2027 - 8 Team Premiership

[coldace]

What we need is consistency.  As it is we may get three meetings on consecutive Mondays one month then one meeting the next month.

I like the suggestion of one night a week for top-flight British speedway and one meeting every two weeks. We'd soon get into the habit.

Eight teams would be perfect but I guess that six or seven would be possible too.  Also, we could have some 'fillers' for the 'diehard' fans who would go whatever the meeting.  Possibly three-team matches, local challenges, etc.

Hope I am not getting too carried away but have the sense that some of the promoters are getting serious about presenting a more credible product!  Just hope that there are enough of them to change what we have had to put up with for so long!

 

[mikebv]

2 hours ago, JamesB said:

Why would a sport run on a day when crowds will be generally at their lowest?

Monday may work best for the Aces, but there’s a reason why most of the Premiership clubs race predominantly on a Thursday.

Louis referenced it a number of times, and Coleman re-iterated it recently that for the Witches crowd numbers on a Monday are significantly lower than a Thursday.

Maybe, but many of the riders that the UK need to attract over here see Thursday as being too close to the weekend, where they earn their major money and expectations of them are at their most pressured..

And don't want to be in an out of the UK twice a week some weeks as can happen...

Plus Poland use Thursday now for rearranged meetings which, as we know, negatively impacts UK Speedway..

If the UK can improve the product then maybe Mondays only would work? As we see with the play offs, all teams have possibly even as much as double the followers that attend regularly through the season, therefore maybe if the product, and its credibility improves, so would the crowd levels??

[Arthur73]

When reading through some of the comments on the Premiership play-off final I noticed a number of fans' only meeting of the year (or one of very few) was the final. You could see by the crowd number at both meetings it was true. The draw to that meeting though is not the caliber of rider it is the fact that it matters. The teams were actually weaker than the start of the season, no Dan Bewley or Jack Holder.

I am not sure if the draw of a top rider name is strong enough anymore. I think fans would rather see their team do well or watch competitive, close exciting racing. Also, the vast majority of the public have no idea who Robert Lambert is.

I genuinely think moving to racing on any day of the week and losing those top riders to the Ekstraliga could work. It would cut rider fees costs and allow racing on Friday or Saturday (or Wednesday if you're Poole). I think racing and the overall league would be much more competitive if all teams can truly afford to run, therefore making each meeting matter more.

If the only teams that can make profits are high championship ones why don't we make that the level of the premiership? The new championship would be a combination of lower championship riders and national league riders. Nearly all teams could afford and would want to be in the premiership then so we could bring back relegation/promotion.

[1 valve]

23 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Under their own management means under their agreed rules. Why shouldn't riders race in both leagues if they wish? It could be seen as restraint of trade if put to the test? The likes of Glasgow, Edinburgh, etc and Poole can retain their  preferred racenight

If there ever was to be two leagues, then there would need to be clear demarcation. One to run the top tier and one to run a lower semi pro comp. when riders sign for the top tier they know that they cannot sign for the a team in the lower tier. There would be no restraint of trade involved. 

[mikebv]

28 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

If there ever was to be two leagues, then there would need to be clear demarcation. One to run the top tier and one to run a lower semi pro comp. when riders sign for the top tier they know that they cannot sign for the a team in the lower tier. There would be no restraint of trade involved. 

The barrier to this would be the top tier paying riders enough to be exclusive..

Currently they and the 2nd tier help out each other by riders Doubling Down..

If they had to pay reserves, second strings and third heat leaders on their own what these riders wanted, could top tier teams afford the GP/Polish top tier level riders to go with them too?..

[YeOldPitGate]

8 hours ago, PhilTheAce said:

pretty simple aint it

I still also think if 8 teams once home and away fortnightly is the way to go Phil and the bottom four riders could double up in the second division also to boost earnings with the top three flying in and out as needed.

The two big problems (as ever) personally think Monday is the worst night to try and run a spectator sport and as others have mentioned when I floated this idea previously will stadium owners be interested in just renting out for seven nights a season assuming a team doesn't make the play off's.

The other interesting point as someone mentioned is the play off's attracted great crowds with only three world class riders present I think the other option is top league of a standard Poole pirates currently are, again once home and away but run on preferred club night 8 team league and again bottom 4-5 could double up also in second division.

Its not my dollar at stake but if I had the money and was a promoter I would favour the Poole team strength second option so long as the riders were all UK based and baring injuries/internationals were here for 90% of home meetings.

