Gone Posted Thursday at 09:19 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 09:19 PM (edited) On 11/6/2025 at 9:06 PM, Youhave2minutes said: Edited 1 hour ago by Gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted Thursday at 09:50 PM Report Share Posted Thursday at 09:50 PM 1 hour ago, Ben91 said: The funny thing is we don’t have 14 Simon Lamberts. The career second division man has been killed off by the short sighted rule changes of the last decade. They’re the bumblebees of British speedway. Nobody really cared about them but their demise brings down the whole shebang. Correct ... But... Bringing over a plethora of Szymon Lambertski's, and Simon Lambertsen's, to take places UK lads could have taken, was obviously too good an opportunity to miss...🙁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone Posted Thursday at 10:05 PM Author Report Share Posted Thursday at 10:05 PM (edited) On 11/6/2025 at 9:50 PM, mikebv said: Edited 1 hour ago by Gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted yesterday at 06:01 AM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:01 AM 7 hours ago, mikebv said: Correct ... But... Bringing over a plethora of Szymon Lambertski's, and Simon Lambertsen's, to take places UK lads could have taken, was obviously too good an opportunity to miss...🙁 I think there’s a place for the bang average rider from abroad too in fairness. One who isn’t a world beater but competent and helps to make meetings competitive. Brexit probably made it harder to bring riders over who aren’t “elite” competitors though. Some of our issues stem from letting the existing, ageing rider pool hog team spots (doubling up) forcing less talented and/or up and coming riders out on one hand, then chasing big name riders who don’t really want to ride here with wads of cash we don’t have on the other. In any walk of life spending beyond your means is idiotic. Seems a lot of speedway fans think otherwise when it comes to who races for their team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted yesterday at 06:43 AM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:43 AM A wise promoter once said to me many years ago 40/38 and how you got there was more important than a win even , it's true you can forgive a home loss if the racing plus result are close and exciting IMO ! The last thing you want to see is countless numbers of 5/1's and four riders strung out with the last one parking up on the centre green with a lap to go .Whilst I don't want to see 1970's World of Sport wrestling ( fixed and badly rehearsed) something in between maybe achievable . There is nothing better than two riders side by side elbow to elbow entering the last bend and one winning by half a wheel, ,demanding skill trust with the result being in many respects irrelevant . As far as I know there are no great rewards for winning the leagues in this country , extra income for the play off's but who cares who wins it's how they do it IMO . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted 18 hours ago Report Share Posted 18 hours ago People say prospective fans don’t know the difference between Simon & Robert Lambert and more to the point don’t care. They also say it’s mad to run midweek and that meetings should be run at the weekends. The repetitive nature of the league is also off putting as you can play the opposition 3,4 or 5 times a season. Limiting visitors to just once a season will create greater demand. It’s beneficial to run a locally based team that people can identify with and the travel cost of flights isn’t an issue. Put the events on at stadiums that don’t “look like a bombsite” with comfortable padded seating that affords great views of the action. Do all this for £10-£15 instead of the £25 we currently charge with kids free and maybe we can get the sport back to where it should be - or maybe not. https://britishspeedway.co.uk/team/belle-vue-colts/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littleze Posted 18 hours ago Report Share Posted 18 hours ago 13 hours ago, FAST GATER said: A wise promoter once said to me many years ago 40/38 and how you got there was more important than a win even , it's true you can forgive a home loss if the racing plus result are close and exciting IMO ! The last thing you want to see is countless numbers of 5/1's and four riders strung out with the last one parking up on the centre green with a lap to go .Whilst I don't want to see 1970's World of Sport wrestling ( fixed and badly rehearsed) something in between maybe achievable . There is nothing better than two riders side by side elbow to elbow entering the last bend and one winning by half a wheel, ,demanding skill trust with the result being in many respects irrelevant . As far as I know there are no great rewards for winning the leagues in this country , extra income for the play off's but who cares who wins it's how they do it IMO . What is something in between though? The whole “sport” is contrived, hence why it isn’t taken seriously. No points limit, reduce rider numbers in a team, relegation/promotion, squads, no guests.. so much to unpick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthsayer Posted 17 hours ago Report Share Posted 17 hours ago 14 hours ago, Ben91 said: I think there’s a place for the bang average rider from abroad too in fairness. One who isn’t a world beater but competent and helps to make meetings competitive. Brexit probably made it harder to bring riders over who aren’t “elite” competitors though. And this is largely the sport's problem, and in some way a problem the country faces. A local journeyman in his late 20s is a lot cheaper than 'bang average rider from abroad' who needs to 'commute' and have a second structure in the UK (not to mention a wage to secure a visa and/or make it viable). We've spent decades importing labour for instant gratification rather than investing in our future. Replace the word 'speedway rider' with 'plumber' and you have the same issue. The sport can't now afford these riders. If the idea is to continue as a professional team sport, then it needs cheaper personnel and this is the problem as these personnel don't exist. