Sings4Speedway

There has to be an element of interests of the sport coming into play alongside interests of the clubs. The Championship has 10 teams confirmed at present and 12 with 2 x NL sides. The National league has 3 confident teams in Kent, IOW & Belle Vue then Stoke & Buxton likely but with constant question marks hanging over them and that's it, 5 whole teams. Without Coventry, Mildenhall & Plymouth in the league and two moving up it would create serious issues with the lower tier so maybe the move up has been put on hold until the fate of the other NL clubs is known?

Hands up who thinks they may have forgotten that small detail at the AGM?

Mega signature for Sheffield. Have to say i suspect the switch to weekends was likely a factor plus track size but certainly not afraid of some dirt on the surface. Shame the speculation didn't last a little longer though.

It would certainly be a strong benefit for both sides if a tie up could be reached BUT IOW are their own people and im certain they have riders in mind they would like next year (although Brennan, Brooks & Edwards would all flourish there). The latter two are certainly likeable riders and im certain Brennan is although he has started to show a petulant streak that would not fit well with the the Warriors ethos. However given the potential lack of clubs and therefore surplus of riders it may well be the case that doubling up/down from the NL is outlawed at the AGM this year?

Blimey bob you had talked sense and logic until now then put Powell in a championship line up

There are 3 or 4 other tyre suppliers out there but standard UK rules say MITAS only, we do like a monopoly in speedway. Allowing alternatives would create competition and bring prices down, that and the BSPA not taking a cut of every tyre sold would also help.

The problem with dropping the NL limit too low is that it will reduce riders careers to 2-3 years max. Half decent new 3 pointer signs or 3 pointer from this year with experience and betters the rest of the newcomers so ends with a 5 point average. Next season that 5 pointer moves up to an 8 point rider. Season after nobody can accommodate them in a NL side but they are not good enough to step up to the Championship so career over.

Whilst a sensible suggestion in principle it would be much harder to implement than it seems. Current tyres just dont last that long and finding used usable tyres is far harder than it has been in the past. Then there would be the squabbling over who gets the better of the used tyres and of course those who just buy new, knock the edges off and then run them. To get tyres lasting longer the compound needs to be harder but not to the point that the tread just rips out in lumps and more dirt needs to be put on tracks so the grip is there no matter the tyre tread.

Buster is clearly no mug, he has a very solid product at Kings Lynn however without a Premiership to race in it is useless. His takeovers enable his priority venture to continue in the setting he wishes. With any luck he will buy Mildenhall & Rye House ready to move them up too next sseason.

Of course that won't happen because Lynn will be 4th at the time thing to really be concerned about is when all three make the play offs....although bloody Poole would still probably win.

Looks a clever little plan Buster has put together, buy up two teams and generate plenty of local derbies, entice travelling supporters and have the basis for a breakaway league should everything else go belly up. Im guessing the completion of the Mildenhall deal hasn't gone through yet or they will be Championship this year and Prem next? Either way at Ipswich the first name on the sheet id be looking for is Kennett who must be on a bargain average?

Hasn't stopped Rye for the last 15 years lol. Ive always found the slight Stig of the dump look part of its charm, granted ive not been since they dumped a load of soil in the middle but if it has a track, pits, lights, bar, food & bogs thats all that is actually required. Things could be upgraded if required but what is really required is a promotor and a team on track.

I would think no rider can drop below 3.00? Although where that leaves riders already sub 3 im not sure. Im guessing that with the conversion rate you need to be a 4.50 or above rider in the Championship to be able to move up into the Prem which isn't the worst decision in the world.

Seems unlikely there will be a Leicester or Coventry in the NL with the main team moving to Saturdays. Can see Plymouth being the other side to move up along with Brum as i can't see Eastbournes crowd numbers being enough, Kent have switched to sat nights and are likely to take a chunk of lakeside/Rye House support anyway to make up for those who won't attend as much. Would be nice if a team (maybe Cov) could get into Peterborough at the weekends now they have been vacated ?

