Leaderboard

I was prepared to update like minded fans who are interested in saving the club as to where we are with coordinating a rescue package as requested by a previous poster to try and save the club which has nothing to do with Rob Grant but a tell ya what Keith poke it... you do it and while ya on get ya little pal English back because he done a great job didn't he... Rob Grant is leaving what do you want him to do get on the Mic and say just for you Keith am really really leaving... there are things going on behind the scenes that Rob isn't aware of and its English syncophants like you who have compounded the problem so either get with the programme and come up with something positive or shut your trolling hole and let some Speedway fans not suck holes try and save the situation... So here's the plan you get ya pension spent and take it on yourself ... I'll pay to watch from the terraces and then come on here and moan on about everything from the team the parking the programme the cost and the strength of the coffee and while all that is going on you run the effing club... Believe it or not there are some people behind the scenes trying to coordinate things so the club keeps going.... Regards THJ

Amateurs are the lifeblood of all other motorsports. They pay to race as their hobby. Their entry fees put money into the sport. It supports venues and industry suppliers. There is none of this in speedway. Club racing, well run, can provide a fulfilling day's racing for competitors of all levels. Entry fees, not ticket sales, sustain the clubs. Young riders get an opportunity to practice and develop. Older riders get a chance of competing on their own terms. A few, very few, make it to a level where they make money, or at least break even. If I was a youngster, I'd rather race motocross where I get more track time. All Britain's top racers in other disciplines started off in club racing, it's where talent develops. The whole concept of developing speedway as a professional product for the fans is flawed in my opinion. Develop the product for the riders, a mass of riders. Give them a product that's appealing, that they'd rather do instead of motocross, enduro or banger racing, and let that keep the clubs and venues alive. Venues who feel that they can offer a spectator led offering are, of course, welcome to do so. I can't see a future for speedway, but having a stable base at the bottom of the sport is critical. How can speedway attract new riders when there is essentially nowhere to practice? BTW, speedway is not the only sport in this position. Consumers have more choice now. Going to speedway was a big night out for me in the early 80s. Now I have so many other things wanting my dollar, and they almost always win.

Unlike fans of other clubs who in the past celebrated finishing top as winning the league title, Pirates fans understand that finishing top has no more kudos than being able to choose the opposition in a semi final.

Do you not think a press release was sufficient saying he’d had enough and was not willing to run next year? He also thanked the fans.

As a chap who spent far too much of his life from the age of 10 to his early 30s traveling all over supporting not only his team but speedway in general I find myself in despair! Throughout most my time as an active supporter the sport was slowly losing its way & losing customers. Towards the end of my time as a regular 2009/10 it had become noticeable worse. Now on the odd occasion I've been in the last 10 years every time I attended you can see that it's gotten worse. It really is now at a critical point. The reason for my despair is I'm now in my mid 40s with disposable income the type of ex fan who the powers that be should be trying to win back. However when I go I am severed up a product that is poorer than the last time I attended & if I'm lucky only a couple of missing riders. It still appears that even though there are thousands of unhappy customers on here those in power do nothing about it or worse still come across as having no interest in trying to! So looking at it 2022 will be another year of the same old same old with possibly 4 tracks having closed down. No doubt more will follow after 2022 it really is a race to the bottom!

They always try to attract new fans while alienating old ones, when, going on history, it's the old ones who introduce the new ones. Speedway is now like football matches at school, when teams were never constant as long as you had two sides. I can imagine wartime meetings were like they are now - make do with whoever wants to ride, let all tracks choose whoever is available. And they expect fans to build up a bond with a team of make-do riders that won't be there next year and... at this rate, nor will the track. It is a team sport first and foremost. Why does it feel like it's set up merely for the individuals? I don't trust the folks who run it here, either. For years they went on about losing so many thousands of pounds a match, but admitted they funded the losses from their own resources. And then we ask why the sport is in its worst state... ever. Even the 50s weren't like this.

This is all getting very personal and maybe the font of all knowledge should write an in depth, no holds barred synopsis of the wicked wrongs committed by the previous promotion. It would only carry any form of credence of course if it is was signed by the individual concerned in their own name rather than the insidious invitations to come and hear it in person as it really was.

Think about it, though.There are six standout nations in speedway at the moment; GB, Australia, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. GB are seeded to the final, which leaves three in one semi, and two in the other. Had Laguta and Sayfutdinov been riding tonight, that would have been a little different, but it's not like we have a dozen nations battling it out at the top...

Paperwork still at the Argentina embassy or something ?

After all the horse-sh!t spoken by Castagna over the last few years in the instigation of this event and his vacuous defence of all its manifest imperfections ... and then Italy cant even come up with an Under 21 rider tonight.

https://vk.com/video-19139906_456239824?fbclid=IwAR1umQIBz2k2OFtHmWL4zkBoYl4o561wopzGGlrk_VTKMb_bfWUtSBWyTlg

well. they could use this forum for starters plus they have their own website where views can be expressed. For me I want the prices lowered. The level should be 10/12 pounds and ways should be found to operate around that, not the other way around. McDonalds can't charge what they want for chicken nuggets, they have to operate within a market just as speedway has to operate within a leisure market.

You were obviously only watching the front of the races, even Bartosz Zmarzlik almost ended up in the fence on the home straight. Rubbish meeting on a terrible track, only good thing was it was finished in time to watch Redcar's stream - great meeting on a proper race track. Today can only get better with more teams in with a chance of qualifying

Maybe a post or poll or something similar could be started/posted for fans who are interested in the idea who may not be able to attend the speedway meeting( Covid,work commitments) or indeed not make it upstairs. Maybe people just commenting that they’re interested?

A bit harsh on Greaves,when your struggling losing money and having a sh#t time,riding a speedway bike can’t be much fun.

