Hawk127

Do they not have a curfew in Poland😂

Does the UK have an operating model or make it up as it goes along? As for the sell out to the current broadcaster, who agreed that and sold the UK punter down the line. BSN would have been a far better option. I agree with your sentiments but the sport over here is at an amateur level and sooner those that run it realise they need to rethink the format, presentation and marketing opportunities the sooner they will have a credible product to take to market. Until then watch and learn from Poland.

Totally agree. What I do not understand is the British riders who race in Poland get it on, over here they cannot be bothered. Is it because the Polish teams demand loyalty and total commitment. Over here it is a case of topping up the salary/pension

Shows what can be done with patience and time. Track appears good for racing and relies on the riders to attack what they have. Riders in the UK need to think outside the box if they want to earn an income in the UK from actually racing. It can be done, it just needs the right attitude.

Not a bad crowd for a meeting that looked in doubt. Very vocal.

Cannot imagine a similar situation in the UK. Well done to the track staff for at least giving it a go to get the track race-able. Time will tell if it works OK and hopefully safe riding for all.

I understand but it is good to get this sort of feedback. Just watching the practice starts and it would seem that the surface is wet but underneath it is drier. Not perfect and only the riders know whether it is good to go as far as competitive racing is concerned. I do remember some who did not mind racing in the rain but I am going back to the 70’s with the likes of the old guard giving it a go such as Terry Stone, Arthur Browning, Dingle Brown, Ted Hubbard and Brian Foote as well as the Kennet brothers. I know you could probably name many more but I guess today’s racing with the bikes being used is a different ball game.

Thanks. It is feedback like this that helps the layman understand the issues and if only a few more commentators offered this sort of information. Cheers.

A genuine question, the track does not look as though it has much material on it based on the guys walking round, how difficult is it to ride a wet track with what looks like little material as opposed to a track that needs to have the top layer taken off.

I can remember on one occasion two bus loads making it down to Rayleigh for a fixture. Always good value having the witches fans at the Weir. As you say a shame that so few travel but I guess it is cost and weekday meetings as opposed to weekend fixtures.

I’m in Westerfield but a few miles from Foxhole and it is tipping it down. Might clear up later though.

Not sure I follow what is going on but how can GP rider sit at reserve in the UK. Either he is poor in which case he should not be in a GP and more deserving riders should be or the UK speedway authorities have lost the plot and not prevented such an event occurring. No wonder no one takes it seriously. It a circus with clowns running the show.

No problem, I did not think you were. It probably needs to change but those on here can only voice an opinion, the people in charge are not interested in genuine and constructive comments on this forum. Onward and upward😀

I do not disagree. I was talking about the rider not the farcical format. A long way to go to decide the championship but I accept your view re the scoring system hence you could question whether the format is fit for purpose. I do not think it is.

Based on what? He has little opposition and he can only compete with what is on the stage. I accept your opinion and only time will tell but as it stands who would you say is on the same level based on the way the competition is run. You do not have the best riders in the world competing but an amalgamation of nation riders because that is what those who pay to broadcast want to see. It is far from ideal and perhaps selling out the sport to t v has brought about where it is now. I do not know but for now it is the best option speedway has to promote itself even if it is not ideal. On to the next GP.

Smarzlik is a methodical professional rider who will turn out to be the greatest world champion the sport has ever had. It will take something very special to lower his colours. While others try he simply goes about the business of grinding out race wins when it matters and is at the top of his game with little competition. Maybe the format is wrong as you do not see the best riders in the world and until you go back to a series of qualifying rounds with an ultimate final based on the top scorers, it is what it is. Well done to Smarzlik and big thank you to the SGP 3 riders who served up something a bit different and some decent racing. The sport has a future but needs direction.

OK Thanks. Good rider whoever he is related to 😄

Cooper top of the leader board after three races so not bad.

Niki, nephew went like a rocket in that race.

Good ride for Cooper, made the rerun pay. The racing is not bad and these lads are giving everything.

One final point, what the hell has an Ipswich thread got to do with some bit part supporter from Cirencester got to validly add to any debate.

Why. You suddenly become the fat controller. Everyone is entitled to an opinion but clearly you think your view is the only one that counts. If you don’t like it tough, do not read it. As I have said trolls like you are not speedway supporters. I could give you some advice but the powers that be would probably ban me. For now FO.

Promoting stopped back in the late 70’s. I can remember seeing posters etc around Rayleigh and on the A127 etc on most race nights and plenty of articles in the local press. Saturday night and bank holidays at the Weir were packed with families in the stadium and a good smattering of away fans on the back straight. Best were Eastbourne, Ipswich, Canterbury and Crayford but you also had Bradford, Sunderland, Crewe, Ellesmere Port and others who made the journey. Alas this has all gone now and we are left with a shadow of what it used to to be.

Ipswich have been fortunate to have many a loyal supporter through thick and thin as have one or two other clubs. Unfortunately missed opportunities to reinvent speedway itself such as after the pandemic were not taken up and instead the status quo has been maintained which has not helped Speedway UK. It does not have the crowd following, infrastructure, stadia or t v exposure that Poland has and the reality is it never will. Cut your cloth accordingly and look first at the domestic structure and then the global scene going back to the old days of international series and the cream of domestic stars rising to the top to compete on the world stage. As it stands the UK riders in general have ideas above their capabilities and need to get real. A few can make it but 95% are never going to match the Poles let alone some of the other nations. Look at the USA, who had the world at their feet and then it all fell apart. Speedway UK is at the crossroads, act now or it will disappear into oblivion.

Just watching the introductions to the Polish meeting on tonight. Where did it all go so wrong? This use to be Ipswich on a Thursday with weekly meetings but now hit and miss, poor fixture scheduling and a sport that in the UK is on its last legs. Those that run the sport have capitulated and we are left with the dregs. A very sad situation but thankfully many on here will have seen the best of days when weekly racing was the norm and supporters turned out for individual meetings as well as the 4TT and local derbies. Best get to live meetings when you can because it cannot last as is.