Halifaxtiger

Absolute agree on live speedway but you simply have to take account of what else is occurring on your race nights. In my view, teams that run up against England's World Cup fixtures would be crazy and the situation with Cook and his GP's is somewhat the same. I also think that Saturday's simply aren't working so the club is trying something different. Whether it works - as you rightly say - remains to be seen. I really think that regular racing is a must wherever possible. Pack your speedway in when the weather is likely to best and run fortnightly otherwise - at least people know where they stand.

Absolutely right. 'Win at all costs' in a sport that involves high speeds and no brakes is the sort of attitude that will result in serious injury or worse. It should never be the case that a rider has to come down for a referee to put on another's exclusion light. If a move is dangerous, its dangerous and it doesn't matter if someone falls. The question is had Woffinden fallen, who would have been excluded ? I think the best riders leave their opponents just enough room which means the opponents skill and bravery comes into play without them actually risking their neck. L Lindgren didn't do that and I can but wonder what he would have said if Dudek had pulled a similar move coming off the last bend in the final.

I think Isle of Wight's finances - and I don't know this for certain - will probably be comparable with most of the NL. East End Fan is more close to the truth. A midweek track with, effectively, an 11pm departure time makes it far harder to attract riders than a weekend track when you leave at 5 or 9.30pm.

I think anyone who has been to Workington in the last few seasons and seen their gate levels will know their existence is precarious. Its pretty much common knowledge that they survive because of funds pumped in by the promotion. Having said that, I suspect they are anything but alone in that.

I think that's a question of swings and roundabouts. Some can make Fridays, some Saturdays. You can see the logic in moving to Friday with Cook riding in the GP's - there's every chance people will stay at home to watch a truly local boy race at the sports highest level. The problem to me is less about the day and more about the irregularity of fixtures but that affects almost very club, not just Workington. I'd say run every fortnight until June and then pack the fixtures in every week until the end of August. At least people might be able to get into a regular habit.

Definitely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but its not difficult to see why. Ironically, I thought the meeting turned on Proctor being beaten in heat 12 and Campton being held at the back in heat 14 but it would be most difficult to criticise either. Bach wasn't good enough and Klindt showed precisely why Workington could do a great deal better for his average. He was at his very worst last night and wasn't interested in the slightest if he didn't gate. This isn't all about Workington throwing it away, though. I'd give Sheffield a lot of credit - Howarth, Wright & Bjerre came good when it really counted and Shanes' contribution was vital. It did seem that when the chips were really down they had more stomach for it.

How many other teams can say that ? To some of us that is no surprise at all simply because you have set a standard for every other club in British speedway to follow. I have made no secret of my respect and admiration for what you and Martin have achieved and are trying to achieve on the Island and will continue to bang the drum for you and your methods. Those methods include a huge publicity campaign, free entry for children (100 there on Thursday apparently, average age of the attendance must have been about 14), the creation of a truly remarkable family atmosphere, a visible presence on race nights and a willingness to engage on here (254 likes from 76 posts says it all) and, above all, a determination not just to give the paying spectator want he wants but to treat him as a valued and important client. The remarkable gesture of giving rain off programmes away free - when most other clubs charge full price, nothing less than a total rip off - is yet another example of how to do it right. Its little wonder that you have attracted little but praise and credit from fans across the country, including some of the BSF's most respected posters. Every supporter across the country should look at the list above and see if their team does the same. Most of them don't and, in some cases, the contrast will be a stark one. One of the saddest parts of my self imposed semi exile from speedway in 2018 is that I won't get to come to your place as much as I would like (a total ban, however is unthinkable ).

Should have known you'd be there and where you'd be

Am I ? the 2016/17 FFP rules allow a Championship club to lose up to £13m per season, the assessment period being 3 years. At least potentially, then, 24 teams x £13m x 3 year = £936m. I maintain that I think that the increasing age factor is overstated. Bearing in mind that in the last 3 seasons I have been to over 200 meetings at every track in the country bar two (Swindon by accident, Stoke by design) I think I can speak from experience. I repeat : I suspect that anyone who went to Redcar last night would say that the title of this thread is absolutely correct.

Bearing in mind that they have run up debts of over £1bn in attempting to chase the dream, perhaps its not such a bad thing that speedway doesn't have it. I also am sceptical about the increasing age of speedway fans - at least to the extent that many people on here believe that to be the case. The promoter I contacted regarding this issue told me that less than 10% of his attendances are pensioners. Returning to the actual title thread, I doubt if there is anyone who went to Redcar last night who would disagree.

Perhaps Barker isn't getting the scores expected and I am not sure what the issue is but there's no doubt he was busting a gut in every race. He deserves a little better than just criticism. Very entertaining meeting with some cracking racing (shades of when STMP was one of my favourite tracks)and a close score line swinging backwards and forwards. My good friend PVM told me that Stewart was something special despite a poor start to the season and he was proved most definitely correct.

It would be interesting to see how Championship clubs are doing.

Where attendances are concerned, I don't think the night on which speedway meetings take place can be underestimated. I am advised that Belle Vue's gates have dropped significantly since they moved to Mondays and its not difficult to work out why. The difference between the huge gate on Bank Holiday Monday and a week later was stark. That final paragraph looks pretty attractive to me - although I'd be happy to include Thursdays as well. Getting 5 hours sleep at the start of the week is one thing, getting it at the end is another.

