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What has this topic got to do with Newcastle?

I think Leicester should be congratulated for their use of social media in the last few weeks. They were the first, if not only club to update their supporters on what their plans were, then they announce the departure of their best rider (with Max confirming this 15 minutes later) but within 12 hours announce the signing of Thompson. Anyone would think they actually have put some thought into how they use social media & have a strategy. If this is the case can other clubs please take note....

It's surely the other way around... all these riders have been signed up to CL clubs for weeks

To be fair, Tolley's not perfect by any means but at least he's passionate about British Speedway. The same can't be said for certain CHAMP Promoters and Owners.

Like when certain Ipswich fans were demanding teams moved up and were going to lose tons of money just to keep the failing premiership going? Were those Ipswich fans going to cover the costs of that team? I don’t think so, so it’s a stupid thing to say about an individual covering costs. I agree it’s his right to do but would he have been selling up if he got what he wanted? He would have been happy if we had another sacrificial lamb in the top flight. Last year’s premiership was basically a 5 team league as Oxford and Birmingham were so uncompetitive it’s not really changed that much. We even had an Ipswich fan on here having a pop at Plymouth because they didn’t win a trophy so the season was unsuccessful. That club had a great season imo as they got bigger crowds and the feel good factor returned.

Nor was Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger....it's just impossible to compare riders from different eras and although it gives us fans hours of endless fun speculating, it really is an impossible task to say who was the greatest rider ever. The greatest you've actually seen maybe, but not of all time.

http://sheffield-speedway.com/news.php?extend.3769&fbclid=IwY2xjawOxQeJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKTHBCNVlZamRNTVFRRjJrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHunOm4zFqbfHUiW6ZDpVcyCkaaKa4T9ePhurhI_oqx2L-5SU4PI4tODp4N9E_aem_eFfMT6JnqG9Nuux-2VtGLg

I'd like to know what is being put in place to ensure we're not in the exact same situation (but worse) in twelve months time. The number of clubs left makes one league more sensible. Clubs racing on a night that suits them also makes sense. What needs to be done is something to make that viable. The stumbling blocks all revolve around riders. Be it the international race nights which take preference and the lack of riders of a good enough standard to fill 14 teams without doubling up (impossible in one league). So there should be a big focus next season on getting British riders to a competitive standard at Championship level at least. A good pool of domestic talent will be important to mean sides can have carte blanche over their race nights (not a complete solution I'm aware). But, as we know the Championship teams are full speed ahead at building teams and there are no rules in place (rising star scheme for example) to promote British youngsters at that level. The Premiership isn't sustainable. The Championship sides haven't helped matters by not implementing a rising star scheme or similar. It needs to be changed for next season regardless of what has been signed already, or we're putting off change for good for at least another year. That's valuable time. Everyone needs to pull together in one direction for the good and future of British Speedway.

Seems to be an annual topic this, is Craig Cook worth the risk? He's just about as good as anyone in this league on his day. But I've lost count how many last chances he's had, how many times he's gone AWOL and let people down. Ability - yes. Reliability - no.

Or premiership promoters who throw out the toys when they don’t get there way.

Still way behind Nielsen in my view.

Dan Thompson signs for Leicester. very sad to see him move on but it’s a great career move for him as he rides the track so well. been great to see him blossom from rising star to where he is now It was dans improvement which gained us the league title imo hope we get a chance to see you at foxhall

Well that’s good news coming out of tonight’s STAARS meeting, hopefully we start to hear some team news in the coming days and weeks 😄

It is no different to prior years when certain promoters did not get what they wanted but then you have look deeper and see what the Louis family have done for Ipswich speedway and Suffolk and understand that speedway at the top level is shot to sh..e and most astute business people would walk away given the proposed set up. The proposed Premiership is a bastardised version of the Championship with double uppers simply lining their pockets to try and maintain a living from a sport which is on it knees. The mainland European scene makes it easier for riders to ply their trade in different countries without the hassle of riding in the UK. Speedway in this country is out on a limb for so many reasons and needs to reinvent itself and stop thinking it is something it is not. Regroup and enter the international stage in five years or so but until then accept most riders are also rans and the UK needs to develop its own talent. Fans and promoters need to bite the bullet and support what is available to build for the future. Allow those who do rise to the top in British speedway ply the trade overseas where they can make an impact and if they wish to take advantage of the technical tracks in the UK let them ride but at a cost that clubs can realistically afford. No more supplementing the pension fund.

Maybe you would like to provide the £95,000 deficit out of your own pocket ? Chris hasn’t thrown out the toys imo. No threats of closure etc. purely I require a 6 team league for my business to be sustainable. That’s not possible so he is selling up as is his right to do so

I think they should be. Speedway dying on its feet elsewhere. Do they really want to be the last country standing running Speedway? No international tournaments, no foreign riders, isolation or what?

And providing full formal apprenticeship schemes for riders and mechanics

Think you've got to put faith in Cookie. Vuolas just can't seem to adapt to the majority of British tracks but Cookie is a proven No.1 in this League, It's just his mindset that's the problem.

I understood the asset system - along with loan fees - had been dispensed with? And testimonials were considered for riders that have been in British speedway for 10 years?

360 podcast is doing live episode on FB at 8pm on Sunday, Derek ,myself, Simon lambert,Stuart Robson and Ben barker, take part, submit your live questions and comments, what could possibly go wrong with that 😂

Doyle has a finite time left in the sport ,therefore needs to make the best financial decisions he can to maximise his income .

