Ray Stadia

Good post. However, with respect, the last sentence may be a little unfair. I agree that promoters as a group organisation need to get to grips with the situation, but individual promoters are virtually powerless, as they are part of the 'big club' and it is the club as a whole that needs a makeover. The weather has been bad and distractions such as the olympics can't help, but speedway needs to be sound and resilient enough to be able to 'ride' these bumps.

And it isn't right that a promoter has to subsidise the 'show' with his own money. One way forward, I believe, to help get speedway back on it's feet is for riders to be paid based on what is left in the pot, after all other costs have been paid. Therefore, they ride on a commission only basis. Yes riders will leave and say not for me. If the situation is properly discussed with riders before the start of next year, that will allow the promoter to decide one of three things, pack up, drop down to NL or stay where they are. If the promoter wishes to stay in business, but sees his riders leaving, then perhaps he could have a year out of league racing and rebuild his team on challenge matches and individual meetings and re-enter the following season at whatever level he is able. The responsibility for the running of speedway should not just rest on the promoters shoulders, the riders should take some of the responsibility too. This way, you may see riders helping the promoter promote speedway in the local community, as they have a vested interest. The benefit to the fans, is in time, perhaps entry fees can be reduced. In addition, the 'powers that be' find ways of reducing costs for the riders, such as tuning limitations.

But the standards don't have to drop Kester. If the same talented riders are riding bikes which are cheaper to buy and maintain, the rider wil be the 'winner'. If the riders expenses are less, the rider will need less pay, therefore takes pressure off the promoter. If the pressure is off the promoter he can reduce admission prices. And it is just possible you may see gates increase. I don't believe fans need to see 4 riders go around a shale track faster and faster. What they want, me included, is good, close, skillfull racing, which can be achieved at less speed. One of the best races I saw at the recent Grasstrack I attended was the 350 cc racing. Not as fast as the 500 cc, but the racing was close and 'nip and tuck'.

I recently went to a local Grasstrack, the racing was excellent. It was only a centre meeting, but the standard was great. I still believe fans can enjoy a speedway night out, without big name riders who are bleeding the sport dry and those riders, riding bikes which are comparitively cheap to maintan. The sport needs to cut it's cloth accordingly.

By the same token, you can watch a Grasstrack meeting for around £10.00, including programme and watch race after race for about 4 hours, which I call value.

Buttons, a lot of people have been saying the same on here and for a few years now, me included. But I fear that it will only happen when it will be too late. However, if the penny does eventually drop, perhaps speedway will rise from the ashes, but with a different model and structure. Other motor sports have done it, such as road racing and that is now a success as moto gp and the superbikes.

Markov Loramski?

Is the track still open for training, does anybody know? I haven't seen anything on the forum this year and their webisite only has stuff from last year.

Thanks for that. It is always great to watch a class rider ride on their own. Saw a few at Hackney's training sessions back in the 80's, the likes of Bo Petersen, Martin Hagon and others.

Hi CP, is Dragons Practice, practice for older ladies? All the best

Oh ok...actually, it's 'born and bred'...and Hackney has a capital 'H', as it is a name....wouldn't want those yuppies to think you were illiterate!

True! LOL! But there is no doubt that Hackney is in London. Not Hertfordshire or Essex, definitely London. In any case, don't know why they bothered with the 'H' in Hackney, as it's always been known as Ackney.

I sincerely hope your optimism becomes reality. Not sure about East London Speedway as a name though. After all, West Ham Football Club will be using the main stadium and I assume they will still be using the name West Ham. An ideal opportunity for the rebirth of West Ham Speedway.

Like someone said, it is nice for some of the ex Hackney fans to see their team race jackets again, but in reality, what chance is there of a return of Speedway to the Hackney area? Therefore, for defunct teams to be using other existing stadiums, the only real benefit is to keep the name going and to publicise the name, in readiness for a new home, as is the reason behind Cradley Heath. Although they have been searching for a long while now and it's not happening yet, but could do, more chance than Hackney I would say.

Sorry, I had forgotten that we wouldn't be allocated the one off World Final every year, although when it was at Wembley, it was more often. And I can appreciate that the GP series has taken Speedway to some interesting locations around the world and will continue to do so. I am not saying I want Speedway to return to the old format, although there is good and bad with both systems. I think an ideal situation and I have said this before when this topic has cropt up, that both Wembley and Cardiff be available and perhaps alternate each year. That way Cardiff doesn't become stale. And just hope that the years it is at Wembley, it doesn't pee with rain!

From what Mr Rising was saying, the real show piece has gone, now we don't have a one off final. Now it is just 'another GP round', so unless we have a strong GB rider or riders, riding, the big ocassion has been watered down. My understanding during the Wembley days was there was strong international support, due partly I suppose to the one off final, but the international fans would use the weekend to visit London and the various sights. If what I am saying is true, Speedway is definitely missing a trick.

Fair play. Denmark can be wet, so that is a god send. And I suppose Poland can be too. Rather than where the British GP should be held, the biggest priority for Team GB is to have riders competing and coming through the ranks to win the GPs. But that is another story, I know.

Sorry guys, but what is the fixation with 'the roof'. To my knowledge, no other GP has a retractable roof, apart from Cardiff and Cardiff is just one round! I think the roof is almost irrelevant. I think an idea for the GB GP would be to alternate the stadium, otherwise things get stale. Say Cardiff, followed by Wembley, followed by ??? Bradford maybe, Hampden maybe. Surely it would be good to have different venues to keep things interesting.

I have to say, this love affair with the Millenium Stadium is odd, as for many many years, the only place was Wembley. I can only assume that the majority of the pro posters on here are too young to remember the Wembley finals. Sadly, I never did go to Wembley, but I am envious of those that did. Much emphasis is placed on the retractable roof, but isn't that a red herring? How many World Finals were called off in England, due to rain? I can't remember any, maybe there is, but I can not recollect. I have been to Cardiff once, the first one and it was entertaining, but not outstanding. I believe I would have found Wembley outstanding. Rose tinted glasses perhaps. If it were to come back to Wembley, covered roof? no, but I would definitely go and take my chances with the weather.

How about a return to Bradford (Odsal)? After all, it may also 'kickstart' a possible return of Speedway to the area for league racing!

That's what Parsloes indicated. Over to Mr P for further clarification please!

He is probably a man who has respect for people who have 'done it', so maybe, the three lads (Tigers), can 'tame the lion'.

You liked Starsky and Hutch too!....so did I, what a great TV programme. Huggy was a great character.

Billy, where is your sense of humour, just be grateful Mildenhall is running this year. Is it that important who is doing the flipping track? I bet you are a barrel of laughs to stand next to on the terraces.