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Northampton Cobbledtogethers have announced their exciting new team to take on the 2026 Premiership. Spearheaded by the new Norwegian sensation, Redd Herring, the Cosmopolitan line-up will also include; Nevva Urdavim Legg Traylor Lass Tagane Myles B. Hind Novvi Swobbla Ove Andout

I think we can all agree .. This is the best, most comprehensive, and detailed update so far....

I do get frustrated by the rhetoric continually posted on here. There’s a fallacy that things were different in speedways heyday and the problems blighting our sport are of the modern era. The other week I posted about the excessive use of guests on one Saturday night in ‘74 and the fact that most teams did NOT ride at the weekend, yet people will still point the finger as these being the failings of modern speedway Taking the now famous ‘73 KO Cup final as an example. Belle Vue used a guest and Reading ran R/R. The 2nd leg wasn’t run until the last week of the season, some 3 weeks after the 1st leg as due to the late running it was hit by the bad weather. Sounds familiar? Jim Mcmillian had been knocked out in an earlier round but enjoyed his “winners” medal as a guest for the Aces. We had been running a guest since June. The rules stated in the event of a draw it had to be re run but this was jettisoned in favour of a run off. All this was carried out on a cold Wednesday late October night. All those people who attended that night and in ‘74, ‘75, ‘76, 77 etc did not suddenly experience amnesia, they DECIDE not to attend. During its heyday we had ALL the ills currently affecting the sport, the big difference is that of the customers - they have changed massively and we need to find the holy grail to attract them back. The league is as meaningful as ever. The guests & R/R as prevalent as ever. The UK FIM golds are pretty much as regular as in our heyday. Our “gaters paradise” tracks are still here as they were back then, etc, etc. If we keep kidding ourselves that the sports ills are new then we will waste an awful lot of time and energy trying to fix the bits that are not the reason for our downfall. Speedway is primarily populated by old blokes who think the old days were better, but the reality is that’s not the case and it is to our peril that we get bogged down by this dogma instead of looking to the future and how we engage with modern customers in the modern era.

Or they could be sponsored by Linda Lusardi: Northampton Knockers

And that other Norwegian, Reidar Replacement....

I think the Northampton Norbolds has quite a catchy ring to it.

This is why I’ve been saying for months that if you’re going to persist with a top league, then it doesn’t suit a league with the amount of clubs that people are asking for because there just aren’t enough riders of sufficient quality to make them all competitive. The riders name dropped on the 360 podcast for Northampton sound like an absolute car crash of a team. Even with the likes of Doyle, Emil, Becker and Rew in the league last year and more options than this year, there was still only five teams putting together a competitive team in a seven team league. The two at the bottom were there just to make up the numbers and were with all due respect, cannon fodder. How is that going to be any different in 2027 if the aim is to have a top league of seven, or eight teams? Where are those extra clubs heat leaders going to come from?

I quite like that, for two reasons.....🤣

I’m not convinced he’ll be riding for either.

Absolutely correct. Those in charge are deluded and while one league could work using a broader scale of riders (excluding GP riders and those plying the trade in Poland etc..) the sport in the UK is beyond redemption. If UK speedway continues to believe that it has a role to play on the world stage it is kidding no one but itself. Individual riders may make it to the top but the run of the mill league speedway rider in the UK may produce the odd one or two who can crack the mould and reach the top but most are average but still very capable of entertaining the punters who will then feel that they are getting value for money from an entertainment perspective. 2027 needs planning now but whether those in charge acknowledge this is another issue. Statements to date from the BSPL leave the door open but who can trust them as custodians of the sport?

Speedway was on prime time TV... England won lots of world titles... And, in Peter Collins they had a "Golden Boy' who was as recognised as much as Div One footballers.. Domestic Speedway lived off the back of what the World of Sport served up many Saturdays during the summer months... Domestic Speedway wasn't as quite as "Mickey Mouse" then, as it is now, (196 Guests last year in fhe top two leagues), but still had plenty of "nonsense" going on.. The huge difference being that you only found out when you were at the track that Larry Ross was guesting for PC who had a Long Track meeting in Germany the next day, whereas today you know the meeting in two days will be a "Guestfest" and the main crowd puller will be absent.. Add in the much greater percentage impact to disposable income that attending Speedway has nowadays due to "modern living" and there is no doubt what back then worked, doesn't now.. How is it fixed?.. Not a clue, but, one million percent, doing the same thing ad infinitum, like they do, definitely won't improve their lot...

