TB1

The elephant in the room is or is never appearing to be addressed by the powers that be, lack of riders or finance for riders or development of riders for example. I think if someone done a straw pole of riders who quit in the last 20 years because they couldn't afford it I think the numbers would be shocking.

Emil as you say has been pure class and it's been a wonderful privilege to be part of this as a supporter. From a lay person's point of view does this tell us anything about the league set ups next year or am I reading too much into it?

The lack of riders will be the death knell before anything. OK some clubs ( probably very few) make a small profit and I guess the rest have become money pits. However, without riders you have no product. No product means no support and no support means no business. Unfortunately they have kicked the can so far down the road that they have reached the end of the cul de sac!

Surely we really need to start blooding youngsters and fast if speedway in this country is to survive. Does anyone have a rough figure of say 13 to 16 year olds who if given the right support can be blooded in the next 4 to 5 years and be racing ready? Some insight into this would be great.

An extra large serving of groundhog I'm afraid.

Agreed I was just naming two.

Thanks for the update. I've been keeping tabs on their Facebook page. In my opinion speedway could be boosted by having big names like Cradley and Coventry back at the top table.

Is it just minor stuff they are ironing out with the Cradley planning application or are you having to keep it under wraps? If successful would they start NDL or go higher? Surely a club of stature like Cradley would have to aim higher? ( Thanks for the update on 360, a great watch).

Yes but the homegrown will only earn enough dough to ride a moped! And punters won't pay 25 notes for the privilege.

SPOT ON, however it is getting to the point where the turkeys won't have a choice on whether or not they vote for Christmas!

You make the most important point, everyone is formulating the leagues for next year. Where on earth are they getting the riders from? Doubling up starting killing UK speedway in 2003 when riders were allowed to double up in the ill fated British league Cup. I'm sure a number of ex riders will be well informed and tell us they simply couldn't make a living out of it and had to pack it up.

Spot on sir! As you say Turkey's don't vote for Christmas and that all anyone needs to know. The current structure will bumble on for a few years yet.

My I ask a statistical question, apart from 3 draws at Owlerton I believe in 2005, 1979 and 1971. Have Lynn ever pulled off a win at Sheffield. I'm sure they had but couldn't find it.

Exactly the sport surely in the uk cannot last much longer in its current format. I hate to say it but I wouldn't mind forecasting that Birmingham don't make the end of the season. Of we at Ipswich are very lucky but my god there are some poor sides in this league. Anyway I've said it before and I and others will say it again. Doubling up has killed the sport since 2003 and unfortunately I don't see Anyway back!

With teams dropping like flies all 3 leagues must be close to being untenable.

It's currently five minutes to midnight and it's absolutely tipping it down here.

Exactly, we are relying on winning all of our matches and hoping the top 4 lose at home and I'm afraid it ain't going to happen.

Agree totally. The play off ship sailed long ago. Unfortunately when we signed Doyle and Sayfuitinov and then got the rest, it's been a bit like buying a top of the range Bentley but then running it on paraffin!

Probably one worse though. Anyone remember Nicholls riding for both clubs in each leg of the Peterborough cup final?

Scott Nicholls is 45 and certainly didn't look stale with Sheffield at foxhall the other week. Mind you what a sad sight the the once great Hans was trying to get round the track.

Lack of riders available usually means lack of dates. British Speedway is a bit like trying to persuade someone they can drive from London to Glasgow on a tenner!

Lots of comments and quite frankly speculation. However it was clear the track was far from perfect. However, I suspect with the average changes that changes will be made and will be made where and when certain targets are willing and available. Until then the rest as I say is speculation!

I see Americans mentioned in this thread and without starting another, can someone explain why we don't seem to get riders from there anymore? Surely there must be a number of youngsters who are promising?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646057/day4 Not according to this.

Forecast looks a bit damp for Monday.