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No, far from it. But he is the only rider, as far as I know, that has robbed an elderly woman armed with knives whilst out of his head on crack cocaine. There have been many instances where a rider can come back from a drugs ban. Smarty came back from missing a season and a half and was better than ever after it. Roger Lobb made a successful comeback and Nick Morris seems to of done okay. I do think the ban should be longer for being caught under the influence and they should be tested every meeting for the rest of their career. People say its expensive but it really isn't, I was working in the mines in Australia a few years back and drug tests cost them next to nothing. It is mad how it gets out that drug testers are in attendance at tracks which causes riders to suddenly have a van break down on them. Its criminal how a plank like Garrity can do what he has and now seemingly has Havelock and Wilson backing him on his comeback whereas genuine decent lads with equal ability get next to nothing to help them.

End of year update

The original intention was just for British youngsters to gain top flight experience but self interest ruled and it became a free for all

While fans crow about woffinden dudek laguta, madsen and riders like that not riding in England, we should really be looking at riders like woryna, drabik, buckowski and locatiev, these type of riders while not exactly are at the top are all action out and out racers who don’t give an inch, I love watching these riders in the polish leagues and would love to see them over here where I believe fans would love their no nonsense racing

So it was you that started the downfall of British Speedway! Send him down👨‍⚖️👎🏻 😂

What a sorry state as we are about to turn the page into 2026 and still no idea how many teams will be in the league with 11 weeks roughly to the start of the season - how can anyone plan riders or sponsors and to a lesser degree fans . And how can this league be taken as a serious professional league ?

I don't say that... I say that there's plenty of riders already available in the UK that just aren't given a chance in favour of a ready made foreigner

So pleased you cleared that up. I was beginning to wonder what average we was going to get rolf on. 😁

Should be no facility in those circumstances

Retired to build a business empire rivalling ab cruisers , good luck to steve for the future.

Yeah I've got it - too many involved lack the ambition, ability and skills to promote and progress the sport

WOW!!! I had to check Mike - I thought it was Sir Keir Starmer posting. 😉

For me the "big drop" started when the GP's meant weekend matches still got planned in even though ”star men" would clearly be missing... Meaning Guestfests became the norm, and not the exception... Good news for the clubs though as they didn't have the highest earners to pay, but bad news for the fans... Then Poland kicked in and meetings got arranged when the riders could be there, rather than when the fans could be there, or, even more Guesfests took place knowing riders wouldn't be there.... Add in dozens of third rate journeymen foreigners taking the places of fourth rate UK lads (who could have developed into third rate riders and maybe even more), and you delivered an ever dwindling offer to an ever dwindling fan base.... It was quite telling to read in a recent Speedway Star about the signing of Zach Cook for Poole, and how his Polish contract will impact his appearances... His Promoter said that they would do their best to work around his Polish commitments when Poole are away riding at a weekend track, however, "some clashes will be inevitable", but "the most important thing is he will be available for every Poole home meeting"... So, I presume, a guest will come in when he cannot be there, or RR is used.. Some things never change in UK Speedway it seems...

As was always going to be the ultimate outcome from around two decades ago... Short term decision making , after short term decision making, after short term decision making... Years of.... No Leadership, No Strategy, No Vision, and No Growth Plan.... A perfect scenario to deliver precisely what we have today... No surprises though, as what we have today has been called out as the only outcome possible, on here, for years.... You can only presume therefore, that the Promoters didn't see the obvious only outcome of their year on year actions..? Which, given they are the ones trying to sort out the current self inflicted situation, doesn't exactly fill you with confidence does it?

