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I’ve been meaning to post this for a while, but after reading the last few posts and completing a full home season at Scunthorpe last year, I felt it was time to share a bit of perspective from a "new" local. I moved to Lincolnshire last year, and on paper, King’s Lynn is significantly closer to me. However, I decided to make Scunthorpe my go-to track, and I’ve based that decision purely on the quality of racing. Having previously lived in a village just down the road from Leicester, I’d actually stopped going there because, frankly, the racing was so poor. As a lifelong Coventry fan, I’ve seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It’s clear to anyone with eyes that things at the Eddie Wright Raceway are done on a very tight budget. The team for 2026 might not look like world-beaters on paper, and we might not be lifting silverware come October, but after last year, I’ve realised that isn't the most important thing. The racing last year was superb—genuinely entertaining from Heat 1 to 15. I was told by the regulars that it’s "usually even better,". I now consider myself an honorary Scorpion fan. To those who look at the "no-frills" nature of the place and judge it: believe me, if a track like Scunthorpe disappears, you will miss it when it’s gone. This sport needs places like the EWR that prioritise genuine track action over everything else. Regardless of where we finish in the league, I’m massively looking forward to the new season. Lets get behind the lads and hopefully spring a surprise or two.

I used to watch the Colts for a tenner, with my then teenage lad, getting in for free... On a Friday night... With crowds of around 800... The racing was more than on a par with what was getting served up at top league level, and, for the two of us, was around £12 cheaper... Hence, we watched the Colts far more than the Aces... And, given most people in Manchester wouldn't have known their Matej Zagar from their Kyle Bickley, anyone new to the sport would have seen the racing for what it was... ie "the racing".. Personally instead of promoters clubbing together to put out a sixth team, they would be far better clubbing together and marketing a 14 team league with teams across the nation... At what level? "Reasonable"... As the audience they would be trying to attract probably won't know any of the competitors, so "big names" would mean absolutely nothing to them.. Time to "Rip it up and start again"...

https://www.savecoventryspeedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.4312.1

The BSPL are clinging on to two tiers due to the excessive number of riders reliant on doubling up for their earnings. The riders are calling the shots. I don’t see how this sport can move on until the doubling up monster is tackled.

Perhaps the Godfreys' ambition is to run the Scunthorpe speedway to a sensible budget, and provide entertainment (and home wins) for many seasons to come?

Oxford - Weakest reserves in the league but best top 5 (sounds familiar 🤔), think they'll be very strong at the start of the season and will be able to hold the top spot though might not be as strong playoff time as I think the reserves will hold them back over 2 legs. Hopetully Erik stays well this season as he'll be scoring big points. Poole - Potentially the strongest reserve pair by the end of the season (though think they'll end up being better away than at home) and a very good 1 and 5. Gilkes just back from a big injury so might be a bit slow at the start but think he'll grow into a very important rider for the Pirates. Kerr and Bowes are inconsistent which could hurt against stronger teams. Glasgow - All depends on how Mario and Kevin do, if they do well (6+ average) Glasgow could dominate but if they are just staying around their 5 point average or lower the team could just struggle to get any momentum. Otherwise probably the most solid team of the 9, Bomber, Howarth and Flint make a very good top 3 and Hodder and Hagon should be a strong pair. Plymouth - As long as Klima rides most meetings I think Plymouth have a great chance this year, lots of experience and will always have the strongest reserve. Really want to see Plymouth do well. Workington - Team relies on Cook in my opinion, if he doesn't disappear the team has a good chance at the league, JJ I think will only get better from last year and Batch is a good rider to have at 3 or 5, if Cook does disappear though I don't think the team can cover him and they'll struggle. Think Tate will come back to form this year and Jakobsen will be interesting to watch. Edinburgh - Solid looking team but I feel Paco, Kye and Sedgeman can disappear at points in the season which could hold them back. Will be interesting to see if Dan can keep up his improvement and see how he does at number 1. Loftus is also an exciting prospect. Berwick - Quite like the look of the team but everytime I predict them doing well the riders all end up in an ambulance by the end of May it seems. Kildemand, Palovaara and Morris make a strong top 3. Redcar - Not convinced by this team, if Ace keeps up last years form they have the strongest reserve pair for the early season (though think Poole's pair will overtake them) and a good number 1 but not convinced there is much improvement in the 2-5. Not enough power in the middle will make it difficult to claw back if they go down early but also will be difficult to build a lead. Scunthorpe - Strong number 1 and I rate Harrison, apart from that nothing much going for them. Maybe they can make some changes when Picko gets an average but who is out there to bring in? Think the 1-3 can be in any order and 4-8 is incredibly close so should be a very entertaining year. Think the favorites all have different strengths so will be interesting to see over 2 legs who'll come out on top.

