singy13

Or nuts ????

And their jockeys of course !!!!!

If he's done 40 meetings during a season isn't that at least one per week? (of a speedway season) You say you like more- but speedway doesn't do 52 weeks of the year, there's always an off season - like such as now!!!!

Way back there was always a table near starting gate with a phone on it - a link to contact the referee. And on a regular basis, following something happening in a race, an upset rider (often plus promoter)would march angrily from the pits to use the phone to vent this anger. The crowds loved this and added to the call for a refs action - although a ref never changed his decision. But it made the crowd more involved in racing action. I presume though it was stopped because referees were given too much grief? So as you say nowadays everyone seems too nice, but it was fun while it lasted for sure.

I dread to think what attendances would have been like at Belle Vue if none of the efforts listed above had taken place?

Don't expect there's that many UK seasons left.

Correct !!!!!!!

But people don't go to the dogs - they bet online, or use their nearest bookies. And it's a bit different having a word in a dogs ear as to instructing a speedway rider how to win, or lose, a race isn't it?

Bringing gambling to speedway is another way to dilute Joe Publics interest in the sport. Currently it is in the main an honest and dedicated sport. Put bets on races and I see countless engine failures, or tape exclusions, 2 mins exclusions etc. etc. Please no gambling for speedway.

So for instance Belle Vue (with Bewley/Kurtz..) v Sparta Wroclaw on a Friday (away team with cover for guess who). Then on Sunday Sparta Wroclaw (with Bewley/Kurtz) v Belle Vue............just my thoughts sorry - lol.

That day is rapidly approaching. And for 2026 I fear that, as ever, the 'bully boys' of the sport (I don't know them thank goodness)will keep controlling the downward spiral of lost clubs - mainly via self denial of how UK speedway should really be changed for the better of us all. Bully's rule ok!!!!

Joe Owen.......

Hopefully someone out there reads this post. And then acts in the best interests of UK speedway and not just for personal gain? But I think those who usually make themselves speedways 'big noises' will rule again - and the UK version will continue to slowly disappear.

5 teams is just so ridiculous.....but sadly it might happen..Therefore the sport will continue to go down the pan. But apart from a handful of fans on this forum, who can see the danger, it will as ever be down to the small majority who have the say on ruining UK speedway via their own views (big mouth promoters and riders) on why it's best to be two small divisions = total collapse.

They are on here giving expert advise as to how to remedy UK speedway's slide into oblivion. And apparently most favour Two visions - so if that happens the 'slide' will obviously continue !!!!!

That first sentence says one of the best solutions for UK speedway, and you're right re who to target. Your next line is the great mystery of how to achieve this....not easy for sure. All (or mostly)who come on this forum are already speedway fans - so we are clearly always 'preaching to the converted'..What else can we do to help the sport we love?

That's a brilliant post. It quite clearly highlights why so many people see speedway as a fake sport and don't follow it. (us converts just suffer the silly rules whatever).

Give over...........lots of teams take part in the full competition. Anyway wouldn't a speedway diehard like yourself enjoy seeing more teams face the Lions throughout a season?

But come on which TV Channel is going to televise a sport with 6 combatants in their league table - not really countrywide for them is it? So despite being told on here a one division of at least 16 teams won't work I bet the TV folk would prefer it.

But that doesn't mean it's right - or popular with cricket fans? I assume the players opt for whoever supplies the most cash a la speedway?

But those who prefer to mock speedway (and sadly they are in the majority) tend to see doubling up as a comical trend. I often have tried to defend doubling up (and guests) when arguing with folk who call it 'strange when a rider can star for two teams' ???. Often saying such as Ronaldo playing for both Man United and Real Madrid too (notice I've used different leagues Mr. Cheese😁) it's never gonna happen in football is it. But speedway allows it. I suppose us speedway diehards begrudgingly accept it along with comments such as 'first rider to reach the first corner always wins the race'.....And re "fixed race nights" that's another case of UK speedway shooting itself in the foot 🤢. BTW there are no inter-league meetings nowadays -yes sadly lost like so much other speedway fun we used to have..In 1976 Workington Comets of Division two beat 1st. division Ipswich and also Kings Lynn both at Derwent Park and both by 40-38 ....doubling up would probably scupper any chances of that ever happening again.

BUXTON BULLETS !!!!

Well there you go.....it's no wonder the sport is seriously ill in the UK is it ?

Yes sport teams have many varied structures for sure. And in many ways speedway is unique. But the sport in the UK is sadly going down a whirlpool of despair and something drastic is required to avoid a complete disaster - and in my view I see one division as worth trying. Worth trying is all I'm saying. BTW I think one bad influence is the GP system. One example of how it affected Workington was when Stoney qualified as a GP rider. We then realised that for several Saturday nights a guest rider would appear at Derwent Park to cover for Stoney - I think we got very accustomed to seeing Sean Wilson as a regular Comet. OK he scored well but personally I missed my fix of Carl Stonehewer speedway and I wasn't alone with that.

The current attendance issues are due to fans not liking guest fests and doubling up. Both of these rider problems dilute the sports integrity for so many fans. Lots have abandoned ship because they have seen too many teams use three, or more in some cases, guests. I often talked with Workington rugby directors, who were anti-speedway, and referred to the sport as having a strong likeness to that comical one called WWE (or is it WWF?)...anyway they said guests undermined the sport big style - and yes they were/are correct. Personally I just think the one division would bring more variety to a quite stagnant round of fixtures. And so what if Poland claim the best, every race has a winner, and loser. We used to have wobblers yes fifty years ago but shouted encouragement to one and all....let's do it via one league again !!!!!!