Hawk127

If the forecast today suggested it was going to rain next Monday, no supporter in-their right mind would contemplate considering travelling to a meeting. If it is on TV and the weather forecast is poor, no chance of waifs and strays going along so it would be down to the season ticket holders attending who want a return on their investment. Sad state of affairs for a summer sport but what do we know, we are just punters who are insignificant in the overall scheme of things and simply put up or shut up.

Perhaps they have taken on the English attitude and started to treat fans with contempt. Beware because this can lead to the state that U.K. speedway finds itself in, on its knees, poor levels of support and even the English and Welsh netball teams gets more publicity. Speedway in the U.K. is treated by the media as a joke and even local sports reporters who once went all out to publicise local teams cannot be bothered. Do not let it happen in Poland.

Speedway fans are some of the most patient. Wherever you have a delay, generally they are very tolerant and hold on in hope. Not many sports would put up with the way the punters are treated at speedway meetings.

The track does not look that bad but I guess those in the know will point out why it is not race-able. Always good to see the man himself King Gollob as part of the commentary team. Oh well on to the next live streams from Poland.

GB did well and no one rider lost it but you have to question the choice and it shows that GB still has a lot to do to make it to the top in team speedway. Unless those in charge of the domestic scene do something positive GB will continue to be also rans. Congratulations to Robert, Dan , Tai and hopefully the rest ca up there game

GB could do it and I cannot remember a meeting as close as this. Thanks to most of the top class riders for producing something special.

He is lucky. Not a consistent performer as well as being arrogant (see last weeks comments from him during the Polish league meeting) and he has not earned any credibility following the Cardiff GP and really needs to sharpen his performance in front of the camera. His riding is hit and miss so is his attitude but no doubt his followers have a different opinion.

Another good contribution from Ellis. Why is he in the team?

Constructive input but it does not help that as one of the uninitiated from the Southern Hemisphere the feedback for the poor meetings is less than clear and not base on fact but for someone with delusional ideas from a second rate nation leaves the rest of the world wondering what planet the Aussie supporters are on. Is it also any wonder why no one can find a suitable home or is prepared to underwrite a Southern Hemisphere GP with Australia failing miserably to step up and do the right thing. Only your migrants who saw the light and are prepared to put themselves out to race in Europe have any chance of flying the flag while the rest of the world looks on at the wombats with mixed feelings. The sport has more chance of holding a meet in North Korea than anywhere in Australia. Aussies may well do a decent job on Saturday but in reality the only the Poles who are streets ahead and team GB stand any chance of winning

Probably why the formula does not work. I remember when the U K hosted an international event back in the 70’s from what I recall (old age and memory not that good) but remember watching Russia at Hackney and I think the meetings were sponsored by the Daily Mirror. Normal seven man teams with meetings spread over a couple of weeks. As it stands this format is four individuals racing for themselves and no real tactics or team racing. Nothing will please all the punters but when you look at the current format it is Poland versus ROW and with the support those Polish riders get they will not give an inch and only they have captured the spectacle that speedway really is. Good luck to all the riders tomorrow and hopefully some decent racing with a good track.

Good to see Chris Holder back in the fold.

The quality of the broadcast is not good. Picture looks jittery at times which is a shame for such an event. Those in charge of transmissions and camera work have a lot to do to reach that previous standard provided by Sky and BT. Hopefully Saturday will be spot on and if anyone wants a comparison watch the streamed meeting on Sunday from Poland and it will show the professionalism of the Polish broadcasters compared to Eurosport/Discovery. Thank goodness for Polish speedway presentation and crowd support.

Is it me but I keep losing the commentary and I am watching through discovery+ on Sky. Anyone else having problems?

If the first two meetings are suppose to be top draw from the also rans in the world, hand the title to Poland and let each country get back to domestic league dross. Stadium empty, second rate teams, Good job this was not available to general viewing.

Ellis has had chances at this level and never makes the grade. Screwed up at the Cardiff GP when was not fit and denied another rider of the chance to perform. Was rather cocky in an interview on Saturday in a Polish meeting. Let Tom have a chance as riders like him are the future. As to why team GB needs two dick heads to run the thing beggars belief. Sums up GB speedway.

He is probably not happy with his investment this year and even though he probably runs a tight ship, the gamble has not paid the dividends he may well have hoped for. A shame really but it is what it is.