With all the doom and gloom on here over the Winter, am I the only one that can’t wait for the season to start? I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for the season to come round for many a season with the line ups in all leagues looking close and competitive. As some as the biggest fans of the sport, and therefore most likely to attract new supporters, can’t we all look at the positives rather than the negatives? Positives - Same number of tracks as last season. Yes ok so some some tracks have chosen not to run in as many leagues as last season (particularly national league) but in terms of actual tracks running, we are at exactly the same number as last year. We’ve lost Birmingham and Kent but gained the yet to be announced new prem team and Buxton - We still have a premiership Great news for Sheffield and Ipswich fans (sale almost completed) that are back at the tapes and with a high chance of a brand new team joining we are just 1 team down from last season and some top stars already back, Holder, Bewley, Douglas, Kurtz etc. - Bright young British stars I honestly think we have some of our most promising young riders coming through for years and if we don’t put too much pressure on them and they keep progressing as they have been then Cairns, Rushen and Scott could be the future Lambert, Bewley and Brennan - The fight goes on Despite all the negativity about the sport dying there are still passionate fans and businessmen out there fighting to bring back former tracks, Coventry, Peterborough, Rye House, Lakeside, Kent, Eastbourne, Swindon, Wolverhampton and no doubt more we don’t know about with rumours of 1 or 2 new locations too. I’m not wearing rose tinted glasses and pretending everything with the sport is perfect by any means but please put things into perspective and give some credit where it’s due, be grateful to the promoters and sponsors that put their hands into their pockets to keep the sport we love going and do everything we can to support it. If we give up then we’ll lose it forever. Enjoy the 2026 season everyone

And yet none of you moaners can give a compelling argument against any of my points?

But what does "winning" bring? Definitely not rich financial rewards, in fact, you could close down due to the cost of being successful, (as has been shown in the sport).. Winning at home wlll be Scunthorpe's target, with putting on some entertaining racing, on a very good track, being the back up to it... With Stox helping to cover any shortfall Speedway may need... No idea what crowds Scunthorpe get but a title winning team won't grow crowd numbers hugely, whilst a wooden spoon team won't lose crowd numbers hugely... The wooden spoon team would be seriously cheaper to run though...

Because, errrr. Because errrr. Because errrr.... Oh Yes..... WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO PROFESSIONAL LEAGUES, THAT'S WHY, END OF!!!!"... (Remembered it in the end).... I presume having two professional leagues is just another "necessary evil"?... Like "guests", and "doubling up", and bringing over dozens and dozens of journeymen after journeymen from abroad down the years, on five point averages, rather than developing UK riders and giving them team place opportunities.. Oh, and add in riding on nights to accommodate your employees wishes, rather than your customers... So many "necessary evils".... In fact, I am amazed any promotion could lose money given such a fantastic, fit for success, operating model...

Exactly, why is there this obsession with the ‘top’ flight? The sport in this country has no credibility. The shrinking numbers that still follow the sport aren’t that bothered about which league their team compete in. Less than a handful of GP level riders is the only difference between the Premiership and Championship. The top tier is so attractive that it has got to the point where they literally are begging clubs to take part! This is not something you would include in your sales pitch when trying to attract new spectators/sponsors to the sport.

Most teams are now at die hard levels who will turn up regularly regardless of league position, as, for many, a "night out at the speedway" is their main reason for being there.. I would be very surprised if promoters budget for any crowd increases at all when planning in their forecasted income.. Especially given the age demographics of the vast majority of their fanbase..

I could absolutely go to town on all of your points but I've decided to leave this topic alone as a little oasis of positivity in the desert of reality of the rest of the forum 👍🏻😂

Woke up this morning, stretched out my elbows, No Wooden sides ! another day to be grateful for .

tbf I don't think anybody else is interested... we have enough of our own problems to discuss without expending energy on Poland's first world problems. And some clubs do crow, instead of looking at themselves they reach for the gun and hold it to the fans heads, instead of running to a budget they can afford in a league that is sustainable for them on a race night that brings in their best crowd.

Respect to them until the ** go up and they start crowing about if you don't come you'll lose it or worse still go bust mid season, then they're left with an "asset" that nobody wants to buy... and that must sound familiar, especially to you guys currently down in Suffolk. And you don't see much criticism of the Polish operating model on this forum as it's the British Speedway Forum and most are posting about the issues facing British clubs and not Polish ones.

if there is a league next year it will be less than championship standard , its the only way it ill survive , crowds this year will be down on last year, council tax water rates gas electric all going up, not many peoples wages will be. But thats my naive and stupid way of thinking.

