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Very emotional night here in Bordeaux, I may have Indulged in a glass or two. to say I’m proud is an understatement, thank you all for the lovely messages. Jon xx

It's a tough one, there will be some supporters like me who just won't be attracted by NDL level Speedway. I'm fortunate in that I live centrally so have the pick of quite a few tracks to attend, but I've never been to a Leicester Cubs match, it has absolutely no appeal to me what so ever, much like when I used to follow the Bees, the Storm had no appeal. If Leicester were to run just NDL only I would not attend. If I lived in a different part of the country I would be looking to attend my nearest "professional" club but probably on a less frequent basis. When the Storm tried to continue at Leicester it was pretty much a disaster

With such little respect for the BSPL, its secretive decision making and aversion to transparency, who would scrutinise the scrutineers. Giving wage responsibility to them is the equivalent of asking the Communist Party to manage the Bank of England.

Riders such as Aaron Summers, Edward Kennett, Matthew Wethers, Simon Lambert, Ashley Morris and others manage by riding in just one league. Riders need to realise that unless you are at the top, then speedway is not a full time living. Back in the 1960's and 1970's when crowds were much higher, only the top riders were full time.

Very fair point. When Eastbourne won NDL/KOC a few years I was just as happy as if we'd won the top league. It really doesn't matter what league you're in as such, as there is no promotion/relegation, you just try and win that league. The moral of the story is stay in the league that won't bankrupt you!

time for Britain to get more involved in staging SEC and GP qualifying rounds in addition to age group championships

Agreed 100%. But I think Kyle Howarth deserves a mention too. He also represented (quite well I thought) your good selves and my temporary team in Leicester

Its quite clear that Eastbourne buiness model is not working .

They'll have to get a job, like riders used to do, in the good old days.

I think it's clear that for many teams the "old NDL" level was perfect . Clubs who only get crowds of around 400 to 800 as an average, would be far better running at that old NDL level.. Paying some "old heads" a few quid extra, and the same to any lads who decide "I am quite happy at this level" even if the "powers that be" are not happy that they dont move up into the top two leagues... A top two leagues that are dont forget 90% the same, so as contrived, as contrived could be.. The NDL always seemed to the best ran, as well as offered the best value for money, as whenever I watched it the racing was very good due to the majority of all riders being not a million miles away from each other in ability.. And you could often audibly hear the young lads under their helmets celebrating as they got off the bike after winning a race, or cursing as they finished last, which showed how much it cared to them.. I could watch the Colts at the NSS for £10 for me and my lad pre Covid or pay £33 to us to watch the Aces.. Needless to say my "live Speedway fix" invariably meant a Colts visit, rather than an Aces one.. The fundamental problem that exists is that, "Moving up a league" means absolutely nothing in Speedway given you can pick and choose what leagues to race in, therefore I fail to see why some promoters see this as some kind of advancement or aspiration and risk their comfortably working business model... The fans dont see "moving up" as anything "exciting" as they know that the top two leagues carry no "Wow Factor" in winning, and, no disrespect, but there are hardly any 'superstars' going to visit your circuit that will bring those extra fans so needed to be sustainable in.. And you put your prices up to pay for the added costs, which is never a good idea when customers dont see any tangible difference in what you offer... I would suggest that whether those in charge like it or not, the sustainable level for the majority of clubs in the UK nowadays is the "old NDL level" or, maybe, at a push, "Championship Lite"...

most of the racing was better than than the gp this year

I wonder what the reaction would be if we went with Ellis and Bewley in the SON. They might not win it, but they'd have a damn good go. Normally, I would go with Woffinden and Lambert but, in Adam and Dan, there are now a couple of riders who would benefit a great deal from riding in it and I'm sure they'd be competitive.

Must admit, for my moaning about Lambert being in there I thought he gave a fantastic account of himself. Great win for Ellis, was fantastic on the night! Such. A shame we don’t have the proper world team cup still in place he’d be a shoe in alongside Bewley for the final 2 places. The only downside as always was the coverage, Pearson too busy telling us all that Ellis had rolled and talking about his mates to bother noticing what was happening. Rowe nearly had King 2/3 times in one heat and all that was mentioned was about how king needed points! Yawn.