It is not a profitable business and anyone capable of producing a business plan and cash flow would recognise the weaknesses in not least for the dependency on income outside the control of the the promoter running the club. It requires wealthy sponsors, a minimum number of punters through the gate and riders who recognise that their contribution to the entertainment will reflect their value to the overall presentation and earn accordingly. At the moment you have riders trying to screw as much as possible out of a bankrupt product and club owners who simply refuse to say no to the demands of riders and fail to recognise the state the sport is in. As has been said in earlier posts at best this is now an amateur sport and if you need confirmation of how dire it has got look at the World Cup and it’s screening. It use to be on Sky or BT and promoted but now it is no longer On a fully accessible t v channel but some app and the final eventually is on Eurosport. Who in the U.K. other than the anoraks knows that team GB are competing and someone explain what home publicity the sport derives from what should a major event. It is dead in the water as a sport and no matter what the annual November get together comes up with, you can be assured they will not know how to deal with the decline. Those in charge need to be dynamic and try something drastic to revive speedways fortunes in the U.K. but it will not happen. Perhaps the sport should take time out in 2024 and abandon league meetings and try something completely different.

Thanks for this.

Are the meetings being shown live and if they are which channel? I cannot see any listing on TNT/Eurosport

Perhaps they could have a mini league play off and invite Mildenhall to compete. East Anglian championship chase. I am sure Mildenhall could draft in a couple of Polish riders to boost the ranks or perhaps Tai and one or two others could be drafted in. Who needs the play offs and BSN could televise it. Then I woke up and realised it really is a nightmare for speedway in this part of the country.

Still not a patch on a Polish league match, a shame that in this country it is run on a make do basis. Watch this and watch a Sunday afternoon meet from Poland and you realise how poor this is. Even in the individual meeting last Sunday all the riders from Poland were giving it everything whereas over here most think they are too igood and deserve their status. In reality few would survive in the second or third tier of Polish racing.

Louis’s interview sums it up. What can you say, home team gets the advantage. Sad but predictable and sums up those overseeing the meetings. None so blind as those who do not want to see.

It was something special seeing eight riders start a race that required bike and rider stamina, standing on the first and second bends at Foxhall watching riders go for it was awesome. Those were the days and I still think that with the right attitude the sport that create those glory days. It just needs every club to pull together and forget trying to attract the GP stars. Bring back good racing and stop looking over your shoulder to see what the rest of the world/Europe are doing. Screw Europe and the rest and start entertaining your home audience

Will the promoter arrange other meetings given the likely early finish to the season or simply call it a day and hopefully come back in 2024. Sad really when you think back a few years and look at how weekly speedway was almost the norm from March to October and we would turn up at Foxhall and be entertained by the likes of Mark Loram, Chris Louis, Scott Nicholls, Robert Miskowiak, etc.. Now all you have is a pale shadow of what was once a good nights entertainment. I am glad I saw the sport through the 60’s to the 2000’s and have witnessed entertainment, memorable moments and some decent on track racing where riders gave it everything notwithstanding the conditions and you appreciated the effort. Now the riders do not give a fig about the supporters and believe the paying punter owes them a living and you have certain people managing teams where you would get more inspiration from paint drying. Hopefully we will get to see a 16 Lapper if nothing else.

I agree in part to the sentiment but with beer and fish and chips you always have options/alternatives but with a sports venue it is slightly different and Ipswich have come near to folding in the past and thanks to the Louis family and some great supporters and sponsors the sport has fought off closure. With a venue like Foxhall, if it Speedway stops it will not come back, not in this day and age notwithstanding the Spedeworth fixtures currently planned, Spedeworth would simply pick up the slack in available dates/weekly meetings permitted by the local council. Plenty who live near to the track would like to see it closed and one or two presenters on BBC Radio Suffolk have been lees than enthusiastic about the Witches and banger racing. Most on here realise change is needed but those with the ability to instigate this are unlikely to rock the boat and try something different. It starts with affordability and stop the nonsense of riders demands. It can not afford most of those who grace the tracks but no one has the balls to say enough is enough, the business model is flawed, the participants think they are owed a living from the sport and the club owners treat the fans with such disdain, is it any wonder the sport is on its knees. No one involved has the balls to do the right thing except one club, who now plough their own furrow. Hopefully a few more will follow and the likes of Vatcher and many other cronies will be out of a job.