2026 Premiership is Go! - At least 5 teams

[noaksey]

20 minutes ago, Marky_Mark said:

Mildenhall would need a similar large investment as per Northampton. The SCB wouldn’t give them a track license due to the large posts inserted to the fence for stock cars. They have installed foam inserts which were accepted by NORA, however to obtain an SCB license they would have to install new foam from a certain supplier at a cost of circa £90,000.

The additional premiership team that I have been told about is neither Northampton or Mildenhall.

I'd say 90k is much less than it would cost to put the required infrastructure in to Northampton but if it's neither then its a moot point 

[IainB]

56 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

It’s more than money, it’s owned and run by 2 former riders and they still don’t want it, tells you it all really, there is a family dispute in the background and until that’s resolved it’s going nowhere and even if it was just about money who in their right mind is going to pay someone else’s debts off just to start from scratch, that’s financial suicide 

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do to do the things you do want to do, and if that means paying off somebody else's debts to be able to run Speedway on a ready made, proven successful, track then so be it, this is hardly Russia vs Ukraine or Jews vs Arabs, it's Speedway and with no track running any meaningful Speedway in the south east and that be sat there doing nothing is an absolute scandal with the sport being at an all time low at this moment in time. There's more chance of Eastbourne happening than asking Peterborough to run PL when they don't even have a track... and whoever asked them to do that shouldn't be anywhere near our sport!

Edited December 29, 2025 by IainB

[old bob at herne bay]

In summary seems

Minimum of £100k needs to be chucked at any potential venue whether or not its a former speedway venue to satisfy the BSPL. Our AGM is on the 6th January, so get your skates on please. No late payments of membership fees will be accepted. 

On the granting of our licence , then you are guaranteeed a season of 8 maybe 10, or 12 maybe 15 home meetings in a league for 5 or 6 teams. We havent yet decided the number of teams allowed in our league , nor the exact fixture format. Fixures may be erratic and not run in some months at all , please bear that in mind when negotiating rental deals with your track owners. Please bear with us. Please don't try and run any other speedway meetings on your track without our permission or you will be expelled. We usually run meetings on Mondays or Thursdays, but as you are the last track to join the league you will have to fit in around either day to suit the existing tracks. 

Previous seasons have shown no clubs have turned a profit in this league, even with generous TV sponsorship which is not forthcoming this season. 

There are still some riders available to hire that have not been employed by the other clubs in the league. You will ahve to haggle with them to agree terms and as you are the last team to join the league you wll have to take what's available.  

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

11 minutes ago, IainB said:

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do to do the things you do want to do, and if that means paying off somebody else's debts to be able to run Speedway on a ready made, proven successful, track then so be it, this is hardly Russia vs Ukraine or Jews vs Arabs, it's Speedway and with no track running any meaningful Speedway in the south east and that be sat there doing nothing is an absolute scandal with the sport being at an all time low at this moment in time. There's more chance of Eastbourne happening than asking Peterborough to run PL when they don't even have a track... and whoever asked them to do that shouldn't be anywhere near our sport!

There is NO chance of Eastbourne happening,doesn’t matter if we think it’s the best option or it’s scandalous that there is a track not being used it’s not happening end of story, it has been tried on numerous occasions since it closed and this year is no exception,Peterborough being asked is just one of many desperate measures that have been asked and believe me some ideas have been ridiculous, at this point it’s what’s possible not what we would like, 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 minute ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

There is NO chance of Eastbourne happening,doesn’t matter if we think it’s the best option or it’s scandalous that there is a track not being used it’s not happening end of story, it has been tried on numerous occasions since it closed and this year is no exception,Peterborough being asked is just one of many desperate measures that have been asked and believe me some ideas have been ridiculous, at this point it’s what’s possible not what we would like, 

 

21 minutes ago, IainB said:

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do to do the things you do want to do, and if that means paying off somebody else's debts to be able to run Speedway 

Said nobody ever in a viable business or who has any sense and the money to back it

[old bob at herne bay]

Think if Dean Machine and MD say no to an Eastbourne speedway revival then that’s NO . 
 

[old bob at herne bay]

Think if Dean Machine and MD say no to an Eastbourne speedway revival then that’s NO . 
 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

56 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said:

Think if Dean Machine and MD say no to an Eastbourne speedway revival then that’s NO . 
 

MD is your Eastbourne man 

[SteveLyric2]

52 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said:

Think if Dean Machine and MD say no to an Eastbourne speedway revival then that’s NO . 
 

So which existing track is going to run an additional Prem team? Answers please on the back of a fag packet and submitted by 6/1/26.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Only 8 days to go 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

53 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

So which existing track is going to run an additional Prem team? Answers please on the back of a fag packet and submitted by 6/1/26.

I’ll go for Buxton 😂

[Steve Irving]

1 hour ago, SteveLyric2 said:

So which existing track is going to run an additional Prem team? Answers please on the back of a fag packet and submitted by 6/1/26.

Interesting isn’t it that you’ll get people come on here being all cryptic with “the team I’ve heard is neither Northampton or Mildenhall” etc etc, but none of them will actually say what the mystery club is? Wonder why that is?

