Hawk127

Watching this takes me back to Friday night at eight at Hackney. Great to see racing and just a shame that those days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday racing have long gone. Thankfully the Polish scene fills the void.

Heat 8 was a good race but I agree Madsen seems off the pace which is a shame as he is a good rider

Perhaps the four strongest teams should join the Polish league and then you get weekend racing and good crowds ‘and then I woke up’ All the teams have a limit to build to but not all are either in a position or willing to pay what it costs for some of the top riders. Yes risks exist in signing them such as the Polish team pulling the plug but to use a draft system as has been mentioned elsewhere to solve the imbalance will not work. Those strongest teams obviously have a reputation for paying for the riders services ‘on time’ and not holding back on what is due hence the riders will want to protect the revenue. If you were a rider you would do your homework and go with the club that will pay. After all how many would want to spend six to seven months travelling around Europe simply to race or as in some cases expected because it is mandatory (and when you think of the costs involved plus if you are in the GPs the cost increase horrendously), take a risk on someone defaulting on what you are due It is not just about being a crowd pleaser on the track it is about running a risky business with only once source of income. The U K is no longer the must go to market for the sport and you only have to look at the stadia in Poland on a Sunday for a top league match and ask yourself as a rider where would you rather race, Poland or the UK in drab stadiums and sparse crowds (by comparison to the Polish following) If it is two tier that is because of the failings of the governing body and promoters over many years to do what is right for the sport.

Enjoyed that individual meeting, wished we had more in the UK rather than just the same old league meetings. How else will British riders develop if they do not have track time in competitive events like this.

Thanks for the feedback, that is really helpful.

Thanks for that, I didn’t realise they have a team. I will try and get along to a meeting.

Where did you go? I am planning to go to Krakow in May and I know that they do not have a local team but can anyone suggest a track to visit within an hour or so from the town. The stadia and support looks amazing for these televised matches and it would be good to experience what those lucky people watch week in, week out.

That is possibly because they know how to put on a show and appeal to punters. If you look at today’s speedway from Poland why on earth would any right minded professional bother with the UK. Presentation is very good, stats are good and commentators know what it is about. Coverage is second to none. Who needs TNT and the expensive option when you have the best on line. U k speedway is a poor relation and does not cut it from an entertainment perspective. As a professional rider what do you really want ride in front of thousands or opt for a few diehard oldies in the UK.

Would love to see him race in the UK again, a very good rider and have a lot of respect for him. The consummate professional.

That was a good result for two entertaining teams.

That electronic board used for the nominated riders in 14 and 15 is impressive. How did UK speedway fall so behind and end up with third world presentations.

Absolutely and serving up some decent speedway in front of a large crowd. Emil seems off the pace and struggling by his standards but it is nip and tuck.

Agree. Good entertainment and not a bad way to pass a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. Reminds me of when the Eagles use to race on a Sunday and the same for Rye House. Alas those days are long gone for British speedway, the future seems to rest with the Poles and who would not enjoy attending one of those meetings where it is packed to the gunnels. Overall an interesting weekend of Polish meetings.

On a general note, it must be awesome riding in a meeting with crowds like they have today. I wonder if those who ride in Poland and the UK feel deflated riding over here. Sunday in Poland in front of thousands, Monday in U K in front of hundreds.

Nothing changes and even Tungate allegedly apologised. Imagine commanding that much respect!!

Good ride from Pedersen in heat 6. He still has it.

Anything is possible and a good team has been assembled yet it is only two meetings nevertheless the riders do seem to work well. Good to see Danny doing a great job for the witches having had his prior performances affected by injury.It is a long way to go and hopefully the Witches can all stay injury free. It is not the time to get ahead of themselves but all looks good and fingers crossed that they can bring some glory back to Ipswich. In the meantime well done to all in the witches camp for the aggregate win and unfortunately the Aces were in the wrong place at the wrong time but they should not be written off as serious contenders for league winners, they are a very well balanced team that will come good in time and prove formidable opponents to the Witches and other teams in the league. Based on results thus far all looks good for an interesting season.

Sadly it seems that the days of throwing caution to the wind and travelling long distances to see even top riders are long gone not least for the cost of fuel and food/drinks plus the travel time and the day/time the meeting is run has a bearing on the likely attendance. BSN does offer an option at a reasonable cost to those who are not local to the track hosting the event. Unfortunately speedway and what are prestigious meetings are no longer a major draw and the dwindling number of supporters that are willing to part with the cash is evident given that generally no clubs hold individual events like they use to back in the day. Who knows how you reinvent the sport to attract a new audience but the current promoters, t v coverage and lack of well recognised riders is not advancing the cause.

I think the SGP etc. will be available on one of the offshore on line streaming services as it has been for a number of years. Sometimes it’s in English but other times in Polish. As for u k league racing, this was occasionally available on one particular non u k based streaming service. The question is just how many people are willing to stump up any money to watch the sport on T V given the price rises elsewhere with council tax, water rates gas and electric all rising and forthcoming changes/increases to VED. Monetary pressures all round so probably not a good time expect the average punter to stump up cash particularly giving how fickle the riders are when it comes to the weather with the likelihood of a meeting being called off. Probably best if possible to put money into track visits and the odd BSN meeting.

Those in charge of the sport in this country have over the years squandered the TV opportunities to promote the sport and wasted the income yet given no thought to to the fact that they need to promote the sport to a wider audience and that is a bit like the track attendance, take it or leave it with no thought for the punters. Thankfully some capitulation with BSN who do a fine job and deserve the support of the speedway followers but that in itself does not get the message across to the wider audience of casual viewers who might come across the sport when flicking through the t v Chanels. It does need a main stream terrestrial broadcaster but alas those days have long gone unless someone can convince ITV4 to show at the very least, highlights. That would get it in the published t v listings etc but putting it on Quest is not good enough.

I guess BSN for domestic which seems reasonable value and one of the overseas streaming channels for GPs as long as you are not too bothered about which language the commentary is. As a few know, GPs can be seen for free on certain overseas based on-line providers.

Brian Foote had similar characteristics as did Ted Hubbard, hard chargers. Brian always having elbows out and left leg pointing forward going into bends. Fun to watch and both hated being beaten.

Thanks for keeping us updated it really is appreciated.

For those that cannot watch, good commentary of the match on BBC Radio Oxford.

Sadly it sums up the dilemma that the sport finds itself in. Too few riders and those that are plying the trade in several leagues going with whoever pays the biggest wedge and the sport in the UK tends to come off second best. Surely those in charge can come up with a formula that allows speedway in the UK to survive and not be subjected to the Polish dominance. If no action is taken, speedway in the UK is on the cusp of turning from a professional sport to an amateur form with it acting as a rider feeder for the more dominate nations. Who knows how it will pan out but those clubs let down by riders who ply the trade in Poland need to think is it worth it.