What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[Sir Sidney]

44 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.

Probably as well as, for example Joe Thompson or Sam Hagon against Emil or Jason currently at Premership level.

Of course, there are ways around this such as adjusting the race formula to reduce the number of uneven races.

There are no perfect solutions, but we need an acceptable transitional solution that doesn't bankrupt the clubs that are left. 

[Normski]

Reading in todays Star Godfrey more hopeful this week, than he was previously we can keep 2 leagues for 2026.

[TTT]

2 hours ago, Sir Sidney said:

Probably as well as, for example Joe Thompson or Sam Hagon against Emil or Jason currently at Premership level.

Of course, there are ways around this such as adjusting the race formula to reduce the number of uneven races.

There are no perfect solutions, but we need an acceptable transitional solution that doesn't bankrupt the clubs that are left. 

Race format does need a couple of tweaks I agree.

We should have 2 Reserve Races a Night, The usual Heat 2 and another during the 2nd half of the meeting.

Edited 2 hours ago by TTT

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Going to sound disrespectful to NDL Riders but somebody has to speak the truth instead of lying....So I'll take one for the Team.

 

If all of these NDL Riders that some Fans keep going on about were even half decent, Then why haven't they been snapped up by CHAMP Clubs left, right and center?

 

Why are CHAMP Clubs still opting to use Riders like Paul Starke to fill a reserve berth?

Why are CHAMP Clubs still opting to use 4.00 Newcomers to fill a reserve berth?

 

The simple answer is......Because most of them are No Hopers, Who will never make it in the Sport to a point where even CHAMP Clubs can't be bothered to invest in them.

To be honest the national league or conference league as it was called then was a pretty good product from around 2000-2006 with teams like Weymouth, Wimbledon and Plymouth running infront of big crowds but jealousy set in from above and the bspl sent agent cook in to destroy the national league and reduce it to a training league and by the time I left it in 2012 it was pretty much on its knees to sadly where it is today 

Edited 4 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Heathcote]

People keep banging on about not enough riders for one big league....given the fact that Chris Louis claims unless theres a 6 team Premiership Ipswich will not run in 2026....that leaves 13 teams, a total of 91 riders required....97 riders rode in the UK last season...a quick pedantic way to look at it as its plainly clear there will be no room for the Likes of Dan Brady Max and Jack in one big league, but add in a few new comers Cooper Rushen etc, add in the Aussies already plying their trade in Europe but not the UK, Michael West etc, Gets the likes of Matic Ivacic to return and similar, try and entice the likes of Berge and Bellego along with any up and coming new Aussie, Swede, Dane and 13 teams can easily be filled....obvioulsy whether the talent would be spread evenly is another question

 

But in the meantime the can is kicked down the road to sometime in Jan when they finally decide the Premiership is dead or alive..and then wow, where have all the Premiership riders gone???  Dougy, Lidsey Ellis, Musielak, Chris Holder all sat at home now thinking well i cant hang around waiting for the BSPA to get their arse in gear, I'll sign in Poland, Sweden and Denmark...come Feb Sheffield ring Chris up and he says sorry mate, schedules already full, no time for Mondays and Thursday, Same with Dougy, Becker etc

[singy13]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Race format does need a couple of twigs I agree.

Yeah too many people barking up the wrong tree on here.............

[TTT]

TNT have lost UEFA Champions League rights from 2027 so what are the chances of them coming back to the table if we get a 6 Team PREM?

[IainB]

5 hours ago, RoundTheBoards said:

a)  Many CL teams aren't able to race on Monday or Thursday, which is needed to include riders who race in other leagues.

b) Without the above riders, and without doubling up riders, there are nowhere near enough riders to fill 14 teams.

c) Some teams (Workington etc) could not compete financially with others (e,g. Ipswich) and smaller clubs would fold

d) We've been through the above 100 times.

