2026 Premiership is Go! - At least 5 teams

[Bagpuss]

I don't think folk are against guests if they are absolutely necessary (ie number one or a reserve) but R/R should be compulsory for numbers 2-5 unless more than one is missing and then it really should be a rider who doesnt already race in that league. Riders helping/hindering direct rivals is absolutely bonkers and needs to be kept to a minimum. And we certainly need to clamp down on absences, particularly in the Championship. Far too many last season.

 

[Hawk127]

21 minutes ago, IainB said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outsunny-Marquee-Folding-Protection-Carrying/dp/B00INJ0DV6/ref=sr_1_31?crid=OL6M38IL1BI9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W7JKWfmUWEgklHICiiOR-Bv24EABJI-cQjGZcx3DexvodzZXoaae9nGHcMax-KSSW2WRQAP12OM8yv7fDYQWYn7fxNUhvYnquAVVp1wGby-RIBO2b6-zRWsu4vKMnwZGXfY6LFbYovubADRV7fRF4E2yRyBlPRUn1M03cEcO5M47hXR-tSLoxN8KZ65AI348yLq_PKL4viE3LaJQS9AXUpz5EvBXYAalADTy831dM_CFkTTP45uRV8AeG8kCR_Oz1Lat5NsS43S_L5ySXmEMCUR8UDp4J0iWlD-yvaa73p8.eohcvwX0hNEzZ_u4IoOlJ_W8T48ui5uPl2Hn9kGPIpQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=gazebo&qid=1768380772&sprefix=gazebo%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-31&th=1

Other suppliers are available!!!

[Daniel Smith]

At the end of the day, we all want what's best for British Speedway, we've all got workable idea's. The biggest problem we all have & see is that the Promoters Association ain't even trying anything at all.

[Ben91]

12 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

All of that, total nonsense. Let's go through it.

"Starting with it causing the disconnect between fans and the riders who race for their team."

That's just not true is it.

Before, during and after the season, no fan complains about their riders, riding elsewhere overall. The only disappointment is when a rider gets injured racing for someone else. The only time "fan disconnect" ever gets mentioned is when people try to argue against the doubling up/down.

_____________________

"A lot of top tier riders have ended up with second tier clubs due to a relaxation of rules (doubling up numbers allowed and average conversion rate) 15 odd years ago. They've then hogged the team spots and stopped other riders from racing at second tier level and thus reaching a competitive standard. That is directly to blame for the lack of good enough riders now."

This one again. The sport has changed globally, not just here. The older guys are not 'blocking' anyone. The majority of the top rider's are 30+. Some near or nearing 40. Why shouldn't these guys be allowed to continue their trade when they lose that "Elite" edge?? When King's Lynn went Premier League, I really enjoyed (with the competitive moaning) watching the Topinka's, Screen's, Havelock's etc. I bet most still enjoy Harris & Nicholls in the 2nd tier. Nobody wants them gone. There only thing that stops youth coming through is the youth itself. We've had 100s come through the lowest tier of British Speedway & almost all of them get shots at Championship & Premiership Rising Star programmes. Life is what gets in the way of youth across the world in every single aspect. If you want the younger rider's to get more opportunities, they need to be better, as simple as that.

__________________

"It makes the sport look amateurish in the extreme to Speedway fans, let alone someone who may be a newcomer to the sport. The sport has to look credible to keep teams active, to help new/returning teams get back on track, to try secure another television deal and ultimately to draw in new fans."

Let's get things straight here, 4 rider's, 4 laps, x15 is never the embarrassment of the sport regardless of who & age. The embarrassment is everything that surrounds it.

Standard of Stadia, 70s & 80s music, zero mid heat / mid meeting entertainment etc. = zero Value for Money. All the problems with Speedway, globally, is everything the promoters put on offer away from the racing. Newcomers never give a s#!t about the rules, I'd argue 50% initially, enjoy the thrill of the racing. Why do they disappear?? Quite simply, away from the racing, lack of comfort & boredom, again, = 0 Value for Money.

