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My service is 24 hours but very rarely gets used, make no mistake promoters and riders run this sport for themselves, riders more so, until the customer and credibility get put to the front of that pecking order we will fail

So in your opinion we are stuffed! Even without Zach we are definitely not stuffed. We will, as usual assemble a team capable of league success.

His average would decrease, he is on the way down, his attitude is awful,cant believe anyone would even suggest it.

Mediocre riders making full time living out the sport.Something has to give.Doubling up for a lot of riders should be Speedway and a job outside the sport.

Because riders don't want this, they want the cash they get from doubling up so they can make it pay. Riders are holding the sport to ransom and that is detrimental to the future of the sport in this country.

IMO the Championship clubs have already agreed they are not prepared to sacrifice their existing structure, including their race nights. None appear to be willing to join the Premiership and who can blame them, given the shoddy treatment when the likes of Birmingham received little help in trying to assemble a competitive side. Also the tv money received from Sky/Disney etc. never benefited CL clubs, so the potential demise of TV income doesnot affect CL clubs. So perhaps the choice for Premiership clubs is either apply for membership of the CL on existing CL terms, or continue to run in whatever form the 2026 Premiership becomes.

Mine too. As I said, my parents met at Plough Lane, and I first went when I was three weeks old. Many of my earliest memories of life are speedway memories, like Olle "White Boots", Mike "Zoomer" Coomber etc. Even though I followed the Dons around the country, I would regularly travel around taking in random meetings, particularly multiple ones on the bank holidays. I went to several foreign World Finals, and I have a big collection of memorabilia. I spent most of my life playing top-level competitive darts, with 25 years as a full-time professional - yet speedway remains far and away my favourite sport. Nope, they can't take away our memories...

Yip. He told then he was fighting fit, and ready to go.............

Wow that whittles it down !!!

Sadly, speedway promoters haven't always been kind... I certainly don't put all the blame on the promoters for the sport's demise, though. There have been so many social and economic issues that have played a much greater role, but promoters have always had a tendency - perfectly natural, I know - to look out for themselves, rather than looking at the big picture. However, it's hard to criticise those who have poured money into the sport with little reward. I was born into speedway, with my parents having first met at Wimbledon. It was such a huge part of my life, and actually still is. I just wish that people still found speedway "cool"...

Maybe we've signed Luke Harrison too and it's like a deal, buy one, get one free

Don’t think there is a”Standard Rate” in the sport that is adhered too.

But folk ARE attending the GPs in much bigger numbers the world over and the Play offs always ensure much bigger crowds than usual. World finals always had also rans who qualified from the European states who hardly ever had a chance. No different to now. Speedway was much bigger in the 70s etc so of course it was an epic occasion. But let’s not pretend they offered superior racing to now. At least with the GPs you will get 10 or 11 chances to show world class speedway to the TV world. If we go back to the old final and qualifiers you would have empty stadiums for the qualifiers, maybe a little more interest for the semis but only one chance to really represent the best of the best. At least with the GPs you are guaranteed to see the vast majority of the best riders in the world 11 times. Plus of course there isn’t the mass amount of talent that we had in the 60 to 90s. can you imagine a one off world final with half the best riders missing due to an engine failure or tape exclusion and you get Kai Huckenbeck racing in Germany crowned world champion. A complete farce and absolutely worse than what we have now!

Having removed the double counting of double up's there were 85 individual riders that finished the 2025 Premiership & Championship seasons. As well as excluding current GP, Ekstraliga & Ekstraliga 2 I also discounted (from a quality standard) a small number of riders who would be in a much lower class than those remaining from the current Premier & Championship teams. Far from "doom-mongering" I am just pointing out the undeniable math of the situation should folk wish to continue down the one league argument they need to understand that it would result with at best, 8 possibly 9 teams in it. Hence why the BSAP will not be considering one league as an option.

And are only ever one major benefactor away from not affording to run their business... It's often quoted on here that the "top riders" get some, if not all, their salary paid for by key sponsors... If ever there was something built on sand then this is it.... Sponsors money should really be some icing on the cake, not a huge part of the cake itself...

