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I just cannot, and will not be able to square away the fact that a track can be opened where nobody is calling for it, yet there have been multiple clubs that it would have been much easier to save but weren't rescued over the last let's call it a decade or so. It's compounding years of bad business with some more bad business.

Have the bspl become so desperate and tunnel visioned in their quest to get Northampton running they have forgot what their actual job is ? They have practically isolated and ignored the fans and even the other 4 teams to a degree since November to the point now where even the most loyal fans are getting fed up and if like me thinking is it worth it anymore, this winter has been one of the most damaging to its credibility winters the sport has ever had

You’re posting pics of the track before any work has taken place and declaring it a death trap! They know what needs to be done to make it a speedway racetrack and like every other track in the country it will be subject to a full independent inspection before it’s granted a license from the SCB. It amazes me, most people said this had no chance of happening, even suggested the 6th team was made up for the BSPL press release. And yet when it is announced, rather than be happy that we have a new team in the league and we have a premiership of 6 teams, everybody can’t wait to mock it or tear it to shreds before it’s even opened. And you wonder why there isn’t a lot of people willing to run/keep a speedway track going for us?

Not me, he's is a Great Britain Speedway living legend. He's done nothing to deserve the hate at all. I'd argue with anyone, that without him, we may never have seen the likes of Lambert & Bewley competing near the top on the World stage. He singlehandedly demanded & lifted the standards of our international setup. We were an international laughing stock before this guy came along. He's a little hyper, swears a bit, has a little arrogance, grew up in Australia. Who gives a feck. Wearing that Union Jack, he's given everything, almost killing himself a few times doing so. Like you, I do not get the hate at all.

And yet, here you are. The amount of moaning that five teams is not good enough, makes a mockery of the sport...a sixth team looks likely to appear and STILL moaning. 🤦‍♂️

Welcome to all of their fans... it's only fair they have their own topic thread 👍🏻

Hard to understand why anyone would be anti a new venue being created per se, and i'm not seeing much or indeed any of that being expressed. However, there is considerable concern and scepticism over the chances of it being ready on time, and successful and sustainable, with time constraints being one of the main concerns over effective local marketing and publicity. These concerns and doubts can be expressed in humourous or serious ways, and are sometimes wrapped up within more general concerns about speedway in the Uk and the way it is being run. These are mostly perfectly valid concerns, made in good faith and with the underlying well-being of speedway in the UK at their heart. Whether the above could be justifiably deemed "moaning" is rather irrelevant, especially as the definition of what constitutes "moaning" is likely to vary greatly. I'd liken it to "complaining", and there doesnt seem to anyone complaining that a new venue could be happening. But there are doubts and concerns being expressed, which for the most part seem to be perfectly valid

I suppose I could of asked for more money but I didn’t really care, I just wanted to race speedway, the privilege of being part of a team was for me what speedway was all about, it always made me more determined to beat whoever it was if I knew they were on a good screw from their team, I think I was one of the lowest paid riders ever to race for 21 years but not only did I achieve my lifetime ambition I also did alright for myself so looking back what else could I ask for in life

Northampton is happening so lets get behind it and stop being negative about it. good luck to them

I don’t understand all the cynicism here. GB was a joke of a team year after year but Painter, Blackwell, Allen, Stead, Vatcher plus the professional team around them involving fitness, psychology, physiotherapy and media profile have produced some world beating performances. No more pizzas and beer but pride in the job instead. And top class sponsors. It’s not been just a one day job either with qualifiers and finals in the same week resulting in the squad being together for 4 or 5 days. GB has team spirit, team uniforms and, allowing for 2025 being a hiccup, great results since it changed to the current management team. Olly and Simon have worked well together but they will acknowledge they are only one part of the whole set up. When domestic speedway in UK, especially the way the top league is going, is a clown show, and is working its way down and down, the national team has shown that we still have good people with great skills in this country. And Simon has been one of the key players. We should be thanking him and not making smart ass comments about his wish to devote more time to his family, his job and Sheffield speedway.

