British GP’s Belle Vue Fri/Sat 13th/14th June

[Dodger Blue]

For those of us in the East stand I think we can say a superb race meeting but a complete shambles of organising it.

[NickB]

Orgainisation was summed up ny staff at south stand entrance arrivung at 4.50, looking at turnstiles and asking each other, "are we using these"  (not worked for last 9 years) .  After much head scratching, it was decided that the gate was the only option, but no one had a key to unlock it......seems our friend from Poole wasn't the only one who didn't remember that there was a big event taking place.

I'm a Belle Vue fan through and through but organisation was simply an embarassment, feel for the volunteers and staff that had to take the flack

[R87]

21 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I would like to see the GP in the northwest somewhere, somewhere like Newcastle or in that area but it doesn’t really matter where it is as long as there is something for the travelling supporters to enjoy of which before or after the meeting last night there wasn’t, we all want great racing but the GP is a circus and when it comes to town it needs to be an event 

No it doesn't.  The only thing speedway fans are interested in is the racing.  Nobody cares about the build up, having meals or what museums are in the area.  Belle Vue is the only place in this country worth watching speedway in 2025.  The previous venue was a total embarrassment between 2001 and 2024.  End of story.

[SUPERACE]

23 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I would like to see the GP in the northwest somewhere, somewhere like Newcastle or in that area but it doesn’t really matter where it is as long as there is something for the travelling supporters to enjoy of which before or after the meeting last night there wasn’t, we all want great racing but the GP is a circus and when it comes to town it needs to be an event 

Sorry Dean your wrong here, this nonsense having something to enjoy before and after the meeting isn't going to get speedway back to the top, it's simply what you prefer, and it's a poor business plan.  Yes I'm certain that the off track experience can be improved at BV over time but why would you want the GP anywhere else after what we saw last night.  The experience last night beat every Cardiff by a mile.  Room for improvement in the hospitality for sure but that will come.  If you want to get pissed go to the pub Manchester as plenty of them. 

[Odds On]

1 minute ago, R87 said:

No it doesn't.  The only thing speedway fans are interested in is the racing.  Nobody cares about the build up, having meals or what museums are in the area.  Belle Vue is the only place in this country worth watching speedway in 2025.  The previous venue was a total embarrassment between 2001 and 2024.  End of story.

bang on the money with this post....get a track that's raceable and that will attract people, the other add ons regarding visiting local areas etc will be an added bonus...

[SUPERACE]

19 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Wasn’t referring to riders or ex riders, I’m talking about speedways lifelong freeloaders 

This I agree with you on Dean, a telling story, time to end this nonsense 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Just now, R87 said:

No it doesn't.  The only thing speedway fans are interested in is the racing.  Nobody cares about the build up, having meals or what museums are in the area.  Belle Vue is the only place in this country worth watching speedway in 2025.  The previous venue was a total embarrassment between 2001 and 2024.  End of story.

And it’s that short sightedness that is why last night we only got around 5000 to our premier event no matter how good the racing is, every other sport realises it’s a festival not an event, even Grasstrack abroad gets the festival idea, motorcycle gets it, car racing gets its but not you 

[Yearbyred]

Well I thoroughly enjoyed it even from the East stand but there were issues with people being sold non existent seats and the PA system was a joke. Catering and drinks were also very limited.

But we got in early with no queues for anything, had good seats and once the first few heats were over the racing was superb. We came out saying we would be going again next year.

Definitely things to improve but on the track it was spot on.

[Happy Hunter]

30 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I would like to see the GP in the northwest somewhere, somewhere like Newcastle or in that area but it doesn’t really matter where it is as long as there is something for the travelling supporters to enjoy of which before or after the meeting last night there wasn’t, we all want great racing but the GP is a circus and when it comes to town it needs to be an event 

I think you mean the northeast!

[SUPERACE]

19 minutes ago, NickB said:

And there was me thinking you actually knew something rather than relying on logic and optimism.....

He was right, there was extra outlets last night, unfortunately there still wasn't enough. 

[False dawn]

9 minutes ago, Odds On said:

cannot for the life of me understand people moaning about about last night's meeting....race track was good in fact very good, no gate and go, no sitting on the white line, a racers and fans dream of a track.

Gollob was the master of Bydgoszcz and was lauded by us all, it is very early days but Dan Bewley is certainly going the right way with Belle Vue, and there's hardly mention of heroics and bravery last night, yet there's some who try and find fault with just about anything. Embrace it and get behind it.

All that you say is true.
However, it can't be good that some fans did not get into the temporary stand until heat 5. This was despite a large reduction in the security checks being carried out at about 6:30.
And although I didn't try them myself, massive queues for food and drink doesn't please a lot of folks. Mark Lemon pulling pints is commendable but hardly a good advert for the behind the scenes organisation.

