HGould

I've read a few articles on the websites of a few of those Clubs we all know are a bit more progressive like Ipswich; Glasgow; Redcar; Eastbourne; IOW; where the Owners / Promoters (Facenna Brothers particularly transparent on this) have explained how the situation has affected them and what they have done/ will do. It seems a common thread from those that this could not have come at a worse time as they have forked out a lot of money already in preparation for the season. I wish Brummies would explain a bit more and now may be the best time for every Club to actually reach out to fans and explain a bit more and to offer help if they can although the lockdown announced last night may at least for the time being stop stadiums being used as an example for community usage. Stay in and stay safe everyone.

Excellent from Eastbourne too, like Redcar very informative and well done. These 2 pieces are a guide to Promotion of the Sport that all the rest should be following-: Redcar -: http://www.redcar-speedway.com/2020/03/17/redcar-speedway-statement/ Eastbourne -: https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/eagles-qa-with-ian-jordan-2/ From Brummies and too many others sadly http://www.birmingham-speedway.com/ very little!

Excellent from Redcar, very much one of the more go-ahead Promotions. Well Done.

The sport will survive and if it comes back with more realistic people in charge it may prove a blessing. I don't see many Promoters or leaders anywhere in the sport though and that's the biggest concern. Needs bright new and independent thinking. Off the top of my head. Pretty short short list - Rob Painter and Ian Sinderson

Rumour is immediate lockdown and review again in April - whether that is early, middle or late not sure. Problem is, situation going to be much worse in April, May and June so when will it be oK to start again April 2021 might be about the best guess right now.

Too many read a headline and not the detail behind it. Hancock HAS said it is a measure that will be bought in. He has also said...it WILL be bought in if and when required at a time when it will have most impact. Politics (nothing to do with Party Politics) prepare people for the worst case scenario. In so doing you look good when you don't have to use that scenario but can also say you have a contingency in place. Also some over 70's and 80's will no doubt voluntarily listen to it now, they may not isolate but what they may do is go out once a week instead of 4 or 5 times. It suits the doom mongers to spread doom. Sells papers, empties shelves. The reality is somewhere in between.

They may do that but not this week, next week but at near peak POSSIBLY it's a contingency measure. Government are preparing and filtering out a "worst case scenario" so that when it doesn't happen they can say (a) we handled this better than expected (b) we had contingency in place. Why are people so gullible! As for isolating over 70's, are they going to arrest any over 70 who is seen out and about... good assessment when you read it without prejudice and blind panic some seem to have fallen for.

I'm not sure that a Badminton Event and Non League soccer are either well publicised or major Events. Mr Power may like to offer his services to a Speedway Promoter to do as you say, put an Event on and seek to attract the bored and those who think that this issue has been blown out of all proportion and who have a contrary "stuff em" old fashioned British spirit that won't be told what to do but to make his own judgement and decisions. I take your point though and time will tell us what the long term future for speedway is, if there is one.

If there is going to be any speedway for the next few months (fear is it could be 3-4 months) and when it resumes, riders like Worrall (and I don't pick on him as there are many similar) may have to accept that their deals will have to be rewritten any way. Promoters will have budgeted for 16-20 home matches in the season at least and may be left with 10 -12 if they are lucky. If there is a 3 month shutdown millions wont be earning anything like money they are used to. Speedway will be well down the pecking order. £100 a point may have to become £50 a point Clubs can't pay what they don't have but something is better than nothing. Crisis time I'm afraid for Riders, Promoters and the Sport. This time next year they may have killed off the NDL at a time when lots of Clubs will be clamouring to join it!

what evidence?? Non League soccer that did take place attendances up Badminton in Birmingham attendances up Cheltenham Festival 250,000 attended over 4 days only small drop on record year last year according to The Times. As discussed elsewhere, Club like Brummies, like many will have have rental agreement, will have had to pay BSPA/SCB fees, probably have had to pay some riders small sign on fees, certainly Bomber would want one; have to ensure track ready and passed Track Safety inspection. In case of Brummies I know some work has been done to Pits and also some of the temporary stands on first bend. How much do you think Brummies will have to fork out over 6 weeks if 6 week delay to season? Will Sponsors pay as promised? Spend by end of April probably in region of £15-20k. No income, may be a bit of merchandise can be sold. Riders clamouring for help as they can't earn. Not a pretty picture is it?

Not going to do them much good going home...even if they can get a flight as Australia will insist on quarantine / isolation for 14 days from midnight tonight so if they are going home to earn money forget it. With contracts here signed and cost of flights, better to stay here and see what situation is like in 3-4 weeks time. An aircraft cabin for 24 hours is just about the worst place to be right now!

