Spl77

I have to say that when Ipswich ran the John Berry memorial meeting several years ago under the old 13 heat format with the old regulations I quite enjoyed it. Team managers being able to select what gate their riders went from naming your top 5 in any order all added an element of tactics that is sadly missing now. As for the 13 heat format and second half yes I enjoyed it however my personal favourite was the old National League 16 heat with 6 heat junior league match from the late 80s. Sadly the sport is way beyond what heat format should we use.... Major changes are required.

Thank you for the info

When is it next on any idea? Can't see it in the listings

Are they still showing the Polish league?

The best solution would be for the average for an overseas rider not failing below his assessed. So if a rider comes in on a 5.00 at the start of the season but is only averaging 3.0 he keeps the 5.00 until which time he averages over 5.00. If he ends the season as a 3 point rider he would keep his assessed average of 5 for the following season. That should stop promoter's going down the overseas route unless they are a true talent.

Maybe a hint of next year's side with the changes made today? Kemp Riss alongside Covatti?

Great news signing Kemp hopefully the experience will hold him in good stead for a full season with the Witches next year. One question is have we seen the last of Hartel or will he be back next year?

This may sum it all up. I live and work in Ipswich my place of work has 66 employees. Out of that 66 one goes to Foxhall every week and one goes to more than half the meetings. Another 15 or so used to go in the time frame of early 80s to early 90s. Alot of what they remember about the riders from that era seems to have as much about their off track personality and antics than it does rider and club results. One story they all remember is cook riding his speedway bike on the public highway to his local pub. One thing they all come out with is the guys who ride these days are not committed club men they don't live locally ride for others teams and so have zero chance of building a relationship with the town. As for the so called big name riders they all know woffinden and Hancock other than that the other GP riders are met with who? In short the big names in speedway mean very little to those who don't attend so would not put bums on seats. There is a massive disconnect between your team and the local area mainly down to the fact they are not your team but riders on hire.

I like this idea I'm all for bringing tactics back into the sport. I would also allow the team manager to pick where his 1, 2 & 3 in the averages ride in the top 5 and maybe doing away with fixed gate positions.

Take suffolk for example I have no idea of the average gates at Ipswich and Mildenhall. I no longer go but have 5 friends who still go to ipswich most weeks but they also go to Mildenhall every week without fail.

According to updates another 2 injuries tonight.

Just what speedway should be all about and sadly everything that is missing from UK speedway right now. Maybe the BSPA should ask the Polish authorities to run the sport here.

But Zmarzlik doesn't guest for every other polish top flight club while also holding down a place in the Polish 2nd tier.

It is in the mire! I'm just hopeful those in power will do something now and address the problems otherwise I really fear for the future!

What the sport needs in place for this winter so that it's in place for next season is an independent person or body who sets the rules points limit etc and for the top two leagues to form one big league. The strength of the league is set by the independent body based on averages and economics of the sport as a whole and not what the rich clubs want either ride in the league or don't. This will hopefully lead to a better fixture list than this year and finish the doubling up that has become a farce and scrap guests once and for all. Once the sport is stabilised over the next couple of years then relaunch the whole thing. The independent body would be able to work on the blue print over the next couple of years.

As a former fan I have kept an eye on this forum over the years and this topic is very interesting but at the same time sad as it appears that the sport I once loved is close to the end. I was driven away 10 years ago but mid season rule changes the farce of guests and tactical rules. I made one trip last season to my local track Ipswich and that was it one trip in 9 seasons! What drove me away was still there guests daft tactical rules and then you got to add in the double up down shake it all around rule. As an ex supporter looking in it appears that the main issues facing the sport are that it's to expensive for the fans riders and every one involved. The bikes are to fast the tracks to slick the racing not great. Add in all the daft rules the fact that you no longer have your team because they ride for everyone else the local community cannot form a bond with these guys. You need to cut costs for all provide value for money and have seven guys contacted to your club and your club only. I think I read somewhere that Jonathan Chapman suggests a franchise and draft approach didn't the late great John Berry suggest something along those lines in one of his books years ago.? The BSPA need to wake up or this once great sport will be gone by 2020. Work on getting the product and rules right then try and intice the list supporters back and then go out after new ones. While I'm a used to go to speedway man I'm only 42 so not an old stuck in my ways chap.

Hackney started the 91campaign at the wick but they were known as the Hawkes.