2027 - 8 Team Premiership

[Bagpuss]

2 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Not suggesting the track shouldn't re-open, merely that they should start in Championship on a race day of their choice.

I'm sure they'll start where they want, not where you think they should.

Quite clear that the Premiership needs more clubs to get a TV deal and grow, and that there are people willing to help new/returning clubs get up and running for the good of the sport and in the absence of clubs being willing to step up.

[SteveLyric2]

19 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

I'm sure they'll start where they want, not where you think they should.

Quite clear that the Premiership needs more clubs to get a TV deal and grow, and that there are people willing to help new/returning clubs get up and running for the good of the sport and in the absence of clubs being willing to step up.

Unfortunately  I disagree. This smacks of short term 'fire fighting' rather than longer term planning in the hope that a TV deal will provide sufficient funding for more than one season to get a handful of 'top' foreign riders in order to get extra fans flooding through Premiership turnstiles!!

[PersonalResponsibility]

3 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Unfortunately  I disagree. This smacks of short term 'fire fighting' rather than longer term planning in the hope that a TV deal will provide sufficient funding for more than one season to get a handful of 'top' foreign riders in order to get extra fans flooding through Premiership turnstiles!!

I agree with you to some extent. Yes, it's always a positive, for everyone, when defunct clubs return. We shouldn't turn our noses up at it happening, but is the money really worth the rewards?

It's been well covered in recent years that Plymouth have increased their crowds and grown their club - yet now their future is at stake over £45k. Money which seems be readily available elsewhere in British speedway.

I'm not saying that clubs should be bailed out by the BSPL, but are we not better off protecting a growing club, going in the right direction, than spending fortunes for the sake of a TV deal? Maybe we are, I don't claim to have any knowledge of the sums involved.

[RoundTheBoards]

On 10/23/2026 at 1:47 PM, CTRSports said:

What is the points limit?

What is the rules for '27 stating that any U21 reserve moves into the main body?

It was an example, take out who you want and put a lower avg rider in, take Kileen out and another and put two others in, you'll get the same thing, i.e. a stronger top end with Killeen in, a longer tail with him out of it

Maybe you can confirm the points limit please and that for U21 at 6 what averages they come in on 4.5/5.00/6.00 etc.

Points limit 37.     (can't imagine any change with the weakening of the no.6 spot)

British rising star at No.7 same as last year, but now has to be under 21.    

No.6 has to be under 21 too, but can be any nationality.

[Aries]

6 minutes ago, PersonalResponsibility said:

I agree with you to some extent. Yes, it's always a positive, for everyone, when defunct clubs return. We shouldn't turn our noses up at it happening, but is the money really worth the rewards?

It's been well covered in recent years that Plymouth have increased their crowds and grown their club - yet now their future is at stake over £45k. Money which seems be readily available elsewhere in British speedway.

I'm not saying that clubs should be bailed out by the BSPL, but are we not better off protecting a growing club, going in the right direction, than spending fortunes for the sake of a TV deal? Maybe we are, I don't claim to have any knowledge of the sums involved.

Is this on the back of what “Floppy” has said on Facebook?

I don’t agree with him. Clubs have to be self sufficient. If and when Eastbourne and others return, they’ll also have to be self sufficient. It’s one thing helping clubs get back up and running, it’s another to keeping financing them.

If the BSPL put the money in to Plymouth instead of whatever they are currently trying to do, then that opens a huge can of worms.

In 12 months time, as if by magic you’ll suddenly see two or three others clubs suddenly need financial help for their air fence.

I’m sorry but this is all on Plymouth. They should have known their air fence needed replacing and should have been fundraising earlier than the end of the season.

[Aries]

3 minutes ago, RoundTheBoards said:

Points limit 37.     (can't imagine any change with the weakening of the no.6 spot)

British rising star at No.7 same as last year, but now has to be under 21.    

No.6 has to be under 21 too, but can be any nationality.

So the second under 21 rider also has to be at reserve?

[SteveLyric2]

10 minutes ago, Aries said:

So the second under 21 rider also has to be at reserve?

Not that I've seen anywhere!!

[SteveLyric2]

15 minutes ago, Aries said:

Is this on the back of what “Floppy” has said on Facebook?

