Hawk127

Team meetings will never be what they used to be. Not enough riders to around and not enough home grown talent. Team riding is rare and a skill that the current crop of riders seem difficult to get to grips with. Maybe the bikes, tyres, tracks, I don't know but it seems more often than not a case of gate and go. If league racing cannot fulfil a season why not have individual riders attached to a 'team name' who ride a series of individual meetings around all UK tracks and the top seven scoring individual riders represent the teams they are attached to and then say the riders attached to the top eight teams then contest a play off and final. Those not in the play offs compete for the 'most' individual winners' event on an elimination basis over twenty meetings. For the league meetings, one home and one away for all league clubs with the top four finishers drawn to make play offs. Three competitions and weekly racing at every track if arranged properly. Just an thought but no chance of it happening but something needs to change dramatically for the sport to survive on anything other than a amateur basis

Spot on. Hackney, Friday, Rayleigh on Saturday and if I recall correctly Crayford Tuesday with the occasional trip to Wimbledon on a Thursday. Len would put all the effort in to get a meeting on. Remember one occasion when it had rained all day, flooding all around but Rayleigh were due to face Birmingham. A Few Birmingham riders made it through as did some of the Rayleigh contingent but alas a team meeting was not possible. Sawdust on the rack, a series of match races and other races were brought prematurely to a halt at around 8.50 when the heavens opened again and that lasted all night. Lighting, thunder and torrential rain. The riders put the effort in and those who turned up at least got to see some racing and appreciated the effort. Today this would never happen, more is the pity. But perhaps supporters then were more interested in seeing racing, not just league meetings and those riders recognised and respected the supporters who had made the effort to turn out. The racing today may be different but some things were better back then.

Len Silver has been a great advocate for speedway and as many have said he still believes in weekly meetings and does what he can to achieve something that runs through his veins, speedway racing. I go back to the days when he ran Rayleigh and Hackney and always put on a great show often in difficult circumstances Many of you may mock his efforts, many just want team racing but what about the riders, so often you hear about track time and all this is doing is trying to achieve that and yes you have to charge but for goodness sake is it not about the riders and the racing. Riders willing to turn out and do the best to entertain and all the supporters do is take the p.. out of the promoter. Rye House survived for many years on open meetings and true speedway fans turned up. Think on all who criticise people like Len, Speedway will be a lot worse without his type being around still after all these years.

Good advert on Premier website with Tuesday night is speedway night and they have a clock counting down to the start of the match. For £9.99 per month it does not seem over the top for what you appear to be getting. Hopefully viewing figures are good. Be interested to see the Polish match that follows the live Swedish fixture.

It is a shame that former riders and those who have recently stepped down then go all out at other two wheeled disciplines and end up coming a cropper. Yes they were legends and they gave many supporters so much entertainment. The thought was that they could be more of a teacher/training team and simply having some of the greats turn up and not only put on a challenge match but also pass on some of that experience. Even if it was a handicap match, I am sure that supporters would turn out if it was promoted well and it could even be part of say a two wheeled motor sport al day event with say short track and side car. No it is not meant to be like a league meeting but all that is good about oval track racing.

Maybe that is the problem for sponsors and the impression that those outside the sport get, half empty stadia in third rate countries. Why have GP's in Germany, Slovenia or Czech.. As I said reduce the number of meetings, two in Poland, one in Russia, one in Scandinavia, one in U.K. and possibly one in Australia and make more of it with for example a practice day that is open to joe public and perhaps another meeting. One in the morning and then the main event in the evening. Something does need to change if the product is to improve and people feel that they are getting entertained. If the latter is guaranteed, then price is not necessarily an issue. Still any comments and debate on the topic is actually a waste of time but it is always interesting that all the good advice and ideas of many on here are lost on those that run the sport.

It was not what a flag ship event should be like and as many have said this needs to start with a bit more oomph rather than the damp squib it turned out to be. Taking GP,s to third rate tracks in places like this is probably not the image that prime sponsors would want to be associated with and they are who you need for this to be taken seriously. Based on this meeting you might just as well hold the opener on the Isle of Wight, at least a decent track, guaranteed good support and imagine what it would do for the local tourist economy early doors. That aside, the mix of riders will I am sure throw up some interesting results as the season progresses. I do think that GP's need to go to another level but the current backers do no seem to be able to provide consistently good entertainment which can hold the interest of the regular supporter as well as the one off attendee. Perhaps the GP circus has had its day in the current form and maybe less meetings but those that are held are at quality venues and fans can get discounted tickets if they subscribe to all the meetings. Still let's see what sort of show the next GP offers.

