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Unless you're a deliveroo rider... hang on... I've just had a thought 🤔

Didn’t think it was financial with the wording. Visa issues sums the state of this country up. Professional athletes here to work and pay towards the economy, trying to grow the sport are punished once again. Maybe they should just all start catching a dinghy from Calais in February?

Probably never find out the reason for the 7 day suspension. But if the comets pull through this, the main organisation body (bspa) may have made it worse, 3 clubs without a meeting a short notice, these meetings may then have to be rearranged, then you have fans who may have paid hotel costs to travel in the next few days, or like me, in the North East on way to berwick 2morrow, but at least I can enjoy the north east coast and the puffins . speedway shoots its self in the foot yet again !!

Did lewy sort it out 😁

I raise you... 😜😜

If the management have been blind sided as you suggest, then they shouldn't be management.

Where's Grant Henderson Tankers when you need them?

Not financially related, visa related. Poor statement from BSP

It's entertaining. If that's the only thing we can criticise, I think we're lucky. Given their resources, I think BSN put on a good show. At least they try to focus the camera on where the real race is happening, unlike TNT. This is the first year that I've subscribed, but it won't be the last.

For those who get the speedway star, my point about bikes going no faster these days despite the money spent is on page 23 and just to add heat 1 at Sheffield tonight is the same time as Hans Nielsen in 1985 at owlerton

These parts make me question a lot of riders who race over here on a visa. Especially thinking how can a Championship second string or reserve be "significantly contributing to the development of speedway at the highest level in the UK" Hopefully the home office don't pay any more attention to Speedway than they already do.

No i bet you were thinking 1st v 4th. however not so in 2025 At the end of the regular season the table is split in half. Top 4 into the play-offs and the top team choose who they want to ride against from 2nd, 3rd, 4th Winners meet in play-off final, losers fight it out in 3rd/4th place match all matches over 2 legs. Bottom 4 teams contest the play-down with 5th choosing who to ride against. The 2 winners are safe and finish 5th and 6th. the 2 losers contest the play-down final and the loser is relegated to Extraleague 2 in 2026. The winner is not safe as they have to meet the loser of the Extraleague 2 play-off final to see who rides in the Extraleague in 2026.

Everyone blaming anyone bar the Workington promotor… interesting.

God rest the Workington legends soul

King's Lynn will be embarrassed to not pick up the 3 points, it's an absolute must.

Same old lewy

If it is a visa issue, then they could have no choice but to prevent riders from riding with immediate effect. In the business I was in, we had to suspend anyone without the right to work immediately, or face a £28,000 fine per person.. And possible prison sentence for me!!!!😇 .... I would have been like Big Vern... "Ah'm doin' chokey for no man Ernie" "BLAM! BLAM!"....

