What about Northampton?

[flagrag]

5 hours ago, Spidvej said:

Problem is, and it's a big problem for not only Ipswich and / or Northampton, but British Speedway as a whole, especially at this extremely late stage, is that Richard Coleman does not have money at his disposal, he always uses other people's money. The guy wants to be Christian Horner, but is very much a "pound shop" version, playing with other's money.

A google search regarding the new owners / investors of the "Tech3" MotoGP team reveals the following:

Tech3 MotoGP Investors

Pierre Gasly and David Blitzer are part of a broader investor group acquiring Tech3 MotoGP, led by Günther Steiner and IKON Capital. Additional investors include Main Street Advisors (led by Paul Wachter), Bolt Ventures (David Blitzer's firm), SLAM/TRAIL (Gasly's group), and others such as ALK Capital, Penman Holdings’ Barry English, Tom Stafford, Charles de Carvalho, and Dolphin Capital’s Richard Cook.

Notice the absence of Richard Coleman as an investor? He may be the team principal, but he is basically "just" an employee as things stand.

David Blitzer holds stakes across major leagues as co-managing partner of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), owning the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) and New Jersey Devils (NHL).

He has minority ownership in the Cleveland Guardians (MLB, 25% with option for control), Washington Commanders (NFL), and previously Real Salt Lake/Utah Royals (MLS, sold majority in 2025 but retains stake).

Blitzer also owns stakes in international soccer clubs via Global Football Holdings, including Crystal Palace (Premier League), FC Augsburg (Bundesliga), Brøndby IF (Denmark), and others like Estoril Praia (Portugal) and ADO Den Haag (Netherlands); additional investments cover Joe Gibbs Racing (NASCAR) and more.

Tech3 MotoGP is based in Bormes-les-Mimosas, 65 miles from Marseille, in Provence in the south of France.

Also, In the Speedway Star magazine interview dated September 27, 2025, Coleman discussed his new role as FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) promoter from 2026, stating that the budget for the series would be cut compared to previous years, which we now know has cut prize money by around 25% - 30%, with racesuits also falling by the wayside in favour of a return to old style race jackets..

In the article, Coleman highlighted his involvement with the South of France-based Tech3 MotoGP team as Team Principal, noting he would attend some SGP events but not committing to all, amid Mayfield's growing Formula 1 engagements in addition to MotoGP with "Tech3"...

While Mayfield Sports Events are viewed by some as saviors for Ipswich Speedway, given the extensive commitments outlined above, how will Coleman manage to fit everything in? He wont - Coleman will rely on SGP hosting tracks and loyal Ipswich staff to operate SGP events and league racing, while prioritising MotoGP.

For example, the day after the two SGP events at Belle Vue, there is a round of MotoGP in Hungary, with MotoGP practice happening whilst the SGP is in full flow in Manchester. Wonder where Coleman will be that weekend, and other such clashing weekends?

The probable hold up to Mayfield's heavily rumoured takeover at Ipswich? A lack of investment, other's investment funds, as Coleman himself hasnt got the money. The sport will find out he is a Walter Mitty character, who spins a good yarn, but who has as much financial substance as Arthur Daley & Del Boy Trotter !

Unfortunately Mayfield don’t have a great record with Speedway organisational skills.

The GPs that they promoted operationally were a disaster with a number of important things that they forgot to arrange and in the end Discovery got them out of a mess by arranging the missing bits and bringing their operations team in.

Even on the day little things were not arranged like buffet and food for officials , sponsors not getting their pit walks and badge allocation with track marshals names not on lists for practice just for the event etc 

[ouch]

14 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

What is the deadline for Northampton (if it is actually Northampton) to declare ya or nay?  we are 11 days away from march, 27 days away from first meeting, the secrecy is beyond a joke, no premier fixture list, no statements to the paying public, speedway has committed some real shoot itself in the foot moments over the years but this is just another level 

It’s a joke. The only domestic fixture Belle Vue is allowed to promote is the PCMT. That’s on the 16th of March with tickets now on sale. As for when the idiots running the rest, well your guess is as good as mine but patience is wearing thin on both sides of the fence at the NSS. 

[ouch]

6 hours ago, Phannan said:

A sport that is only going one way due to the ones that lay the rules and certain clubs that dictate when and what league they will only race in and are allowed to . But that’s another story. 

That’s the problem we at Belle Vue have had for decades, knowing who will be in our league. Any of our current or past competitors can just decide on a whim that they are dropping out. It’s a nightmare and very amateurish. 

[hasta la vista]

Mayfield are nothing to do with Northampton so no need to mention them in this thread.

 

[IainB]

15 minutes ago, hasta la vista said:

Mayfield are nothing to do with Northampton so no need to mention them in this thread.

 

You just did...

[mikebv]

41 minutes ago, hasta la vista said:

Mayfield are nothing to do with Northampton so no need to mention them in this thread.

 

Who are the Northampton promoters?

Is it a competition that they are running?

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by mikebv

[SteveArena]

Phil Morris has been very quiet. He should do an interview on a speedway podcast to let everyone know what is going on.

Communication has been poor.  He used to come on here and answer questions but has done a bunk.

[mikebv]

I am sure the UK Speedway Marketing Director, and the young team of innovators and influencers who work for him/her, are working on the launch even whilst we discuss it...

[Haza]

Can imagine potential sponsors at Northampton has long time lost interest similar with other clubs to a lesser extent cant even tell a potential sponsor how many teams are in the league this close to the start of the new season in all honesty who would be the slightest bit interested in sponsoring a club ?

[tom]

Removed this post for reasons of tact.

Edited 51 minutes ago by tom
Tact

[Neila]

1 hour ago, Haza said:

Can imagine potential sponsors at Northampton has long time lost interest similar with other clubs to a lesser extent cant even tell a potential sponsor how many teams are in the league this close to the start of the new season in all honesty who would be the slightest bit interested in sponsoring a club ?

And the longer it goes on, many potential sponsors may lose interest in putting money into a local track, as the sponsor will have to include the money in a potential business plan and organise to bring contacts for a day out at their chosen fixture