Perhaps they are getting signed just in case there is a u turn from what is expected, and there is only 1 senior league? Only need to look at Coventry and Peterborough in 2011 i think it was, they got shafted at the agm after pre agm plans were changed

Wouldn’t that be good. Imagine the clubhouse after every home meeting with woffy on the decks banging the tunes and the f bombs out 😁

He was quite open about his struggles at Foxhall and his body language wasn’t particularly great either towards the end. This was on the cards and as I said on another thread, a move away is the best for all parties here. He’s been a great signing and done very well since he was recruited as rising star.

1. We currently have 14 which includes 1 that is for sale, so that would be the number. 2. Whichever racenight that suits that particular team best. 3. In the last 20 or so years only Belle Vue have stayed as a top flight club, all the remainder have spent time outside the top flight. I hate to see any team close for whatever reason, Coventry and Wolves both closed through no Stadia not through lack of support, so the more teams the better for the sport as a whole. As for racenights Poole have shown racing on a night that people prefer to attend can be the best solution for increased attendances, we are trying to save Speedway in the Uk and what Poland does should not dictate what is best for the Uk. Standard of competition ? obviously the level would be reduced due to the lack of riders, but that should not detract from the racing entertainment provided, currently we could have Brady Kurtz racing against Sam Hagon (nothing against Sam) but with the reduced standard that difference should in theory be less. For goodness sake stop trying to hold on to something that has run it's course, in the early 1960's the top flight was down to about 5 teams, and the Provincial League had probably double that, the 2 Leagues amalgamated to form the British League (weaker standard but better) that is what needs to happen now, it does not need to be 7 man teams due to rider shortage, obviously not everyone will be happy least of all the riders, but this is a move that has to be made for the good of the Sport long term, the Sport has to put itself first and individual teams have to fit in with that. I have tried to answer your 3 questions as best that I can, their will be issues of course and it's not one answer that fit's every Team but by working together British Speedway can dig itself out of the hole that it finds itself in, and while we are at it why can we not find a Sponsor and Tv company that can support a British GP series with a round to be held at every Track ?, the Sponsor to provide prize money at every round and the TV company to pay for the rights at each track, or something along those lines.

Completely agree with you. I followed my local club religiously from being a child to mid-20s, until I moved away with work. I'd never miss a home meeting and often get to 7/8 away meetings a season. We were often crap, and the racing wasn't great, but I'd never dream of missing it. About a year after I moved back, they shut down completely, and I think I'd been to 1 meeting in that year. I just couldn't muster the enthusiasm for it, which I regret now but alas. Fast forward to now, there are 2 regular tracks within an hour, and I still cannot get back to regularly attending. It's not a financial or logistical issue for me, more like there's always a reason not to go. I would still consider myself an absolute speedway nut, read about it on here, follow Polish speedway, etc., etc. However, the thought of going to stand for 2.5 hours amongst a sparse crowd, with crap entertainment, and often average racing is just not appealing at all. Maybe I'm just getting older, maybe the lack of a 'home' club doesn't help, but I'd have watched speedway 24/7 not long ago if I could, and now I think I'd close the curtains to most meetings if they were raced in the back garden. Whatever the answers are, someone has a very big job on their hands to implement them.

Rambo would be better at Berwick, surely ?

DT

Zischke needs to improve a lot his machinery is really below par and went majority of the season without a mechanic and at times wasn’t changing things on the bike set up etc until his 3rd ride. I believe he can improve. Hook will naturally struggle in the main body of the team but he definitely deserves a team place. Etheridge I believe was solid and would give another chance for sure been around a while knows the tracks but will need to improve away from home. Batchelor I would only have back as 3rd heat leader the number 1 and 5 days have long gone. The question will be is the desire still there? Also questionable attitude if things don’t go his way. Voulas very solid at home but to win things needs to be solid away and he is far from that very poor away with no improvement I would let go. Foord I would keep for sure natural racer and another year older learning his trade I believe he needs signed ASAP if not can see him going to Glasgow. New Faces possibilities? Klindt good number 1 wins a lot from the gate but machinery 1st class and very experienced rider but doubt would be availability and commitment and can imagine not being a cheap option. Juul Pedersen brilliant in his couple of meetings in england but can imagine in high demand and knowing Danish riders not cheap and maybe go searching for the best deal. Also unsure what average he may come in on? Jonathan Grathn I would try everything to get this guy goes well at Workington and had good away form for Edinburgh for his first season will only get better. Dan Thompson people say he is not a number 1 but averages and figures don’t lie. 8.50 average for a reason. He is an active rider and has very good machinery riding in both leagues. He is only going to get better and will be a big force in this league next 1-2 years. He would be my choice at number 1 Thoughts Workington fans? Thanks

Only ONE NDL club paid its riders the ‘standard’ rate and even they paid more to their ‘stars’, whilst other clubs paid treble the approved rate. Even the ‘Trophy’ sides paid more and I know this through riders I assist.