But what a speedway meeting? The racing was breathtaking in many races. I was there and I can't remember a meeting with so many close races. And given the uncertain weather forecast the track staff are to be applauded (Phil Morris did come over to track staff on the 3rd bend after the meeting and did appear to give his thanks).
It's hard to see how tonight's meeting can top that. But hey, I'll be glued to my TV (can't be there in person).

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Just now, Happy Hunter said:

I think you mean the northeast!

Yes sorry but either would do 

[Mr Blobby]

28 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

Sad to hear this! Everyone wanted to have the best evening out and stuff like this doesn’t help the fans to come back who aren’t die hard. Hope the racing made up for it for you though and you enjoyed it as much as you could! No body wants to see this fail, at the end of day whether you’re from a rival club of Belle Vue or not, this is to show how good British speedway tracks can be to the world.

On the back straight there was one tent selling drinks and another selling food and drinks that was it. That’s not enough to facilitate a full stand of people. 
 

I know there was plenty of issues regarding tickets in the seated areas again not effecting myself but it’s not a good look. 
 

Racing was tremendous and obviously that’s the highlight for me the rest of the stuff spoils it a little which hopefully in the future they can sort. 

[szkocjasid]

Still not a fan of the scoring system. Fricke finishes joint first, but because of a slower race time, drops to the LCQ, one bad race & finishes 9th! I'm pretty sure this is the first time in GP history, the top scorer has gone home with just 8 GP points (from a full meeting).

Why are race times all of a sudden so important to the FIM? Surely a race win, is a race win, regardless of how fast a rider goes?

Then there's the situation, riders in the first races normally set the best times. Also with so many crashes happening, for a safety point of view think the organisers should be trying to slow things down, not the opposite. Riders will always want to go faster, that can't be stopped, but does it have to be encouraged?

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

4 minutes ago, SUPERACE said:

Sorry Dean your wrong here, this nonsense having something to enjoy before and after the meeting isn't going to get speedway back to the top, it's simply what you prefer, and it's a poor business plan.  Yes I'm certain that the off track experience can be improved at BV over time but why would you want the GP anywhere else after what we saw last night.  The experience last night beat every Cardiff by a mile.  Room for improvement in the hospitality for sure but that will come.  If you want to get pissed go to the pub Manchester as plenty of them. 

If I’m wrong then any other motorsport is wrong, try looking past the end of you nose to see how other sports do their premier events and the crowds they attract, just for the record I am teetotal and have been for 30 years so the pub thing isn’t my thing 

[Odds On]

2 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

And it’s that short sightedness that is why last night we only got around 5000 to our premier event no matter how good the racing is, every other sport realises it’s a festival not an event, even Grasstrack abroad gets the festival idea, motorcycle gets it, car racing gets its but not you 

err we had Cardiff and look how that ended, it had all the razzamatazz that you so desperately think is the saviour of speedway,...you need a entertaining product to sell first of all, the rest will follow, come the end of the season last nights GP will be the highlight of the series...Cardiff has gone, get over it and get behind something that is actually a positive for GB speedway.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 minute ago, Odds On said:

err we had Cardiff and look how that ended, it had all the razzamatazz that you so desperately think is the saviour of speedway,...you need a entertaining product to sell first of all, the rest will follow, come the end of the season last nights GP will be the highlight of the series...Cardiff has gone, get over it and get behind something that is actually a positive for GB speedway.

Another short sighted post who can’t see the bigger picture and clearly doesn’t look past the speedway borders 

[SUPERACE]

Just now, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

If I’m wrong then any other motorsport is wrong, try looking past the end of you nose to see how other sports do their premier events and the crowds they attract, just for the record I am teetotal and have been for 30 years so the pub thing isn’t my thing 

Cardiff followed that trend but dropped from 50k to 19k so the numbers don't back up the theory.  Simply when the racing is poor people stop going.  Of course belle vue can learn from this year's event and look to improve off the track and when they do (apart from capacity) it smashes Cardiff to pieces. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Just now, SUPERACE said:

Cardiff followed that trend but dropped from 50k to 19k so the numbers don't back up the theory.  Simply when the racing is poor people stop going.  Of course belle vue can learn from this year's event and look to improve off the track and when they do (apart from capacity) it smashes Cardiff to pieces. 

And why did Cardiff attendance go up for first few yew years before dropping off ? I’ll give you a clue it’s nothing to do with the track or racing 

[SUPERACE]

Anyway on to today, the weather warning for the storm has been removed by the Met office, it's bone dry at the moment, some rain due early afternoon but currently non forecast from 4pm.