It must be simply down to riders needing to DU... There are no other reasons why the "top league" promoters would countenance a five team, (or even a six team), league surely?.. The optics of which alone paint the sport in a very sorry state... Decades of failing to develop UK talent and, instead, using foreign journeymen via a revolving door, has led us to such a tiny pool of riders able/willing to ride in the UK... I suggest they can now call the shots given the promoters have painted themselves into such a corner..

Cant say I know a great deal about gambling, but speaking with somebody who does and also understands speedway she tells me. - Forget about betting at the track - its all about the online world.  - Speedway would require one camera at each track (but two would be preferable) to globally broadcast racing live through the online streaming and TV gambling channels (I don't know what/who they are). - A quick count gave a total of seventeen individual type of bets that could be placed on/during a single speedway team meeting excluding the simple "moneyline" bets of selecting which rider will win any particular race.  - A number of the seventeen type of bets could be placed multiple times to take into account changes to form/scores during the meeting - Hence the appeal to the online gambling community. - Her understanding is that speedway has not historically found traction with the gambling organisations due to the lack of willingness from the sport to embrace the concept.  - Apparently there are upwards of sixty online gambling companies registered in Malta and Gibraltar serving the UK which include all of the big well known brands.  - If speedway did hook up with the gambling community via sponsorship etc, there would not be exclusivity for that sponsor at speedway meetings as all markets are regarded as open. My take away is that for those in the know speedway does offer significant opportunities, however, to date it has not been exploited sufficiently well enough to create interest and growth beyond the fans of sport itself.   

Its like having an old mate who you can see is into irreversible decline, but you still keep hopes that he'll recover and get back to being what he used to be. So you keep on visiting and saying "we'll have that pint one day" (or whatever) - you know its unlikely, but you cant let go of keeping some hope

John Davis 1975. He was allocated to Reading from Oxford. Oxford were allowed a guest until a replacement arrived.   Step forward John Davis.

We currently have a ridiculous situation. There should have been one league, with the clubs with top flight desires bringing in their stars to supplement and additional one home and away match, and semis and final. It may have been only a handful of top meetings but the regular one league meetings to make a season viable.

I’m pretty sure that has already happened. I’m sure someone on here can remember the rider involved.