Glen

I liked speedway in the past when riders would go from reserve to heat leader in a season. Unpredictable was part of the sport then sadly it’s all too predictable now.

Interesting who are the riders signed ?

I was watching an episode of ‘World at war’ and up popped Lord Shawcross - he spoke about how the allies were going to deal with Germany at the end of the war. I guess his historic involvement as an independent arbitrator in bringing together the National and Provincial leagues to form the British league in 1965 must have been like a walk in the park!

Does the 2 league rule apply in 2027 if you ride in Poland? If so how will UK compete if Sweden and Denmark attract the best riders,

I’ve said it before that had your club and others said ‘we are not going to sign Crump Adams Pederson etc’ but invest in U.K. riders for the future of the sport’ there would have been an almighty outcry. That’s where alot of the Sky money went. The sad thing is that the majority of clubs had little to invest in and just wanted to keep it all going till so and so promoter had filled their boots and moved on.

Looking like the averages game will get the better of a few riders - no wonder the sport is in decline!

And ultimately Poland!

Read that the Polish league has just negotiated a new tv deal where all clubs will enjoy a share of something like $20 million US dollars per year!

Maybe one league in 2027 with foreign riders in the minority and becoming extinct!

You are judging these riders by their current reputation in a pretty tough Championship league. Might the meeting be entertaining as purely racing spectacle - isn’t that why people go?

Goes to show how Football has taken the lion share of people (and cash) attending live sport. It had the fan base, stadiums and investment to change the way people watch - seats. No longer perceived as a game watched by yobs and old men - families could attend in safety. Almost the reverse of what speedway was - a sport for the whole family - never any trouble even when 5,000 plus were at meetings. I can’t remember seeing a policeman either. Speedway as we used to know it hasn’t a hope to compete now - or ever could sadly.

I agree and we can look back with hindsight and say that it wasn’t a long term investment. I had 2 Elite tracks within an hours drive but chose to go to Rye House as I admired Len Silver and what he was trying to do for British speedway. Running 2 teams with investment in the juniors - I don’t recall many others doing that but then Len had other businesses to fall back on. I did venture to Lakeside a few times and can honestly say there was little difference in the racing - maybe Jason Crump winning every race by the length of the straight comes to mind.

I’m sure if Kurtz was being paid the same he wouldn’t worry about the standard - he might even enjoy it like Ivan Mauger did years ago.

Nope couldn’t do both so as riders were the product that’s where the money went in the main.

They paid them to come to the UK with wages that competed with Poland and Sweden.