Think we all know the answer to that 🙄

[M.D]

3 hours ago, IainB said:

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do to do the things you do want to do, and if that means paying off somebody else's debts to be able to run Speedway on a ready made, proven successful, track then so be it, this is hardly Russia vs Ukraine or Jews vs Arabs, it's Speedway and with no track running any meaningful Speedway in the south east and that be sat there doing nothing is an absolute scandal with the sport being at an all time low at this moment in time. There's more chance of Eastbourne happening than asking Peterborough to run PL when they don't even have a track... and whoever asked them to do that shouldn't be anywhere near our sport!

I spoke with one of the guys about 2 weeks ago and the answer was still no and yes the BSPL have approached them.

This is why 2 of the guys went off and set up the Kent Eagles at Iwade.

Its been 4 years now since speedway ran at Arlington, the track is now down to its base and all the equipment would need to be replaced including a new fence so even if the nod was given, it would be a substantial amount of money just to get to tapes.

[IainB]

3 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

There is NO chance of Eastbourne happening,doesn’t matter if we think it’s the best option or it’s scandalous that there is a track not being used it’s not happening end of story, it has been tried on numerous occasions since it closed and this year is no exception,Peterborough being asked is just one of many desperate measures that have been asked and believe me some ideas have been ridiculous, at this point it’s what’s possible not what we would like, 

From the tracks that you originally mentioned and the ones I added, Eastbourne is easily the easiest to get up and running again.Whoever has approached Eastbourne on behalf of the BSPL obviously haven't tried nearly hard enough to get Speedway back to there, but if they're clutching at straws like Peterborough then they're clearly living in cloud cuckoo land.

2 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

 

Said nobody ever in a viable business or who has any sense and the money to back it

Many companies have done this in the past if it's a stumbling block to them being able to trade... it depends how desperate they are. It may not have been labelled as paying off somebody else's debts, but paying "sweeteners" in business is common place, no matter how it's wrapped up.

4 minutes ago, M.D said:

I spoke with one of the guys about 2 weeks ago and the answer was still no and yes the BSPL have approached them.

This is why 2 of the guys went off and set up the Kent Eagles at Iwade.

Its been 4 years now since speedway ran at Arlington, the track is now down to its base and all the equipment would need to be replaced including a new fence so even if the nod was given, it would be a substantial amount of money just to get to tapes.

As I mentioned above, from the tracks that @THE DEAN MACHINE originally mentioned and the 4 I added, it's still the best bet... even if it's no bet at all.

[Marky_Mark]

19 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

Interesting isn’t it that you’ll get people come on here being all cryptic with “the team I’ve heard is neither Northampton or Mildenhall” etc etc, but none of them will actually say what the mystery club is? Wonder why that is?

Think we all know the answer to that 🙄

Oh come on, give your head a wobble!

There’s a very good reason why people won’t name the new team, which is why the BSPL and the team themselves haven’t announced it yet, there’s still lots to sort out and it isn’t finalised but they are serious and have already spoken to riders.

It’s not a done deal yet, but very close and dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s

It’s only right that the promotors announce it themselves to gain maximum publicity.

 

 

 

 

 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

35 minutes ago, IainB said:

From the tracks that you originally mentioned and the ones I added, Eastbourne is easily the easiest to get up and running again.Whoever has approached Eastbourne on behalf of the BSPL obviously haven't tried nearly hard enough to get Speedway back to there, but if they're clutching at straws like Peterborough then they're clearly living in cloud cuckoo land.

Many companies have done this in the past if it's a stumbling block to them being able to trade... it depends how desperate they are. It may not have been labelled as paying off somebody else's debts, but paying "sweeteners" in business is common place, no matter how it's wrapped up.

As I mentioned above, from the tracks that @THE DEAN MACHINE originally mentioned and the 4 I added, it's still the best bet... even if it's no bet at all.

Remind me never to go to a casino with you 😂

[IainB]

29 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Remind me never to go to a casino with you 😂

Seriously though, that's how pie in the sky this mystery 6th track is, unless it's a returning club with a ready made fanbase, in the current climate it's doomed to fail imo.

[norbold]

4 hours ago, IainB said:

Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do to do the things you do want to do, and if that means paying off somebody else's debts to be able to run Speedway on a ready made, proven successful, track then so be it, this is hardly Russia vs Ukraine or Jews vs Arabs, it's Speedway and with no track running any meaningful Speedway in the south east and that be sat there doing nothing is an absolute scandal with the sport being at an all time low at this moment in time. There's more chance of Eastbourne happening than asking Peterborough to run PL when they don't even have a track... and whoever asked them to do that shouldn't be anywhere near our sport!

Perhaps all us Forum members could chip in a bit to open up a former track: Fleetwood Forumers? 

[YeOldPitGate]

12 minutes ago, IainB said:

Seriously though, that's how pie in the sky this mystery 6th track is, unless it's a returning club with a ready made fanbase, in the current climate it's doomed to fail imo.

Is anything happening at Arena Essex or has that been flattened for housing also ?

[old bob at herne bay]

Ye olde pit gate ,

A per pro my earlier tongue in cheek guess, Google earth as of March 2025 shows the shale oval and the tarmac outer stock car track still visible. The first bend building has been demolished as have all the bus shelters on the back straight. 

… the steelwork of the home straight shed remains minus its roof.

 

Never had a fence back when it first opened back in the day ….just some sticks to mark the track perimeter .

Do I honestly think it’s a contender …. NO….the landowners want to build 600 houses on it at 500k  a pop …. Not rent out a speedway track at what £2k a week for 2O weeks a year.