What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[TB1]

47 minutes ago, truthsayer said:

Nice as many of these ideas are, we're still just kicking the can down the road.

Without a grassroots plan to develop more riders and secure more venues, there is no team speedway.

There are already nowhere near enough riders, and that's utilising many expensive imports. There needs to be a separation of the sport and the competition. Clubs are (rightly) just trying to do enough to get them to the end of next week. I don't see anyone doing any wider development of the sport.

I just can't see a future for speedway as a team sport, or as a professional sport, but I would hope that the base sport can survive and find an appropriate level for the early 21st century.

The lack of riders will be the death knell before anything. OK some clubs ( probably very few) make a small profit and I guess the rest have become money pits. However, without riders you have no product. No product means no support and no support means no business. Unfortunately they have kicked the can so far down the road that they have reached the end of the cul de sac!

Edited 20 hours ago by TB1
Missed words

[topaz325]

9 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

I think it depends on what company runs the sport at the respective tracks. Take a look at Companies House and the last set of accounts filed for the teams in each of the leagues and most file abbreviated accounts and few have a decent net worth despite the longevity of the trading and you question how much goes through the companies that run the sport at the relevant tracks versus those riders where the cost/expenses are picked up directly by sponsors so the cost and overhead never appear in the figures for each track operating company. It is difficult to get to the bottom of who is earning what. For example do a search of Ipswich and then the Directors and then the accounts and the resultant filed figures do not match the presumed costs of running the club. Who knows what the real cost is of running a club at the highest level in the UK so to suggest who can and cannot afford to participate in which league is pure conjecture. Financial Transparency is key but it does not exist. To suggest  that the likes of Glasgow should move up has no foundation without financial information in the public domain to support that argument.

Many clubs rely heavily on the donations from sponsors big and small  to be able to run each season.

[SteelShoe]

9 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

I think it depends on what company runs the sport at the respective tracks. Take a look at Companies House and the last set of accounts filed for the teams in each of the leagues and most file abbreviated accounts and few have a decent net worth despite the longevity of the trading and you question how much goes through the companies that run the sport at the relevant tracks versus those riders where the cost/expenses are picked up directly by sponsors so the cost and overhead never appear in the figures for each track operating company. It is difficult to get to the bottom of who is earning what. For example do a search of Ipswich and then the Directors and then the accounts and the resultant filed figures do not match the presumed costs of running the club. Who knows what the real cost is of running a club at the highest level in the UK so to suggest who can and cannot afford to participate in which league is pure conjecture. Financial Transparency is key but it does not exist. To suggest  that the likes of Glasgow should move up has no foundation without financial information in the public domain to support that argument.

Spot on

[SteelShoe]

11 hours ago, StarBoy said:

I heard the spearhead Ipswich duo were on £5k apiece, just as a guarantee. 

that equates to 400 fans paying £25

Edited 10 hours ago by SteelShoe
delete word

[castrolargh]

In light of the announcement from Poland that 2026 is the last season that their top 2 leagues will "allow" their riders to race in more than one extra league, surely bspl should have a massive re think and put plans in place NOW rather than a knee jerk next season?So much for the 'deal'giving some Thursdays to Poland in exchange for them allowing international riders to race elsewhere.  Looks like we won't have gp stars after next season so might as well start planning now.Surely this must push us towards restructuring, as all the arguments about 1 league meaning  the end of the big stars is surely irrelevant 

[1 valve]

36 minutes ago, SteelShoe said:

that equates to 400 fans paying £25

More likely 500 fans at £25 as VAT needs to be deducted. That said, a good portion of the two riders “pay” is met by sponsorship rather than gate receipts.  

Edited 9 hours ago by 1 valve

[mikebv]

37 minutes ago, castrolargh said:

In light of the announcement from Poland that 2026 is the last season that their top 2 leagues will "allow" their riders to race in more than one extra league, surely bspl should have a massive re think and put plans in place NOW rather than a knee jerk next season?So much for the 'deal'giving some Thursdays to Poland in exchange for them allowing international riders to race elsewhere.  Looks like we won't have gp stars after next season so might as well start planning now.Surely this must push us towards restructuring, as all the arguments about 1 league meaning  the end of the big stars is surely irrelevant 

It at lleast give the promoters 12 months to sort something out...

But not sure it changes too much from the current situation as not many Danes or Swedes currently ride over here..

For the "top riders" most who ride here don't ride in Sweden or Denmark so they may stick with the UK...?

(If they don't get removed from the UK next year that is!!!)...

Is it just Max that rides in Sweden of the GP riders who currently ride over here? 

The Aussies could also possibly face visa issues to live here if they don't work here..

It will count any Danes out as I believe they must ride in their own league to get a licence, and the Swedes will ride in their own leagues I would think...

Most of the Poles and Europeans seem to prefer Sweden now as their alternative league currently, so, for the UK it won't make that much difference I would think...

Unless of course the money in Sweden is significantly higher and those who currently do ride over there, here and Poland get their heads turned by it...

And that could be a distinct possibility as you will imagine Sweden will be doing everything it can to make their leagues more attractive money wise given it could be a straight choice between the UK and there for many of those mid level riders in particular..