Of course there are enough riders. There may not be enough riders to maintain 7 man teams to a 40 point limit but there will be enough for 5 or 6 rider teams at whatever strength depending on riders available. It just needs researching properly

And right there is why I should not only be Buxton’s team manager but be the person in charge of the whole national league, as I said in an earlier post we never learn from our historical mistakes and so we are set to fail again

I think I need a pint of what you're drinking!

You're spot on there, think most clubs have their diehard fans at least Scunthorpe always serves up great speedway meetings,and are always run very efficiently

It's not justified at all in this case but then again you're a very Anti-British Speedway member of this forum tbh. Put out a poor 1-7 from the start and the glory hunting fans won't turn up at all. Spend the money by putting out a good 1-7 and the glory hunters will bail out as soon as the going gets tough. That's on the fickle fans.

Seeing if Guest numbers are well up from their pitifully low 196 in 2025? Seeing if £30 admission can be the norm in the top tier? Seeing if you can watch your team race at every track in the top tier within a month of the season starting? Seeing which rider can have the best excuse for missing UK meetings, whilst still riding in either Poland, Sweden, or Denmark or following his own individual ambitions? Seeing which promoter can have the best reason for calling off a meeting, (with a special bonus for the one who uses the longest ranged weather forecast)? Exciting times indeed do lie ahead...

Reasons to be cheerful ? Summer, Buddy Holly, the working folly Good golly, Miss Molly and boats Hammersmith Palais, the Bolshoi Ballet Jump back in the alley and nanny goats 18 wheeler Scammels, dominica camels All other mammals plus equal votes Seeing Piccadilly, Fanny sniffin' Willie Being rather silly and porridge oats A bit of grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it Your welcome we can spare it, yellow socks Too short to be haughty, too nutty to be naughty Going on forty no electric shocks The juice of a carrot, the smile of a parrot A little drop of claret, anything that rocks Elvis and Scotty, the days when I ain't spotty Sitting on a potty, curing smallpox

We know there are problems with speedway helping itself due to all the problems that have been allowed to build up over the last 2-3 decades but that is the number one issue in my book run on the best night for your customers but unfortunately the current set up is run on the best night for the employees which equals bigger losses and probably no jobs for the employees 3-5 years down the line.

As long as you finish in the top 4 anyone of the 4 could win the league, just hope the wheels fall off the pilots bus and they finish out of the top 4 🤪 my unbiased top 4 are worky Plymouth Redcar and Glasgow

I’m sure your pint will be half full 😉

So it's now very much Brian Can't then

Also, to be fair... In football your team is your team... You build an emotional attachment to them.. In Speedway you could have any number of "soldiers of fortune" representing you, from one meeting to the next, with your opponents doing exactly the same.. Which means often "your team" hasn't really won or lost, given they were not really there in the first place.. You also have jeopardy and consequence in football, with relegation meaning fans will still attend a failing team in numbers hoping to stave off this "disaster".. In Speedway, you can choose what league you want to ride in, and win, lose or draw, you choose your future... The bottom line is no trophy delivers enough kudos or financial rewards to take winning one too seriously, therefore many who attend do so for the racing rather than the result, thus seeing UK Speedway as "sports entertainment" rather than a bona fide professional team sport... Which is pretty much fine until admission prices keep rising to that certain level where the individual sees the entertainment value no longer justifying their outlay..

You've got to address the sport and it's supporters how it is though and not how you wish it/they would be. Some fans/supporters are glory hunters, some just like the racing... many of them have been abused by the sport so much over the years and decided up with this they will no longer put. Ideally you'd have a sprinkling of both good competitive racing, some success and an affinity to the club you follow. It is up to the sport to look at other successful sports and take what makes that a success and to apply it to Speedway not just churn out the same old 5h1t every year and then blame the fans when they don't turn out and pay to watch it.

