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And Rye House had very healthy crowds in 2017 in the Premiership. Why? Because they rode on a Saturday or Friday night. One of the worst decisions the sport has made in recent times is agreeing to fixed race nights in the Premiership.

I think most on here seem to want one league, so plenty of variety of visiting teams, ran at current Championship level,, either with or without "World Stars", and done on nights that you can generate the best crowd levels for your business... It seems the fans of just one team want to keep the current operating model...

To be honest the national league or conference league as it was called then was a pretty good product from around 2000-2006 with teams like Weymouth, Wimbledon and Plymouth running infront of big crowds but jealousy set in from above and the bspl sent agent cook in to destroy the national league and reduce it to a training league and by the time I left it in 2012 it was pretty much on its knees to sadly where it is today

Unfortunately, your blinkered view on this stops you seeing that there are riders who could be perfectly competent at Championship level, but who do not get the chances. In a lower standard league set up (which is where we are heading) some of those will flourish. They may never be world beaters, they may never ride at current Premiership level, but they will put on exciting speedway racing. You just need to be open to that. And, in time, the numbers will increase

I would argue its riders like this that have been one of the downfalls of the sport and taking team spots away from younger riders. Where is that stat again with how many young riders have retired over the past few years?

right ive finally convinced myself that you are actually trolling with every post.

Of course, it can be a great night out... I can see myself taking in a couple of weekends in Scotland/North England to watch a Friday/Saturday "Northern Tour" with the Aces. And a weekend in Plymouth in summer is always worth a visit.. The operating model is knackered. Self inflicted knackered... So they need to do something different... Four Superstars in a race can be strung out by almost a straight. Four "Paul Starkes and Jack Smiths" can be in a race strung out by almost a straight... The bottom line is... Four "Paul Starkes or Jack Smiths" will be a damn sight more affordable for the sport, than four "Superstars" and be as well known to the hundreds of thousands of potential punters living less than 30 mins away from almost all the tracks in the UK.. Drastic times, means drastic answers... Five rider teams, racing in any days except Tuesday and Sunday and you might just keep the sport going... Keep doing the same old/same old, and, as the evidence shows over the last decade or so, it definitely won't keep going... Apart from the Ipswich v Belle Vue Home and Away 12 times each, "Elite League" obviously.. Plus the Cup Final between the two... Should be a cracker...

When the second division started accepting journeyman foreigners, it was a step back for British speedway as a whole but good for them. Like wise when they moved from double uppers to double downers around 2017/18 it was good for them but bad for British speedway as it led to our rider shortage. Championship fans are constantly referring to the predictable nature of the top league which is laughable given the championship is now the Poole & Glasgow show and has been for years. Add in the supposed variety you get in the Championship compared to the Premiership even though we are only taking two more teams and the fact that two of their teams met each other 10 times also slips the mind. Ten years ago there were 13 teams in the championship but that is down to 9. When it comes to losing teams from then to 2025, it’s 4-1 to the championship. I post this to balance things up and shine a light on the them and us mentality that has blighted our sport for longer than I care to remember. WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER and need to leave our competition out on the track and not in the boardroom. It’s a symbiotic relationship where what happens to one massively affects the other.

When you look at other "small sports" in the UK, eg Basketball and Ice Hockey, one getting a similar amount of fans for league matches, (Basketball), (although the Basketball play offs did get 15,000 there), and the other (Ice Hockey), a good number more than UK Speedway gets. (Last season UK Ice Hockey averaged over 3600 per game).. Neither though use "World Stars,", as, simply they couldn't afford them.. Therefore they use "decent" players from overseas and, in the main, UK lads... With both sports knowing that bigger European and Scandinavian teams can offer more money to the best talent as they progress through the UK system, with these lads often moving into Europe and Scandinavia to ultimately try and get an NBA or NHL contract... In short, like BSB do in motorbike racing, they "know their place"... They know they have a product to sell which isn't on the level of other bigger competitions within their own sport, and accept that they pretty much end up as a "feeder system" for these more financially rewarding competitions... So they have plenty of UK lads coming through to replace those who move on to bigger things .. UK Speedway still wants to seemingly use "World Stars", even though their presence has seen a reduction in crowd numbers, and an increase in costs ... And, has spent decades replacing journeymen foreigners with journeymen foreigners... And all done to win something they personally hugely devalue due to a ludicrous set of operating regulations... Meaning any "success" attained resonates amongst very few people, and delivers little in financial rewards... A truly "unique" way of running a business... I presume the AGM has been put back to January so they can have time to unpick all the inherent, obvious flaws in the plan...? And, instead ,put together a plan for the future that is actually fit for purpose..?