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 17 hours ago Report Share Posted 17 hours ago (edited) 1 hour ago, ouch said: People say prospective fans don’t know the difference between Simon & Robert Lambert and more to the point don’t care. They also say it’s mad to run midweek and that meetings should be run at the weekends. The repetitive nature of the league is also off putting as you can play the opposition 3,4 or 5 times a season. Limiting visitors to just once a season will create greater demand. It’s beneficial to run a locally based team that people can identify with and the travel cost of flights isn’t an issue. Put the events on at stadiums that don’t “look like a bombsite” with comfortable padded seating that affords great views of the action. Do all this for £10-£15 instead of the £25 we currently charge with kids free and maybe we can get the sport back to where it should be - or maybe not. https://britishspeedway.co.uk/team/belle-vue-colts/ Watching the Colts is akin to me watching United's U19 Academy team... And I wouldn't pay £15 to watch them... If you could get in for £15 to watch the Aces, with kids in for free, then you may have half a chance... Or maybe not... Edited 17 hours ago by mikebv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hackett Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago Having worked in advertising for a number of years in the bygone era of magazines and then the digital age - it is all about numbers. If a magazine - it was the circulation or in the case of the website - page impressions or click throughs. If impressions or circulation faltered then it was about the quality of the audience (good for business to business magazines or websites }, demographic segmentation etc Speedway is an ageing demographic , the viewing numbers aren't high and the exposure is limited - thus any ad agency or brand manager is not going to spend amy budget on speedway. With no TV deal and no significant audience numbers , the sport will struggle to generate bluechip or new advertisers. The way forward would be to saturate the social media market - tik tok, iG and increase eyes ... publicise crashes , incidents like Wright vs Allen punch up to generate viewing figures. Sell your soul to influencers and let them film around meetings. Even get them om a speedway bike to generate views and build. A start would be to create an app like the Polish League with updates, live scores, interviews, video content and Fantasy League. Currently sport documentaries are massive - think All or Nothing , Hard Knocks, F1 and Netflix / Amazon with docs on NHL. NBA NFL, Football etc etc - Speedway is an exciting, adrenalin fuelled sport powered by pure alcohol - there is a story to tell - even to the uneducated. The process will be a slow burner but a speedway heat is 1 minute - it is the perfect timespan for social media - Just needs to be processed and promoted in the right way. For example - In a recent interview Jordan Pickford spoke about his love for MotoX - Immediately I would be thinking lets get him to a speedway meeting he loves motorbikes = Opportunity !! Unfortunately like a speedway AGM - rinse and repeat 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 6 hours ago, Hackett said: Having worked in advertising for a number of years in the bygone era of magazines and then the digital age - it is all about numbers. If a magazine - it was the circulation or in the case of the website - page impressions or click throughs. If impressions or circulation faltered then it was about the quality of the audience (good for business to business magazines or websites }, demographic segmentation etc Speedway is an ageing demographic , the viewing numbers aren't high and the exposure is limited - thus any ad agency or brand manager is not going to spend amy budget on speedway. With no TV deal and no significant audience numbers , the sport will struggle to generate bluechip or new advertisers. The way forward would be to saturate the social media market - tik tok, iG and increase eyes ... publicise crashes , incidents like Wright vs Allen punch up to generate viewing figures. Sell your soul to influencers and let them film around meetings. Even get them om a speedway bike to generate views and build. A start would be to create an app like the Polish League with updates, live scores, interviews, video content and Fantasy League. Currently sport documentaries are massive - think All or Nothing , Hard Knocks, F1 and Netflix / Amazon with docs on NHL. NBA NFL, Football etc etc - Speedway is an exciting, adrenalin fuelled sport powered by pure alcohol - there is a story to tell - even to the uneducated. The process will be a slow burner but a speedway heat is 1 minute - it is the perfect timespan for social media - Just needs to be processed and promoted in the right way. For example - In a recent interview Jordan Pickford spoke about his love for MotoX - Immediately I would be thinking lets get him to a speedway meeting he loves motorbikes = Opportunity !! Unfortunately like a speedway AGM - rinse and repeat So maybe the Harry Redknapp thingy was just the start?!....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago 7 hours ago, Hackett said: Having worked in advertising for a number of years in the bygone era of magazines and then the digital age - it is all about numbers. If a magazine - it was the circulation or in the case of the website - page impressions or click throughs. If impressions or circulation faltered then it was about the quality of the audience (good for business to business magazines or websites }, demographic segmentation etc Speedway is an ageing demographic , the viewing numbers aren't high and the exposure is limited - thus any ad agency or brand manager is not going to spend amy budget on speedway. With no TV deal and no significant audience numbers , the sport will struggle to generate bluechip or new advertisers. The way forward would be to saturate the social media market - tik tok, iG and increase eyes ... publicise crashes , incidents like Wright vs Allen punch up to generate viewing figures. Sell your soul to influencers and let them film around meetings. Even get them om a speedway bike