Hawk127

Is that possibly the problem. The top riders are pricing themselves out of a job as fewer and fewer clubs can meet the salary expectations and surely the sport is bigger than the individuals. The clubs have to cut their cloth accordingly and one can only hope that British speedway does not shoot itself in the foot by offering silly money to attract the top names given the fallen attendances. Not so sure that a big name would put enough on the gate to make it worth while unless external sponsors are prepared to throw some cash into the pot. One can only hope that common sense will prevail.

A good meeting and a joy not to see the joker. Perhaps the use of a tactical substitute but overall the riders went out and did what they had to do without the comfort/fallback of double points. Good luck to both teams in the next leg.

It fast and furious, dangerous, exciting, average lap times of a minute or less, fifteen heats of mad men prepared to ride at super speeds with no brakes so why does it take two hours to run a meeting. The image created does not match the reality and to me some of the lost interest is a result of the poor way in which meetings are run. I appreciate that you can have hold ups for falls etc. But the delays with restarts, gardening at the gate and rarely the same team riders week in week out does test the patience of many. No new fans can get their head around two hours for fifteen minutes of racing let alone the long gaps in between races. The older fans despair at the rules, close racing at league level is a thing of the past and for real cut and thrust of the sport you need to record it and forward wind. I like a number of two wheeled sports but speedway takes some beating if you look at it in its simplest form. I use to regularly go to tracks in Essex and around London in the 70's to get a fix, was a regular at Rye House when the rockets first moved in in 73 and again at Arena Essex when that first started. Moved slightly North and Ipswich and Mildenhall were the local teams with the occasional visit to Kings Lynn and Peterborough and attended one of the tracks most weeks up until a couple of years back. Now just the odd meeting. Not lost to the sport but certainly not the avid attendee that I use to be. One day the interest might return but until,then I will just be selective about the live meetings.

Totally agree. Where has it all gone so wrong? So many good memories of Thursday night''s with the likes of Mark Loram, Chris, Jeremy, Jarek, Tony R and many more. We probably did not realise how lucky we were at the time and today is just a mere shadow of what still can be a fantastic sport with two evenly matched teams and local riders who wore the Witches race jacket with pride. Add to this the away support that travelled around the country. As a supporter of another team in the 70's, fond memories of the bus loads who descended on Rayleigh on Saturday and occupied the stand on the back back straight. Who knows, one day the good times may return.

It was more case of they did not slag off The UK and using the names was simply to highlight the different approach and so what if they deserted for the money. Did they slag off all and sundry? If the current crop believe that things are that bad simply move on but don''t bite the hand that fed you. No one is making these guys ride here. However be careful because as you pass these people on the way up and think you are too good, life has a habit of biting you on the proverbial and you never know when you might need them in the future. As far as I am aware most of the league clubs in this country guarantee you a weekly ride and in the majority of cases the riders can rely on getting paid. If you fail in Poland or the club over stretches itself what then? The current crop of Aussies are just not particularly diplomatic in the way they go about their business and it is the attitude which shows just how standards have fallen.They have no class otherwise they would deal with the issues differently and probably find it would work out in their favour.

Anyone running a book on how many of the whingers will return to the UK next year? Can I get odds on Jason Crump making a return to racing and showing these upstarts how to be professional and explaining the art of good manners and some common courtesy to the hosts. If not can these unhappy chaps leave the UK in peace and ply their trade elsewhere. That will allow U.K. Speedway to regroup which is badly needed and hopefully the punters will get to watch riders who want to ride week in week out and entertain. I will not hold my breath on any of these counts but one can only live in hope.

Absolutely and that would be best for business but alas if some rumours are correct it might be wishful thinking. Fingers crossed anyway.

If some clubs simply cannot afford to put racing on at anything other than NL or a reformed NL then surely it is better to keep the tracks open and operating then loose them altogether to the sport. Next thing would be they tarmac the track (stocks and other four wheel sport prefer hard tracks rather than shale) and that is it. Many other issues are affecting the sport and it is in the final throes of survival as we know it unless some serious changes are made closed season. As is said elsewhere a few wealthy individuals keep some clubs going but eventually reality hits home and the idea money and a bottomless pit suddenly rears its head for those individuals. Good luck to all clubs and hopefully no more names are lost to the sport.

