What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[TTT]

11 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Yet if those same riders were given opportunities and invested in they would improve dramatically, not gve up, and become the future conveyor belt of talent for the higher echelons of the sport. 

As a Wimbledon supporter brought up on World champions and top internationals, who then saw the team ride in the second tier and in the third tier, I can witness that the entertainment was equally as good in all 3 tiers, and we supported it.

Of course, the NDL was not helped by BSPL deliberately weakening the product, and that would have to be reversed. By the way, I don't agree with your derogatory 'no hoper' comment. In all walks of life there will be people who do not make the grade

 

Those who don't get opportunites at PREM & CHAMP Level is due to them not being good enough at NDL Level.

For the few Riders who do show some potential at NDL Level, They end up getting an opportunity.

[szkocjasid]

6 hours ago, mikebv said:

Tracks which ride Monday and Thursday don't have to if they feel another night is better. 

But. It would mean the "superstars" could still ride...

But at a Championship Team Average..

When they ride Away then, hopefully, all their riders will be there, however, if they are not then just use Guests...

Literally Dozens get used now for the myriad of fixture clashes, so it won't make any difference at all to the credibility of what is being delivered, so you might as well build the system in to support the league structure..

And, as previously mentioned, if a GP star was potentially visiting you then that current Championship team would try everything, fixture date wise, to get him there...

Ride at home on the best night for your business, and ensure your home fixtures get all your riders there..

Would be interesting to see if clubs like Glasgow raced on occasional Monday's if Bewley or Kurtz was due to visit, likewise Redcar on a Thursday (their previous race night).

I'm feeling the best solution is to have one big league, allow GP riders, allow clubs to race on their preferred race night & allow guests when riders are missing for foreign meetings. Not ideal I know, but I haven't read a single "ideal" scenario so far.

Plus the likes of Danny King & Chris Harris etc who will miss out on doubling up, will make up for that with extra guest meetings!

Edited 1 hour ago by szkocjasid

[Sir Sidney]

Just now, TTT said:

Those who don't get opportunites at PREM & CHAMP Level is due to them not being good enough at NDL Level.

For the few Riders who do show some potential at NDL Level, They end up getting an opportunity.

Unfortunately, your blinkered view on this stops you seeing that there are riders who could be perfectly competent at Championship level, but who do not get the chances. In a lower standard league set up (which is where we are heading) some of those will flourish. They may never be world beaters, they may never ride at current Premiership level, but they will put on exciting speedway racing. You just need to be open to that. And, in time, the numbers will increase

[TTT]

5 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Unfortunately, your blinkered view on this stops you seeing that there are riders who could be perfectly competent at Championship level, but who do not get the chances. In a lower standard league set up (which is where we are heading) some of those will flourish. They may never be world beaters, they may never ride at current Premiership level, but they will put on exciting speedway racing. You just need to be open to that. And, in time, the numbers will increase

They won't.

For example if Arran Butcher can't pull up an tree's in the NDL.

Then what on earth is he going to do against Riders like Jason Edwards and Jordan Jenkins let alone Chris Harris, Richard Lawson and co.

Edited 8 hours ago by TTT

[Glen]

7 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

Would be interesting to see if clubs like Glasgow raced on occasional Monday's of Bewley or Kurtz was due to visit, likewise Redcar on a Thursday (their previous race night).

I'm feeling the best solution is to have one big league, allow GP riders, allow clubs to race on their preferred race night & allow guests when riders are missing for foreign meetings. Not ideal I know, but I haven't read a single "ideal" scenario so far.

Plus the likes of Danny King & Chris Harris etc who will miss out on doubling up, will make up for that with extra guest meetings!

Peter Oaks in this weeks SS makes a good argument and puts forward a completely different league set up but maintaining 2 leagues of 7 clubs each.

 

 

[1 valve]

13 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Tracks which ride Monday and Thursday don't have to if they feel another night is better. 

But. It would mean the "superstars" could still ride...

But at a Championship Team Average..

When they ride Away then, hopefully, all their riders will be there, however, if they are not then just use Guests...

Literally Dozens get used now for the myriad of fixture clashes, so it won't make any difference at all to the credibility of what is being delivered, so you might as well build the system in to support the league structure..

And, as previously mentioned, if a GP star was potentially visiting you then that current Championship team would try everything, fixture date wise, to get him there...

Ride at home on the best night for your business, and ensure your home fixtures get all your riders there..

You say Teams racing at home Mondays and Thursdays mean they could have a GP Rider.
Ok that’s a true statement. It also means they would be available to race at other Mon/Thurs tracks currently five. 
Then you add “a current championship team would do anything possible to arrange fixtures to get the GP star there”. However, For the large part those days could only be Mon or Thurs as the star would not be available or willing to undergo a late and chancy travel schedule.  Remember riders who race in Poland are required to be there the day before a meeting not just race day. 
It is highly unlikely that a guest would be available to equal the level of the GP rider (they will have their own fixtures) and let’s not forget this year as an example Leicester would have needed three guests - just not workable. 
However when all said and done, one league, seven man squads equal eight teams.  Nothing more but maybe something less. 


