mikebv Posted 15 hours ago Report Share Posted 15 hours ago 23 minutes ago, Roger Jacobs said: That makes no sense. There are far more people at the GPS because they come from across British speedway, and Poland, etc. It's the same story at most tracks - Ipswich had very high attendances for the Cup final and play-off meetings, but a big number of those people aren't attracted as regulars for league racing (although the Witches seem to have a stronger core of regular fans, compared to others). The question for Belle Vue is: the track produces very good racing, yet those who come for the Finals aren't bothered about that same level of on-track entertainment for the humdrum of infrequent league racing ... To be fair, the Aces followers do make up a large portion of the GP crowds, easily the largest single contingent... As you would imagine given the locality... Therefore I can see why crowds drop, (like last year), in the weeks leading up to the meetings, given the cost.. You also have people like myself, and nine others, who will attend the GP's but are not regular visitors to the NSS, due to, as you say, not having any real engagement for UK Speedway meetings that have little importance.. There are many more "Followers" than regular "Fans", like at most tracks, with the GP's bringing them out... The key for the UK version of the sport is to re-engage those "Followers" to become "Fans" again, as it would seriously boost the attendances around the country... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTheAce Posted 15 hours ago Report Share Posted 15 hours ago No wonder lawson was poor turning up with bikes not clean. Not very professional 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted 15 hours ago Report Share Posted 15 hours ago We did better than I expected …..said before Nicholls wouldn’t score and Lawson and Musielek struggle there so to keep it to 12 was pretty good We could get the bonus I’m sure Bewley and Kurtz will keep it close…. The other Belle Vue boys can’t ride Foxhall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 15 hours ago Report Share Posted 15 hours ago All that dirt must weigh the bike down... So that's why he struggles at the NSS.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phannan Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 10 hours ago, chun said: Witches would have won if it wasn’t for Kurtz and Bewley Aces would have won by 30 if Brennan and King weren’t riding 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phannan Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 35 minutes ago, Gavan said: We did better than I expected …..said before Nicholls wouldn’t score and Lawson and Musielek struggle there so to keep it to 12 was pretty good We could get the bonus I’m sure Bewley and Kurtz will keep it close…. The other Belle Vue boys can’t ride Foxhall It’s no disgrace to not be able to ride a farmers field 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboy cookie returns? Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago We did better than I thought we would. We all know Nicholls will struggle on these bigger faster tracks these days. I still think we will surprise a few this year however ultimately to stand a chance of winning anything this year we need to be able to overturn Sheffield Leicester &Belle Vueover two legs. Mayfield have a free pass this year & the boys don’t have any real pressure or expectations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Jacobs Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 1 hour ago, PhilTheAce said: we had good crowd against sheffield and leicester but that was down to one being a rival and the other being bank holiday. But ... the point is that most, if not all, tracks can say the same. Better attendances for big rivalries or Bank Holidays, yet the extra people aren't tempted back for "normal" meetings, even at the NSS where very good racing is expected. Why not? It's not a new "cost of living" thing, it's been happening for a while, and needs to be addressed by the sport as a whole ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89buttons Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago Wish they’d scrap the tactical sub rule, or at least make it only available for a shorter window for an away side to even up the home track advantage. tac sub or no tac sub belle vue would’ve made that home advantage come true I’m sure over the course of the meeting but the tac sub undoes so much of the hard work from unfancied underdog witches last night and impacts the chances of the bonus point over two legs massively 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTheAce Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago (edited) 8 minutes ago, Roger Jacobs said: But ... the point is that most, if not all, tracks can say the same. Better attendances for big rivalries or Bank Holidays, yet the extra people aren't tempted back for "normal" meetings, even at the NSS where very good racing is expected. Why not? It's not a new "cost of living" thing, it's been happening for a while, and needs to be addressed by the sport as a whole ... yeah, its a speedway problem for sure, the fans are there, proven by every club getting good crowds at some point in a season, good racing alone does not cut it, it needs other things going on, at affordable prices for families to especially if they want to call it a family sport things must change at the top, the club owners must change there ways also and not be happy with a 100k loss in a season Edited 14 hours ago by PhilTheAce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTheAce Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago i do worry for my club this season though, the activity on my belle vue facebook page is down by more than double in interactions, im guessing a winter of delays have made people just give up on the sport 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89buttons Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago Wish they’d scrap the tactical sub rule, or at least make it only available for a shorter window for an away side to even up the home track advantage. tac sub or no tac sub belle vue would’ve made that home advantage come true I’m sure over the course of the meeting but the tac sub undoes so much of the hard work from unfancied underdog witches last night and impacts the chances of the bonus point over two legs massively 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago 1 hour ago, PhilTheAce said: No wonder lawson was poor turning up with bikes not clean. Not very professional Not the first time he's done that, I commented on it when he used to ride for Leicester. You get the feeling that if he took the sport seriously (difficult I know) is that he could be a far far better performer than he already is, a Floppy Norris/Jason Doyle type, maybe not to Doyley standards but certainly Floppy. He seems happier to be a better than average journeyman than and clean up in the CL to supplement his bread and butter of being a plasterer. 