Difficult balancing act with some who believe it is a £10 sport with the assumption that at pricing level more supporters would turn up but to achieve this either the pay scales are fixed (in reality reduced levels for some riders with start and points money only) to reflect the income through the turnstiles or you reduce the number of races in a league meeting. If the club can arrange sponsors then they could pay bonuses when a rider scores over a certain number of points but the clubs have to cut their cloth accordingly. If you have reduced heats to a meeting or six/five man teams again they need to be realistic about the revenue generation to cover the costs. Today not many supporters are willing to compromise and would be unlikely to support a second half of NL standard riders which in itself would also mean lower fixed rates of pay but more racing. These lads have to start somewhere and it is a shame that many who watch today think only league racing is important and open meetings and well as other meetings such as local 4TT etc are not worth supporting. The reality is that you do not have enough teams in split leagues to provide weekly racing and it is either one big league with other types of meetings giving riders track time and probably weekly racing or you watch a watered down product and the slow demise of racing. I doubt that the powers that be take any notice of what is said on this forum but when you watch them destroying each others business without a second thought for the overall good of the sport, is it any wonder speedway has fallen so far and by this I mean to include the fixture fiasco with weeks without a meeting and teams having three home meetings in seven days. The fixture compiler should be sacked for not understanding that it is easy get out of the habit of attending with just one or even two home meetings in one month and then expecting supporters to turn up to three in a week. If you want away supporters to attend more would probably go if they could plan in advance in terms of booking holidays etc. but the compiler makes even that simple task difficult for supporters I really hope that someone somewhere can get through to the chumps at the BSPA and perhaps it might take a petition from supporters and then they might think a bit more about one of the streams of income which they gladly take every meeting without a second thought when it comes to entertainment or value for money they give back in return. Probably not a straight forward solution to sorting out the issues but some are basic and are not rocket science.

I don't think anyone doubts Doyle's ability but the attitude leaves a lot to be desired. He may have an opinion on the other teams riders but at certain times you show restraint and keep those thoughts to yourself or a chosen few not a TV audience when the future of TV coverage hangs in the balance and a professional stance is required. He started his career the same as others and with determination and the right backing has clawed his way to where he is today but that does not give him the divine right to show such contempt for fellow professionals. Unfortunately his actions together with those of his compatriots such as the Holders and Batchelor who disgraced himself and Australia in the World Cup added to which the whinging from other Aussies over here and you question why they bother riding in the UK particularly if the grass is greener elsewhere. I do not see the sport would be any poorer if they stayed away and if the top stars cannot fit the UK into their schedules then British Speedway should move on a look after number one and stop trying to cater or placate the few when the many simply want to race weekly and the supporters want to watch weekly racing. It worked until the tail started wagging the dog. Time to get back to basics.

Doyle's on camera gestures were a little uncalled for but hey the guy has a major advantage over most riders at yesterday's meeting, financial backing which enables him to 'buy' some of the best equipment, back up team etc and probably largely due to his sponsors that he is where he is. Mock all you like Mr Doyle but you were once in a position of chasing every point to earn a living. Why not give something back instead of sneering at those not as fortunate as you from a financial perspective and be a bit more constructive. Or maybe it was a case of sticking by his compatriots and having a roundabout dig at KL and Mr Chapman. We will never know but perhaps it is time that the GP circus riders kept out of league racing altogether. Swindon have not done too bad when Doyle has not been available to ride for them and does British Speedway really need them?

Totally agree. Maybe the answer is reduce the price to a tenner, go back to 13 heats and let the up and coming youngsters have the second part of the meeting with a Gt Britain Championship and every track holds rounds weekly until the end of August then the top 20 or 30 scorers make up two semi finals with a final held In late September to crown the champion who then qualifies for the Next seasons riders championship. Just a thought but I fear for the survival of many of the clubs and it may well be that circumstances force the powers that be to have just two leagues and regular weekly speedway if the sport is to come back from what must be amongst one of the worse lows.

