What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[arnieg]

14 minutes ago, Wolfie456 said:

Both Ipswich and Leicester have 2 over 8.00.So would Sheffield if Tai returns.

Wouldn't Tai get 8% discount taking him to 7.97?

[Witches1998]

2 minutes ago, arnieg said:

Wouldn't Tai get 8% discount taking him to 7.97?

Why would Tai get 8%? Usual brit reduction is 2.5%?

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

34 minutes ago, arnieg said:

Wouldn't Tai get 8% discount taking him to 7.97?

Why?

[Aries]

1 hour ago, Wolfie456 said:

Both Ipswich and Leicester have 2 over 8.00.So would Sheffield if Tai returns.

Ah missed Leicester you’re correct. Maybe we’ll see it in the top division too then. We’ll see. 

[arnieg]

4 hours ago, Witches1998 said:

Why would Tai get 8%? Usual brit reduction is 2.5%?

Standard reduction for rider missing a complete season due to injury

[Youhave2minutes]

What will 2026 UK speedway bring?
 

A lot of cancellations due to bad weather.

[Witches1998]

1 hour ago, arnieg said:

Standard reduction for rider missing a complete season due to injury

010.2.3 Amended MA’s
With the approval of the BSP LTD GC or Directors for: -
b) riders who have been absent for more than 1 full season due to 
a speedway injury

 

So this is the relevant bit from the rulebook. Doesn't specifically state its an 8% reduction, just that it can be amended? 

[arnieg]

42 minutes ago, Witches1998 said:

010.2.3 Amended MA’s
With the approval of the BSP LTD GC or Directors for: -
b) riders who have been absent for more than 1 full season due to 
a speedway injury

 

So this is the relevant bit from the rulebook. Doesn't specifically state its an 8% reduction, just that it can be amended? 

But 8% is the long standing practice

[old bob at herne bay]

Struggling to find a date and a venue for the Speedway promoters AGM. 

promoter availability is the problem allegedly , with many of them already doubling up and or taking part in overseas commitments.  

Guests have been discussed but guests of a suitable standard can be found, and "promoter replacement" is thought to severely weaken the team and will not be considered. 

Likely that they will all be asked to buy a tablet and use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to meet online.  

[Aries]

The Rowe Motor Oil Premiership and the Cab Ditect Championship are to operate as separate entities. The activists have come to preliminary agreements and at AGM we are to know the final version of the order in the UK for the 2026 season.

With each club on British soil that was declining, fans began to wonder about the meaning of the two leagues. The departure of the Birmingham Brummies and Oxford Spires means that next season the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership will not be able to gather more than five teams. Of course, sudden changes in the plans of the promoters and the persuasion of some centers must be taken into account, but the league seems closed. Driving in such a small group is no fight, especially for many clubs in the Cab Direct Championship. There, however, the situation is very different, and most resorts cannot afford to ride in the Premiership. Especially when their current teams rely mainly on players who compete in both leagues. However, the plan to combine the games goes into the background.

It will not be without changes

If nothing extraordinary happens, the British speedway will remain in the current stage of play. The 2026 season will be played on three levels and, above all, there will be changes in building the squad. Activists work on the transfer market to stay back and build a team worthy of fighting for the championship. We know that the Ipswich Witches, Leicester Lions, Sheffield Tigers, Belle Vue Aces and King's Lynn Stars will remain in the Premiership. Sheffield Tigers are primarily waiting for a new owner, and without it the club will not move next year. The league seems to be cut and even a double basic phase will be of no use. Certainly, the KSM limit is to be changed so that the players can spread out throughout the league. Most likely there will be another reduction, so that the duo of Belle Vue Aces Daniel Bewley and Brady Kurtz may be separated.

The Cab Direct Championship does not promise to be many changes, possibly in terms of a greater bet on young Britons. The Mildenhall resort, which is set as the favorite to return to the Championship step, is about to determine its future.

Upcoming limits

However, there is no denying that the British speedway is facing further regulatory problems. According to the regulations described in the Club Membership Regulations, from the 2027 season, players competing in Poland will be able to choose one foreign league. The question remains, what will the current stars of the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership choose? Will some go to Sweden to race with names, or maybe they will stay in British structures. One thing is known - promoters must start thinking much earlier than a few months before the start of the 2027 season.

https://speedwaynews.pl/zuzel/zaskakujace-doniesienia-jednak-nie-dojdzie-do-rewolucji/

[TTT]

2 hours ago, Aries said:

 

The Rowe Motor Oil Premiership and the Cab Ditect Championship are to operate as separate entities. The activists have come to preliminary agreements and at AGM we are to know the final version of the order in the UK for the 2026 season.