Edited 9 hours ago by mikebv

[SJA]

1 hour ago, SteelShoe said:

that equates to 400 fans paying £25

Technically 800 fans as each as each home meeting covers the cost of the away fixture as well. Although the figures I have been quoted on the guarantees are closer to £4k each.

[TTT]

Polish rule in 2027 doesn't bother us, King's Lynn will lose a couple of Dane's and that's it.

If Aussie's want to live over here then they have to take part in our Speedway League so that makes the decision for them.

The problem British Speedway is facing is from within, Not from Poland.

Edited 8 hours ago by TTT

[1 valve]

39 minutes ago, TTT said:

The problem British Speedway is facing is from within, Not from Poland.

Absolutely 100% spot on, Caused by too many self serving promoters  thinking “me, I and myself” for far too long. 

[SpeedwaySlider72]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Polish rule in 2027 doesn't bother us, King's Lynn will lose a couple of Dane's and that's it.

If Aussie's want to live over here then they have to take part in our Speedway League so that makes the decision for them.

The problem British Speedway is facing is from within, Not from Poland.

You have posted much recently saying that the Premiership must be maintained at its current level. If these 'couple of Danes' and a handful of GP riders disappear because of this Polish rule then what level is the Premiership left at?

[TTT]

2 hours ago, SpeedwaySlider72 said:

You have posted much recently saying that the Premiership must be maintained at its current level. If these 'couple of Danes' and a handful of GP riders disappear because of this Polish rule then what level is the Premiership left at?

GP Boys wouldn't be going anywhere as none of them ride in both the PREMIERSHIP and Sweden.

I think Doyle rode in Denmark this year but he lives in the UK so everything is fine on that front as well.

The Polish rules stuffs up the Swedish League really, It would've stuffed up British Speedway but the Aussie's don't really have a choice and they have to ride in the PREMIERSHIP unless they want to emigrate which is highly unlikely considering they've got young families who are settled in the UK.

Danish riders have to ride in Denmark due to Sponsorship and stuff but the only Dane's that ride in the PREMIERSHIP are.....Jeppesen, Iversen, Klindt & Kildemand.

2 of those don't even get a look in when it comes to Poland and Klindt only gets signed after the season has started if a club has an injury crisis

So effictively out of Aussie's, Dane's and Swede's we're losing Iversen and Palovaara only.....Possibly Polish based Tungate if he opts for Sweden.

Edited 4 hours ago by TTT

[Tinker]

5 hours ago, mikebv said:

It at lleast give the promoters 12 months to sort something out...

But not sure it changes too much from the current situation as not many Danes or Swedes currently ride over here..

For the "top riders" most who ride here don't ride in Sweden or Denmark so they may stick with the UK...?

(If they don't get removed from the UK next year that is!!!)...

Is it just Max that rides in Sweden of the GP riders who currently ride over here? 

The Aussies could also possibly face visa issues to live here if they don't work here..

It will count any Danes out as I believe they must ride in their own league to get a licence, and the Swedes will ride in their own leagues I would think...

Most of the Poles and Europeans seem to prefer Sweden now as their alternative league currently, so, for the UK it won't make that much difference I would think...

Unless of course the money in Sweden is significantly higher and those who currently do ride over there, here and Poland get their heads turned by it...

And that could be a distinct possibility as you will imagine Sweden will be doing everything it can to make their leagues more attractive money wise given it could be a straight choice between the UK and there for many of those mid level riders in particular..

From what I have read over the past year or so, Sweden seems to be in more of a mess than the UK? Various tracks owing substantial amounts of money, riders not being paid, lack of homegrown talent etc. 

[TTT]

50 minutes ago, Tinker said:

From what I have read over the past year or so, Sweden seems to be in more of a mess than the UK? Various tracks owing substantial amounts of money, riders not being paid, lack of homegrown talent etc. 

They'll collapse before us especially with the Polish rule coming into play in 2027.

Like you said, They don't have any real homegrown talent coming through the ranks either.

I personally struggle to see a Swedish Speedway future after Fast Freddie tbh.

[SteelShoe]

9 hours ago, castrolargh said:

In light of the announcement from Poland that 2026 is the last season that their top 2 leagues will "allow" their riders to race in more than one extra league, surely bspl should have a massive re think and put plans in place NOW rather than a knee jerk next season?So much for the 'deal'giving some Thursdays to Poland in exchange for them allowing international riders to race elsewhere.  Looks like we won't have gp stars after next season so might as well start planning now.Surely this must push us towards restructuring, as all the arguments about 1 league meaning  the end of the big stars is surely irrelevant 

Looks to me like the 1 rider only over 8 point average falls within the "knee jerk"category because I fail to see the logic. Would love a meaningful explanation from the BSPL as to why this will help remedy the speedway malaise of not getting enough supporters through the gate. If this is what has been leaked already then I am not hopeful of any meaningful change. No disrespect to Phil Morris but he doesn't seem to have really changed British Speedway for the better but he does appear to have created a nice little niche for himself and is now an expert with a rake. I can't see Harry Redknapp helping much either. Think I've slipped back into negativity mode 😟😀