 

[therefused]

Just now, Glen said:

Peter Oaks in this weeks SS makes a good argument and puts forward a completely different league set up but maintaining 2 leagues of 7 clubs each.

 

 

i was thinking about this earlier and whether a north/south would work, allows double up/sideways and should give riders enough meetings as well as more local derbys 

[TTT]

10 minutes ago, Glen said:

Peter Oaks in this weeks SS makes a good argument and puts forward a completely different league set up but maintaining 2 leagues of 7 clubs each.

 

 

PREM -> Belle Vue, Glasgow, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leicester, Poole and Sheffield.

CHAMP -> Berwick, Edinburgh, Oxford, Plymouth, Redcar, Scunthorpe and Workington.

CHAMP Clubs have to bin off using 4.00 Newcomers and Riders like Paul Starke at reserve in favour of NDL Riders.....Because #Opportunities

Edited 7 hours ago by TTT

[Glen]

5 minutes ago, TTT said:

They won't.

For example if Arran Butcher can't pull up an tree's in the NDL.

Then what on earth is he going to do against Riders like Jason Edwards and Jordan Jenkins let alone Chris Harris, Richard Lawson and co.

 

Thats a nonsense argument isn’t it !

Are you saying that Arron will be expected to a clubs number one ?

 

[Wee Eck]

14 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Unfortunately, your blinkered view on this stops you seeing that there are riders who could be perfectly competent at Championship level, but who do not get the chances. In a lower standard league set up (which is where we are heading) some of those will flourish. They may never be world beaters, they may never ride at current Premiership level, but they will put on exciting speedway racing. You just need to be open to that. And, in time, the numbers will increase

Please name one British rider “perfectly competent at Championship level” who can’t get a team place - and back up your claim of competency. 

[TTT]

1 minute ago, Glen said:

Thats a nonsense argument isn’t it !

Are you saying that Arron will be expected to a clubs number one ?

 

No.

I'm saying he'll fall off under the threat of being lapped every week, Just like most other NDL Riders who don't get a look in when it comes to the CHAMP.

[1 valve]

3 minutes ago, TTT said:

PREM -> Belle Vue, Glasgow, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leicester, Poole and Sheffield.

CHAMP -> Berwick, Edinburgh, Oxford, Plymouth, Redcar, Scunthorpe and Workington.

CHAMP Clubs have to bin off using 4.00 Newcomers and Riders like Paul Starke at reserve in favour of NDL Riders.

Is this the suggestion made by Peter Oaks? Or is it something else

[TTT]

Just now, 1 valve said:

Is this the suggestion made by Peter Oaks? Or is it something else

No mate.

It's just my suggestion of a 7-7 Split.

[Glen]

10 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

Please name one British rider “perfectly competent at Championship level” who can’t get a team place - and back up your claim of competency. 

There are 2 names that come to mind - Ben Morley and Nathan Ablitt.

[1 valve]

4 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

Please name one British rider “perfectly competent at Championship level” who can’t get a team place - and back up your claim of competency. 

This year it would have been Joe Thompson. Having been released by the Lions he was re signed due to two rising stars being injured during the season. 
However, being complacent cannot be laid at Joe’s door. He tried everything possible and gave 100% but being perfectly competent to race at Prem level? Given he came last in every one of his last twelve races for the lions answers that question doesn’t it? 

[Glen]

2 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

This year it would have been Joe Thompson. Having been released by the Lions he was re signed due to two rising stars being injured during the season. 
However, being complacent cannot be laid at Joe’s door. He tried everything possible and gave 100% but being perfectly competent to race at Prem level? Given he came last in every one of his last twelve races for the lions answers that question doesn’t it? 

But Joe is competent at Championship level isn’t he.

[1 valve]

23 minutes ago, Glen said:

Peter Oaks in this weeks SS makes a good argument and puts forward a completely different league set up but maintaining 2 leagues of 7 clubs each.

 

 

Any chance of a summary of what it was?

[1 valve]

Just now, Glen said:

But Joe is competent at Championship level isn’t he.

Yes he is- but wouldn’t have made the Prem if not for the injuries of two previous rising stars & highly doubtful he would find a place in 2026 should things remain similar to this year. 

[Wee Eck]

8 minutes ago, Glen said:

There are 2 names that come to mind - Ben Morley and Nathan Ablitt.

Both of whom have ridden championship in the past. Teams don’t overlook riders who they believe to be competent enough. I think Nathan was unfortunate but don’t know why. I’m sure he’ll get a place during 2026. As for Ben, he’s 31 and has had many chances. A team succeeds by bringing in riders who improve during the year but I don’t think that can still be expected of Ben.

On the other side, Max Perry, for one, is the type of rider that teams believe has a lot more to give so I’d expect him to get a place next year. 

[Glen]

5 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Any chance of a summary of what it was?

If you go into the Speedway star app you can read the first few pages before it reduces in size. Peter’s article is on page 4. He admits it’s a radicle plan and would mean scrapping averages so to avoid riders being blocked out due to a decimal point. Concluding next week.

To me it sounds doable with a lot of flexibility needed from riders and promoters and the likelyhood of less meeting for the double uppers.