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I remember when I was involved in the junior speedway scene back in the 2010's and know exactly what you're talking about. Robert Lambert and Max Clegg always turned up with top equipment and looked the part. They could get away with that because they were good. It was obvious Lambert was going to something special. Then we had other kids turn up thinking they were the next Darcy Ward or Tai Woffinden with the attitudes to go with it. You could say all the gear and no idea. One lad who I won't name thought he was gods gift to speedway (apart from he wasn't that good at all and struggles in the MDL) I witnessed him having a right old hissy fit at his dad one time and throwing things around in the pits. I was thinking if I was his dad I'd be giving the little sh*t a good clip round the ear and be selling his equipment the next day.

It's very easy to say a 2 pointer isn't doing well enough, but much harder to suggest a replacement who will do better. Which you've shown by suggesting a 5 point rider to replace him lol!

And therein lies an issue with any UK kid that looks a modicum better than average... I have seen him and Rushen described as potential superstars... Let's see if they can beat average rising stars regularly first... At 16, the very top riders in the world were beating heat leaders in their respective top divisions, so let's not pile pressure on these lads should they show some ability higher than most of their UK peer group... Because, with all due respect, Dan Thompson apart, that group isn't the greatest standard, and Div 2 second string level will be an achievement for most of them....

That’s no excuse having a track prepared like that abomination tonight.

High fiveing the fans, something that happens all the time in Sweden and Poland. Cost nothing, but gets greater interaction with the fans

There’s a positive update in the speedway star about the situation, including an interview with Steve Lawson. It’s free to read in the digital version online https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/129454/spread/2 Lawson was keen to put some of the rumours to bed and set fans' minds at ease, believing that the matter would be resolved within a few days and racing will be able to resume imminently. He said: "I had a quick look on the Forum and people were saying 'they've run out of money', this, that and the other, but I can state that it's not financial. "It's a clerical error at our end, and speaking to Andrew (Bain) it's pulled the rug from under his feet. But it will be resolved, hopefully within the next four days, that's what we're planning. "We got the message from the BSPL on Friday and there was no time to get things changed round. Lawson added: "It's unfortunate that we had to let Berwick down, and Oxford on Wednesday and Redcar on Friday, that's what has upset Andrew, that we're letting people down. "I've no doubt it will get sorted, it's just the way it's happened and the timing of it is really awkward. But we want to put people's minds at ease and say it isn't financial, it is nothing to do with that."

Anyway can we get back to Workington, if we need to discuss the sport can we start another topic

Looking at the back page of the Speedway Star a similar set up to Isle of Wight or Workington. Decent race track and minimal facilities that can be added when needed or sponsors allow. The beauty of AFC Wimbledon is that they gain a number of sponsors because of the "Community Club" appreciate that speedway doesn't have the same catchment or fanbase but if they can tap into that goodwill - at least there are possibilities. Fingers Crossed and wish them well.

The one single thing that poole do is they categorically race on the night that suits them, have for years. Other sides do too an extent but they chop n change. Its why the so called top league prostitutes itself to the telly money by racing when it doesnt necessarily suit them accruing a crowd. Prime example leicester got great sat night crowds in the lower league when scotty was capt, now its a different matter for em entirely. Instead of appeasing others race when youve the best chance of a good crowd .

It strikes me as farcical that nicolai can be recalled to Poland after A )initially not being in the team B ) signing for his Polish team after the season started, surely that should give GB priority on what is C) supposedly " our " night What is the point of having fixed nights if we have to give up priority?

Poole speedway supplies Poole supporters with what makes them come back in their droves - are Poole’s crowd levels the best in the country? - riders who want to be there and victories. If the track isn’t the best so what? Poole wanted the win but the weak opposition made for largely processional racing. Let’s face it, Glasgow came expecting to be beaten. Their choice of guests always looked poor and so it proved. I’m probably crazy saying this but most of the time I love the racing at Poole. There are no easy laps, no Polish style flat out road racing but instead, riders don’t have time to relax - just look at the entertainment served up by two of the leagues best, Lawson and Harris. On the detail - Lawson dirty? He had Hodder beaten and left him plenty of room. And the fast start that some thought the referee missed? Transponders are what are now used to determine a jump. Even by a fraction. No red light equals no jump

Track staff at Poole as all tracks work bloody hard. Sometimes things don't go their way but do not accuse hard working volunteers of not working.

