What will 2026 UK speedway bring?

[mikebv]

43 minutes ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

For the 40th consecutive year since I’ve been watching the sport !!! 

I always think that it is fantastic that after each AGM they are all on the same page...

Sadly, it's always from the wrong effing book!!!

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

3 minutes ago, mikebv said:

I always think that it is fantastic that after each AGM they are all on the same page...

Sadly, it's always from the wrong effing book!!!

This time is different, anyone know how to hack into a zoom call, we could all watch with great interest 

[Pitch]

1 hour ago, IainB said:

Would be nice to hear from the others instead of treating their fans with contempt!

Yes especially Belle Vue and Kings Lynn (although I wouldn't expect anything else from Buster) because at least them two clubs don't have any ownership issues to resolve and know they are running in 2026.

[IainB]

... meanwhile in North Lincolnshire

 

[OGT]

19 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I suffer from gout now and again and they can’t find out why, at first they say cut out alcohol, I haven’t drunk alcohol in about 30 years so not that it’s been blamed on tomatoes,Christmas cake,oasis the drink, surprised it’s not been blamed on oasis the band,various other things all of which I cut out and then it came back so obviously wasn’t them and imo it is by far the worst pain I’ve ever suffered and that includes all the crashes and broken bones I’ve had, anyway anyone got any premier league news ? 

Well if it ain't wine, it must be women and song causing it then. 🤔😉

[OGT]

19 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I suffer from gout now and again and they can’t find out why, at first they say cut out alcohol, I haven’t drunk alcohol in about 30 years so not that it’s been blamed on tomatoes,Christmas cake,oasis the drink, surprised it’s not been blamed on oasis the band,various other things all of which I cut out and then it came back so obviously wasn’t them and imo it is by far the worst pain I’ve ever suffered and that includes all the crashes and broken bones I’ve had, anyway anyone got any premier league news ? 

Well if it ain't wine, it must be women and song causing it then. 🤔😉

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

10 minutes ago, OGT said:

Well if it ain't wine, it must be women and song causing it then. 🤔😉

Funny enough I did say in some indirect way the Mrs was to blame, she didn’t agree 😂

[Chris]

On 12/4/2025 at 9:15 PM, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

No wolves dig up and grown over, rye house is an all weather pitch and I think kent grown over too 

Planning permission for an all weather pitch at Rye House was refused years ago. The base it still there but it's overgrown due to the leaseholders not being allowed to touch anything on site due to years of unlawful development 

[Byker Biker]

On 12/6/2025 at 8:42 PM, IainB said:

... meanwhile in North Lincolnshire

 

This unfortunately is the profile and image of Speedway in this country. A "Bobble hat sport with jumpers for goalposts"

[ouch]

As we limp through the 2026 season, there should be putting a plan set in place to improve the sport and hopefully put it on a firmer footing. 

Ideas to look at include building relationships with the local councils to help secure a new fit for purpose stadium or improvements to the current location. 

Build or improve tracks to provide the level of entertainment demanded by modern audiences with the Glasgow ethos of racing being the key. 

Meetings need to be run on a tighter timeline with 9.00 as the finishing target. Grading breaks need to be short and at standard times every meeting. In the down time have something to engage the fans with rider interviews ( preferably on a big screen with replays and scores throughout), games for the kids and a mascot to provide some fun and free sweets. A chance to hear from and meet the riders after the meeting would be good to help build relationships. 

Running a junior team and U16 meetings should be mandatory to help bring on the next generation. We might even unearth some GB FIM medal winners. 

Engaging with the local community via youth groups plus attracting families via social media is something to look at and bringing in sponsors, the kind who would look beyond the local and possibly back a UK Grand Prix. 

Lastly riders need to be looked after by being paid on time and backed when times are tough to help build that bond between rider and club/fans. 

All not easy to do I know but with the right people it could be achieved. Chris Louis would be the ideal choice to push this through or Stewart Dickson at Leicester. Bates would have been good before deciding to move on and of course Buster could get things done as he has done in the past. There could even be candidates from the lower division with the drive to see this done. 