 

a) scrap fixed race nights, it's killing clubs.

b) there were 151 riders active in British Speedway last year, even if half of them left, it's still enough for 14 x 5 rider teams.

c) Worky etc. could compete at a sensible level

d) 101

Query1

Name	SumOfMatches
Luke Harrison	48
Chris Harris	44
Danny King	44
Drew Kemp	44
Richard Lawson	44
Sam Masters	44
Charles Wright	43
Joe Thompson	43
Luke Killeen	43
Tate Zischke	43
Zach Cook	43
Kyle Howarth	42
Anders Rowe	41
Leon Flint	40
Jake Mulford	39
Michele Castagna	38
Peter Kildemand	37
Nicolai Klindt	36
Dan Thompson	35
Sam Hagon	35
Ace Pijper	34
Jason Edwards	34
Justin Sedgmen	34
Lewis Kerr	34
Jonas Jeppesen	32
Jody Scott	31
Freddy Hodder	30
Max Perry	29
Dayle Wood	28
Vinnie Foord	28
William Cairns	28
Jordan Jenkins	26
Jye Etheridge	26
Chris Holder	24
Dan Bewley	24
Max Fricke	24
Ryan Douglas	24
Tobiasz Musielak	24
Tom Brennan	24
Adam Ellis	23
Antti Vuolas	23
Ben Trigger	23
Emil Sayfutdinov	23
Jaimon Lidsey	23
Keynan Rew	23
Maciej Janowski	23
Niels-Kristian Iversen	23
Rohan Tungate	23
Brady Kurtz	22
Jack Holder	22
Jan Kvech	22
Jordy Loftus	22
Josh Pickering	22
Tom Spencer	22
Victor Palovaara	22
Jason Doyle	21
Ben Barker	20
Connor Mountain	20
Kye Thomson	20
Matej Zagar	20
Norick Blodorn	20
Paul Starke	20
Simon Lambert	20
Troy Batchelor	20
Zaine Kennedy	20
Darryl Ritchings	19
Erik Riss	19
Jacob Hook	19
Jonatan Grahn	19
Steve Worrall	19
Tobias Thomsen	19
Alfie Bowtell	18
Cooper Rushen	18
Declan Kennedy	18
Jack Smith	18
Jake Allen	18
Ryan Ingram	18
Senna Summers	18
Arran Butcher	17
Mitch McDiarmid	17
Cameron Heeps	16
Fraser Bowes	16
Luke Harris	16
Ashton Vale	15
Eli Meadows	15
Ashton Boughen	14
Francis Gusts	14
Harry Fletcher	14
Luke Becker	14
Max Broadhurst	14
Michael Palm Toft	14
Nick Morris	14
Stene Pijper	14
Craig Cook	13
Danyon Hume	13
Harrison Rogers	13
Jonas Knudsen	13
Kai Ward	13
Ben Cook	12
Ben Morley	12
Connor Coles	12
Jacob Clouting	12
Lasse Fredriksen	12
Sam McGurk	12
Jamie Etherington	11
Billy Budd	10
Charlie Southwick	10
Jack Shimelt	10
Lee Harrison	10
Mitchell Cluff	10
Scott Nicholls	10
Calum Mitchell	8
Mark Parker	8
Mason Watson	8
Max James	8
Mickie Simpson	8
Sonny Springer	8
Villads Nagel	7
Dan Gilkes	6
Danny Phillips	6
Jack Kingston	6
Matt Marson	6
Michael Jepsen Jensen	6
Nathan Hargrave	6
Charlie Wood	5
Jamie Halder	5
Kenzie Cossey	5
Nathan Ablitt	5
Oskar Polis	5
Sam Woods	5
Ben Rathbone	4
Elliot Kelly	4
Caydin Martin	3
Dylan Huthwaite	3
Kieran Douglas	3
Luke Crang	3
Morgan Williams	3
Owen Booth	3
Seth Norman	3
Bastian Borke	2
Daniel Klima	2
Harley Driscoll-Freeman	2
Joe Crewe	2
Kyran Lyden	2
Laylen Richardson	2
Liam Greens	2
Bailey Fellows	1
Connor King	1
Jack Crewe	1
Jack Franklin	1
Ollie Binns	1

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, Heathcote said:

People keep banging on about not enough riders for one big league....given the fact that Chris Louis claims unless theres a 6 team Premiership Ipswich will not run in 2026....that leaves 13 teams, a total of 91 riders required....97 riders rode in the UK last season...a quick pedantic way to look at it as its plainly clear there will be no room for the Likes of Dan Brady Max and Jack in one big league, but add in a few new comers Cooper Rushen etc, add in the Aussies already plying their trade in Europe but not the UK, Michael West etc, Gets the likes of Matic Ivacic to return and similar, try and entice the likes of Berge and Bellego along with any up and coming new Aussie, Swede, Dane and 13 teams can easily be filled....obvioulsy whether the talent would be spread evenly is another question

