cowboy cookie returns?

Doubling up was a great idea when it was first introduced. It allowed a second tier rider to share a reserve spot with a top flight team. It’s now gotten massively out of hand and needs to revert to what it was a couple of lower league riders sharing one position in the next league up. long term the sport here needs to become a mix of amateur, semi pro & pro riders. Developing enough riders so that teams can have a type of squad system. using the structure we currently have. MDL solely for amateur riders who ride in the uk using standard cheaper equipment so opening the sport up to more participants. The top MDL riders could hold squad positions in the second tier but no more than 2 per second tier club & only 1 can be used at any time. The second tier a mixture of amateur & semi pro riders with controls on equipment costs to allow riders to compete & not have to pack up because of costs. Again the top riders can hold a squad position in the top league a maximum of 2 per top flight side & only 1 can be used at a time. The top flight a pro league along the lines of what it is now. As a rider if you wish to be a full time pro then you need to have the ability & desire to progress through the ranks to a point where you can support yourself as a pro. However before you can expand & develop your rider base we will need to do some sort of merging of the league to stabilise the sport for the next 2 or 3 years . My thoughts require a long term commitment to a strategy that will hopefully begin to grow the sport.

Totally agree. Ive said elsewhere that it’s the rules & lack of credibility that does more harm to the sport than the racing. The racing is just as good now as I’ve witnessed in the last 35 years however it is much faster. I’ve also watched plenty of highlights on you tube from the golden years of the 70s & 80s & it certainly wasn’t any better. As with any sport if you have a competition that people want to watch so atmosphere is generated & businesses are willing to invest the actual visual product plays second fiddle.

The play offs are wide open Semi final 1 Sheffield v Belle Vue Semi final 2 Ipswich v Leicester

It’s not fair to be put in the position of having to ride a pointless meeting after the play off cut off. That’s the shambles that is uk speedway.

Did you really expect anything else in a totally pointless meeting?

If it’s one league, Nicholls back at Ipswich for a fair well season?

If the structure of the sport allows for his return then it’s done to what Emil & Ipswich want to do. If they both then want it to happen I can’t see the visa being an issue. I can only see Emil riding in the UK for Ipswich but I can’t see the structure allowing it to happen.

I don’t think Emil will be riding the uk next year. I’ve not heard any rumours it’s just a hunch, especially if Ipswich win the play offs as he will achieved what he set out to 3 years ago.

I don’t think Emil will be riding the uk next year. I’ve not heard any rumours it’s just a hunch, especially if Ipswich win the play offs as he will achieved what he set out to 3 years ago.

There are 24 weeks from the beginning of April to the end of August to fit in 12 home fixtures. We have just come through a record breaking dry hot summer so no reason that fixtures should be pencilled in so close to cut of date. Especially with the SPON taking place this weekend & not the height of summer as normally happens. I am not blaming Sheffield for the weather but the club/fixture planners need to take ownership for the reason we are running league after the play off final teams have been confirmed.

Top hat is in the ring

Maybe Sheffield should have completed their home matches before the cut off date, plenty of opportunity to do so. Also had they completed them & done Ipswich in both round 2 matches they would have finished top & taken on Belle Vue in the semi. I can’t see them banning Emil for not riding in a meeting that by their own rules should have been completed before the play offs started. It’s just another example of the piss poor state this sport is in.

As sad as that will be I think you’re right. I doubt The league structure will allow Ipswich to use Doyle & Emil in the same team, so Emil will be the one to go. I doubt we’ll see him line elsewhere in the uk.

No need to put to much effort in & risk anything.

Harry Reddknapp has secured some major financial backing to provide a 8 team top flight along the lines of Poland while the championship also benefits from a major cash injection with Mildenhall, Northampton, Eastbourne & a couple of other returning sides join the remaining 2025 championship teams making up an excellent 12 team Championship. Or more likely the leagues are merging while admission prices are going up meaning supporters being asked to pay more for less once more. I hope I’m wrong but experience tells me not to expect to much other than shuffling the pieces & weakling the product.

Tactical joker is on the way back!

It’s down to having a legitimate competition that captures the imagination. This then starts to build crowds that then starts to build atmosphere & then it self builds as people talk & want to get involved.

I’m not necessarily talking about the racing. The Portsmouth Southampton football match that was screened on ITV was as dull as dishwater. In fact quite a lot of live football I have seen has been uninspiring & certainly not highly entertaining for the majority of matches as you would think for a sport that is dripping in money. It’s the product people want to be involved with the entertainment value of the spectacle is secondary. Get the competitions & the overall product right.

I don’t get all this if there was more speedway at weekends more would attend. If you make the product & the competition’s something that appeals to the public then they would attend whatever night it was on. Ipswich have always ran on Thursday nights & have always historically & currently attract some if not the best uk crowds for speedway. The product & value for money is the biggest driver.

He has had issues with engine tuners all year. Started the season without one & hasn’t really got going. If the league structure stays the same & he wants to come back next year I think he’ll be on a quote bargain average. I’d love to see him back but I’m not sure he’ll be up for it.

Pure greed from Lemon. Something about him I can’t stand.

If the sport here was run in a professional manner & the supporters had that bond with the team as their riders that could happen here. We are now in a position where riders over here in the main are just hired hands who ride for your club one night & someone else the next in in the uk.

That’s to watch a professional product in a competition that actually brings kudos & means something to win it. I doubt they would pay that much if half the team doubled up in the championship & used guests to cover injuries. A far cry from British Speedway. If British speedway was attracting full houses & had people waiting on List’s & ballots to get tickets they could probably warrant higher prices. At the moment for many people 24 quid isn’t attractive let alone 27 for what is on offer.

Ipswich need to get off to a good start on Thursday. Kurtz & Mulford both had good heat wins at Ipswich last time out. we cannot afford to have a opening 6 heats like we did against Lynn in the cup or Sheffield last week. Game on let’s see what happens. Doyle alluded in his interview that Ipswich would rough it up & go & play on Thursday.

The play offs are wide open, it’s impossible to predict.