[M.D]

1 hour ago, ouch said:

As we limp through the 2026 season, there should be putting a plan set in place to improve the sport and hopefully put it on a firmer footing. 

Ideas to look at include building relationships with the local councils to help secure a new fit for purpose stadium or improvements to the current location. 

Build or improve tracks to provide the level of entertainment demanded by modern audiences with the Glasgow ethos of racing being the key. 

Meetings need to be run on a tighter timeline with 9.00 as the finishing target. Grading breaks need to be short and at standard times every meeting. In the down time have something to engage the fans with rider interviews ( preferably on a big screen with replays and scores throughout), games for the kids and a mascot to provide some fun and free sweets. A chance to hear from and meet the riders after the meeting would be good to help build relationships. 

Running a junior team and U16 meetings should be mandatory to help bring on the next generation. We might even unearth some GB FIM medal winners. 

Engaging with the local community via youth groups plus attracting families via social media is something to look at and bringing in sponsors, the kind who would look beyond the local and possibly back a UK Grand Prix. 

Lastly riders need to be looked after by being paid on time and backed when times are tough to help build that bond between rider and club/fans. 

All not easy to do I know but with the right people it could be achieved. Chris Louis would be the ideal choice to push this through or Stewart Dickson at Leicester. Bates would have been good before deciding to move on and of course Buster could get things done as he has done in the past. There could even be candidates from the lower division with the drive to see this done. 

You make some very good points, I agree with a lot of your ideas.

What the BSPL need to do now, is change all the negatives into a positive and have a total reset.

Own up for once, say the structure is not working but we will go with what we have in 26 but the structure will change in 27.

Now, if that's two leagues with the NDL included or if they want 3 with top riders then they will need to make it financially viable

I would go with one top league followed up with a National league to bring the youth on. if clubs can't affford the GP stars or they won't ride for what is offered, then so be it.

The sport needs a total reset in the UK, step back to move forward. 

[tonyd]

Before the BSPL come out of there meeting and say "its all ok and we have sorted out a long term plan" (which basically means we have added a bit of filler and painted over the cracks) they need to stop and realise a bit of filler and paint  is to late as the bloody door has now fell off all together.

There is talk about a 5 team premiership (maybe  even 3) so lets be honest how many supporters are going to keep going to watch the same teams every two weeks, unless they are going to run less and have monthly meetings in which case instead of attracting more supporters by the end of the season you will have attracted less just leaving the die hard support still attending.

And what is the incentive for a Championship club to step up into the Premiership? Any club will be welcomed with open arms that's true but at the same time I get the impression that they would be told or advised to "toe the line" and learn how we do things in the big league, further adding "we may not do it right but we do it our way" 

For me the Championship has got the right idea, they are team building for 2026 and letting the premiership get on with things as I think they like me can see the total collapse of the premier league happening very soon unless something drastic takes place like a small European League to boost teams in it.

Whatever mighty decisions are taking place the result from the annual AGM in January will be interesting to say the least.

 

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, M.D said:

You make some very good points, I agree with a lot of your ideas.

What the BSPL need to do now, is change all the negatives into a positive and have a total reset.

Own up for once, say the structure is not working but we will go with what we have in 26 but the structure will change in 27.

Now, if that's two leagues with the NDL included or if they want 3 with top riders then they will need to make it financially viable

I would go with one top league followed up with a National league to bring the youth on. if clubs can't affford the GP stars or they won't ride for what is offered, then so be it.

The sport needs a total reset in the UK, step back to move forward. 

This could have been written 25 years ago when the GP's started to impact UK domestic Speedway..

Then when Poland did the same a decade or so later....

Instead, we had the top riders taking the largest portion of the TV millions, and weekend meetings made up of guestfests as they were elsewhere.  

With these meetings still being planned in knowing some top riders wouldn't be there...

And, all the while, due to the lack of UK talent being developed with, instead, dozens of journeymen foreigners taking up spots, they then had to make the top league Monday and Thursday so doubling up could enable one rider to cover two team spots in two leagues...

And a few top riders could earn a few extra quid, and, again, hoover up most of the TV money...

