old bob at herne bay

Good name for a speedway rider. Hope his bikes dont go Bang(s) Hugh Skidmore was the most appropriately named.

Are Sheffield running in 2026 ?

The Dean Machine makes a good point.Its on the riders. If they choose to take the chance of riding on Poland for 000s of zloty a point ... they take the risk of not getting paid and/or being instantly dropped if they don't score well. Not sure that Denmark or Sweden offer great paydays compared to the UK either ? For far too long the British promoters have been far too keen to sign up overseas riders in preference to supporting young home grown riders. This is now coming back to bite them on the bum . Already there is talk of signing the latest bunch of youngsters who appeared to show a turn of speed in the SoN. How about the CL limiting the number of overseas riders in each team in 2026 ? ? and using some of the NDL riders instead. Bet you there would be one or two promoters who would object and not agree ?

Poole in the CL !

Haha, well done Redka. 🙂 Shock of the season. :-0 But you know what I mean ..... Ippo to win the p.offs from the moment the season started. Only injury robbed them the year before. Poole almost wiped the board in the PL . Just ONE of the problems in British Speedway , predictability. Not helped with the boring boring every meeting run over 15 heats. No variation. WHY ?

Just the Premiership ? Poole were odds on to win everything in 2025 , and will do so again in 2026. with so few teams in the PL “over8 “ riders could be out of work 😂. Let’s face it an 8 point rider isn’t that great …. 4 second places every week and it’s an 8 point average . Hardly a “ heat leader” pProbaly a reflection that anyone with a decent bike and who can gate can beat anyone on the modern slick tracks

MikeBV, Its been said many times before bt the modern day "promoters" just want to win at all costs. They all forget that they are in the ENTERTAINMENT business. What is served up nowadays falls far short of acceptable entertainment.

With only a passing interest in speedway nowadays, I just read online that another season of slow decay had been completed. I took in the SoN online and frankly that reminded me of why I packed in attending speedway. What dross. I thought Polish tracks were maent to produce good racing ??? News of another club closing (Birmingham) and huge uncertainty over the future of another (Sheffield) There is an ever growing "ghost league" of defunct clubs, all with decaying tracks and with dreams of reopening, but none look even remotely likely for 2026. Patching up the situation will no doubt take place with tweaks to "points limits", but making a silk purse out of a sows ear will tax the bunch of speedway promoters even with thier best rose tinted specs. No idea what attendances were like in 2025 (its always been a closely guarded secret) but aside from a few historically well supported clubs would be surprised if anything but holding even was the norm. Fixtures becoming more irregular with gaps in the summer, then a mad scramble in early winter really cannot help. Some non P.off clubs finishing fixtures by late August doesnt help. Same old same old 15 heat format across all meetings. The ever decreasing band of ageing "hard core" supporters will probably be served up something for a few more seasons until the sports 100th anniversary in 2028, but i wouldn't hold my breath for any dramatic changes of direction ....... .

Guess the key decisions for 2026 will be taken at the sports AGM … whenever this will take place. Seems to be key issue over whether Sheffield has an owner……. Without that the PL is down to 5 teams. Never known it down to so few teams in the top tier. Go back in my memory to 1963 , when the old National League finally crumbled and in 1964 the all encompassing “British League” was formed. The sport is in a much poorer state than back then, with so many riders doubling up or doubling down, and so many stadia disappearing. any news of when the AGM is to take place…..I cannot see any info scouring the Internet ?

Honestly you couldnt make it up. Losingagainst a 6 man side. Middlo will be very unhappy. 🙂 Poole as I have previously said don't like a wet track. Just the double.

Wonder what the crowd will be like on a Friday? Even for a final meeting with a cup at stake, will be a useful indicator to the promotion of whether “ off night” racing is a viable business in Poole.

Wonder what the crowd will be like on a Friday? Even for a final meeting with a cup at stake, will be a useful indicator to the promotion of whether “ off night” racing is a viable business in Poole.

Redka clearly thrown in the towel on this one with R/R for Riss.

Struggling to find a date and a venue for the Speedway promoters AGM. promoter availability is the problem allegedly , with many of them already doubling up and or taking part in overseas commitments. Guests have been discussed but guests of a suitable standard can be found, and "promoter replacement" is thought to severely weaken the team and will not be considered. Likely that they will all be asked to buy a tablet and use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to meet online.

So Premiership 2026 looks like the best season in the "top" league so far in the history of the sport. No worries about p.off qualification .... top 4 go straight into p.off semis So 2026 p.off semis look like :- Ippo BV KL Leics Look forward to AGM decisions on points limits .

I am sure you have, away performances not the issue this week. Was referring more specifically to the HOME fixture this Wednesday when Poole may face a wet wimborne road. They will take some dirt off and pack it down hard so you might get a meeting on ..... ?

As Victor Meldrew would say " I don't believe it" . Much more likely is no desire to risk running on any other night but Wednesdays. Would be business suicide and fully understandable. Wednesday night in Poole is speedway night. Crowds would evaporate on any other night, in whichever league Poole participated.

You're very welcome "SteveLyric2" . Thanks for your reply. 🤣

The challenges of being in a major city rather than a small provincial town. The Bournemouth "echo" and the Poole "argus" or whatever the local papers are down there have little to report on in the sporting world apart from one football club in Bournemouth , and frankly most weeks will be slow news in the poole area. Anything Ford or Middlo says however trivial will be found a column inch just to fill the paper. Compare with Glasgow where the sporting world is dominated by Celtic and Rangers and no doubt all manner of stories affecting the major city of Glasgow. The only story likely to feature in the Glasgow "Herald" is some disaster at the track or similar bad publicity story.

Yes Poole don't like it wet. Better take some dirt off the track to prepare for the forecast wet conditon on Wednesday afternoon (according to the Met Office for Poole) Or maybe an early call off to wait for sunny conditions. ??

yup Premier and National Development 🙂

Wishful thinking Mr Shovlar. Some obtacles ahead..... points limits for 2026 league structures - a "premier" league with only 5 teams ??? who might want to ride for the poole pirates in 2026 ? (allegedly another of the Cook boys doesn't anymore)

Well my bookie wont like me - a small home win it was, now forthe thumping at Poole's dusty road. I am just hoping ti dont rain coz Poole dont like it wet. Been around in speedway for over 65 years, it aint over till the fat lady sings.

Redka will do well to secure a small home win with their weakened side. They will take a thumping at Wimborne’s road of a track now devoid of dirt. Poole to win the treble…..the home fans will be deliriously happy. Matt will be counting his cash £££.

Gambled Poole to lose by 10 and take the aggregate win by 2 . .... 😞