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Reading comments on here , anyone would think that the top tier (old Elite League) invented the doubling up (not down) rule. It started in about 2002 when two riders from Premier league clubs (second tier) could share a berth in the elite league . Their premier clubs always took priority. I feel like this had a negative effect on what was a brilliant model at the time (premier) with anything between 15-18 clubs for a while. This was the start of the feeling that riders weren't fully committed to one club anymore. The elite league being in such a mess at the time was the reason for this daft rule to be brought in. they need to make two leagues , have 5 man teams and a new heat format and go from there. Riders can only ride in one league not both.

Tate Zischke is looking like a busy lad next year... Riding for about seven teams so far...

It was done for development of riders to ensure plenty of UK ones were available for the top league as riders retired, or dropped down and saw their careers out in the 2nd Div.. Giving them a "taster" as to what the top level was, without putting undue pressure on them by losing their other role... Now it is done simply to share costs of riders who are 20 years and more veterans of the sport... Hence restricted race nights for the top tier.. Hence Poland kept the weekend to themselves... (And now added eight Thursdays, plus rearrangements)..... "How not to run a sport successfully" would make a decent book title...

I think we are too late, already signed for Workington I heard.

How much longer will you be mine?

In all fairness to Coleman - he came to the tapes with Ipswich extremely late - he still to this date doesn't have a years experience of running/owning in British league Speedway club, so when you say he talks the talk, I don't think he's had any kind of opportunity to do anything, and with the way the sport is run, its not going to be a short term showing is it - if he has ambitions to improve the sport, it will be done over the longer term

Yes, we did; the difference being, it was usually the top riders of the 2nd div, i.e., No.1s, who rode at No7. Nowadays you have the farcical situation where a 2nd div heat leader is riding as a heat leader in the Ist div!

All it needs is referees to apply the regulations 012.1.2 Heats Heats shall be anti-clockwise of 4 laps duration, unless the SR’s state otherwise. In normal circumstances the time from the finish of a heat to the start of the next shall not exceed 4 minutes (including the 2 minute time allowance).

No but loves a walk round holy island

Got to say he loves a wander up the beach there gets him relaxed

Your in trouble when you try to clarify a clarification.🤔👎They just dug big hole,which now they have fell into.😂

Puts Eastie above the seventh in your view then? If of course.

Same grapevine as the Masters to Poole?

Nothing definite (that I know of), but at the last match, the announcer did mention talks were in progress, about keeping the same charity partner, and that Tigers 50/50 jackpot would roll over to next season, if not won.

Subject to BSPL approval .

I would hazzard a guess that a season of stockcar racing gives the stadium a bigger return than a season of speedway.

Would agree, what an embarrassment for what is meant to be a Professional Organisation .

Some revisions to the Danish rules for 2027, explained here:

and that’s the two blokes who run are beloved sport !

I've just read Neil Vatchers response in the Star and found it all very confusing at first. That is, I couldn't understand how, after confirming the definition of the rule to be that both wheels have to be fully over the inner edge of the line, he then went on to say that it was never the intention to throw the referee under the bus by saying that the rule was breached. Then, after reading Godfreys deluded ramblings at the end of the article, the penny dropped. Godfrey is using the clerical error made when copying the FIM rule, where they missed the word 'marking', to justify him being able to make up his own version. So as I read Vatchers comments, where he says that the statement was about the wording of the rule & not the referee's decision, it seems that as a gesture of appeasment to Godfrey, they have acknowledged that the clerical error had allowed him to interperate the 'as written' rule differently to its intended definition. Thus they are saying that it was Godfreys definition of the rule that was breached and not that the referee, who applied the rule correctly had made a mistake, so the wording of the rule has been changed to avoid further confusion.

And from the rest of that statement its clear that the AGM is fairly meaningless when it comes to next year's rules.

Surely not the promoter of Scunthorpe, as surely that would be a conflict of interests 🤣

Breaking his curfews

So is the rumoured top 4 Bomber,Flinty,Anders and Dan T ?

I’m less optimistic about major change in the sport. Ousting cartel members from the top table and replacing them with Mark and Rob should have offered more. I’m please with the introduction of Northampton and an addition of a top man to the team Mark put together will result in a competitive side. Having Belle Vue on terrestrial TV for the first time in decades was a great result but after that not much to write home about. Richard Colman talks the talk but the only thing he has done so far was marked by that thing we all (most) hate - self interest. I’m worried he’s another in the long line of here today gone tomorrow promoters and with a none existent line of would be buyers I remain concerned about the long term viability of yet another club. Looking through Richard’s ventures to date does not fill you with confidence as to his staying power. After the previously mentioned pluses from this season it would be a shame to see things drop back again.

some teams could use that to their benefit depending on resources could have 4 relatively big hitters in a side, use any you mentioned at no.2 with a decent U21 at 6 Say Sheffield for example Jack Holder Luke Killeen Chris Holder Zach Cook Josh Pickering Beau Bailey Jordy Loftus

Good sentiments, but hard to police though I would think., Many of these riders would also be riding in the Championship, or maybe the Premiership.. Running a "Colts" team could see them doing less matches than for their other teams, so who should benefit?... One of the many issues with Doubling Up/Down..