Speedway riders, like other professional athletes coming to the UK, primarily obtain their visas through the International Sportsperson visa route (formerly Tier 2 Sportsperson visa). There's also the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5) for shorter stays, though the International Sportsperson visa is more common for full season engagements. Here's a breakdown of the process: 1. Sponsorship and Endorsement are Key: * Sponsor Licence: The speedway club or organisation employing the rider must hold a valid "sponsor licence" issued by the Home Office. This licence allows them to sponsor overseas workers. * Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Once a rider is offered a position, the sponsoring club assigns them a unique electronic Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This CoS contains details about the job, salary, and the rider's personal information. It's a crucial piece of the visa application. * Governing Body Endorsement: This is a critical requirement. The rider's application must be endorsed by the relevant UK sports governing body for speedway. This endorsement confirms that: * The rider is an elite sportsperson or qualified coach. * They are internationally established. * Their employment will significantly contribute to the development of speedway at the highest level in the UK. 2. Eligibility Requirements for the Rider: * Age: Must be 16 years or older. * Job Offer: A genuine job offer from an approved sponsor (the speedway club). * English Language: For stays longer than 12 months, riders usually need to prove their English language proficiency (e.g., by passing an approved test or demonstrating they are from an English-speaking country). * Financial Maintenance: The rider must demonstrate they have sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK (currently £1,270 in their bank account for at least 28 consecutive days). Alternatively, their sponsor can certify they will cover the rider's costs. * Tuberculosis (TB) Test: If the rider is from a country where TB testing is required, they will need to provide a certificate. * Travel History: Provide travel history for the last 5 years. * Valid Passport: A valid passport with at least one blank page for the visa. 3. Application Process: * Online Application: Riders apply for the visa online through the UK government's official website. * Document Submission: They will need to submit all required documents, including: * Valid passport. * Certificate of Sponsorship reference number. * Endorsement letter from the speedway governing body. * Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable). * Bank statements (or sponsor's certification of maintenance). * TB test results (if applicable). * Previous travel documents to show travel history. * Biometrics: Riders will need to provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) at a visa application centre. * Fees: There are application fees and an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which grants access to the UK's National Health Service (NHS). 4. Visa Duration and Extension: * The International Sportsperson visa can be issued for up to 3 years initially, or for the duration of employment plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. * It can be extended if the rider continues to meet the eligibility criteria. * After 5 years on this visa, riders may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) in the UK, provided they meet further criteria (e.g., continuous residence, salary requirements, passing the "Life in the UK" test). Important Considerations for Speedway: * Governing Body: The relevant governing body for speedway in the UK (e.g., the Speedway Control Bureau - SCB, or British Speedway Promoters' Association - BSPA, working with relevant sporting bodies approved by the Home Office) will be crucial in endorsing riders. * Loan System Impact: There have been instances in the past where the Home Office scrutinised how speedway's loan system impacted visa compliance, leading to some challenges for clubs and riders. Clubs must ensure they comply with all sponsorship duties. * Brexit: Since Brexit, non-UK riders (including those from EU countries) now require a visa to ride professionally in the UK, which was not always the case previously. This has added a layer of complexity and cost to bringing in overseas talent. The process is rigorous and requires careful attention to detail from both the rider and the sponsoring club to ensure all requirements are met. Many clubs and riders often seek assistance from immigration lawyers due to the complexities involved.

Rider bans don't stop meetings taking place do they?. Strange...

Is it a case that they need some home meetings to make some money before fulfilling any further away fixtures? Crowds across the country aren't helped by the gaps in the fixture list. People get out of the habit of going and find other things to do.

It was good while it lasted. Great track and facilities but hardly any home meeting then gaps of 2 and 3 week just aint going to work, people quite simpley find other things to do. One big league is the only way forward, unfortunately that looks like it will be without the comets

Very concerning. I fear speedway will be no more at northside soon. We should've been allowed to stay at NDL level for another season.

There has to be a reset on costs (for promoters and fans) soon if its to survive in anything like its current format Some tough decisions to be made i think but will they...

I'm a bit early I know, here are additional links for Gorzów v Wrocław later this evening: https://vk.com/video-53550004_456242268 https://vk.com/video-220089063_456247037

The frames are still made from the same crap steel they have always been, they have to be to flex, wheels still go round at the same speed they always have, they just lighter and not as strong, engines well apart from better conrods rods and titanium valves the rest of the parts are pretty much the same, they using billet heads instead of cast but it’s all in the name of going faster but facts don’t lie we’re not, yes tracks and silencers and tyres do play a part but the fact remains we are going no faster, I was reading this morning that in the national league at Birmingham in 2016 Lee smart went round Birmingham faster than anyone there last Monday, it’s not progress it’s money down the drain fueled by B/S that is pumped into the minds of riders looking for the next edge when in reality non take a step back to see if they been around long enough today they are not going as fast as they themselves used to, riders are literally peeing money up the wall to stay the same speed but the racing is no better but I believe you get more spaced out racing today than in the past, I would actually like to see someone try in race conditions a upright GM from the 90s v and laydown from 2000s v a today bike on different tracks with top riders on all 3 bikes, you say about reliability of the modern GM engine it lasts around an hour before the big end would start to break apart so they are changed around every 1/2 hour, this was a problem the GTR had, then big end pin started to break up and wasn’t caught because it wasn’t serviced every 30mins which was it’s selling point

The next Friday both clubs are available is 5th September. Given that Glasgow have to arrange this match (both Friday clubs), arrange the ko cup tie with Edinburgh (both Friday clubs) and arrange the BSN semi final against Redcar (both Friday clubs), could end up still racing in late October! Well done to Glasgow for offering a Saturday date, they're probably the one club who willingly change race dates more than any other.

