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we all want to see the best, thats who we enjoy most, but lets not lie to ourselves, do the top boys produce best racing??? in poland yes where the level of competition is much more level. over here 90% of the time, the kurtz, bewleys, doyles, frickes, emils, holders of this world just gate and clear off winning by the length of the straight, theirs only really heats 13 and &15 we look forward to, and then most of the time the tracks aint prepped to produce good racing anyway. championship for me does have better racing due to most of them being on a similar level. was it around 2016/17 when they changed the race format and all the top boys raced each other and the lower team raced each other, racing wise that was a phenomenal season, but obviously messed up riders averages, if they could bring that format again the sport could blossom with a premiership

I just don’t understand why they insist 2 leagues when we are in the situation were in, there is either a tv or sponsorship deal looming and they don’t want to split the money or there is a we are better than them attitude towards the championship of which they are not, 5 teams is financial suicide, they must know this

Then eventually the whole thing will go broke so the choices are Overpay and go broke Pay what you can afford and reset the whole sport on a semi professional basis if that what it takes. It might not work but it's much better than going skint

And you know this how? He's certainly not let me down and the 6-7k crowd for the play off final was testament to the hard work that's been put in.

Mike's words wont be taken well by some, mostly Ipswich fans. But like them or not hes absolutely right. CL has quit because hes struggling to get his own way, hes showed hes no better than those who have gone before him. Hes let Ipswich down hes let the UK Speedway down, especially when most thought we was different.

Those world class riders can produce moments of absolute quality at times though Phil where they literally leave your jaw on the floor and you just know you’re watching the sports Elite. Emil at Leicester a few weeks ago for example, Fricke at the same venue earlier in the season when he made a terrible gate, etc etc. the last few years at Foxhall seeing Emil and Doyle in 13 and 15 was just magical. I’m sorry, you just don’t get that same buzz seeing King and Charles Wright in the same heats. You just don’t I’m afraid. As I say though, there are die hard fans of the sport who will go regardless, and good luck to them. But let’s not pretend a watered down product won’t majorly affect attendances. The attendances at Championship level generally, is pathetic bar one or two obvious exceptions.

I've not commented on this news yet as still been taking it in. If this results in Ipswich putting out a lower standard of speedway in 2026 then I will only attend maybe once/twice, rather than most weeks. When they dropped down in 1989 I travelled to Reading for the next few seasons. I'm afraid I prefer to watch the best in the world and one or two in each team is fine - if there's none of them then it holds much less attraction for me. Sad times and must have been awful for Chris to have to pull out.

Utter madness and the perfect example of how the majority of promoters in the UK have only their own self interests at the forefront of their ambition. Of course the majority are championship promoters who have clearly been willing to take the benefit of taking riders from Premiership teams who have underwritten their losses so that UK speedway can see some of the worlds best riders race in this country. If in 2026 there is going to be a watered down version of two tier league speedway or even worse one league incorporating riders who can barely get out of the gate and turn the bike - then lets be clear, this isn't the fault of the riders but a reflection of the promoters capabilities to promote the sport....and still with two teams (Neither who race at weekends) being at the top and by comparison the others floundering in their wake.

It can and will if it suits the right number of those left......

I don’t think there’s much more prestige to winning a 6 team league to be honest. And there definitely can’t be any in winning the championship when there’s only 2 possible winners from the outset.

You say look at the facts and then produce a load of estimates, they are not facts my friend. If you look at my list of rider appearances you'll see that Luke Harrison was top with 48, for the likes of King, Harris & Lawson it was around 44. The only fact is apart from those appearance numbers which are in the public domain everything else is guess work. A 14 team league would have provided 26 league meetings, a cup competition, at least 2 meetings and maybe a 4's or something that brings you to at least 32. A cup run and play off meetings and you could be up to around the 40-44 meetings that they're currently doing. There's no doubt in my mind that some kind of cost cap also needs to be in place as regards what is spent on machinery.

Ive seen moments of absolute quality in the national league and championship too, its not just the world class riders. Its obvious at this point the premiership experiment has failed and clubs (apart from maybe two) cannot afford to fork out the big contracts anymore.