Just got back from STAARS meeting. It's going to be a tough year but we are going to be in good hands. I think we will have a good team, but time will tell on that one. Let's just get through this year then hopefully a better solution can be sorted for 2027

No thanks 👎🏻 A half decent CL team 👍🏻

2027 is the ONE other team rule that is coming in...

His "team", think it was his mechanic, let us know how serious his illness was but many seem to have forgotten or ignore the fact. He came back, still not fully recovered, from his illness, and many negative comments have been made about his lower scores. I believe now that he is recovered Berwick has made an excellent signing and that we, the Monarchs, may regret not including him. It is always difficult to come within the 40 point limit or perhaps travelling costs were a factor. Who knows but most Monarchs fans wish him well.

Maybe he has learnt from it, hope so for his own sake because he wont last long at Poole if not.

Surely after all the effort put in to getting them back on track last year and with Glasgow on board, Cook is a no no. The risk of peeing off the fans feels much higher than the reward with Cook these days

As Ipswich trade at a profit the initial asking price would be based on the value of that profit with any interest and tax paid added back. This provides an Ebit (Earnings before interest & tax) figure which a multiplier is used to create a selling price. Example an Ebit of 10 with a multiplier of 6 would give a sales price of 60. Goodwill would be the difference between asset value and the sales price. Then comes negotiations where future forecasts and opinion on the likelihood of the business delivering same, higher or lower earnings in years to come. It’s fair to say that with Speedway being in an apparent perilous state, potential buyers would be looking at a possible purchase with a high level of risk attached thus a lower offer (valuation of goodwill) could be expected.

Me too Dean !

What makes you both think that? On pure 2025 averages (across all meetings) alone, Mitch was higher... 6.18 - Mitchell McDiarmid 5.68 - Fraser Bowes Do you think Bowes will improve more than McDiarmid in 2026 - at a new home track, whereas Mitch is at the same track as in 2025? I can't it even see it being close in Mitch's favour. Each to their own though.

Palm Toft on a 4.07 converted ave? Former Lynn rider.

I think he would take to the Prem just fine and he offers so much both on and off the track as a signing. And I think he would be there every week unlike Gusts and put in 100% every race unlike Gusts. Basically he would be a much better signing than Gusts on pretty much every measure you could think of.

He might want Sheffield but do they want him with his wage demands? 🤷‍♂️

A very good question. 😵

they barely support international tournaments anyway, im not sure if they would be too concerned if they were the last nation left.

Did someone mention that over 70 riders were contesting the Polish U21 Championship? When you are laying out £1000 a point, and upwards, you will never be short of riders...

Indeed such a shame the Championship have to steal Premiership second strings to use as their No1s

Just a guess R. Douglas 8.12 D. Thompson 5.87 N. Morris 5.89 K. Howarth 5.00 S.Masters 7.28 D.Kemp 4.72 RS 36.88 /37.00

Leicester have set an example and every Club needs to follow. Social Media is a big part of today's world and Clubs have to get with the times to work the Social Media game.

The lads looked after himself and you can't blame him - huge talen and i have enjoyed watching his progress at Foxhall

Don't get @lewy too excited, it's not good for him at his age 😁

And let the doubling up begin,

Finally announced what was agreed and has been an open secret sincere about August then I think the vast majority of Ipswich fans will be hugely disappointed to see him go but delighted if Dan can keep progressing I feel having the comfortable surroundings of what he obviously sees as home will help him make the next steps on the international stage A decent talent with a determined attitude and a solid professional approach so should continue to do well

First signing is Dan Thompson.

Are you speaking from experience? or presuming what some people say is correct??

So it's Douglas, Masters, Becker, Howarth & Kemp ... add Flint to the mix... wait did Wolves ever have that team?

Love or hate him but Cookie is still one of the best riders in the league that’s the fact here we can all probably agree with. For me and whatever the reason was he shouldn’t of left last season he’s realistically got a few years left in the tank he’s a local lad and has the best track and set up in the country on his doorstep, if he does put the blue and white on again I feel he will be fired up to do what he knows he can and with that it gives us a lot of strength and experience in the big heats. Craig and Troy are some of the best team riders in the league, I also agree with the comment above him and Tate team rode so well together and were 5-1 machines at 1 and 2. Lets see what’s announced next! Give us a C

Good words from Stewart Dickson in the statement. Fricke will score Double Figures every week no doubt about it, But do you actually gain anything if you've effectively got to go with 2 Rising Stars at reserve as well as a 4.00 Newcomer in the 1-5 who's got no British experience? As we all know, Leicester's undoing over the last couple of seasons has been the reserve berths.

I presume by Nick you mean old Sniffer Morris?

shall I put it this way... ...the Premiership only had 6 riders who were too good for the Championship, I know there were more who didn't tide in the championship but the likes of Becker, Brennan, Douglas and Pickering are hardly world stars. Excellent but not in the top 20 riders in the world. If you want a premium product it has to be that. This season at least two of those 6 won't be riding. Personally I don't think you can offer a premium product in this country because the infrastructure, apart from the NSS, isn't conducive to it. In terms of either the tracks or stadia. But if you do need a premium product find a format in which you can at least see a high % of those top 20 riders in the world.