Sh@t it x2 😆

The track was prepared to suit the home riders, how novel!! there was a crowd which most teams can only dream of and Glasgow were outridden, outgated and outclassed.

While that wasn’t the best meeting last night,all this about crap track and crap racing,didn’t see any riders struggling with track ,one crash all night.If that was the case last night I have seen dozens of meetings over the years which come into that category.! The Poole fans are still turning up so they don’t agree either. Just the usual Poole haters whinging🤔

Who are these veteran riders you speak of ? I have a good knowledge of this and of all the riders that have raced over the years , 99% of them have no interest in riding a bike ever again and the 1% that have a little skid now and again have no inclination to want to race let alone have the equipment to do it

You keep just saying things that are not correct. Wimbledon closed after the 2005 season because the stadium owners would not give them a new lease (because they wanted sports out so they could close the stadium for development) The Wimbledon promoters wanted to move up from the Conference League to the second tier. Yet again, you don't say who 'they' are

Yes. If not exactly 3000, certainly very close. Maybe 2999

The plan is not to “restore” Brandon but to re-build the facility. Yes it will take millions to do and yes the combined group of interested parties do have the money available to build and run a sustainable operation in both the short & long term. The only challenge facing the group is the intransigence of Brandon Estates, which admittedly is a big challenge but not an impossible one to overcome.

Didn't go to the meeting so can't comment on the track, but that aside maybe there is a glimmer of hope , a track runs on its preferred night, it has a team that is manned by riders who are 90% plus committed to riding in the UK and over 3k turn up. Granted its against decent opposition and a new talent was being wheeled out. However it goes to show if you could get rid of doubling up, multiple guests, run on your preferred night, promote the sport locally, try and keep 3-4 of the team year after year so supporters can relate to them you might have a chance of breaking even or making a small profit. If you had of had Holder and Ward there v Doyle and Emil last night you would probably have got 4k plus in but it goes to show if things fall into place there is still a market for speedway at a rider level seen last night even though the super stars weren't there.

Glasgow need to be careful not to come over with the track superiority complex thats become prevalent when we get pumped, usually at Poole. Cami's early meeting interview reeked of it. All it does is breed resentment, something we hated Edinburgh for 20 years ago. The reality of last night is we have learned nothing from the last 4/5 years of going to Poole mid season and taking a trouncing. Yes, it seems Poole prepare that track just for Glasgow visiting but our inability to gate consistently is Glasgow's failing not Poole's. They are a very good team who were never going to lose last night.

And there you have hit the nail on the head. However catchment area, disposable income, support from regional media and proximity of other professional sports may have an impact on the above statement.

Might shut some people up and put the doom and gloomers back in there box for a while. Oh no, then again, according to some, we’ve got at least 2 riders looking for other teams 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Lawson hard but fair??????? lawson is a right dirty rider, especially at poole and last night proved it again, he had hodder passed, he didnt need to stop turning and run a young rider like that right out, shocking decision from the ref that

Live on TNT Sports 3 starts 5.45pm UK time also on Discovery +

Absolute nonsense. Assuming by 'they' you mean the owners Risk Capital Partners. The reason they would not give speedway ( or other businesses on the site) a new lease was because they wanted to demolish the stadium and build over 600 flats. It's completely inaccurate to say that speedway was not viable - as the speedway promoters confirmed in the public domain at the time. Your continued attempts to re write history will not wash.

Of course he will. Only the UK you’d miss for anything.

Denmark

I don’t need to believe it mate I have a stake in it

Howarth proving you can pass at Leicester if you're willing to attack the track.

The Isle of Wight problems were the ferry company,nothing to do with the events they were putting on and they now have overcome those issues and are running 7 meetings from end of this month

As I said once retired most stay retired they just not interested, I’m not saying you don’t raise some interesting points about the concept but I just don’t see it, as I said I have knowledge of this and it’s like asking them to lend you £50,000

If it happens, it could be the 'springboard' speedway desperately needs. Speedway back in London!