With each club on British soil that was declining, fans began to wonder about the meaning of the two leagues. The departure of the Birmingham Brummies and Oxford Spires means that next season the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership will not be able to gather more than five teams. Of course, sudden changes in the plans of the promoters and the persuasion of some centers must be taken into account, but the league seems closed. Driving in such a small group is no fight, especially for many clubs in the Cab Direct Championship. There, however, the situation is very different, and most resorts cannot afford to ride in the Premiership. Especially when their current teams rely mainly on players who compete in both leagues. However, the plan to combine the games goes into the background.

It will not be without changes

If nothing extraordinary happens, the British speedway will remain in the current stage of play. The 2026 season will be played on three levels and, above all, there will be changes in building the squad. Activists work on the transfer market to stay back and build a team worthy of fighting for the championship. We know that the Ipswich Witches, Leicester Lions, Sheffield Tigers, Belle Vue Aces and King's Lynn Stars will remain in the Premiership. Sheffield Tigers are primarily waiting for a new owner, and without it the club will not move next year. The league seems to be cut and even a double basic phase will be of no use. Certainly, the KSM limit is to be changed so that the players can spread out throughout the league. Most likely there will be another reduction, so that the duo of Belle Vue Aces Daniel Bewley and Brady Kurtz may be separated.

The Cab Direct Championship does not promise to be many changes, possibly in terms of a greater bet on young Britons. The Mildenhall resort, which is set as the favorite to return to the Championship step, is about to determine its future.

Upcoming limits

However, there is no denying that the British speedway is facing further regulatory problems. According to the regulations described in the Club Membership Regulations, from the 2027 season, players competing in Poland will be able to choose one foreign league. The question remains, what will the current stars of the Rowe Motor Oil Premiership choose? Will some go to Sweden to race with names, or maybe they will stay in British structures. One thing is known - promoters must start thinking much earlier than a few months before the start of the 2027 season.

https://speedwaynews.pl/zuzel/zaskakujace-doniesienia-jednak-nie-dojdzie-do-rewolucji/

Surely can't have a 5 Team Premiership.

[szkocjasid]

42 minutes ago, TTT said:

Surely can't have a 5 Team Premiership.

If no-one's willing to move up, what can they do?

The fact that Ipswich, Belle Vue & Sheffield haven't exactly shared out the heat leaders, may make any clubs thinking of stepping up hesitant to become the next Birmingham or Oxford?

[BluPanther]

59 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

If no-one's willing to move up, what can they do?

The fact that haven't exactly shared out the heat leaders, may make any clubs thinking of stepping up hesitant to become the next Birmingham or Oxford?

All riders are free agents. Ipswich, Belle Vue and Sheffield don't own anyone to 'share out'...

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

12 hours ago, Witches1998 said:

010.2.3 Amended MA’s
With the approval of the BSP LTD GC or Directors for: -
b) riders who have been absent for more than 1 full season due to 
a speedway injury

 

So this is the relevant bit from the rulebook. Doesn't specifically state its an 8% reduction, just that it can be amended? 

So it's says more than one - which is at least 2.......

[Aries]

6 hours ago, BluPanther said:

All riders are free agents. Ipswich, Belle Vue and Sheffield don't own anyone to 'share out'...

Was going to say something similar! What a weird take. You get your points limit and then every club then builds the best team that they can within that limit and within their budget. It’s not the fault of those three clubs mentioned that the budget of some clubs doesn’t enable them to secure the signatures of certain riders.

If those three clubs each don’t sign one of their heatleaders, that doesn’t necessarily mean that an Oxford or Kings Lynn would suddenly be able to afford to pick them up! The reality is that those riders would likely give UK a miss and our league would be worse for it.

I’m afraid you’re always going to have the have’s and have not’s which is why I’m not convinced on the rumour of one rider per team over 8.00. If Belle Vue for example have to choose between Kurtz or Bewley, would the one who didn’t get a place at the NSS next year just accept a lesser deal elsewhere because that’s the only offer in town?? I’m not sure they would.

[StarBoy]

11 minutes ago, Aries said:

Was going to say something similar! What a weird take. You get your points limit and then every club then builds the best team that they can within that limit and within their budget. It’s not the fault of those three clubs mentioned that the budget of some clubs doesn’t enable them to secure the signatures of certain riders.

If those three clubs each don’t sign one of their heatleaders, that doesn’t necessarily mean that an Oxford or Kings Lynn would suddenly be able to afford to pick them up! The reality is that those riders would likely give UK a miss and our league would be worse for it.

I’m afraid you’re always going to have the have’s and have not’s which is why I’m not convinced on the rumour of one rider per team over 8.00. If Belle Vue for example have to choose between Kurtz or Bewley, would the one who didn’t get a place at the NSS next year just accept a lesser deal elsewhere because that’s the only offer in town?? I’m not sure they would.

In reference to your point regarding King’s Lynn, money has never and will never be an issue. Buster is shrewd, but he’s not a cheapskate. If the right opportunity is there, and for a reasonable deal he would pay for it, but he won’t be dictated by unreasonable demands from riders.

