Cross Roads

Spot on totally agree, so what is stopping this being formed cost to develop, no long term vision, existing promotors not willing release power. Surely those promotors understand this is the way forward. It will clearly not appease all but over early years once the structure is clear and most importantly stable as you say with other sports why can it not work. Most importantly also allows new potential clubs to understand the sports structure that is set for x years to put a credible business model together to understand break even point etc if to join...?.

Ok may be 2027 a year or two to soon…But it is simply unsustainable with costs and revenue incoming to carryon you say riders, you are correct I say revenue… Get away from this Monday Thursday piece. What about one league then across all three at present. I know yeh… but standard of riders will be unbalanced then say a Leicester ride a Saturday night entice level 2 riders from Europe not riding in Poland.. get back to every week racing we all want the same thing to watch speedway in years ahead but needs an absolute c change or as many say it hits a wall and all we have is individual meetings as and when…

This situation has not happened over night though. There should be a rolling plan year on year with minor tweaks so promotors and fans then know what to expect, ok there has been a curve ball with club closures this past year but season on season its a farce. Why not state by 2027 it will be one league and plans in place now for those who wish to participate. You don't see other sports changing rules yearly. My guess will be sticky plaster plans for 2026 same old and all moaning same old issues. It needs a complete re write that will clearly upset many but it needs to happen that will either push the sport on or kill it to death.

I like the idea of an FA cup style competition early rounds could be NL and championship teams default to a one off home meeting against a higher placed team if drawn against them. Before anyone piles on and says be to one sided that’s how the magic of the cup would work. I’m sure say a Scunthorpe would relish a premier team visiting. Another huge issue along with the structures is the average crowd age that never seems to change year on year with new people in volume other than the odd team ie Glasgow, fail to address this and it will organically stop with little spectators creating little revenue to even put on meetings. I along with friends visited the speedway show yesterday throughly enjoyed it and will be back next year fully recommend, met a lot of familiar faces from European tours we attend we are mid 50s. Sitting in the rider interview room just looking around average age 65+. This has to be sorted. I constantly tell friends and family they come to the odd meeting then huge gaps loose interest….what is the answer…promote but social media can cost big mone6 these days. Wonder if the governing body has approached the likes of channel 4/5 offering a weekly high lights show. Maybe get BSN to create. What is also very well administered is the polish app called speedway extraliga up to date with so much information live results even live per heat in matches rider profiles up and coming fixtures etc. I’m sure many people have why don’t they offer this service in the uk.

Me to you me to you. Can The Governing body of this sport not see that they need a public statement ASAP high level summarising the challenges they are working through with other promotors and options they are finalising for next season and 2027 with the already widely commented Polish rules. God forbid they want to loose any more fans or entice new people with out of the box new ideas… farcical

Many valid points raised over these recent pages. Clearly the governing body should send out a press release advising reasons why AGM put back to 2026 and a general summary of reasons why to keep the general public us who pay our hard earned money to keep this sport we love alive. This closes off all this maybe this maybe that b8^^s_$£ Desperately need to entice a younger generation in through the gates so some out of the box entertainment pre and during the meeting. Yes may cost money but get local groups to show there talents bands dancers singers etc. It is screaming out for an independent marketing team but always come back to commercial costs but something needs to change standing listening to a looped old outdated pa sound track with a tractor show doesn’t cut it anymore. Comments if one league riders will loose revenue and expect better deals from one club due to lost earnings. Then promote themselves on the continent do long track/grass track get another income from a job. Like many others im a contractor there is no given we expect continued income from one source we constantly chase new opportunities with new clients, controversial but true. Alternative is one league and potentially national individual events and selected tracks throughout the season. Whatever is decided at the next AGM it cannot simply be a sticky plaster, there needs to be an agreed plan starting 2027 that everybody is informed that they either take there business on the journey or decline harsh but true.

In all honesty as with any business you have to continually promote your product and within the entertainment business with so many other options for the general public now days even more. Not taking the p)24 but general Q does the sport have a marketing team with a strategy…. is the likes of Redknapp engaged. Year on year we all have these conversations and it seems to me little change. Time is seriously running out in this country and a 3–5-10 year plan must be in place surely. I’ve supported this sport from my dad taking me Blckbird Road in the late 70s then I have taken my kids but the average age in the crowds now is a worry. If Your a promoter surely you see this. It needs independent governing body with transparency to the public. I know people knock the poles but I go there a couple of times a year to watch the league racing Sunday afternoons party atmosphere full of kids and families. Do the British promotions engage with there counterparts over there…… End of day as in life it is about revenue and balancing the books which unfortunately the uk cannot sustain. Come on BSPA let’s give it one final push as I believe if not within 3 seasons it may well be a amateur sport with individual events for decent price money a few times a year..

If as seems likely we will have a 5 team league. Surely we must now incorporate a pairs comp in the form of a series at each track, clubs decide on there riders so if the GP guys are committed in Europe use other riders from the team, along with a British Final series. An event at each premiership track like a mini GP with the final round at Belle Vue. On a Saturday evening allowing more fans nationally to travel for the event hopefully televised....?

