What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[gjcone44]

thats where the costs have got out of control and makes it very difficult to go part time, especially from middle order riders upwards.

[Steve Irving]

3 hours ago, Ben91 said:

I wonder if there’s something of a mutiny going on at present. The Championship teams hold the aces as the Premiership needs at least one to step up. If those nine Championship clubs dig their heels in then there’s not much the Premiership sides can do beside coming into line. 

The Championship sides may be in agreement already over their rules for 2026 team building hence signings being made and announced. The Pickering to Scunthorpe signing could be more telling than at surface level. In theory he’s far too good for that level but perhaps he’s signed on there to be guaranteed a ride in Britain considering the uncertainty of Sheffield and the top flight in general. 

There aren’t enough riders of sufficient standard to populate a 14 team Championship. If the existing nine get their teams sorted and it transpires the five Premiership clubs have no choice but to drop down we could see those five clubs scrabbling to put together competitive teams with the odds and ends left. 

Do you really think so? The riders who have “signed” for Championship clubs would soon be backing out of those deals quicker than a rat up a drainpipe. The fact is, those clubs that would be “dropping down” are more desirable clubs to ride for who more than likely could/would offer better deals. The first thing Ipswich would do for example, is take Scott Nicholls off Plymouth.

32 minutes ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Interesting interpretation, as those riders have already ‘signed’ for clubs so what gives the ex premiership teams priority over the club that’s signed them ? i.e. If Sheffield actually get saved and end up in one big league then surely Scunthorpe have first call on Pickering ? 
Mulford has already signed for Redcar ( rumoured ) and the Bears still own Jenkins ( don’t they? ) so , yet again, it’s all a big sloppy mess.

 

Those deals aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Pure delusion to think those riders would stay loyal to the Championship clubs they’ve already agreed to ride for, if they’re suddenly offered a better deal by one of the clubs currently in the Premiership. They’ll go where the money is and rightly so.

99% of riders have been dumped by clubs over their careers when they’ve hit a sticky patch, so none of them can cry foul when it’s their turn to be dumped. It works both ways.

[SteveLyric2]

3 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

Do you really think so? The riders who have “signed” for Championship clubs would soon be backing out of those deals quicker than a rat up a drainpipe. The fact is, those clubs that would be “dropping down” are more desirable clubs to ride for who more than likely could/would offer better deals. The first thing Ipswich would do for example, is take Scott Nicholls off Plymouth.

Those deals aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. Pure delusion to think those riders would stay loyal to the Championship clubs they’ve already agreed to ride for, if they’re suddenly offered a better deal by one of the clubs currently in the Premiership. They’ll go where the money is and rightly so.

99% of riders have been dumped by clubs over their careers when they’ve hit a sticky patch, so none of them can cry foul when it’s their turn to be dumped. It works both ways.

But where is the Premiership money coming from if no TV contract??

[Steve Irving]

1 minute ago, SteveLyric2 said:

But where is the Premiership money coming from if no TV contract??

What Premiership money? I thought it was minuscule if anything at all? The costs of running in the Premiership compared to the Championship are far greater than anything they’ll have received via “TV money” which I’m sure you’ll concede. The clubs coming down will more than LIKELY, be in a position to offer better deals considering the substantial lower costs of running at that standard. 
 

There’s a reason all the Championship clubs won’t touch the top flight with a barge pole and the main reason isn’t race nights. It’s the cost of running a Premiership team.

[YeOldPitGate]

5 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

What Premiership money? I thought it was minuscule if anything at all? The costs of running in the Premiership compared to the Championship are far greater than anything they’ll have received via “TV money” which I’m sure you’ll concede. The clubs coming down will more than LIKELY, be in a position to offer better deals considering the substantial lower costs of running at that standard. 
 

There’s a reason all the Championship clubs won’t touch the top flight with a barge pole and the main reason isn’t race nights. It’s the cost of running a Premiership team.

I'm not in the know by any stretch Steve but plenty on here who are reasonably well connected hinted last deal was roughly 100k per club.

[TTT]

31 minutes ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Interesting interpretation, as those riders have already ‘signed’ for clubs so what gives the ex premiership teams priority over the club that’s signed them ? i.e. If Sheffield actually get saved and end up in one big league then surely Scunthorpe have first call on Pickering ? 
Mulford has already signed for Redcar ( rumoured ) and the Bears still own Jenkins ( don’t they? ) so , yet again, it’s all a big sloppy mess.

