SJA

Has it - I thought they were separate, and distinct legal entities.

I would imagine it has nothing to do with being in a panic and everything to do with giving the broadcaster 24 hours notice as per their broadcast agreement.

So less than 10% of the population of the West Midlands (3,039,203) that cannot support a team. Even though Cricket and Football both have a footprint in Northampton it is basically a rugby town. I hope I'm proved wrong but I am fearful for the success at this venue. It will be one I attend as its an Uber away from a late night train back to London.

In the hundreds from each? As that is what I imagine Northampton would need from each of Coventry, Peterborough and Birmingham as their natural catchment area is not that highly populated.

1981 is a lifetime ago when we had limited entertainment options. That is not the case anymore. Speedway fans don't travel. I think I am one of the few exceptions, but I don't fit the average speedway fan demographic. When I have attended Birmingham, Oxford or Leicester during the last two seasons I have seen very few Wolves or Coventry fans. Looking around maybe Leicester does the best out of the three venues I mentioned with maybe 20ish a meeting. If speedway fans travelled then their would be greater support at away tracks rather than a hardcore 5-30 away fans at league meetings.

Which demonstrates that price is a red herring when people talk about what to do to attract more people to watch the sport live.

I like the concept of Northampton becoming a speedway track but looking at a map its hard to see where a "local" crowd will come from. I think its pie in the sky to expect Peterborough and Coventry fans to make an 80 mile round trip for home meetings. Depending on where a Peterborough fan lives Kings Lynn or Leicester could be closer. I hope Northampton does become an active speedway venue I just hope they have been realistic with a business plan.

I've also heard from a reliable source (Farmer Giles) that Doyle has got lost in Norfolk walking his dog this morning and may not be able to get to Belle Vue this evening even if he takes his RS6.

I think you can although based on previous years in the Prem and the Champ if its cold and wet you can discount Leicester. And if the play offs were at the start of August in all the sunshine they would have been unstoppable.

Looking at learning from the past mistakes I always find Lee Coleman's column in the Speedway Star thought provoking. He has lots of ideas, some of them would require a sustained long period of investment, which UK speedway is not in a position to deliver at the moment but other are almost cost free. If you implemented the cheaper ones then if crowds increased which attracted greater sponsorship then maybe the sport would be in a better position to commit to a long term investment strategy. We need someone with vision to help promote the sport and he would appear to make more sense that many of the so called experts.

Its interesting that with all the changes over the last three season with regards to who is which clubs rising star, some things do not change. Leicester still have the poorest rising star.

Oh come on most people accept that Olly Allen is the brains of the Team GB Management, with Stead providing the face and ego.

I have been told by a Premiership Clerk of Course that he often appears out of control during the meeting and is a nightmare to deal with.

I note you didn't say informed.

I can only see this as a Sheffield win and no doubt if it is it will be all down to the Manager, rather than his riders. In my opinion Sheffield have been a successful side for the last 4-5 seasons despite their Manager, rather than because of their Manager, who frankly at times appears clueless when interviewed.

I watched last night on LionsTV, excellent coverage as ever. But wished I made the effort to get to Leicester. These are the best two balanced teams in the league and it would make a great final. However Ipswich fans saying Leicester would win over two legs appear not to have noticed they picked up the bonus point and they are let to drop a BP this season.

I think Leicester can go it if they hold onto RR for the rest of the season. If Becker riders in Poland this weekend, then does not ride for Leicester on Monday and a medical certificate is not produce he is banned for 28 days and Leicester get a facility. This would cover the first week of the playoffs. Then its up for grabs if he makes a comeback for the final if Leicester were to be in it. Again if he with holds his services he get a 28 day ban that would run out before the end of the 2025 sseason so he can start 2026 afresh. I suspect every Leicester fan is hoping for a long hot dry end to the summer that covers all of September while the fans of the other play off teams will be doing a rain dance as whenever I see Leicester on a wet track they underperform.

The fitness needed to take (even) six riders in the vast expanse of a 370m+ track it a lot less than a much tighter British track, and lets face it Leicester's track is tight.

Did he ever? Or has the cliche ridden dross been a recent development?

So whoever does the Proboards updates blamed the lack of grip on the start line for Lynn's woes, as it played into the Lions hands (or should that be paws). Obviously this person has never been to Leicester in the last 5 seasons as they rip the start line before the meeting to produce what I feel is the grippiest start in British Speedway. This was the last meeting that I will attend at Kings Lynn this season as the last three times been there has been a delayed start for whatever reason which causes me to miss the end of the meeting as I need to be on the last train back to London at 21:42. I cannot think of another sport that is so amateurish as to have delayed starts. At times the sport does not help itself. Last week delayed for a big crowd, this week for additional track prep.

I thought Start Marshals were Licenced, unlike flag marshals. Although they don't have to attend the SCB training days. This is strange as arguably they have the most visible official for the fans during a meeting and they are the ones that are again arguably the volunteer most likely to he impacted by health and safety procedures.

If he remains injured then yes. If my understanding is correct there is no time limit on an rr facility for an injured rider. And I suspect Leicester would argue their is no suitable replacement. It also plays into the hands of Mr Dickson who I think is one of the more astute Team Managers. When they won the Championship double in 2019 he exploited running rr for the second half of the season with some match winning guest bookings away from home.

Gustafsson was only "so so good from the back" because he never made a start. Actually that unfair he made a start against Coventry and the crowd groaned.

Some questionable decisions from Mr Stead again last night with regards to rider selection, tac sub etc. Does he actually know the rules? Its not the first time his decisions have been questioned. Or is it a case of he doesn't want to make a decision without prior approval from the owners? In addition to this is appear when they win its down to him and if they loose its the riders underperforming. What is he doing to motivate them? He could benefit from reading some sports phycology books. At times I think Sheffield win trophy's despite Simon Stead.

It was at the NSS