Just caught up on the SCB site saying that he refused to come over for the last meeting.. Thanks Neil and whoever else it was for correcting me recently. I'd lost touch a bit towards the end of the season. Regards, David

Not so sure about that, their statement said the "with Thursday’s (September 25, 7.30pm) home meeting against Ipswich the last top-flight fixture under the promotion" Could that mean the promotion would stay on in CL and/or NDL? If they've been rejected by the CL and there's no buyer... who knows 🤷‍♂️ What an utter shambles to potentially see 2 viable clubs with no worries over their venues not start the 2026 season... absolute madness with the current low level of operating clubs.

It certainly won't interest all the considerable amount of punters who used to go regularly and now either attend "now and again", or not at all... I will stick to the PCMM, the two GP's and (maybe), a Play Off meeting... And not bother going anywhere else to watch, as I have been to the other four tracks several times... Just imagine the euphoria though in the town or city of whoever wins the prestigious title of "Speedway GB Premiership Champion"?..... (Be like winning the Meat Raffle in the local Legion)...

I will not dispute any of your estimates relating to alleged rider income or expenses, but all relates to the rider being full time I assume? Reality sucks and for any rider to assume a full time income from speedway in Britain in todays present climate has not done their sums on viability. Whether or not their is a Premiership and a Championship, only a potential few will make ends meet, unless they have a generous sponsorship deal. With little interest, the dwindling fan base is a reality and they actually pay the riders. Personally I now only watch NDL and NDT matches and could not care less about over paid, alleged top riders making up the numbers at various Premier teams.

After expenses ? Would you trust a speedway promoter to calculate that honestly...😉

Meaning the top team miss out on a bumper play off meeting. It's a sensible solution, but financially flawed...

Firstly, Its not clear by who you mean as "they" insisting on two leagues- but I presume you mean the current Premiership promoters. Secondly, You say a five team league would be financial suicide. Well instead of painting the Premiership promoters as the bad guys (as you clearly do) why don't you at least acknowledge that losses incurred by the Premiership promoters are covered by each individual promotion/club with no impact on the financial results of the championship promoters. In reality, it most probably helps them as riders doubling up are able to get two sources of income lessening the demands on championship clubs. Thirdly. You say you "don't understand why "they" insist on 2 leagues". Well maybe that's because you just stubbornly refuse to take on board the reasons that have been stated over and over again on this forum. 1. Some promoters are of the belief that a league featuring the very best riders is the best way to promote the sport both at club and national level and they are prepared to foot the bill. This means that in the UK clubs at the "Elite" level have to abide by the globally agreed reserved race nights. Monday & Thursday. 2. If the top tier of speedway as we know it, was to be disbanded and the reserved race nights "ignored" in favor of one league, there would be a significant number of current day riders not available to race in the UK due to their contractual obligations with clubs in other countries. There would also be a removal of riders being available to race for more than one club due to the removal of the Doubling up facility. This would mean sufficient riders (say) of todays championship level to make eight teams possible - No more. 3. An alternative to having one eight team league of championship quality is to greatly reduce the team building points limit so that all existing NDL level of riders could be included which could just about mean twelve teams being created for the one big league. 4. A further alternative is to divide the one big league "talent" of point 3 into two leagues with one comprising (say) six or seven teams operating full time/professional riders and the remainder of six/seven teams running on a semi pro/amateur basis. Point 1. Requires the very best of riders to be available - and promoters willing to "give it a go" with a plan to attract TV/sponsorship at a national level to help with their costs. Point 2. Requires the loss of five or six clubs to professional racing - maybe to run NDL level on an expanded basis. Point 3. Requires a substantial reduction in team building numbers with an ensuing drop in quality of on track racing. Point4. Means a restriction in top tier teams with the quality/ability of riders competing being significantly lower than point 1. reducing the appeal of a national TV deal and significant sponsors.

I disagree, If someone of his calibre is selling his club something is seriously wrong, he's fed up of banging his head against a brick wall year in year out and he's finally done, I don't blame him.

