PersonalResponsibility

I'll have you know Harry Redknapp is a huge speedway fan, and has been since he saw Bartosz Zmarzlik score his first century at Poole. Told me so himself.

Oh dear, so that rules him out of the...*checks notes* Premiership PO final. The guy has explicitly told everyone his season is over and they've responded by banning him for 28 days. Shambles.

Personally, I don't see the point of them. I'm not bothered about the points they can add or anything, I just don't really think they add anything in the current format. We went to the one in Wroclaw and it was just 30mins of a pair of riders going around followed by one race. Aside from a quick flash of the times now and again, there was no build up towards anything. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't rush back. Also, does qualifying really matter in speedway? I know some tracks will have their gate bias, but it's not like you're starting 15m behind, you're still getting 5 rides the same as everyone else.

Is Przyjemski likely to finally return to Bydgoszcz if they don't get promoted?

I totally agree with the general point you're making, and there are far too many who think a Championship team place or higher = made it, but having said that, what jobs are we expecting riders to get? The world is a very different place to 30 years ago, it's hard for young people to get any job now, let alone one that'll be flexible enough to let them fulfill a full speedway calendar. The clubs do need to take a stance and call the riders' bluff to some extent, and make them realise it's either take it or don't ride speedway. The tail cannot wag the dog. However, it's very difficult to see how that would actually work in the current climate. I wish I had the answers.

His brother has had his moments but always seems a decent enough bloke tbf. Agree with you re. Jack though.

I reckon you could copy and paste this for virtually every Kubera meeting.

It's early days but it's been a good start for Bydgoszcz. As good as they all are, I'm not sure a top 3 of Thomsen/Vaculik/Lebedevs is completely infallible. Interesting times ahead.

Can't wait to watch Pawelczak over the next few years. Some talent for his age.

They ride together at Poznan. I'm surprised Smektala is 27yo, I remember him being a highly rated youngster at a similar time to Kubera.

In all honesty, we should be thankful it's Poland who's calling the shots. What did we actually manage in the late 90s/00s when GB was in control? Everything Poland has now should've been GB, with the Sky deal, the top riders, the money, etc., etc. We ended up with green helmet covers, pissing money up the wall on one rider, and zero investment in fundamental parts of the sport.

I think you could scrap the playoffs, the KO Cup, the Premier Trophy (or whatever it is now) and you'd still have fixture congestion - it's the one thing speedway does best! We'll agree to disagree on the playoffs. Enjoy your speedway 👌

Absolutely mental. Let's be honest here, Bowes is a bang average speedway rider, it absolutely beggars belief that he'd behave like that. I think it's symptomatic of Poland finding every youngster that shows any kind of talent and giving them a team place. Some of these young kids think they've made it and are above the UK. I can see the changes to the Polish U24 league in '26 being a big reality check for a few of them.

You just knew it'd all build up towards another 'amazing' Harris performance in heat 15.

He needs to be careful. I can't imagine he'll be flooded with offers in Poland in a couple of years when he's no longer an U24.

I don't think I've ever seen a ref "accidentally" press the red button. Thankfully, Edinburgh didn't come out of it any worse off, but that's a very serious mistake...

I'm well aware of your stance on playoffs, and while I disagree, you're entitled to that. I don't quite see how teams had "no choice" whether to sign up, it's quite a straightforward choice in my mind: do or don't. Using that same logic, you can argue it's immoral that teams have to enter PL football knowing that there are no playoffs. Let's also remember, if the clubs didn't want playoffs so badly, they can all vote against them at the AGM. Thankfully they don't, playoffs are brilliant. One of the best things to happen to speedway in years and years.

https://ekstraliga.pl/en/se/world-cup-in-warsaw It's been on here since 16/01/25.

Sheffield lost the league championship the moment they didn't score enough points at Leicester on Monday. End of story. integrity /ɪnˈtɛɡrɪti/ noun - 1.the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Seven Premiership teams signed up to ride this season, each of them knowing that a play-off would decide the league winner. It wouldn't seem very "honest" or "moral" to me that Sheffield be crowned champions despite losing in the play-offs. In fact, I'd say that's...the opposite.

Poland already seeded leaves the other final spot between GB/Australia/Denmark, realistically. I wonder what odds you'd get on the 'draw' for the SWC semis splitting up whichever two sides get there? Hard to see anything else than a GB/Australia/Denmark/Poland final already. I'm sure it makes sense from a financial perspective, less so from a sporting one.

It shouldn't be pitched at having to choose between 1 team or 2, it should be pitched as sign the contract at what we're willing to pay or don't. I know the world has moved on since the 80s/90s, and there aren't many jobs now who'll bend over backwards to accomodate speedway riders, but their bluff has to be called at some point. If clubs want one league, and clubs can only afford X amount, that is what the riders will have to do. Of course, I'm sure some will say "stuff it", but how many realistically will? They'll still be reasonably paid for what is, let's be honest, a better 'job' than most.

Which would be great news, but why did they mention the "growing speculation" about the leagues merging in their statement? Strange thing for an official statement to mention IMO.

OMG, I bet they're bringing green helmets back.

Piotr Pawlicki should be in with that logic, he's a better rider than Przyjemski. If WP is good enough he'll get there. Cierniak was essentially in the same position when he won the U21s and hasn't kicked on, the GPs are so tough for young riders IMO.

Hopefully the tension and pressure make it a good final, but as a neutral it makes no difference. The racing at Ipswich and Sheffield is equally boring. It'll be the case every year unless BV continually get to the final. At least Ipswich have more entertaining riders than Sheffield.