Disappointed and had expected Lakeside to put up more of a challenge but well done to Mildenhall. Sorry about the delay but obviously the paramedics did a great job and we wish the supporter well and a speedy return. The way they got through those races after the delay really shows what can be done if they put a mind to it. And finally what a change to restarts without messing about. Riders straight back to the tapes. Other leagues and riders take note, these lads put you to shame. Thanks for a reasonable meeting.

Remind me what team does Chris Harris ride for? The league select or is he setting a new standard by being a squad member for every team in the leagueGood luck to him but come on, this is taking the sport to a new low. Anyway I hope all,riders have a safe and good contest. Hopefully Ipswich can get a point.

Can Scott please ride for Ipswich next season? The numbers through the the turnstiles would go up many fold and the local lad would be welcome back with open arms. Come on CL, make it happen.

I am not surprised that supporters are turning away in droves. Only speedway could shoot itself in the foot so many times with the use of guest on so many different fronts added to which the powers that be think that no one notices. What a crock of .... this has turned into. Time to stop calling it a team sport and rename it Rider Select and pull names out of a hat the night before the meeting. Sad to say that just a few years back a lot of people would turn up regularly for the weekly fix now many cannot be bothered because of the contempt that the management, promoters and many but not all of the riders have for the paying punter. The riders are forced to earn while they can and no blame is attached to most of the them added to which the fixtures etc. have been organised by those who could not organise a p ... up in a brewery and with the rampant abuse of guests, R/r, riders picking and choosing which meetings they want to ride and a few promoters letting the decent ones ride elsewhere robbing the the UK punter and blatantly misleading/ deceiving the supporters and you alienate the meaningful source of income with the terraces devoid of support. Just hope that the riders enjoy entertaining one man and his dog and the promoters have very deep pockets. If those that run the sport cannot see the issues, then it's days are numbered. That said, let's hope the Witches can carry on the success and add to the league points tally.

Plus other formats of speedway racing or make it a multi discipline meeting with side cars, short track and try to widen the interest. Just a thought but like many, the idea of attending weekly meetings has sadly gone. Do I miss it, yes, but the way it has evolved, the days are numbered and unless drastic changes are implemented the amateur racing will be the only game in town.

Totally agree. Today it is a circus now with a pool of riders who may be available on a particular night to represent and town or city but not your club. This has become a sport for individuals so the team concept has long gone. Why not refer to those meetings where riders can ride for themselves under a 'club' name as a 4TT then have Gt Britain championship and possibly league meetings for those clubs that can put six or five man teams together. Mix a match. Five man team league meeting followed by individual championship and then the equivalent of a second half for up and coming riders. Possibly three man teams a bit like the development league. Something needs to be done before it is too late if it has not already reached the point of no return. I hope not.

It is sad that this great sport is dragged down further by those who have scant regard for the paying public. I really hope that those in charge are proud of the performance. No blame can be directed at riders, they do what is asked of them but the promoters and BSPA are taking the patience of the fans to new limits. These so called guardians are killing our sport and perhaps it is time to show the utter disdain most have for those who continue to take the proverbial. No wonder those clicking through the turnstiles is going down. What will happen? Nothing. A wake up call is looming and when T V pulls the plug those from the BSPA will start to see the gravy train come off the rails. Onlya few promoters deserve the support the rest will hopefully get their comeuppance.