Just got back from the track, watched couple of heats, along with the cock up with the heat lineups, why every time the riders go down home straight do they switch to 2 stationary cameras on start line, must have missed so many overtakes down straight into first bend, just use the main camera and follow them round!

That statements just fluff tbh, tells nobody nowt

Try telling that to Max Clegg who rode outside Wright in every ride and did it with speed and NOT going backwards. It was one of the best close meetings we have had, given the away side that was built to be strong, and we ride without a heat leader and have done all season. It was a classic case of David and Goliath, but Goliath got twitchy as the pressure was more on them, given their expectations and expense. Oniy one rider, a guest, from the Diamonds was guilty of a tapes infringement, whilst just about every race a Tiger was guilty including other heats like Heat 1 when a Tiger jumped, but was not punished. Make meetings like that every week, and we could be packed every week and I readily acknowledge the tremendous effort Tigers put into their racing.

If any Eastbourne riders leave and head to Glasgow I would put money on that being Tom Brennan heading up the M6

maybe, just maybe, one day the penny will drop. Funny how Glasgow are the rich guys now when for years they clung to life. All tracks need each other and all will have their ups and downs, even Poole went ** up once. Needs to be pitched at the poorest track or the whole thing will collapse. Tim Swales said that donkeys years ago

Age old story in British Speedway, couple of teams paying silly points money and others follow suit without sustainable revenue to match. Hopefully Eastbourne can find a short term fix, but like Newcastle & Birmingham longer term prospects sound bleak!

The model of paying out more than you're bringing in never works in any walk of life

Heat 3 was a cracking race when Steve Worrall went off 15 and for the following reason... not one pass in the whole race yet you could have thrown a blanket over the four of them going over the line... the two diamonds were knocking on the door pushing Jensen all the way from both inside and out but neither Clegg nor Wright could switch off either with Worrall keeping both of those two on their toes and honest... good to watch and not a pass made... Plus that Ludvig outside line is coming back and a few of the guys are having the confidence to go out wide as they are now getting something out of the track and that also builds on the excitement and the quality of racing and I can remember numerous passes in that meeting... all of the Newcastle team came to the party even the guest eventually and it was a thoroughly enjoyable meeting... to which Glasgow and the referee played their parts in contributing to the entertainment... Regards THJ

But if the wages at Eastie are double of those at other clubs then the Math still wont add up will it... not that I know what Eastie are paying just to say that if the income doesn't exceed the expenditure than you end up in the Red.... Regards THJ

Ian has just confirmed that he has not left and there will be a factual statement released tonight. He has also stated that whilst there are known cash flow issues, everybody will be paid their money. Lets wait for the statement, as he has also said that lots of the rumours are inaccurate.

Honestly What you need are promoters who can mange a budget; build your team to suit your income its not hard; Eastie have 3 very good heat leaders who don't come cheap and the rest of the team will be at a premium too... If you get on average 800 fans through the door its no good building a team that needs 1000 fans to pay for it (unless you promote and encourage the extra crowd through the doors)… Barcelona may get away with having 103% cost against income and get away with it but unless you get a benefactor/promoter who is prepared to inject the cash difference in the 800/1000 ratio in the required numbers the figures are not sustainable... Its the nutters who are running the sport who are ruining it... Maybe the Isle of White have the right idea and kick the BSPL into touch to save costs and all it will need are a few teams to pull out of the BSPL to start a league built more on Armature guidelines... the BSPL will tinker round the edges push this ridiculous "Curry Star" "Rising Star" rating system next season to try and force more young (Cheaper) kids in at the bottom end to try and save money and its becoming an absolute joke... First off do away with that "Top" league as there is nothing Premier about it; make Mondays and Thursdays the main race nights; and if any clubs cant or wont do those days and want to be in a lesser league stop the top 30 or so averaged riders from "Doubling Down" stop the bottom 30 riders with averages of less than 4 in the upper league or 6 in the second tier from doubling up and only allow the riders who are in the middle of those averages the opportunity to double up/down. This will ensure the strength and quality in the upper tier with clubs who can afford it and it will restrict the damage of high wage riders being utilised in the lower tier which will ensure evenly matched sides and stop promoters in this lower tier trying to chase the glory and bringing in riders that the crowds just will not sustain financially and "blowing their brains out"... Cut a rider and go to six man teams possibly to save money? but at least make sure that the kids in the NDL or any rider for that matter has as a minimum an average of 6 that will convert to a 2 in the middle tier. Currently there is no disparity between the leagues and the teams in both leagues are becoming discernible from each other the championship is just a pseudo Premiership (or vice versa)… it is an absolute joke really and there is nothing else to describe what is going on... it needs to be as level a playing field as possible between teams if you want to see competitive racing and to be fair with the riders that are left in the UK that is becoming difficult as there aren't enough to go round to get a difference in/between the current leagues... Regards THJ