[Aries]

24 minutes ago, StarBoy said:

In reference to your point regarding King’s Lynn, money has never and will never be an issue. Buster is shrewd, but he’s not a cheapskate. If the right opportunity is there, and for a reasonable deal he would pay for it, but he won’t be dictated by unreasonable demands from riders.

I’m sorry but I disagree. Money clearly IS an issue, otherwise you wouldn’t be left picking up the scraps every single year.  Chris Louis won’t be dictated by unreasonable demands either and Kenyan Rew is a perfect example. Rew was in the plans last winter, But Rew got a better offer from Birmingham which Louis wasn’t prepared to match. That’s common knowledge. Fair play to Rew, every rider will go where the best deals are. 
 

There’s a very small pool of riders that ride here that are genuine world class. Forget all the noise that comes from riders about “this is the only place I wanted to come to” nonsense. Fact is every meeting could be a riders last and they’ll go where the best deal is, quite rightly. 
 

Chapman clearly won’t get involved in competing for the world class riders that others are prepared to do. You’re a Lynn fan so maybe you see it from a biased point of view, but from an outsider, Chapman does the bare minimum every year to get through another season.

So my point still stands. If the top three are forced not to sign one of their big hitters, what will be Chapman’s strategy? Will he suddenly decide to pay what the riders are looking for (if he is why doesn’t he do that to begin with?) or will he sit and wait for the riders to lower their demands and just accept what he’s prepared to pay as it’s their only option? If he’s banking on the latter, he’ll be disappointed. Those riders will just concentrate on Poland and Sweden. 

[Bagpuss]

29 minutes ago, Aries said:

I’m sorry but I disagree. Money clearly IS an issue, otherwise you wouldn’t be left picking up the scraps every single year.  Chris Louis won’t be dictated by unreasonable demands either and Kenyan Rew is a perfect example. Rew was in the plans last winter, But Rew got a better offer from Birmingham which Louis wasn’t prepared to match. That’s common knowledge. Fair play to Rew, every rider will go where the best deals are. 
 

There’s a very small pool of riders that ride here that are genuine world class. Forget all the noise that comes from riders about “this is the only place I wanted to come to” nonsense. Fact is every meeting could be a riders last and they’ll go where the best deal is, quite rightly. 
 

Chapman clearly won’t get involved in competing for the world class riders that others are prepared to do. You’re a Lynn fan so maybe you see it from a biased point of view, but from an outsider, Chapman does the bare minimum every year to get through another season.

So my point still stands. If the top three are forced not to sign one of their big hitters, what will be Chapman’s strategy? Will he suddenly decide to pay what the riders are looking for (if he is why doesn’t he do that to begin with?) or will he sit and wait for the riders to lower their demands and just accept what he’s prepared to pay as it’s their only option? If he’s banking on the latter, he’ll be disappointed. Those riders will just concentrate on Poland and Sweden. 

StarBoy is correct, its not about money at Lynn. Have heard that directly. They have tried numerous 'number ones' and the only one who has shown any interest is Lambert, but he is married to a Polish girl and settled over there which makes it difficult. 

Sheffield's inability to replace Woffinden like for like illustrates how difficult it is to get top riders over who arent already here. When you read how much top riders in Poland get you can see why most aren't bothered about top whack money over here, its not worth the hassle.

[Bagpuss]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

Was going to say something similar! What a weird take. You get your points limit and then every club then builds the best team that they can within that limit and within their budget. It’s not the fault of those three clubs mentioned that the budget of some clubs doesn’t enable them to secure the signatures of certain riders.

If those three clubs each don’t sign one of their heatleaders, that doesn’t necessarily mean that an Oxford or Kings Lynn would suddenly be able to afford to pick them up! The reality is that those riders would likely give UK a miss and our league would be worse for it.

I’m afraid you’re always going to have the have’s and have not’s which is why I’m not convinced on the rumour of one rider per team over 8.00. If Belle Vue for example have to choose between Kurtz or Bewley, would the one who didn’t get a place at the NSS next year just accept a lesser deal elsewhere because that’s the only offer in town?? I’m not sure they would.

Difficult to disagree with any of that, however @szkocjasid makes a good point, there is no incentive for clubs to move up if there are few/no heatleaders available. If the Premiership WANTS to expand then the only way that can happen is to free up some riders however unfair and unpalatable that might be. If it wants to have 5-6 teams then there is no need to change.

Its an almost impossible circle to square.

[ShanoXtra]

Goes back to my point, massive cash injection needed for the prem to become a super league with just top stars riding but fewer teams. No point limit and acquire the best riders to build the best team and the fans would certainly benefit. 5 teams, 4 for the play off with the 5th team being relegated so every match counts. Promotion will be key for champ teams so they secure the big money injection of the prem.

Just need to temp the Saudis 😂