Yet if those same riders were given opportunities and invested in they would improve dramatically, not gve up, and become the future conveyor belt of talent for the higher echelons of the sport. As a Wimbledon supporter brought up on World champions and top internationals, who then saw the team ride in the second tier and in the third tier, I can witness that the entertainment was equally as good in all 3 tiers, and we supported it. Of course, the NDL was not helped by BSPL deliberately weakening the product, and that would have to be reversed. By the way, I don't agree with your derogatory 'no hoper' comment. In all walks of life there will be people who do not make the grade

its not about the premiership its about the sport its self in this country, all you are asking for is more of the same. we are virtually saying its going to have to start again.

You should hear how much those skate sharpeners earn!!!

I think in effect without the TV money and sponsorship that directly brought in, EVERY club is in effect a Championship club

With respect, I think you need to think outside of the box a little more, the race format doesn't need a couple of tweaks... it needs radical overhaul. You seem to be basing most of your arguments to fit into the current way of things, this need scrapping, it has failed. I don't think anybody is suggesting that Ollie Binns is going to be facing Chris Harris and/or Richard Lawson all night, in fact he shouldn't be facing them at all at his level. For me the NDL needs incorporating onto the CL with a clear progression path for riders with the race format. So reserves only ever race against reserves and the lowest second string, the second string only rides against reserves and the 2nd/3rd heat leader and so on up the ladder.

Folk on here for the large part appear not to grasp or at least wish to acknowledge Prem & Champ leagues are not individual entities but part of the BSPL. A workable solution needs to be found that represents the best interests of the collective BSPL. Should an impasse prevail and a solution to the current problems facing the prem cannot be agreed and implemented it would be a complete mistake to assume the consequences will only effect those clubs currently in the Prem as the implications will be far more reaching and severely impact most if not all champ clubs to (for some) oblivion.

Define successful? Is winning the top league but losing a mountain of cash more successful than running a profitable enterprise at a lower level? There are different definitions of success but unless the Premiership can offer a financially sustainable model then Championship clubs appear to be sensibly choosing to stay at a level that is viable.

Landlords and Developers, Iain..... They are to blame for all the issues the sport faces.... 100%. The Landlords and Developers... All their fault, this ... Booooooooo!!! To all you Landlords and Developers.... Boooooooooo!!!! Alright, maybe not ALL down to them....😀

Correct call in blocking Sheffield's CHAMP application (If true) Whoever buys Sheffield should have it be known in advance that Sheffield have to run at PREM level (If it remains)

Football? Is that still going ..😝

I spoke to a promoter a few weeks back and he said there is enough riders for 1 league and he has had loads of calls from European riders that would come over now the under 24 league in Poland is finished and now more like a NL standard