Does anyone really have any faith that 2027 will see the radical change needed after we (once again), cobble something together, and "make do and mend" for 2026..?

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

36 minutes ago, tonyd said:

For me the Championship has got the right idea, they are team building for 2026 and letting the premiership get on with things as I think they like me can see the total collapse of the premier league happening very soon unless something drastic takes place like a small European League to boost teams in it.

Again the "Championship have got this right" line comes out

But no acknowledgement that to build to what they are planning requires a Premiership

Without it you have 2 choices 

One big league with a drastic reduction in standard with the exodus of all top riders

The liss of 4-5 clubs making the Championship the defacto 'top league' with a significant increase in costs to maintain a similar standard or the loss of a number of the remaining top end riders certain in 2027 even if 2026 muddles through

[Iamnotanumber]

4 hours ago, ouch said:

As we limp through the 2026 season, there should be putting a plan set in place to improve the sport and hopefully put it on a firmer footing. 

Ideas to look at include building relationships with the local councils to help secure a new fit for purpose stadium or improvements to the current location. 

Build or improve tracks to provide the level of entertainment demanded by modern audiences with the Glasgow ethos of racing being the key. 

Meetings need to be run on a tighter timeline with 9.00 as the finishing target. Grading breaks need to be short and at standard times every meeting. In the down time have something to engage the fans with rider interviews ( preferably on a big screen with replays and scores throughout), games for the kids and a mascot to provide some fun and free sweets. A chance to hear from and meet the riders after the meeting would be good to help build relationships. 

Running a junior team and U16 meetings should be mandatory to help bring on the next generation. We might even unearth some GB FIM medal winners. 

Engaging with the local community via youth groups plus attracting families via social media is something to look at and bringing in sponsors, the kind who would look beyond the local and possibly back a UK Grand Prix. 

Lastly riders need to be looked after by being paid on time and backed when times are tough to help build that bond between rider and club/fans. 

All not easy to do I know but with the right people it could be achieved. Chris Louis would be the ideal choice to push this through or Stewart Dickson at Leicester. Bates would have been good before deciding to move on and of course Buster could get things done as he has done in the past. There could even be candidates from the lower division with the drive to see this done. 

Plenty of lovely ideas but where is the money coming from? Big screens will cost many, many, thousands £ to set up and with most speedway tracks out of town and standing empty most of the time, a lot of paid security would be needed.

Where are the youth clubs you refer to?

Who pays a younger generation to manage the social media presence?

I have attended speedway for over 50 years and recall some of the semi pro days as some of the most entertaining. Given the lack of paying public, nationally, we cannot keep spending money that isn't there. Although it is good to see the GP standard riders every week, once or twice a season, at your home track, would become a rare treat, maybe in the form of a short series of international competitions. The sport in the UK cannot afford GP stars every week, so let's have one big (Championship Level) league plus a junior league for each team. 13 heats for main team and maybe 6 heats for juniors.

 

[Haza]

4 hours ago, ouch said:

As we limp through the 2026 season, there should be putting a plan set in place to improve the sport and hopefully put it on a firmer footing. 

Ideas to look at include building relationships with the local councils to help secure a new fit for purpose stadium or improvements to the current location. 

Build or improve tracks to provide the level of entertainment demanded by modern audiences with the Glasgow ethos of racing being the key. 

Meetings need to be run on a tighter timeline with 9.00 as the finishing target. Grading breaks need to be short and at standard times every meeting. In the down time have something to engage the fans with rider interviews ( preferably on a big screen with replays and scores throughout), games for the kids and a mascot to provide some fun and free sweets. A chance to hear from and meet the riders after the meeting would be good to help build relationships. 

Running a junior team and U16 meetings should be mandatory to help bring on the next generation. We might even unearth some GB FIM medal winners. 

Engaging with the local community via youth groups plus attracting families via social media is something to look at and bringing in sponsors, the kind who would look beyond the local and possibly back a UK Grand Prix. 

Lastly riders need to be looked after by being paid on time and backed when times are tough to help build that bond between rider and club/fans. 

