HGould

I think what would boost all Speedway Fans and give us all hope would be a clear and early Fixture List. There seems to be some indication that March even April is too early to start but that should not stop any Clubs who can start in April and who have local permission doing so maybe with challenges and individuals the order of the day. If all Leagues then had a start date no later than 1 May and a Fixture List around that issued by New Year would give us all something to look forward to. Hope springs eternal ! Stating the blindingly obvious that any Fixture List will have to include "covid dependent" but rather that than wait and wait and wait like we did in 2020, and the gloom that brings..

Hopefully second peak will be over and things will have stabilised by Easter. Having been to an excellently staged and very well stewarded meeting at Plymouth in September and witnessed what can be done hopefully enough Clubs will get approval to do the same in the Spring. It's going to be a long and stressful winter though for many Sports including speedway.

Hard as an outsider to make sense of what's going on and gone on and Newcastle is a track I've always liked to visit mainly due to friendly fans and good banter. I wish everyone well but one question is this. On basis that those who ran last 3 tracks to liquidate (Rye House / Workington and Lakeside) losing their Promoters Licences, won't same fate befall Rob Grant.?? It would seem unfair if so as he has literally never promoted a Meeting due to Covid, but it does make Acesliders questions the more important. Hopefully Newcastle will be at tapes in 2021 and for many years after that.

wasn't he a late inclusion after tragic death of Danny??. Not surprising if a longer term option might now be looked at for 2021

Don't think that's fair or accurate. I've read on here and from various Clubs own comments that a PL home / away you can budget 15k and a CL home/away you can budget 10k. So, lets say a PL Club is getting a share of 50k - would cover 3 home and away, 100k would cover 6 home and away. Barely scratches the surface of a full season.

I loved the old days when you'd wait for Speedway Star with baited breath to see where all the top riders and some decent others were being allocated. In some ways very old fashioned but you could argue it's no different to the American "draft" system in other ways. I'm sure that some Clubs are already contacting riders to replace riders they think won't come back or can't come back. Hopefully Brummies are active as we have a couple to replace Johansson (although we have him covered I think) and he who is best not named, detained by her majesty I guess Eastbourne are on this occasion sitting pretty with an all British team?

My generation would view holding a knife to a pensioners as brutal and nasty . It's the act of a dangerous criminal and a coward.

As long as it is fair and equal for all. Fear is some Clubs get a head start and some are left floundering. May need some form of the old rider control.

Don't in any way condone the use of drugs, recreational or more serious. I don't think drug use should excuse Garrity though, he carried out a brutal nasty attack on vulnerable pensioners. That's not excused by drug taking or drug abuse. He is a violent criminal. We all know or have heard of riders through the decades, right up to the current day who have had issues with recreational drug taking, some have been found guilty of dealing. Many are / were well liked and respected, their drug issues understood and sympathised with, because aside from that they were decent. Why were they on the scale of "acceptability" - I'd suggest because at heart they were basically honest, young men with an issue, not a brutal thug like Garrity. A lot of very good people in Speedway have tried to help Garrity, right up to last season, they did all they could to give him a "final chance". He needs to rot for 7 years and hopefully learn and understand the errors of his ways.

most likely one of the Aussies who may either need to confirm a work permit is valid and/or who may have a good job back home. wonder what the cancellation of the 2021 Aussie Championships (a route for many to get work permit) might have for those who wanted a top podium finish in State Championships to get a work permit for 2021? hopefully they get sorted as enjoy my trips down M69 to Leicester

Somerset 2020 page 36 quote from Iron Scorpion...

Was reported when he went.

Anders has also had a lot of help from Ashley Holloway who is based in Poland and sorted a deal and specific equipment out. That's main reason he went over there. It's been a great experience and he's done very well but unfair to attack others for not taking the same route, when the route nor the necessary equipment was not open. We've seen how much Bewley has suffered with under-power equipment and how much more competitive he was over there on Tai's bikes. Hopefully Anders will show the benefits and Holloway will help other young British riders in the future.

We all have to hope for an April start if possible. If crowds are limited to reduced numbers I think some may have to sit out season or part of it. Most worried about teams like mine that rent stadiums.

Can't believe I'm reading people bleating on about "should have had it in Manchester" when Boris wants to close it down and Burnham wants a nationwide circuit break.

Think the point you are missing is that GB have a "Squad". A senior Squad and an Academy Squad. Adam Ellis and Charles Wright are in the senior Squad (with Tai / Lambert / Bewley (who is in both) but Worralls, Bomber and Lawson aren't. The Academy Squad includes likes of Kemp, Brennan, Palin, Gilkes;Flint;Edwards, Rowe; Bickley etc . So to bring in Bomber / Worralls / Lawson would have been same as Southgate calling a footballer in to his 22 man Squad and straight in to team. Kemp and Palin have been given U21 slots and Lambert, Bewley have main slots after Tai's injury

I think you are absolutely right Iain. Streaming - either at Track level or via Eurosport platform, will work best for Big One off Events. I can't see how an individual Club can make it really viable for League matches as an example with technology required and threat people will stay away and watch from their settee.

