Hawk127

Not defending the promoters entirely (yes they do have a few faults) but with the apathy amongst the speedway supporters for wanting nothing other than a league meeting and shunning individual events as well as the NDL, what else can a promoter realistically put on as a meeting that will grab the imagination of new punters. Years back you had the second half where newbies got a chance to pit their skills against established riders and in a good few cases you could follow the progress of a rider as they developed from a second half rider to reserve to main team and then into the top league starting at reserve and hopefully moving on in the sport. All riders need track time to hone their skills but that comes at a cost to the promoters most of whom rent the stadia. Just take a look at Poland and see the various opportunities for all classes of rider. Yes Poland has far more practice tracks than we have in the UK but the Polish supporters don’t just turn up for a league meeting. Years back I can remember meetings being packed with families out on Saturday night to watch the likes of Rayleigh, Canterbury, Coventry etc and what you now see in terms of Polish supporter and mixed age groups, you did once have that over here. The business model in the UK no longer lends itself to full time top tier racing particularly given the restrictions of movement on riders and equipment since Britain left the EU and with the ease that riders can cross borders in Europe to race, why would they bother with the UK unless they are getting a good wedge for the effort and that pushes prices up for everyone. The sport needs to look at its lot and decide what works financially and stop pretending it is something that it isn’t . With the increasing decline in tracks and the lack of talent coming through the ranks it is only a matter of time before you are down to a handful of tracks left operating and a few more amateur clubs operating on an open licence with individual race meeting events possibly share these events with th3 likes of short track racing and side cars.

Ipswich not having a good time of it. What happened to Dan?

Fingers crossed for Jason that was awful crash. The fact that everyone looks so worried makes it worse. Here is hoping.

I agree but those in charge should have done the equivalent of a risk assessment to conclude the what if. That may be giving too much credence to those in charge who can understand a risk assessment and have a brain. The outcome seemingly reduces the T V audience by default and speedway in the UK disappears into the ether. Well speedway GB.

Other than speedway anoraks who would know this meeting took place and for the t v viewing public, who would pay TNT, therefore what does the avid follower of good racing expect. A shame that a wider audience such as was the case with Eurosport is deprived because on the insular self interested decision makers who negotiated away the t v rights to the sport on a platform that few are willing to pay a premium to watch. What are these fools on, the sport needs to reach a wider audience not some niche broadcaster (in speedway terms which is not what the sport needs).

Just took a look at the DMax highlights of the GP. Simple question, why did they bother? Unless something went wrong with the recording you do not even see the final. WB has shafted the GP series. Well done to those in charge of the sport who sold out to this bunch of amateurs who do not have a clue. Whoever put that programme together needs firing. Luckily to watch a GP other free alternatives exist.

Not that bad a meeting with the home side having to come from the back in a number of races. Maybe one sided but the racing to get the results was worth watching and in front of a very enthusiastic crowd. I would not mind going to a meeting on Friday night with a crowd like that. Brady Kurtz seems to be going very well. Let’s hope Maceij is OK

Every team has the opportunity to build a competitive band of riders like Ipswich but it takes effort to attract the sponsors and the backing to build the best with a reputation for fairness and paying wages on time. How many clubs have mismanaged the financial side by under estimating the income, the numbers of supporters, the attractiveness of the product and then give some thought to trying to compete at a level which in reality they can ill afford. The UK could put together at best three or four teams that could hold their own in the top tier of Polish speedway, the rest are fodder making up the numbers to satisfy a piss poor T V contract and the egos of a few promoters who have never promoted anything in their lives. if you want to know what promoting is all about then go back to the successful days of Wally Mawdsley, Len Silver, Dave Lanning, Johnnie Hoskins, Ian Thomas, Graham Drury and a good few more whereas today look what you have got, fools and the money which is soon parted and no cohesive response to what is wrong with the sport in this country. Most of those running clubs have heads up their own arses. You have no real strategy for new talent which is ignored by the majority of hard core supporters who believe the only real fix is league racing whereas many individual meetings at so many levels can offer excellent competitive racing but this is discounted by many and they wonder why you have few prospects making it through the league. Until you have a change in the attitude of promoters, the set up and the supporters change of attitude to watching racing that involves all levels the sport in this country is only going one way. Thankfully not all of the European speedway nations are following the UK business model.

Based on the commentary paint drying would be more exciting but at least it is live racing even if the commentator is in some sort of induced comma. Looking at the spars crowds is it time to try a invent the Kerry Packer travelling circus with the best in the world racing in teams in each country and then the next level down is weekly grass roots team racing and then the equivalent of the NDL. The sport needs to do something to attract attention.

KL could pull a surprise I would say 44 - 46 to the Stars. Doyle has been erratic, Emil seems to have bike or set ups not as good as they could be, Danny has had a couple of low scores for Redcar and it will be very much how the top end performs as Klindt will be a spoiler if he gets it right from the start. Not as clear cut as a few may think.

The riders coming out at the end of the meeting to encourage the crowd is to be commended. The enthusiasm is great and I just wish that more UK based spectators got to see how it can be done and channelled some of that to the local teams. It might not have been as spectacular but back in the 70’s good crowds at stadia were the norm and on a Saturday night Rayleigh versus Romford or Canterbury or Eastbourne or Ipswich saw it packed. Sadly the glory days have long gone but the fever you get from Poland is something to behold.

That was a good meeting on what may have been a difficult track but full credit to both teams and that is what speedway is about, well done to both sets of riders.

Challenging heat 14. Still a good chance of an away win.

British riders please take note of what to do when the track is wet - just race

That was a very good manoeuvre by Doyle. Good meeting thus far.