Workington 2025

[mikebv]

13 hours ago, tyler42 said:

How has speedway been allowed to get into such a state? Riders in this day and age and I'm not talking big names here. Riders in the 2nd division and even the 3rd division turn up with kit that a GP rider would be happy to have. Paid mechanics, Big fancy vans. It's a fantasy world. You say we can't change back. Well if we don't address the elephant in the room. Speedway won't have long left as a professional sport.

Promotors have got big decisions to make this close season. Sticking their heads in the sand and thinking " Theres nothing wrong with product," will not wash anymore. We have come to a watershed moment. If nothing changes, then it won't survive.

1) Do they still carry on paying riders wages that far outweigh the amount of people who come through the gate. Clubs will have to cut there cloth accordingly. Meaning riders will have to be paid a realistic wage for what the sport is. If riders want to turn up with all the kit, no one is stopping them, but the clubs cannot afford to fund their fantasy and before anyone has a go. No rose tinted glasses, but pure facts. In the 80s Most riders worked. They got wages according to their standard. The Leagues were a lot bigger. The crowds were a lot bigger.

2) Do they take the sport by the horns, and make it one league. There are 16 clubs, god knows how many next year. but you can't run two divisions with such a small amount of clubs. " yes they have done, but look where it's taken us" 

3) The pricing has to reflect the quality of what you're paying for. Riders will have to make drastic changes. If there is to be one league, I would imagine the top riders would disappear. So the one league would be mainly made up of British riders. Clubs have to stop paying bang average foreign riders, flights and mechanics. People who say it will water it down. Well the standard can't get much lower at 2nd division level. This season most 2nd division clubs have filled their 6 and 7s with 3rd division riders. The top league is made up mostly of 2nd division riders. The standard has been getting lower every season for a while now. if that means a couple of more riders from the 3rd division replacing expensive foreign riders, then that will have to be a price the sport will need to pay to survive.

More importantly. two home and two away meetings would stop the silly practise of clubs not having home meetings for weeks on end.

The sport needs a reset and It has got to far out of hand and only a massive reset will save it. IMO

Since the GP riders effed off to Poland when the Sky money ended, this has been the only outcome...

However. Steadfastly, season after season,  it's been avoided by the promoters...

Even COVID saw zero change and it was a free hit to be radical..

Why?

No idea, the reality must have stared them in the face, yet they spent the best part of a decade fudging each week and pretending what they delivered had some relevance. (With the collusion of a compliant fanbase)...

When Speedway was successful, the top 3 or so in each team were fully professional, with good sponsorship off setting the cost to the clubs.. 

The other four members of each team usually had jobs but were happy to earn a weeks money worth from  their main job, each night, several times a week, by riding Speedway..

Now we have professional NDL riders....

And punters pay for this with ridiculous admission fees given the miniscule size of the sport, year on year..

Utterly effing crackers...

 

 

 

Edited June 29 by mikebv

[tyler42]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

Since the GP riders effed off to Poland when the Sky money ended, this has been the only outcome...

However. Steadfastly, season after season,  it's been voided by the promoters...

Even COVID saw zero change and it was a free hit to be radical..

Why?

No idea, the reality must have stared them in the face, yet they spent the best part of a decade fudging each week and pretending what they delivered had some relevance. (With the collusion of a compliant fanbase)...

When Speedway was successful, the top 3 or so in each team were fully professional, with good sponsorship off setting the cost to the clubs.. 

The other four members of each team usually had jobs but were happy to earn a weeks money worth from  their main job, each night, several times a week, by riding Speedway..

Now we have professional NDL riders....

And punters pay for this with ridiculous admission fees given the miniscule size of the sport, year on year..

Utterly effing crackers...

 

 

 

Well said👍

[szkocjasid]

2 hours ago, tyler42 said:

How has speedway been allowed to get into such a state? Riders in this day and age and I'm not talking big names here. Riders in the 2nd division and even the 3rd division turn up with kit that a GP rider would be happy to have. Paid mechanics, Big fancy vans. It's a fantasy world. You say we can't change back. Well if we don't address the elephant in the room. Speedway won't have long left as a professional sport.

Promotors have got big decisions to make this close season. Sticking their heads in the sand and thinking " Theres nothing wrong with product," will not wash anymore. We have come to a watershed moment. If nothing changes, then it won't survive.

1) Do they still carry on paying riders wages that far outweigh the amount of people who come through the gate. Clubs will have to cut there cloth accordingly. Meaning riders will have to be paid a realistic wage for what the sport is. If riders want to turn up with all the kit, no one is stopping them, but the clubs cannot afford to fund their fantasy and before anyone has a go. No rose tinted glasses, but pure facts. In the 80s Most riders worked. They got wages according to their standard. The Leagues were a lot bigger. The crowds were a lot bigger.

