waytogo28

Phew! Joined up thinking needed for that Mr Webb. And when that thinking involves what might be best for the waiting supporters - well......

I agree but we are stuck with those who currently invest in and promote UK speedway and finding the "right people" with funds and prepared to invest in the sport here, is very unlikely. Perhaps a takeover by Polish speedway moguls?

I think there is almost nothing that can be done to bring newbies through the turnstiles, to view UK speedway, AND get them to return time after time. Only the creation of a completely new motorcycle racing sport, perceived as far from old-fashioned speedway as possible and as far from the "first away wins" tag speedway holds. The recent classic speedway races from the NSS are genuine classics that the purists will savour as long as they can be seen online. But they are so rare that no-one can go to meetings elsewhere expecting to see anything like that, except maybe once a season. Newbies very likely need 50% of the races they watch in a match to be something like that and it is impossible on almost every other UK track.

The promoters have been in so many "last chance saloons" they seem permanently drunk and maybe that is why they cannot come up with much positive change, year after year.

Clearly too difficult and complicated by vested interest.

If it can, in fact, live financially on such low crowds on a regular basis - so be it.

No thought then that fans might not see it in quite so critical a way. People put up with it ( or rather endured it ) perhaps like me, some finally gave up and will support the Stars via the Speedway Star and the odd time they are on TV. Promoters and club owners make their choices and if that was a Buster and Dale tactic, they have to live with the result it could bring about on the terraces. Fewer fans every time perhaps. There were unlikely to have been more than 5 - 600 there anyway. That's UK speedway - disinterested in the majority of fans and a failure to see the bigger picture.

I have no faith that things will improve or that the BSPA collectively ( those that vote ) are aware of the priorities that truly matter. Actions and changes that will halt the slide of supporters choosing to walk away AND marketing to begin to attract the new generation of UK speedway followers. The improvement of on-track racing so that excitement is an inherent part of the show ( for show it is ) is a vital part of that. The first play off, Somerset V Poole showed that the product can be worthy of the admission and can provide close racing, passing and thrills all the way through. Get those 15 mins of racing onto a DVD into every household in the country - perhaps via a deal with a newspaper. Yes I know, it costs money and is not seen as cost-effective, but taking no positive action on bringing the essence of speedway to people who have no idea it exists is the key. We have to offer the WOW! factor - and deliver it in the local stadium. Other meetings need to be just as meaningful. Moving towards achieving that needs to be high up on the agenda.

The only "paying supporters" the BSPA would ever allow into their decision making meetings would be those around every club who are "Yes Men or Women" and see eye to eye with everything about how the club is run. There would, therefore, be no valuable creative "other ways of doing things" ideas considered. Yes, it is their business ( from a commercial point of view ) and thus they can do as they wish ( as they do ). But UK speedway is like a long lease which has run down to a few short years left on it and the building or business is worth less and less ( as it is ). Soon you could buy a club for very little because it is worth very little and it's not a viable business - secretive or not.

It's not so strange that developers want to build near a speedway track. Really what they want to do, as at several others Cradley Heath, Norwich etc etc. They want to gobble up the whole thing! Siting some houses nearby adds to the pressure of it being incompatible (as it is later claimed ) and the speedway always loses out. If speedway were a real money spinner with 10 or 20 thousand a week going that building creep may never happen. It's happening now at Peterborough.

Sadly this is so. A pity, as more and more fans, can't be bothered. The playoffs may be in front of well up crowds but overall. Hmmm. I do think Buster believes that he is making a difference and offering a great racing surface but it's still "follow my leader" far too often.

75% ( or perhaps a little more ) of speedway races are also boring after the 2nd bend, first lap. And a good proportion of posts are pointless personal bickering. Good close races with some passing or close up nearly passing are excellent, as the cream of the posts.

Who can comprehend it? Oh, the BSPa Management Committee pretend to understand it to save face.

Yes, I was typing "tongue in cheek" of course, nothing will come of these "plans" / dreams. If you lived next door and weren't a speedway fan, what would you think of the idea?

Mr Russell has stated that there will be one installed very soon and that the next door neighbours are in harmony with having an exciting motorcycle facility on their doorsteps ( literally). What is there not to believe?

No. Is the only possible answer going by what the past has shown us.