By jove... I think he's got it 😂

So basically we are headed for (at best) a semi professional set up I the UK See above - if that is true and we can't even attract and afford up and coming U21 riders what chance those in the category you mention I'm coming to the conclusion that there will not be any common ground between enough clubs to be able to get ANYTHING agreed let alone work UK Speedway is f@c£Ed barring a miracle influx of cash from a currently unforseen siurce

And the most worrying bit about the whole sorry affair is the BSPL don’t seem to see it

The mythical new team is intriguing to say the least. Personally without any inside knowledge and just speculating what seems the more likely, I'd say "THE DEAN MACHINE" is probably closest to the truth suggesting a current Champs running a 2nd team like Oxford did with other Premier teams helping to subsidise what would likely be a loss making venture. I'd of thought the Oxford promotion won't be getting their fingers burnt again after trying it for two seasons but I'd suggest Oxford is one of the few Championship venues that doesn't have major restrictions on nights they can stage speedway so maybe a Swindon team running out of there? Scunthorpes Championship team is currently only propped up by their practise days, amatuer meetings and stock cars so unless it is jointly funded by the other Prem tracks I couldn't see Godfrey fancying taking on a load of debt and undermining the Scorpians team at the same time. A track running 2 senior teams would likely need to be Centrally based in order to possibly attract floating support. As for former venues still standing - Rye House and Coventry aren't ready, Arena Essex is overgrown and the owners seemingly aren't interested, the Showground owners at Peterborough have been approached but don't want the sport back, Eastbournes the same, Newcastle, Sunderland, Wolves and Kent are owned by big gambling firms seemingly not interested in speedway unless it was for extortionate rent, Great Yarmouth stadium which last staged speedway in 1961 is still running and in good nick but would cost a small fortune to reopen and they often struggled for crowds in those days, Workingtons Derwent Park is under 2 miles from the current Workington speedway track who struggle to get viable crowds in the Championship, Carmarthen if it still stands couldn't get viable crowds for 3rd tier racing, Hampden Park and Cliftonhill Coatbridge still stand but would cost an arm and a leg to get going, Hulls New Craven Park has been squared of like Halifax's Shaygrounds, Brafield, Northampton hasn't staged the sport since the late 60's and even then only ran training/ junior level racing which didn't last for long and Bradfords Odsal Stadium would surely cost a small fortune to reopen a track that couldn't get good crowds when they last ran in 1997 and won the Elite League! - It would be great to see a former Centre reopen and for all we know things maybe happening at one of the above venues but they will be reopening in current times, in a top flight that is floundering and just to make up the numbers. Current Non League tracks IoW and Mildenhall could be possibilities but the IoW only get good crowds during the holiday period and the Fen Tigers being in the middle of Ipswich and King's Lynn would struggle to get enough through the gate on a regular basis although I'm sure local Derbies would bring in good crowds. I reckon they are waiting to see what happens at Ipswich and the mystery team will be a 2nd team running out of a Championship track to make up the numbers in the tragic event of Ipswich not running?

I find it absolutely astonishing that people think this piece of dirt should be allowed back into speedway. There are lines between crimes and getting pissed and jumping on a bike, whilst completely irresponsible, is not in the same league as smoking crack and holding up an old woman at gunpoint. He is the lowest of the low. People need to hang their heads in shame comparing him to a rider who has failed a booze or drug test. It is crazy how he didn't get banned before he completely and utterly ballsed his life up. Have heard many stories about his behavior and drugs etc from well before he got banged up.

Like a lot of away riders that come to scunny once or twice a season they struggle but once you ride there every week as your home track you will get the set up dailed in and become better around there

I did ok financially out of the British league cup in 2003, riding meetings for wolves, belle vue, Poole and Eastbourne, replacing the top guys and getting a gaurentee each meeting for scoring very few points but I was no British youngster in 2003, I was 34 😂

Mark Courtney, went to prison for importing drugs into the country and made a successful track return and still works in the sport today .

