PersonalResponsibility

It used to be a top 4 finish. If he finishes any worse than 3rd against that lot then he probably isn't worth the hype yet, though.

54°34'12.0"N 1°14'06.2"W

Almost everywhere we've been in Poland has had trains passing, or terminating at Łódź. Less than 2 hours on the train from Warsaw too. Ideally located.

No big surprises other than perhaps Łódź. Strange why Belle Vue has been given 2 again but c'est la vie, at least it's good racing. I think we'll be going to Landshut and/or Riga, a weekend of SWC and a GP is a cool idea. God knows what the state the track will be in by the final of the GP, but a fun weekend anyway! It's also good (in a selfish way) that Landshut, Prague and Warsaw all fall on UK bank holiday weekends. A nice little bonus.

You say that, but how could any charity not look favourably on speedway in its current plight? Surely they can take some pity on us? 😆

Yet we're always told that the primary reason clubs close down is due to external factors (e.g., development of stadium land), not lack of money or interest. This being the case, how do the majority of promoters manage losing massive amounts of money every year? There's exceptions to this, but most promoters come across as keeping fairly run of the mill businesses, so how can they afford such significant losses every season? I'm asking this sincerely btw. I know most of them are fans and see it as a labour of love, but there must be something that keeps them coming back year in, year out?

Bewley will be great to watch around Northampton*. *depending on where Northampton ride.

Completely agree with you. I followed my local club religiously from being a child to mid-20s, until I moved away with work. I'd never miss a home meeting and often get to 7/8 away meetings a season. We were often crap, and the racing wasn't great, but I'd never dream of missing it. About a year after I moved back, they shut down completely, and I think I'd been to 1 meeting in that year. I just couldn't muster the enthusiasm for it, which I regret now but alas. Fast forward to now, there are 2 regular tracks within an hour, and I still cannot get back to regularly attending. It's not a financial or logistical issue for me, more like there's always a reason not to go. I would still consider myself an absolute speedway nut, read about it on here, follow Polish speedway, etc., etc. However, the thought of going to stand for 2.5 hours amongst a sparse crowd, with crap entertainment, and often average racing is just not appealing at all. Maybe I'm just getting older, maybe the lack of a 'home' club doesn't help, but I'd have watched speedway 24/7 not long ago if I could, and now I think I'd close the curtains to most meetings if they were raced in the back garden. Whatever the answers are, someone has a very big job on their hands to implement them.

The right mindset, a professional approach, and a rich sponsor. Chris Louis is probably the best thing British speedway currently has, but let's not make out it would be as straightforward for every club. They'd all do it if it was.

I'm afraid all I can think about is this. Having the money for something ≠ affording that thing.

Shouldn't Ipswich have had this attitude when they spent 8 seasons (trying) to beat up second tier clubs because they couldn't hack the top flight?

The rules are a bit daft, but equally, they didn't need to use R/R at #2 and be forced into giving Fricke heat 8 every week. In any case, Fricke would likely have won any heat he rode in as a R/R. This is just a result of him being one of - if not the - best rider in the UK this year.

I remember him riding in that meeting, I think you knew then he was going to become top class. If a Russian kid can turn up at Rye House and win comfortably, it's impressive. It was great when he eventually came to the UK, he really seemed to embrace British speedway and for the most part gave it 100%. Always thought it was a shame he never rode in the GPs during most of his peak years - his first couple of seasons battling with Nicki were top entertainment.

If the Championship clubs are doing alright but the Premiership needs to continually drag teams up against their will, it feels like there's a lesson in there somewhere. Anyway, isn't it time that Dua Lipa stops thinking about her own marriage going well, and consider what would be best for me instead?

Let's make another series of Harry's Heroes. Get your Floppy Norris', Deano Barkers, Martin Dugards and a few more together, enter them into the Premiership racing out of Oxford. Job done.

You've posted more than one of these opinion pieces in the GP section and, while they're interesting, I've not seen anything to back them up. Yes, the Moto3 thing and the court case are real, but otherwise it seems to boil down to the fact you don't think it's possible to run a GP series with such commitments and that the GP calendar hasn't been announced. I'd say it's a reach to say the GPs will be reduced significantly in any way, and even more so that it would somehow benefit British speedway. I don't think riders have ever made fortunes from the GPs, that's what Poland is for, so taking an extra 20 meetings in the UK is hardly going to move the needle.

Maybe making hay while the sun shines until the new Polish rules come in in 2027?

I agree that it's unlikely (why would he start now after all?!). Jeppesen and Kildemand might not either, but they might not have a choice even if they wanted to, at this rate. It's a relief in some ways that Scunthorpe signed Pickering, I was starting believe there was a non-zero chance that BSPL saw 9 riders and 9 teams and just thought it would all work out perfectly.

Yeah but he's enjoyed every minute of it!

There were 9 riders above 8 last season. Scunthorpe have already signed one from outside of that 9, so at least one of them will miss out. Another needless rule. The points limit already does the job.

He might well be one of Wroclaw's juniors next season - at what point does he become ready for an away meeting at Berwick or Scunthorpe?

Sebastian Alden has returned to sign for Valsarna in Sweden - one last rodeo as a Bandit?

They're pushing for their own man - Piotr Szymański - to replace Armando Castagna as the head of world speedway at the FIM when the time comes next November. Who knows what the outcome would be if that were to happen...

This is the crux of the problem. Imagine being a speedway rider in this day an age asking for a job somewhere? "I can't work nights, most weekends, ideally not much during the summer either. Oh, and I might be off sick for a while if I crash and get injured" "When can you start?"

I've just been reading an obscure report/essay about speedway. It's mainly focused on the 20s/30s and the birth of speedway, but I couldn't help but think some things sounded strangely familiar. Still, at least we've learned from our mistakes.