I feel the only ones having fun from current day speedway are the riders, who still have a great living from the sport. The punters aren't getting value for money. Matches contain line ups, not for serious league or cup rivalry, but more as a testimonial type thing. The riders can still have a great week, the matches they ride. I read a rider the other day, a rider I admire, saying he felt bad for inflicting defeat on another rider and stopping his maximum - because it's his team mate at another team! When you have so many team mates at other teams, surely the feeling by fans of being connected to that rider is one of the sport's problems, especially in the dwindling leagues.

No ex fan here Trees . Lawson, TJ, Kerr and mountain are mentioned. You can't be loyal to everyone other wise you will end up in the same boat again. We need to be more ruthless if we really want to try and win the league, not just when it goes ** up, but from the start. The fans have stuck by them this season. Give us something to shout about next season i say.

Good on yer THJ. Fingers crossed for Newcastle Speedway, where there’s a will there definitely is a way.

We got another evening of rubbish tomorrow, only one super strong team tomorrow so racing between the others might be interesting. Tonight, Czechia came equal last. They used to be better then that, but even Malik is a shadow of where he was 3 years ago, just when the shout was put him in the GP’s. Someone on here the other day was suggesting newcomers to the GP’s should be given 3 years to prove themselves. Yes, Milik would have added something to the GP’s - boredom.

Maybe so but if you want a future ......always look on the bright side of life? Any club/business, given the right management, can be transformed. So I'd like to think that someone will come in there & get things back on track

I was at Newcastle for the Poole & Plymouth double header and sincerely hope Newcastle is saved. One thing I don't understand is how negative all the media is surrounding this meeting and the future of Newcastle speedway. Just look at the headline in speedway star, Diamonds not Forever. There's not even a question mark at the end of the headline which I think is bang out of order! Talk about kick a club when it's down!

I believe Poole have several boxes left over somewhere from the year when Cov beat them.. Might be worth a call? Could get them very cheap...

Agreed

Nicely poised

But… George English nicest man in speedway isn’t he? Highly respected etc etc I hope he and his cronies are ashamed of the state they left the club in putting its future in doubt!

When I get somewhere I get a decent signal I will send you a PM or come and see me tomorrow and I can give you the full rundown Also if Mr Likeapost @Tsunami wants to pop along I can appraise him of the situation as well... Regards THJ

He rests his case.

You can say what you like. But it doesn't make you sound like anything BUT a miserble git, tbh

Can I just say that there are a lot of miserable old gits on here???

Still waiting for an answer.

Why? Surely you feel that the banter is better than the racing?

Looking forward to some actual racing as apposed to the snorefest that the SON has been over last 2 days!!

He never came alive all season never mind the playoffs. Been a decent visitor ever since.

I maybe late to the party but is there any obvious reason why last night's S-F had most of the stronger (I wont say strong because the quality of the riders in virtually all the teams is dire!) Countries in it whereas tonight's line up is an utter embarrassment to the sport?

Really need to scrap the TS rule, if it’s to keep meetings close then their should be no limit to how many you can have if you go 8 points behind, but if clubs cannot afford to do that then scrap it, let’s be fair it favours the top heavy teams with out and out no 1’s.

So, it's not just me that thought that? Thanks...

Monday afternoon 4pm-6pm. But you will regret watching it.

Elton John & Wayne Rooney have had there heads sorted

GUARANTEE'S TOP SPOT Glasgow can only match our 46 but can't overcome the For/Against that we av. But we'll beat Redcar next week at home anyway. Maybe we shud get the champagne out like King's Lynn did in 2018 for finishing top when they'd won NOWT.......but then maybe NOT! #piratepride C'MON THE PIRATES!

EoESg has issues but not the track. Looking forward to life without Dudek & visiting Gdansk for a festival of dull racing in 2022?

"just a little question why do riders lift their leg off the peg coming out of the bend s tonight it seemed to be causing them problems" I suspect their soiled pants are sticking to the seat!

Just caught up with this, some good racing, Bomber on fire. Dad's Army must be faves now.

Craig Cook would be a good number one.

Just watched that without actually knowing the result, described on the BSPA website as 'sensational' and after 2 laps I'm thinking they must have made a mistake! Outstanding ride from Harris.

Seems that Kerr is going to be in Stars team next season. According to Speedway Star .

many thanks TO Clean cut sports for uploading heat 13 of the Sheffield v Peterborough,as a speedway fan that is what speedway is all about ,and even the commentry was spot on , what was a sensational ride by Chris Harris.Speedway at its very best.

Then you surely mean ‘ former Peterborough promoter ‘ who watches at Redcar as he’s never had any formal connection to the Redcar club and neither has previous Newcastle promoter Phillips. I doubt ‘ The Gedfather ‘ of Peterborough has the funds to get involved again without a major backer like he had down south and from what I’ve heard of the current Brough Park landlords he wouldn’t want to get involved with such restrictions in place, and that’s supposing the landlords actually want speedway back.

Yes and opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one.

Dont really think it matters where they are from as long as the best are in it Or at the very least its 15 out of the best 20. What the GPs dont benefit from are riders like Bertzon and KK getting 1/2 points every time...

Riga for the SGP that was switched to Daugavpils at the last moment is the only track I have been to for a meeting that was not staged and subsequently I have yet to return. Apart from some UK tracks (most notably Belle Vue NSS) my first visits overseas to Landshut, Vastervik, Gorican, Avesta and Poznań were all rain offs but I subsequently went back. In the case of Landshut it took me 39 years though! I have seen some tracks where I didn’t actually see Speedway as there was not a scheduled meeting when I saw the track. These include Reading (Tilehurst) from a passing train and Western Springs (NZ).