A 50% discount to the average of any under-25 rider produced by a club's junior team would be a good incentive

Is that the rule?.. I thought it was now both wheels over the inside line?.. But then again, I always did think that was the rule given it was always quoted on TV when it came close to happenng, or actually did.. In the piece in the Speedway Star, Neil Vatcher said he didn't want to disclose those on the panel who said Cook had "breached the rule"... Why not? If it had been me who had decided he had done it, with zero other evidence than the ref had, then I would want my "vision superpower" to be known to all..!!

I'd take Wolbert back in a heartbeat. Craig Cook not so much and i don't for a second believe that Edinburgh would be daft enough ton go there again.

What was Fraser bowes average you could fit him in no bother 😜🤣

I just read Like Harrison is moving on from Scunthorpe could he be Comet bound

As I’m assuming all the 2026 riders will be present at the end of season event , it would make sense that the signings will be present, if they were NEW signings then the names would be on the internet immediately they turned up at the bar so…. Wright , Pijper & Southwick …..is my 20 pence worth . Im thinking Mulford will also be back. Scott could end up back with Oxford or anywhere as he will be in big demand. Edwards to Workington or Oxford. Allen….not sure but could also be Workington. Lambert to Berwick. I’ll also be collecting my winnings on George English being the new co-promoter.

Wasn't there some "issues" that season, (one with Charles Wright springs to mind), that may have helped influence the decision... PTA will have more recollection than me I am sure.. FWIW I have always thought of Tom as a Steve Worrall level rider, ie capable of beating the very best, but not consistently enough to reach the worlds top 30 or so... Someone who will be a solid scorer in both UK leagues, but not an out and out top two HL in the top league.. He does look to be on a bargain average next season for any team who have a genuine top level top two, and can fit him in at No 3 or as a Second String.. You would have to think Ipswich wouldn't miss out on such a potential "cheat code" if they can use him as a second string in particular..

heres a competition, i would be willing to go and watch, a best pairs comp at each prem track just involving the reserves pairing, from each club, one meeting at each track, not interested in watching same away team twice in the season.

Very naughty to amend a quoted post - against forum rules I believe 😁 No such thing as poaching - no assets anymore and 1 year contracts for self employed riders

I don’t think that’s true when other clubs can use the money they have saved over the years by not running a junior development side on coaxing a young lad over on inflated terms. Madness.

For what its worth.............try and get the basics right first, good track preparation, good promotion of the sport through social media , treat the fans as customers not a burden (yes there always the ones who want everything for free), run a tight ship, run on nights which attract the best attendance for your club, start times to be start times. Try and make it economically viable for fans if possible with offers on season tickets etc.

Every year it's the same bollox isn't it?... Averages changing, eligibility changing, rules changing, no doubt prices changing, (and not going down)... There must be literally hours spent on this nonsense instead of hours spent on creating a product which provides you with a great nights entertainment... "Does he qualify for the 2.5%, 5% or 25% reduction or increase, and is his mam English and left handed?"... So much minute detailed planning each season to ensure a competitive league, and instead we always end up with, at least, one team being highlighted as complete cannon fodder before a wheel is turned, and have their season pretty much over by June!!... Edit. Having read the interview in full, it is clear that Phil Morris does appear to have a clear vision of how he wants the UK version of the sport to evolve, with much of what he is seeking mentioned ad nauseum on here down the years . Hopefully with him, Richard Coleman, and Mark Lemon involved more influentially there is a better future.. It is clear that they want an obvious demarcation between the top two tiers over here, so hopefully their ideas come to fruition and the top league becomes something to aspire to be in...

That's why a highlights package would be the best course of action.. Using BSN and the clubs own streams.. ITV could pay them to use their footage which keeps their own production costs minimal... And those having their footage used get credited on screen so hopefully pick up more business... All the best races of the week cherry picked with studio discussion around that weeks racing with a preview of the following week.. Short, sharp coverage, with the odd "live" meeting at play off time..

Don’t try and run before you can walk! Sort out the product first then worry about trying to get TV deals. Put the current product out on mainstream TV and all you will do is confirm the publics perception that first out of the start always wins and if you go you get covered in dust.

Lets at least see the final teams and line up's before we put the boot in.

I’ve just read it. Apparently everyone is now happy that the rule is that, if a rider’s wheels CROSS the white line, then that would normally lead to disqualification. And, despite multiple views from photographers and videographers, there is no evidence that Cook CROSSED the white line. Well, that’s everyone expect the BSPL chairman who is making up his own rule that even touching the line should lead to disqualification. Where has this man been? I’m sure many people, like me, have watched many slow motion replays where there’s been dust coming from a back wheel but zooming in has shown the tyre on the line not over it. Indeed, wasn’t that Darcy Ward’s favoured method of passing? The Poole bashers have been out in force on this one but the Poole management, unlike too many others, have done the right thing by not adding fuel to this unnecessary fire. I am convinced that, had it been Josh Pickering not Zach Cook whose wheel had gone on to the line, nothing would have been said. The statement from Neil Vatcher declines to say who wrote the SCB comment which is disappointing - the SCB should have manned up on this, especially as they so quickly threw Paul Carrington under the proverbial bus. At the end of the day, Poole are worthy champions having out-ridden everyone all season and provided some exciting meetings on their travels. And Scunthorpe are unexpectedly for many, me included, runners up. It’s over, folks, so on to 2027.

Ah, an optimist! 😀

If Eastbourne come to the tapes.... Becker & Lightcap at No1 & 2 Lawson, Harris & Masters at 3, 4 & 5 Kemp + an RS