The fixtures are no longer just a bit late; they’re actively damaging. This lack of organisation impacts so many things; fans (including my own) ability to plan travel and book accommodation. BSN’s ability to market and sell, plus plan logistics, for both season passes and meeting coverage. Sponsors ability to plan corporate attendances and subsequently clubs can’t forecast hospitality planning. The impact this has on cash flow will be huge. I’ve normally booked one or two boxes by now, but I can’t because there’s no fixtures and as a result, Glasgow (or any other club) sees no income stream. BSN’s statement a few weeks ago gave me second hand embarrassment for the BSPL. Our sport will die under the leadership of these stakeholders who are not fit for purpose.

How about the Northampton Non-starters?

No they wouldn't, all fans truly care about at the end of the day is winning... The vast majority anyway. You're not going to get numbers through the door because there's a team of developing riders if they're getting battered every week, it just doesn't happen.

How about 'Northants Ants'

He’s ok if you’ve got a spare £3k guarantee for him for every meeting, he might even do the odd ht15!

I’m pleased to annouce after the very long wait. The Ipswich side for 2026 is :- 1 Jack Pott 2 Justin Case 3 Artie Choke 4 Willie Stroker ( c) 5 Hugh Jass 6 Neil Down 7 Al Beback 8 Frank Einstein. lets hope for a great season as team manager Don Keigh pushes ahead.

Championship fixtures out on Tuesday at midday

The fixtures have been released to the clubs, so expect general release soon, some riders seem not best pleased at the gaps in fixtures

Next weekend the 7-8th Feb is the classic off road show at the Telford international center, it’s a huge show with 1000s of bikers and family’s attending over the 2 days, the usual speedway suspects have stalls there, me, Jan staechmann,,Aiden and Les Collins (ride &Skid) Cov comp,Hagon shocks,Sid’s wheels, I think Buxton, belle vue supporters club and Workington are all represented there and you always get a good sprinkle of former riders, but where are the bspl or speedway futures again ???? It costs peanuts for a stand and as I’m sure the usual folk will say why bother? Well it’s not preaching to the converted for a start,,we need to set up a team that does all the shows no matter how big or small,,we have to get out there and go to the people, anyway hope to see you there

The die hards will be happy with anything,, they will be going anyway. As for the rest I think the team needs to be atleast competitive with a touch of excitement. I'm interested to know if there will be someone different looking after the track,, and how they will prepare it for some possibly good racing.

Is that the Northampton track site.🤔😂

Northampton Mountbatten Windsors. Free admission for 15 years old and under. The more the merrier.

Badenoch would blame Starmer, without providing a solution. Davey would demand a Public Enquiry. Polanski wouldn't be asked. Farage would blame the Turks.

Final was Ben Cook, Z Kennedy, Cluff, Zischke in that order. can’t find the full scores. Viv was winning the semi final until his seat came loose and had to stop. Clips here https://www.facebook.com/share/r/14UGFZriZS1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Government aides have several names under consideration and Starmer will be told to make an announcement in the House of Commons later. Until then the party view is that all this idle chat is causing unnecessary pain for Northampton residents and speculation should stop now.

Northampton Nohopers?

Simon Lambert hasn’t stopped these riders from riding. I contacted Mark Parker back on January 18th and he told me he doesn’t want to ride in 2026. I already have my 2 reserves in Kenzie COSSEY and Ollie BINNS, who are both making their first full season debuts in the NDL and BOTH are British riders and always lived in the UK. You’ll have to ask the northern based clubs why they haven’t given team places to Liam Greens, Laylen Richardson, Owen Booth and Billy Budd. Maybe Greens didn’t want a team spot? I know he’s always busy helping the Pijper brothers these days. With respect to Booth and Richardson, they are not yet ready for NDL racing. That’s not saying they never will be, but they need to be winning races regularly in the NJL and Amateur meetings first, before clubs will look at giving them a start in a declared 1-7. Both great lads to deal with, but clubs look at things like this before they offer a regular team spot to riders coming through. Both are still young and have time yet to be knocking on the door for a regular team spot. Billy Budd impressed me last season when I seen him race a couple of times for the Colts at the back end of the season. Unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to offer him a team spot in the end.