[Aries]

Having just read Phil Morris’ interview in the Speedway Star, has he accidentally given away that we’ll have a 7 team League next season rather than 6?

Morris admits Britain needs two race days. He said: "The reason Britain has two slot days is because we do a hell of a lot more fixtures per team than Sweden, Denmark and Poland.

They all do 14 meetings. We do 24 per team. There's the difference straight away.

"We also have progression in a cup competition and league play-offs. Riders could do six extra meetings across both, so it rises to a possible 30. In Poland, the most they could have is 18 if they made the play-off final."

He’s used 24 meetings as the base minimum presumably for League meetings, we had 20 this year. 
 

24 League meetings is obviously home and away twice in a 7 team league. 
 

Who’s team number 7? Is it Eastbourne, or have they got someone to move up..

Edited 4 hours ago by Aries

[Aries]

The U21 thing I found a bit confusing also. He said we’re already “half way there” because we already have a rising star scheme. Those rising stars now have to be under 21 riders.

He goes on to explain about the 25% rule which will still be active. Cooper Rushen won’t get it because he chose to opt out of the scheme this year and ride at 6, but the likes of Edwards and Joe Thompson will do.

The confusing part was William Cairns. “Will Cairns also gets 25% off his average, as he comes out of the rising star scheme”

Why is Cairns out of the R/S scheme? He obviously fits the U21 criteria, and he has a GSA of 3.77.

The only thing that makes any sense is that Morris knows like Rushen this year, he’s now opted out and is lining up as someone’s other U21 rider at number 6 on a 3.00 average 🤷🏼‍♂️

He goes on to say new riders are added to the list including Ace Pijper and Vinnie Foord. 
 

Theres going to be such a huge disparity in ability between the top end of teams and the bottom unfortunately. Some clubs are going to have to pick up a rising star that’s going to be out of their depth.

Not sure on this to be honest.

[szkocjasid]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

The U21 thing I found a bit confusing also. He said we’re already “half way there” because we already have a rising star scheme. Those rising stars now have to be under 21 riders.

He goes on to explain about the 25% rule which will still be active. Cooper Rushen won’t get it because he chose to opt out of the scheme this year and ride at 6, but the likes of Edwards and Joe Thompson will do.

The confusing part was William Cairns. “Will Cairns also gets 25% off his average, as he comes out of the rising star scheme”

Why is Cairns out of the R/S scheme? He obviously fits the U21 criteria, and he has a GSA of 3.77.

The only thing that makes any sense is that Morris knows like Rushen this year, he’s now opted out and is lining up as someone’s other U21 rider at number 6 on a 3.00 average 🤷🏼‍♂️

He goes on to say new riders are added to the list including Ace Pijper and Vinnie Foord. 
 

Theres going to be such a huge disparity in ability between the top end of teams and the bottom unfortunately. Some clubs are going to have to pick up a rising star that’s going to be out of their depth.

Not sure on this to be honest.

Unlike many, I liked the RS scheme. But think the changes they are making will make it far worse. Like you say, more likely to mean you sung riders well out of their depth, especially if the league is stronger.

Could get a 3.5 Champ rider gaining a Prem spot because he's 20, but a 5.5 Champ rider missing out because he's 21 already!

Don't think they've thought this through at all, at least the consequences.

[PhilTheAce]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

The U21 thing I found a bit confusing also. He said we’re already “half way there” because we already have a rising star scheme. Those rising stars now have to be under 21 riders.

He goes on to explain about the 25% rule which will still be active. Cooper Rushen won’t get it because he chose to opt out of the scheme this year and ride at 6, but the likes of Edwards and Joe Thompson will do.

The confusing part was William Cairns. “Will Cairns also gets 25% off his average, as he comes out of the rising star scheme”

Why is Cairns out of the R/S scheme? He obviously fits the U21 criteria, and he has a GSA of 3.77.

The only thing that makes any sense is that Morris knows like Rushen this year, he’s now opted out and is lining up as someone’s other U21 rider at number 6 on a 3.00 average 🤷🏼‍♂️

He goes on to say new riders are added to the list including Ace Pijper and Vinnie Foord. 
 

Theres going to be such a huge disparity in ability between the top end of teams and the bottom unfortunately. Some clubs are going to have to pick up a rising star that’s going to be out of their depth.

Not sure on this to be honest.

explains why there is a battle for cairns, his low average comes in useful

[TTT]

I think Phil Morris is hinting at Eastbourne in the PREM with Vinnie Foord as the U21/Rising Star as it makes all the sense in the world if my info is correct on someone being part of the consortium

As for Cairns, Isn't the 2027 ruling for current PREM Rising Star's with GSA's at 3.00 or under only to be part of the 2027 British U21/Rising Star scheme?