Are you insinuating that Trigger was one of those ? As I can confirm he certainly was not . Whilst I am more than aware of some of these high ‘demands’ only a foolish promoter would give in to them.

There's an old saying Iain, 'Turkeys never vote for Christmas' I agree with you all the way.

Coincidentally I happened to stumble across an 18 minute BBC film of his last ever meeting on YouTube last night. If you put 1975 Reg Luckhurst speedway rider BBC archive into your search engine you should find it.

I do not see why Anders would not be back and I have faith the team assembled will be good enough to challenge for honours. We could go down a route of strength in depth and not need a rider over 6 to fill the void.

Neither the proposed (alleged) new site at Studley Grange (Wilts Council) nor the Abbey Stadium (Swindon Council) have had their planning applications decided upon yet.

Jacob Hook was excellent last year. He’s put over a point on his average which is obviously impressive. Looking at it from a different point of view, that average has been somewhat ‘overinflated’ by winning Heat 2 most of the time. I don’t think Hook is very useful in the main body of the team, it’s a tough one. I would only have Zischke back, purely due to the fact that his average can most definitely be improved on. Foord for me doesn’t show any signs of improvement, especially away from home.

So what exactly did Danny say to make everyone so convinced that Anders won’t be back? I can’t believe Middlo who’s known Anders literally since he was in nappies and is good friends with his dad Del can’t get the best out of the lad?

Fingers crossed the council see through this attempt and kick the planning out immediately without it even getting that far. Reading, Swindon, Coventry and even Poole soon enough, anything with Osbourne involved or as an advisor I would be very concerned, he is trying it at Poole but the council and standing strong with strict criteria at the moment, the speedway has to be relocated and new site built and finished BEFORE and works could happen. In Coventry case as everyone can see, the houses will be built all around the stadium then it will be decided the speedway will be too noisy or makes no money so we shall put another 200 houses on the Brandon site, people involved must think we came down in the last shower! the same people keep doing this and it never ends well for Speedway. Good luck to all involved as I look forward to returning to Brandon to watch speedway soon!

Where I'm at. TV Deal, 36.00 Limit for a Top 5 and One Rider Over 8.00 Rule. 1. D. Bewley 8.64 2. A. Ellis 5.92 3. T. Brennan 7.05 4. D. King 6.50 or K. Rew 6.19 5. J. Doyle 7.86 = 35.97 / 35.66 NO TV Deal, 36.00 Limit for a Top 6 and One Rider Over 8.00 Rule. 1. J. Doyle 7.86 2. S. Nicholls 5.25 3. K. Rew 6.19 4. A. Ellis 5.92 5. T. Brennan 7.05 6. J. Jenkins 3.46 (25% Discount) 7. J. Edwards (RS) = 35.73

Thanks for your reply and to be clear I personally am not trying to hang on to anything in particular only the hope that something will be done by the BSPA collectively to create a futureproof way forward for UK speedway. I see you are proposing to keep all 14 clubs "as is" whilst recognising that the number and quality of available riders will fall and suggesting five man teams being the way to accommodate the drop off whilst allowing clubs to race across a seven day week. Whilst that, at first glance all looks plausible , the following needs to be considered, - One league would remove doubling up causing an immediate reduction in the pool of riders. - All Polish, Scandinavian, Many other foreign nationals and most Australian's will not ride in the UK - No GP riders will be available - so no worry about Brady Kurtz or Dan Bewley riding against Sam Hagon. - The number of riders available from those who rode this year will be around fifty - not taking into account retirements and those possibly stepping up from development leagues. - Given the above there would be sufficient riders for ten x five man teams. - It is highly unlikely that the majority of speedway supporters would see value in a league made up of 5 man teams and lower skills. although some will, the majority would see it as the death knell for UK team speedway. To be clear, the above is not my personal opinion but the brutal facts regarding the numbers and overarching influences effecting UK speedway. There is a way forward but I remain to be convinced that the BSPA have the foresight and the courage to implement it and is something I sincerely hope I am proven to be mistaken.

