2027 - 8 Team Premiership

[M.D]

4 hours ago, mikebv said:

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.

Stream Motorsports

 

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...

Having been privy to the figures of Eastbourne's final season under Ian Jordan its not so bad.

They had a base figure of 600 and a floating 200, so 800 guaranteed each week. Also well over 1000 four times in half a season, Ian Jordan made a lot of mistakes but speedway could be a sport at the Arlington raceway that could exsist if run. 

The main issue is they will only get income from gate money and sponsorship, food and drink money will go to the lease holder.

Its doable, but in the top league on an off race night, I would be doubtful

Nothing will happen 2027 anyway..

Edited 22 hours ago by M.D

[Steve Irving]

Forget about an 8th or even 7th club joining the top flight because they just wont be competitive. Why are they not bringing in a one over 8 rule? It was done successfully in the Championship this season to evenly spread out the top riders. Fricke is heavily rumoured to return to Leicester so you now how to fear for King’s Lynn. Who is going to be their number 1? 
 

Belle Vue will have Kurtz and Bewley, Ipswich although not the two they originally thought they’d have will have 2 strong heatleaders, Leicester according to Flagrag could have 2 GP riders, while Northampton will have Musielak as their sole big hitter and god knows who Lynn will manage to get! You can already name the 4 play off teams and the 2 who will battle for the spoon.

A one over 8 rules needs to come in to place for the good of the league.

[TTT]

2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

Forget about an 8th or even 7th club joining the top flight because they just wont be competitive. Why are they not bringing in a one over 8 rule? It was done successfully in the Championship this season to evenly spread out the top riders. Fricke is heavily rumoured to return to Leicester so you now how to fear for King’s Lynn. Who is going to be their number 1? 
 

Belle Vue will have Kurtz and Bewley, Ipswich although not the two they originally thought they’d have will have 2 strong heatleaders, Leicester according to Flagrag could have 2 GP riders, while Northampton will have Musielak as their sole big hitter and god knows who Lynn will manage to get! You can already name the 4 play off teams and the 2 who will battle for the spoon.

A one over 8 rules needs to come in to place for the good of the league.

Douglas to Lynn possibly? If Leicester get 2 x GP Riders then they won't be able to fit all 3 in as we're talking around 25.00 Points.

[False dawn]

6 minutes ago, TTT said:

Douglas to Lynn possibly? If Leicester get 2 x GP Riders then they won't be able to fit all 3 in as we're talking around 25.00 Points.

Given that Leicester released Max last year for cost reasons, it seems unlikely they would sign two GP riders. And Dougy is very popular at Leicester.

But hey, what do I know? 

[ouch]

Discussion between Belle Vue investor and a would be investor looking to open up a new track. 

I see you got rid of another of your top riders, bit harsh. 

We had to. 

Eh?

Their average was over eight and we are only allowed one. 

Why the hell are you signing two riders with eight plus averages. 

One was 7.50 and the other was 3 when we signed them. 

Right, so you have been a part of their development. 

Yes. 

Can’t you just have a good rider off another team to replace them?

No.

Why?

Because they don’t have any. We would need to sign a lesser rider and help with their development. 

Sounds good. 

But we would have to give them up once they reached a higher level. 

Not good. Don’t other tracks bring riders on in the same way.

No, so we have to send them ours. 

Isn’t there some kind of advantage or protection for bringing on your own riders from junior level, as I know it costs you a fair amount. 

No, when they reach a certain level other clubs tempt them with better terms. 

Why don’t you outbid them?

We spent the money on running a junior team. 

Haven’t they done the same?

No, so they can use the money they saved then entice someone who has come through our junior ranks. 

Investor promptly exits stage left. 

Only in speedway. 

[TTT]

7 minutes ago, False dawn said:

Given that Leicester released Max last year for cost reasons, it seems unlikely they would sign two GP riders. And Dougy is very popular at Leicester.

But hey, what do I know? 

I agree, Unless the second GP Rider is someone like Nilsson who isn't of GP quality but qualified based off having a good night in a one off meeting much like Tungate.

[Bald Bloke]

3 hours ago, TTT said:

Douglas to Lynn possibly? If Leicester get 2 x GP Riders then they won't be able to fit all 3 in as we're talking around 25.00 Points.

I wouldn't want Douglas at Lynn, after a good season at Leicester on a 9.08. I very much doubt he would maintain that, much like Max didn't. Now lets see if Lynn get Max back now he's average dropped a lot.. I doubt it.

[PersonalResponsibility]

 

I have to ask you about the new rules that will force every rider racing with a British license to ride in the local league. What do you honestly think about them?

– At the moment, these are just discussions and we shall see when more official information comes out. Currently, there are many false details in the air regarding these rules, which are currently only in the discussion phase. I can’t say right now what I plan to do about it.

Is racing with a Polish license under the British anthem and flag an option for you?

– No, because if I want a Polish license, I need a Polish passport, and then I’d have to race under the Polish flag and with the Polish anthem. However, something is happening behind the scenes, and when I get a 100% definitive answer, I’ll definitely turn to the media.

https://ekstraliga.pl/en/se/news/robert-lamberts-perfect-season-i-wouldnt-have-believed-it-a-year-ago

What's it gonna be? 