The majority of clubs can't afford to pay 'full time' riders anymore. Soon there won't be a shortage of riders, they'll be a shortage of tracks.

Soon we will need to test if the riders wouldn’t make it pay.Minimal doubling up has to be introduced to make the sport Credible as a Team Sport.

Interesting comments from Ben Barker in the Speedway Star re how the 2nd tier is "too strong" given so many top tier riders now double up and ride in it... Which is making the costs to compete far too high for some 2nd tier tracks.. A very fair point.. Several pages later Ben says how delighted he is to get a place at Kings Lynn...

It's not Lambert and Woffinden's fault that our league is such a poor product nowadays, they base themselves in Poland to ride in the best league and to make good money. Bewley and possibly Ellis will probably follow suit as their career trajectories go up and up, riders don't want all the travel backwards and forwards and prefer two race days as well as World Championshop commitments. World class riders will outgrow what we have over here because its been managed so badly over the last 20-30 years and I would never blame any British rider for cutting the UK out of their schedule.

So Jadon Sancho shouldn't have been picked for England during the time he played for Borussia Dortmund? Nonsense. If you're English you're English no matter where you ply your trade.

You pick your best riders... If that's Woffinden and Lambert then they ride... The sport in the UK needs as much publicity as it can get so a SON win, in the UK, will give it some of that much needed publicity.. If Bewley and Ellis both qualify for the GP's though then I would think the selectors have some thinking to do... But as it stands, given both Woffinden and Lambert more than hold their own at the very top of the sport in Poland, the GP's and the SEC, then they will be, quite rightly, in pole position.. As that experience of riding at the very top level week in week out will inevitably give them an edge.. Be good to see Ellis get a Polish top league position next year as I think he is as near as damn it ready, and a GP slot will make the top tier over there take notice without a doubt... Pity he doesn't ride in the SEC too, as that will give him exposure to those who make the big decisions in Poland.. Riders like Zagar, C. Holder, Bjerre, and Lidsey are all similar in standard to him... And,, as seen last night, so too is Dan Bewley.. (Although in a completely different environment from racing in Poland with all the pressures to perform granted).. Its just good to have four riders either already at world level, or getting very close to it...

It’s all about decisions isn’t it, they both decided not to ride in the U.K this year So I can understand the BSPL not including them in anything they organise, personally I wouldn’t include them in the SON or anything else for which the ACU/SCB get allocated places for, like the World and European Championships etc. British places should go to riders who race in the U.K.

Well done to Adam Ellis British Champion representing Sheffield tonight. Brilliant and well deserved

Too many camera changes during a race, in my opinion.

What idiot decided to show us the line up at the tapes from the rear?

What a race, didn’t know if Richard Lawson, Steve Worrall, Richie Worrall or Steve Lawson was going to win it lol

One change can be up to the average of the rider replaced. Multiple changes means bringing the new team total under the appropriate points limit (38 in Glasgow’s case as they have a 3* Rising Star).

