mikebv

Come on now... How long have you been following UK Speedway? You know better than to ask questions like that..

For me. They have to go full on in trying to attract those from the previous "hot beds" of Speedway, Cradley, Wolverhampton and Coventry.. They probably only need 600 or so in total from these "speedway starved" areas and they should be somewhere near its affordable level.. But, as we know, speedway clubs getting an extra 600 of their OWN fans to attend "regularly" is a huge challenge, so Brum will have to use some very aggressive, fit for purpose, marketing... And probably need it to be done by a proper marketing company rather than the usual speedway in house, "well meaning" amateurs, which, again, will mean another cost...

Oxford have had 2000 fans paying to watch.. Brum do well to get 700.... The TV money will subsidise any "big names" I would think.. Personally, cannot see it all adding up given the complete and utter lack of interest in Speedway from the vast majority of people in Birmingham, (regardless of "success" or not over the years), but fair play to NT for giving it a go...

A shame.. Entry level Speedway, which the NDL is, should have lots of opportunities for riders to give the sport a go without the need for many thousands of outlay... Especially given the sport over here require lots of UK lads to take up team spaces.. I always find it truly baffling that promoters expect riders to come with the best (meaning expensive), kit they can, meaning the promoters then need to pay the riders the money to not only afford that kit, but also have enough to live on, and tbey do this to try and win competitions that the very same promoters then completely devalue by their own incredible operating model.. It is a strange business plan isn't it?

Those engines that got bought, (was it a GRS?), would surely be ideal for the NDL?... Let the lads hire them for a season, and maintain them... Then pay them a salary based on not having to fork out a solid five figures for 3 bikes... Would get a few "giving it a go" and seeing if they have the aptitude to ride a speedway bike to a decent level, I would think..

Absolutely, without a doubt... Not many cards left to play you would think, given the almost knee jerk changes to its very existence that it demonstrates each season... A very (self inflicted to be fair in so many ways) thin ice on which to keep skating on, having to build a sport season after season.. Five year plan anyone?

Which is why winning at home is ultra important... And "top riders" are often the ones missing when teams ride away... Agreeing to a meeting date knowing your big earner will be elsewhere, and planning to bring in a cheaper track specialist, is all part of the rich tapestry of UK speedway.. And another of those many reasons you shouldn't take it too seriously..

They had no choice if they wanted to continue.. And, maybe, the TV deal could also have been in jeapordy if they didnt move up? Personally, given Brums' historical lack of interest from their local community, I cannot see it ending well, but let's keep our collective fingers crossed for them..

Could be a bit tricky that... Given Bomber could be guesting for the opposition too...

I think that the fans, particularly of teams who are not stand alone NDL and have a team in another division, just go along to enjoy the NDL racing and hopefully see some talent that goes on to the top level later in their career.. There is hardly an open top bus ride around the town for the Premiership winners, so the NDL Champs won't be making too many back pages... If out of the lads riding this year, 10 to 15 of them all have a regular Championship team place in three to five years then the NDL then this season will have been a huge success... Rider progression to regularly have 2nd tier teams being full of UK riders is the real measure of success..

Would love to watch him riding at the NSS....

Bullseye!!!

A perfect example of why the sport is in the self inflicted position it is.. If they had to work out who is allowed to guest, or which assessed average should apply, then you can be sure that this would be top of the agenda.. A professional, joined up, national marketing of the sport, with "great customer experience" of the sport, is a long long way down the list... It costs very little to get so much right in business...

You would think that allt he clubs could "club together" and pay someone to answer all the clubs SS enquiries on one website/email address wouldn't you? There cannot be "that many" per week in the grand scheme of things, given so few clubs and the length of time the close season has, so maybe two people tops could be needed... Quick responses, which gets the money into the bank account quicker, gives good PR for the tracks, and keeps their "most loyal" punters happy... The BSPL could do so much more collectively, rather than each "doing their best" ... Marketing, club merchandise, publicity etc etc, would all be cheaper and better if all done under one umbrella as a collective, with quality control in the hands of selected promoters...

"I ain't gettin' on no plane, fool".....

But surely they know their standard? Their expectations must be pretty low to begin with... It will be more hope than expectation for many NDL lads given many are either starting out or have been around for years at the same "bottum rung" level... Based on how many develop to a higher level, it will be a minority who will be seeing the NDL as an aspirational opportunity to progress, Either way, whatever your expectations and ambition, the NDL gives riders a chance to ride a bike for a living sometime in the future if they are good enough to do so in the next few years.. Many followers dont take the top two divisions too seriously given the UK operating model, so the winners of the NDL won't resonate with too many... "Winning"would be getting more riders into Div 2 as a start..

I can, and I use android... It stopped for a day, then worked again the next, about two months ago.. I use Samsung, not Chrome...

September.....

Most weeks I believe....

Maybe Sam will don the kevlars again?

You would need huge, deep pockets to run speedway at Bradford...

If so, all the best to Brum in seeing the season out.... That TV money must be really worth it for survival f they think that those two will make a competitive team... Piotr as a 3rd HL (at a push, 2nd HL) would be OK given his level in Poland... Millik is "best second string" level, or (again at a push), 3rd HL level... As a spearhead, absolutely no chance with those two, especially given their signings to date...

Maybe there are 1000's of sorting office workers who secretly love Speedway.. Now they can see what is in the package they open it and read of on their breaks!!! Maybe the BSP's should visit a few sorting offices...?

And that was in July...

And. If only there were enough riders to do it!!!!