[TTT]

6 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said:

I wouldn't want Douglas at Lynn, after a good season at Leicester on a 9.08. I very much doubt he would maintain that, much like Max didn't. Now lets see if Lynn get Max back now he's average dropped a lot.. I doubt it.

Don't think Leicester would let him go anyway tbh, I was just throwing a scenario into the ring after Flagrag's post about 2 GP riders.

Not trolling I think King's Lynn are in trouble if Lambert doesn't ride over here because surely Max Fricke would accept any offer from Leicester considering he's far more comfortable on that track than the AFA.

[Bald Bloke]

1 hour ago, TTT said:

Don't think Leicester would let him go anyway tbh, I was just throwing a scenario into the ring after Flagrag's post about 2 GP riders.

Not trolling I think King's Lynn are in trouble if Lambert doesn't ride over here because surely Max Fricke would accept any offer from Leicester considering he's far more comfortable on that track than the AFA.

Could be back to the old strength in depth again 😟. Trouble is your always going to get pegged back late on in meetings. It would be nice to think Lambo would choose Lynn where it all started, if he ever did come back. 

[YeOldPitGate]

55 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said:

Could be back to the old strength in depth again 😟. Trouble is your always going to get pegged back late on in meetings. It would be nice to think Lambo would choose Lynn where it all started, if he ever did come back. 

Buster does have the resources the two questions are will he want to dip into the retirement pot and even if he did does Lambert really want to come back to the UK. As others have said doesn't help the top guns have to fly into UK two nights per week but just don't think all going Mondays would be a sound idea, Thursdays if doable would be better.

[therefused]

9 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Buster does have the resources the two questions are will he want to dip into the retirement pot and even if he did does Lambert really want to come back to the UK. As others have said doesn't help the top guns have to fly into UK two nights per week but just don't think all going Mondays would be a sound idea, Thursdays if doable would be better.

from how Rob Lyon was speaking recently he would prefer Thursday nights. 

[JamesB]

23 minutes ago, therefused said:

from how Rob Lyon was speaking recently he would prefer Thursday nights. 

Monday night is the graveyard slot for anything other than football.

Also, you would have a clash for the first and last six weeks of the season with football.

Why would you do it, it makes no commercial sense?

 

[mikebv]

17 minutes ago, JamesB said:

Monday night is the graveyard slot for anything other than football.

Also, you would have a clash for the first and last six weeks of the season with football.

Why would you do it, it makes no commercial sense?

 

Agreed, however.  

Just running on Thursday would mean clashes with Poland running on that night..

Eight meetings planned next year plus any rearrangements...

And also would mean riders flying out on Friday to possibly race in FIM meetings or Polish top league matches that night..

Scandinavia has the advantage of "being done" by Wednesday evening, so the fixtures at the weekend have prep time...

Edited 1 hour ago by mikebv

[Aries]

32 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Agreed, however.  

Just running on Thursday would mean clashes with Poland running on that night..

Eight meetings planned next year plus any rearrangements...

And also would mean riders flying out on Friday to possibly race in FIM meetings or Polish top league matches that night..

Scandinavia has the advantage of "being done" by Wednesday evening, so the fixtures at the weekend have prep time...

That’s not as bad as it originally sounded reading the Speedway Star Mike. The Polish fixtures planned on those Thursdays will be out well in advance of our fixtures apparently, so we’ll then work around them.

Some clubs will still be able to run on those Thursdays as well if they don’t have a rider riding in those Polish fixtures so it doesn’t seem much of a problem.

We have plenty of gaps during the season anyhow.

[mikebv]

Just now, Aries said:

That’s not as bad as it originally sounded reading the Speedway Star Mike. The Polish fixtures planned on those Thursdays will be out well in advance of our fixtures apparently, so we’ll then work around them.

Some clubs will still be able to run on those Thursdays as well if they don’t have a rider riding in those Polish fixtures so it doesn’t seem much of a problem.

We have plenty of gaps during the season anyhow.

If we get more top level riders over here then clashes could be inevitable....

However, if we only have a few top tier Polish riders, like currently, then as you say, hopefully they can work around it...

Who knows maybe if will focus them on delivering some fit for purpose fixture planning across the season with home matches, weather permitting ,evenly spread out?..

[Aries]

1 minute ago, mikebv said:

If we get more top level riders over here then clashes could be inevitable....

However, if we only have a few top tier Polish riders, like currently, then as you say, hopefully they can work around it...

Who knows maybe if will focus them on delivering some fit for purpose fixture planning across the season with home matches, weather permitting ,evenly spread out?..

🤣

[Bald Bloke]

1 hour ago, therefused said:

from how Rob Lyon was speaking recently he would prefer Thursday nights. 

It would give them more time to sort the track after a weekend of bangers as well.

[Bagpuss]

1 hour ago, JamesB said:

Monday night is the graveyard slot for anything other than football.

Also, you would have a clash for the first and last six weeks of the season with football.

Why would you do it, it makes no commercial sense?

 

Lynn changed to Thursdays for the 2025 season to avoid Polish rearranged meetings clashing. I think Lynn would like to return to Thursdays in an ideal world as it gives extra time to turn the track round after weekend stock car meetings.