Newcastle bring in Ricky Wells and Alfie Bowtell as guests for Matty Wethers and Archie Freeman respectively. Back to a 4pm start time this week. Gates open at 3pm. Tickets for this Sunday's meeting are available online at www.trybooking.co.uk/BFGG or you can pay at the turnstiles.

isn't it Dave's job to inform you what teams you are watching? @Dave Goddard not doing his job?

But how much of what a rider earns goes straight out of the sport to engine tuners etc. All of these Formula Ford riders are trying to maintain Formula 1 kit and the whole sport in this country suffers for it in more ways than one.

Rather not see either of them again this season

Is he not making Cider with their lad Henry?

THJ hits the nail on the head, the promotors are paying the riders unaffordable wages, financial packages, call it what you will. With Covid disrupting the sport for so long , there was an opportunity to regroup and re cast budgets for the benefit of the entire sport. Nope all guns blazing we launch back into the same sport with a greater cost base (PPE and segregation rules) and paying riders more than can be afforded. The solution is simple, but almost impossible with the present bunch of "promoters" who are all hell bent on winning the "p.offs" at any costs. There needs to be a gentlemen's agreement by promoters on the maximum pay for teams in the respective leagues. its nigh on impossible for in my opinion they are not gentlemen) People shout " they will circumvent the rules via sponsorship deals". I say as long as the club isn't paying out their money for the "sponsorship" deals" then let the riders take their chances with sponsorship. No, they will cheat, bend and manipulate any rules agreed - as has been proven over and over again. One example was back in the day of the 2nd division being kept for UK riders only, by gentlemens agreement. One club broke the rule threatening all sorts of legal action the floodgates opened and opportunities for young UK riders in the second tier dried up. There will always be one renegade who is willing ot flout any gentlemans agreement. .

Hey… after Saturday evening, even I can’t moan Lets see how we do at Kent and Brum though

Definitely. I would think his Poole sponsors would insist on it!!!

My big hope is that the 3rd tier is allowed to govern itself once more. All promotions who have a team in the league get a say and all those that don't can bugger off. Let those who are affected by the decisions make the decisions and hopefully allow a fuller and more prosperous league to flourish. Yes fans clamour for higher league racing but they clamour for a team to support more and id happily wager that Eastbourne, Kent, Brum, Newcastle supporters would much rather turn out and support their NDL team (with all the balanced and exciting racing that goes with it) than no speedway at all. Dare i say it but could a breakaway league even occur? If the powers that be aren't going to get behind clubs and address the problems then perhaps the calls for more radical action are growing.

I just picked a very recent player in that position to validate my point. There are countless players and sports people who don't ply their trade in their home country, so why single out speedway riders? It's a very weak argument, full stop.

Whoops I burped!

Kyle rode very well aswell. Shame he had the fall. He seems more aggressive this year and I think that might be because his shoulder is stronger and he’s not trying to protect it as much as he had previously. Hope both lads keep up their form for the rest of the season.

The British final tonight was a good advertisement for Speedway. Some really good racing and the riders entertained the crowds. Far better than any league meeting I've seen this year.

And there is the issue.. It tries to be the second option but fails by a long way.. And all down to its very own operating model, that they seem to want to protect come what may. Regardless of all evidence that it simply doesnt cut it.. Several countries over the years have been successful from a world class rider perspective without a "league system" eg's. USA, Australia, and New Zealand.. With their operating model in those countries being very much a full evenings entertainment, allied to serious racing, as well as showcasing other types of motorsport and covering all age groups... The riders that become "too good" within this system then moved to Europe (ironically the UK at that time given it was the "Elite" of all leagues).. But those days are gone, hence some now go direct to Poland and Sweden to seek their improvement to the next level.. Whatever UK Speedway currently is, it simply "isn't working", if you take so many "cries for help" as a barometer, so whatever it decides to do, "doing nothing" can't be an option on the table surely? It missed a golden opportunity during the Covid lockdowns to reinvent itself, be innovative, and set out a brand new operating model fit for a 2021 audience.. Instead it came back with the "same old, same old" that has been around for 90 years or so... Apart from dismantling the NDL model which appeared to work for a fair few clubs... Got to give them that, they did action some change there...