IainB Posted 22 hours ago Report Share Posted 22 hours ago 53 minutes ago, Youhave2minutes said: We all await in suspense In suspenders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youhave2minutes Posted 21 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 21 hours ago (edited) 38 minutes ago, IainB said: In suspenders? If were playing kinky games then yes Edited 21 hours ago by Youhave2minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noaksey Posted 20 hours ago Report Share Posted 20 hours ago 7 hours ago, SteveArena said: Having pondered it maybe you guys are right about bringing the bookies into the sport. We do need some big investment though so maybe Harry can do that using other contacts he has in the media and football. He is on Talk Sport quite a bit would they be interested in any commentary on Talksport 2 in the summer. The main Talk Sport station will be busy with the World Cup but they do have other sports on TS 2 sometimes. They weren't bar a few cameo mentions when Nigel Pearson was their football commentator and Nige was never slow to plug speedway so I wouldn't think so but certainly worth another enquiry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndiCapp Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago (edited) As we are all keen avid speedway fans and use this forum to have fun with other fans from around the tracks, my concern like many others is the potential drop off of the sport in the UK. It has always been the case that fingers are pointed at the things that dont help the sport by the powers that be whilst the sport in this country is being left to diminish to the point clubs will disappear once their owners one by one walk away. Its about time fans are listened to as barely any clubs are financially stable and all that seems to happen each AGM is rulings/stipulations to further detract from the wonderful spectacle speedway is by further adding penalities to a failing sport. The biggest concern for me are the cost of riders which seems to be driven by the cost of parts and the requirement for it to be used as a professional revenue and the subsequent lack of fans which maybe down to various blaize approaches over the past 20 years has created a disconnect for fans on the perifory. We need to act now to give the sport in this country a chance of survival. Fans deserve to have a voice and be heard on the top table as without fans only vast individual sponsors will float any club. Edited 14 hours ago by AndiCapp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technik Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago I don't think there will be much changed. There will still be a 3 tier structure to the leagues weather thats good or bad remains to be seen, But if clubs from the top league of 2025 are stating they will not run in one big league then the ransom note has been sent. We can ilafford to loose two tracks. How it will survive without TV money to prop it up is unknown. I think the way forward is to involve the fanbase more, They have been dealt a poor hand for far to long. The Promoters must understand fans will no longer turn up just because it's there. We must get back to starting on time, First race prompt at 19:30 & when ever possible a second half. We should bring back the tactical substitute but make the difference 8 points before it can be used. Let the fans be the manager on the terraces whilst the real team manager has to earn their wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secsy1 Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago Expectation levels by both riders and fans is the root of all the existing problems. Riders are asking ridiculous pay scales, making many of them unemployable even though they are the ones putting life and limbs at risk every time they ride. Fans are more often than not, expected to pay through the nose for sometimes second rate presented meetings and short entertainment value at embarrassingly long drawn out meetings. Forget league structure for a minute and take a long hard look at the factors above. Potentially a rider salary cap and a feasable entry fee at all tracks in each respective league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago (edited) 30 minutes ago, secsy1 said: Expectation levels by both riders and fans is the root of all the existing problems. Riders are asking ridiculous pay scales, making many of them unemployable even though they are the ones putting life and limbs at risk every time they ride. Fans are more often than not, expected to pay through the nose for sometimes second rate presented meetings and short entertainment value at embarrassingly long drawn out meetings. Forget league structure for a minute and take a long hard look at the factors above. Potentially a rider salary cap and a feasable entry fee at all tracks in each respective league. There was a match presented to the paying public last week at Leicester. It was a double header Leicester vs Belle Vue in the NDL followed by Leicester vs Kent in the NDT. In the first match Leicester tracked 2 guests and R/R, Belle Vue 1 guest and R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 5 guests 1 of which didn't start and Kent R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 3 riders who were riding for Belle Vue in the first match. In the second match Kent tracked 1 rider who was riding for Belle Vue in the first match. The 2nd match was scheduled to start at 20:30 but didn't start