I think it was known at that time that he had been made a 2026 offer elsewhere which would be hard to match....

It's been mentioned on the Leicester thread that Dan was offered a really good sponsorship deal if he returned to Leicester but it was only available if he did so, and like been said he did seem to struggle around Foxhall after his injury and he gets around Leicester better as a home track so its a no brainer for him if that's the case.

Where is the Dan Thompson stuff coming from? Just that with the supposed new 8pt rule he’d be looking for a new club? I could see him binning the championship next season if that’s the situation.

I thought 6.82, not that it's going to happen

Personally I think this is the best move for all parties. He rides Leicester far better than Foxhall so I think it’s a much better signing for Leicester, then it would have been for Ipswich to retain him on his current average. Good luck to him he’s been great for us.

With that attitude you should work for them, the point of speedway and therefor the most important people are the fans, without their money the bspl doesn’t exist, every decision should be made to please the fans

Latest update. Looks like more dubious tactics from Brandon Estates The Campaign Group were contacted by several Speedway Lane residents on Saturday to make us aware of a letter they had received from Brandon Estates. The letter states Brandon Estates intends to submit another planning application, this time for 115 houses together with a 'fully restored speedway facility'. Note, it does not include stock car racing. Whilst speedway fans may be excited by this, we urge them and local residents not to be fooled by this for the reasons outlined in our response shown below and issued as a press release earlier today. And please be assured, whilst progress regarding the stadium may appear quiet, this is far from the reality, as intense work continues with and by the Consortium and Rugby Council, to bring about a solution which would see Brandon return for speedway AND stock car racing and other community uses. Latest statement reads: Monday November 10, 2025 SAVE Coventry Speedway & Stox Campaign Group and members of the Consortium who wish to acquire the Brandon Stadium and reinstate it for speedway and stock car racing to return are aware of a letter sent by Brandon Estates to local residents on Saturday (November 8). The letter indicates that Brandon Estates are proposing to submit another planning application to build ‘Up to 115 houses and a speedway facility’ on the stadium site. We submit these proposals are a sham. They are a deception. Brandon Estates have no intention of ever reinstating the stadium for speedway racing and if this proposed application was, in the unlikely event, approved, they would build 115 houses and their planning agents, DPP Planning, would then submit another application to demolish the stadium and build as many as 200 additional houses. The reasons we believe this are set out below. The letter sent to local residents refers to the existing site having been “closed since 2016 following the end of speedway racing,” a closure which was entirely their own decision and intention. It refers to the condition of the site saying ; “the site has remained in a significant state of disrepair” and goes onto refer to it as a “dilapidated stadium”. In an attempt to share their concern for local residents they say they “understand that living alongside a derelict site has created concerns for local residents”. We would respectfully remind residents that the condition of the site and the appalling inconvenience and concern endured by those residents is down to the abject failure of the owners, Brandon Estates, to secure the site to prevent traveller incursions and acts of vandalism and arson. Served with a Community Protection Notice by Rugby Borough Council (RBC) in 2017, Brandon Estates initially challenged it in court (and ended up paying the Council’s costs) and were subsequently taken to court by Rugby Council for multiple breaches of that Community Protection Notice in November 2022. They were found guilty, fined the maximum allowed by law, ordered once again to pay the Council’s costs and have two criminal convictions. With regard to their proposed new planning application, we make the following points: Their original application in January 2018 (to demolish the stadium and build 137 houses) was effectively withdrawn after an independent consultant commissioned by RBC concluded their application did not satisfy the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as the stadium could not be considered ‘surplus to requirements’ as Brandon Estates had argued. A revised application in July 2021, again sought to demolish the stadium and build 124 houses, but this time included the provision of a 3G football pitch, arguing that this made it compliant with the NPPF as it replaced the stadium with an alternative sporting provision. This application went to RBC Planning Committee in November 2022 and was unanimously refused. Brandon Estates then appealed this decision and a nine day public hearing began in September 2023. After considering all the evidence the Government appointed Inspector rejected their appeal in January 2024. This proposed new application which Brandon Estates refer to in their letter, proposes 115 houses on the site plus a speedway facility – so is this now an admission that the stadium use could and should have remained? However, Brandon Stadium opened in 1928 for speedway racing, and stock cars were introduced in 1954. The two sports ran successfully and viably alongside one another from 1954 right up until the stadium closed in 2016. We note the new proposals do not include provision for stock car racing. Given that Brandon Estates and their agents have repeatedly stated their belief over the last decade that speedway is not viable, and that satisfactory alternative venues exist for supporters elsewhere, it appears very surprising that they are now proposing a speedway facility on site, and there is no indication of exactly what type or level of facility this would entail. We draw your attention to the Abbey Stadium in Swindon where an application was made to redevelop land around that speedway stadium, right up to the stadium perimeter, including the car park. That application also included the redevelopment of the speedway stadium. The application was approved and hundreds of houses were built. The owners then claimed speedway wasn’t viable on the site and submitted another application to demolish the stadium and build houses on it. The common factor between Swindon and Brandon is DPP Planning are the planning agents in both cases. We repeat our submission that these proposals are a sham. They are a deception. Brandon Estates have no intention of ever reinstating the stadium for speedway racing and the proposed application is an attempt by Brandon Estates / DPP Planning to get around the Inspector’s decision by presenting these revised plans to RBC. In the unlikely event of them being approved, they would do exactly what they have done in Swindon - never deliver a redeveloped stadium and instead build up to 200 more houses on the site. Furthermore, the Inspector’s decision made specific reference to the stadium not being surplus to requirements specifically because of its significance as a speedway AND stock car venue. Hence this proposed application fails to comply with that ruling. Brandon Estates and their agents DPP Planning are disingenuous, and their tactics are a shameful attempt to deceive. In the meantime, we can confirm that the Consortium of very credible businessmen continue to work with RBC in an effort to acquire the stadium and reinstate it to its former glory for speedway racing, stock car racing and other community uses. We have made Leader of Rugby Council, Michael Moran, and his senior officers aware of the Brandon Estates letter and indeed, the tactics employed by agents DPP Planning in Swindon. Save Coventry Speedway and Stox Campaign Group 10th November 2025

