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Moving with the times, well done.

These championship team fans need to be careful what they wish for, saying their league is better than the prem yet if the prem didn’t pay the likes of Z.Cook, Lawson, Wright, King etc big money, thus helping them ride in the second tier, they wouldn’t have many good riders at all. Take out their riders who ride in the prem and it’s a pretty poor standard. Everyone can say Prem is better or Champ is better but the fact is Speedway needs to be better.

It is really a perfect sport for some half decent marketing company to promote... Given how few of the country even are aware of it, let alone attend, it is almost like launching a brand new sport to the wider sporting viewers.. You are pretty much starting from a blank canvas.. However.... A five team top league will be a hard sell for TV given the same teams will be on far too regularly.. And so many meetings that currently get run without jeopardy does the sport little favours, as it doesn't create interest in getting people to the track or watching on TV., and a five team top league will mean just one team missing out, and, usually, there is one team that gets put well adrift far too early in the season.. The lack of a big money prize also holds it back hugely, as the public get engaged by sports with the huge prizes on offer, so finding a way to get some "big money" into it is fundamentally key for me... There are though huge opportunities, given its current starting position for the sport to develop, and rapidly if the correct marketing and hype can get brought in.. Just 400 or so regulars at every track would mean a massive percentage increase at even those tracks who currently get four figures.. Such a tiny number, but bringing such a large positive impact, shows the size of the opportunity...

Plymouth have launched a speedway app , with direct links to all the clubs websites , live scoring from the home matches , news feed etc …links to the live stream , rider profiles …. FUEL THE FUTURE … App Store / Google play Plymouth Gladiators

Nobody cares what you're doing on Saturday night just say you can't make it would suffice.

It is a moment all Panthers and Speedway supporters should take great pride in. We’re not there yet, but a foot is in the door.

When was the last time he completed four laps and finished last? This can be costly if another rider then pulls up when the score is tight. As I have said before, I’m surprised Dickson tolerates this. Out of respect for the paying public, riders should be completing four laps unless there is a genuine mechanical failure.

Local Essex boy would have been great at Arena but we cannot beat Google at the moment! Poole will offer him the most dosh so he will go there.

Don't worry, I will be there with me Mr 'Barry' Sheen ! 😀

So... you are not anti Antti, then?? LOL

Au Contraire Lisa, he would rather Poole lose than Ipswich win and slags off our track at every opportunity. He said recently he didn't care who won in the final!! He cares passionately that we lose. Really strange individual.

Not really that difficult to understand, is it? Almost guaranteed trophies, a stable club, doubtless a good financial/sponsorship package. I assume it's also one of the closest Championship tracks to him, too, which helps being a 16yo. I know Glasgow fans are still unhappy about the track in the PO final, but if you're in Rushen's position and Poole are interested then it's very easy to see why he'd go there.

If money isn't an issue at Kings Lynn does that mean Buster won't be there.

I'd like to see someone like Pollestad, Bedna, Drejer give a go

I wanted Ipswich to win it this year because I’ve felt they’ve deserved to for building consistently one of the best teams, and arguably the best in recent years and been so unlucky for one reason or another. Now they’ve won it, I’m aboard the Leicester train for 2026. Runner up twice in a row, I’d like to see them go one better next time. Make sure to retain Fricke as priority, and work down from there.

Thanks for that, remember to bawl out the first thing that comes to mind as loud as you can.! That's what I do and it seems to work.

He can overtake already!

Don't worry, I'll cover for you. Friday works for me, I work on Wednesday nights so this will be my first meeting of the season. I'm up for a bit of glory hunting 😁 The wife is away for the weekend so Speedway on Friday, Hamworthy-Utd on Saturday & AFCB on Sunday... Sorted 👍

Brennan is nailed on and so he should be IMO.

If the 36 limit is true, even Doyle and Brennan as a top two would be pushing it, let alone adding Bewley.

