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I've said all this before but it is still very relevant. The Louis/Godfrey vision of the 3rd Division is a novice League full of wobblers, no experienced riders and no standalone tracks which is so far from it where it needs to be in reality. Also forget about the pairs half hearted and aborted "British Junior" League. In 2021 the gap between the 3rd Division and the 2nd Division was way too big which is a major stumbling block to riders trying to make their way up the ladder unless as Barry Bishop stated they are exceptional talents that would have made it whatever system was in place. See this is where Chris Louis (like his father before him) doesn't "get it" cause he was an exceptional rider who became an 8 point 2nd tier rider after only one season. What British speedway has lacked since the 90's and it was in decline then was numerous British 1st tier and 2nd tier league journeymen, guys who wern't ever going to be World Champions but were regular, loyal servants to teams and being home grown local people took more interest in going to their nearest track. I saw this first hand from first watching at the Firs Stadium Norwich then the 1970's halcyon days at Ipswich, King's Lynn and Mildenhall. Locally based competitors is major reason why stock car racing is more popular in East Anglia than what speedway is. The 3rd Division has over its various guises since its 1994 formation been a less choppy water for new tracks to test the water, former tracks to reopen and tracks struggling in higher Leagues to run at a financially viable and competitive level. This is what disappoints me about Rob Godfreys stance on the 3rd tier cause he only reopened Scunthorpe (an area that struggled to run viable speedway in the 70's and 80's )in the 00's when it offered the beforementioned values. The likes of Birmingham and Eastbourne only kept going a few years ago because the 3rd tier was in place and offered a viable set up. Mildenhall I doubt would have ever reopened to speedway had the 3rd Division not been around. At this moment in time I suspect more than half the current teams running in the Championship struggle to be viable and would be better suited to racing at a cheaper amateur level. The 3rd tier doesn't need to be turned into a complete novice League because you already had successful junior Leagues below it in the well run Midland and Northern Junior Leagues to cater for novice riders. Experienced 3rd tier journeymen riders who won't ever make the regular step up to higher League like Luke Priest was in the past and Connor Coles is shouldn't be blocked from riding in the League if they wish to race cause they will provide better learning opportunities for newcomers racing against them than just racing against fellow novice riders and can provide good racing. Obviously there should be limits on the number of "old hands" in 3rd tier teams but wiping them out completely would be counter productive. What needs to happen is the top 2 Leagues merge into a bigger top flight at a level slightly better than the current Championship while those 2nd tier clubs that can't make it pay to drop down into a new 2nd tier that is at a level inbetween the current Championship and National League. Then 2 Junior Leagues below this level called the Northern League and the Southern League be formed organised in a similar way to what the well run Midland and Northern Leagues were.

That should get rid of Sheffield, Ipswich and Wolves then All tracks have a night they like to ride on, its the night the fans are used to attending, when they get the highest gate, look what happened to Rye House when they swapped nights to suit what league they were in

We did find the champs bar and had a few pints and some good chat with the locals. In fact it was me who shout "Yes you did" when Stevie Worrall talked about winning the Cup in 2014 with the Monarchs, in fact he won the treble that year. It's always good at Poole with some good racing unfortunately mostly Monarchs getting passed. Our heat leaders appeared to have ran out of steam a bit at the end of the season, that's the first time all year we've lost a 5-1 in heat 13 and 15. In the league match it was 3-3 and then 1-5 so we were capable of better. Best team over the 2 legs won and deservedly so. It is great to see large crowds at the speedway at Poole just a shame with all the matches getting crammed in we couldn't get decent travelling support for either leg or even a more deserving size of home support at the Edinburgh leg. We were intending staying for the Friday evening match as well but were back up the road early after the postponements. For the Monarchs it has been a decent season with some really good moments and some fgreat performances but a winter to think of what might have been and roll on 2022.

You’re very much mistaken; I have no problem with my anti-Poole stance.

Sad news. Did wonder when wasn't around as much last few years. Forever grateful for what done for our club. RIP

But you are saying you know they don't know when intact your don't know if they know or don't know which means you are pretending to know they don't know which is something your can't know whether you really know or don't know

Thanks for that Scotchopper. Steve and I would have come and said hello if we had known who you were. Thanks for the kind words. At least you were gracious in defeat and an honest assessment of the two legs overall. It's a pity that a certain Mr Jan Andersen couldn't bring himself to be more pleasant. Hope to get up to Armadsle next season as Steve and I were on the Northern tour in the summer when we had that horrendous weather. See you hopefully next season.