1 hour ago, mikebv said: To be fair, the Aces followers do make up a large portion of the GP crowds, easily the largest single contingent... As you would imagine given the locality... Therefore I can see why crowds drop, (like last year), in the weeks leading up to the meetings, given the cost.. You also have people like myself, and nine others, who will attend the GP's but are not regular visitors to the NSS, due to, as you say, not having any real engagement for UK Speedway meetings that have little importance.. There are many more "Followers" than regular "Fans", like at most tracks, with the GP's bringing them out... The key for the UK version of the sport is to re-engage those "Followers" to become "Fans" again, as it would seriously boost the attendances around the country... I think one of the main reasons may be, as you've mentioned many times, the lack of jeopardy... Ippo are in town! Come and see them! What's at stake? Well, nothing much really, it's just a qualifier But they may not qualify! It's almost impossible for them not to qualify They're the current league champions! But there's only 3 of those riders are in the team this year Okay come and see Tom Brennan & Tobias Musielak then! I'll catch them next time Ippo are in town, for the B fixture, a KO Cup tie or a play off tie... or any number of times over the course of this season as a guest rider Oh don't bother then! Okay 👍 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago 12 minutes ago, IainB said: Not the first time he's done that, I commented on it when he used to ride for Leicester. You get the feeling that if he took the sport seriously (difficult I know) is that he could be a far far better performer than he already is, a Floppy Norris/Jason Doyle type, maybe not to Doyley standards but certainly Floppy. He seems happier to be a better than average journeyman than and clean up in the CL to supplement his bread and butter of being a plasterer. I think one of the main reasons may be, as you've mentioned many times, the lack of jeopardy... Ippo are in town! Come and see them! What's at stake? Well, nothing much really, it's just a qualifier But they may not qualify! It's almost impossible for them not to qualify They're the current league champions! But there's only 3 of those riders are in the team this year Okay come and see Tom Brennan & Tobias Musielak then! I'll catch them next time Ippo are in town, for the B fixture, a KO Cup tie or a play off tie... or any number of times over the course of this season as a guest rider Oh don't bother then! Okay 👍 Pretty much it... Add in almost zero atmosphere due to hardly any (if any at all), away fans, and it certainly isn't an "event" that stirs the blood... The Play Offs are similar to when a small football team get to Wembley... All their "followers" turn out, yet the week later, the usual "fans" are in the ground with the "followers" sat at home, (maybe), checking the score now and again.... The sport needs root and branch radical change if it wants to carry on.. Having to charge £25 to stand and watch, so you can pay riders what they want to ride for you, riders who will put hardly one extra person through the turnstile, meaning you have minimal budget for marketing, or enhancing "the match day experience" is truly barmy from a business perspective... Yet they continue to slavishly follow the same business and unfit for purpose operating model... Amazing... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTT Posted 13 hours ago Report Share Posted 13 hours ago 2 hours ago, PhilTheAce said: No wonder lawson was poor turning up with bikes not clean. Not very professional Wouldn't have made a difference if his kit was shiny and new. The NSS is the only track in the country that Richard struggles on hence why he doesn't even bother competing in British Finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitelinehugger Posted 12 hours ago Report Share Posted 12 hours ago 2 hours ago, PhilTheAce said: No wonder lawson was poor turning up with bikes not clean. Not very professional He was out in the town the night before 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWellBehavedWorrall Posted 12 hours ago Report Share Posted 12 hours ago 2 hours ago, PhilTheAce said: No wonder lawson was poor turning up with bikes not clean. Not very professional What a lazy b*stard. 7 minutes ago, TTT said: Wouldn't have made a difference if his kit was shiny and new. Another mindset I absolutely detest. This is the exact thinking British speedway needs to get away from. It’s not about a bike being ”shiny and new”, it’s about professionalism, preparation and standards. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phannan Posted 12 hours ago Report Share Posted 12 hours ago 15 minutes ago, Whitelinehugger said: He was out in the town the night before If he acted as dirty as his bikes the ladies were in for a treat.. or maybe not in this day and age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted 12 hours ago Report Share Posted 12 hours ago 6 minutes ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said: What a lazy b*stard. Another mindset I absolutely detest. This is the exact thinking British speedway needs to get away from. It’s not about a bike being ”shiny and new”, it’s about professionalism, preparation and standards. It's attitude and pretty much sums up the attitude of British Speedway at the moment that this kind of turn out is acceptable, like I said it's not the first time. It's no good turning up at tracks being beaten before you're started. I hate to name Scott Nicholls as another one but how often have you heard him say he doesn't go well around the NSS, his performance last night was I hate to say pathetic! Mon Apr 20th 2026 Belle Vue v Ipswich (PRa) 4 0, 0, 0 0 Mon May 2nd 2022 Belle Vue v Peterborough (PRa) 2 1, R, 1 2 Mon Jul 25th 2022 Belle Vue v Peterborough (PRb) 4 0, 1', 1, 1 3 +1 Mon May 31st 2021 Belle Vue v Peterborough (PRa) 4 1, 2', 0, 3 6 +1 Mon Aug 9th 2021 Belle Vue v Peterborough (PRb) 4 0, 1, 2, 2 5 Mon Oct 11th 2021 Belle Vue v Peterborough (PRPO) 4 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1' 14 +1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted 12 hours ago Report Share Posted 12 hours ago A game of two halves with the first being very gate’n’go that played into the witches hands given their preference for that type of heat (which I’m expecting to change with Colman onboard). Heat 8 onwards was terrific if you like racing and The Aces pulled away. Happy with the contribution from all Aces and pleased to see our Tom still mixing it. I thought we’d be outgunned at reserve but I’m happy with the 6-7 match up. Enjoyable but chilly night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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