 

PREM Clubs will just asset strip CHAMP Clubs of their Heat Leaders because they've got the Money to do so and as we all know in any Sport....Money talks.

Riders will jump ship in a heartbeat as they'll be left with no choice but to maximise their income due to them being hit in the pocket by missing out on a team place at PREM level.

It won't be Clubs like Belle Vue and Ipswich who'll line up with Riders like Craig Cook and Troy Batchelor at No.1.

[Steve Irving]

Just now, YeOldPitGate said:

I'm not in the know by any stretch Steve but plenty on here who are reasonably well connected hinted last deal was roughly 100k per club.

I’d be staggered if that is the case! The train of thought was the clubs were getting next to nothing, but the exposure of the sport on a mainstream sports channel was what made it worthwhile.

[Steve Irving]

1 minute ago, TTT said:

PREM Clubs will just asset strip CHAMP Clubs of their Heat Leaders because they've got the Money to do so and as we all know in any Sport....Money talks.

Riders will jump ship in a heartbeat as they'll be left with no choice but to maximise their income due to them being hit in the pocket by missing out on a team place at PREM level.

It won't be Clubs like Belle Vue and Ipswich who'll line up with Riders like Craig Cook and Troy Batchelor at No.1.

It’s not going to happen for many many reasons, but talking hypothetically if they went with one league then any deals currently done would be null and void. There is absolutely no way you could have all the current Championship clubs practically sorted, and then five clubs joining them having basically nothing to pick up. That just won’t happen and anyone thinking it would, are completely delusional.

[SteveLyric2]

6 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

What Premiership money? I thought it was minuscule if anything at all? The costs of running in the Premiership compared to the Championship are far greater than anything they’ll have received via “TV money” which I’m sure you’ll concede. The clubs coming down will more than LIKELY, be in a position to offer better deals considering the substantial lower costs of running at that standard. 
 

There’s a reason all the Championship clubs won’t touch the top flight with a barge pole and the main reason isn’t race nights. It’s the cost of running a Premiership team.

The greater Premiership costs are purely down to 'top' rider wages and expenses and are therefore funded by a combination of wealthy owners and/or sponsors but clearly cannot be afforded by some eg Oxford ( possibly Sheffield too having lost their main sponsor and being up for sale). Clearly there is a limit to what the public will pay also.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

Interesting interpretation, as those riders have already ‘signed’ for clubs so what gives the ex premiership teams priority over the club that’s signed them ? i.e. If Sheffield actually get saved and end up in one big league then surely Scunthorpe have first call on Pickering ? 
Mulford has already signed for Redcar ( rumoured ) and the Bears still own Jenkins ( don’t they? ) so , yet again, it’s all a big sloppy mess.

 

 

3 minutes ago, TTT said:

PREM Clubs will just asset strip CHAMP Clubs of their Heat Leaders because they've got the Money to do so and as we all know in any Sport....Money talks.

Riders will jump ship in a heartbeat as they'll be left with no choice but to maximise their income due to them being hit in the pocket by missing out on a team place at PREM level.

It won't be Clubs like Belle Vue and Ipswich who'll line up with Riders like Craig Cook and Troy Batchelor at No.1.

How many times does it need saying... the asset system has been dropped, nobody "owns" anybody anymore. 

I said it a few months back, riders need to become salaried employees of their clubs, ain't never going to happen though. 

[TTT]

3 minutes ago, IainB said:

 

How many times does it need saying... the asset system has been dropped, nobody "owns" anybody anymore. 

I said it a few months back, riders need to become salaried employees of their clubs, ain't never going to happen though. 

I was using the term Asset stripped as a figure of speech tbh.

Either way CHAMP Clubs will be left chasing shadows after the PREM Clubs sign whatever Heat Leaders they want.

[Steve Irving]

1 minute ago, SteveLyric2 said:

The greater Premiership costs are purely down to 'top' rider wages and expenses and are therefore funded by a combination of wealthy owners and/or sponsors but clearly cannot be afforded by some eg Oxford ( possibly Sheffield too having lost their main sponsor and being up for sale). Clearly there is a limit to what the public will pay also.