I very rarely want a Glasgow win however would like to see them come out on top.

It’s not that difficult.

That is something that has been disscused and is being looked into

Great rider who will continue to improve in 2022 but why would Edinburgh release their asset to ride for a League rival?

A very good Sir Humphrey impression 10/10

Michael Lee didn't take to it too well either in a Test Match v the USA I seem to remember...

Think you'll find all riders rode abroad back in the day - but the main difference being British speedway was comparable money wise to Europe and if not the number of meetings made it worthwhile back then - Now unfortunately British speedway is third or fourth in payment terms so as we know Poland now means increased monies, sponsorship and opportunity, Sweden paying more per point why would you ride in the UK.

Glasgow still have them.

Ronnie did give Glasgow a loan of his haps, I don't think it's the first time either.

Lol, I was thinking that but guilty of doing it on others threads!

Keep digging

Don’t you worry about Jan Anderson, Steve. He’s an Edinburgh supporter. They’re a cold lot. The Glasgow jocks will give you a warm welcome. But, by the way, it’s Irn Bru

One of the most imaginative venues you could find for Speedway. In a clay park with an adjacent lagoon, the refs big bus and a cracking racing track. The magic was ramped up when late on in the evening the mist used to descend to above the track level, and it just looked like a film set. Magic venue with fans to match.

take a day off from being a idiot every day if it's possible

Thought Edinburgh had their own Edinburgh 2022 post to discuss their team. We'll have to start charging you lot rent!

Such as?

I, also, heard whispers of our possible team for 2022 at our last home meeting & SD is not far off with his with a couple of herrings in to throw others off track. If it is true, then it is a team that should do well at home & trouble others away.

The Russian league struggled along with 3 teams in 2015 and 2016. Maybe the BSPL could check in with them for some guidance

Don’t think so.

Thanks Steve. I've replied.

Every team is building with the knowledge from discussions that go on most weeks. No headstart at all

To be fair I think he needs all the help he can get.

ah don't you just love the close season and speedway rumors josh will be back at Edinburgh in 2022

I'll be there if some meetings are arranged for 2022 send it will help to keep the fan base together.

Nicholls is riding the best he has for years. I'd have him over a couple of those named as he's leader and lower average

I'd hazard a guess it is 4.94. His 17 fixtures from this year (Ave 5.28), plus his last 3 from 2019 (from which he only scored 2 points). http://www.gbspeedway.com/2021/teamstats.php?mc1=s&mc2=ta&mc3=av&mc4=Birmingham Brummies&team=Birmingham Brummies&league=B&comp=CMA&avtype=av

Yes I agree, I amended my reply because of my mistake, I read it wrong. For some reason not all teams have new averages.

Oh well have to use Zach which is a good thing I think, he is a better rider than Jack Thomas in my opinion.

Erik did indeed have some issues adjusting to the new rules. He was quite the expert at the tape nudging...A viewing of the 1984 World Team Cup final, when FIM rules still allowed it when British rules were a bit more fuzzy, would confirm that I seem to remember going to the BLRC in 1984 hoping to see Erik win, only for him to be excluded for tape touching in a race off for the title with Morton and Nielsen

Erik does indeed hold the Wembley track record. I can't remember which race he broke it in but it definitely wasn't his first race...He lost that one to Bruce In that meeting, which was his first World Final, he also finished last in what should have been his easiest race of the night (against Muller, Ross and Dryml) due to a mechanical problem. If he had won that he would have finished on 14 and either been 2nd or in a race off for 1st. I add those options as Bruce knew 14 was enough to win when he did his last race. If he had needed the win, it's hard to think that he wouldn't have got it given what he had done that night...even though his last race was against Carter Interestingly, Erik's World Individual Final career also ended with an 11 point score and 4th place, losing to the eventual winner in his first race and having a mechanical problem in his third race, just like at his first final at Wembley. He had an exceptional record in World Finals, but it would have looked even more exceptional without those two mechnical problems. Having said that, and to answer your question about how he would have stacked up relative to Hans...I'm not sure that Erik had plans for much more time at the top level. I seem to recall reading that he had been thinking about retiring from British speedway after 1989 anyway, with the plan to just be racing in the Danish and Swedish leagues. Obviously things are very different now, but it's hard to imagine that he would have been a major contender in the next few years without racing in the British league back then... Then again, he seemed to be a man for the big event rather than the regular grind of league racing, so it's not impossible to imagine he could have repeated his Bradford win in 1990 and then his Ullevi win in 1991 as well....