All not easy to do I know but with the right people it could be achieved. Chris Louis would be the ideal choice to push this through or Stewart Dickson at Leicester. Bates would have been good before deciding to move on and of course Buster could get things done as he has done in the past. There could even be candidates from the lower division with the drive to see this done. 

Should have done all the above when the sport had the Sky TV money instead it was squandered only the promoters to blame .

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

41 minutes ago, Iamnotanumber said:

 The sport in the UK cannot afford GP stars every week, so let's have one big (Championship Level) league plus a junior league for each team. 13 heats for main team and maybe 6 heats for juniors.

 

Difficult to argue with the first line but after that you suggestion re one big league at Championship level in pie in the sky

You would need those junior league riders to be part of the new one big league and run it at a NDL+ level to fill the teams

I expect we will all see that in action in 2027......

[SPEEDY69]

13 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Difficult to argue with the first line but after that you suggestion re one big league at Championship level in pie in the sky

You would need those junior league riders to be part of the new one big league and run it at a NDL+ level to fill the teams

I expect we will all see that in action in 2027......

I thought that was the Championship🙂

[tonyd]

1 hour ago, Iamnotanumber said:

I have attended speedway for over 50 years and recall some of the semi pro days as some of the most entertaining. Given the lack of paying public, nationally, we cannot keep spending money that isn't there. Although it is good to see the GP standard riders every week, once or twice a season, at your home track, would become a rare treat, maybe in the form of a short series of international competitions. The sport in the UK cannot afford GP stars every week, so let's have one big (Championship Level) league plus a junior league for each team. 13 heats for main team and maybe 6 heats for juniors.

 

Agree 100%

Speedway in this country as we know it  is in a state of collapse, high wages, high stadium rents and dwindling  supporters are the norm these days. GP standard riders wages are expensive AND if no team will meet there demands they take there ability elsewhere in Europe to ride which is fair enough. How many races have we seen in the past couple of seasons where there are two races in one? Top riders a straight length ahead of second strings or reserves battling it out together So as more teams fall by the wayside so will the GP riders.

The way things are going at present within 5 years any teams that are left will have to have riders that are semi-professional racing mainly at weekends again, maybe back to the 13 heats and a second half once more where the supporters can watch the juniors improve week on week like we used to. This is the only way I can see speedway completely surviving in this country starting from the grass roots again and rebuilding.

 

 

[YeOldPitGate]

It might be a case that we just have to accept the sport in the UK at the level we have known it previously is now over.

I mentioned before i stopped going in my late teens in the early 90's when I discovered nightclubs , fast forward 33 years and nightclubs that pulled in thousands of people on a Saturday night then are all gone.

The nearest city to me had 10 night clubs in the early 90's now it has one tiny one, and loads of pubs have closed over that time frame also, places that from 1990 -2005 if you had said to me one day all these will be gone you would have thought never going to happen but it did.

Its accelerated since then with social media really taking off a lot of the youth of today have near zero interest in going out, online gaming, dating app's so you don't physically have to trawl out rounds pubs any more looking for a likely partner.

Why bother with restaurants get Deliveroo to drop off a pizza to your door, Blockbusters video gone the way of the Dodo when streaming caught on.

I occasionally look back at threads on here from 10 years or so back, and there's loads of names I come across who are no longer posting, I would guess there is maybe 50 of us die hards on here now posting and hoping a miracle happens so even this forum is probably on last knockings.

Really sad how its ended up all be it the sport has actually limped on for far longer than i thought it would but these days its a struggle to attract punters even when you are offering a professional leisure opportunity let alone when you are trying to attract people to a sport where the riders all ride for different teams every other week and after the first month in you can pretty much guarantee every week from the two teams on show there will most likely be at least 2-4 of the combined 14 riders missing.

It really does look like checkmate is nearing I would say one big league but the argument that there has to be some form of even dire top league to subsidise the bottom league as far as rider earnings goes does have merit as an argument, so it really is a case of least bad outcome.

I would imagine it will be a five team top league in 2026 with a view to finding a sacraficial lamb to get it up to six in 2027 unless someone with a load of money and no business sense can be shoe horned into getting Northampton running in 2027.