a) scrap fixed race nights, it's killing clubs. b) there were 151 riders active in British Speedway last year, even if half of them left, it's still enough for 14 x 5 rider teams. c) Worky etc. could compete at a sensible level d) 101 Query1 Name SumOfMatches Luke Harrison 48 Chris Harris 44 Danny King 44 Drew Kemp 44 Richard Lawson 44 Sam Masters 44 Charles Wright 43 Joe Thompson 43 Luke Killeen 43 Tate Zischke 43 Zach Cook 43 Kyle Howarth 42 Anders Rowe 41 Leon Flint 40 Jake Mulford 39 Michele Castagna 38 Peter Kildemand 37 Nicolai Klindt 36 Dan Thompson 35 Sam Hagon 35 Ace Pijper 34 Jason Edwards 34 Justin Sedgmen 34 Lewis Kerr 34 Jonas Jeppesen 32 Jody Scott 31 Freddy Hodder 30 Max Perry 29 Dayle Wood 28 Vinnie Foord 28 William Cairns 28 Jordan Jenkins 26 Jye Etheridge 26 Chris Holder 24 Dan Bewley 24 Max Fricke 24 Ryan Douglas 24 Tobiasz Musielak 24 Tom Brennan 24 Adam Ellis 23 Antti Vuolas 23 Ben Trigger 23 Emil Sayfutdinov 23 Jaimon Lidsey 23 Keynan Rew 23 Maciej Janowski 23 Niels-Kristian Iversen 23 Rohan Tungate 23 Brady Kurtz 22 Jack Holder 22 Jan Kvech 22 Jordy Loftus 22 Josh Pickering 22 Tom Spencer 22 Victor Palovaara 22 Jason Doyle 21 Ben Barker 20 Connor Mountain 20 Kye Thomson 20 Matej Zagar 20 Norick Blodorn 20 Paul Starke 20 Simon Lambert 20 Troy Batchelor 20 Zaine Kennedy 20 Darryl Ritchings 19 Erik Riss 19 Jacob Hook 19 Jonatan Grahn 19 Steve Worrall 19 Tobias Thomsen 19 Alfie Bowtell 18 Cooper Rushen 18 Declan Kennedy 18 Jack Smith 18 Jake Allen 18 Ryan Ingram 18 Senna Summers 18 Arran Butcher 17 Mitch McDiarmid 17 Cameron Heeps 16 Fraser Bowes 16 Luke Harris 16 Ashton Vale 15 Eli Meadows 15 Ashton Boughen 14 Francis Gusts 14 Harry Fletcher 14 Luke Becker 14 Max Broadhurst 14 Michael Palm Toft 14 Nick Morris 14 Stene Pijper 14 Craig Cook 13 Danyon Hume 13 Harrison Rogers 13 Jonas Knudsen 13 Kai Ward 13 Ben Cook 12 Ben Morley 12 Connor Coles 12 Jacob Clouting 12 Lasse Fredriksen 12 Sam McGurk 12 Jamie Etherington 11 Billy Budd 10 Charlie Southwick 10 Jack Shimelt 10 Lee Harrison 10 Mitchell Cluff 10 Scott Nicholls 10 Calum Mitchell 8 Mark Parker 8 Mason Watson 8 Max James 8 Mickie Simpson 8 Sonny Springer 8 Villads Nagel 7 Dan Gilkes 6 Danny Phillips 6 Jack Kingston 6 Matt Marson 6 Michael Jepsen Jensen 6 Nathan Hargrave 6 Charlie Wood 5 Jamie Halder 5 Kenzie Cossey 5 Nathan Ablitt 5 Oskar Polis 5 Sam Woods 5 Ben Rathbone 4 Elliot Kelly 4 Caydin Martin 3 Dylan Huthwaite 3 Kieran Douglas 3 Luke Crang 3 Morgan Williams 3 Owen Booth 3 Seth Norman 3 Bastian Borke 2 Daniel Klima 2 Harley Driscoll-Freeman 2 Joe Crewe 2 Kyran Lyden 2 Laylen Richardson 2 Liam Greens 2 Bailey Fellows 1 Connor King 1 Jack Crewe 1 Jack Franklin 1 Ollie Binns 1

Backed by his new sponsor Kleenex

Maybe a case of ‘Better the devil you know’ 🙂

It's going to be very easy for the promoters when they do eventually meet in January. They only have to read this thread and all will become very clear to them exactly what the fans want...er...

Needs must though, if there's no willingness to change from a failing model it's game over, I can't understand why people think that doing the same thing and expecting different results is the way to go.

Spookily.... Correct. .😀 Averaging over 3600 a match are numbers that Speedway would kill for.... And would also mean the current situation wouldn't exist.... Imagine getting over £70k in revenue each meeting? You could even pay £15k to £20k out in rent and the landlord might even consider letting you stay then, and not selling up...

... and I bet their players can't be seen turning out for another team in this country let alone abroad and I believe that there is no individual championship for players either, their player plays for their club only, maybe also at international level for their country, forgive my ignorance I have zero knowledge of the sport but I'm guessing that's the case because that's how team sport is run.

They also have never had "World Stars" so their fans (and maybe more importantly) the owners, don't have any expectations that they need to rub shoulders with the best of the best. My mate plays for the Storm reserves in Manchester and hardly watches NHL but goes everywhere to watch the Storm and can give me chapter and verse on every UK player... He, and all the fanbase,has zero expectation of ever seeing a "World Star" nor have the owners of ever signing one .. I sometimes wonder if it is the fans or the promoters who actually want to have "World Stars" at tracks the most ... Top tier fans, by the lack of big attendances at many tracks when the "World Stars" are there, suggests it isn't them...

I have no doubt you are speaking your truth. I suspect that others on here will have their own truths too. as do I. My truth is to wait until the AGM - when I am sure we will find out what is going on. Until then it is all conjecture.

Can’t see any team paying money towards any championship club to move up, they have already lost upwards of £60k before a wheel is turned with no tv money in the pot . The championship clubs seem to doing ok as it is and riding on the nights they want to and within their budget so why would they want to change it Ben Barker posted this tonight on his FB page So with all of the uncertainty about whats going on and with rules that Poland are bringing in for the 2027 season being that any1 roding in Poland can only rode in 1 other league.. surely us as British Speedway should be making in that Britain are the second league they choose! Because quite simply having 20odd meetings to me isnt appealing enough for all of these riders as they will need 2 have 2 vans 5 bikes 2/3 mechanics... where if they choose Sweden or Denmark as there second league they can run it from 1 van 3 bikes the cost are so much less having there second league in Europe... So how to we make the Australians,Swedish,Danish,German and all of the others nationalitys choose Britain as there second league? My opinion is they not going to Sweden or denmark for a huge pay cheques... there going for bike time to keep there mind and body in race mode so my solution is 1 league which will give every plenty of meetings when u include the bsn and koc and some challeng matches etc I feel if we dont act on this in this winter period we're gonna be in the same situation in 12 months time... I know some clubs think there are Better than the championship... but all but 1 club has raced in the championship or premier league as it was known.. Sorry for the boring post but I feel we need to do something to save british speedway and not just cover the crack for another season...

