Sings4Speedway

i thought clowns had to be funny and interesting.....

I think its vital that what went wrong is analysed, publicised and learnt from. Eastbourne have been a lynchpin of British Speedway for just shy of 90 years. Any and every promotion at any club who is budgeting to unattainable figures is doing nothing but harm to the greater sport and the fans of the club they are custodians of. We feared that Brum and Newcastle wouldn't be the first but perhaps for once Eastbourne can be the last.

Im guessing all assets will be seized to cover the outstanding finances? Really does need a thorough examination and publication of what, where and who went wrong (obviously that won't happen and it will all get brushed under the carpet). Those at the helm were clearly more stupid than they appeared and have destroyed a long running institution.

What makes the difference so stark between grasstrack and speedway is that despite both needing specialised kit that is largely useless elsewhere a grasstrack rider will travel great distances to find a track of varied standards, ride it and pay for the privilege (with the potential of some prize money), a speedway rider will travel great distances to find a track of varied standards, grumble about it at least 50% of the time, put in questionable effort and still expect to be paid handsomely for the privilege.....

Brutal as this may sound and i don't want to upset any Eastbourne fans here but the IOW's act of curiosities, oddities and entertainers (Circus) are highly unlikely to run March til October and nor should they as that won't produce the best crowds, best energy or best value for their crowds BUT there looks a strong likelihood that they will be running.....how many other clubs can say that with such certainty? “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” ― P.T. Barnum

I don't think that IOW's 'circus' would work everywhere else. What i do think/know is that they know their audience and how best to please them / attract greater numbers. Its obvious that under the BSPL handcuffs that wasn't possible and is proving the same for a number of other clubs. I know fans can be fickle, there were calls at several NDL teams to step up to CL level for multiple reasons and yet the step up has brought financial issues to most of these (publicised or otherwise). What has often been needed is a brutal dose of honesty, we would like to move up but we just can't afford it or this is the best team we can build without breaking the club. Circus or otherwise IOW have two ringmasters who are calling their own shots, riders prepared to entertain and not be intimidated by the mafia and the only ones left looking like clowns are the BSPL.

Can anyone clarify the structure at Eastbourne? Arlington Owners - Margret & Eric Dugard Arlington leaseholder - Martin Dugard ? Speedway Directors - Ian Jordan + Fineing ? Speedway Promotors - Geer & Kilby ? So with that in mind regarding 'alleged' outstanding monies.... For the stadium how far up the chain has the money made it or not at all? Do the directors owe Martin D and then in turn he is liable to Eric & Margret? For the riders is it Geer & Kilby that are liable for the figures owed? Who gets first financial control of the gate monies? The Directors?

Sadly Weymouth fell foul of the ridiculous 'ghost team' ruling so cannot enter the MSDL. In fact officially i believe its only Birmingham, Wolves and Eastbourne (at the moment) in it.....very sad demise really.

Throw in a good lump of away fans which boosted the numbers. Kent have a dedicated travelling group and Leicester is just up the road. Im sure there are Plymouth fans who travel about but i wouldn't bet on a lot more than 20 through the gate.

No but sadly what happens at pubs the same as with Speedway is that people just visit less frequently Not sure why you are grumbling you've been watching the CL side be pants all season and the NL team do well. The only fear here is that the Bandits get turned over!

Precisely. Jack Smith signed on as a 6.5 averaged rider, given current form/opposition he is likely to finish on 8-9. Should the league stay at the same points limit he could be forced out. Should the limit be largely increased again to accommodate all the increased averages its more likely that those with falsely inflated averages like Rothery and Spencer will be pushed out. Everyone heralded the idea at the start and just couldn't see the problems coming. I guess the state of the NDL at present / future will gloss over the mess created by lowering the points limit.

Whilst i agree that a sensible distance between the two leagues needs to be achieved part of that would be helped by increasing the standard of the NDL again. Ive also always been an advocate that if you are good enough you will make it. There will always be those who can make the step up and beyond and those that can't, making it easier for riders is not the answer, keeping the bar high and making sure riders work to achieve it is the only way the sport will be able to progress.

So to clarify clubs should only field local riders if possible, using upright machinery that is 'reliable'? Obviously they will have time to visit schools with the bikes as most of the riders will be of retirement age! Reliability is a joke too as most are donkeys years old running on parts that are no longer manufactured and therefore are breakdown galore. Once speedway is dead and buried in the ground can a new sport with new machinery be brought in, until then no rider be they young and upcoming or established are going to sell their current suite of machinery in favour of 'standardised' upright gear. The on track action has always been largely credible when its between matched riders. What sinks it is ridiculous rules. However most have said before many don't care a jot about rules, regulations or even guests but thats because they don't even know the sport is happening on their doorstep.

