1 valve Posted Friday at 11:51 AM Report Share Posted Friday at 11:51 AM (edited) 2 hours ago, IainB said: Business as usual then? And just plod along until the inevitable happens? Working around Poland and riders that prioritise test sessions and U24 matches ahead of the UK? No not at all. Change is required and that change has to be with both short term (i.e. what can be done now) and longer term (i.e where we want to finish up) objectives. To start with. 1. Do away with doubling up. We know this is in place so that the current number of promotions can field teams. Problem is, this undermines the credibility of the sport. So clearly less number of teams will be required. 2. Recognise that fixed race nights are for now a necessary evil. This may be expanded if and when the "super League" creates traction with media, fans and riders alike as something going in the right direction. 3. Currently there is the availability of credible riders to form eight/nine teams. Make this the number of full time professional clubs for the "Super League". Each of these teams to meet 2H&2A in a season. Two meetings per week 1H&1A Subject to weather etc. This should provide for a 16/18 week season. 4. The promotions of the "Super League" should meet strict criteria such as track availability and long term viability for starters. 5. Those promotions not in the Super League allowed to run NDL type meetings, semi pro at the most and or Individual meetings featuring riders from "Super League". Note, no alternative league should be run which purports to be close to the "Super League2 as a clear demarcation would be required. But, as I have said on many occasions, the biggest challenge facing the sport is in fact the promoters themselves, where a few (at least) continue to act first and foremost for themselves to the detriment of the good of the sport here in the UK. These folk have indeed at times kept the sport going and almost certainly believe the sport "owes them" something. So until they recognise that the sport owes them nothing (they've had their day) and begin to help rather than hinder the transition of the sport from what it is today to something more convincing and believable, we supporters are stuck with what we have - Business as usual. Edited Friday at 11:53 AM by 1 valve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted Friday at 12:24 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 12:24 PM 27 minutes ago, 1 valve said: No not at all. Change is required and that change has to be with both short term (i.e. what can be done now) and longer term (i.e where we want to finish up) objectives. To start with. 1. Do away with doubling up. We know this is in place so that the current number of promotions can field teams. Problem is, this undermines the credibility of the sport. So clearly less number of teams will be required. 2. Recognise that fixed race nights are for now a necessary evil. This may be expanded if and when the "super League" creates traction with media, fans and riders alike as something going in the right direction. 3. Currently there is the availability of credible riders to form eight/nine teams. Make this the number of full time professional clubs for the "Super League". Each of these teams to meet 2H&2A in a season. Two meetings per week 1H&1A Subject to weather etc. This should provide for a 16/18 week season. 4. The promotions of the "Super League" should meet strict criteria such as track availability and long term viability for starters. 5. Those promotions not in the Super League allowed to run NDL type meetings, semi pro at the most and or Individual meetings featuring riders from "Super League". Note, no alternative league should be run which purports to be close to the "Super League2 as a clear demarcation would be required. But, as I have said on many occasions, the biggest challenge facing the sport is in fact the promoters themselves, where a few (at least) continue to act first and foremost for themselves to the detriment of the good of the sport here in the UK. These folk have indeed at times kept the sport going and almost certainly believe the sport "owes them" something. So until they recognise that the sport owes them nothing (they've had their day) and begin to help rather than hinder the transition of the sport from what it is today to something more convincing and believable, we supporters are stuck with what we have - Business as usual. I agree with most of what you've posted above... with the exception of fixed race nights. It's only getting worse with Poland, Anders Rowe missing for Poole at Redcar tonight, which they Poland have no right to make him "be available", he's not even named in their team at the moment. Poland also tried to run on our KO Cup dates. It doesn't matter what format of Speedway you put out if the fans aren't available to attend, you only have to look at the PL crowds at a reasonably successful Leicester on a Thursday compared to their CL crowds on a Saturday. Belle Vue, reigning champs, woeful crowds on a Monday night. Lowly Plymouth, crowds up on a Saturday night. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted Friday at 02:05 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 02:05 PM 1 hour ago, IainB said: I agree with most of what you've posted above... with the exception of fixed race nights. It's only getting worse with Poland, Anders Rowe missing for Poole at Redcar tonight, which they Poland have no right to make him "be available", he's not even named in their team at the moment. Poland also tried to run on our KO Cup dates. It doesn't matter what format of Speedway you put out if the fans aren't available to attend, you only have to look at the PL crowds at a reasonably successful Leicester on a Thursday compared to their CL crowds on a Saturday. Belle Vue, reigning champs, woeful crowds on a Monday night. Lowly Plymouth, crowds up on a Saturday night. No problem agreeing that limited race nights are not ideal. However with Poland holding most of the cards (& best riders contracts) there’s no point at this moment in challenging/changing that particular situation as too many riders would be lost to the UK. But it could happen over time should UK begin to gain support from sponsors/tv/riders & fans alike. One of the issues effecting crowd