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Welcome to all of their fans... it's only fair they have their own topic thread 👍🏻

They have their reasons for the delay in releasing full details of the “new” club. And, as they are the folk making it happen it is their prerogative to decide when that will be. Meanwhile let’s be grateful for this positive step in the current tough times for British speedway and wish the promoters and all concerned all the best of luck in their endeavours to make Northampton a long term success.

Give them a chance but I no what your saying it is a bit of a strange one - has a new track to speedway ( yes they staged speedway years ago ) ever come in to a league cold with no hardcore supporters ever before ? Even Skegness had ex Boston fans not far away and that track didn’t last long . I really hope this is a success not just for the club but all of British speedway

There is a polish website called speedway news pl which has covered both Buxton and Northampton on their pages,maybe we should ask them to run British speedways media

What on earth is going on in here you are all supposed to be adults can you not act like it.

And possibly get up too £40,000 to go home🤔

Obviously, there have been problems to overcome, and it's taken longer than hoped for to bring Northampton online. But yesterday we got the news that Northampton are running. Today we got their fixture list. And in the coming days we'll know the promoter, team manager and the riders. We have positive news coming out, and still people are moaning? Unbelievable.

Speedway really is incredible... You'd think they'd want to get as much information out there as soon as possible to try to generate a bit of local interest... Instead it's... We have a brand new exciting venture for you to follow... We won't tell you whose in charge... We won't tell you whose running the team... We won't tell you whose riding for the team... Roll Up... Roll Up...

It is all a bit typically "UK Speedwayish" isn't it?. I would think it is a really important event for the sport in the UK, hence the desire to make it happen... Those tracks trying to come back can now point to Northampton, and use it as an example of the sport not being in "terminal decline" as developers around the country have suggested when requesting planning permission.. It obviously also ensures both leagues can keep going as doubling up can still share rider costs... Let's hope it's a success, keeping in going will certainly change the optics somewhat as to the current downward spiral of closures... Buxton and Northampton, two "new" tracks for 2026.... Over to the UK Speedway's Director of Marketing and Media, and their team, to go into overdrive to let the wider sporting world know about them!!!

All those who are worried about the track surface may want to know some of the history. Spedeworth changed it from tarmac to shale to ensure the Dutch F1 drivers continued to support major events at the track. The shale was laid on top of the tarmac (I don't know how deep it is) and Spedeworth have worked hard to make it a good surface which does not rut up with the F1's on full power. I am sure they have the equipment to make the track suitable for Speedway a few days after a Stock Car meeting as Deane Wood, the boss of Spedeworth, would not want to have his stadium criticised for a poor track surface. He was a very accomplished Stock Car driver and understands how the track surface is critical in making for good racing.

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But you know as well as I do the lack of professionalism and clarity within this embarrassment of a sport over here, it's like it's some big secrecy act!

Can't wait to see @R87 thoughts on Northampton opening, considering he spent the majority of the last year telling anyone that would listen that we will NEVER see a new team open up again in the UK, the optimist that he is!! Willing to give credit where it is due @R87 ???!!! Or will silence be golden?

Newspaper and Magazine sales dropped around 80% in my stores over the last decade... My stores would get four cages worth on a Saturday and Sunday, and take two people well over an hour to put in the supplements, and now barely three quarters of a cage arrives . The demographic of those still buying them almost mirror exactly the demographic of those who attend Speedway in the UK regularly... There are literally dozens of examples of amatuer sports teams doing their own coverage, vlogs, with several getting tens of thousands of followers on YouTube etc... An ideal low cost opportunity for Speedway teams to do the same...

Phillip Hellstrom-Bangs-to-rights.

I would imagine most stadium leases would be a full repairing and insuring lease. If the damage was done over 2 nights, it's a shame no one knew after the first night.

