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You talking from experience.

You have been vocal with your feelings on this. Do you not think the onus is on the Premiership to make it an appealing proposition for a club to move up rather than blaming clubs for sticking in the Championship where they run a more sensible operating model for their business? The Premiership has been shedding clubs in recent years - why would anyone wish to join it at this time?

It's simple, you hit the ground running from the mid March to the end of August with league fixtures (Just like the Premiership do). Would be 16 home league matches, plus at least one KO Cup fixture, making 17 meetings to fit into 24 Race nights, allowing for rain offs/rider availability. The BSN series is a nonsense competition. While we are on the subject, Mark Lemon's comments on the same page in the SS were tone deaf as usual, speaking about the Championship clubs not to think about themselves being okay (I'm alright jack was what I think was quoted). If he wants to mess about thinking that clubs like Poole and Glasgow should move up to save the Premiership, then he needs to give his head a wobble. The crowds both clubs get provide the best business model to run a sustainable sport with a future. Getting the biggest names in the sport to ride over here is not sustainable in the long term apart from 2/3 clubs unless Lemon is quite happy to see clubs go to the wall. He wants to try promoting speedway outside a major city then he will see how hard it really is.

Unfortunately U K speedway cannot compete with the rest of Europe to attract or retain the top European riders. Brexit has been one issue with others including the movement of machines, parts and riders themselves plus you need bikes and mechanics spread across three or four different countries which is adding to a riders costs pushing up the return the riders need and the demands from clubs to pay and then put yourself in a riders position, do you drive from Poland to Sweden or Denmark or faff about with flights at unsociable hours simply to top up the pension by riding in the U K. and rely on the fickle riders as to whether a meeting will go ahead because of grey clouds and drizzle. Then you have how the sport is portrayed and promoted. Take a look at the Polish Ekstraliga official website which is in English and has so much going on both with news, rider profiles, past year’s events etc and lots of YouTube videos and when you see how they deal with the sport is it any wonder the Poles have stolen a lead on the rest of the world. Whatever supporters crave, speedway in the UK as it stands cannot currently compete with the rest of Europe and just take a look at this forum. All who follow the top league are so insular with what they want and what everyone hopes for 2026 whereas those in the lower leagues are getting on with planning for 2026 with what they have. Poole Glasgow, Scunthorpe etc are just getting on with preparations and then you question why should those teams bail out a failing business model which is the top league in the UK. I doubt many on here have the financial wherewithal to put a team in the frame in the top tier of UK speedway and why should astute businessmen in the lower leagues risk all because five clubs want to chase the impossible. The only shining light is the return of Buxton. If you could get the Isle of Wight back then from small beginnings who knows what will come of it. The reality is that no one on this forum knows what is planned for 2026, whether a new TV deal has been done, what the team points limit will be, whether riders from the lower echelons of the sport will have any progress because they are blocked by the double uppers and the fact that Joe Public and the main stream media neither knows about the sport nor gives a toss. Speedway UK lost its way a good few years back and really needs to take a reality check. 2026 is a big question mark.

Its the die hard fans that want to see the " big names" ,they won't attract any new supporters If only the die hards could accept that the racing can be really bloody good no matter what the level of racing is, so long as the riders are evenly matched, then british speedway stands a chance.if only The " its only a £ 10 sport if its nl level " brigade would accept that good close racing in a meeting is better value for money than " world no3 is half a lap in front but he's a big star" then things could be different .Yes , in an ideal world there would be a 10 team premiership with teams built to polish extra league standard, but its just not going to happen

Don't kid yourself that promoting speedway in a big city is any easier. The problems might be slightly different but still just as big. Glasgow news (not just sports news) is Dominated by Rangers and Celtic. Then the sports news has everything about the rest of Scottish football, all the English football, the European football, then whatever sport has is major event (Ryder Cup, Olympics, Wimbledon, Snooker World Champs), then Glasgow Warriors and Scotland rugby, then global sports like F1, golf, tennis, then there is just a tiny bit of space left for teams like Caledonia Gladiators (basketball), Glasgow Clan (ice hockey) and the Tigers to fight over. Then factor in other things like the huge live music scene in the city competing for news space and fans money. The Facennas have put a lot of time, money and effort into trying to promote the Tigers in Glasgow but it's hard to be heard. So whilst they might have a big catchment area, they have problems fighting with the other sports and everything else for column inches. I reckon 3/4s of the city population have still never heard of speedway and half the test don't know about the Tigers. NB none of this is a criticism of the Glasgow (or any other) promotion. I've seen some of the hard work the Facennas have done with billboards in the city centre, mutual publicity tie ins with rugby and ice hockey, and at running races and other events, free tickets for new fans.

A rider universally liked and for good reason. Apart from being an exciting, world class rider, he appears to be a fine human being who cares for the fans and the sport in general. British speedway is all the poorer for his absence.

If the Championship clubs are doing alright but the Premiership needs to continually drag teams up against their will, it feels like there's a lesson in there somewhere. Anyway, isn't it time that Dua Lipa stops thinking about her own marriage going well, and consider what would be best for me instead?