It is very unfortunate that some of the icons such as Leigh Adams and the one and only Mr Gollob have sustained injuries. Having all but left speedway and tried other two wheeled sports it is sad that they seem to come a cropper having been in one of the most dangerous motor bike competitions in the world. Could the talent they had/have and others who hang up the Kevlars from competitive league racing be part of a touring team that grace tracks in challenge matches. These guys might no longer have got what it takes to compete at GP level but they could still entertain the public and pass on a few tips to the up and coming generation. Imagine (and unfortunately it will not happen but you can get the drift) if Leigh, Tomasz, Mr Crump, Chris Louis, Jason Lyons, Mark Loram and a number of others toured tracks in the U.K. and Europe with a series of challenge matches. Just need a sponsor and it could be one for the future. I am sure people would pay good money to see the legends, win or lose. Meanwhile, Mr Gollob you have been a joy to watch and having seen you at Ipswich I like many others have been honoured. May you make a good recovery.

Why not forget Heat 15 and nominated riders. It is all a farce adds nothing to the drawn out processional stuff that the average punter puts up with until now. Will those running the meetings stop padding it out and just get on with the racing. Meetings where the average race time is one minute give or take ten to twenty seconds, why does it take two hours? For example if it says a 7.30 start then racing should start at that time not all the fluffing about and racing commences at 7.45. The average race goer has had enough of intermittent entertainment and in this day and age of quick instant no hanging about information, data and results, speedway meetings at a a snails pace hack people off and is in any wonder you cannot attract younger punters who have the attention span of a gnat. Which promoter is going to have the balls to actually stop wasting time? I will not hold my breathe for a response. ✌️✌️️✌️️

Apart from the errors re spelling etc. But thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately no one else is listening but at least we can dream (and that is about as good as it gets the way things are run). Mildenhall to beat Poland in World Cup Play off and I respect all the riders and management at the club, the finest in the land. If only. Really you yearn for change but those who run the sport live in cloud cuckoo land so no hope.

Standard pricing across the board broken down into the three leagues/ tiers - Premiership £16.00 / Championship £12.00 and NL £8.00. All kids under 16 free. Concessions (60'and over £10.00. Racing commences on start time so any parade takes place fifteen minutes before. Cut out the rider from ntroductionand warm up laps. Introduce each rider who goes out and gets two laps practice Thirteen heats then three heats of any combination of riders but no rider can race more then once in the final three heats. Apps for programmes Riders for the next heat ready by lap three of the current heat. Riders Gardening is prohibited. Automatic 15 mtr start Unsatisfactory start, back to the tapes immediately. Once riders are on track, mechanics etc not allowed on track. If ride leaves the track they are excluded Start Marshall given authority to penalise rides for delaying that start. Reduce the maximum time between races to three minutes to allow for track grading. No interval after heat 9 Meetings not completed within 90 minutes (excluding crashes) receive a fine which goes to the Ben Fund. The Ben fund to be turned into a pre season championship chase and every rider attached to a league team in the U.K. Must ride in at least one meeting. Top,sixteen scorers go to a final Ava neutral track Chances of an of the above happening are as remote as a National League team winning the World Cup

Unfortunately boycotting for a whole month is unlikely to succeed and anything less and the promoters would simply find an excuse to postpone a meeting (waterlogged track, electrical failure etc.). Across the leagues support would not happen and sadly you are left with either spending your money elsewhere or persevering. Not ideal but ultimately those in charge do not give a toss about the product, be it in delivery terms of entertainment or value for money. A rum old deal but take it or leave it, with many in management of the teams offering one of two fingers to the paying punter. Nothing is going to change and in a few years my bet is that the sport will become an amateur part time event and those riding have other jobs so it becomes a hobby. Until then the choice is down to the paying public but with so many other options competing for the precious pound, promoters really need to think outside the box. As a form of entertainment (and forget the risks etc because that is not what the public rate the price they pay) it is not good value for money. It is overpriced and delivery is slow, two hours for fifteen races is not good. People want delivery and quickly (think about how long you are prepared to wait for Google to give you an answer) hence it is a fast sport, high risk but delivered at snails pace and no longer a team event just a group of individuals who can ride for up,to three different teams in a week. If I was you CookieIpswich save your cash spend it wisely.