Everyone today wants everything yesterday. Nobody can handle a void, the brain has to be constantly entertained. If British Speedway wants the under 30s trackside for 2+ hours, the brain needs entertaining for the 90 minutes of nothingness. Practice starts, the odd wheelie & 4 laps will never, ever be enough in 2026.

Fans have always had an issue with their riders representing other clubs. The main issue of course is perhaps due to them potentially getting injured, doesn't diminish the fact though. The disconnect I'm talking about isn't the "Oh so and so used to come into the bar after meetings." It is simply being able to get behind a rider who represents your team and your team alone. It creates an identity. 

Riders should be allowed to carry on. But they should do so at one level. The level they are capable of performing at. The doubling up free for all (helped by the relaxing of the average conversion rate) dragged the standard of the top two leagues closer together because so many of the riders are shared. Those riders taking second tier spots has absolutely stood in the way of youngsters coming through. Maybe not directly but that is a consequence of the rule change. It has been squeezing the air out of development for almost two decades now and we're at a breaking point.

The sad thing is that those riders now having an easy life also had a more defined path to the top as the gulf from Conference to Premier to Elite was a less abrupt one than the pathetic excuse we have for a third tier into the Championship as it is now.

We now have a weaker top tier than we did 20 years ago but a much stronger second tier. That is a fact shown by there being Championship heatleaders who are also heatleaders in the Premiership. To use one of your old riders as an example, Tomas Topinka was an incredible second tier number one in the mid 2000s. He wouldn't have been anywhere near a heatleader berth in the Elite League at that time though. And if you wanted to watch Topinka you had to be at a Kings Lynn meeting.

Even now Scott Nicholls is a shining example of the way it should be. He has one team at the level his ability allows him to race at and still be competitive. 

The raw product draws fans in. Once you fall in love with that it is the bureaucracy and stupid convoluted rules that is a turn off, not the state of a stadium or what music is being played between the heats. I'm not saying these aren't issues, they are but the real issues come from the way the sport is run. There are some stadiums in Poland that are falling apart, they play the YMCA three times a meeting but the places are still banged out to the rafters. Yes, the standard of riders may be better but the real difference is that they don't deal in half the BS we do here. 

Edited Wednesday at 09:33 AM by Ben91

[mikebv]

42 minutes ago, IainB said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outsunny-Marquee-Folding-Protection-Carrying/dp/B00INJ0DV6/ref=sr_1_31?crid=OL6M38IL1BI9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W7JKWfmUWEgklHICiiOR-Bv24EABJI-cQjGZcx3DexvodzZXoaae9nGHcMax-KSSW2WRQAP12OM8yv7fDYQWYn7fxNUhvYnquAVVp1wGby-RIBO2b6-zRWsu4vKMnwZGXfY6LFbYovubADRV7fRF4E2yRyBlPRUn1M03cEcO5M47hXR-tSLoxN8KZ65AI348yLq_PKL4viE3LaJQS9AXUpz5EvBXYAalADTy831dM_CFkTTP45uRV8AeG8kCR_Oz1Lat5NsS43S_L5ySXmEMCUR8UDp4J0iWlD-yvaa73p8.eohcvwX0hNEzZ_u4IoOlJ_W8T48ui5uPl2Hn9kGPIpQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=gazebo&qid=1768380772&sprefix=gazebo%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-31&th=1

What sorcery is this?

[Fortythirtyeight]

11 hours ago, 1 valve said:

No, in terms of the scope of responsibility/constitution please feel free to provide an example of where BSPL have not followed there own rules in terms of decisions being made and implemented. 

No, problem….this is personal knowledge….and the best example of quite a few.