I was genuinely setting up a thread to discuss everything now it's official that they exist, although the new fans bit was a bit tongue in cheek, although hopefully they'll come, the other thread did get rather clogged up with all the speculation on whether they'd actually come to the tapes, all the other clubs have their own 2026 section, so it's only right Northampton do 🙂 👍🏻

You must have seen him do plenty of laps with tractor though lol

You'll know about that probably having used them during the winter. A Scotsman looking after the money 🥸

Won't last the season. Where are they getting a crowd from for a start

“Not being in terminal decline “ ? A ‘PREMIERSHIP’ of just 6 teams ! a new team announced just 2 weeks before a season is due to start ! I think we all know the situation , whilst I appreciate the desire to watch live speedway has declined year on year , even the die hards that are left know this winter has been an absolute disaster as far as organisation is concerned and with no sign of change at the top table it’s only heading one way I’m afraid.

Country has gone mad, offer to pay them 10k each, up to a max of 40k for a family of 4 to leave when they have failed to get political asylum, just deport them, but then again that aint straight forward and easy because they play the human rights card and all the do gooders make a fuss🤦‍♂️

Good news we have another club but I don't understand why the promoter hasn't been named , never mind a team line up. Any new promoter has to interviewed and vetted by the clowns running the sport so we must assume this has been done so why the secrecy ? A team must also have been sorted as you don't announce your running without one !

Well they had someone local not that long ago that would check up on the stadium and prepare the track then he left.

Stewart Dickson and Matt Ford have already stated publicly that 2027 talks should be started now and done by this summer, as team building discussions and talks with riders begin in Aug/Sept for the following season.

Sadly just had to put the latest person on ignore . I don't know or care if it was the same person but it was similar drivel as the other person please don't quote his posts as it means I can still read his

I want to share this disgusting comment for all to see before this individual decides to edit it or remove it. Name calling is one thing. Telling someone to go and kill themselves has no place on this forum. I had a friend who took their own life as well.

It wasn't meant to be funny... I found it funny that Speedway was under promoting itself again by only putting a few pictures on socials of some bent poles when trying to raise £10,000. If there's been 10 grands worth of damage I'd expect to see more, I've seen more damage to the fence after some crashes!

Apparently they are putting a fence around the big grassed area on the RH side before the track. The clowncill have £4.5 million to waste to make the land ready for possible future developments. They have already taken down the old oil tanks just after the railway bridge and levelled the land. Hopefully a fence will be put up along the speedway perimeter

Perhaps the first night they didn’t make much noise

Ai goes for Badgers 🦡🦡 I quite like Northampton Nitro's though... may chime with some Santa Pod punters? Since the official nickname is still under wraps, we can have some fun with the local history and culture. Northampton has a surprisingly specific "vibe"—ranging from its world-famous shoe industry to its heavy-metal music scene and folklore. Here are some options for what the new team could be called, categorized by their link to the town: 1. The Industrial Heritage (The Most Likely) Northampton was once the shoe-making capital of the world. * Northampton Shoemakers: (Or simply "The Cobblers," though that is heavily claimed by the football club). * Northampton Soles: A bit punny, but fits the history. * Northampton Cordwainers: A "cordwainer" is a historical term for a shoemaker who works with fine leather. It sounds prestigious and unique. 2. Nature & Local Icons The stadium is located in Brafield-on-the-Green, which opens up some rural and historic options. * Brafield Badgers: This is the "legacy" option. It’s what the team was called in the 1960s. Many traditionalists are hoping for this one. * Northampton Red Kites: These birds of prey are a common and majestic sight in the skies over Northamptonshire after a successful reintroduction program. * Northampton Oaks: Referencing the ancient Rockingham Forest and the county’s floral emblem. 3. Culture & "Edge" Speedway teams often go for "tougher" sounding names to match the dirt and noise. * Northampton Metal: The town is the birthplace of the legendary gothic rock band Bauhaus and has a massive heavy metal scene. * Northampton Phantoms: A nod to the (supposedly) haunted history of the town and its many ancient buildings. * Northampton Hogs: Referencing the "Northamptonshire Hog," a local nickname for residents that dates back centuries. 4. Speed & Motorsport Given its location in the "Motorsport Valley" (close to Silverstone): * Northampton Nitros: Lean into the high-octane energy of the Premiership. * Northampton Gears: A nod to the engineering prowess of the region. My Top Pick: The Northampton Badgers In the world of speedway, tradition is king. Since they are returning to the same site where the Badgers once raced, it’s the "sentimental" favorite. However, if they want to sound like a modern Premiership powerhouse, don't be surprised if they go for something sleek like the Northampton Kites. Would you like me to look into the history of the original Brafield Badgers to see what their old colors and logos looked like?

