waytogo28

The reasons that cause so many supporters to loathe the way Buster Chapman runs UK speedway ( with undue influence ) go much further back than 2019! His determination ( together with Rob Godfrey ) to ignore the feedback of many supporters over at least five years, along with his "I know best" attitude is the bulk of why he is disliked. Rather than building for the long term of UK speedway, he seems hell-bent on it's destruction in the short to medium term. He has been "building King's Lynn for many a year but it is losing support year on year under his "care". Are you sure that you are not him Sportsman?

SoN was supposed to make it easier for "lesser ability " teams to take part in a significant way. Can't see that as more often than not (except in a few rare cases ) they are cannon fodder at worst or no-hopers at best. Bit pointless really these "qualifiers". And no, I am not a Smiths fan.

A good observation from which we can conclude ( partially at least ) that tracks like Wolves ( tight and technical etc ) are totally unsuitable for modern speedway bikes. Hence the huge decline in support on the UK terraces at the same time as the massive increase in regular support in Poland. UK speedway tracks need different, less highly powered bikes to show thrilling, attractive racing that people will pay to see. All the spin of "Alive & Kicking" will be shown up as washed up dross by the end of July.

Taking a stand against something which you believe is not good for the club you have long supported is NOT wishing for it to close down. I too detest the way in which Buster Chapman runs King's Lynn Stars ( and I think in the long term it will not help the club to develop ) but my passion for the club and team and its long heritage ( going back to it's links to Norwich Stars where I developed the speedway habit from my parents ) is in no way diminished. I do believe that in the fullness of time the Chapman & Godfrey era of control will be seen as the death throes of the professional sport in the UK. Alive & Kicking my a**$.

They do have very similar hairstyles, which is a little confusing. But that is likely down to DNA factors ( if we are still allowed to say such things ).

Threatened by rain the weather forecasts. We will see how the new track stands up to a good soaking and if it remains raceable.

There is a slight difference in the spelling of Kurtz it seems . Up North it's Kertz and down South it's Curtz. They are both from Australia but it's a big place you know. It's all in the pronunciation.

By the time this new" much better for modern bikes" track settles down, the whole site will be built over. April 2021 - a building site. Get on with finding a new site ASAP.

You are well aware, I am sure, that at none of Buster's tracks such foul language as "official attendance figures" is permitted. £10 in the swear box please.

But are Ipswich going to survive ( and Peterborough and possibly even King's Lynn ) because that attitude by Buster is going to turn off a lot more supporters ( other than the 6-800 die hards at each of those tracks ). Another two months will see crowd levels reach and indicate the true measure of support for the sport in the UK. As with so much of the business end of UK speedway we will never know who the true backers of Buster's bid for overall control are.

"Saving" the premiership on TV was a pointless exercise if this first offering is anything yo go by. However much spin Tatum & Pearson put on it ( and they did their best with Natalie and Steve B filling in to make it seem exciting ). It was dramatic from a points swing aspect due to errors and NOT due to exciting racing. Clearly, a Gate & Go circuit at least for 85% of races. I can't believe what any casual viewers might have made of if they stumbled across the hype of Live Speedway. As for the inexplicable ( if within the rules which must be thoughtlessly drawn up ) refereeing decisions and the numerous bikes not fit for the purpose of racing. Add to that the riders who are happy to ride around in 3rd or 4th place until they get their next chance at making a gate. New viewers will know nothing of the subtle excitement of the first and second bend clash - the first time around ( THAT is the race ). Blink and you miss it. 2/10 or possibly 3/10 ( for actually continuing to exist inside a new housing estate ).

You believe it, I believe it and many others do too. But the Powers that Be ( yes I know they are investing their own money and that of some sponsors ) will NOT accept it. In the world where 90+% of promoters dwell - "All is well and things will soon "bounce back" is their take on it - at least in public. It is like other problems (gambling, alcohol or drug addiction ) until you admit you have a problem and know clearly what that problem is - change of any kind will not happen. UK speedway finds itself in that place. When the league structure finally crumbles we can only hope that speedway racing on a semi-pro basis will continue at a few places. It may not though.

The story of speedway across the UK if it were ever looked at objectively from the outside. It's beyond rare for me to go home after a match at King's Lynn with " my head on fire" with excitement. Perhaps when Robert Lambert first rode for the Young Stars and I still talk about those matches. Yes, the odd good race since but whole exciting matches - No! FTG rules the roost and hence existing fans continue to melt away and new fans are truly rarer than hen's teeth. The KL tracks looks good but provides little or no racing nowadays. So, yes, "bordering on non-existent and boring" is a good description when talked about with no spin. Me too. Not sure I can put up with it for much longer and am thus on the verge of joining the ranks of ex-fans in the stadium. Still love the GPs on TV and what I can see of Polish racing ( on YouTube ).

He is not that talented! However, I believe that it will end in financial tears and prove to have been several steps too far! Before the end of the season, the average gate at all three of Buster's clubs will be clear to those who count objectively and unless the financial backers who supported the plan to "save" the Premiership dig deeper, it will all fall to pieces. Overextended comes to mind.

That is how it will be for the season without changes. You are right that Proctor and Kerr are never going to truly step up. Proctor will never do better than last year and I feel that that was his peak year and not a breakthrough year at the top level. Riss is capable of establishing himself as a heat leader but he is not there yet in terms of consistency. Please don't keep Simon Lambert for the season ( or even as a standby team member ) it shows a lack of ambition.

Aha! So however many clubs Buster get's to own he's " King;s Lynn through and through". So much for the local fans and their interest in their club. We can expect some changes to the KL team shortly then? Perhaps being KL "through and through" does not extend to laying out any more money.

Gosh! If I had all the answers I would be even more enlightened than Buster Chapman ( thought to be the saviour of UK speedway by some ) and that would be impossible. We will have to settle for the Chapman & Godfrey way of doing things ( rubber stamped by the other promoters ) until either great expansion or total extinction looms. Will we be jumping up and down a la the Polish terraces or standing knee deep in tumbleweeds?

And the promoters ( Associated or not ) are convinced they are right. Who are we to argue? How does that saying go " build it and they will come" in this case "put it on on Monday and they are unlikely to come".

There was me thinking of going back to an EofES match after many years because it was so exciting and quite like Torun. You mean that it does not closely resemble the racing at Torun. Not more Fake News!

That is what he is very likely to do. Win heat 2 and scrape a poor third later on. The least exciting rider to watch after his first heat ( for me ) , which must use up all of his dynamic energy.

Love his way of working or detest it. It's Buster. He will succeed in driving a number of speedway fans away from The Showground just as he has from Saddlebow Rd. And sadly I feel that he is completely unaware that that is the case. He can see only the "saving" aspect and is oblivious to the destroying part. But destroy it he will.

Oh No! Not HIM, please. Gives it 100% for one race, which is not enough genuine effort for me. Then lacklustre to say the least. Give another younger rider a chance.

Oh Yes it is! To be kind to it perhaps only 10 or 12 races per match are Gate & Go. Too many for my liking.

How did he get away with that start? The ref. blinked or what? Other than that how refreshing to see a race with multi passing in it. So all visiting riders should have a few yards at the start to make speedway into speedway racing?

Indeed a good commentator can add to the atmosphere but a poor one can be a pain to put up with. Mostly at the AFA I would like to be able to clearly hear the race results and especially any interviews, which unless you find a sweet spot are invariably still inaudible.