to generate views and build. A start would be to create an app like the Polish League with updates, live scores, interviews, video content and Fantasy League. Currently sport documentaries are massive - think All or Nothing , Hard Knocks, F1 and Netflix / Amazon with docs on NHL. NBA NFL, Football etc etc - Speedway is an exciting, adrenalin fuelled sport powered by pure alcohol - there is a story to tell - even to the uneducated. The process will be a slow burner but a speedway heat is 1 minute - it is the perfect timespan for social media - Just needs to be processed and promoted in the right way. For example - In a recent interview Jordan Pickford spoke about his love for MotoX - Immediately I would be thinking lets get him to a speedway meeting he loves motorbikes = Opportunity !! Unfortunately like a speedway AGM - rinse and repeat Excellenf Post.... The modern world... And it doesn't have to cost much to get tremendous cut through if you use the modern digital platforms to regularly "bombard" those who get sent down the algorithmic "rabbit hole" to your "TV channel"... Just. Target your market... And saturate it with "content"... Just 30,000 per week extra out of a population of 80m, plenty of whom living less than 45 mins from a track, would deliver triple digit percentage growth... And, small numbers they may be, but, given the low starting base, in "real terms", these nunbers could transform the sport overnight... But it needs to be coordinated, nationally... Clubs giving stickers out from the foyer of a local supermarket is fine, but the whole sport needs to get itself recognised, as that will generate much larger, quicker results... Promoters collectively spend literally a seven figure sum on riders each season... Yet plenty of people living within a mile of some tracks won't even know the sport, never mind the track, exists... Maybe cutting that rider outlay back by say 15% and, instead, giving this cash to an experienced, professional marketing and advertising agency, who use modern day techniques, and have evidence of success in this field, would deliver much bigger crowds than any GP rider appearing at any UK track would..? Plenty can (and already should), have been done, given the clear and obvious results have shown the folly of doing the same thing over and over again... Staying insular in their own Speedway Bubble Echo Chamber won't help the sport grow, as has been proven, therefore, let's hope they are actively trying to bring in some quality people from outside the sport to drive their brand forward.... We take the p**s on here by saying each year that this is the most important AGM ever, ever, ever, etc, etc... But this year, it genuinely is probably true.. Let's hope those in charge can deliver the sport in a way that allows it to achieve the undoubted potential of its "raw materials"... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago It stands to reason that us fans make excuses for the sports poor following as the reality - the fact that people don’t like speedway - is hard to take as it is in direct opposition to our choice to spend our leisure pound the way we do. Every idea presented on here has been attempted, many times in some instances. It’s constantly stated on here that we are the best kept secret etc. This is just not true. If you have no interest in something you don’t retain the information thrown at you. United & City are two of the biggest sporting teams in the world, right on my doorstep but I couldn’t tell you when their next match was, when the season is or who plays for them. I can watch a set of adverts and should you question me straight after, I’d have little clue what I saw. Lakeside was full to the rafters one week, the next back to its regular poor attendance. People know about our sport but CHOOSE not to watch it. We cannot recreate the world or peoples circumstances that led to full stadia back in the ‘70’s so we need to change with the times. Speedway needs to become memorable and create water cooler moments. The racing can provide that (British Final - final) but in the age of social media we need to be creating content with memorable characters and happenings - even if these are part concoctions. One of speedways issues is it’s pretence that it’s a credible sport when as we know it’s anything but. This I do not see changing but the same can be said of other sports once you scratch the surface. We need to grasp the entertainment nettle and go full on with a set of goodies & baddies with interactions between the two, the officials and the crowd to create these moments of interest perfectly suit to social media clips that can act as a trailer for something fuller that showcases the event and leaves a fomo for those watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 31 minutes ago, ouch said: It stands to reason that us fans make excuses for the sports poor following as the reality - the fact that people don’t like speedway - is hard to take as it is in direct opposition to our choice to spend our leisure pound the way we do. Every idea presented on here has been attempted, many times in some instances. It’s constantly stated on here that we are the best kept secret etc. This is just not true. If you have no interest in something you don’t retain the information thrown at you. United & City are two of the biggest sporting teams in the world, right on my doorstep but I couldn’t tell you when their next match was, when the season is or who plays for them. I can watch a set of adverts and should you question me straight after, I’d have little clue what I saw. Lakeside was full to the rafters one week, the next back to its regular poor attendance. People know about our sport but CHOOSE not to watch it. We cannot recreate the world or peoples circumstances that led to full stadia back in the ‘70’s so we need to change with the times. Speedway needs to become memorable and create water cooler moments. The racing can provide that (British Final - final) but in the age of social media we need to be creating content with memorable characters and happenings - even if these are part concoctions. One of speedways issues is it’s pretence that it’s a credible sport when