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Although it sounds easy just need to consider Speedway demographics, it’s not like just putting a channel number into your Sky or Virgin media box and also no option to record programming so watch it live or edited version on demand. Its been reported that Matchroom Sports who moved their Boxing over from Sky to DAZN recently are very disappointed with viewing figures for their fight camp Live boxing shows they have recently done with them being 75% down to 2020 when it was on Sky Sports this in turn has meant a couple of large sponsors have pulled the plug on advertising and will instead move to BT for future events. I would hazard a guess that if DAZN were to get Speedway’s GP series for the UK would be between 5-8k viewers if they are lucky .

The tender process for Speedway GP rights for the UK actually finishes tomorrow 1st September Eurosport events are quite happy to sell the rights to another broadcaster if the money is right if not then they will feature it on their own channels and Online player. The last I heard there was at least 3 interested parties but is complicated even more than normal as BT sport is being sold and if an existing broadcaster purchases then they may be bidding against themselves pushing the price up. The broadcaster Speedway fans need to be wary of is DAZN as they are bidding for lots of sports rights in the UK but is only an online channel.

This is going to be a difficult meeting for the Lions with Plymouth top 3 I would have been more confident if we would have had Nick Morris as he has been very impressive this season. The crucial thing will be how Ruml and Cook take to the Leicester track, If Dan Thompson and Zane Kennedy beat them that should be enough for Leicester

If it is a broken collarbone for Palin I would say that Panthers may look at making a signing, Unfortunately the two best 1* options Dan Gilkes and Dan Thompson are unlikely to want to join Peterborough as they would have to drop the NL with both their teams still in with a chance of winning the league

Tom is now based in the West Midlands now so straight up the M6 around 4.5 hours but for the money Glasgow offer more than worth it and possibly even a deal for 2022 added in as well .

The biggest failure the Eastbourne promotion made was offering too high money to some riders just to get them to ride for Eastbourne with some being paid Premiership heatleader money as one rider described it to me it was “Telephone number worthy what they offered some people to ride for them. They also offered to high guarantee to some lesser riders again to get them in their team. The promotors gambled on crowds returning and that Lee Kilby would be able to attract some lucrative corporate sponsors but they never materialised so right from the first meeting Eastbourne was not viable

I believe Oxford is already sorted with a new promoter to run league speedway once the site is all ready to open

The riders will still lose out significantly if this was to happen , Although I have heard one of the biggest issues they have had at Eastbourne was paying riders over the odds to get them to ride for them. It seems the promotion took a gamble on 2019 size crowds returning and that they could secure some lucrative commercial sponsorship but unfortunately neither materialised. I do hope that some people can come forward to save the club in the next few days so the club can finish the season.

My understanding is that Eastbourne owners have until Midnight Tuesday to pay the outstanding debts to the riders for wages and SCB for their fees ,otherwise the SCB & BSPL will terminate their license with riders getting paid at standard BSPL rates out of the bond that is held for each club. In the meantime as there is no guarantee that this demand can be met by the Eastbourne club all riders have been advised that they are free to speak to other clubs if they wish which as they have not been paid for so long and had numerous false promises they may well consider moving on a safer option.

If any Eastbourne riders leave and head to Glasgow I would put money on that being Tom Brennan heading up the M6

Unfortunately I do fear that could have been Eastbourne’s last meeting this season, With riders owed significant amounts and money that was promised tonight didn’t materialise. All the signs are there Eddy K not travelling ( Was obviously tipped off that the money was not going to be paid ) Kyle Newman pulls out with mystery injury, Richard Lawson refuses to do RR ride and then both Lawson & Kerr refuse to do heat 15 so only went with one rider. As expected Tom Brennan was very impressive and hopefully has a bright future ahead of him, I am sure if Eastbourne do close then a few clubs will be trying to fit him in with Glasgow the favourites if he don’t mind the drive up the M6 from his Midlands base I thought there was some good racing tonight but the crowd seemed a little down this week possibly due to Leicester City playing and not being an attractive fixture for neutrals which Leicester seem to pick up on nice Saturday nights

Really not sure why Eurosport have chosen not to broadcast a meeting tonight with so much choice of meetings, No Live sport on their channels tonight or live PL to go up against seems very strange decision to me. So we have the British final next week and then week after 23/08 they have choice of BV vs KL or Peterborough vs Wolves (But did televise A fixture)