Now off to the stadium to get my tickets 🎫 buy 3 for £42 and get 3 for free. Partner is going to bring some friends and family so I’ve almost doubled today’s attendance 😂😂😂

Are you from the Steve Shovlar school of trolling Your heat leader trio will outscore our heat leaders fairly comfortably I would imagine our 2 and 4 will outscore your 2 and 4 but not by many Then yes our reserves on paper look stronger but both carrying injuries Add in that Doyle and King are injured I will be happy to keep it to 10 Kurtz will get a maximum as his injury has pretty much made him invincible …. Only beat once or twice since it happened so certainly no excuses there

Ours is due to the forecast. 😆

Sh#t flying everywhere it seems.

Don't think most of them have heard of speedway to be honest

Meeting OFF

Please end it now🙄It's no fun anymore and hasn't been for a few years.How the f**k has it ended up with the Brummies being the biggest laughing stock since Mildenhall in 2008 who's TM at the time thought it was hilarious🙄🤬

Don't think it's a case of Sheffield being poor on the night, I just think Leicester are a very good side and R/R is making them even stronger. Howarth and Kemp have upped their game this year and Douglas is getting better, Masters returning to his old rock solid Wolves form backing up a proper No.1 in Fricke who's dialled in on every British track now.

Piraterna has more or less secured the funds needed and will continue this season.

That's the spirit

Think one of the biggest problems is speedway machinery. Even at amateur level it's either expensive especially to maintain or dreadfully unreliable. If you've a product that's more or less moto cross based machinery, most will do season after season with reasonably priced routine maintenance.

Just read this, complete shock. Whatever it is i'm pretty sure the management must have been blind sided. Like other Comets fans no doubt, I too have travel arrangements arranged/ hotels booked for 2 out of the 3 away meetings beginning with the visit to Shielfield tomorrow. Looks like I'll be smelling bird poo instead of methanol fumes as well now, not quite the same is it.

As a matter of interest, how was the evening weather at both tracks?

Krawczyk, style reminds me of Dave butt used to do training schools at belle vue early 80s.

Having been through the visa process in Australia and having first hand dealt with a new company that had to get a sponsor license to sponsor foreign workers, I couldn't agree more.

But is it any wonder? It must get rather boring for the Lublin fans having to watch runaway wins in their home meetings. This team is way too strong and this is not good for the Ekstraliga, really.

There seems to be a reluctance by most Clubs too run on their off day these days. When you run 3-4 weeks without a fixture it’s obvious the season will not shortened even with only 9 Clubs.Nothing changes though same old problems at the end of every season.

from memory it was oddly v Leicester in 2023! outcome was the same as well a Leiceter win which could have been much bigger!

That's before you get onto the semi funded public sector pension Liabilities, re student loans hundreds of millions have been fleeced by Romanians over recent years, the other legal fiddle is mature students who realize they can work part time and manipulate income down to max out on the living costs loan, equally if your a mature student living on your own you can potentially get council tax down to zero for three years. You then finish the course and so long as you make sure you never earn over £28,500 gross per annum (increasing by inflation) again (you can pay any excess above £28,500 into a pension) you never pay a penny of the loan back. So work two day per week go to Uni for the other time (1-2) days per week get a tax free living loan and spend your days in beer gardens, you can see why so many are doing it.

Link http://video.ucoz.lv/index/live_stream/0-5 normally 2nd screen

Link for todays 2 matches` http://video.ucoz.lv/index/live_stream/0-5 normally 2nd screen

Average UK salary £3,410 Average Polish salary £1,540 So you can double that £7... still good value though, shows how much we're paying over here to make up for the lack of numbers.

It’s true. PGE are massive there is no denying and the sponsorship money heavily outweighs the gate money. Also everyone should remember that local councils have a set budget for sports to help out, normally 50% speedway / 50% football, I know Gorzow is more like 65/35 due to stal being far greater than stilon. Our councils can’t sort out the roads and day to day running so no chance they would help out our speedway. I know Thurrock and Essex and soon Cambridge councils will all be in heavy debt even with the government funding. Goes back to the root of the people… too many people in the country illegally or people sponging off the government from other peoples hard earn tax.

The sport need an independent governing body more than ever, someone who makes the rules for the competition and the bikes and then promotions and riders join up knowing where they stand, in the case of the riders and their bikes, the independent body say the bikes must have a square wheel( silly analogy) then the riders and tuners can scream all they like but that’s the rule and if you don’t like it go do something else