Roger Jacobs

What a ridiculously pointless comment!

This one was behind closed doors: British Speedway webite

Absolutely - the on-the-night experience needs to be tightened up, with lots of engaging, interesting interviews, plus noise and colour - it's been proven in other sports (T20 cricket is the obvious example).

Invariably, GPs do go ahead - which shows the influence of money and of the riders (I bet they were all set up in the pits and ready for action). Even so, does Vojens have three days of stock car, hot rod and banger racing a few days before?

Amazing to hear that they staged a junior meeting in the afternoon! Apparently the surface was tyre-packed afterwards. Interview with Klindt on BSN, he said it's a known problem, but after doing a track walk he felt it was much worse, possibly because of all the rain this week. From the view on BSN, blading the shale seemed pointless, because they were just back to the shiny clay - it would have taken an age to try to relay the surface. As it is, the riders never got changed, so weren't remotely interested in riding. I'm told that turnstiles weren't closed until the formal announcement at about 19:25 ...

If Sheffield is rained-off … then it’ll be Aces Vs Tigers and Lions Vs Witches …

The Premiership was put out of its misery a few years ago, and has been running on apathy since ...

Banger racing at Foxhall on 19th so, assuming those predictions are accurate, the second Monday would probably suit Ipswich better in terms of track prep.

https://northampton-speedway.com/latest-news/dvvanrgyr60osbu2d55g4nvp2lph1y

It’s bound to rain, so the BSPA should postpone them now …

Provided they can prove they’ve been trying to get a replacement, the facility can be extended.

I assume you mean postponed - or aren’t they going to bother trying again?

Postponing, not cancelling (check the SCB Regs). Very surprised it was postponed based on the forecast, because everything indicated the afternoon would be clear - even the Met Office predicted that. For info: there was a brief shower about 09:00pm tonight.

We’ve had fish & chips on the beach at Aldeburgh, in sunshine!

Details: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/c26_issue_24.pdf

New date: 07/09/2026 with the other matches already postponed. Date chosen based on the fact that they know no rain is forecast for that Monday.

There weren't likely to be major changes - the Witches rode only four league fixtures between 24 July and 23 August. If Ipswich decide to dispense with Lawson's services, would they be eligible for a facility? There's something in the Regs about a rider in dispute with their club, but not (as far as I can see) about a club releasing a rider ...

I'm told that Lawson often turns up with dirty equipment (corresponding to when he's been at Poole the night before?). There's an interesting video on the Witches FaceBook page, showing the machinery in the pits last night, and this is a comment from his mechanic: "It's ok it's Richards bike they're like that on a normal day I'm used to it. Good night we even started with bike building."

I think that a lot of riders are on guarantees, with bonuses for exceeding the agreed "standard".

Thompson has declared himself fit to ride. R/R for Norris. https://www.leicesterspeedway.com/News/Details/8028

Thompson has declared himself fit to ride. R/R for Norris. https://www.leicesterspeedway.com/News/Details/8028

He wasn't withholding his services: SCB statement.

I don't think there was ever a rule about promoting junior riders - it was more a case of if teams had two similar riders missing there could be a "gentleman's agreement" between the promoters to use juniors. Certainly if, for example, one team had a heat leader missing, but the other had a second string missing, it was highly unlikely that juniors would be used.

But British Speedway still hasn't worked out how to encourage those watching the Semis and the Final to return for the standard league matches ...

A short drawn-out season ...