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So after 4 seasons as a Director & Shareholder that's my time with Birmingham Speedway at an end. An eventful, at times stressful, at times farcical and at times enjoyable experience! A huge thanks to the small but loyal Brummie fanbase that put up with season after season of under performing teams, you deserved better! Full credit and my upmost respect to Nigel Tolley, he wasn't far short with the figures he quoted in the recent speedway star interview with what he invested in the club (there was also a six figure investment from other shareholders during the period I must add). Nigel is as mad as a (top) hatter, but I really like the guy. My only criticism of him (and he knows this, I told him enough times) is that he allowed himself to be influenced by others who failed to deliver for the club! Seeing the day to day finances and operations of the a Championship and then Premiership club is a real eye opener, so a massive thanks to Financial Director Tracey Smith, who somehow managed to juggle the finances to keep everyone happy (most of the time) a truly lovely lady, she has been the glue in a massively disjointed operation, which would have fallen apart without her. Some priceless moments over the 4 years on the management zoom meetings / race nights - I could write a book! You also learn a lot about riders, some smashing chaps around Paco Castagna (legend) Freddie Lindgren, Tobi M, Leon Flint, Sam Hagon, Jason Edwards, Thompson twins all really good guys! No comment about some mind Made some great friends, I will miss Guesty, Dave Rowe, Pete & Dan Ballinger, Chris Adams, the guys and girls from the supporters club and fellow shareholders Steven, Jake and Vic. Such a shame that Birmingham Speedway is no more, but without Nigel it wouldn't have got into 2023 let alone 2025 and for that alone he deserves the respect of those who knock him! Give us a B.....! Cheers Paul

I'm sorry but how can it be right that a rider finishing 3rd after 20 races with 11 points can not only lose out to a lower points scorer in LCQ1... but to rub salt into the wounds also LCQ2... what a Mickey Mouse sport this has become

I was very, very lucky to grow up watching Peter Collins.... And BZ is the closest to him from the back that I have seen... They both pass/passed riders almost in slow motion given they are/were several moves ahead.... You simply cannot take a line to block him, as he has already decided where you will go, and he will go... Genius on a Speedway bike.. And, fair play to Brady for keeping it close, given the talent BZ possesses...

The top two, head and shoulders above the rest... One being quite probably the GOAT... A non event without Brady.... First season too... Fair play, whatever happens in Vojens...

The points scoring has too be rectified for next year.Its not credible that you can finish with less points than you score in the Heats.Can see you getting more point for getting in LCQ and final but you should not lose points.Farcical like the Sprints.

They watering the track to get them prepared for the inevitable wet night in vojens

Congratulations Glasgow, I had to take my Monarchs hat off and applaud the balsy racing of the Tigers. Sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and acknowledge that the best team won. The partnership of Ben & Leon is genius. The new guy Nagel is a find in a million and coupled with Kyle last night was speedway at its best. It was a good job for us that Bomber and Freddy had bike issues 👏👏👏

Agree and it is sad that notwithstanding the passing of time, the sport has so much going for it but if you go back to the basics of a motorcycle that has 500cc engine with no brakes that is capable of achieving a 0 - 60 faster than most motorised forms of transport and riders who generally have honed the skills to tame these machines and can control them on what is comparative to riding on an ice rink or riding bikes on marbles, why can it not attract a generation of new followers who are risk takers? Those followers hopefully understand just what it takes to do what the top guys do to achieve the ultimate challenge and goal. However I really don’t think those in charge know how to sell the sport to the wider audience and It is not rocket science, the Poles do it without a problem. Look at the play offs in Poland at either end of the table to see what can be achieved

What a load of whingers. It was an absolute pleasure to watch the soon to be best of all time at his brilliant best. Brady Kurtz is a more than worthy opponent, the man simply cannot be rattled. An excellent stadium, great atmosphere and the 2 best riders in the world leaving nothing out there - there is zero to be unhappy with. I might agree that it'd be a shame if Kurtz loses because of a sprint race - except he knew as well as Bartosz (and the others) the rules of the game, and there were lots of opportunities to score outside of one sprint race. I can't wait for Vojens to see how it'll play out, it'll be a shame for whoever has to lose in this epic. I wish I was going!!

Goat possibly in the grand prix era but today its a far cry from the days of Crump, Rikardsson, Gollob, Adams, Pederson etc, and certainly cant compare the GP,s with the one offs with the stupid scoring and now the sprint race. Different eras yes but i turned this off GP,s just dont do it for me im afraid, the novelty wore off a while back, suppose its just personal preference.

There has been plenty of those scenarios this season. Absolute joke of a sport. Even in the final, we had the two top riders on 15 and 13. the other two on 8 and 7 and Fricke sat in the pits watching on 11pts! Surely they have to have a good look and realised they gone it wrong and while they are at it, stop Morris from fu**ing up the track at every GP!!

Holder scores 7, finishes with 14, Fricke scores 11, finishes with 7! It's so wrong!

Epic final, brilliant from the top 3... especially Kurtz!

Late news. Meeting abandoned - track waterlogged.

Zmarslik race reading is class

It's called the American wave now.

World Title decided on a qualifying session / sprint race. How pathetic is that.