Hawkins IS a good team manager.

Would suggest that Lambert would be better option than Starke.IMO

What I do not really understand from a financial aspect is that very few if any riders are a major draw for fans who know the sport let alone potential new supporters so why pander to the riders demands paying over the odds for nil return? Build teams that are viable and some riders will climb the professional ladder and perhaps make it to GP level but if the tracks that do exist put out teams who can provide exciting racing each week at whatever level and it is affordable and competitive then that is where UK speedway is. Let’s face this country cannot get decent crowds to turn out for a GP and the halcyon days of big names attracting 50k to 60k are never going to happen. If riders cannot make a living riding for one club then the cost of participating is too expensive and needs looking at. Expecting increasing numbers of supporters and sponsors to pay someone the equivalent of an annual salary for six months work is nonsense. The whole business model is barmy and has been for years. Fools and their money are soon parted and that applies across the entire speedway spectrum.

Shaping up to be a really decent line-up Zmarzlik Kurtz Lambert Bewley Janowski Prem Pawlicki

Goodnight - sleep tight

Don’t forget Lenny Late . Who comes … eventually

If Ipswich need any help in rembering over priced over the hill riders, I'm sure they will give you a call,,,,, only joking, no thanks, way past his best,,, although that's the sort of team I think they will end up with

These suggestions all seem very hit and miss in terms of their scoring record - win or last, both likely.

Tobi seems another Batchelor if he's at number one he seems to crumble but put him as the number two heat leader as he was at Sheffield and he can look unbeatable.

I wouldn't be against that just as long as it's the right riders with scope to improve like the majority of Leicester's Team. But if we're piling up with King and Iversen for example then it goes against everything that a strength in depth side should be imo.

Could be strength in depth like Leicester.

Hope all likes cheese

Head cheerleader, Sarah Ferguson. Toes sucked for a quid . Cheap at half the price.. allegedly

Unless they end up signing a load of riders from abroad it's more likely to be the Northampton Knackers.

If this is an indication of the way they work then I’m all for it. The way it should be really. I’m interested to see what they do with it all, how it’s promoted, how it’s presented etc. Will they add anything different to the meeting day experience? Do something different? Who knows. Also, will they add any extra meetings? Individuals, international meetings. That’s one thing Louis has done less and less of the last few years and with a sparse fixture list, adding a few extra would be most welcome.

Only went outside to the auto jumble briefly on Saturday between 9-10 and although it was peeing down it was packed, inside Saturday was a really good day, lot more people imo than previous years, I did ok, Sunday not so good as is usually isn’t but still did fair, spent more time catching up with my ex team mates than selling stuff and finding out what’s going on in the speedway world, I think it’s a really good social event and another missed opportunity for British speedway, on Sunday Henry cole and his two sidekicks turned up to film shed and buried, well it’s fake, they came set up a fake stall and pretended to buy something of it,filmed it, filmed them having a cup of tea then packed up stall and cameras and left .fake tossers

To be fair owens beat mark a cany bit over the last few years liam has only ever beat owen once . Owen had the higest average in njl from a non ndl rider until last two meeting when it went ** up. Think laylen had only beat owen in one meeting. Its hard for owen to devlop when he doesnt get a chance. But im always going to say that cos im baised Lots of love mate Paul

Absolutely nothing v Lambo he is a bit of a club legend. But it might be time for change for rider and club ? Not sure how much above 4pts we have to play with ? I do think we need some experience alongside Ryan Ingram. Paul Starke 4.13 might be a good shout ? Experienced, has had good meetings at Scunny in the past and that 4.13 might be a steal ?

Fact there is now riders without a team deemed now not good enough for the new NDL change the name drop the D

Waiting for Smith to grab this opportunity that he moans about not getting every year. Maybe this is the year!!

"Extensive work has been taking place to add a sixth team to the Premiership, which would also be a major shot in the arm for the sport." The sport needs a defibrillator not a shot in the arm after taking so many shots to the foot!