We must surely be approaching the point where they say it's too late to get this done. This waiting isn't fair on the riders, it's not fair on the other clubs who have declared they're running but can't get properly organised, and most importantly it's not fair to the supporters who can't be blamed if they decide that after the farce of this winter it's finally the time to walk away from the sport. I hope Northampton do start. The circumstances in which it happens isn't ideal but it would still be exciting to see a new track enter, and wouldn't it be great if we were all here in 7-8 months time looking back at a successful first season. But you can't keep everyone waiting around forever, there has to be a deadline.

The sport is more of a hobby for too many to ever be taken seriously.... Winning at home (by a narrow margin) and getting hammered away is almost utopia for some... These promoters don't have any burning ambitions to win things or, if also in the second tier, move into the top league, and are quite content on funding their hobby through affordable losses, or other businesses contributions.. They run their team pretty much for themselves and the riders, who often need two jobs in the UK to justify their outlay on machinery... With the two jobs meaning two teams share the costs which then makes it cost effective for both clubs.. The clamour for "Team Six" isn't to make the top league look "relevant", (even 20 teams couldn't do that the way the sport is ran), it is simply to ensure another seven slots are available for riders, with four or five of those slots being so riders can double up.. Neither league has authenticity given the operating model (196 guests last season), therefore "Team Six" won't make a jot of difference to the way the sport is viewed by so many fans, and, (more importantly), literally thousands of "ex fans"... In short. Nothing changes because the majority of those running it have a lot of their boxes ticked due to the way they do run it, hence they are content with things... And as long as fans only slowly dwindle away, the losses won't become too big, too quickly, so the whole nonsense can continue on.... Until, of course, inevitably one day given its inexorable decline, it doesn't..

And all so riders can double up.... A complete blight on the sport in the first place... And the reason some clubs cannot race at weekends even if they wanted to... An incredible situation to allow to have happened, especially given thousands of fans could see the issues years ago and openly said so, and often!!! Imagine running your whole operation around doubling up? Barmy. And it delivered exactly what it has ...

Just saw this in Northampton town centre...

I don’t hate him, I don’t like him but I respect what he has achieved and as much as I dislike him he would be the first name on the list if I was putting on a big individual meeting because he is a headline generator and gets people talking and is vastly underused by British speedway as a marketing tool, the less said about his music the better though

Speedway deserves better than this, it’s a shambles and nobody can defend anyone involved

Those that are managing/controlling this Ipswich campaign are running the risk of losing the good will of not just the Ipswich fan base but that of the entire Premiership where those declared clubs are seemingly being held to ransom over the indecisiveness or one or more parties when it comes to the fixture list etc. The dwindling fan base who like to plan ahead to support their team at away matches are ignored to the point where that particular contribution that fans make in terms of travelling support falls on deaf ears of those in charge. Promoters are happy to take the punters money but pay scant regard to realising the importance of keeping supporters on side and the mushroom syndrome is the mantra that suits the promoters business model. Many more will find other things to do on race nights and pick and choose those meetings they want to attend yet those running the sport seemingly have their respective heads buried in the sand so much so that you feel they could not find themselves a way out of a paper bag let alone solve the issues of. the self inflected mire the sport finds itself in and actually go out of there way to ignore the contribution the die hard supporters offer this great sporting spectacular. Speedway could be so good if promoted as something special and run by those who had a vision to expose it to broader audience, but the insular way in which it is runs means this will not happen in the short to medium term. Get rid of the old guard and things might change, but leave it as is and it will pass into history.