Fair point but you can't close down all speedway because of foreign riders travel issues. The BSPA has the option of dispensation (Guests) for any rider genuinely unable to travel and if those were mainly Britsih riders, giving them earning opportunity that has to be a win situation. If the Government guidelines make speedway feasible they why stop racing unless you have to? If foreigners won't come or go home scared, different matter but where can you go that's not scary right now other than China??

Ulrich posted last night to say won't be coming to UK for now as Denmark has suspended flights.

Front page of The Times this morning again suggests that any limit on Sporting Events may not stopSpeedway. They think crowd limit could be as high as several thousand as the main reason to stop some Events is not the risk of infection but to stop those that need big policing. What BSPA will have to decide is whether there are enough riders in UK to cover their teams and what Guest/Replacement options may be for riders quarantined and unable to leave other Countries. If Poland and Sweden close and riders like Doyle are resident in UK seems obvious they will sit tight and ride here and risk getting stuck in Poland. Do BSPA go for blanket ban ??

Don't understand the panic and pessimism on here. Leave it to the EXPERTS who seem to believe that large or small outdoor crowds are not an issue and that for the time being events can go ahead. IF a Speedway rider gets the virus, no doubt his Club(s) should have a different view as Arsenal have had with their manager. Its up to the individual to decide, I'm going to Birmingham if it's on and will take the risk. What's the point of closing schools??. Keep the little blighters together in groups of their own age range and self isolate if any get symptoms. Why, because if schools are closed the little blighters are far more likely to be running about surrounded by older folk like me who they are far more likely to infect in Sainsburys between 9 and 5 if they are unleashed. Once you impose a ban on sport, how long does it last, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks..I think if you ban speedway until July/August, then you will kill half the clubs as people will find something else to do and won't return for a meaningless 1/2 season. If it has to close, it has to close, but panic never won any argument.

So who from a very small available list would you have signed???

Agree about NZ Have not been to UAE not really interested in sand and camels

Not politically motivated at all. I think Boris has got it spot on and Trump dead wrong. Nothing to do with politics

Typical over-reaction from Trump, turns it in to a racist motivated rant aimed at Europe / China etc. If the virus is in US it's in US and it will spread. Customs Officials there are the most pig ignorant anywhere in the world, they cant get any worse. Stuff them!

Agree. Swedish Fixtures moved, that's his homeland and main income stream, no brainer. Unfortunate for us and happened at a time with very little options available, especially when we don't have access to a work permit. I remember seeing Grobhauer at Somerset, he looked OK and he seems to have become homesick and left at a time when he was starting to show some form. Lets get behind the lad, it is still a very solid 1-7.

I'm no fan of Boris but think he got this perfectly right so far. Many are banning "mass gatherings" as political decisions made by Government because they think they know best! In UK we seem to be basing on decisions of Health professionals. Their current opinion is that the virus passes and transfers less well in fresh air and that there is less risk in a big crowd (up to 70,000 has been quoted) than in a small confined indoor place with 10 people. Who is right and who is wrong, a Health professional or a professional politician. (time will tell). i think Boris's judgement is that while less than a 100 people a day are being confirmed to have it and deaths are exclusively so far with elderly people with a pre-condition that public mood is to carry on. The outcry from soccer fans in particular with the statistical numbers as they are and the infection / death rate would be a huge groundswell of anger. Who is right and who is wrong we wont know for months, may be years. I think there are more specific issues for Speedway to consider rather than a blanket ban, such as rider travel and age dynamic of supporter base. Ultimately if Birmingham are allowed to race I will make the judgement on a week to week basis, risk of going v reward of entertainment. At the moment I see no reason not to go and hopefully for as long as possible every individual will be able to make that judgement for themselves. IF we got to Italian situation may be different. Seems China and Korea have managed to reduce spread markedly. I do wonder if we'd have been as bad as we are if hadn't been half term and a lot of tourism to Italy as most of the confirmed UK cases seem linked to trips there and contact with visitors there.

Brummies website is one of those awful dated off the shelf AP ones. Desperately needs a refresh as does the social media. A lot/most Clubs far better than us at it.

might not be the smartest move in hindsight! looks like they might have to self incubate for 14 days when they get back?

According to some Facebook posts it would seem that Paco is in the UK preparing for the season and has been here for a few days at least. Who knows what is going to happen by the start of the season, whenever that may be regarding rider movements .

That would explain why he couldn't sign for Brummies then as I believe Brummies current Promoters don't have a Work Permit in place to offer