Everyone hoping the weather holds out for Monday I’m hoping can see the bloody racing. Please Promotors sort the lights out so we can see. Was at Vojens last weekend compared to us it looked like we was inside with the lights on

Terribly sad day for Midlands speedway, will be there tonight. Hoping for a Lions win to keep the momentum going into the play offs.

As I’ve said on previous posts lights are simply not adequate for spectator entertainment those who disagree must be blind. Stand on 3rd bend and starts of races are so dark. No money in the sport etc but spectators need to see the sport they pay to see. Put 8 lights on the advertising boatd across start line 2 each gate front and back will make huge difference not difficult and get more lighting closer to the track….?

Hats off to the track staff get the meeting on. I for one never thought it would be on when it was torrential rain around 4pm in Leicester yesterday afternoon. Max simply awesome at the minute. Go as far to say best in the league on present form. Anyone know when Gilkes maybe back. Real struggling at reserve and will need to be far more solid come play offs. Feel for Luke and his accident this season as was on top form but be a real risk him returning. Come the play offs are we able to utilise Lawson as rides Leicester well and would be solid away.

Any truth that Leicester promotion up for sale……Hope not, can’t see many people queuing up to take on with the talked about costs to run the sport with ever diminishing crowds now days???

Agree to disagree on this. I'm saying we may have to grade riders to ensure an even spread of talent with clubs. Yes of course we want to best talent for us to be entertained but the imbalance at present is no way good for the sport today or moving forward. Yes historically there has always been weak teams but exposed even more now with the limited number of teams in the top flight. Great to be hammering an opponent each week until no opponent to hammer..lol

Have to agree. Its ok thinking its great when your team hammers the opponent week in week out and yes all start the season with the same points options so sell done to those who built there teams but is no spectacle for any fans in truth of the sport. Those teams who are losing also lose crowds that is never good for the wider sport.

Feel for Hagon seems a decent kid always talks well and honest post match but clearly step to far in his career at this time, must be absolute smashing his confidence and no good for the team. In my opinion needs to be changed for who there are options but are they much better. This raises the Q is the rising star ran its day in the top league with an annual strength in depth to the league gap is to big. Would it be an option to offer the rising star in the national/championship next season and with slightly raising the points limit let teams fill how they wish in the premiership either top heavy or spread strength. Always for the continued development of riders but as they say if good enough in the majority of cases opportunities arise….THOUGHTS..

What’s everyone’s predictions for the first half of the new season then….I don’t believe we will be as poor as some seem to be predicting. Max is quality so solid all season. Luke big season for him over all of Europe! is this the year to take it to the next level. Sam and Ryan will be steady similar to last year. Howarth I’m hoping a fresh change will be back to a good supporting role of the heat leaders clearly has the talent. Sam lot of pressure on the young kid maybe a tough jump again this season hope proven wrong. Drew similar to Luke needs to kick on this season at this level. Dickson from past performances won’t mess around if guys not performing and will make changes I believe. I think we will make the play offs just…

Last time in this debate as clearly if have an opinion get scolded… planning issue or not it’s an expensive solution but can be addressed if you have the lamp posts with a 90d return at the top with a further pole nd bracket they can be more directed to the angles required ie the track, also like Sheffield have fix permanent lights on the start line advertising structure above the gates power is there to the main refs building x2 per gate front and back would made a massive difference also…. Have a good weekend all..

Feel the reply was bit of a dig... There was never any hidden agenda with the question. Happy to help, Fair enough with the lighting if it is believed that the lighting is to a standard for spectator sport / motor sport then some people clearly have different levels of expectations to me. I work within construction industry and any sites i attend are better lit along with the quality of the toilets come to think of it..:)...

Happy new year all. Predictions for 2025…… Hopeful for play offs then anyones over 2 legs. Feel a big season for the reserves, poor start feel will be changes by June. Any upgrades happening at the stadium over this winter. Hopefully lighting can’t see great when dark nights god knows how the riders cope..;)

Who do we think will get the other reserve spot with Hagon... What about Kim Nielson would he fit.. or Sedgman.

No quality heat leader to support Frcike next year v all the comments around next years team then we will struggle when/if get to play offs...Fingers crossed for a big signing Wosniak...?

You can get castrol R scented candles in the net now days… early Xmas present maybe …lol

If we all review this forum so many people have commented about the track over the years inc myself,prob is to make wider needs big construction get rid of back straight stand or move the temp stands back. Who is going to pay for this work. A sport with an ever decreasing fan base someone with no worries about return. We all know why was so a£;t in the first place and arrogance gets you know always listen to your paying customer…?So we either accept sporadic good racing or simply don’t attend. Choice is ours…. Sadstate of affairs but reality.

Fricke Wozniak Douglas Lawson Becker Hagon ..........