Are things that bad? Yes its a bit iffy that Buster owns 3 clubs but there are two excellent tracks moving into the top flight, plans to clearly define the 3 tiers with points limits and therefore overall standard making it clearer to insiders & outsiders alike that there are different levels. The clubs that have stepped down a tier have done so to protect themselves financially and return to race nights that suit them best. There are plans in place to produce a feeding system from Nl up to higher leagues and to reduce the amount of doubling up/down. Its naive to think that everything can be resolved in one season/AGM but for once there is actually a plan for the future so potentially the sport might have one.

Give Buster a chance, he may just be digging the last of his change out from the back of the sofa before buying up Rye House & Mildenhall too. Creating his own Anglian league. Seriously though its a crying shame that both venues appear to be going un-used but especially Rye which at present is under no planning threat. Fingers crossed there will be a venture this season at NL level.

to be honest sometimes a surplus of riders is good, it creates competition for places, offers up suitable replacements when the inevitable injuries hit and allow all teams to have the chance to build capable teams. However low points limits offers up falsely inflated averages and whilst the focus is to get riders moving up through the leagues its important that they do when they are ready and not when their average says they are ready.

Tom Bacon

All dependant on the 3 pointers and Brum got burnt that way this season, add in Embleton didn't work out that well at Brum and the Thompsons likely elsewhere. Heatleaders will put a point on each and most likely miss plenty doubling up.

To be honest THJ isn't too far off. Ive been harping on about an end of year British riders only average reduction for ages (although i can't be bothered to trawl my old posts to prove it yet) but also some radical changes and reductions on costs. Of course there will be riders threatening to quit, to only ride abroad or head into early retirement.....Good go get a real job, see what the few qualifications you have and no experience will get you, generate a CV that states you can drive, you don't like rain and are an expert communicator (when huddled together moaning about something). Now you have a job and it isn't perfect, the boss is on at your to do better and the money is paying all your bills but not making your silly rich.........i bet Speedway probably doesn't look so bad now does it.

The problem is that the sport is run by those operating in the "now". They have no incentive to make is sustainable in 10 years time as most will have bowed out by then (although who they will sell the ailing clubs to remains to be seen). Chris Harris is the last person who's opinion should count, if a rider who has competed at the top level in the UK for 10+ years cannot make it pay without doubling up/down then we are in a very sorry state. Bomber has a few years left max so is obviously out for his own interests and to grab as much cash as he can before he is kicked off the gravy train. If the sport is to move forward it will need to allow the semi-pro's time to develop before deciding if they can commit to speedway full time or not (and by full time i mean race UK & abroad not 100+ UK meetings) as at present far too many talented riders are falling between the cracks purely down to lack of finances.

Bomber is a prime example of riders who are driving the price of the sport up. He spends season upon season complaining about engines and speed and throws money at them to generate results and therefore his signing on demands are high but with the right averages he is a good signing so clubs give him the money. Then at the end of the year everything is for sale. So for example a rider does 30 meetings per league per season. Very good bike with all the right bits costs 10k. If and its a big if a complete bike can be sold for 3k at the end of the year a rider has done well. Thats a 14k loss over 8 months that he is trying to find out of fees and points money before he has even started. I cannot believe that 1 bike cannot complete 120 races before being passed it, thats only 2 hours old! Riders need to look at maintenance of machinery not immediate replacements, A bike should be able to easily do 2 seasons and in reality many would last far beyond that.

The problems Speedway encounters are quite unique in the sense that many tracks are not available at weekends creating a lot of midweek fixtures which is something many with full time employment struggle with. I certainly agree that costs are spiralling and need to be countered but not 100% what all the answers are.

Huge Congratulations to all of you. Fully deserved and hopefully the first of many.

I think the definition of "crap" is largely important here as middle tier second strings are entirely different to riders just starting out. The problem with standard at present is that the gulf between riders is too vast. The GP's provide good racing and entertainment because the riders are of a similar level. Put on a match where all the riders average in min 4 and max 6 you will see a close entertaining meeting. Put on the current show where a 9+ point man goes to the tapes with a 2-3 point rider and wonder why we are served dull from the gate racing.