Fast forward to last night at King's Lynn and Oh what a Poor Show - I have to rate it as the worst meeting I have seen at KL. In 12 races out of 15 there was nothing of note after exiting the 2nd bend 1st lap ( now common everywhere ). Purely processional. I can only assume that Swindon agreed to use Scott Campos sight unseen because it was a disgrace parading such an obviously unfit and out of shape rider as competitive. He then proved that on track. After quite a number of years, he could not turn the bike properly. Any other.young rider would have benefited from the experience. What a pity that they did not get the chance. A shame to be wearing a Robin's race jacket at the "top" level of racing. As for the choice of Pijper as a guest reserve, was he the only rider available with the right average? Except for being passed at the last moment in one race, he added almost nothing to the proceedings.

Well for me watching the BT match which showed without a doubt that if you prepare the track fairly for racers to race on - they will. I rate that match as one of the best I have seen in 60 years of watching. Passing in every heat by daring men on their flying machines, inside and out 10 / 10! As good as anything you can see from Poland or Sweden. Of course, it involved two teams eager to go for it and win the league, every team member on both sides had a moment or two! Put that on, on a regular basis and you could hold "lost" fans and attract new ones, I feel sure. That really was speedway racing at it's best. And made me eager for more! I salute you Somerset for preparing a stage suitable for racing of the highest calibre. The hard part is how to make every meeting as meaningful as this one was.

I have to rate it as the worst meeting I have seen at KL. In 12 races out of 15 there was nothing of note after exiting the 2nd bend 1st lap ( now common everywhere ). Purely processional. I can only assume that Swindon agreed to use Scott Campos sight unseen because it was a disgrace parading such an obviously unfit and out of shape rider as competitive. He then proved that on track. After quite a number of years, he could not turn the bike properly. Any other.young rider would have benefited from the experience. There was no sense of urgency by the promotion to "get on with it" and there was 35 minutes of tractor racing during the match ( I know I measured them ) which resulted in slower races immediately after and no closer racing. Buster is delusional that his track magic during a match improves the whole presentation of it or gives better racing. It's a pity if the salvation of UK speedway means more scenes as in heat 15 with fans brawling over Rollerball speedway! It's what Rossiter said before that point that was most despairing - that promoters were also arguing heatedly over 2019 and he had no idea what was happening or how to prepare for the changes that were coming. He made it clear that he was against further dilution of team strengths, but that is obviously what is likely to happen. He also said that it was a "make or break AGM" ( where have we heard that before?). It has been repeated for many years! Finally ( I promise ) I came home feeling that, that is me finished with live speedway in the stadium, to watch the BT match which showed without a doubt that if you prepare the track fairly for racers to race on - they will. I rate that match as one of the best I have seen in 60 years of watching. Passing in every heat by daring men on their flying machines, inside and out 10 /10! As good as anything you can see from Poland or Sweden. Of course, it involved two teams eager to go for it and win the league, every team member on both sides had a moment or two! Put that on, on a regular basis and you could hold "lost" fans and attract new ones, I feel sure. That really was speedway racing at it's best. And made me eager for more!

I must remember to take three pens tonight because the programme will need so many changes.

I have just looked at both club websites and neither list changes at 6 / 7 for the Robins. Does anyone know the truth because the poster R.Racer is often incorrect? Ellis is listed as out but no confirmation that Howarth guests for him. Why can't they just be open about last minutes changes? Secret Society Speedway continues.

Hence there is not much point in marketing UK speedway too hard because it remains a joke. Outsiders could only gawp and laugh. Thankfully the outside world does not know.

Is Simon Lambert riding or is he still on his honeymoon?

Possibly the worst meeting ever I have sat through. What happened to "give the riders a good stage and they will put on a show"? Speedway but not speedway racing. Improved? It needs to be shelved and never laid down again despite the three-year contract there for the event. Or a new track builder who has spoken to the GP track builders. Plenty of space but no racing lines at all with gates 3 & 4 beyond "graveyard" status except on one or two memorable occasions. But for Ruthless Robert Lambert - Onward and Upward!

Congratulations Leon on another fine victory. Proof that you have what it takes to make your mark in the GP. Is it only politics that is preventing you from being admitted?