I know Lando Norris' clothing brand done a Speedway marketing campaign, but again that wasn't well utilised

The Paramount deal has come as a great surprise to Everyone in the broadcast industry. WBD were already planning an exit from UK satellite broadcasting and move just to Dmax online but with no CL subscribers will be lost and need to review pricing. i wouldn’t be surprised if there is some commercial bulk deal for Paramount CBS Sport to be included in Sky Sports subscription as realistically cannot see consumers paying for Sky Sports Paramount Netflix Disney + Prime Discovery/Dmax You would be looking at £200 a month which is out of reach for most people

TNT have lost UEFA Champions League rights from 2027 so what are the chances of them coming back to the table if we get a 6 Team PREM?

Yeah too many people barking up the wrong tree on here.............

Race format does need a couple of tweaks I agree. We should have 2 Reserve Races a Night, The usual Heat 2 and another during the 2nd half of the meeting.

This year it would have been Joe Thompson. Having been released by the Lions he was re signed due to two rising stars being injured during the season. However, being complacent cannot be laid at Joe’s door. He tried everything possible and gave 100% but being perfectly competent to race at Prem level? Given he came last in every one of his last twelve races for the lions answers that question doesn’t it?

“Chris Harris been holding speedway back for years”…….I think I’ve heard it all now. Definitely number one in my chart of stupid is stupid does statements

It's not even about the PREM with me anymore, It's all about the thing that keeps British Speedway fuctioning (D/UP Scheme) The D/UP Scheme is that Block in a Jenga Tower that you don't take out because if you do, The whole thing falls down.

No thanks would rather take a punt on someone new than have to watch Thomsen. As someone said be better going to a track he is consistent scoring wise.

all you that want the same as last year do you really believe thats going to save the sport.

Or they get a job outside Speedway? Like the majority of riders used to do.... Or they get another team place riding in Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany or France?

I think pretty much everyone on here recognises that it is very much a collective. . And pretty much everyone on here also seem to recognise that the top league is an unsustainable, unfit for purpose, busted flush, that not enough people want to support financially by attending in enough numbers, and not enough teams want to join for those very reasons... The time has come, (it actually came around two decades ago) for less full time professionals and more semi pro riders.... One job outside of speedway, should they not want to go overseas once or twice a week, and one job in Speedway.. How it "used to be" before Doubling Up and Guestfests became the operating model so riders could become full time professionals with plenty of meetings.. I always think if is quite telling how that when the sport was popular, the promoters were mainly businessmen and entrepreneur's who did "all sorts" to get a crowd in, and didn't do a deal unless they benefited too... Nowadays many promoters are ex riders, and I just wonder whether some are too close to the riders, and have too much of an affinity to them...

Do love a good guessing game tbh. 😄 Be a bit boring if we knew what the team was 😉

With no Premiership there is no viable level for the Championshio either Rider numbers and costs are only possible in the Championship due to subsidy from Premiership funding

Will it be Fraser Bowes lol

Peterborough, Birmingham, Rye House

100% When Poole went into Div 2 they were quite open that their fans could still get to watch around 70% of the same riders that they could in Div 1, but they were not paying out the same money.. That only could be done due to these riders still being in Div 1 at the same time.. What we have now is the obvious result of minimal long term planning around rider development, with each year, no one looking further down the line than "getting to October"... With the obvious lack of independent leadership to prevent teams pretty much doing what they wanted, when they wanted, to suit their own agenda and not the overall sports' agenda.... However, given that agenda pretty much didn't exist, you cannot blame them.. Poole, as an example, have certainly shown that Div 2 is profitable, and they even, if memory serves, reduced admission when they went into the 2nd tier.. If it's profitable without riders getting a Div 1 wage is probably the million dollar question, however riders can also get another job (like the majority used to), particularly if they only are riding for one team in the UK, rather than two...

For the sake of Sheffield, and keeping them going I think that additional burden shouldn't be imposed on the new owners. If indeed new owners can be found. I can't imagine much, if any of that missing 80k quoted (60k TV % 20k sponsorship) was pure profit. What an absolute mess the Premiership is in

If it doesn't work out after 1 season then they may not exist to drop back down i still don't understand why Poole and Glasgow should lose money to save the PL Will the other PL promoters underwrite their loses to save the sport in this country?

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.