until after 21:00 and the 2nd match was abandoned after heat 14 due to the curfew. I was toying with the idea of attending this as my last match of the season as it's a long close season. I asked Leicester Speedway a simple question on TwitterX of how much the admission price was only to get no reply... so I didn't bother. Everything that is wrong with British Speedway encapsulated in 1 night! And the powers that be are proposing business as usual as the cure... the sport is finished! Edited 5 hours ago by IainB 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youhave2minutes Posted 4 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 35 minutes ago, IainB said: There was a match presented to the paying public last week at Leicester. It was a double header Leicester vs Belle Vue in the NDL followed by Leicester vs Kent in the NDT. In the first match Leicester tracked 2 guests and R/R, Belle Vue 1 guest and R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 5 guests 1 of which didn't start and Kent R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 3 riders who were riding for Belle Vue in the first match. In the second match Kent tracked 1 rider who was riding for Belle Vue in the first match. The 2nd match was scheduled to start at 20:30 but didn't start until after 21:00 and the 2nd match was abandoned after heat 14 due to the curfew. I was toying with the idea of attending this as my last match of the season as it's a long close season. I asked Leicester Speedway a simple question on TwitterX of how much the admission price was only to get no reply... so I didn't bother. Everything that is wrong with British Speedway encapsulated in 1 night! And the powers that be are proposing business as usual as the cure... the sport is finished! Exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 4 hours ago Report Share Posted 4 hours ago 35 minutes ago, IainB said: There was a match presented to the paying public last week at Leicester. It was a double header Leicester vs Belle Vue in the NDL followed by Leicester vs Kent in the NDT. In the first match Leicester tracked 2 guests and R/R, Belle Vue 1 guest and R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 5 guests 1 of which didn't start and Kent R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 3 riders who were riding for Belle Vue in the first match. In the second match Kent tracked 1 rider who was riding for Belle Vue in the first match. The 2nd match was scheduled to start at 20:30 but didn't start until after 21:00 and the 2nd match was abandoned after heat 14 due to the curfew. I was toying with the idea of attending this as my last match of the season as it's a long close season. I asked Leicester Speedway a simple question on TwitterX of how much the admission price was only to get no reply... so I didn't bother. Everything that is wrong with British Speedway encapsulated in 1 night! And the powers that be are proposing business as usual as the cure... the sport is finished! Extenuating circumstances that night though Iain... So let's be fair... That FIFTH Leicester guest in the 2nd meeting was unavoidable.... Sadly, it was time to stop taking UK Speedway seriously as a "proper" team sport, about two decades ago.... The GP's and other FIM competitions started to grow, and maintaining your place in a Polish team started to take up many rider's focus and priority... This resulted in guestfest after guestfest, particularly at weekends, as riders pursued their own individual ambitions... With these riders usually being the "big names" and the largest beneficiaries of "the Sky money"... UK promoters, knowing these riders would be missing, still insisted on putting out League racing though... I remember one night at Lakeside, the Aces went there with four guests (Arena track ringers) and RR due to a national championship, and GP qualifiers, taking place around Europe... I was staying in Canary Wharf that weekend and would have gone until I saw the line up... You simply couldn't then, nor (particularly in the internet age), even more so now, take team speedway seriously in the UK... Which is a shame as the raw product is still very sellable.... But, only if the infrastructure underpinning it made more sense, and had more credibility and jeopardy... They desperately need a "Big Sponsor" to ensure a "Big Prize Fund" as that naturally will get interest from the wider UK public and media.. However. You have to doubt that ever happening unfortunately given its operating model is so open to ridicule.... What we have, and have had for probably the best part of two decades now, is probably pretty much "all there is", as surely those running the sport must have seen the decline in crowds as easily as the fans who still attend have... But, given not much seems to have changed when radical change was clearly needed, nor even researched as to why so many who still follow the sport, no longer attend, you can only presume all is thought "OK" at the high table and "same old/same old" remains the order of the day... Roll on next March eh? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago 6 minutes ago, mikebv said: Extenuating circumstances that night though Iain... So let's be fair... That FIFTH Leicester guest in the 2nd meeting was unavoidable.... Sadly, it was time to stop taking UK Speedway seriously as a "proper" team sport, about two decades ago.... The GP's and other FIM competitions started to grow, and maintaining your place in a Polish team started to take up many rider's focus and priority... This resulted in guestfest after guestfest, particularly at weekends, as riders pursued their own individual ambitions... With these riders usually being the "big names" and the largest beneficiaries of "the Sky money"... UK promoters, knowing these riders would be missing, still insisted on putting out League racing though... I remember one night at Lakeside, the Aces went there with four guests (Arena track ringers) and RR due to a national championship, and GP qualifiers, taking place around Europe... I was staying in Canary Wharf that weekend and would have gone until I saw the line up... You simply couldn't then, nor (particularly in the internet age), even more so now, take team speedway seriously in the UK... Which is a shame as the raw product is still very sellable.... But, only if the infrastructure underpinning it made more sense, and had more credibility and jeopardy... They desperately need a "Big Sponsor" to ensure a "Big Prize Fund" as that naturally will get interest from the wider UK public and media.. However. You have to doubt that ever happening unfortunately given its operating model is so open to ridicule.... What we have, and have had for probably the best part of two decades now, is probably pretty much "all there is", as surely those running the sport must have seen the decline in crowds as easily as the fans who still attend have... But, given not much seems to have changed when radical change was clearly needed, nor even researched as to why so many who still follow the sport, no longer attend, you can only presume all is thought "OK" at the high table and "same old/same old" remains the order of the day... Roll on next March eh? I'm beginning to realise that the "radical" change that has been mooted for next season is in fact no change... and that, when you think about it, is quite radical for a sport in a terminal decline! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJA Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago On 11/2/2025 at 8:00 AM, mikebv said: You can also have the "best rider in the race" who will start odds on, deliberately coming in behind his own team mate to keep his average down, but pick up the same points money... Ahem! Of course, I meant "shepherding" a less experienced colleague around for the good of the team..... Ahh that explains Doyle's average in comparison so someone like Fricke's..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) 1 hour ago, IainB said: I'm beginning to realise that the "radical" change that has been mooted for next season is in fact no change... and that, when you think about it, is quite radical for a sport in a terminal decline! I’m beginning to think this too and I’m the one who was told it was radical change but there are things I just can’t say that I know to be true but absolute silence from the bspl leads me to believe either there is something coming or an idea has gone ** up and they are trying to make the best of a bad situation, I’ve been trying to fill in the missing pieces from what I know and the rumours and they just don’t fit and non of it makes sense and I just feel like we are going to plod on the same as before but with less teams and less money Edited 2 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyke Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 22 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said: I’m beginning to think this too and I’m the one who was told it was radical change but there are things I just can’t say that I know to be true but absolute silence from the bspl leads me to believe either there is something coming or an idea has gone ** up and they are trying to make the best of a bad situation, I’ve been trying to fill in the missing pieces from what I know and the rumours and they just don’t fit and non of it makes sense and I just feel like we are going to plod on the same as before but with less teams and less money The words, deck chairs, Titanic , rearranging spring to mind, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 8 minutes ago, tyke said: The words, deck chairs, Titanic , rearranging spring to mind, Wish I could disagree with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 54 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said: I’m beginning to think this too and I’m the one who was told it was radical change but there are things I just can’t say that I know to be true but absolute silence from the bspl leads me to believe either there is something coming or an idea has gone ** up and they are trying to make the best of a bad situation, I’ve been trying to fill in the missing pieces from what I know and the rumours and they just don’t fit and non of it makes sense and I just feel like we are going to plod on the same as before but with less teams and less money Rather than be coy about what radical changes you were told were coming, you could say what you think the BSPA had in mind at the end of this season for 2026 but would need some things to fall into place to make it possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 10 minutes ago, 1 valve said: Rather than be coy about what radical changes you were told were coming, you could say what you think the BSPA had in mind at the end of this season for 2026 but would need some things to fall into place to make it possible. I’m not being coy I genuinely don’t know what they had/have planned they won’t say, all I was