Yet the season ticket holders and riders are still out of pocket?

There's been a couple at Owlselbury, near Winchester this year and already one planned there in April. Kent has quite a few tracks, GTSA run near Frittenden and have applied for next years Masters, probably run a couple of more meetings as well. Astra have announced they'll run the Champion of Champions at Swingfield in September. Frittenden Club, in my opinion one of the best clubs with one of the best tracks in the country, usually run the Battle of Britain in May, Summer Pairs in July and the Frittenden Flyer in September. Club level meetings but because the track's so good always get a fantastic entry. All these meeting should be worth watching.

To be fair, crowds were getting gradually smaller for the past few seasons. That particular year, the promoter alienated virtually everybody there to the extent that seasoned regulars stopped going, hence impossible to continue. Have to run on Fridays, make sure you can run at a sustainable level and go from there. Anything else would be madness.

Told me exactly the same. He's proven to be a very good rider and a smashing person but last year never really worked for him. Shame because he's a lot better than we saw and he was as frustrated as anyone.

Re Hotel prices In all major sixties AROUND THE WORLD hotel prices are always high whenever there is a popular event in the area. It’s not just a speedway thing, it’s everything that’s popular. We have started holidaying in the uk air stays at Premier Inn, good quality rooms, good service, usually next to a pub with food so breakfast/evening meal sorted (extra), clean and tidy. We last stayed in Premiere for a week in July this year in Norfolk and it cost circa £240 FOR THE WEEK. Broken down, some nights were dearer then others. I gather there are nights during the week more popular with reps, and weekends (Fri/Sat) are usually more expensive. Even today Premiere, and similar managed chains, are advertising rooms at circa £32-£35 per night in big cities…… but not when a big event is on. They know sports fans, pop fans, concert fans, major conference goers etc will pay bigger prices, and these make up for the bargain prices to be had during the year, people will pay 3 figure sums for one or two night special events, but don’t want to pay 4 figure sums for a mum, dad, two kids week long break. It’s how the hotel trade goes, and it is generally acceptable (though painful).

To put things in perspective, during Oxford’s last season in the premier league, their home match against Swindon had an attendance of around 500. 200 of them were from Swindon. There was simply no appetite for Speedway at Crowley. The new promoter must ask him/her self, ‘ What has changed?’

Champs bar under main Grandstand, hope you found it!

Lets hope the Isle of Wight format can be rolled out at other tracks too. While not a replacement for speedway it's an excellent opportunity for part time riders to race use their equipment and possibly get paid. Well done to the promoters for taking such a bold step.

If the promotion at Oxford are considering a return straight into the top flight then the authorities need to be alerted as there is a lunatic on the loose. I certainly hope they are not being coerced by the mafia into a league on which they will have no say on the rules just so the "established" teams have some more numbers for their elitist league.

Thank you once again to @racers and royals for the invaluable information you have provided in this thread and all the others you update with videos, fixtures etc, very much appreciated.

That would be good. It’s a racers track but not too big.

wouldn't be surprised if it's at Glasgow

Zenon was a legend at Hackney and I am devastating by this news. He was fearless on a bike and a gentleman off it. One minute on the line the next up on the fence. Amazing rider. I got to know him well during the run up to the Hackney reunion in 205 when I had the absolute privilege of him staying with me for a week. How many sports top riders integrate with fans (at least from that era) to that extent as speedway. More recently I was a guest at his meeting in Gdansk and was privilege to be invited to the after party where we once again regaled tails of the good old days. The last time I saw him was the day I flew home from that meeting where I delivered a letter to him from his old mate Barry Thomas. His smile whilst reading it lit up the room and it is that picture that I will remember. RIP Zenon and thanks for all the excitement you gave a 9 year in 1976.