I'm not sure that's totally true, Iris. As I pointed out earlier, in 2015/16 (which I believe to be the most up to date figures) the Premier League collectively lost over £100m and the Championship over £200m. Even if their average gates are 100 times speedway's (and they are not) that means to be on equivalent financial footing speedway would be losing £1m or £2m a season respectively. I don't think the later, certainly, is anywhere near the case. There's no doubt that football - especially at top flight - has enjoyed a renaissance and gates are booming and I'd say speedway has reason to be jealous of that. But the simple truth is that football is far more hamstrung to the generosity of individuals than speedway is even when that is in taken in proportion and I could make fair argument that football clubs are far more financially irresponsible than speedway teams. Awash with money, they are still losing huge amounts. I think you are right - it certainly doesn't help the plight of speedway to point to the fact that others are no better (my understanding is that Rugby League has money issues, too). But if it were the case that others had huge - or even small - surpluses it would give far more credence to the fact that speedway is badly run.

Its certainly not going to encourage them to attend. That really is the speedway way, though. Criticism is to be ignored at best and to be responded to with abuse at worst.

According to a Guardian report on football finances, in the year up to May 2016 they lost £5m and the overall losses for the Premier League were £113m. Championship clubs losses were over £200m for the same season, with Bolton an eye watering £193m in debt. If speedway is propped up by wealthy owners as income cannot meet expenditure football is no different with Roman Abramovich reportedly having put over £1bn into Chelsea.

A very reliable source indeed. What they do isn't rocket science. They simply treat a paying customer as a paying customer.

Anyone who has been to Isle of Wight speedway knows how good it can be. I am reliably informed their gates are up again this season.

You're right about bank holidays but the contrast between that attendance and last night's is a stark one. Its possible that there were 5 times as many people against Wolverhampton, suggesting that the day meetings are held has a huge impact on gates. Personally, Monday nights are bad for me simply due to the fact that I work the following day and need to wake up at 5am. Its not that far away, but given the propensity for motorway diversions its simply too late. Fridays, and given the stunning racing, I'd be buying a season ticket (as would Mr Tatum if he lived locally). You're also right about winning teams but what you have to consider is what the attendances at Scunthorpe(in particular) would be if the racing was rubbish. Based upon personal experience in past seasons (first meeting there this yearfor me on Friday) I'd have a guess that half the crowd are Scunny fans and the other half are there for the quality of the speedway.

Huge crowd for this meeting. That suggests that the reason Belle Vue isn't booming is start time and weather. I think its fair to say that if all tracks had Belle Vue's quality of racing and presentation speedway would be attracting more fans than it does.

I don't think that's true, Steve. Isle of Wight's gates have increased season on season and that's largely through word of mouth about just how good the experience is. And therein lies the problem. Unless it is a good experience - and, let's face it, frequently it isn't - they aren't going to come back. Get the product right - and this isn't just about what happens on track - and you might stand a chance.

Its a little harsh to say 'all the hype' - I don't recall much of that. There's no doubt he is struggling but its a massive step up from the NL. I can only hope the Comets don't drop him because riding at Championship level will only help him improve and they won't get anyone else to score more on the same average. As to the result, fingers crossed this will pull a few more in at Comets home matches as they simply don't get enough.

Peterborough score says it all. Give him a track to race on and he'll bang points in every time.

He is absolutely extraordinary and a huge credit to himself, Belle Vue and speedway in general. I suspect many, like me, view mascots with a mixture of indifference and embarrassment. They rarely do more than wander about waving. This guy, though, does everything. On Monday there was a break in racing between heats 14 & !5 due to a chap being taken ill. Chase led everyone in a sing song (Sweet Caroline) , did his incredible John Travolta Staying Alive dance and then attempted (sadly, unsuccessfully) to start a conga. He'd already got the Grandstand cheering and done a dance with the start marshal before and during the meeting (these can be viewed on the Belle Vue facebook page). He is often the star of the show Throw in the ultra professional Neil Drummond (in my view, and with some pretty stiff competition, the best box man in the game)and Hayley Bromley - although I missed her 'Come on Manchester' chanting this time - and there is very little that other teams can teach Belle Vue about presentation.

To my knowledge, Chris Johnson did precisely that when he was severely injured at King's Lynn. Also to my knowledge, he won. I believe Jamie Smith did too, again at King's Lynn. I don't think anyone would dispute the fact that speedway is most dangerous and that riders have to be aware of both that and the fact that they risk their lives every time they take to the track. They should therefore take every precaution possible, including - if necessary - personal insurance. However, that in no way absolves a promotion of any responsibility should someone get badly hurt because they too have a duty to make sure that the track is as safe as it can be. Chris Holder and Luke Priest were very seriously injured as a result of an air fence not being properly fastened down, and they would certainly have a case against a promoter - something was certainly mentioned about Holder taking legal action - for failing to take adequate measures to ensure their safety. Lights is a very good example. If they blew in the middle of a race and a rider crashed as a result (when he most certainly would not have done otherwise) if it is found that the electrics were faulty the promotion would be culpable and therefore liable. Riders do accept just how dangerous speedway is, I am sure. But if it is shown that the risks have been increased (to whatever degree) by the negligence of a promotion that goes beyond the dangers that they might reasonably have accepted.