Why the heck don't they just bite the bullet and just go to 1 professional league ? it is going to happen sooner rather than later, I would have thought it would be far easier to attract a TV company with a league that has more teams in it. The BSPL is again showing that it has it's head in the clouds by postponing the agm and delaying the inevitable.

1 Dan Thompson 8.50 2 Paco Castagna 7.05 3 Steve Worrall 6.88 4 Kye Thomson 5.93 5 Justin Sedgmen 7.34 6 Brigitte Macron 2.00 7 Jordy Loftus 2.14 39.84

He literally said he’s looking for sponsors for 2026 yesterday evening, so what is this nonsense?

IMO Monday night Premiership racing is the worst decision ever made. Thursday is slightly better. Who wants to really go out on a Monday night especially parents with kids. And if you’re trying to attract a younger early 20s audience, generally they’ve spent out over the weekend. The majority of our meetings should be on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and if that means we have to lose the ‘stars’ then so be it, the sport is or needs to be bigger than any individual rider.

I believe Workington are in talks with Dan Thompson

Just got round to reading the October edition. As ever an entertaining read. I actually attended 3 of the meetings mentioned in the opening feature on big swings in second leg Cup ties. The 2 involving Cradley, the second of which is sadly most remembered for a bad injury suffered by Peter Collins, and the Wimbledon v Berwick tie in 1988. Another "comeback" worthy of mention was Kings Lynn's recovery in 1984 from a 57-21 drubbing at Eastbourne by winning by the identical score in the second leg. The Stars won the replay as I recall. Though the second leg recovery didn't win the tie, pulling back a 36 point deficit is well worthy of mention. Thanks to Doug for all his hard work over the past few years keeping the memories alive.

I've only seen Ingram once (NDL match) but was very impressed. His scores certainly improved as the season went on in the development competitions. Think he should do ok as a 2 pointer.

Used to enjoy trips to West Row back in the day when the track was pretty much an oval with no straights, and the track material seemed to consist of shale with lumps of old turnips added. Wooden board fence then. An air display on the Sunday afternoons was a regular occurrence by the USAF. The track rakers with their strong suffolk accents were good for a bit of banter between heats 🙂 and really didnt like the Hackney Kestrels beating their "boys"🙂

Wish the Bandits a successful season in 2026.