2) Do they take the sport by the horns, and make it one league. There are 16 clubs, god knows how many next year. but you can't run two divisions with such a small amount of clubs. " yes they have done, but look where it's taken us" 

3) The pricing has to reflect the quality of what you're paying for. Riders will have to make drastic changes. If there is to be one league, I would imagine the top riders would disappear. So the one league would be mainly made up of British riders. Clubs have to stop paying bang average foreign riders, flights and mechanics. People who say it will water it down. Well the standard can't get much lower at 2nd division level. This season most 2nd division clubs have filled their 6 and 7s with 3rd division riders. The top league is made up mostly of 2nd division riders. The standard has been getting lower every season for a while now. if that means a couple of more riders from the 3rd division replacing expensive foreign riders, then that will have to be a price the sport will need to pay to survive.

More importantly. two home and two away meetings would stop the silly practise of clubs not having home meetings for weeks on end.

The sport needs a reset and It has got to far out of hand and only a massive reset will save it. IMO

All brilliant points. The promoters should read this at the AGM.

[tweedcider]

On 6/27/2025 at 7:28 PM, mikebv said:

If it is a visa issue, then they could have no choice but to prevent riders from riding with immediate effect.

In the business I was in, we had to suspend anyone without the right to work immediately, or face a £28,000 fine per person..

And possible prison sentence for me!!!!😇 ....

I would have been like Big Vern...

"Ah'm doin' chokey for no man Ernie"

"BLAM! BLAM!"....

Viz 1988.

[tweedcider]

9 hours ago, screm said:

In their Berrington Lough days, Berwick had a double decker every Saturday night, it was virtually empty on virtually every occasion.

No, the Sun always shone, the bus was packed, there were massive queues at the turnstiles, and the Bar was incredibly busy.
 

We never had any rain offs, and the car raffle was fair….

 

[cinderfella]

On 6/27/2025 at 7:58 PM, IainB said:

Unless you're a deliveroo rider... hang on... I've just had a thought 🤔

 

That's about right -  you ever noticed they never have lights on their bikes and try to stay hidden?

[cinderfella]

On 6/27/2025 at 7:58 PM, IainB said:

Unless you're a deliveroo rider... hang on... I've just had a thought 🤔

 

That's about right -  you ever noticed they never have lights on their bikes and try to stay hidden?

[BuxtonTiger]

Workington v Berwick is listed for next Saturday, does anyone know if it is expected to happen?

[macky]

I have said this before but will repeat what I see as one of the main issues. I started going to speedway in 1967, Wimbledon v Swindon and would travel from Canterbury to Wimbledon and Hackney weekly. When Canterbury started I went to every home match and the majority of away matches. When Canterbury closed I would go to Coventry, Oxford,Eastbourne or Reading at least one meeting a week just to get my speedway fix.

When Lakeside moved up a league I went there every week also most of their away matches. (Didn't go before as I did not like a track with no fence)

This all finished when Poole started their win at all costs regardless of the harm it caused speedway. Sign GP riders and drop regular riders when they reached the play offs each year. The final straw came when they called off a meeting against Lakeside who they had lost against three weeks earlier because Chris Holder was injured. I had booked a day off work for this meeting upsetting my work mate who also wanted the day off. Then the farce at Belle Vue when they needed to win by six points, this they managed as the meeting was called off the moment they went six in front.

I stopped going to Speedway from that moment, not even going to Sittingbourne when they started.  Speedway is a brilliant sport when the teams are equal and riders only ride for one team apart from the juniors.

I suspect the answer is two leagues. Division one and up and comers league with these riders being able to ride as reserves or replacements in division one. NO guest riders in either league. Pay riders what the promotion can afford and if that means less foreign/GP riders so be it.

I would rather see a match with six or seven equal riders rather than one or two top riders winning every race.

 

 

 

[bellevueace]

12 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

This is imo the actual problem with British domestic speedway, the team concept only really exists in the name not in the practice and therefor the team fan can’t relate to their team and so has no emotional attachment and so doesn’t feel the need to support it, when riding I always felt different to other riders, I really brought into the team I rode for, when I rode for Berwick I felt like they were my fans and I was their rider, it felt like home and when I left I was genuinely upset and I still have good friends there today, i didnt live there but stayed with the Meldrums quite a lot and was often on the beach or in the town at weekends but I knew other riders didnt feel the same and were there for the money and it was the same at other teams, one conversation I always remember was with Barry Evans, I was at lakeside for a meeting and leaning over the fence before the meeting talking about the GP that week, and he said I don’t know why you watch the GPs or any speedway really on tv it’s boring I only do it cause I get paid to do it and I can remember thinking I wonder how the crowd would feel if they knew that ? Perhaps subconsciously they did feel it,As a fan I felt like the emotional attachment to teams ended around the mid 90s, there was always a surge of emotion around the play offs but in general it’s not like it used to be or should be for a team event, how do we get it back or can we get it back ? That’s the question 