100%, I agree. . Utopia... But a pipe dream.. Crowds of 1400 wouldn't support an "Elite" level as the riders to make it "Elite" would need to be paid enough NOT to DU... And the second tier "developers" simply wouldn't want to sell to their fans a "lesser product" with no DU riders in their Heat Leader positions anymore, and their fans simply wouldn't pay £20+ to watch a lesser standard than they have been used to.. The current operating model has gone on for far too long now to ever be unravelled, and, to be honest, I doubt there is any enthusiasm at all to do so, from any of the promoters... Why? Because all can pick and choose what they want to do, and, with the current model, all teams get subsidised by others through sharing rider costs, therefore, all are content with what they have and deliver... If Poland next season do insist on "one extra league only" then DU'ing could even become a real advantage in getting riders. As, instead of less than 20 meetings in Sweden and Denmark, "journeymen" foreign riders could have circa 40 over here.. It is only the fans, (mainly the tens of thousands of ex fans who still closely follow the sport), I would suggest, who want changes to be made, and see potential in the sport should it ever get ran with authenticity, jeapordy, consequence and reward for success.. With the many "wear the club shop die hards", who attend each week, happilly colluding with the Promoters that the sport is a bona fide team sport, with the other section of regulars, being quite content in just watching the racing with no particular emotional attachment to the outcome.. Promoters know that they will never be able to deliver "Utopia" without a huge influx of cash from a major sponsor or/and a massive TV deal, as attendances won't ever be high enough to deliver it.. Therefore they are quite content to carry on with what we have, as it ticks a lot of boxes for them to remain as Promoters...

I look at streaming as an opportunity to see away meetings. I’m self employed so taking a whole day plus fuel to attend an away meeting is quite costly. Streaming has its place, I don’t think I can justify travelling away but I’m happy to pay to watch it on my tv.

Now posting as tapewrecker

Well if it all comes off at Northampton I wish them luck .

I normally make a point of not commenting on here as it can just descend into petty arguments, but I feel I should respond to some of these. We completely respect everyone’s right to decide whether to renew there season ticket, but it’s worth clarifying a few things about the fixtures. Season tickets are sold on the basis of a set number of meetings between March and October — that hasn’t changed. Gaps in the schedule aren’t “missing” fixtures; they’re largely there to accommodate away meetings on shared race nights and to hold reserve dates for semi-finals and finals in competitions like the Knockout Cup and BSN Series, its ok to say what if we don't qualify for them, but what if we do? Last season there was heavy criticism about fixture congestion late in the year during the cold wet months, so spreading key dates across the calendar is a responsible approach. A lot of the gaps have now been filled with Saturday NDL fixtures to maintain continuity, as we did successfully last season and the date for the Under 21 final is still to be announced to fill another gap. The idea that there must be a home meeting every single week isn’t really how modern sport operates. In most professional leagues, home and away fixtures alternate weekly or even fortnightly. For example, the NFL regular season consists of just 17 games across 18 weeks — and it remains one of the strongest sports brands in the world. Experience shows that when additional meetings such as challenge matches or individuals are added, they unfortunately don’t receive the support needed to justify them. In reality, it’s about quality over quantity — ensuring the fixtures we stage truly matter.

https://workingtoncomets.com/kids-go-free-for-2026/ Well done to the Comets management kids go free for 2026 these are the future supporters of speedway 😀 UTC 🏁🔵⚪

They have their reasons for the delay in releasing full details of the “new” club. And, as they are the folk making it happen it is their prerogative to decide when that will be. Meanwhile let’s be grateful for this positive step in the current tough times for British speedway and wish the promoters and all concerned all the best of luck in their endeavours to make Northampton a long term success.

Well, that'll have probably gone down like a turd in a swimming pool at BSPL towers. A few home truths delivered which historically haven't been listened to, most notably from the previous Ippo promoter and various other here today gone tomorrow promoters. The majority of the current crop just ain't up to the job, most notably the guy at the top. Coleman will have his work cut out to make any change but let's hope he can succeed where so many others in the past have failed. At the moment we'll have to take him at face value 🤞

Have had BSN for my elderly parents for the last 4 years and can't fault it for the cost, yeah had a few teething problems with some streams from time to time when it first came along but its got better year on year tbf, my parents who are both 85 love their speedway and have been going regularly to local tracks since the Norwich speedway days, and were season ticket holders at Ipswich, Lynn, P'boro and Mildenhall for many a year before Covid stuck, it's just an easier option for them these days then driving to a meeting and having to sit about in all weather's at their age.