Not got professional attitude

Woffinden not doing UK in 2026, concentrating on Poland and GP’s. Take a brave promotion to take him on anyway at start of season on his high average having missed 18 months

Top three of Harris, Howarth and Flint (I’d add Morris to that four but pretty sure he’s back at Berwick on what is a steal of an average) should grab a decent amount of points one and away, a less top heavy team will allow to have one slightly stronger reserve at 6 and hope there’s a 0.5 point increase each in the engine room and reserves in case some mid season tinkering needed 1 Harris 8.90 2 Jake Mulford 4.26 3 Leon Flint 6.95 4 Tate Zischke 5.43 5 Kyle Howarth 7.92 6 Sam Hagon 3.48 7 Freddie Holder 2.63 Averages = 39.57

Think all speedway fans would love the sport to have a sustained massive injection of cash but it doesn't. The fact remains that currently only 5 teams (35riders) are possible participants in the Premiership in 2026. Currently there is no tv deal and with most of the likely candidates having been there and done that then I have my doubts whether a tv deal from a financial big player is at all likely . This obviously has financial implications for the budgets of the premiership clubs and the BSPL. Another question to be answered is with no tv money and only a possible 5 teams do all these teams even want this ? . No excitement and not much variability in 5 teams from where I'm sitting. The truth is the Premiership is not the promised land and most Championship supporters believe that is the better product. Also let's not forget Leicester only joined the Premiership in 2023 and Sheffield in 2021 neither of which have enjoyed financial happy times if rumours of the size of losses are to be believed.

Nothing wrong with hyping them up, as long as they don't get carried away and start believing the hype - as happened with Boughen. He tried to walk before he could run. And to answer your question, it's not Poole. No way he will ride in the same team as William Cairns. Didn't they have a falling out? I've heard Glasgow.

These look like the sort of tassels Jack Sparrow would wear

Adam Ellis?

Offload Kemp

Flip side they aren't risking losing six figures per season trying to compete in the top league

Got to be more teams coming in then if its that low surely ? a 5 team top league with watering down would be a disaster otherwise.

Two four point young future wunderkind superstars from overseas and a 7.39 rider... Get the visa requests in now!!

Yes I am hopeful I can make it with the help of a very understanding wife!!

Ellis seems really popular behind the scenes as well. Nice words from Louis there. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if he was kept on too.

I wouldn’t worry. Just been reading on another thread that money isn’t an issue at Kings Lynn so I’m fully expecting the chequebook to be opened and a big hitter signed up at number 1 👍🏻

Good listen that. Tom Brennan absolutely nailed on for next year listening to that, and they do really like the boy Rushen don’t they? “No issue” with getting him kitted out with a tassle clad team suit in Tru7 colours.. Louis slipped that one in. That'll get a few tongues wagging.

Conversations regarding 2026 should of started early this year but it just sounds like heads have been buried in the sand as per normal.

True, but you'd think he'd be more interested in Ipswich winning than our track! 🤷‍♀️

Would love to see Nicholls back for the Gladiators for 2026. Seemed to really enjoy his time in Devon where the pressure was off for him and he was able to just enjoy being back on his bike. Feel like Joe T is likely to return along with the hugely exciting Klima. Think Barker did enough in the Poole fixture alone to earn himself a spot back in the team. Would be open to seeing Tobias race for the Gladiators next season, he was excellent when guesting for the club. I think what we will see is plenty of people have had their opinions on Plymouth changed within the sport over the last 6 months with how things have played out for the club. This is very much a club who are trying to beat the curve and sail forward with the wind behind them. Crowds through the roof, atmosphere at home fixtures unlike any other, fantastic racing on the track too. Plenty of riders spoke very highly of appearing for/at Plymouth last year and I think Garry will be very happy with the options he'll have available to him when building the team.