I totally agree the team aspect has disappeared, i dont know if its because nowadays riders are team mates one night and opponents the next there does feel more familiarity in the pits than there used to be. That edge of real rivalry between teams doesnt exist today. Ive never forgot the scenes in the early 70,s during the heat 13 fracas against Leicester, that passion is nowhere to be found today. Riders were loyal to their clubs as you said it was their club, i could never imagine Wilkie, PC, Mort at another club similar Lee was always associated with Kings Lynn along with Betts, Louis and Sanders at Ipswich etc, but they wernt riding for 3 or 4 clubs every other night. I dont know if it makes a difference but riding against someone on a Monday and then with them as team mates on Tuesday there must be more familiarity. Just a thought you are better qualified to judge if this does have an effect. Teams also used to ride as teams good team riding was common place, nowadays in the main its gate and go and leave your team mate to it, team meetings are now individual with the odd rare exception.

[LisaColette]

13 minutes ago, bellevueace said:

I totally agree the team aspect has disappeared, i dont know if its because nowadays riders are team mates one night and opponents the next there does feel more familiarity in the pits than there used to be. That edge of real rivalry between teams doesnt exist today. Ive never forgot the scenes in the early 70,s during the heat 13 fracas against Leicester, that passion is nowhere to be found today. Riders were loyal to their clubs as you said it was their club, i could never imagine Wilkie, PC, Mort at another club similar Lee was always associated with Kings Lynn along with Betts, Louis and Sanders at Ipswich etc, but they wernt riding for 3 or 4 clubs every other night. I dont know if it makes a difference but riding against someone on a Monday and then with them as team mates on Tuesday there must be more familiarity. Just a thought you are better qualified to judge if this does have an effect. Teams also used to ride as teams good team riding was common place, nowadays in the main its gate and go and leave your team mate to it, team meetings are now individual with the odd rare exception.

I would say one of the main exceptions being Ben Cook. He was almost crying when he said goodbye to the Poole fans. He will team ride anyone home if they are there with him and will always look for them. Also I don't think he wanted to leave BV either. 

[Fromafar]

17 minutes ago, bellevueace said:

I totally agree the team aspect has disappeared, i dont know if its because nowadays riders are team mates one night and opponents the next there does feel more familiarity in the pits than there used to be. That edge of real rivalry between teams doesnt exist today. Ive never forgot the scenes in the early 70,s during the heat 13 fracas against Leicester, that passion is nowhere to be found today. Riders were loyal to their clubs as you said it was their club, i could never imagine Wilkie, PC, Mort at another club similar Lee was always associated with Kings Lynn along with Betts, Louis and Sanders at Ipswich etc, but they wernt riding for 3 or 4 clubs every other night. I dont know if it makes a difference but riding against someone on a Monday and then with them as team mates on Tuesday there must be more familiarity. Just a thought you are better qualified to judge if this does have an effect. Teams also used to ride as teams good team riding was common place, nowadays in the main its gate and go and leave your team mate to it, team meetings are now individual with the odd rare exception.

Speedway is just circus now in UK with the same riders putting on a show at different venues and different Clubs during the week.Half of them don’t know who is their Teammate is on the night at any given meeting.

[H20]

11 hours ago, tyler42 said:

How has speedway been allowed to get into such a state? Riders in this day and age and I'm not talking big names here. Riders in the 2nd division and even the 3rd division turn up with kit that a GP rider would be happy to have. Paid mechanics, Big fancy vans. It's a fantasy world. You say we can't change back. Well if we don't address the elephant in the room. Speedway won't have long left as a professional sport.

Promotors have got big decisions to make this close season. Sticking their heads in the sand and thinking " Theres nothing wrong with product," will not wash anymore. We have come to a watershed moment. If nothing changes, then it won't survive.

1) Do they still carry on paying riders wages that far outweigh the amount of people who come through the gate. Clubs will have to cut there cloth accordingly. Meaning riders will have to be paid a realistic wage for what the sport is. If riders want to turn up with all the kit, no one is stopping them, but the clubs cannot afford to fund their fantasy and before anyone has a go. No rose tinted glasses, but pure facts. In the 80s Most riders worked. They got wages according to their standard. The Leagues were a lot bigger. The crowds were a lot bigger.