It really seems odd that anyone in the role of managing a meeting seems to have little or no consideration for the punter. Once in the stadium you are a captive audience and they treat those on the terraces with such contempt. Delays through crashes are acceptable but track grading every two races, riders gardening at the start, unsatisfactory start with riders going back to the pits just seems to piss everyone off but those on the track, the ref, the start Marshall, mechanics, Uncle Tom and all with none of them giving a fig. It is possible to run slick meetings and keep the action coming. Riders ready to go on track by lap three of the proceeding race, track grades every four races and not six or seven laps by the tractor, two/three is enough given the riding lines and cut out the interval of twenty minutes. Why when people are going back a forth during the meeting does anyone need twenty minutes to a buy a tea. It is worse when the interval is at heat 11 or 12 and with possibly no more than a maximum of six minutes of racing left, punters are still hanging on thirty or forty minutes later for heat 15. If those in charge got their act together then those youngsters waiting to practice after a meeting could actually be involved in some second half competitive racing and perhaps make it count such as the races be a qualification round leading to a final at say Belle Vue. As someone does has said on another thread, the admission price is not an issue but the delivery of the product is and it is still run as it was many years back. It will not change because those who run the sport do not want it to for some unfathomable reason.

All valid comments but the problem seems to be who owns what and who gets what in terms of revenue from the various portions of the speedway pie. Not easy to resolve but surely some common denominators such as programmes/race cards and age groups with kids under a certain age free, as the sport really needs the younger supporters to build for the future. I also think that to encourage youngsters perhaps using lower powered off the shelf bikes and giving them time before the main event(three or four scratch races) and a final run off after the main league meeting. Surely brighter minds on here can come up with some better ideas before the sport disappears up its own backside

What seems confusing is the pricing structure. For example concessions at some tracks are age 60, others is 65 and some state retirement age. Adult prices vary as do the programme charges. Why do the clubs not work together to sell admission tickets for adult, family, child, concession at one price across the board so that you can buy a batch of tickets to attend whatever track/meeting you wish. Have tiiered pricing for the three leagues and work on the basis that you have a base cost of £10.00 and add to it depending upon the track and the meeting. Tickets can be bought from the BSPA and can be used at any track over a season. Buy Five meetings and get 5 per cent discount on the gate price, ten meetings and get 15 per cent and twenty meetings get twenty five per cent discount on the base price of £10.00. Clubs need to join the modern era when it comes to payment and to centralise this through the BSPA with options to pay by PayPal, credit card etc. which may be the way forward. Forget programmes and have race cards at £1.00 with fifty per cent going to the Ben Fund All charge car parking at 50p which the club keeps and distributes to riders at the end of the season based on points scored(pro rata) Just ideas as in reality I have been going to speedway for nearly fifty years and the pricing structure is archaic and needs a uniform structure.

Good news re Newman but let's wait and see. Speedway is a funny old game and as long as both riders are active it is for the good of speedway as a whole and Sarj rode his socks off last night and no doubt Newman would have done the same. It supports the idea of a squad system with the potential to loan a rider to another club as long as it is not to a team that the loaner (sorry not the deal phraseology) is due to race against in a league fixture. In other words Ipswich could not lend Newman to Redcar if Redcar were the next opposition. Just a thought and probably a load of b....ll..cks but I would rather see both riders active than one sidelined because the home team could not fit them in. ✌️

Berwick were not on the pace and Ipswich were good and the reserves are impressive. They were perhaps trying a little too hard, but if they carry on and take their time they will be a steady confident pairing who should be giving many of the opposite number a good run for the money. All in all a confident and accomplished performance and if home form carries on like this the gate numbers will increase. Well done witches.

Perhaps one way to deal with this to set up agreements with the likes of Germany France, Italy Sweden and Denmark with rider exchanges, international meetings and a European league championship and exclude Poland, Polish riders and any rider who signs up to a Polish club on the current terms would be bringing the sport into disrepute in the aforementioned countries. If the Poles want supremacy at any cost then they can be supreme albeit all alone with their national riders frozen out of every other speedway league and no internationals, etc. The only stage the riders would appear on are the GPS and the European Championship. No World Cup which in reality should not be held every year any way. It cocks up the domestic league campaign and is just a distraction unless you are a Pole. Other then the above or some other action, if you leave everything as it is the fans will become pretty peed off when being short changed because a team cannot put out a full home side.