Highly unlikely. Local plans are long term strategy documents for development including infrastructure and land use, that often cover a period of up to 15-20 years. They are reviewed on a 5 yearly basis. The local plan is currently out for a 6 week public consultation which started in late January. It will then be submitted to the Secretary of State, along with all the responses, for review and final approval. Even if it is not signed off before the May elections, a new administration at the council will not be able to make changes to the plan at that point.

Phil Morris was very vocal about saving Newport Wasps, and was "heading a consortium" to take it over, not sure he was prepared to put his hands into his own pockets though, doubt if anything has changed, Newport could run 7 days a week with no curfew or restrictions, but the "Consortium" could not stump up the money being asked and it became a transport hub for a lorry distribution outfit. Phil may well be heading up the show, but almost certainly it won't be his money ?

Well meaning amateurs.... They will happily lay out a good seven figures to riders each season, as a collective, who no one outside the UK Speedway bubble will know who they are .. Yet "Jack S**t" to a modern day marketing team who may stimulate interest.... Ridiculously daft.....

Go fund now up to £7.5k Yet again speedway folk show their true colours when the chips are down. If a few more of us could “chip-in” a spare tenner or so, then the target will be soon me. Let’s hope some of the cash raised can be used to improve security at the stadium! After all prevention is better than cure.

We can discount Coventry from being ready for 2027. The current issues will take until the end of this summer to resolve at the very least and even if any final outcome falls in favour of Stox & speedway returning to Brandon, it will take a great deal of time to conclude a sale, clear the site and build a suitable race track and spectator facilities. If we’re lucky then Brandon could be up and running for a full 2028 season but not before.

linda lusadi ?

come on up to bed your dads spoke..

Greater media impact I'd have thought. If you say it all now there is far less to reveal between now and May.

I've watched the videos with a tinge of sadness but I guess we all have to move on. It just seemed from some of the comments that this was an inevitable moment given the state of the sport in this country. I only hope the new owners respect the heritage and never ever forget it. It would be great for example either at the stadium or indeed somewhere in the town if we could have a montage or painted mural of some of the legends that have served the club from the 50s to the present day as a shrine to the clubs history.

Did not think this would get to the starting tapes due to the costs involved. Great to see a new track and hopefully for the longterm. Good luck to the Northampton Nomads / Bees / Badgers / Foxes / Wolves / Saints Wonder what kevlar colours green black and gold / claret and white ??? Hopefully they can promote it well and build up a solid fanbase.

That will be Matt Ford

Must be really bad the vandals brought some snow with them to sprinkle round the pits

That's the spirit...

Not for long if he gets involved in British Speedway financially 😂

So who is the promoter?

Well done to the BSPA for giving Northampton every chance to come into the league. Its a good job they don't listen to some of the people on this thread.

Good news…6 teams isn’t too different from 9 as far as a league goes and the team put together will be competitive so it’s good news…and yes there have been fans who seemingly didn’t want this to happen, mainly Championship fans , a lot of who seemingly want the Premiership to collapse and fail for some reason

And yet, here you are. The amount of moaning that five teams is not good enough, makes a mockery of the sport...a sixth team looks likely to appear and STILL moaning. 🤦‍♂️

Don't wish your life away mate, the years pass all too quickly and appear to go faster with age.