as we know it’s anything but. This I do not see changing but the same can be said of other sports once you scratch the surface. We need to grasp the entertainment nettle and go full on with a set of goodies & baddies with interactions between the two, the officials and the crowd to create these moments of interest perfectly suit to social media clips that can act as a trailer for something fuller that showcases the event and leaves a fomo for those watching. The thing is.... There is a "decent" following for it.... Much greater than the "average" attendance at each track... As is proved each Bank Holiday and during the Play Offs... (And the PCMM also at the NSS).. If the sport could deliver those sizes of crowd levels each meeting during the season, the sport would be in considerably better health.... They just need to find a way of doing it... Getting those who follow the sport closely, but attend infrequently, is a huge market and opportunity to capture and re-engage... The Lakeside example didn't work because it was a one off grand gesture, and you don't win lifetime loyalty using such techniques... Glasgow show that getting people to attend several times before having to pay is a mechanic that does work, as they will have started to buy into the sport, and maybe developed some emotional attachment to the team.... If you invest in a "loss leader" you need to have clear follow up plans to ensure those who have taken advantage of it, return often... Getting the many who still follow the sport but don't attend often, to attend more frequently, would be a lot easier to do than attract the same number of "newbies"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShanoXtra Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 13 minutes ago, mikebv said: The thing is.... There is a "decent" following for it.... Much greater than the "average" attendance at each track... As is proved each Bank Holiday and during the Play Offs... (And the PCMM also at the NSS).. If the sport could deliver those sizes of crowd levels each meeting during the season, the sport would be in considerably better health.... They just need to find a way of doing it... Getting those who follow the sport closely, but attend infrequently, is a huge market and opportunity to capture and re-engage... The Lakeside example didn't work because it was a one off grand gesture, and you don't win lifetime loyalty using such techniques... Glasgow show that getting people to attend several times before having to pay is a mechanic that does work, as they will have started to buy into the sport, and maybe developed some emotional attachment to the team.... If you invest in a "loss leader" you need to have clear follow up plans to ensure those who have taken advantage of it, return often... Getting the many who still follow the sport but don't attend often, to attend more frequently, would be a lot easier to do than attract the same number of "newbies"... All I see from majority of BV fans on here this that they don’t attend the ‘qualifiers’ 😂 maybe you just need more loyal fans and not pick and choose ones 😉 you seem to have a lot to write ✍🏼 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) 31 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said: All I see from majority of BV fans on here this that they don’t attend the ‘qualifiers’ 😂 maybe you just need more loyal fans and not pick and choose ones 😉 you seem to have a lot to write ✍🏼 My point exactly... The following is there... The relevance and jeopardy of the competition to get them to attend, unfortunately isn't... Especially on a Monday, (apart from Bank Holiday ones obviously).. Edit Re "needing more loyal fans".... The Aces have at least always had enough of them to maintain top tier racing since its very existence. Unlike a fair few others whose fans were not so loyal... Some, after dropping down, even languishing in the second tier for a good many seasons... Edited 2 hours ago by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) Riders giving fans, esp children, a quick wave after a hard fought race would be nice. As a neutral, a few times at Scunny I've seen riders from [name redacted], but one of the teams you always meet at the business end of the season, battle through from the back for a heat win - then disappear back to the pits without waving to their travelling support, which included children. I've pondered out loud "Well, I'd think twice about travelling circa 250 - 300 miles to support riders who find it too much trouble to travel (circa) 250 - 300 metres & give their fans a quick wave". Actually, being 'speedway - mad' (for which there is no cure !) I'd still travel support a team of my own & that I identify with anyway, but I'm sure I've made my point here.... Edited 2 hours ago by martinmauger spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone Posted 2 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) 1 hour ago, martinmauger said: Edited 1 hour ago by Gone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago (edited) 53 minutes ago, mikebv said: My point exactly... The following is there... The relevance and jeopardy of the competition to get them to attend, unfortunately isn't... Especially on a Monday, (apart from Bank Holiday ones obviously).. Edit Re "needing more loyal fans".... The Aces have at least always had enough of them to maintain top tier racing since its very existence. Unlike a fair few others whose fans were not so loyal... Some, after dropping down, even languishing in the second tier for a good many seasons... Many team sports are regularly attended by fans who support their team even if they're mid table or at the lower end, not always on a Monday night with big question marks as to whether it'll actually be on or who will actually be in the teams though, of course you'll always get your glory hunters who'll only turn up to watch a winning team Edited 1 hour ago by IainB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago Out of interest - Which current teams DON'T use social media and/or influencers nor offer their own 'TV' option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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