Hawk127

How about Friday as the main night with Sunday the alternative Only joking but it would be interesting to see how the numbers changed if they did move race night to a Friday, it might attract a few more and if it was not just speedway but say another two wheeled sport (short track) or junior championships on the new bikes being developed etc then it might attract a new base of supporters and widen the appeal. Something needs to be done in general within the sport given the dated presentation and the punter needs to feel that they are being entertained and getting value for money. 15 races over two hours no longer cuts it for many. As an old long time follower I remember some banger races following the speedway meetings at Rayleigh and while I,m not suggesting for one minute that this is an option, it was dear old Uncle Len who would try most things to get the punters in and I can never remember large numbers leaving after heat 13, most stayed for the second half and you still saw quality racing with the up and coming riders given a chance against the main team members. All good fun and fun is what is missing a lot of the time now.

I feel sorry for the Swindon fans who may have been mislead and for speedway as a whole to see another team disappear. Regrettably a pattern has already emerged and it is unbelievably naive for those responsible for Swindon speedway to take at face value the nonsense being spoken by those who have no vested interest in seeing the sport continue. Those in charge hang your heads in shame for what you have done.

Why is Harkess still involved. He should have been sidelined and a complete new team left to run the show with new ideas and a fresh approach which is so badly needed. Good luck to the new chairman though with the tinkering with riders etc and nothing new to freshen up the various competitions, format or presentation it is a case of the status quo and more supporters drifting away. When will these people wake up?

The sport badly needed a revamp, not tinkering with riders, that will not bring the supporters back yet they fanny about while Rome burns. I am disappointed because I thought some of the people running the sport would recognise that it is the public who contribute to the income and they should at least give some thought to want the customer wants, but no carry on blindly and ignoring those voices who could financially save clubs. Well done BSPA, you may well have thrown your last chance away.

It seems like the custodians of the sport are burying their collective heads in the sand. Tinkering about with draft riders and the up and coming riders etc is an admirable cause but the format and presentation is in need of a drastic revamp and many excellent ideas have been floated on the various threads. Do all they want with riders etc but if , as is currently the case you do not reinvigorate the sport, those fans/supporters left will soon drift away and all the behind the scenes changes will count for nothing. Collectively the AGM has put another nail in the coffin of what was once a good sport to follow in this country. How far down are the BSPA prepared to let things go before some changes for the good are made?

I went to Berlin last year and it was my first meeting and throughly enjoyed it and will be going back in 2016. In Berlin the back straight was a real pain both to get in and out, the lighting and the over intoxicated eastern europeans but on the second day i was in the main stand and the viewing/comfort factor was much better. You can always get tickets on the day and I would get to the track early if in the main stand or the first/second bend. Fans in the main stand were great fun and very friendly and all in all the ice speedway fans are a great bunch of people and I would highly recommend going along. Stadium is close to station and if you stay in Charlottenburg you are no more than 20mins from the track. Some good hotels around Sauvigny platz and plenty of good value restaurants. Not sure where you are based but Ryanair fly out from Stansted on saturday morning and coming back on Monday mid day is costing around £80 return. Berlin Schonefeld is about forty minutes from central Berln (cost Euro 3.40) and hotels are a reasonable price. If you get a chance go along, you will enjoy it.

Len is one of those great characters who has been involved in all aspects of the sport and the fondest memories are leaping Len at Rayleigh and the verbal battles with Dave Lanning and Johnnie Hoskins. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm were great times and I well remember the move from Rayleigh to Rye House. Whatever he decides to do going forward no one should under estimate his contribution to the sport over so many years and it would be a lot poorer without him. If only you had more characters promoting in the mould of Len and lots of great names who have since left the promoting. Today political correctness has taken over and the rules and regulations have been the death of the fun and banter that use to prevail. Thank fully I was lucky enough to experience and enjoy the fun that use to be part of speedway and the real local derbies which would have been dull without the likes of Len.

Tongue in cheek but I see you have no sense of humour but that says it all. You really read too much into what is said onhere.