We can't afford it

No disrespect to Francis gusts but him getting bikes,a van and mechanic provided by Oxford just about sums up everything wrong with the finances of British speedway

If the AGM has indeed been postponed then one would assume the powers that be will announce this fact pdq. There may be some sensitive pieces of information that they can't release at the present time but wouldn't it make a change for once if they attempted to keep fans in the loop as much as possible. Come clean for once and say it how it is instead of constantly staying in the shadows.

Due to the current operating model, they both need each other, to help subsidise one another.... For me, it is time for brutal honesty and that brutal reality is that the GP stars and the likes of Emil, Chris Holder, Magic and Tai (if not injured), will have taken between them all, circa seven figures in combined salaries... Paid for in the main by the TV money and a significant number of well meaning sponsors putting in high five figure numbers.. Those seven figures would have been far better used as prize money for winning the top tier... Shared amongst the seven teams last year... "A Million Pound Premiership" would have given those who run the sport something to "sell" to bigger, more well known, potential sponsors, advertisers and mainstream media.... The "top stars" were almost "heralded" as being vital for the growth of the sport in the UK, as they would "bring crowds back"... The reality was they were "heralded" by pretty much the same number of fans who were always going to attend anyway, and didn't nationally after the initial novelty wore off, increase crowds across the country, to make these "truly high quality riders", anywhere near even "cost neutral", never mind "profitable", as the vast majority of those potential circa 80 million potential pundits in the nation have (still), not even heard of Speedway, never mind any of the riders who "came back"... For me, we are at ground zero and the sport should "start again"... And not miss (once again), that opportunity... Let's face it, if you were launching a brand new sport this Monday, and someone suggested, at the planning stage, using the current UK Speedway operating model, they would be laughed out of the room... The promoters are well meaning enthusiasts rather than tough pragmatists, and the sport desperately needs, (and has needed them for years), cold, hard, tough pragmatists, that let their heads rule in decison making, not their emotions.... We all would love to watch the world's best each week, and rub shoulders with them in the pits, taking selfies.. The bottom line is though that their combined costs dont, (currently) make economic sense... If the AGM is delayed you can only hope it is because negotiations are still taking place about a TV deal, (as that will be fundamental), however, let's be honest, every TV Company over the past decade, has dropped the sport, so its "stock" may not be running that high... Surely time therefore for a total, well planned, reset and relaunch in the new year... A few steps back to move, hopefully, forward over the next few years.. . Using whatever operating model, and standard of riders, that it can afford to bring growth......

there is no such thing. riders will just ride where they want, as proved by this years rising star picks.

A wise promoter once said to me many years ago 40/38 and how you got there was more important than a win even , it's true you can forgive a home loss if the racing plus result are close and exciting IMO ! The last thing you want to see is countless numbers of 5/1's and four riders strung out with the last one parking up on the centre green with a lap to go .Whilst I don't want to see 1970's World of Sport wrestling ( fixed and badly rehearsed) something in between maybe achievable . There is nothing better than two riders side by side elbow to elbow entering the last bend and one winning by half a wheel, ,demanding skill trust with the result being in many respects irrelevant . As far as I know there are no great rewards for winning the leagues in this country , extra income for the play off's but who cares who wins it's how they do it IMO .

Yes and who ultimately is paying the high admission prices for these vans/bikes ?

You're such a tease 😂

You gotta earn big to owe big. It's like Neila putting a few shifts overtime in (when he was working😀) then complaining about how much income tax he paid.

I am saying nothing🪖

Kilderman - 8:05 morris - 6:86 howarth - 7.91 perry - 2.29 hagon - 3.48 total - 28.59 left - 11:41

yeah I didn't think much of his article either.

Lawson confirmed for 2026.

And this is largely the sport's problem, and in some way a problem the country faces. A local journeyman in his late 20s is a lot cheaper than 'bang average rider from abroad' who needs to 'commute' and have a second structure in the UK (not to mention a wage to secure a visa and/or make it viable). We've spent decades importing labour for instant gratification rather than investing in our future. Replace the word 'speedway rider' with 'plumber' and you have the same issue. The sport can't now afford these riders. If the idea is to continue as a professional team sport, then it needs cheaper personnel and this is the problem as these personnel don't exist.

Okay, let me rephrase it... Because it's a waste of money.

Great signing, Had Danny down as a potential No.1 for Plymouth. Glad to hear that the Gladiators have a very strong Top 2 for 2026, The Club and the Fans deserve it.

Oh heck. Surely you can’t have a worse number one than Plymouth ?

Danny king??

While I can't agree with your premise that the CL would collapse without the PL and I don't think that Glasgow or Poole should be forced up... I do think that if we had promotion and relegation like proper sports do then these things would sort themselves out. Is Allen Stanford out of prison yet? The last TV deal was peanuts in terms of TV deals but was a lifeline to our sport. From what I've been told it was worth about £100k each year to PL clubs which covered the costs of their No 1's

I'll go with a left field pick and say Zaine Kennedy.