 

But in the meantime the can is kicked down the road to sometime in Jan when they finally decide the Premiership is dead or alive..and then wow, where have all the Premiership riders gone???  Dougy, Lidsey Ellis, Musielak, Chris Holder all sat at home now thinking well i cant hang around waiting for the BSPA to get their arse in gear, I'll sign in Poland, Sweden and Denmark...come Feb Sheffield ring Chris up and he says sorry mate, schedules already full, no time for Mondays and Thursday, Same with Dougy, Becker etc

You are a bit behind with your comments and maths. To help you catch up
First you need to understand the number of available riders is not simply 13x7 because in one big league,
A. There cannot be riders doubling up so these count as one. I.e Leicester this year had 4 out of seven who also rode in the Championship. 
B. Unless all teams agree to ride on Monday & Thursday riders who race in Poland & Scandinavia will also not be available. I.e In Leicester’s case this would remove three riders.  
Having done that, the number of

C. Individual riders who are at the very least capable of riding competitively in a league somewhat similar to that of the current championship will be sufficient to create 8 teams (not 13) or if riders from the NDL are included then maybe 9 teams. But these lads will not be competitive and maybe even be an on track danger to themselves & others. 
Finally on the matter of the BSPL making final decisions they are working towards the end of November to do so. The AGM on Jan 6th will be as per normal function of company procedure.

[mac101]

I spoke to a promoter a few weeks back and he said there is enough riders for 1 league and he has had loads of calls from European riders that would come over now the under 24 league in Poland is finished and now more like a NL standard 

[1 valve]

12 minutes ago, IainB said:

a) scrap fixed race nights, it's killing clubs.

b) there were 151 riders active in British Speedway last year, even if half of them left, it's still enough for 14 x 5 rider teams.

c) Worky etc. could compete at a sensible level

d) 101

Query1

Name	SumOfMatches
Luke Harrison	48
Chris Harris	44
Danny King	44
Drew Kemp	44
Richard Lawson	44
Sam Masters	44
Charles Wright	43
Joe Thompson	43
Luke Killeen	43
Tate Zischke	43
Zach Cook	43
Kyle Howarth	42
Anders Rowe	41
Leon Flint	40
Jake Mulford	39
Michele Castagna	38
Peter Kildemand	37
Nicolai Klindt	36
Dan Thompson	35
Sam Hagon	35
Ace Pijper	34
Jason Edwards	34
Justin Sedgmen	34
Lewis Kerr	34
Jonas Jeppesen	32
Jody Scott	31
Freddy Hodder	30
Max Perry	29
Dayle Wood	28
Vinnie Foord	28
William Cairns	28
Jordan Jenkins	26
Jye Etheridge	26
Chris Holder	24
Dan Bewley	24
Max Fricke	24
Ryan Douglas	24
Tobiasz Musielak	24
Tom Brennan	24
Adam Ellis	23
Antti Vuolas	23
Ben Trigger	23
Emil Sayfutdinov	23
Jaimon Lidsey	23
Keynan Rew	23
Maciej Janowski	23
Niels-Kristian Iversen	23
Rohan Tungate	23
Brady Kurtz	22
Jack Holder	22
Jan Kvech	22
Jordy Loftus	22
Josh Pickering	22
Tom Spencer	22
Victor Palovaara	22
Jason Doyle	21
Ben Barker	20
Connor Mountain	20
Kye Thomson	20
Matej Zagar	20
Norick Blodorn	20
Paul Starke	20
Simon Lambert	20
Troy Batchelor	20
Zaine Kennedy	20
Darryl Ritchings	19
Erik Riss	19
Jacob Hook	19
Jonatan Grahn	19
Steve Worrall	19
Tobias Thomsen	19
Alfie Bowtell	18
Cooper Rushen	18
Declan Kennedy	18
Jack Smith	18
Jake Allen	18
Ryan Ingram	18
Senna Summers	18
Arran Butcher	17
Mitch McDiarmid	17
Cameron Heeps	16
Fraser Bowes	16
Luke Harris	16
Ashton Vale	15
Eli Meadows	15
Ashton Boughen	14
Francis Gusts	14
Harry Fletcher	14
Luke Becker	14
Max Broadhurst	14
Michael Palm Toft	14
Nick Morris	14
Stene Pijper	14
Craig Cook	13
Danyon Hume	13
Harrison Rogers	13
Jonas Knudsen	13
Kai Ward	13
Ben Cook	12
Ben Morley	12
Connor Coles	12
Jacob Clouting	12
Lasse Fredriksen	12
Sam McGurk	12
Jamie Etherington	11
Billy Budd	10
Charlie Southwick	10
Jack Shimelt	10
Lee Harrison	10
Mitchell Cluff	10
Scott Nicholls	10
Calum Mitchell	8
Mark Parker	8
Mason Watson	8
Max James	8
Mickie Simpson	8
Sonny Springer	8
Villads Nagel	7
Dan Gilkes	6
Danny Phillips	6
Jack Kingston	6
Matt Marson	6
Michael Jepsen Jensen	6
Nathan Hargrave	6
Charlie Wood	5
Jamie Halder	5
Kenzie Cossey	5
Nathan Ablitt	5
Oskar Polis	5
Sam Woods	5
Ben Rathbone	4
Elliot Kelly	4
Caydin Martin	3
Dylan Huthwaite	3
Kieran Douglas	3
Luke Crang	3
Morgan Williams	3
Owen Booth	3
Seth Norman	3
Bastian Borke	2
Daniel Klima	2
Harley Driscoll-Freeman	2
Joe Crewe	2
Kyran Lyden	2
Laylen Richardson	2
Liam Greens	2
Bailey Fellows	1
Connor King	1
Jack Crewe	1
Jack Franklin	1
Ollie Binns	1