Where are you getting your figures from? Appreciate your post and explanation don’t get me wrong, but unless the figures are facts then it’s just conjecture. I think the ultimate issue is that the sport can’t justify being professional/full time here. Riders need to get on board with that. Either ride where you can for what you’re offered, make it work, go part-time or get a proper job. All of us fans have to cut our cloth accordingly in life. But the promoters and riders seemingly don’t have to do that.

Taking Iwade and Mildenhall out of the picture, If Ipswich close down my nearest stadiums depending on the traffic 2 hours each way to Oxford, 2and half hours each way to Leicester, 3 and half hours each way to Poole, a sport I've followed since the mid 60s is now no longer viable - gutted is putting it mildly and I can't be the only one who can no longer go to speedway because of the travelling distance. If I feel like it I will be able to go to Ipswich if it runs whether in the top league or championship, depending on what diabolical system comes out of the AGM in January but whether by next Spring I will be inclined to bother remains to be seen.

Official announcement Fraser Bowes not returning to Workington.

Even with 5 teams, bet they still can't get fixtures finished in time

I’m in the same boat and agree with every single word you’ve written here. Some will still go whatever level it is, each to their own of course and good luck to them.

It’ll be a mixed bag. Some of those riders will stay loyal, some will back out of those deals and be off quicker than a rat up a drainpipe. None of the championship clubs will feel confident about the signings they’ve already made IF as you say, and that’s the pivotal word, IF, there ends up being one league.

If it ends up being one league then some of those signings will mean very little as the points limit will probably change and some riders will want to stay with their former Prem club or go elsewhere for a better deal.

Really just the state of the sport in GB.The chickens are coming home to roost.Not a big surprise.

Unlucky Kings Lynn... So close to the play offs again...

Could be the four I mentioned and one from the Championship or a.n other if Ipswich don’t get sold. If it IS a five team league, they’re simply going to have to change the rules and do away with play offs for next year at least. Top team wins the title. It’s the only way.

Ipswich I assume under new owners, remember Louis said he wouldn’t go champ or if it’s a 5 team league he will step away. no one wants to see a 5 teams league. Would be the worst decision ever. just hope it’s a just a rumour.

It’s just not good enough, it’s destined to fail, fans don’t want it, it doesn’t interest me at all

Because they don’t want to lose money on additional meetings helping bringing British youngsters through unless those youngsters are prepared to pay for everything from racing here or abroad and then if the odd one suceeds they claim them and shower them with affection until they blow up and walk away and deny they ever existed! And that’s where the story ends

I just love all these business experts popping up on here, and giving 'advice' on something they have absolutely no clue about. Hilarious...😂

There is a lot of talk about teams like Belle Vue and Ipswich (if they run) having to "drop down" next season, but, of course, if the Premier League as it currently exists is no longer, the new single league will, de facto, be the top league, so, actually, it is a matter of the other teams moving up! It's just that the standard won't be so good.

I would if the play off four weren't set in stone by the end of March...... Your promoter has thrown his toys right out of the pram by the looks of things.. I had huge respect for him but he has shown he is as inward looking as the rest of them, when I had high hopes for him to lead the sport... Cometh the hour. Cometh the man... He, seemingly, has "ran off".... Which. Is a huge shame for the sport, given that Chris was genuinely one of the few who could see the potential of it, if it could be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st Century... A sad loss...

Thats because many sources of income achieved by NFL properties are amalgamated and divided equally amongst all teams. For those two teams getting a bye for week one of the playoffs they are more than happy because a) they have an extra week off to recover and prepare and b)they are guaranteed home field advantage for their remaining playoff games including the championship game itself prior to the SuperBowl

Wright mulford Edwards Jenkins Allen pjiper Scott

Maybe another club has offered him more money to go there and wants it matched 😉

For the weekend away legs the clubs can just use guests to replace their missing riders, just as they do now, and have done for pretty much ever... Does it look a "bit Mickey Mouse" and "contrived"? Of course it does, but no different from now, as it is an integral part of the current chosen operating model, hence teams riding, for example, on a Wednesday, sign Danish riders knowing they will most likely miss some of their meetings.. The optics of a five team top league wont bring anyone extra in to watch it, as it will look ridiculous.. It is getting to the levels of those football leagues on the more remote islands dotted around the UK, where the same two teams play each other every week in their "Island League".. They also share players. If one team doesn't have eleven players due to work commitments, injuries, holidays etc then the other team lends them players.. (Maybe that is where UK Speedway got the idea from?) A 14 team league running from Scotland to the South Coast will at least look like a it's a "National Sport" that is being ran... And, with 14 teams, you would hope, that eight or nine at least would remain in play off contention to late into the season, meaning some jeopardy and consequence to a good many meetings..

