about rider safety but also the effect of a disastrous two and a half hours on the public. ultimately the chatter I heard as people left was hardly praiseworthy of the efforts to get racing but more along the lines of should have called it off and there was never going to be racing after that rain A lot of damage was done to Mildenhall today I will return but only to use the readmission ticket. I chose Mildenhall today Over a closer option at Eastbourne because I value clubs like Mildenhall more. I feel for the Promotion and for the Berwick side but on a personal note 6hrs wasted on top of fuel etc hasn’t gone down well.

It's all very sad. speedway did, and still should, have all the ingredients of being a spectacular experience combining skill, dare devil riding, thrills and spills and yet struggles to grab the attention. However one of the most repetitive sports imaginable (tennis) enjoys blanket coverage on both BBC channels and media hype which says something about modern society and how easily it can be swayed into believing something is good. I would dare to suggest that other sports fall into that same category. Speedway's failings I blame almost entirely on bad management skills and indecisiveness down the years (constant unnecessary rule changes for example) when the promoters should have been pulling together rather than appearing at odds and now they appear to be paying the ultimate choice.

Manzares was pretty poor when he last rode in Britain! Unfortunately most promotors prefer to use 4.00 foreigners than 3.00 Brits!

Traditionally 4 or 5 of us would travel up together With ore order , the dodgy weather and a general feeling of apathy that won't be happening The £100+ saved will keep us fed and watered as we watch and enjoy some pool and darts in Mr Beerhuts man cave instead

We can all be team managers onthe sidelines but at the end of the day the promotion stuck by the team that they announced last year which let the riders know that they at least had a team place fir this season. I’m the same as most people that want too see us at the top end of the league and if all the team had been firing on all cylinders I’m sure the team wouldn’t be far away. Form is everything I’m sure for the riders but there will always be bumps in the road. Jye has had a couple of big crashes already this year , NBJ had some mechanical issues away from home which could have changed some results if the engine hadn’t givin up. Danny is starting to put some decent scores away from home and Leon is having a superb season . Coty not being here causes issues but it’s nobody’s fault . A win is a win in my book . I’m just happy that we are getting too see meetings when some supporters aren’t . We just need to get behind the team and promotion.