Ipswich were more than happy to take Tom off Birmingham and see them “make up the numbers”. Tom had ridden part of their season at number 1 after we released him. When you consider the top two the witches had in place, tapping up Tom seemed unnecessary if looking at the bigger picture. It did however achieve what Louis wanted with his league win, and that’s all that mattered to him.

Not at Dan's level yet!!! Is what you mean... Who knows though.... Keep practicing and you never know.... Edit. I've just told my mate that Ouch was taking up Speedway and that he doesn't think he will be as good as Dan.. He said "Who the eff are Ouch and Dan, and what the eff is Speedway?".. See. Already you are at Dan's level...

In 2003 I did nearly 80 meetings with an average round trip of 400 miles per meeting, my van which I paid for was doing around 60-80k miles a year riding sometimes 4 times per week and washed and prepped my own bikes,,worked part time mechanic for Adam skornicki and sometimes washed Joe screens bikes and worked as a full time courier often delivering on way to meetings and sometimes after meetings and I did it for peanuts so forgive me if I have little sympathy for the likes of Jason Edward’s ,they don’t know they are born

What is the deadline for Northampton (if it is actually Northampton) to declare ya or nay? we are 11 days away from march, 27 days away from first meeting, the secrecy is beyond a joke, no premier fixture list, no statements to the paying public, speedway has committed some real shoot itself in the foot moments over the years but this is just another level

A lot of doom and gloom on here. At least they're trying to give it a go with Northampton. Come on, it's a new track for heaven's sake so at least give it a chance before all the wading in with negative comments. Some posters have said the BSPL should be attempting to get a track up and running where there's already a fan base but places like Coventry, Swindon, Wolves etc ain't going to be happening anytime soon. Northampton has been put forward, the owners/promoters seem to be keen to have speedway there so good luck to them. You just never know, it may turn out to be a resounding success. Fingers crossed.

It's all about the money !! In 1997, both Stock Cars and Speedway were kicked out of Odsal by the Bulls as the Super League had recently come into existence and Sky were throwing money at it, so they no longer needed the rental income. Plans for a fully enclosed 'Superdome' were published, which obviously would have made motorsports unfeasible. From 2012 to 2017, the Bulls went into administration 3 times, also dropping out of the Super League in 2014, and the 3rd one ended in liquidation. The Bulls that exist now are a completely new entity formed in 2017. During that first period of administration the RFL had to step in and purchase the leasehold on the stadium to help keep the club afloat. At the end of the 2019 season, they were still struggling financially and could no longer afford the rent so they moved out to Dewsbury for 2 seasons, leaving the RFL with an empty stadium. During the winter of 2020, the last Stock Car promotion to run at Odsal (Startrax), negotiated a return to Odsal with the RFL and made agreement with the Bulls to come back in with them. Allegedly, this was very beneficial to the Bulls, as rumour is that they had fallen out with the Dewsbury chairman and were going to be homeless in 2021. Since the return, the pitch has never met the minimum size specified in the rule book, but the RFL seemed happy to overlook this. However, now they have been 'promoted' back to the Super League, it has become more of an issue. Unfortunately for Stock Car racing, this promotion means the Bulls will be far better off financially, and it also coincides with the Bulls taking over the leasehold on the stadium from the RFL, giving them far more control over what happens. Despite the Stock Car promoters still having several years on the lease agreement, they are no longer welcome at Odsal, and I believe legal proceedings have taken place, but the rumour is that this was more about compensation than any possible return. The fact is, that without Startrax reopening Odsal in 2021 (a massive gamble as we were still under Covid restrictions at the time), the Bulls would not be playing there now, and would certainly not have been in the position to be rejoining the Super League. Then their fans wonder why all stock car fans are wishing for them to get relegated, go bust, or both !!