Well you are most probably correct in assuming half of those listed would leave. 
And if five man teams become the way forward involving a large inclusion of NDL level then it would be fair to presume half of the current UK attendees would also disappear. 
 

[YeOldPitGate]

41 minutes ago, TTT said:

TNT have lost UEFA Champions League rights from 2027 so what are the chances of them coming back to the table if we get a 6 Team PREM?

Near zero I reckon unfortunately.

[IainB]

2 hours ago, TTT said:

Race format does need a couple of tweaks I agree.

We should have 2 Reserve Races a Night, The usual Heat 2 and another during the 2nd half of the meeting.

With respect, I think you need to think outside of the box a little more, the race format doesn't need a couple of tweaks... it needs radical overhaul. 

You seem to be basing most of your arguments to fit into the current way of things, this need scrapping, it has failed. 

I don't think anybody is suggesting that Ollie Binns is going to be facing Chris Harris and/or Richard Lawson all night, in fact he shouldn't be facing them at all at his level. For me the NDL needs incorporating onto the CL with a clear progression path for riders with the race format. So reserves only ever race against reserves and the lowest second string, the second string only rides against reserves and the 2nd/3rd heat leader and so on up the ladder. 

[TTT]

11 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Near zero I reckon unfortunately.

I agree.

Just thought I'd raise the point though considering TNT will have to add some content in order to get people to sign up.

[Fromafar]

With all this talk of rider shortages,surprised no has suggested that maybe some foreign riders might be keen  UK a go . Visa and things might be required but who knows.

[SteveLyric2]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

I agree.

Just thought I'd raise the point though considering TNT will have to add some content in order to get people to sign up.

TNT/Warner are very likely to be taken  over by Paramount!!

[Teromaafan]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

I agree.

Just thought I'd raise the point though considering TNT will have to add some content in order to get people to sign up.

Most people I know only have a TNT subscription because of the Champions League (they have no interest is speedway, real world) so they could see a massive drop off in subscribers as it’s an expensive add on to a Sky/Virgin package.

[IainB]

TNT could maybe want to go for the hat trick of binning Speedway off for a third time 😂

[poole keith]

13 minutes ago, Teromaafan said:

Most people I know only have a TNT subscription because of the Champions League (they have no interest is speedway, real world) so they could see a massive drop off in subscribers as it’s an expensive add on to a Sky/Virgin package.

Most people i know have TNT for moto gp, wsb,and bsb.