The interview with Matt Ford in the SS details the thought process for Poole.. And it is hard not to agree with him... The considerable cost increases for the top league won't get covered by extra admission numbers, or extra sponsors, for a business that is "stand alone" and not some "plaything" for some who can afford an expensive hobby.. The bottom line is hardly anyone who doesn't follow the sport could tell you who the fop tier champions are this year, or last, or, indeed, any particular year for decades.. And Poole, in Div 2, will have plenty of finals to generate big crowds, and will gain as much publicity winning 2nd tier trophies as they would top tier ones.. The top tier need the second tier to try and then justify why they are "different" and the "highest level" and more expensive to watch... The second tier need the top tier as those who double up can then afford to ride for them for 2nd tier money... The likes of Poole and Glasgow could be seen as being happy to be "big fishes in a small pond".. However. The whole of UK Speedway is more of a "big puddle" when compared to pretty much every other professional team sport in the UK.. When there is such very little financial reward, nor national publicity, for any success at any level, and crowds get hit by so many meetings running with zero jeopardy and consequence as to who qualifies for the play offs, you can understand why running your own business, at the level you can make it profitable, has to be the best idea..

A buyer would be a good place to start

i always am when it comes to kings lynn

Why is it smoke and mirrors ? The rule quoted was from the British rule book and was in relation to racing in the British league. Yes he was declared for 2025, but never rode in the British league before he was injured again. Nowhere does the rule say that the period missed has to be related to the same injury. Therefore, by the wording of the rule, he has missed more than one full season due to speedway injury.

Well thats a load of crap. Why don't Ipswich get the same crowd at every home meeting that they did for the playoff final then?

Absolute bullrubbish! from the mid-eighties to 1999 Poole had one of the sports wealthiest owners in the late Mervyn Stewkesbury, together with an experienced back-up team including the old National League Administrators. The Fords took over in 1999 and spent 20years in the Premiership (Elite) winning it several times over, much to the chagrin of some of the more established owners/promoters. Of course crowds dropped a little when the team wasn't doing well - as is the case with ALL teams. PS> There's nothing wrong with being at the top of any sport - as long as the club remains profitable.

Steve was never banned. His twin brother, Richie, was and still hasn't returned. Steve is rumoured to be retiring at the end of this season.

A typical well meaning rule to try and even up the league more... And then also, typically in UK Speedway fashion, they eff it up by allowing the No1 pick to say "I'm not riding there"... (Which I get if offered more money and have local sponsors elsewhere).. In the US draft system, the bottom team gets several concessions from the teams who want their pick, should they not want to use that player .. Eg The team with the highest average last season would have needed to offer Birmingham either money or a rider/riders.. Instead we had Birmingham being out of their depth again which did them, nor Speedway, any favours . Basically. Either do it properly, or don't use it at all... Personally, out of their depth No7's do nothing for the sport, nor them, in any league ..

The trouble we have now is the result of the relaxing of the average conversion rate between the two leagues and doubling up becoming a free for all about 15 years ago. Before then there was a noticeable difference in standard between the leagues (all three leagues that is). Sounds like that one was driven by rider power, but the promoters also allowed it to happen. There’s now not enough riders of the standard of team spots available. I think this is half the problem, nobody wants the sport to be watered down. It feels like a necessary evil though, because those “good enough” riders just don’t exist in large enough quantities so we’re lumbered with the current incredibly flawed system.

So what the Premiership needs, much like football, is a massive injection of money so riders don’t have to double up and ride in the championship. Then championship teams would be desperate to ride in the prem for money, but you then add promotion and relegation so you have jeopardy . That would be the catalyst for some good racing and more risk, bringing fans in as they would see some meaning to the meetings. Not this joke of any team choosing what league they want to ride in. A lot of championship fans on here comment “let the premiership run how it wants and we will do our own thing” so let that be the case. No doubling up, all top riders ride in Prem only due to money being bigger, and championship and NDL can do their own thing, see how many then want to make the jump up to the top league. The Prem should be the ‘promise land’ and all champ teams want to be in it, dilute their teams and league but limiting the top riders only in the prem and see how many comments change then, as all they want to do is dilute the prem to be their level of riders.

All the lads who rode at Ipswich last night should be riding in the championship full time and not used as fodder for a declining Premiership. Perhaps the loss of TV money will radically change how U.K. speedway is set up.