Yes, but... what are they fans of? Guests turning up every week? Insult to the intelligence excuses from riders (and promoters) for not turning up to ride? Your club promoting themselves to a higher league with zero call for this from the fans? Your club changing race nights from a well attended Saturday to a poorly attended Monday? I could go on but we all know the issues with the sport and instead of addressing these some promotions point the finger at the fans 👉 Not all fans look for the same thing in Speedway, you know this from reading comments about your own club, with some saying they'd effectively follow Chris Louis of the cliff! Me, I'm always there because I love my Speedway, success is a bonus, maybe that's because I was brought up on the Lions of the late 70's and early 80's where success was a foreign concept 😂

You also though have things like inflation, goods/services on average are 25% more expensive now post covid partly because the Government at the time printed another £400 billion out of thin air which caused prices to sky rocket, with Putin invading Ukraine adding fuel to it all. Speedway appeals mainly to the working class who will be suffering financially most of all so it is likely people will pick and choose matches that they attend, this will most likely be highlighted even more in the coming season with only five teams so I think its highly probable that crowd numbers will be lower this year and then most likely get a big bump up when the play offs get here.

I’m sure Garage and his Tory failures will save us all

Health service glasses Gigolos and brasses Round or skinny bottoms Take your mum to Paris Lighting up the chalice Wee Willy Harris Bantu Stephen Biko, listening to Rico Harpo, Groucho, Chico Cheddar cheese and pickle, the Vincent motorsickle Slap and tickle Woody Allen, Dali, Dimitri and Pasquale Balabalabala and Volare Something nice to study, phoning up a buddy Being in my nuddy Saying hokey-dokey, singalonga Smokey Coming out of chokey John Coltrane's soprano, Adi Celentano Bonar Colleano

There are riders available and fans will soon get use to a new normal. There will probably be a steep drop off in attendance as a £20-£25 admission charge may seem high for what’s on offer but that will be offset by the lower wage bill. More clubs will no doubt be lost to the sport as will riders who feel a big reduction in fixtures doesn’t pay well enough. We need to stop with this obsession of being better and having the best grace our tracks and just deliver a level the fans demanded and deserve and leave the cream of the sport to Poland and the other speedway nations whilst we run our semi professional events. At the end of the day it’s still four lads doing four laps. Connor Mountain Freddy Hodder Jake Mulford Jack Smith Sam Hagon Harry Fletcher Billy Budd V Jordan Jenkins Ace Piper Paul Starke Vinnie Ford Simon Lambert Eli Meadows Sam Woods

I don't know why people keep insisting there's not enough riders for one league when there clearly are and it would be competitive with some innovative outside the box thinking. Whether there would be in a year or two with the way the NDL has gone is another matter.

If there was no Premiership- but only one “senior” league running on something like a 38 - 40 point limit then that league would consist of no more than eight (maybe nine) teams simply because of a lack of suitable riders. And to be clear, this is not a personal opinion, just an outcome of the math involved. One thing to be sure of …. The eight or nine surviving teams would not all come from this year’s Championship.

His first piece of advice would be to find a sponsor worth millions

Can’t see a long line of people wanting to have his job! Putting his money on the line year in year out. Yes the teams might not always be the best but at least he’s there giving it a good go. Let’s be honest speedway still exists in Scunthorpe because of him

Personally I would not take the risk, get Bailey in for 4 weeks before his Danish and Polish fixtures start in May and Fraser returns from May.

Their approach should be to get back down into the CL and back to running on a Saturday night.

I recently upset someone and they sent me a one word email response. I was surprised that they couldn’t spell ‘can’t’!

We all have different views , after all it’s a democratic country However god help us all if that shower are in government. Now back to the speedway .

they could of done with you on the titanic trying to cheer everyone up as they got on their life boats. 😁

Live updates from Ornskoldsvik: https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/1142/fim-ice-speedway-world-championship-qualifying-round-oernskoeldsvik.html Race card here:

I see that you say matt ford made a mistake with his admission prices last season,but very difficult to know where to pitch prices for leisure events especially in these times,actually nobody knows the right answer but the owners have got to call it as they see it.(no doubt clive you will have to have the last say,but the trap is set! haha)

usually they're cheap and won't speak out of turn 🤣

Get rid of the two tier system and the whole house of cards collapses The Championship (as it is now) is over the moment the Premiership ceases If you can't see that you are either very naive or very stupid

yet there are idiots on here who think the championship cannot survive with out the premiership. Its the premiership which will go 1st.

I genuinely had no idea who she was before reading this thread so can't comment on that side except that it would be interesting to know how they came to the decision to choose her for it. It just looks so amateur though. Cameo is to wish people happy birthday or see who's dumb enough to say hello to Mike Hunt, not for what should be a serious competition in a professional sport. You even have the final two sides picked out at the same time! Getting 'a name' to do the draw is a solid idea but surely there were better ways of going about it. As an example TNT commentator Darren Fletcher has some history with the sport, could he have been asked and maybe got someone like Ally McCoist to help out, if I remember correctly he's mentioned Glasgow on his radio show in the last year or so.