Question marks over Sheffield granted, but they’ve always managed to have a good sponsor, and they’ll pick up another one after tru7 I’ve no doubt about that. There’s reportedly “plenty of interest” in the purchase of the club, so remains to be seen how this one ends up.

I stand by my point, Ipswich, Belle Vue and Lynn in particular would be plum clubs to ride for and clubs in the Championship that have already “signed” riders, would inevitably lose some of them. 
 

IF (and I’m confident there won’t be) it went to one league, everything done so far would have to be ripped up and everyone starting again from scratch. Pickering won’t be riding for Scunny for example and you can take that to the bank!

[Steve Irving]

5 minutes ago, TTT said:

I was using the term Asset stripped as a figure of speech tbh.

Either way CHAMP Clubs will be left chasing shadows after the PREM Clubs sign whatever Heat Leaders they want.

I have no idea why “Poole Keith” is laughing at your post. He (or she. You never know these days 🙄) knows damn well what you’re saying is true. 

Edited 5 hours ago by Steve Irving

[poole keith]

8 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

I have no idea why “Poole Keith” is laughing at your post. He (or she. You never know these days 🙄) knows damn well what you’re saying is true. 

Because steve(or should it be Stephanie, you never know these days)how would the ex prem teams sign whoever they want and leave the championship teams "chasing shadows"there are championship teams who have better promoters and sponsors than most prem clubs,maybe some of the prem clubs would end up chasing the shadows 

[TTT]

3 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

I have no idea why “Poole Keith” is laughing at your post. He (or she. You never know these days 🙄) knows damn well what you’re saying is true. 

I know that, Hence why I'm ignoring it.

Anyone who truly believes that PREM Clubs will play second fiddle to CHAMP Clubs is very much mistaken.

They'll simply get revenge on the CHAMP Clubs....Take our GP Stars away from us and we'll take your CHAMP No.1's away from you.

[TB1]

Just now, TTT said:

I know that, Hence why I'm ignoring it.

Anyone who truly believes that PREM Clubs will play second fiddle to CHAMP Clubs is very much mistaken.

They'll simply get revenge on the CHAMP Clubs....Take our GP Stars away from us and we'll take your CHAMP No.1's away from you.

Whilst I agree with your points about Prem clubs. Unfortunately if the big boys take their ball away and refuse to play, then nobody plays.

[Daniel Smith]

It intregues me that so many say Ipswich is a well run club. Personally, they're run no better than King's Lynn, they're just very fortunate to have 'Superfan' Guy Nicholls 'Tru Plant' money. They wouldn't be where they are without this guy. Absolutely couldn't afford Sayfutdinov & Doyle without him. 

With Sheffield too, it's no surprise they'd been able to have some big names having the same sponsor.

The Premiership is in a financial pickle but they cannot afford to lose the big names also. 

[noaksey]

2 minutes ago, Daniel Smith said:

It intregues me that so many say Ipswich is a well run club. Personally, they're run no better than King's Lynn, they're just very fortunate to have 'Superfan' Guy Nicholls 'Tru Plant' money. They wouldn't be where they are without this guy. Absolutely couldn't afford Sayfutdinov & Doyle without him. 

With Sheffield too, it's no surprise they'd been able to have some big names having the same sponsor.

The Premiership is in a financial pickle but they cannot afford to lose the big names also. 

The question for me is can Sheffield and Leicester afford expensive teams without any tv revenue?

We know Ippo, BV and Lynn can if they so choose 

 

[TTT]

5 minutes ago, poole keith said:

Because steve(or should it be Stephanie, you never know these days)how would the ex prem teams sign whoever they want and leave the championship teams "chasing shadows"there are championship teams who have better promoters and sponsors than most prem clubs,maybe some of the prem clubs would end up chasing the shadows 

So in the space of 24 Hours we've gone from....

Clubs don't want to move up beause of the costs all the way to CHAMP Clubs leaving PREM Clubs empty handed when it comes to bidding wars over big hitters in One Big League.

Make it make sense.

[Sir Sidney]

4 hours ago, TB1 said:

Everyone is talking about different permutations and this that and the other. My question is this. For non UK riders, what exactly are the visa requirements.

 

 

BSPL Sponsored Migrant policy - as is 

https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/2024-25_BSP_Ltd_GBE_Criteria.pdf

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Sir Sidney