mikebv

It isn't the best sales pitch is it? "I am selling up as what is being planned won't work for me"....

Similar to the BV fans "unofficial" FB page... Plenty are "disgusted" and "disappointed" at the non running of the Colts, but no one seems prepared to put up the fair few grand needed for them to continue... I am sure if fifty fans gave Mark Lemon a couple of grand each he may look at the situation again.. As you say, the sport is only heading one way...

I presume four teams means no teams? The optics of even five/six random clubs scattered across the country for the "Flagship League" is bad enough but four would be ludicrous...

Maybe Linda Lusardi has made a last minute "gazumped" offer when she realised the huge potential of the sport after doing the draw?...

Roy Keane just said... "That's her job!"....

I am not sure that the "paper bag" used is a recognised official BSP Homologated draw dispenser... Therefore, the draw should be rendered "Null and Void" for me, and only re drawn as and when said "paper bag" has been trade marked and officially endorsed by an ex World Speedway Champion.. The salubrious surroundings, and of course Ms. Lusardi's presence itself, are actually things that accurately, and clearly, reflect the stature, and importance of fhe Championship KO Cup, therefore, ensuring that the "paper bag" used to dispense the team names has the same level of gravitas is fundamentally important... Hats off to those in charge though,, as many of us on here have often said that they needed to employ a well respected, results delivering, professional marketing company, to publicise the sport, even if it costs a fair few quid to do so... This certainly looks like they have listened, and done just that... NB. May I humbly suggest Mr Timmy Mallett to do the Premiership draw? (If they can get enough teams obviously)...

100%... Without doubt, hardly anything, (if anything at all), has been done to engage those different ethnically diverse communities now found around many track locations.. But, you could also say the same about engaging the indigenous population who make up the majority of the fanbase too...

One of the biggest (non self inflicted), reasons for the demise of the sport for me.... As an example, I ran a supermarket in Bradford with over 30,000 customers, with an 80% "Asian" customer base.. Many major cities and towns have changed demographically, hugely, since the halcyon days of the 60's... And also became filled with commercial and apartment buildings, rather than the replaced traditional terraced residential properties which used to hold "working class" families, who made up a huge portion of the fanbase for many tracks...

I think I, and countless others, can ultimately see it ending....

Your big rival today, is your best team mate tomorrow... Then your big rival again the day after... Before becoming your best team mate again the day after that. And then once more being your big rival etc etc etc

Like Triggers brush... He used exactly the same one for 20 years.. Except for the 14 replacement handles and 17 replacement heads..

It's an "umbrella" organisation that isn't... Far too many vested interests, far too much self policing, far too much "what about me?", far too many disparate businesses, wanting far too many disparate things from their sport.. Any leadership of any sport should be independent, and given powers by the stakeholders to run the thing, after consultation which sets, and agrees, the business and operating plan. The independent body/person then just implements the policies agreed.. UK Speedway cannot move on when so much is diluted, fudged, and changed to suit disaffected individuals who want adhoc changes made due to circumstances, just to suit their own agenda..

I wonder how many times in life have we all been served by someone with a violent past?.. We simply didn't know it, but, I am sure some people who were severely impacted by their actions must have.. Yet, they couldn't determine the future of the ex con... Just the way society works..

A great number of fans who closely follow the sport, and live just a few miles from their local track, don't bother attending regularly... There will be for sure, the "novelty value" initially, but, ultimately, when that wears off after a couple of meetings, it still will be UK Speedway you will be watching... And we all know how successfully delivered that is...

Sam Dingle out of Emmerdale would be perfect synergy......

Didn't Buster get quoted as saying promoters would need to "dig deep" to bring in another club?.. Maybe its a collective effort?

Is Brady Kurtz being held back for Northampton? If they do run they will need some "name" to try and generate some interest... A world No2 may just get that publicity...

No idea, however... I would think it is perfectly fair to charge a hire fee for the track, and facilities, that the riders are using... You take up MX, Autograss, Club Motorsports, and even Grass track and you basically "pay to play".. Speedway shouldn't be any different at entry level.. And, of course, if you are any good, you actually get paid to race, something which many in other motorsports never get to experience...

The future plan certainly wont be any longer to pluck another foreign journeyman to fill spaces that should have been given to UK lads, if Poland has its way... Most riders in Poland will be riding in their own league as their "plus one", so the number available will have dwindled.. Interesting interview with Matt Ford in the Speedway Star re Denmark now paying more than Sweden, presumably to be the number two choice for those Polish contracted lads next year? Those in charge over here have certainly buried their collective heads deep into the big hole they have dug for themselves over the last couple of decades..

100%... For me, it doesn't really matter if its just the top 30 or so NDL lads riding for any team, on any given day... No team kevlars, just team race jackets with numbers 1, 2 and 3, with whoever is available taking one of them... It gives those already of a "decent level of competence" more opportunity to ride... Track days under tutelage of professional riders should be also part of the BSP plans whereby complete novices with "some competence" can develop and improve with an eye on reaching, initially, NDL level... And if the odd Dan Bewley is found then fasttrack them through... The NSS is lying empty for many weekends with no Colts, so a perfect opportunity to have weekly training sessions..

Done....

I suggested on another thread that the old SJL three rider teams could be used... But during the main meeting... After every four heats, two NDL level races.. Track should be therefore slickened off, not too grippy, but not bare like a second half would bring... Tractors then come out and reset the track for the main meeting.. Six heats in total, and four rides per rider, no subs allowed.. I remember the 4 team tournaments running a couple, maybe three?, reserve race(s) during the meeting that didn't count to the result but gave the No 7's in the team track time.. If EVERY meeting did this in BOTH leagues there would be plenty of track time for the developing riders.. No need for contracts as riders could ride for anyone at any meeting subject to their availability, (who just said "just like the top two tiers do"?)... Expenses only, or even "pay to play", but something desperately needs doing to increase the amount of UK riders in teams, and giving developing riders track time, and plenty of it, is the only way to do it... On YT there is coverage of some Youth finals from the last few years, and several riders now breaking through are riding with, a good few of them, from 125 to 500cc "straight legging" into the turns and opening the throttle as they came three quarters the way around the bend, thus making the bike "broadside".. Just a few years later, these same lads now go full throttle into every turn... Which shows. Practice really does, make perfect.... Therefore, the promoters really need to create this practice time...

A fixture list, or two, might help.....😄

Indeed.... You would just inform the club missing out to be on "standby" and put TBA on the weeks they are the fifth team... Of course, running six teams does mean at least two will still need to miss out each week so their riders can guest....

It is noticeable that over the past few years the Speedway Star has become more critical in it's comments on the running of the sport in the UK.. With plenty of giving voice to the fans off the various social media accounts linked to the sport.. I would imagine they had to be more circumspect when their sales came in the main from the tracks... After all. You don't bite the hand that feeds you do you? I presume sales now come more from online, hard copy subscription, and retail outlets, given so few tracks... Nowadays it is a very good read, giving plenty of fans a voice, and not slow at challenging, but constructively, and fairly, (recognising the challenges promotions face), the current malaise that exists... The New Year addition covering every league and every major competition in the world was particularly excellent...