told was they are/were planning wasn’t something that has been tried before in speedway but that’s as far as I was told,what I do know isn’t what they are planning it’s a couple of facts which which on the face of it are troubling and contradictory to the rumours that we are all hearing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 3 hours ago, IainB said: There was a match presented to the paying public last week at Leicester. It was a double header Leicester vs Belle Vue in the NDL followed by Leicester vs Kent in the NDT. In the first match Leicester tracked 2 guests and R/R, Belle Vue 1 guest and R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 5 guests 1 of which didn't start and Kent R/R In the second match Leicester tracked 3 riders who were riding for Belle Vue in the first match. In the second match Kent tracked 1 rider who was riding for Belle Vue in the first match. The 2nd match was scheduled to start at 20:30 but didn't start until after 21:00 and the 2nd match was abandoned after heat 14 due to the curfew. I was toying with the idea of attending this as my last match of the season as it's a long close season. I asked Leicester Speedway a simple question on TwitterX of how much the admission price was only to get no reply... so I didn't bother. Everything that is wrong with British Speedway encapsulated in 1 night! And the powers that be are proposing business as usual as the cure... the sport is finished! Clubs or the BSPL should not be promoting the NDL as a professional league - rider availability is down to who can get time off work or travel. It worked 20 years ago when teams swapped riders around - I remember at Rye House you could see riders appearing for different teams all the time and no one seemed to be too concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 55 minutes ago Report Share Posted 55 minutes ago 3 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said: I’m not being coy I genuinely don’t know what they had/have planned they won’t say, all I was told was they are/were planning wasn’t something that has been tried before in speedway but that’s as far as I was told,what I do know isn’t what they are planning it’s a couple of facts which which on the face of it are troubling and contradictory to the rumours that we are all hearing Credibility of the Leagues? Outcome Jeopardy for the majority of meetings? Meetings not being arranged already knowing riders will be missing, (usually the biggest riders who attract the most fans)..? A joined up, well funded, collective, national marketing strategy? Clubs doing their own YouTube "magazine" channels? An admission fee in keeping with what is actually on offer? A huge national well planned and executed promotion of the sport targeting schools and local kids groups and kids sports teams? All kids in for free to hopefully grow the sports future? Kids clubs set up at each track to maintain communication with them and thier families? Running on nights when you can bring those kids without them having school the next day? Or? A new helmet colour, but not a Green one this time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normski Posted 53 minutes ago Report Share Posted 53 minutes ago 1 minute ago, mikebv said: Credibility of the Leagues? Outcome Jeopardy for the majority of meetings? Meetings not being arranged already knowing riders will be missing, (usually the biggest riders who attract the most fans)..? A joined up, well funded, collective, national marketing strategy? Clubs doing their own YouTube "magazine" channels? An admission fee in keeping with what is actually on offer? A huge national well planned and executed promotion of the sport targeting schools and local kids groups and kids sports teams? All kids in for free to hopefully grow the sports future? Kids clubs set up at each track to maintain communication with them and thier families? Running on nights when you can bring those kids without them having school the next day? Or? A new helmet colour, but not a Green one this time? bring back black/yellow helmet cover lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 40 minutes ago Report Share Posted 40 minutes ago 9 minutes ago, mikebv said: Credibility of the Leagues? Outcome Jeopardy for the majority of meetings? Meetings not being arranged already knowing riders will be missing, (usually the biggest riders who attract the most fans)..? A joined up, well funded, collective, national marketing strategy? Clubs doing their own YouTube "magazine" channels? An admission fee in keeping with what is actually on offer? A huge national well planned and executed promotion of the sport targeting schools and local kids groups and kids sports teams? All kids in for free to hopefully grow the sports future? Kids clubs set up at each track to maintain communication with them and thier families? Running on nights when you can bring those kids without them having school the next day? Or? A new helmet colour, but not a Green one this time? Here is what I think, 1 rider 1 mechanic 1 bike allowed in pits, reduced points money, no gaurentees, any race night , 6 teams with 1 unknown team run by the rest of the league just to make the numbers up, possibly Northampton, 6 riders per team, has to contain at least 3 Brits, 1 rider of 8 average per team, this is not fact or even what I would do but just some ideas 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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