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I’m not about to read every post on this thread, and I apologise if this has been covered and discussed by you on previous posts, but I’ve seen enough to know that the silence coming out of Northampton is staggering. Unless someone who uses this forum that lives or works in Northampton can say any different, there appears to be absolutely zero noise in the local area. We are now in late March—barely five weeks away from the season starting for Northampton — and what have we actually heard? No confirmed team name, no full rider line-up, and next to no presence. How on earth do they propose to build a fan base from a standing start without drumming up any local support? Are they telling the Northampton public that they have a new Speedway team to follow? They will no doubt get a decent crowd level from existing speedway fans around the country at the beginning of the season for the novelty factor, but that won't last if they haven't done the groundwork locally. It feels like the management is just relying on disenfranchised Coventry and Peterborough fans to fill the void because we’re missing our own tracks, and the few Leicester fans that exist to pop along. I’ve personally started three different offices for companies from cold starts, and I can tell you now: this is not how you do it. You don't just open the doors and hope for the best. When you're launching in a new territory, you must be aggressive. You must get out into the local community, pound the pavement, and actually sell what you’re providing. If the person walking down Northampton High Street doesn't even know there's a world class sport (I use the term World Class loosely in the UK) appearing on their doorstep in five weeks' time, the marketing has failed before the first heat. And when those involved directly in the running of the sport and the decisions read things like this, they'll no doubt accuse me of being disruptive and moaning. They’ll claim we don’t understand the "complexities" behind the scenes. But in reality, there are plenty of Speedway fans who actually know how to run successful businesses, how to start a business from nothing, and how to keep it successful. In any other industry, if you launched a product this quietly, you’d be out of business in six months. You must create a "local anchor" — give the people of Northampton a reason to claim the team as theirs. If you don't build that local identity from day one, you aren't a club; you’re just a nomad team at a neutral venue. If they don't start shouting about this soon, they’re going to be racing in front of an empty stadium once that initial novelty wears off. I’d like to be proved wrong and see it be a massive success, and I might be wrong and all of the above is actually happening behind the scenes. But if the actual Speedway world doesn't know anything about it, I highly doubt it is.

As Bob Monkhouse once said "I havent spoken to my wife for years. I didnt want to interrupt her"

It isn't really a professional sport (at ownership level in particular), though... More of a hobby than a pro sport for so many... Winning can even be detrimental to their plan as the costs can rise hugely, and close them down!!! We fans judge Speedway like proper professional sports, however these sports have professional marketeers, big sponsors, major media coverage, and an independent leadership team that are in position due to their personal skill sets and contacts, rather that just being an ex competitor in that specific sport... UK Speedway, has none of the above, hence it comes across as amateurish... Because, when it comes to marketing, promoting, administrating and managing optics, that is what it is..

Maybe they are keeping it quiet because they don't want prospective patrons to type speedway into google and end up here reading all the negativity. Good things come to those that wait

When weathers warmer I will be visiting Scunthorpe regularly to see Picko ride, along with other Sheffield riders. Great racing guaranteed and I always enjoy watching the national league riders coming through

Newbies don't give a feck about rules. They only care about getting value for money in being entertained, hence, 9/10 don't return.

I wonder if all the announcements will be made next Wednesday?😉🤣

Patience is a virtue…

The line up doesn't matter The cause does. It's an early season meeting where riders are blowing off the cobwebs and in my opinion since it was brought in one of the most important British meetings of the year.

Thank God we're back.... I almost had to start a conversation with the Missus!!!!

Over the last week I have received a message telling me the site is unsafe, a message saying the address does not exist and got into the site normally. Each alternative seems to appear about a third of the time. When I do get in the number of adverts has increased dramatically and is making the site almost unreadable. I know and accept that advertising is needed to keep the site financed but they are at a level that means I almost regret when I actually get into the site. Another thing that is totally out of hand is the abuse some people throw at anyone who has a different point of view. People need to understand that different points of view exist on most things. Because someone has a different point of view it does not make them a lesser form of life and those who suggest it does should be moderated until they learn some manners.

Just watching MXgp (Moto X gp ) on TNT sports and Kelvin is the commentator.

Great heat on You Tube and Social Media from BSN - showing what Pickering will offer at Scunny,

The longer the silence goes on, the more I think this isn’t happening… “Northampton Speedway 2026, the club that almost happened.” will be spoken about for years.