Redcar v Glasgow 2018 , not completed by heat 10 due to a major crash meaning meeting could no longer continue. Decision by Vatcher that evening having consulted with the ref ( McGregor ) and both sets of promoters that the RULE says to be RERUN .

Two days later in a press release…..match awarded ( to Glasgow who were leading at the time ).

The reason why THE RULE wasn’t followed ?…..

We all know why !

and our promoter at the time, Kev Kay , told the fans that as he threatened the BSPA with legal action of not following their own rule book.

One reason why new promoters get frustrated and leave the sport as you can’t beat the ‘establishment’ and their ways.

The Top Table have always looked after themselves first.

[mikebv]

12 minutes ago, Ben91 said:

Fans have always had an issue with their riders representing other clubs. The main issue of course is perhaps due to them potentially getting injured, doesn't diminish the fact though. The disconnect I'm talking about isn't the "Oh so and so used to come into the bar after meetings." It is simply being able to get behind a rider who represents your team and your team alone. It creates an identity. 

Riders should be allowed to carry on. But they should do so at one level. The level they are capable of performing at. The doubling up free for all (helped by the relaxing of the average conversion rate) dragged the standard of the top two leagues closer together because so many of the riders are shared. Those riders taking second tier spots has absolutely stood in the way of youngsters coming through. Maybe not directly but that is a consequence of the rule change. It has been squeezing the air out of development for almost two decades now and we're at a breaking point.

The sad thing is that those riders now having an easy life also had a more defined path to the top as the gulf from Conference to Premier to Elite was a less abrupt one than the pathetic excuse we have for a third tier into the Championship as it is now.

We now have a weaker top tier than we did 20 years ago but a much stronger second tier. That is a fact shown by there being Championship heatleaders who are also heatleaders in the Premiership. To use one of your old riders as an example, Tomas Topinka was an incredible second tier number one in the mid 2000s. He wouldn't have been anywhere near a heatleader berth in the Elite League at that time though. And if you wanted to watch Topinka you had to be at a Kings Lynn meeting.

Even now Scott Nicholls is a shining example of the way it should be. He has one team at the level his ability allows him to race at and still be competitive. 

The raw product draws fans in. Once you fall in love with that it is the bureaucracy and stupid convoluted rules that is a turn off, not the state of a stadium or what music is being played between the heats. I'm not saying these aren't issues, they are but the real issues come from the way the sport is run. There are some stadiums in Poland that are falling apart, they play the YMCA three times a meeting but the places are still banged out to the rafters. Yes, the standard of riders may be better but the real difference is that they don't deal in half the BS we do here. 

Spot on...

They have basically tied themselves up in knots by using short term fix after short term fix, rather than having any vision, strategy and ambition for the sport..

That lack of an independent, no vested interest, voice clearly being missed...

They needed (still need), saving from themselves, as they lurch from sticking plaster to sticking plaster to cover major (self inflicted), wounds..

So many well meaning, passionate about the sport hobbyists, being in charge of, and self policing, a national professional sport, with so many widely different needs and wants from the team owners, can never work successfully...

Hence it hasn't, and we are where we are..

Is it too late now?

It is if nothing radical changes, and quickly...

[IainB]

36 minutes ago, Hawk127 said:

Other suppliers are available!!!

 

15 minutes ago, mikebv said:

What sorcery is this?

It's called a Briggzebo 😁

[mikebv]

3 minutes ago, IainB said:

 

It's called a Briggzebo 😁

As opposed to the Oleebo....?

[BluPanther]

7 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Spot on...

They have basically tied themselves up in knots by using short term fix after short term fix, rather than having any vision, strategy and ambition for the sport..

That lack of an independent, no vested interest, voice clearly being missed...

They needed (still need), saving from themselves, as they lurch from sticking plaster to sticking plaster to cover major (self inflicted), wounds..

So many well meaning, passionate about the sport hobbyists, being in charge of, and self policing, a national professional sport, with so many widely different needs and wants from the team owners, can never work successfully...