With the top league clubs starting without any tv deal and some loosing sponsors I guess some will be loosing £60/70k before they pay a penny on riders signing on fee etc why are they going to help a nomad club start up ? I am pretty sure there is no new club coming next year but only time will tell

I think it was longer ago than that Mike in my view it started when Penhall retired, then Lee went off the rails, followed by the sad losses of Carter and Sanders in fairly short succession you had four of the biggest names gone in a few years and it just seemed to be the start of the downhill slide. I was speaking to one of my oldest friends the other day and we were talking about the year when Lynn had Bob Schwartz leading us and I don't think we won a match all year as we were so weak but like now no help was given to strengthen up. New greats did appear in Crump and T Rick and the Sky millions as we all know that was the golden opportunity to reset and stop the rot but was wasted by the short sightedness of those at the top who thought the golden goose would last forever and the number one's at the time hoovering the trough clean and once said trough was empty most left the UK for the new full trough of Poland. I would love to see a new crop of young Americans come through in the Penhall, Moran's. King, Hancock and Hamill mould the test match's against the USA were brilliant back in the day but sadly other than Steve Evans efforts the USA are in an even worse place than us which really does take some effort to achieve.

If they wanted to run a BSPL sponsored side surely running one at Ipswich would be in the best interests? At least it wouldn’t make a loss.

I agree it doesn't sound great but then again in the 1970's and 80's when speedway was in a healthier state many tracks wern't confirmed as running until as late as March and Peterborough's first season in 1970 at their home track didn't start until May of that season! Lets hope we have a pleasant surprise in the new year with Ipswich confirmed as running and a former track reopening!

The riders are dictating the Sport as they have done over here for years,bringing it further down every season.Self Interest rules with Promotions.Until these change the Sport is going nowhere.

I'm not really fussed to be honest but this rhetoric about it being a choice between speedway or crime is just complete rubbish. This chap will be extremely fortunate to be given another opportunity to earn a living doing something which he presumably he loved, just not as much as his other apparent addiction. But to say this is his only chance to stay 'clean' is tantamount to holding a gun to the collective speedway communities head. a. there are plenty of other occupations this chap could pursue. sure those will be limited by his qualifications and his criminal record by there are plenty of ex-convicts who obtain gainful employment. it might not be preferential but the vast majority of us, criminal or not, don't get the opportunity to do our dream job. b. what happens when he is no longer physically able to be a speedway rider? straight back to a life of crime? Like I say I have no opinion on whether or not this chap should be given an opportunity but lets not attempt to justify this as being anything other than extremely fortunate if the opportunity does arise.

In summary seems Minimum of £100k needs to be chucked at any potential venue whether or not its a former speedway venue to satisfy the BSPL. Our AGM is on the 6th January, so get your skates on please. No late payments of membership fees will be accepted. On the granting of our licence , then you are guaranteeed a season of 8 maybe 10, or 12 maybe 15 home meetings in a league for 5 or 6 teams. We havent yet decided the number of teams allowed in our league , nor the exact fixture format. Fixures may be erratic and not run in some months at all , please bear that in mind when negotiating rental deals with your track owners. Please bear with us. Please don't try and run any other speedway meetings on your track without our permission or you will be expelled. We usually run meetings on Mondays or Thursdays, but as you are the last track to join the league you will have to fit in around either day to suit the existing tracks. Previous seasons have shown no clubs have turned a profit in this league, even with generous TV sponsorship which is not forthcoming this season. There are still some riders available to hire that have not been employed by the other clubs in the league. You will ahve to haggle with them to agree terms and as you are the last team to join the league you wll have to take what's available.