I'm not on board with this ruling at all and some teams aren't going to be competitive because of it.

[therefused]

Looks like 2027 is on course to be an even worse season than 2026! 

[CTRSports]

There are just too many different wants and desires from all angles which obviously won't please everyone.

Personally, I think you need to make the championship weaker, and I think to an extent you do away with the NDL as a league competition, if you weaken the championship current NDL clubs could enter it or stage individual meetings.

By making it weaker I am suggesting once you hit a 7+ average over a 2 year period you become ineligible so currently you take out these from the championship:

Nick Morris
Kye Thomson
Dan Thompson
Leon Flint
Kyle Howarth
Chris Harris
Sam Masters
Erik Riss
Zach Cook
Richard Lawson
Danny King
Josh Pickering
Jonas Jeppesen

say on average its 2 per side, you weaken the championship so that its 2 up from the NDL - league is still a reasonable standard but should help the development of riders better....

With the NDL - I would encourage more individual racing i.e. British Youth Championship 125/250/500 U19, U24 championships, if an NDL track can't move up they host the majority of these championship rounds with selected other venues hosting a handful - more solo meetings etc.  for youngsters they don't necessarily need to be in a team environment, race for themselves and development themselves first and foremost.


The only other alternative is to split the leagues completely into two separate championships, probably more like that now, call one the British League - call the other a National League.

Try to encourage 8 sides to participate in the British League, one home, one away, KO CUP only so minimum of 8 home meetings possibly 12 maximum, all ridden on Mondays

National League - as a separate competition takes place on the clubs selected race night, and those in the British League can enter a side, if you end up with 12 sides home and away once, KO CUP etc. 
 

[YeOldPitGate]

13 minutes ago, therefused said:

Looks like 2027 is on course to be an even worse season than 2026! 

Lets at least see the final teams and line up's before we put the boot in.

[Bagpuss]

So if Coops has opted out of being a 'number 7' then effectively we are looking at

Scott 

Harrison

Cairns

Foord

Loftus

Ingram

Pjiper

Edited 2 hours ago by Bagpuss

[Witches1998]

7 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

So if Coops has opted out of being a 'number 7' then effectively we are looking at

Scott 

Harrison

Cairns

Foord

Loftus

Ingram

Pjiper

It says Cairns has graduated as well. Guess the rumour the r/s limit is dropping to 3.50 could be true

[TTT]

19 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

So if Coops has opted out of being a 'number 7' then effectively we are looking at

Scott 

Harrison

Cairns

Foord

Loftus

Ingram

Pjiper

Yes.

Basically Belle Vue will walk the League again if they re-sign Will Cairns.

[mikebv]

Every year it's the same bollox isn't it?...

Averages changing, eligibility changing, rules changing, no doubt prices changing, (and not going down)...

There must be literally hours spent on this nonsense instead of hours spent on creating a product which provides you with a great nights entertainment... 

"Does he qualify for the 2.5%, 5% or 25% reduction or increase, and is his mam English and left handed?"...

So much minute detailed planning each season to ensure a competitive league, and instead we  always end up with, at least, one team being highlighted as complete cannon fodder before a wheel is turned, and have their season pretty much over by June!!...

Edit. Having read the interview in full, it is clear that Phil Morris does appear to have a clear vision of how he wants the UK version of the sport to evolve, with much of what he is seeking mentioned ad nauseum on here down the years .

Hopefully with him, Richard Coleman, and Mark Lemon involved more influentially there is a better future..

It is clear that they want an obvious demarcation between the top two tiers over here, so hopefully their ideas come to fruition and the top league becomes something to aspire to be in...

Edited 51 minutes ago by mikebv

[Witches1998]

49 minutes ago, TTT said:

Yes.

Basically Belle Vue will walk the League again if they re-sign Will Cairns.

Cairns will be #6 for someone based on the article from Phil Morris saying he is getting 25% reduction and graduating the scheme 

[TigerIain]

It looks to me like the u21 riders (essentially your reserves) are now far more valuable than anyone else in the team. Cue u21s wanting number 1 money.

Its all well and good in Poland where there are lots of talented u21 riders, but there are much fewer in Britain and riders tend to develop later. You don't have to dig too far before you are looking at having 2026 NDL riders being asked to jump into the Premiership just to fill a quota