Hawk127

What about Fredrik Lindgren. I believe he is giving Swedish racing a miss. Janowski is signed up for three teams I believe so he would not be available to race in UK.

Not sure about Belle Vue but the figures published are as follows: Warsaw 48k , Vojens 19.90k , Wroclaw 13.50k, Torun (SoN & SoN2) 13.10k, Gorzow 12.50k, Prague 11.50k (inc SGP3), Manchester 11.50, Melilla 8.70k, Landshut 7.8k and Riga (inc SGP 2) 6.70k Appreciate what you say about the venues but it does seem that live attendances might be in decline and that is not good news if the plans were to spread it around other non European stadia. Maybe fans are tired of the format and that in reality you are not seeing the top sixteen riders in the world. Whatever the reasons it is failing to ignite the enthusiasm which once surrounded the world championship.

In this week’s Star they have published the attendance figures for all the GPs and coming out on top was Warsaw with 48k. All the rest were under 20k with Manchester getting a combined 11.5k for the two days. Three GPs got under 10k. With all the costs involved etc it is a wonder anyone can make it pay. For the sports premier event you have to say the attendance figures are poor.

It seems that DPP who the planning agents are claiming that they have satisfied all the requirements for the redevelopment of the Abbey stadium even though the status of the Studley is unknown. Interesting article in this weeks Star and some of their arguments including using the current state of the sport in this country to justify why permission should be given. The one hope is that the Council stick to their guns and refused to budge on the issue of a replacement facility. Sad that people like Clarke Osborne are allowed to walk on this earth.

No mention of TV or Redknapp and co or what are to be the contributions of those who hold the rights to speedway in the UK or the plans for reviving the sport in the UK. No mention of what was behind the delay in coming up with something that has not really changed the set up from 2025 other than two teams are not competing. It would seem that the opportunity for change which the sport needs was lost post Covid and again they have settled with basically the same old scenario. You really do have to wonder what makes the governing body tick. As to plans beyond 2026, who knows other than the fact that collectively the headless chickens at the BSPL could not run a p.ss up in a brewery. Oh the joy of supporting speedway in the UK. Roll on the Polish season starting and something professional rather than the Mickey Mouse arrangement that prevails on these shores.

Good news that the Witches are coming to the tapes and hopefully now some announcements will be made over ownership and how the future of the club has been/is being secured. I suspect that one or two of last year’s team will don the witches race jackets and it will be interesting to see what the other tournament is over and above the league meetings and KO cup. It would perhaps be better if the season started in April/May and finished in September and outside this clubs run individual meetings or fill in with NDL meetings which are the future of the sport.

I think it will be a case of the headless chickens syndrome. Crisis, mismanagement and incompetence sum up the way those in charge have attempted to control and run the sport. Sad to say that the grass routes of the sport and fans UK wide have been shafted by those in charge and treated with so much contempt you wonder how they have the audacity to charge anyone to watch a meeting. The BSPL have failed the sport, the riders who are left high and dry as they cannot agree deals with sponsors etc because of the lack of decision making and ultimately the supporters who you wonder why they bother attending a meeting when you are ignored and have no voice and those that run the clubs take your money but really could not care less about the customer base. A case of sod you but gives us your money.

Hang on, do you have inside information? Five brave warriors!!. I think you will find it on the Comedy Channel. It is the new series of a The Fools and Money are soon Parted. BSN will be showing highlights of the biscuit eating competition that will be held at the same event. All in all an exciting day of live and recorded entertainment that will surpass anything seen on the track.

He could always attend via a video link. If the trip had been some while in the planning I doubt he would have known at the time of booking flights etc. that the AGM was going to be put back. A family trip to Australia is unlikely to be a last minute booking. Still I am sure those in charge have all areas covered and know exactly what they are doing but have just got to try and put into words that they are up sh.te creek without the proverbial paddle. Press release late on the 6th should be eagerly awaited by those who believe in miracles. For the rest of us another borefest of excuses, plans and rule changes.

I guess any new speedway track would cost a fortune but I was thinking more that as an investment its ability to capture some speedway supporters from the local vicinity is perhaps better than some other options but then again I could be way off the mark. Anyway enough on the topic of Stansted as clearly it is bollocks and time to move onto the next guess as to which venue could be appropriate to promote speedway and not go bust half way through a season unless the backers enjoy throwing good money after bad. The sport is on life support but the one hope for Ipswich making a comeback is if a buyer has been found and some of those Ipswich riders from last year who have not signed for other clubs are still available to form the core of a new team perhaps with some up and coming Poles. Happy new year to all and fingers crossed that 2026 has something more to offer than what appears to be the case as at today.

Thanks. I was only going by the pictures on-line and was thinking that it was nearer traditional speedway following but take your point. If it could be developed and start off like say a Workington did with basic facilities and grow sharing with speedway like a few other tracks it might not be too much of a problem providing the bangers can see some benefits of renting the arena to another party and generating some income. Do you know who promotes the meetings at the raceway?

Does anyone know much about Stansted Raceway? Given its proximity to Harlow, Bishops Stortford and within reasonable distance of London, it might be worth the nomad team talking to the owners rather than consider Northampton. At least at Stansted you stand a reasonable chance of attracting ex Rye House, Arena and possibly Peterborough supporters to get their fix in the interim. Just a thought.

Just to add to the debate this week’s Star arrived in the post this morning.

Not if mystery team number five gets to those two first. Then we all know how disappointed you will be and crying into your turkey gravy. Merry Christmas 😂

I suspect that Doyle may consider riding for either Ipswich or Swindon if someone comes along with the readies to fund the operation. Therefore what if the Ipswich licence was transferred to another track/stadia? Perhaps CL has gone abroad knowing a deal is done. Frankly no one here has any idea as to where the club stands and for all he has said I doubt he would leave Ipswich without a speedway team. As to what level that team is remains to be seen but I am sure speedway will feature at Foxhall in 2026 and beyond. Even a year out as NORA affiliated track simply to keep the track open should not be dismissed as an option. It depends on so many factors such as the rent for the stadium facilities etc. Let’s hope bikes are heard come March 2026.