Hence it hasn't, and we are where we are..

Is it too late now?

It is if nothing radical changes, and quickly...

Radical changes can't save it, nothing can. We have to accept that 99% of people have zero interest in speedway, and it's not even on the radar of young people...

[IainB]

23 minutes ago, mikebv said:

As opposed to the Oleebo....?

There's a new player in town though... 'Arry's Awnings?

[Phannan]

1 hour ago, mikebv said:

Just imagine "the half time band"....

It would be somebody like "The Spinners" from the 70's doing their folk tunes....

But not the original members obviously...

In keeping with where they are playing, they would have guest replacements for those  members unable to be there...

 

I’d go for the Wurzels . I am a coider drinker .. I drinks it all of the day 🎵 

[ouch]

A the NSS we get a race followed by the cool down lap with wheelies, celebration etc. Then the race finishing order is announced both on the tannoy and big screen. Replays come up on the big screen then the two minutes are announced and the riders come out. During the four grading breaks we then have more on the big screen plus interviews and Chase doing his thing. The only addition to all this is the kids game and 50/50 draw at the interval. It would need a big smash or the weather to turn bad for this schedule to elongate. I’m happy with this to be honest and the only addition I’d make would be the introduction of an app giving more meat on the bones about the meeting and to provide more interaction, oh and a meat raffle. 

[SPEEDY69]

26 minutes ago, ouch said:

A the NSS we get a race followed by the cool down lap with wheelies, celebration etc. Then the race finishing order is announced both on the tannoy and big screen. Replays come up on the big screen then the two minutes are announced and the riders come out. During the four grading breaks we then have more on the big screen plus interviews and Chase doing his thing. The only addition to all this is the kids game and 50/50 draw at the interval. It would need a big smash or the weather to turn bad for this schedule to elongate. I’m happy with this to be honest and the only addition I’d make would be the introduction of an app giving more meat on the bones about the meeting and to provide more interaction, oh and a meat raffle. 

That would be a great addition.  Transponder feedback by lap per rider etc. could also be added - access to other meetings' data going on on the same night would also be useful.  Predictions for races/times etc. and prizes/shoutouts for winners, online interview quotes from riders/others involved in the meeting.  Technology is what youngsters thrive on. 

[foreverblue]

3 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

That would be a great addition.  Transponder feedback by lap per rider etc. could also be added - access to other meetings' data going on on the same night would also be useful.  Predictions for races/times etc. and prizes/shoutouts for winners, online interview quotes from riders/others involved in the meeting.  Technology is what youngsters thrive on. 

Yea I agree an app would be a good addition and tickets could be sold and accessed for stadium entry by the app. There is a lot the app could be used for and it would be good for getting younger people involved and telling fans what exactly is happening at the meeting, sometimes we seem to be kept in the dark. 

 

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, ouch said:

A the NSS we get a race followed by the cool down lap with wheelies, celebration etc. Then the race finishing order is announced both on the tannoy and big screen. Replays come up on the big screen then the two minutes are announced and the riders come out. During the four grading breaks we then have more on the big screen plus interviews and Chase doing his thing. The only addition to all this is the kids game and 50/50 draw at the interval. It would need a big smash or the weather to turn bad for this schedule to elongate. I’m happy with this to be honest and the only addition I’d make would be the introduction of an app giving more meat on the bones about the meeting and to provide more interaction, oh and a meat raffle. 

The meat raffle a definite plus...

As would be a "Snowball"....

Just like being "down the Legion" for those in attendance....

A non taking the pee idea could be to win a Season Ticket?

The first few meetings you could run a raffle for say a fiver...

And then run a chance to win blocks of tickets through the season..

I would suggest you would get several times the actual value of the tickets back, with even those not always attending entering through mates who were...

Admittedly, 9 matches wouldn't render a season ticket's value too high, which could be a drawback, so maybe a quid a ticket would be more appropriate..?