So sad to read this sad news, Myself and Phil had a number of conversations in the past and he was a lovely guy. He always used to give a good input to this forum and will be greatly missed

The last I heard was that Eurosport events had invited tenders for UK coverage but with BT sport up for sale they are reluctant to bid on any rights at the minute until they know who are their new owners and which direction they want to go in. Some possibly bad news for Speedway fans is that new online broadcaster DAZN (Just taken Boxing away from Sky sports ) has indicated that Speedway may be a sport that fits their profile but that would be another payment required and is an online only channel. Eurosport events are in a good position really as if they cannot get the figures they want for UK coverage then it can go on their own Eurosport UK channel but I would expect some to just be on Eurosport player especially when Tennis is on and European & Olympic athletics as well

The Bates family have various other successful business ventures outside of Speedway and as the Lenny the Lion has indicated own & run both Sheffield and Leicester for their Love of the sport . This passion for Speedway goes right back to the early 80s when both Damian and Mark were mascots at Sheffield often going out on track before meeting along with dad Paul a sponsor to many riders over the years. The Bates family prefer to have very good promotors and key staff working for them with the likes of Stewart Dickson,Julie Reading,Peter Mole,Alan Jones and Karen Hudson key to the clubs operations. This means that the Bates family can operate their other businesses and not have to worry about all the administration and logistics of running a Speedway club. With regards to Iain B comments about outsourcing of merchandise and catering at Leicester that is not unusual at all, Even the mighty Leicester City and Tigers have outsourced their conference & banqueting so they can focus on the score product the sport . I personally think the variety of products offered by Jaybea to be good but do think the catering is lacking especially in the summer the bottom bar should be open after meetings so fans can socialise more if they wish

Doubt it would be Sundstrom due to Swedish league meetings that he has to ride in on Tuesday & Thursdays If reports are correct that Rohan Tungate has been released from his Polish contract and is joining a Premiership team soon maybe he will be doing two leagues in the UK although he may have to drop Swedish league but may consider worth it for extra meetings he would get for Kent

I have a feeling that if Batch can drop on to CL he will be going to Kent

I understand that Leicester & Glasgow tried to get Fraser Bowes into UK racing recently but it wasn’t an option due to work permit limits

Personally I would put Dan at 4 and put Douglas as 2 as that gives us a strong rider in heat 8 and also a good pairing of Andersen & Douglas It would also benefit Dan to ride with Kyle who may be able to assist him more while Hans gets fully dialled into the updated Leicester track

Hans meeting is still going ahead in Latvia (Polish 1st Division)

Hans will be at Leicester tonight he flew in from Germany this morning and is currently on his way to the track The fixture for his Polish club is a rearranged fixture and if missed Leicester could face a 28 day UK ban which would mean missing 14 meetings that’s a lot of money

I would imagine Lions will line up against Scunthorpe as 1.Hans 2.Dan 3.Morris 4.Douglas 5.Howarth 6.New Signing 7. Joe Eastbourne away next week may be different though

I wouldn’t say Hans signing has disregard for the club’s finances, Leicester have had good amounts of fans coming to watch the racing which always goes up during the summer when the football & Rugby are having their summer break it’s not unusual to have an extra 800 fans on a nice summer Saturday night. Leicester are also fortunate to have some very good sponsors who help support the club along with a strong supporters club with 50-50 draws nearly always being over the £350 mark meaning that riders don’t have to pay for tyres. Looking at the league table Leicester do still have some catching up to do to go above Glasgow and I can foresee Poole being strong challengers for the title as well. I understand that Hans was very keen to ride in the Championship but his options for clubs was quite limited by overseas commitments with Denmark on Wednesday & Friday and Polish league on Sunday so only left Saturday clubs as an option

I am unsure whether to come up for this meeting as the thought of watching Love Island with the wife & daughter fills me with dread. What is the weather situation looking like in Peterborough as do not want a wasted journey if can be helped so any updates would be most appreciated

The twins are involved with Team GB and Young Lions but with riding for a Saturday home track and having already had away matches at Scunthorpe,Berwick and Newcastle over weekends hence they have not been involved in any meetings on the continent. I think it’s fair to say that in their first season of professional racing they are doing well but are probably a bit behind the more experienced riders like Kemp,Flint and Rowe so when limited places are allocated in meetings then places go to these riders.