You only have to look at the names that have been interested enough in Speedway to buy all the kit and kaboodle to ride at NDL/CL reserve level over the last 10 years but have subsequently quit due to lack of opportunity because clubs want ready made riders from abroad to see that the sport in this country could be sustainable if only the people running the sport would give home grown riders a decent chance. Even now were importing loads of young Aussies, who are really just here to concentrate on starting a career in Poland. To do away with anybody not committed to British Speedway is going to take a period of adjustment but look how quickly the CL has recovered since its drastic weakening a few seasons back, a lot of fans were up in arms when this happened but now it's probably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

As well as comparing Fricke's score to Holder, what about Lindgren. Fricke 11 points = 7 GP points Lindgren 5 points = 6 GP points For the people who like the scoring system, saying it makes the last 3 heats matter, can you explain why Lindgren deserves an extra point when not good enough to make last 3 heats? Or why Lindgren deserves one more point than Kvech (who also scored 5) because he had a better "countback"? Is there any sensible reason why they couldn't both gain 5 points? Huckenbeck & Vaculik 4 each, Lambert & Kubera 3 each?

Life use to be so simple in the good old days of a speedway world champion now it is so contrived anyone could scupper an odds on favourite and while the participants give it everything, the media give scant regards to professionalism and simply are interested in numbers. Might as well put a fee paying stream on YouTube.

Simply because one other aussie and his belle Vue teammate helped him out. Totally undeserved win for the second division second string

Depends if he wears the right suit

Well done Brady, you deserved that.

Not very often you see team riding in a GP

And Phil will still drench it....

Zmarzlik just pure class

That man is dangerous with control of a water bowser on a speedway track.

I agree and it’s a very different world today than only 10-15 years ago. Data capture and engagement with customers is so much easier and with AI keeping tabs on such data, tailored marketing is the way to go. You’re correct that keeping hold of customers is the hard part and deals are a must to keep them coming back. I’ve asked many times “What is that seat worth to you?” and the response is always £25. My argument is it’s currently worth zero as it’s constantly empty and an empty seat looks and feels bad so fill it in any way possible. We use to block out around 50 seats in F/G section for schools and the Hide Out Youth Zone but take up waned though the offer is always there. I would always have a full looking stadium for TV meetings, by hook or by crook as it adds a fomo factor to those looking in from their armchairs. Clubs need a dedicated marketing person and not treat it as an add on by one of the current staff. The more accomplished they are the better with remuneration being based on results. Over the years it’s always been someone’s mate having a go (I was one such mate back in Perrins era) and the focus is never quite there. Better still would be a British speedway sales team fighting for our portion on the leisure pound.

Have to disagree mate in past eras especially before the GP,s where every rider had to qualify through difficult rounds and there was far more hard riding opponents wouldnt just open the door, take out Brady theres been no competition apart from Laguta for one season. Its about opinions but the sport today is far removed from what it has been, in any sport you cant compare different times. Usyk has acheived more than Ali was he greater, could each have adapted to different eras? I think when talking about sporting greats we have to look at their particular era.

H man is a top man who knows his speedway, great post and hope your not lost to our sport mate

It seems they are making a concentrated effort to diminish the championship, while inferring they are doing the opposite. I watched my local team at home today beaten 2-0m deservedly so as they were crap. Not only because they didn't make the effort, but also because they didn't seem interested in making the effort. Watched this GP and they same thoughts entered my head One of the reasons you know the GP's are diminished is, back in the day, you would get 40 to 50 pages of comment regarding a meeting, now you're struggling to get 10 pages. Says it all really, when folk don't have anything to say

Promoters can’t really win these days unless it’s guaranteed dry.Riders dictate and just want to put the bike in the van at the slightest raindrop.

If you are referring to Holder I’d say Zmarzlik rode more into him and Holder held his line. Bad decision from a 5 time WC to go gate four. I was happy holder held his line and didn’t just let him do what he wants, more people need to race hard and not bow down.

Are you @LagutaRacingFan in disguise? 🥸 😂

Bartosz is a different class.but hats off the Brady he is definitely better than the rest and still has great chance of being World Champ. Track prep was crap as usual.

It seems they are making a concentrated effort to diminish the championship, while inferring they are doing the opposite. I watched my local team at home today beaten 2-0m deservedly so as they were crap. Not only because they didn't make the effort, but also because they didn't seem interested in making the effort. Watched this GP and they same thoughts entered my head

I don't agree actually. The last 3 races are like the championship rounds in boxing. They sort the men from the boys. Fricke constantly looks like one of the fastest riders on show but can't do it in the big ones.

And the Poles have a Mickey Mouse club to emphasise the obvious

Joe Screen and Mark Loram.....

Without injury he would be 9th …. Name riders who haven’t qualified who would do better

Could be a fraud, but not half as fraudulent as the other 14 supposedly riding to win a world championship

But it will be affordable cream that is delivered when you want it to be delivered to taste its best to attract lots of, erm, cream drinkers... I'll stop now 🤔😁

Lambert rightfully excluded just laid it down

He's 100% the better option if you want your team member to turn up and ride for your club on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday

The guy is a menace...

Links for tonight from VK: https://vk.com/video-53550004_456242407 https://vk.com/video-81427162_456239749

At home you can do that in the easier fixtures

No mention of the space Lawson had when he put his down I see……🙄

You have an awful lot to say about the Sheffield track, also a lot to say about what track riders would prefer to ride, have you ever been to Owlerton? Over the years there have been plenty of riders who stated they enjoyed riding at Sheffield, much less so Ipswich. But hey ho, everyone seems to miss your point, I wonder why. It's clear you love the sound of your own keyboard, you could start an argument in an empty room.