I don’t agree with him. Clubs have to be self sufficient. If and when Eastbourne and others return, they’ll also have to be self sufficient. It’s one thing helping clubs get back up and running, it’s another to keeping financing them.

If the BSPL put the money in to Plymouth instead of whatever they are currently trying to do, then that opens a huge can of worms.

In 12 months time, as if by magic you’ll suddenly see two or three others clubs suddenly need financial help for their air fence.

I’m sorry but this is all on Plymouth. They should have known their air fence needed replacing and should have been fundraising earlier than the end of the season.

Plymouth promoter explained that 2 investors who had promised to fund the air fence then reneged towards the end of the season. Hence the late notice to the fans for help although the fund seems to be going well with the possibility of 'match funding' from the local council. Hope its successful.

[PersonalResponsibility]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

Is this on the back of what “Floppy” has said on Facebook?

I don’t agree with him. Clubs have to be self sufficient. If and when Eastbourne and others return, they’ll also have to be self sufficient. It’s one thing helping clubs get back up and running, it’s another to keeping financing them.

If the BSPL put the money in to Plymouth instead of whatever they are currently trying to do, then that opens a huge can of worms.

In 12 months time, as if by magic you’ll suddenly see two or three others clubs suddenly need financial help for their air fence.

I’m sorry but this is all on Plymouth. They should have known their air fence needed replacing and should have been fundraising earlier than the end of the season.

I've no idea what has been said on Facebook, I avoid it whenever I can. I agree with your point though, it's ultimately a club's responsibility to ensure they're self sufficient. I suppose my wider point was that instead of ploughing money into defunct clubs, why isn't that money being spread around existing clubs to improve the entire sport. Not as a gift, but through incentives that can be earned.

The Ekstraliga has introduced something similar this year to reward clubs based on the number of youngsters they produce, the number of overtakes they have, community work, etc.

Ultimately, if there's a small fortune going spare, why not build up what we have and then maybe defunct clubs might come back more naturally in the future?

[SPEEDY69]

I don't think any Premiership heatleaders (top 3) should be able to ride in the Championship.  The gap needs widening.

[TigerIain]

On 10/24/2026 at 1:43 PM, SteveLyric2 said:

Not suggesting the track shouldn't re-open, merely that they should start in Championship on a race day of their choice.

There is a bigger risk in that these days, as you have to change your race night to move up a league (one of the reasons neither Glasgow nor Poole are moving up). The fans you attract on a Friday or Saturday night might not be the same people that want to go on a Monday or Thursday night. If your intention is to race in the Premiership, then start there and build your fan base with people that are willing and able to go that night 

[SPEEDY69]

14 hours ago, TigerIain said:

There is a bigger risk in that these days, as you have to change your race night to move up a league (one of the reasons neither Glasgow nor Poole are moving up). The fans you attract on a Friday or Saturday night might not be the same people that want to go on a Monday or Thursday night. If your intention is to race in the Premiership, then start there and build your fan base with people that are willing and able to go that night 

Stream Soccer

 

That was the case when the Mon/Thurs race night came into being and some premiership tracks had to change, so it can be done.  If a few ageing fans hold that much sway over clubs then that's why we are where we are.  New fans need to be attracted.

[mikebv]

39 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

That was the case when the Mon/Thurs race night came into being and some premiership tracks had to change, so it can be done.  If a few ageing fans hold that much sway over clubs then that's why we are where we are.  New fans need to be attracted.

Top tier teams are usually the ones with the regular four figure fan base...

With some obvious outliers in tier two..

Hence they can afford to change nights and still, hopefully, keep enough people attending for the Speedway to remain at leasf affordable if not profitable.

Eastbourne were not one of those regular four figure attendance teams, hence the Dugard family would put tens of thousands in some seasons, and running at weekend would bring in around 700-800, tops, I would think, (after an initial novelty period that may bring a few more)...

Moving to a Monday or Thursday, from a weekend would then be a big risk, especially given the 30% and more increase in rider costs...

[The White Knight]

1 hour ago, SPEEDY69 said:

That was the case when the Mon/Thurs race night came into being and some premiership tracks had to change, so it can be done.  If a few ageing fans hold that much sway over clubs then that's why we are where we are.  New fans need to be attracted.

I''m sorry, I simply do not accept this statement.