Best reply on here. You really cannot take some of the replies seriously. The sport is a shambles, those in charge have lost the plot and tongue in cheek replies come in for vitriolic replies. No wonder it has lost so many supporters and so many know it alls lambastwhat are some simple comments.time to find some serious motor sport to follow. Supermarket trolley racing sounds ideal and is as credible

Will Eurosport still have the European rights to show the SWC and GP and are these negotiations relating to the UK only? Will Eurosport still cover the European Championships? Is this a case of Sky saying that unless we get the GP we don't want regular league racing and with the number of potential Elite league teams falling below the alleged minimum of eight is this a last desperate attempt to keep speedway on Sky. I have nothing against sky but really couldn't care who shows itas long as it is regular weekly speedway even if it was a highlights magazine type programme with the odd live GP etc. But to pay for another subscription such as BT, forget it and be warned whoever is negotiating with BT, look what they did to the price of football subscriptions and many simply did not renew

All teams to have an Elite, Premier and NL racing on rotation on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. No GP riders, six man teams, final heat of each meeting will be a team managers one lap fastest contest. The end of season play offs to be scrapped with Poole's three representative teams racingagainst eachother in a 3TT to decide the champions in each league. Rain offs mean that the opposing teams automatically takes the league points no restaging. Edinburgh and Glasgow to race the Danish league. Isle of Wight to stage the GP in 2016 (Cardiff is unavailable as the world banger racing championships have been given the only date available for motor sport). Woofy to receive OBE. Nigel Pearson to receive six months hard labour. Len Silver to become new England Manager, Rosco to take up refereeing and the BSPA to be chaired by Donald Trump. Finally Syria and Iran each awarded a round of the GPs. That should solve all the issues apart from the bikes which will have engine sizes capped at 49cc and under new health and safety regs all bikes to have key start and brakes.

BBC Radio Suffolk provide very good coverage to both the witches and the fen tigers and Foz who is the drive time presenter is a great advocate for the sport. We also get very good local press through the East Anglian Daily Times and the local Ipswich paper, the Star with some good forthright reporting by Mike Bacon. All in all we do very well in Suffolk and North Essex. I believe that the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk provide some decent coverage for the Stars but others may be better qualified to comment on this

Sackers have been around for a few years but in that time things have changed and more recently the fall in metal prices could have an impact which may lead to a rethink on their part. If it is not bringing any tangible benefits and with lower turnover etc as a business they might well look a reviewing the level of support. I would hope not but the owners are sharp and shrewd businessmen and will do what is necessary to protect the business and their own well-being/wealth. If I was CL I would certainly be looking at other sources of main sponsorship

Well done the Panthers an excellent result and although a witches supporter, you have managed to come up with the goods at the right time and long may it continue (well at least for the rest of 2015)

Do fans think the status quo will be maintained with three leagues or could we see wholesale changes to the set up. One other question is will Chris Louis carry on (based on recent comments in speedway star ) or will the witches be run by someone else. With so many issues and a lot of unanswered questions, it might be tad premature to speculate about team line ups but I do like the look of one or two suggestions and agree that at least three of this year's team need to find new homes for 2016

If not the fours how about a real challenge, Ipswich versus Kings Lynn and then we would get an idea of the gap between PL and EL

Sad but the reality is that it was not a team that rode as team. The chances of creating what had gone before with the current crop was and will never emulate what many teams had in years gone by. Good luck to all in the play offs and may each team have good close matches without the injuries that have plagued the sport this year, they all deserve to be in the final. As to the witches, like many it is a case of what the powers that be will come up with for 2016 as a formulae for the survival of speedway. Until then, enjoy what is left of the season

I think that the the whole concept has now been lost. Supporters use to watch/follow the sport for the racing not just team meetings which in reality no longer exists. Gate and go merchants with no real control of the machine and the ability to team ride is totally lost on the majority of riders. Whatever happened to a good competitive race. Track time is essential so no meeting is a gimmick and with a little bit of forethought a pairs meeting as previously suggested with a flat £7 or £8 entrance fee and kids for a £1, is a calculated risk but more a case of speculate to accumulate in the hands of the right promotion who know how to sell the meeting. If every meeting other than a league match is a gimmick then the idea of it being an accepted two wheeled professional motor sports is dead. League racing has become a bunch of individuals who are no longer team players/riders and the income calculation is no longer conducive to a team sport. I can understand that the idea of racing other than for league points will in some people's view be a waste of time but what is it that attracts most punters to watch and in my opinion it is the risk not the team. Leaving all else aside it is still a good form of entertainment and the riders have my utmost admiration. Leigh Latham, every Ipswich supporter owes you tonight. Well done Scunthorpe