2) Do they take the sport by the horns, and make it one league. There are 16 clubs, god knows how many next year. but you can't run two divisions with such a small amount of clubs. " yes they have done, but look where it's taken us" 

3) The pricing has to reflect the quality of what you're paying for. Riders will have to make drastic changes. If there is to be one league, I would imagine the top riders would disappear. So the one league would be mainly made up of British riders. Clubs have to stop paying bang average foreign riders, flights and mechanics. People who say it will water it down. Well the standard can't get much lower at 2nd division level. This season most 2nd division clubs have filled their 6 and 7s with 3rd division riders. The top league is made up mostly of 2nd division riders. The standard has been getting lower every season for a while now. if that means a couple of more riders from the 3rd division replacing expensive foreign riders, then that will have to be a price the sport will need to pay to survive.

More importantly. two home and two away meetings would stop the silly practise of clubs not having home meetings for weeks on end.

The sport needs a reset and It has got to far out of hand and only a massive reset will save it. IMO

Excellent post I touched on it previously about riders pay and I do not want to blame the riders one bit as we all would take whatever we can get from our job.

But speedway acting like it's the big professional sport is the problem here the sport simply can not afford to continue going forward paying out wages to riders without getting that finance in from supporters and sponsorship. Teams like Glasgow are fortunate to have wealthy owners i just wish there was more wealthy people throughout the sport.

Like I said reserves turning up with kit that costs an absolute fortune no wonder they demand a contract which covers that.

We all want the sport we love to continue but it's in its worst state ever currently you can see on tv the size of crowds everywhere and how some of the Premiership teams are running is a mystery with crowds like that.

Even Belle Vue that must be an expensive team two top GP riders and there crowds recently are not paying them bills.

 

[singy13]

So we've got lots of theories re the Workington problem - some good reading for sure.

Obviously the answer will appear in time - be it visa or money orientated we'll find out eventually.

But re cash flow one thing that struck me, as a bit scary, was the comment in the Comets first programme this season from Team Manager James Denham : I quote ....."We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports the Comets-sponsors and fans-but last year we did struggle with crowds and without the help of the sponsors we would not have been back this year". 

 Like I said to me it was perhaps a scary statement to make. I thought last years crowds seemed fine, but obviously I can't count lol.

[Fromafar]

4 minutes ago, singy13 said:

So we've got lots of theories re the Workington problem - some good reading for sure.

Obviously the answer will appear in time - be it visa or money orientated we'll find out eventually.

But re cash flow one thing that struck me, as a bit scary, was the comment in the Comets first programme this season from Team Manager James Denham : I quote ....."We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports the Comets-sponsors and fans-but last year we did struggle with crowds and without the help of the sponsors we would not have been back this year". 

 Like I said to me it was perhaps a scary statement to make. I thought last years crowds seemed fine, but obviously I can't count lol.

Depends on wages bill though.

[IainB]

17 hours ago, Christine Hawes said:

Oxford have stopped the coach this season - it's a 10 minute walk from Unipart and if you have mobility problems like me that's a no-go.

... and started charging for the privilege of parking I believe? That's poor!

[Normski]

1 hour ago, BuxtonTiger said:

Workington v Berwick is listed for next Saturday, does anyone know if it is expected to happen?

This fixture has been removed from Berwick website

[singy13]

20 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Speedway is just circus now in UK with the same riders putting on a show at different venues and different Clubs during the week.Half of them don’t know who is their Teammate is on the night at any given meeting.

Speedway has been a circus for far too long, especially via the guest system.

I have supported Comets since 1970. Big crowds happy days. I also follow the Workington Town RL team resident at Derwent Park. (did a couple of voluntary jobs too). And despite the Rugby getting rental and bar takings the RL Directors never really like their speedway lodgers. The main issue with speedway was the 'guest system'....for example "how on earth can Stoney be riding for Newcastle who are one of the main Comets challengers for the division title"?..."Surely he wont try"?.. well yes he will for the money. The Worky Town RL Chairman would then conclude "It's not a serious sport then"!!. Hard work trying to quantify speedway's quirks to the RL Directors for sure. Don't think I ever managed to.

And so many non speedway fans say/give similar verdicts....'it's a circus'.

[Youhave2minutes]

24 minutes ago, singy13 said:

So we've got lots of theories re the Workington problem - some good reading for sure.

Obviously the answer will appear in time - be it visa or money orientated we'll find out eventually.

But re cash flow one thing that struck me, as a bit scary, was the comment in the Comets first programme this season from Team Manager James Denham : I quote ....."We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports the Comets-sponsors and fans-but last year we did struggle with crowds and without the help of the sponsors we would not have been back this year". 

 Like I said to me it was perhaps a scary statement to make. I thought last years crowds seemed fine, but obviously I can't count lol.

Never should have changed tea bags from Pg to typhoo. This problem was always going to brew up.

[IainB]

19 hours ago, geoff100 said:

Dont think promotions screw the fans riders deserve every penny they can get but their has to be a cut off point,standard engines no big payouts to engine tuners do they really 4 helmets might be little things but costs need to match imcome !

When did having your name written on your wheel rim make anybody go faster? It all costs and it's totally absurd!