My initial comments on the topic was a general view of what it could be. One individual decided to personalise it without knowing me let alone what I do when it comes to domestic speedway. For the record I am a regular at Ipswich and Mildenhall and have been going to various tracks since 1969 starting at Rayleigh and now regularly go to Berlin for ice speedway so I don't have to put up with the sort of reponse hence I gave as good as I got. Sorry if you are both so delicate and sensitive but that is tough, it is all part and parcel of the rough and tumble of the forum. I stick by my comments and do not apologise. ✌️✌️️✌️️

Yes I am when I comes to Swedish speedway and the GPs but not when it comes to domestic speedway so piss off with your comments arsehole ✌️️✌️️✌️️

Perhaps they will record meetings and show the 'a' fixtures in a magazine/highlights programme and then show the 'b' fixtures as live events. Anyway at least all is clear as to where one can get a T V fix. Just need Eurosport to confirm coverage and all will be well for the armchair supporter. Hopefully this is the opportunity to start afresh and get it right this time around as the powers that be will have nowhere else to go if this gets cocked up.

Does anyone ever tell the truth in speedway when it comes to track closures? Reading through the various topics/threads on the forum about tracks such as Swindon, Eastbourne, Poole moving, Coventry gone and who else, where does this leave racing in this country? I do believe that the sport is finely balanced between survival but not as it is known now and an amateur activity. It seems that those who run the sport either know very little or if they do they simply bury the proverbial head in the sand and the punter who turns up week in week out is treated with contempt. Whether this is the right place to post a plea I do not know but will those in charge stop treating those outside your cosey little gang of promoters start having a bit of respect for your customer base and man up to what is radically wrong with the product and some of those involved in it. Others sports would suggest that the action or lack of inaction is bringing the sport into disrepute and deal with those who are failing to tell the truth and be honest. Rumours about T V coverage, lack of work at Swimdon. Coventry pulled and who else. Man up you promoters do the honourable thing and either tell it as it is or walk away and stop taking the p...

Perhaps time to explore the opportunity of a travelling bees team who complete the fixtures on spare dates available at other tracks. Imagine having Bees versus Belle Vue at Buxton on a a Sunday afternoon. Just a thought but it could be an attractive proposition and if the gate price is right who knows how well it could go. The authorities/BSPA really need to start thinking like entrepreneurs and not self centred promoters who think they have the Devine right to manage the sport. They are custodians and if they do not do something soon they will be guilty of the demise of this fine form of two wheeled entertainment. The bees are owed this and this great name should not be lost.

Really feel for all fans and those who have supported Coventry through thick and thin. I know it might sound daft but could the bees ride at various tracks to complete the league meetings. As an example what about track share with NL tracks assuming they have available dates/track time. Not ideal I know but what about if say and it is just an example Mlldenhall, Stoke, Buxton and perhaps even Birmingham or allow the bees to join the NL to track share and keep the name alive. Cradley have done it so why not the bees. If another team is needed for the top tier, then an obvious choice is either Ipswich and/or Peterborough. Time for some outside the box thinking and forethought to keep the great name alive. I am sure all speedway fans want to bees come to the tapes one way or another this year. Hopefully a way will be found

Sadly not enough money in the sport with the right recognisable household name sponsors for it to feature on the general media radar. If it were sponsored by say a Santander or Barclays (other banks and financial institutions are available ) who carry weight through advertising their own products then speedway might just get a look in. With no evidence of joined up thinking amongst all the owners/promoters of clubs when it comes to publicising the product, piece meal coverage through local radio then it will remain at the same publicity level as tiddlywinks world championship. If it is the rules and farcical make up of teams is the reason that no one takes it seriously then if you promote like the WWE, everyone knows it's fixed, but they have characters that followers relate to, the story lines are poor but it entertains and that is why they can fill arenas week in week out. Speedway needs more than a series of GP's to get noticed. It is back to grass roots, make it affordable for punter and participant and create local heroes and bring back the characters on and off the track and dump the political correctness. Alternative is to keep the sport the best well kept secret until the last aging fan leaves the stadia. Please turn the lights off as you do.