Looking at the teams that finished in the middle of the table, namely Belle Vue & Berwick, the difference in average between the top three and bottom three is GREATER in the championship. The stats don’t back up the suggestion that racing is better in the championship due to them all being of a similar standard. Just like the idea of variety, this is another championship fallacy.

I reckon Donkey could still kick ass against the lower end Championship and NDL

Check the 2025 records PREM 2H 2A plus KOCup - 24 plus 4to6 CHAMP 1H 1A plus KoCup and BSN Series 16+4+4to6 Correct by no more than a couple for either Guest appearances not taken into account

Signing number 3 will be coming very soon!

It doesn't matter what fans want though. Only what they want. They probably going to sit there til 6th Jan until someone agrees to move up. We are basically as you were on Nov 12th, so delaying sounds like a massive waste of time right now 😔

5 team premiership im hearing 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Mike for chairman has to be the mantra for the forum. Only one minor issue, the cost for the travelling supporter and if it was a north/ south league arrangement and the top teams coming together in a final then the regions would hopefully reap the benefits. Now is the time for the sport to reinvent itself and look to a five year plan to rebuild its place in the speedway world. Most will hope that no teams/tracks/clubs are lost to the sport in 2026 and if the same number of tracks can remain open, you have hope. Allow some to fall by the wayside and it is game over for the sport. Forget TV deals, let BSN show the meetings and in the winter they could do a deal that repeats the meetings at a discounted price. Make sure the young up and coming riders are encouraged and get back to bringing on new talent instead of dismissing their efforts because they cannot take on heat leaders etc. I have seen many newbies over the years who try hard and occasionally get one over a more experienced rider which breeds confidence. The sport needs them to survive so embrace them rather than dismissing the efforts of these youngsters. They are the future.

A shredding machine to put your hard earned cash straight into and what you have left the bspl will send their special magician round to mysteriously make it all disappear in to the pockets of the few, just incase some think I’m posting an in the know post, it’s just a bit of fun, you don’t get a shredding machine

From Edinburgh/Glasgow, down to Poole/Plymouth, the league would cover a fair few conurbations, with several million people living in them, and look like it fully covered the country, pretty much from top to bottom.. "Northern Tours" for all last seasons Premiership teams' fans on Friday and Saturday may even get coaches and hotels booked and "supporter's clubs" could maybe rear their head again... Sheffield on a Thursday, the NSS on a Friday and "further up north" on Saturday would give the more southern based clubs' fans, even more of a "Northern Tour".. With the clubs in the further north all riding Friday and Saturday it would be perfect in getting a fair few away fans there from teams who haven't even been there in some cases, and not been there for a good while in others... Who knows, maybe clubs could package special offer reduced price deals to the away fans to encourage their attendance..? Ipswich on a Thursday and maybe KIngs Lynn on a Friday could also deliver some "East Anglian Tours"... Sheffield/Scunthorpe on Thursday and Friday could also get some away fan traction... And there will be many other "mixing" which could take place to "get an away crowd" there... There would be a big novelty factor which should be rode to the max, until it came to its inevitable end.. By which time, you would hope that the sport was on a clear upturn and big momentum was in place to keep it growing...

The Speedway Freaks Chat Show hosted by Scott Nicholls, Steve Brandon and Shane Childs. PLAYLIST : Ep 1 : Natalie Quirk Ep 2 : Sam Ermolenko Behind the Scenes : Bonus Edition Ep 3 : Troy Batchelor Ep 4 : Phil Morris Ep 5 : Greg Hancock Ep 6 : Darcy Ward Ep 7 : Keith Huewen Ep 8 : Jason Crump