British riders are not up to the standard required to compete at the top level in Poland so while a good idea the reality is it cannot happen. Unfortunately two choices, bring the Poles down to the lowest common denominator (will not happen) or GB walk away because riders in the GB are simply not good enough and leave the Poles looking for some alternative opposition which with the Russians, Latvians and a combined Scandinavian presence could be provided. Maybe at individual or pairs but anything else Gab has no chance. Speedway in the U.K. needs to go back to basics and start again if it is to survive, the alternative is oblivion. Accepr that GB riders are not at the same level but might be in a few years

It is a £10 sport but not when it's is televised. £5 tops with kids and OAPs free (any one over 60). Radical maybe, reality yes. What ever way you look at it the product at this level does not lend itself to live television. People might have far more interest if it were highlights and the live meetings promoted so that the 'taster' of highlights attracts the punter to see a live meeting. Dress it up as you like but it is not rocket science, sell thrill seeking highlights, cut and thrust etc. and promote meetings on the programme, give out the fixture list and show where the sport is being held around the country. Do not rely on Nigel and his side kick spouting some crap, show the fixtures on screen, dates, times, track location/ details, not difficult but even this seems to beyond the comprehension of the average promoter to actually do what the word means, promote. Those who want live speedway get this, the sport is seen on T V and with some input from those running meetings, everyone gains/wins. Will it happen, unlikely. Bemoan all you like but the sport needs to take a real hard look at itself and realise that change is needed, not tinkering around the edges.

Possibly people are becoming more fickle. If they add up the cost of getting to the track, entrance money, possibly refreshments, and then the delays with an interval which is generally unnecessary and old hat and drags out the meeting and then on the other side the issues which are beyond the control of the punter that could mean anyone of the foregoing makes it a waste of time, they may think it is a better deal to stay at home and watch it on TV Other things that may put people off could be any slight doubt that a single black cloud forecast for the start time might mean rain and therefore better call off the meeting just after you enter the stadium or the track is prepared for gate and go merchants who would be better off doing drag racing rather than competitive racing and always the other possibility that the riders may not want want to race or just go through the motions or even refuse to ride because it is dangerous (surely a bike without brakes is dangerous, it is more a question of how a rider manages to use some technique to set the bike up,to suit the conditions and uses some throttle control) Given the credible and cost saving alternative of sitting at home watching the speedway soap opera unfold, I guess more than few would go for the TV option. Watch it in comfort at home with little of the hassle. Why has it got to this? Because it is no longer an attractive proposition to go along to a live meeting with all that is so wrong with the sport, presentation, racing and general disdain that promoters and riders have for the paying public. Hopefully it will change, but the question is when?

Is it correct that you have five guests and one R/R in the meeting? Why not just draw straws from available riders each night and pick the teams that way. Sadly it appears to sum up the sorry state of where racing in this Country is and until someone gets to grip, have one league and enough meetings to at least guarantee a decent level of income for those participating, then this ludicrous situation will continue until such time that the only punters watching will be the track staff and the referee. Here is hoping that someone wakes up to what a farce it has become. It pains me to say it but Mr Shovlar on another thread has a point re let teams build to any level etc. It was a bit like that in the 70's and I can remember going to Rayleigh every week be it a top performing club or unfortunately those that struggled. You went to see if you could beat the leaders or for the lower opposition, what sort of margin you could win by. People still went unlike today.

Could be some whinging Aussies who appear to dominate page 2 and 3 of this weeks speedway star. When will they give it a rest and move on. What is done is done and if all they are interested in is the Visa, then maybe the whole idea of Aussies riding in the UK. Needs reviewing.

Maybe this result is based on the 'you screw the club and the public and in these dire times, the sport and I will shaft you' so just a little bit of revenge but whether it is right or wrong the sport is a shambles, turnstiles are clicking less and with the hint of a shower, a meeting gets called off. Perhaps the next step is someone suggesting that the bikes have brakes. Imploding is an understatement. Forget the overseas riders. Time for Speedway England to have one league plus the NL, weekly meetings, a transfer window in July and no other changes with overseas riders committing to U.K. as priority and get back to basics. Forget Poland, Russia etc, the UK is in their wake. and the British are so far behind, time to stop pretending that we can compete. Aussies want to ride here, then set a minimum five or six average. Unless someone gets to grip with the sport, it will be amateur open meetings within five years, no league racing. The sport brought it on itself. Fixture lists are a joke with long gaps between home meetings and then fixture pile ups. who is responsible for this? they need sacking. All rather sad and when you think of the opportunities the sport has had with SKy etc. and you ask yourself are those in charge for real. Unfortunately the answer appears to be yes.