If Ipswich do not make the play offs how about one more meeting being a handicap pairs meeting with the riders from Mildenhall or any NL team pairing up with a witch and in each race the witches rider starts off on a 15 MTR handicap. This would give fans a chance to see the type of riders coming through the ranks and also provide a good old fashioned farewell to the witches riders. Perhaps Chris Louis could ride a match race againt Mr Tatum for the 'king' of Sky presenters trophy. Probably a daft idea but with all that is wrong would it not be nice to finish a season as many teams use to with some light hearted fun and games.

If Ipswich had been run by the likes of those who have in recent times promoted Peterborough, Oxford, Birmingham and others, speedway would not exist at the Heath. If anyone can afford to step up and guarantee a sound financial base for years to come I am sure both Louis senior and junior would step asidebut given this is highly unlikely, be thankful you still have speedway at Ipswich. Other teams around the country have a bleak outlook so think long and hard before you deride the efforts of the current encumbents. How about laying some of the blame at the inept performances of one or two riders and the fact that that the sport is run by a closed shop and until an independent body is formed to run the sport, the majority will have to put up with an inferior product and those that screw the system and those that play by the rules

If Ipswich are not fortunate enough to get through to the play offs and do not win on aggregate against Edinburgh, with just the 16 Lapper left, could Ipswich stage the meeting that was lost at Nortside as a result of vandals or stage a meeting with mixed engine sizes and the new up and coming talent? It would be good see what the future may look like.

I am not sure if it is feasible, possible or worth asking but tracks like Ipswich are likely to have spare dates so would Chris Louis consider allowing Ipswich to host this round after all he has been intimating that the future lies with these young riders so why not. I like many others would like to see some future talent. I would even put up some modest prize money if it came to Ipswich - say £500 if it is held at Foxhall Heath.

Possibly one answer could be to scrap the current league set up with seven man teams and instead have a squad of riders represent a local team or a team of sponsors in a season of individual meetings held at every track. The season is made up of qualifying rounds and then your have a series of different matches that constitute a sort of play offs. The top scoring individuals have a one off final. Then you have the top two from each squad race for a pairs championship and then the top four in a 4TT and then a final team match of seven riders made up of the seasons top scorers from the squad (no points limit). Four teams contest. This format may be attractive to the top riders who have now turned their back on the British league. You could operate a similar arrangement using pl and nl rriders. It would need some working out but might just reinvigorate the support with a chance of seeing top riders with those coimg through the ranks getting the chance to race against some of the euro and gp stars. No longer rr or guests just sixteen riders in each meeting racing for points and season ending glory. Alongside this they could introduce other classes such as 250 and 125. Just ideas and thoughts and ready to be shot down in flames but it might work and could attract more sponsorship with sponsors renting tracks from clubs for meetings.

The coverage is like the sport, passed its sell by date. It is going to take someone special/something special to turn around domestic racing to make it an exciting product for general viewing. GPs will survive and a few individual events plus those leagues that feature top riders but everything else will become an inferior product and will Not justify the airtime. For fans to get a fix, streaming will eventually be the only option unless someone with pots of money wants to start a channel of satellite devoted to two whelel sport and includes regular speedway. Perhaps a subscription channel may work

Is it more about the skill of a rider and the ability to learn his/her craft and then proceed through the ranks in terms of engine size/power. As I see it and I am no expert whatsoever but we see far too many riders who are simply not in control of a 500 cc bike on the current range of tracks. Speed and lap times are not the be all and end all. Few if any of the current crop of riders in the existing three leagues can team ride and many are gate and go merchants and the skill or art of racing seems to have been lost. My view is learn the track craft needed to race on small circuits, and graduate when it is clear that as a rider you have some creditable skills and can handle the bike. No need to push any youngster further or harder then they are really capable.