I can't remember now as I did it a while ago... but somehow I think you save the bookmark of the website and it turns it into an app, on android at least. Is there a BSN App? No, but our website can be saved to any smart phone or tablet as an App. You will be prompted to do this when visiting our website on your device – simply follow the instructions and once complete, you can access all of BSN’s services via an App icon in the same way that you would any other App.

If they can get team 1 assembled that’s gotta be the strongest team they can put together

If that's the case then rather worrying times and proverbially suggests trouble at the mill. In my view, the Premiership cannot run with only five teams. Home and away at least three times, how boring is that? Other suggestions on here (either true or false) such as Northampton basing themselves at Oxford smacks of desperation. I can understand why Championship clubs do not want to take the risk of moving up so not really sure what the answer is ..... probably one league at Championship level with a great deal more variety at least.

I’m hearing the AGM is postponed till January, anyone confirm ?

it might be in the rulebook but its not enforced, it definitely wasnt this year.

That's the spirit

Yes the winter we all feared for two decades has finally arrived Mike and its not looking two friendly, when I used to go every week mid eighties to early 90's there were loads of problems but we still had all the top men and crowds in general were ok, plus if it had been used wisely there was time to set the sport on a sustainable footing. I'm not sure I can see a way out of it all if a tv deal isn't forthcoming it truly is a right mess but its been forty odd years in the making. As an aside I was just thinking in 1985 when Gundo and Hans reined supreme pre-internet how as a 15 year old I used to race to the newsagents for a copy of the Star and Speedway Mail (remember that any veterans on here) the Star must be nearly a fiver a copy now given they do a sterling job but to an ever shrinking fan base.

Thought I’d open up a chat if anybody wanted to say thanks to Emil, might end up sharing it with him so he can read some more nice messages over the winter, if anybody wants to share some highlights or best moments of him, lastly, I wanted to share what Chris wrote about him and how it wasn’t easy to get him. More like Chris in this sport needs to be brave and stand up, I think we know the FIM has failed us at this, It was such a difficult time for Emil and his family when he was left in the wilderness because of the war in Ukraine and I felt something needed to be done. “My work to allow Emil to race in the UK was not universally accepted and alienated me in some quarters, but it soon became apparent that he was going to be a hugely popular character, not only at Ipswich, but up and down the country

You may just want to check that. I was told this directly by a former Premiership Promoter.

I remember him riding in that meeting, I think you knew then he was going to become top class. If a Russian kid can turn up at Rye House and win comfortably, it's impressive. It was great when he eventually came to the UK, he really seemed to embrace British speedway and for the most part gave it 100%. Always thought it was a shame he never rode in the GPs during most of his peak years - his first couple of seasons battling with Nicki were top entertainment.

Exactly this going 3 weeks in the height off summer without a fixture for a summer sport is madness.

Only in Speedway....

The Max Fricke information is solely based upon average rather than costs. Unfortunately with Luke Becker getting injured in 2025 Max had to take his RR ride in heat 8 which he won nearly every race which has meant his average his increased more than expected combined with him also having his best ever season in the UK it has made it difficult to try build a team that is strong throughout if a 39-40 limit had been agreed then there would be no issues

The first time I saw Emil was at an U21 qualifier at Rye House when the announcer asked his manager how to pronounce his last name. The answer will live with me forever " It doesn't matter as long as you say the winner is" first. He went on to win the event I believe.

While we have to wait for outcome of 12th Nov. If half the rumours are founded. I don’t understand why there is not just one league at Championship Level.Going back to basics and rebuilding.

Interesting piece in this week's Speedway Star that the Ford's are pushing for 2H and 2A league fixtures for next season. This needs to happen and do away with the BSN series if needed imo.

It's beginning to look like the only reason 'Arry's services were acquired was to put a press release out that he (allegedly) watched Speedway on TNT Sports, probably in the hope of extending the TV deal with them... other than that I really can't see what he can bring to the sport.

Here is an idea, after the AGM the bspl issue a brief press release saying we will be revealing all at the speedway show next Saturday at the motoring museum in Warwickshire in one of the conference rooms at the plush venue, get some riders and all the members of bspl and make it a big press conference type thing,get the league sponsors there, invite any press that want to attend,all singing and dancing, make it an event yes it’s preaching to the converted but they are all you have at this moment in time and you know what it all costs to do it ? peanuts, it just takes time an effort, you have 1000 stickers made with a British speedway logo and you give them away at the show, ask people to put them on back of their cars, it’s free publicity to 1000s of other motorists who are behind the sticker, get the product out there

Kettle, pot, black? 🤔😂

Are all these returning GP riders going to ride for a lot less money, because if they don't we cant afford them

Who are these Northampton fans that would go to Leicester or even Oxford ? They don’t exist, what’s the point of having a new team that doesn’t have any fans or a track or any history of fans that would still be alive, inventing a team and expecting fans that don’t exist to attend a track miles away from the town it’s supposed to represent is stuff of the matrix

Remember that evening well. Conditions were horrible, would have been called off had it not been a world level meeting I’m sure. Outclassed the field which included Tai Woffinden on his home track. Only one rider that evening looked as if he’d go on to be a world champion and it wasn’t Tai.