Everything ive heard is Seagull team is gone. Can't see BSPL encouraging the NDL over CL even if it does make far greater financial sense.

Not entirely sure thats true at Kent just not publicised. Royals need a new rider and others are far from perky about the fixture list. Could be wildly wrong about figures being chucked around but big monies paid to the main side would be questionably maintainable. Easy to scoff at Eastbourne situation but i fear it will be hitting all clubs soon.

I guess its just perspective. It could be just as easily argued that IOW are at a disadvantage due to the additional travel costs (which are not excessive but add up). It probably shows what a good show they do put on and how value for money works given the numbers of mainland visitors they do attract most weeks as well as new and first time visitors they are able to attract. Don't forget that any that get the speedway bug on holiday are likely to return home and visit thier local tracks too.

In fairness there is a wealth of things to do and attractions on the IOW condensed into a small area , yes limited evening entertainment but still plenty of exhausting family days out that would mean Speedway could easily be skipped if it wasn't so well marketed. The reason its working for IOW is that they know thier market, they know how their track produces the best racing and what entertainment level is best received. Its not about copying them directly its about knowing and treating your market accodingly.

In fairness its just a decent illustration about what could be put together. The ins and outs regarding the likelihood that Edinburgh & Plymouth might want to be in the higher tier along with more likely Scunthorpe and Leicester (if one promotion can own 2 teams in the same division) whilst Kent would probably sit happier in the NL. Thats of course without the wrangling's of clubs up for sale, clubs struggling to make it to the end of season and so on. I also wouldn't bother counting IOW as they seem happier than ever doing their own thing and its more likely that others head in their direction than them returning to the BSPL fold.

Worry not the Prem Junior League will spring up next year to sweep in and save the day. Ignore the fact that there was a functional 2nd half development league in place and a semi professional NDL. But fortunately plans have been put in place to scupper both of those to make way for the PJL which will make the Prem teams look wonderful and great saviours.

Then something needs to be addressed about the journeymen in the CL. That said there should be no given right to move up. The nature of any successful sport is that the best will rise up and the remainder fall by the wayside. Places should be available for those genuinely good enough.

True the Josh's were injured by one was on his backside all the time and the other couldn't adapt to a new tyre type. The NDL class of 2011 supplied a heck of a lot of riders that went on to compete at a higher level (rough count around 50%) with 12/13 from the 70ish used still racing at CL level or higher today. Id be delighted if those kind of numbers were achieved by the class of 2021. 10 years is a long time in both Speedway and young individuals lives so there will obviously be attrition for a number of reasons why riders step away from the sport. The bigger issue is that there is so little being done to ensure their replacements come through and are ready.

they were all dropped because they were shi....under-performing compared to the standard expected of them.

Scary times ahead. Looking at Eastbourne potentially not finishing the season, attendances at Leicester poor and Newcastle dropping out already it paints a fairly glum picture for next season. Berwick will only continue with the low points limit, Belle Vue open that PL subsidises NDL for them. Kent struggling to get all the fixtures in and unable to run double headers makes options quite bleak. Hopefully the Double entry teams can continue, Eastbourne, Brum plus who know drops down and the league can get back to what it does best but there is an uncomfortable winter for a lot of people ahead.

Fully respect that as each level has its attractions in much the same way as i very much pick and choose higher tier meetings i attend as i see that value for money dwindling but thats personal preference. Should there be no NDL i would likely not bother attending at all but i do respect that its horses for courses.

You are correct that it should be sustainable for teams like Kent and Eastbourne to prosper in a 2nd tier but the realities are far from that. You can also blame other clubs for signing riders that shouldn't be in the league but both have some pretty big hitters on their payroll and a payroll that appears to have issues with payments. Dropping down would have a knock on effect to other lower tier clubs but that is why the rules need to be drawn up by all clubs involved. Its no greater benefit for Eastbourne to be in the CL or NDL if they are overpaying and not making things sustainable. A league can flourish when all the teams within it are able to compete and survive. A NDL with a payment cap, sensible points limit (possibly varied team build limits dependent on the success of the previous year) and a few minor tweaks could ensure the future of not just the individual clubs but the sport itself.