This post is a classic case of demanding blind faith in a sport that’s already on its knees. The idea that fans should just "stop knocking them" and wait until May to see what happens is exactly how we ended up in this mess. In any other industry, if a business asked for your money but refused to tell you the name of the company, who the staff are, or what the product looks like until the last minute, you’d walk away.

So the owners are supposedly looking at options for replacing NKI, which is why some people seem to think that the team (along with everything else)hasn’t been announced yet. The prolonged silence would suggest that there are bigger issues behind the scenes.

That in itself should be a bit of a worry!!🤣

Is it possible that Ipswich speedway is no longer being run under that company name, but has been incorporated into a Mayfield company?

Charles unfortunately was a victim of the ultra slick track, no material to grip onto lost the rear end and slid off, awkwardly it would seem. In answer to other questions, Charles has a very suspect shoulder after numerous injuries.

Very promising from Palovaara, Berwick could end up with a very potent heat leader trio if they all perform to their potential.

The longer this goes on the more likely it is that Northampton's nickname will be The Phantoms!

Its April Fools day next Wednesday!

Its April Fools day next Wednesday!

Fools Rush In....

Before 12 noon?

I thought these riders had to retire if they couldn't double up 🤔😁

Anyone been to Bournemouth to get a supply of rock dummies 😜

Really? From Ashfield to Redcar is 200 miles, nearly 4 hours driving. South.

Some riders get well over half a million a year riding Speedway... Therefore. So early in the season, on potentially weather impacted tracks, and riding against some vastly inferior riders on those type of tracks, I would suggest they probably err on the side of caution... And Poland are already doing "sparring matches"/team boot camps, so a clash of calender could also be an impact...

Given the cause you'd think all riders would be keen to ride as it supports them!

25 days to what is programmed as their first meeting at Kings Lynn and still nothing... No team name... no team colours and therefore (I assume) no kevlars... no-one in charge... no team manager... no riders... no advertising... no promotion... and therefore as a consequence... NO FANS... Just waiting for the "We tried our best but..." excuses...

So what is the team then? I was told last week just 2 contracts left to sign but I didn't ask any names.

24.03.2026: Toruń v Grudziadz, all heats: https://youtu.be/SD1akX0DsfE?si=0U13Dt03IVoiILaP

Many Clubs have done this over the years. Some riders are very adept at it. Nothing new to see here but commendations to Poole fpr finally joining in and trying to raise their average fan age below the 70 mark. I hope that the younger fans are a lot less rude and abusive than the current rabble if you try to sit in an unreserved seat!

Of course the lineup matters, if you expect people to turn up and support it. The early ones had pretty stellar lineups, then it seemed to tail off to become an NDL level meeting before picking up again in recent years... seems to be on the decline again.

Maybe they could sign Dag Lovass (pronounced Rider replacement) from White City

More meetings will have guests this season? This time next year Rodney , Bomber will be a millionaire..

With the way things are going they are probably going to be one of the weaker teams anyway... just what a new club needs to get the fans flocking in their thousands...!!! If they are then also told that they can't have a proper facility for one of their chosen riders that really would put the lid on it... Surely this should be a case of the famous... "In the best interests of the Sport"... rule... and this would be one of the more reasonable applications of it...

That’s the four I was told alongside Harrison as the RS. Could be a reshuffle with NKI being out or they go R/R until he’s back and get what the can for the final three, also told that Wright was approached but he turned them down weeks ago

Robs splashed the bank account on Picko no money left to do the PA system. 😁

It was that bad when I used to go regularly 10 - 12 years ago!

The track is usually quite grippy particularly around the the fence at scunny, maybe it was prepared slick due to the early season weather / coldness.

Poor motox bet they wondering what they have done to deserve that 😂

he's been doing that for a while now

Nice clip on look north last night about the practice see if u can spot me and grandson lol

Like you say a good start, maybe next year bridge that gap for the next group of people 19-24? One thing I like that KL have done is a free programme to every match with a season ticket. Not much but you add up the matches £3.50 x 12 matches that's another £42 the season ticket holder would save(I know not everyone fills one out)

Schedule shows it’s now on Canal + Sport live

Sad news that Patrick Hansen has had to retire. Bravely tried to ride again after horrific injuries, but couldn’t to the level he wanted. A fluent Polish speaker hopefully he will be able to continue in his media role.