I have supported Speedway since 1964, I am 81 years of age, and it was people who are elderly now who kept the Sport going years ago. I no longer attend as I am unable to do so, but crucially it has to be realised that we did our bit for Speedway. If the youngsters no longer wish to go that is not MY fault, it is the fault of the youngsters themselves or more likely the fault of Promoters, Management of Speedway, who have acted in such a cavalier manner with the sport they were responsible for running.

Please do not blame the elderly who have paid their money over the years and supported Speedway through thick and thin.

[Aries]

Having just read the brief AGM delay statement again, this part stands out

“A statement regarding next year’s structure, including any key regulation changes, will be issued when these details have been fully agreed and ratified, and this is not directly associated with the AGM”.

Can we assume by that that they haven’t actually yet agreed on a points limit in the top tier?

Surely we haven’t got the farcical situation where they just can’t agree and the likes of Northampton, Lynn, Leicester? Are building towards 37, whilst Belle Vue, Ipswich and Sheffield are building towards 40?

You wouldn’t bet against it would you!?

Edited 1 hour ago by Aries

[SPEEDY69]

On 10/24/2026 at 8:39 PM, SteveLyric2 said:

Plymouth promoter explained that 2 investors who had promised to fund the air fence then reneged towards the end of the season. Hence the late notice to the fans for help although the fund seems to be going well with the possibility of 'match funding' from the local council. Hope its successful.

Given the reported size of their crowds each week, where is all the money going at Plymouth? - surely they're not paying silly money to riders (although their travel expenses bill must be higher than all the other clubs 😁) 

[SPEEDY69]

1 hour ago, The White Knight said:

I''m sorry, I simply do not accept this statement.

I have supported Speedway since 1964, I am 81 years of age, and it was people who are elderly now who kept the Sport going years ago. I no longer attend as I am unable to do so, but crucially it has to be realised that we did our bit for Speedway. If the youngsters no longer wish to go that is not MY fault, it is the fault of the youngsters themselves or more likely the fault of Promoters, Management of Speedway, who have acted in such a cavalier manner with the sport they were responsible for running.

Please do not blame the elderly who have paid their money over the years and supported Speedway through thick and thin.

I think you have interpreted my post incorrectly.  The discussion point was that clubs do not want to risk a change of race night because their fans don't turn up - it is those fans I am referring to, who, as with the majority of most clubs' attendees, are more mature.  If this is what is preventing clubs from looking to grow their business then I'm afraid it really is doomed.  They should be doing their best to attract both new and existing/previous fans but above all new ones.

[mikebv]

46 minutes ago, Aries said:

Having just read the brief AGM delay statement again, this part stands out

“A statement regarding next year’s structure, including any key regulation changes, will be issued when these details have been fully agreed and ratified, and this is not directly associated with the AGM”.

Can we assume by that that they haven’t actually yet agreed on a points limit in the top tier?

Surely we haven’t got the farcical situation where they just can’t agree and the likes of Northampton, Lynn, Leicester? Are building towards 37, whilst Belle Vue, Ipswich and Sheffield are building towards 40?

You wouldn’t bet against it would you!?

And Eastbourne are building to 30....😯😁

[TTT]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

Having just read the brief AGM delay statement again, this part stands out

“A statement regarding next year’s structure, including any key regulation changes, will be issued when these details have been fully agreed and ratified, and this is not directly associated with the AGM”.

Can we assume by that that they haven’t actually yet agreed on a points limit in the top tier?

Surely we haven’t got the farcical situation where they just can’t agree and the likes of Northampton, Lynn, Leicester? Are building towards 37, whilst Belle Vue, Ipswich and Sheffield are building towards 40?

You wouldn’t bet against it would you!?

Think it's all been agreed otherwise Teams wouldn't be releasing riders tbh.

I'm pretty sure that Leicester would've opted for Morris over Howarth if given the chance considering Stewart Dickson likes continuity and that Morris is the Bandits No.1 in 2027.

[TTT]

36 minutes ago, mikebv said:

And Eastbourne are building to 30....😯😁

They'd be alright in a 37.00 limit.

Bit like Ipswich and Northampton this season, The low Points Limit would make sure that a few riders on high 6's or low 7's GSA's would still be available for Eastbourne to have a strength in depth side.

Throw in one assessed rider as well like Nilsson for example on a 7+ and they'l get close to a 37.00 limit.