If a Stadium or Arena is subject to contamination the whole stadium would be closed. Hopefully the situation will be much improved by next Spring. Now to sort out Boris plan to turn Kent in to a lorry park.

Read the thread! It's about impact of Covid 19 on dog tracks who make thousands off betting levy running dogs with no crowd and how speedway could affect that if a speedway fan brings infection in.

Michael (Lee) and Kenny (Carter) were precocious raw world Class talents. I've often wondered why both, to various degrees fell by the way side and didn't maximise their talents. One thing that some British Promoters of the time (some still around too) should be held accountable for as much as the Riders was the obsession with Americans and Danes in particular. It's something that clearly annoyed Carter and did Michael no favours either although both their Club Promoters were far more loyal to UK Riders than some others. Can't be easy to be hated and vilified in your own Country by supporters of some clubs who regularly abused Carter and Lee for being British. Fans of Cradley Heath, Wolverhampton, Coventry and to a degree my Club Birmingham certainly in the West Midlands being amongst the worst culprits.

Can you send that to Boris and ask him to take the peerage off Putins right hand man in London, maybe Boris would like to pay back millions of bung money too. Far easier and more relevant targets than Speedway Riders who have done nothing wrong when corrupt UK politicians are up to their neck in dirty Russian money. Wonder if The Cabinet have Anlas tyres on their company limos??

I've paid for BV tonight and British Final on Saturday at a tenner and just under 13 quid. I expect near TV quality and multi camera and proper commentary for that price . I paid about £4 for a stream from Plymouth the other week, 2 cameras, perfectly watchable with commentary and interviews, a bit raw in places but worth every penny. It was as good as if not better than any DVD I have bought from various tracks in recent seasons. I think the long term lies somewhere in between the two to be affordable and viable. Possibly £5-6. I think this has to be done at Club level though as if BSPL and their usual media took it on any profit would go away from the Clubs, so what's the point of the clubs doing it.

Joe for Bickley strengthens the field surely based on recent form?

To add to my feedback, I've just had this email from The Ticketing Company and Plymouth Speedway, professional with a capital P. Light years away from the horrendous experience I'm still having with Paypal and the British Final Organisers I might add, that was before the announcement its now streaming only by the way. From Plymouth and their Ticket Agent this morning-: In the light of the news of further Covid 19 Restrictions announced by the Government on Tuesday 22nd September, most of which come in to place on Thursday 24th September, we will consult with The BSPL/SCB/Local Authority and the DCMS (Department of Culture Media and Sport) in the next 24-48 hours to seek official guidance as to whether we can stage any further Fixtures in 2020. We would like to thank all Riders, Officials; Supporters and Sponsors for their assistance in completing the match between the Gladiators and Young Lions last night and especially the BSPL / SCB / Local Authority and our local MP Gary Streeter for their assistance in interpreting the announcements made at 12.30pm on the day of the Event by the Prime Minister; to ensure that we could make an informed decision as to whether we were able to race last night or not. We will update everyone as soon as we have clear concise and accurate information about the possibility and legality of further planned Fixtures in 2020 taking place. Regards Plymouth Gladiators Speedway

Couldn't agree more Bob C. My first visit to Plymouth for a few years (last time NL with Brummies) and was very impressed. From the minute I walked in to hand over my e-ticket and be ticked off a list and given a nice free 8 page race Card everyone was friendly and courteous. Very well signed and stewards available but not in your face. I sat quite high up in the new Stand and the view was excellent. Lots of friendly locals and a few from visiting teams too. The Announcer i recognised as Rob Dyer and there was also a Centre Green announcer (I was told he is from "The Speedway Chat Show") an Australian guy who was superb, involving kids in guessing race times, handing out prizes, some in race commentary and a few rider and Promoter interviews too. There seemed to be a film crew there and one of the Officials who I believe was Ian Jordan explained they were filming a documentary for the Club. It just added to the feeling that this was a National League Club behaving like a Premier league Club. I'd remembered the track as dry and bumpy from my last visit and read a lot of adverse criticism last season. Last night it looked and rode smooth and a lovely dirt line later on delivered some stunning action. I've never seen Henry Atkins ride as well, Bowtell looked very assured and several of the Young Lions, especially the twins did very well. Brennan and Palin seemed very subdued on the night, may be exertions catching up with them. Not a tractor in sight all night; just a bit of watering near the end although there was a bit of drizzle and the first 12 heats in well under an hour. Some sidecars to finish too. I can't remember seeing a meeting there under lights before but they explained they are renewing all Track lights with LED and track was very well lit already. A local told me that they have added lights at back of the Stand for safety and supporter benefit since the last meeting too. I ended the night by having a fantastic Polish sausage roll at an open air BBQ, served by a Polish chap I got chatting to who told me Plymouth are very friendly towards his Community. The Referee howler was quite funny, didn't spoil the night or the result fortunately. My only disappointment was the realisation driving home listening to the Radio was that this may be the last live meeting with a Crowd in 2020. A shame because so much effort is being put in there. I'd love to go back and see the Brummies down there and hopefully this upwardly mobile Club can get the stage their efforts really do deserve. 10/10 Thank you everyone at Plymouth Speedway for restoring my faith.