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...

Loyalty is great to a point but a team which finished bottom and has won TWO matches all season needs some changes

Agreed

You know what frankly I'm not that bothered of we win the play offs or not. It'd be nice but for me the team that finishes first are the champions and the play offs are a different competition

Makes our home meeting tasty

Totally agree, both points. I'm not one for having a pop at the commentators because it's not a job I could do and I reckon it's much harder than it looks but...... ....why do they struggle so much with the format? It's the same every year. I know both meetings weren't great but they should be building the excitement. Tonight Russia had two heats left and could have made the run off and what did we get.... "that's the Russians finished..... ....oh no they've got another heat..... but that's a dead rubber" total rubbish. In fairness the Russians never looked like troubling the qualifiers but technically they could still have qualified. I know stats aren't everyone's cup of tea but they could do with having someone providing stats to prompt content rather than "I've seen him with his shirt off!!!" tbf that was quite funny.

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!

Now that I have remembered where this post was, Luke Crang did score in his 14th ride for Monarchs. The rider who also had 13 non-scoring rides before scoring was Mike McLuskey, a rider who was excellent on grass and who could have done better in speedway with a home track that wasn't as tricky as Powderhall.

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

And yet again a rider goes for a win that CANNOT POSSIBLY win the points needed for the TEAM. Buggering up the opposition so the U21 rider had a chance of breaking through was the right way. Back to the same mistake made by team GB years ago.

Probably more dirt with the dancing...

terrible ride from kai, should of slowed it up

Stand up, then...

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

It's a great little venue & offers some excellent racing. They have a very dedicated group of club members but have very tight restrictions as to when they can run speedway.

Clearly you are going by the result rather than the team tracked. You were missing the two Ben's and had Alfie Bowtell and James Wright as guests. Rory only scored 6, Stefan got 4+2. Charles Wright has the same average as Rory, 17 against Leicester last night and is normally good for double figures everywhere. Ruml scored 7+2(6) for Plymouth at Leicester only 3 weeks ago. One paper I would say you look stronger, just need to get out of the starts quicker than Leicester

Ignore the idiots and clowns John, anyone who is still a friend with English after all this is a joke. Instead of asking Rob to go on the mic maybe Keith could ask his mate English to go on the centre green and be interviewed by John and Granty.. that would be good

Leicester and Redcar could also get to 46 match points, but given the fixtures remaining and the race points difference I agree that Poole’s top spot looks pretty safe.

Newcastle 'off-night' is a Monday, which was last used in 2017 against Workington I believe. A think it was announced that if this Sunday was affected by weather, next Sunday would be used. The statement released after Sunday said that the individual meeting planned would not now take place. The fact there is a planned track walk after heat 15 would suggest that that'll be it, (for now anyway),,, also a heard that they've bought a big box of fireworks, (from Hector, hopefully).

This is about the fan funded club not an update in general.. Rob is leaving as he has had enough.

Ha, I love that this post is right underneath Bagpuss' one! Two opposing views

Why should it be up to you to update fans? Why can’t Rob Grant take the mic on Sunday and tell everyone where we are at ?

You don't need any extra staff for that, Just a 2 minute clock, Make the riders be ready when it gets to zero & most importantly a Referee strong enough to exclude a rider when their not ready at zero

A digital one, via their website and media outlets?

Unused fireworks and hot water available too.

I must disagree with this. Look at football, it's never off the telly and still gets good support. Even lower leagues get much better support than Speedway. Also other sports look at the Hundred in cricket etc etc. If TV coverage were handled properly then it would entice people to support a team and go to a live meeting.

Maybe. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....and tbh, I am utterly biased in this discussion having grown up watching Mort at Hyde Road. His World Final record is shocking. No arguments on that front. But doesn't really fairly reflect where he was at. Not many riders have a CV like this... World Pairs winner (as top scorer) World Team Cup winner (as top scorer) Intercontinental winner BLRC winner British Final winner 9 times in BL top 10 averages (six times with a 10+ average) 2nd most capped England rider ever, over 100 Seven times World Finalist note: I'd also say that all of the above where achieved when there was no dilution in quality in those events, which came later on Like Mort, I don't think you could ever say that there was a year when Adams, Crump, Moran or Knudsen were the best in the world. But his CV is at least comparable and arguably better than most of those names. And it's certainly better than Ashby or Schwartz.

It has been a steep learning curve for Flint having Berwick as his home track and then riding Monmore. I think he's been great since we signed him to replace Tom bacon and it would be great if we signed him on a premanent deal.

Dan finished ahead of Robert in both the SEC series and the GP challenge this year, so I'm not sure if it's fair to say he is well behind, unless you just mean in terms of GP experience.