Hawk127

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.

Thanks rmc. A great shame that someone has not picked up on the one element that takes it to another level against speedway, yes normal speedway has the thrills of speed, no brakes and is mighty fine but with ice you have the added risk of the bikes with spikes and the fact that you need to be super fit and totally mad. Oh well that it is unfortunate that we are where we are but I am convinced that if just one terrestrial channel showed highlights, the interest would make it a must watch winter sport.

Conkers,, thanks for the update really appreciated. How was Zorn ? He always seems a tad nervous when taking on the Russians.

Yes some of his comments were frank but most already know that the gate receipts do not cover the costs and that without sponsorship many of the clubs would not exist. To state the obvious a successful team and the gates improve as does the revenue and he believes that th team will start much better than they did in 2016. He runs a tight ship and it was clear that he would not 'buy' a winning team but he was also clear about the poor state that the sport is in. Roll on the start of the 2017 campaign

Thanks. Sorry a bit behind the times but appreciate the update. It's old age

Assuming Sky do not carry Eurosport and assuming Eurosport still cover Sweden and the Euro Championship, is it worth dropping Sky and instead getting BT TV and simply using NowTV for the odd occasion that speedway is on Sky? It does seem that the the sport is having fewer options as far as the wider audience is concerned perhaps when the deal with Sky ends could the world of two wheeled motor sports get together and come up with a 'Motors' type t v channel? I know it is sad but I did record all the Swedish matches and watched them over the last few months and it does help fill the gap and it is interesting listening to the comments knowing how the seasons for various riders eventually panned out. (I digress)

Slick presentation might help. Riders ready to go on track as the riders cross the line for the preceding race. If an infringement occurs at the start, cut the crap, get back round to the start and none of this back to the pits etc. They were under starters orders and that is it, no changes, no adjustments, and if a rider delays the start put them on fifteen metres. If a rider is adjudged to be the cause of a stoppage, disqualify and put a reserve in. People come to watch races of four laps with four riders. When the powers that be think first about the presentation and the paying public and then the rules, it might just improve the image. Until then you have a Mickey Mouse sport that does not even pretend unlike WWE. Trying to take yourself seriously is not going to work. If. Sell it as professional sportsmen taking calculated risks then you might create an image. For now the image is dire.

When are the powers that be at whatever level in the sport going to stop sticking two fingers up to the supporters who over many many years have supported the likes of Coventry and all the clubs that grace the sport today. Most clubs are playing games with the supporters and cannot spell the word honest. The promoters seem to position themselves from a self interest perspective and yet come the opening day of the season expect all to be forgiven and the punter to not only generously give an over inflated sum to pacify the ego of a few riders who have an highly questionable view of their value but also underwrite the lack of business acumen of some promoters who generally care little for the average loyal supporter. Those currently behind Coventry do not deserve the backing and goodwill of the speedway fans at large and yes Coventry is part of a much bigger picture but will they come clean. Alas I doubt that they can be bothered and all one can hope is that one way or another this sorry state of affairs is resolved by someone with the balls to do so and ensure that we end up with what is best for British speedway.

If time is tight, most riders have mechanics who can warm the bikes in the pits while the riders themselves are introduced to the fans. Start the racing promptly at 7.30 and in the interval have three MDL races and the final three after heat 15. Perhaps if the format is changed it would be good for the sport rather than the same old structure to the meetings. Just a thought and ready to be shot down in flames as to why it would not work

All of the top riders seem to under estimate the feeling of the genuine supporters. Greg Hancock sticks two fingers up to the paying public at the lat G P an Tai does the same as far as the wider U.K. Supporter is concerned. The sooner that the top riders remember who actually pays to watch them and it is not simply about creaming a living off the sponsors, so the sooner that they learn that they have to earn the respect of the real supporter the better. Tai like many overs should remember that you earn respect you cannot demand it

I am a speedway supporter first and a club supporter second. I really hope that this resolves the issues short term but provides a wake up call that a new home has to be found sooner rather than later. Good luck to all and I am sure that I am not alone in being grateful that another club has not been consigned to history. The Bees live on.

With what has happened at the home of the bees, does anyone think that the witches might just move up a league. If it is true about what is happening at Brandon it is another sad day for the sport and I really hope that the bees are able to find a way to come to the tapes in 2017. It is never good to see a club disappear.

Thanks, as I said just curious given some of the rumours re Jarek. As to Mr Gollob, heard he was top of Mildehalls hit list It would however be good to see a few more international team meetings and joking aside, yes it would be good for the British riiders to get some international meetings under their belts and this could work and avoid the same repetitive meetings of home and away twice at league level. Yes I do remember the meetings sponsored by the Daily Mirror in the 70's and seeing the Russian Team at Hackney. Great crowds. Still dream on I guess.

It was a serious question about averages but as to riding for the witches, Foxhall has more of a chance of hosting a GP then either of these two wearing a witches race jacket. Rumour could see Jarek riding in the UK hence the question and given how knowledgeable the Witches supporters are I thought it might be the best place to ask but perhaps I was wrong. Oh well try elsewhere I guess

What would the points average be for Jarek Hampel and Mr .Gollob? Jarek might be happy with the free scoring to rebuild the coffers and could double up with Poole

They do seem to be out on a limb in terms of travelling support descending on the Heath. Still we do have the Panthers just down the road. All the more reason to have a strong and successful team that will attract more local support to ensure they bring some silverware back to Ipswich. This is probably the best chance the witches will have to be champions, so roll on the new season. Why not have some opening season matches with Kings Lynn, Rye and say Coventry, all good practice.