 

[DaveWayne]

3 hours ago, IainB said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outsunny-Marquee-Folding-Protection-Carrying/dp/B00INJ0DV6/ref=sr_1_31?crid=OL6M38IL1BI9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W7JKWfmUWEgklHICiiOR-Bv24EABJI-cQjGZcx3DexvodzZXoaae9nGHcMax-KSSW2WRQAP12OM8yv7fDYQWYn7fxNUhvYnquAVVp1wGby-RIBO2b6-zRWsu4vKMnwZGXfY6LFbYovubADRV7fRF4E2yRyBlPRUn1M03cEcO5M47hXR-tSLoxN8KZ65AI348yLq_PKL4viE3LaJQS9AXUpz5EvBXYAalADTy831dM_CFkTTP45uRV8AeG8kCR_Oz1Lat5NsS43S_L5ySXmEMCUR8UDp4J0iWlD-yvaa73p8.eohcvwX0hNEzZ_u4IoOlJ_W8T48ui5uPl2Hn9kGPIpQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=gazebo&qid=1768380772&sprefix=gazebo%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-31&th=1

That doesnt resolve the rubbishty floor that you find in most stockcar pits.

If you ever go to Kings Lynn, have a look at the stock car pits on the back straight, and then tell me speedway riders would be happy in there.

[Bagpuss]

2 minutes ago, DaveWayne said:

That doesnt resolve the rubbishty floor that you find in most stockcar pits.

If you ever go to Kings Lynn, have a look at the stock car pits on the back straight, and then tell me speedway riders would be happy in there.

Never mind the riders, its not nice for punters to park and walk on!

Unfortunately its the one part of the stadium not owned by Buster but instead the council, and neither party is willing to resurface it.

[Fromafar]

3 hours ago, Ben91 said:

Fans have always had an issue with their riders representing other clubs. The main issue of course is perhaps due to them potentially getting injured, doesn't diminish the fact though. The disconnect I'm talking about isn't the "Oh so and so used to come into the bar after meetings." It is simply being able to get behind a rider who represents your team and your team alone. It creates an identity. 

Riders should be allowed to carry on. But they should do so at one level. The level they are capable of performing at. The doubling up free for all (helped by the relaxing of the average conversion rate) dragged the standard of the top two leagues closer together because so many of the riders are shared. Those riders taking second tier spots has absolutely stood in the way of youngsters coming through. Maybe not directly but that is a consequence of the rule change. It has been squeezing the air out of development for almost two decades now and we're at a breaking point.

The sad thing is that those riders now having an easy life also had a more defined path to the top as the gulf from Conference to Premier to Elite was a less abrupt one than the pathetic excuse we have for a third tier into the Championship as it is now.

We now have a weaker top tier than we did 20 years ago but a much stronger second tier. That is a fact shown by there being Championship heatleaders who are also heatleaders in the Premiership. To use one of your old riders as an example, Tomas Topinka was an incredible second tier number one in the mid 2000s. He wouldn't have been anywhere near a heatleader berth in the Elite League at that time though. And if you wanted to watch Topinka you had to be at a Kings Lynn meeting.

Even now Scott Nicholls is a shining example of the way it should be. He has one team at the level his ability allows him to race at and still be competitive. 

The raw product draws fans in. Once you fall in love with that it is the bureaucracy and stupid convoluted rules that is a turn off, not the state of a stadium or what music is being played between the heats. I'm not saying these aren't issues, they are but the real issues come from the way the sport is run. There are some stadiums in Poland that are falling apart, they play the YMCA three times a meeting but the places are still banged out to the rafters. Yes, the standard of riders may be better but the real difference is that they don't deal in half the BS we do here. 

Would agree,100%

[YeOldPitGate]

3 hours ago, IainB said:

There's a new player in town though... 'Arry's Awnings?

Has anyone seen Harry around London kicking the doors in of big business searching for sponsors ?