You miss the point. We'd all love to earn money doing what we enjoy or are best qualified to do. Given the opportunity anyone would. The point is that doing what he enjoys or is most qualified to do is not his only option to make a useful contribution to society as is being presented by some on here. "If you don't let him ride he'll resort to drug abuse and crime". Utter nonsense. He very well might but that would be on him and not those who decided it wasn't appropriate to employ him. Imagine if we all resorted to drugs and crime if we didn't get what we wanted to do? The vast majority of us just get on with it. Nobody owes this lad a living because he's was a half decent speedway rider, If any promoter is happy enough to accept the negative publicity and risk associated with the lad then that's entirely up to them. If none are willing to do so then he should accept that as a consequence of his own misdemeanours and move on and find another way of being a useful member of society. Perhaps the best comparison is ex footballer Adam Johnson. He made a despicable mistake served his time and has moved on knowing that he'd never be able to do what he was best qualified to do such was the nature of his crime. To say Garrity should be given an opportunity despite the nature of his crime because it's what he does best shows a complete lack of empathy for the victims of his crime and indeed the general public. Who naturally don't like to see people who have behaved despicably being rewarded. I say fair play to any promoter willing to give him a chance. Hopefully he takes it and lives a successful life from this point forward. But let's be clear, any promoter who does so is taking a risk and Garrity should consider himself extremely fortunate to be given an opportunity he is most certainly not entitled to just because he happens to be good at it.

If Rob wants Ablitt i'm sure an appropriate average reduction will have been applied for with him not riding last season.

Just like his brother last season then.

How about shaving a bit off because he's a nice lad

Pmsl not another guess 😂

I believe the start of doubling up in 2003 was the start of the demise. The ill fated British League Cup being the vehicle for this.

Ablitt

I posted over two weeks ago, that he was the only obvious candidate that fit between 7-8 average. Was also based on him back doing Motocross and smashing the gym everyday. No rumour as such, just my logical thoughts, like everything on the forum seems to be sparked from that comment, no actual facts. The club could just as easily come out and sign three 5 point newcomers to British Speedway.

I doubt the sanity of any such venture. Why would the Oxford Cheetahs promoters risk diluting the interest in and attendances for Cheetahs matches, soon after ending a failed experiment. Unless they don't have any influence over it, which would still make it utter madness to attempt

Lambert did say on Speedway 360 that he had a club for next season but didn't say which league. if it is a Championship club the he will be back at Scunny simply by a process of elimination.

It’s simple, riders ambitions are not centred on a career in UK Speedway nowadays as compared to the Past.

So is it okay that after a young lady is sexually abused the perpetrators are all still actively involved in speedway?

safe in the knowledge that there's no possibility of a PLor CL track opening within 100 miles of Old Bobs manor ... the out of season entertainment on this forum has reached new heights this close season. Thread of the year has to go to 2026 Premiership is Go! - At least 5 teams by Round the Boards

We’d better get some decent rider development going then. Tracks first though

So he has equipment & backing/guidance from Havelock & Sean Wilson. Let's hope he gets the opportunity to get on track somewhere & finally takes the opportunity he is being presented with. Nobody wins with the alternative.

He does look class act on the bike.

That makes sense at face value but with a little unpacking Louis motives become a little clearer. At the end of October he knew the tv deal was over and that his team would be weakened by the departure of Emil. So that’s the tv deal and weaker product covered. The air fence is another known item Louis still had to contend with whilst openly planning for 2026. Now we come to the fixture issue. If it’s five teams you’re basically dropping a Birmingham type team for extra visits from Belle Vue & Sheffield. Only Louis can say which is best financially, through we probably all have our own thoughts. BTW, it’s less fixtures with the same repetition or the more repetition with the same fixtures. The house seemed at equal risk in October as it did 2/3 weeks later but imo that’s not the issue, it’s purely down to not getting his own way. I kind of don’t blame him as the trait of almost all speedway promoters is one of “I’m alright Jack, screw you.” Owning that mindset is another thing and we continually get this smoke screen from clubs PR and social media trolls that everything they do is for the good of the sport. Hopefully he doesn’t kill off the club as they have been a welcome addition to the top league recently and their true fans don’t deserve to have the rug pulled after their cup win only a few weeks ago.

We don’t know that’s the case. People on here claim to know all sorts when the reality is they don’t know their @rse from their elbow.

What, that he's paid on time?

Let's run a book on how long it takes for this topic to be pinned.......