levels is the situation where a team can go weeks without a home fixture thus failing to create traction with fans by having regular weekly meetings. This issue would be addressed by at least having a meeting once a week. and of course not everybody could race on Saturdays Change has got to start somewhere and evolution rather than revolution would be the preferred way forward and much better than the current stagnation. Plus the right promoters having the right reasons (& desire) to bring about the change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted Friday at 05:25 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 05:25 PM 3 hours ago, 1 valve said: No problem agreeing that limited race nights are not ideal. However with Poland holding most of the cards (& best riders contracts) there’s no point at this moment in challenging/changing that particular situation as too many riders would be lost to the UK. But it could happen over time should UK begin to gain support from sponsors/tv/riders & fans alike. One of the issues effecting crowd levels is the situation where a team can go weeks without a home fixture thus failing to create traction with fans by having regular weekly meetings. This issue would be addressed by at least having a meeting once a week. and of course not everybody could race on Saturdays Change has got to start somewhere and evolution rather than revolution would be the preferred way forward and much better than the current stagnation. Plus the right promoters having the right reasons (& desire) to bring about the change. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, it's probably all academic anyway as I suspect it'll very much be business as usual next season with another club forced up to be whipping boys all season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk127 Posted Friday at 07:39 PM Report Share Posted Friday at 07:39 PM Instead of speculation perhaps the authorities should canvas those riders who are prepared to commit to riding in the UK first and foremost and calculate how many riders are available to ride every week on a race night that suits a UK club, not Poland or any other European league fixture list. Reward those riders who are willing to make a go of it in the UK by guaranteeing x number of meetings based on the commitment to ride. On the basis of the foregoing, determine the make up of teams, be it five, six or seven riders per team. Then look at whether it works on one home and away or two home and away or a mix with 4TT plus league racing. Also have a Season long individual UK championship with rounds held at every track and a grand finale at say Bellevue one year then Glasgow the Poole etc, share it around. The idea is build for the future on what you know you have not the uncertainty that prevails today where it is a case of finger in the air and hope. True speedway followers will be happy with competitive racing week in week out, others who crave the worlds top riders will follow them through the many individual tournaments be it a GP or Euro championship or Poland where in the case of the latter money seems no object when it comes to enticing the top riders. Speedway UK cannot compete with any European racing partly because of Brexit but also it races on a night when riders can earn some pocket money here because no other league is daft enough to pick Monday as a race night and I suspect that most who ride in Poland etc do not keep the best equipment in the UK so you are probably not seeing the riders at their most competitive. Unfortunately all those on here who could make up a committee that could give some direction and work with the promoters to get the sport back to where it should be would be largely ignored yet they are the same people who week in week out put money into the clubs by crossing the threshold of the turnstiles and helping keep the sport going. A message to those in charge, engage with your punters. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Jacobs Posted yesterday at 03:25 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:25 PM On 7/25/2025 at 1:24 PM, IainB said: < SNIP > It doesn't matter what format of Speedway you put out if the fans aren't available to attend, you only have to look at the PL crowds at a reasonably successful Leicester on a Thursday compared to their CL crowds on a Saturday. Belle Vue, reigning champs, woeful crowds on a Monday night. Lowly Plymouth, crowds up on a Saturday night. Plymouth's crowds might be up on a Saturday night, but (i) by how much, and (2) actually, how many attend? Bet it's no more than a few hundred ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted yesterday at 03:27 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:27 PM 1 minute ago, Roger Jacobs said: Plymouth's crowds might be up on a Saturday night, but (i) by how much, and (2) actually, how many attend? Bet it's no more than a few hundred ... Maybe the difference between staying open and closing 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Jacobs Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:44 PM 15 minutes ago, IainB said: Maybe the difference between staying open and closing "Maybe" ... and it's the complete lack of transparency that is still so annoying. Crowds are up! From what to what? Silence ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishersGate Posted yesterday at 04:48 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 04:48 PM 1 hour ago, Roger Jacobs said: "Maybe" ... and it's the complete lack of transparency that is still so annoying. Crowds are up! From what to what? Silence ... Well let's put Plymouth on a Monday night then and see how they get on...I'm sure that will work for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaColette Posted 9 hours ago Report Share Posted 9 hours ago 18 hours ago, Roger Jacobs said: "Maybe" ... and it's the complete lack of transparency that is still so annoying. Crowds are up! From what to what? Silence ... You need to find one of the podcasts with Garry May on from a few weeks ago as he talks about it quite openly. It must be a decent increase as it stops them from getting top riders in as many unavailable on a Saturday which they are willing to sacrifice for a bigger crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.