Its not an entirely modern phenomena that riders who have strong financial backing are able to make stronger progress early on before the reality of league speedway sees the gap close back up. £8k 250cc engines (yes eight) will see good progress through the youth ranks in reasonable hands along with taking in the European meetings that are just out of reach of others. Speedway promotions though aren't looking for the most talented rider they are looking for the fastest and often they can be quite different. I wish both Cairns and Rushen all the best but at present they are the better end of a much smaller pond, if they could achieve progress rates similar to Dan Thompson or Luke Harrison (both of who i rated higher age for age) they will have done very well.

Ablitt's average at the end of last year was 5.04. plus, he gets a nosebleed when he gets past Yorkshire, so there's quite a few reasons why that's not a goer.

You;ve hit the nail on the head. The days when the bike and leathers were 2nd hand have long gone, but also young riders of today are safe in the knowledge that thier team spots are safe due to the lake of riders. Back in the day, if you had a couple of bad meetings, there was always another rider the club would give a go. btw, You talk about scruffy oiks. A certain young lad who went on to be one of the best. Started out with an old weslake Tatty pair of 2nd hand leather. He would have been laughed at by all these youngster today with the big vans and 3 bikes and mechanics to boot! His name was Joe Screen!!

Maybe Ben knows what’s coming. For what it’s worth, I think we need one big league, which at the moment looks like it will be 14 teams. Should be five riders per team like Denmark. And there should be rider grading.

They can not determine if a rider jumps the start they can only give lap times and final over the line finishes and everybody saw Lewi jump apart from the ref who really needs to go to spec savers lol

Must say what a breath of fresh air Will Cairns was last night, doing donuts after his last ride, running the whole circuit high fiveing the fans, long may it continue

I don't have a team to follow these days, having lost mine 20 years ago. My observation at Poole, when I visit 3 or so times a year, is that the Ford's always put together title challenging sides which appeal to the Poole supporters. The Poole supporters favour winning over lots of passing, and they are good at it. It's not for me, as a neutral, but it works for them and is successful in terms of numbers attending. My perception is that the quality of racing was better in the past, but it is easy for the mind to just filter good memories

From when Lynn submitted it to the BSPA 72 hours before the meeting one would imagine.

How on earth is the Poole track killing British speedway? We have the biggest crowds and the Pirate fans all left very happy indeed last night. They will be back in a fortnight against Edinburgh. We have had 3 days on the trot where temperatures were above 30C. Yesterday reached 28C. The track staff did a tremendous job in keeping the dust away. When a strong home team turn up against a weakened away team, the result was never in doubt. If the fans don’t like what they see, we would get Workington sized crowds, as the racing is meant to be better there, right? Funny that crowds don’t turn up there on a super race track, but they come in their droves to Wimborne Road on a “terrible, crap track”.

Yes indeed a fine debut, but you seem to be getting carried away a tad. He beat Hodder, Perry and Hume. Nothing against the Glasgow reserves, but they must be the weakest in the league. Poland last night in the U24 league. 5 rides 5 lasts. Glasgow will win nothing with such a weak reserve pairing. Poole reserves 13+2 Glasgow 1 and that was when Hodder beat Perry.

A respectable track would be better for the sport.

That Poole track is crap. Glasgow were crap. Sums a crap night up.

I would say it's bang on imo,Aussies come over here and have to prove themselves where as some not all young brits think they are entitled, but they soon get found out.

From reading the comments... I take it the tide was out...?

Some very valid points there. The Rye House thing was a few years before I got into speedway but when I look back at my Programme collection its noticeable that all the riders in the National League we British or Commonwealth and there were plenty of rides to go around. I think the doubling up policy was the most stupid thing the powers that be ever did. I appreciate that from a riders view it means more earnings but it has killed club speedway. Once upon a time a rider would be identified with one club only. Now all you see is the same riders against each other in a different race jacket depending on what night of the week it is.

i still think the downfall of British speedway started when Rye House were allowed to track foreign riders. if we still had a division of British & Commonwealth riders we'd be in a much healthier position. if, and from what i'm hearing is true, it goes to one league next year, then riders will say thay can't make ends meet if they can't double up. in my day we had jobs and took one bike to a meeting. so many riders never use their spare bike anyway, they jump on a team mates bike when they have a spare in the pits! tracks should be allowed to ride on a night that suits THEM, not be forced into changes. and years ago when the sport was successful here, how many teams raced on a Saturday. not having time for supporters to go to away meetings due to work etc has had a serious knock on