But that is the point.... he didn't miss a year, he rode in the NDL. As I've stated before this "non-professional" League is a load of nonsense - if he got paid he was a professional in a professional league.

I honestly don’t have a problem with the team or any rider. My gripe is with the way rules in British speedway are just made up with very little effort or thought. I’m still waiting for an explanation for the points deduction to Workington last year. What is the criteria that needs to be met when the 8% reduction is applied for? How does that reduction work along side other reductions? I have quite a few other questions but it’s a waste of time listing them as the first two won’t be answered clearly. As much as I’m a bore, the point in any rule or law in sports is it will affect all the same. If the application of either is inconsistent it brings the whole show into disrepute.

Top5 I reckon.

I just don’t know where they expect the fans to come from, a few from Peterborough and maybe a few from Coventry and there will be some novelty fans at the first meeting so unless they are bankrolling it somehow this has Skegness written all over it and the sport was a lot healthier then

I have said it for years the national league should go their own way with the blessing of the bspl, ultimately the higher leagues don’t and never have cared for the NL unless there is some sort of financial gain for them, they get jealous of any NL club that has any financial success and set out to penalise that club, the fake outrage when a Nora league was mooted was speedway in a nutshell, our way or no way, the likes of Barry bishop understand the bspl mentality, don’t expect any help because they don’t care

Maybe your team should run an NDL team

This is literally the same as posting a picture of a field before the new Workington track was laid and saying "it's a bit bumpy at the new Worky track" 🤣

The answer indeed appears an obvious one.... However, they simply don't have the money to improve the standard, nor market the sport... Although I should say they do have money (a quite considerable sum will be spent), but they choose to spend all of it on riders rather than promotion and marketing.... The sport is now down to how many attendees? 20,000 average (at most), at the 14 clubs across the country, collectively, last year? That is too far off the radar of the general public now to ever deliver an "Elite" offering, given the considersble costs involved of doing so... The sport is basically set up for a few World Class riders to live over here, and top up their Polish earnings with a circa high five figure/low six figure package, and then let "experienced average riders" earn two salaries, which, combined will be a very decent sum. And, at the lower end of teams, give young UK lads and overseas young lads an opportunity to see if fhey can go further up the ladder.. With the Promoters being happy to run at the level all are, as they know "speculating to accumulate" won't provide much "accumulation" given the (lack of), rewards on offer... It is really only the fans that would suggest the sport is "broken", and make suggestions to improve it.... I very much doubt the Promoters, (who are all obviously quite content with their lot, hence nothing changes), think there are any issues at all...

That's the spirit...

Why on earth would they do that until they’re actually sure they’re running? I’d imagine the advertising and promotion of Northampton Speedway would commence ONCE they’ve got the green light to run, not before! Pretty bizarre gripe from you again which seems to happen a lot lately 🙄

I don’t buy that. The vast majority of fans switch off at the end of the season & come back at the start of the new one. It’s only us on here that get our knickers in a twist, a small percentage of those who actually attend. If the side ends up getting beaten week in week out then yes the attendance will drop, but the goings on this winter won’t make much difference to the attendance at the start of the season

Getting very fed up with this cloak and dagger situation with Northampton. I actually don’t care now if they are they running or not. Five or six teams in the league, still crap. Regardless of where they are in preparation, at least make some sort of announcement to generate a degree of interest. I set up as a consultant a few years ago and never thought to keep it a secret and not tell anyone. Would love to hear the business strategy (if they have one?) of those in charge.

I think the day we take any notice of what a Holder has to say is probably the day to pack it all in.

Anders Thomson, Freddy Lindgren, Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley all had a lower average in Poland last year than Jason Doyle, and yet Doyle had a poor year here in the UK. Poland is and has always been, a terrible indicator of what happens in this Country average wise. Thorssell has shown a liking to tracks over here in the past and even if he’s regressed as a rider since then, that is negated by the fact the league he would be returning to has been watered down. Thorssell is more than capable of a 6.5 average in this league, so anyone that grabs him on a 4.5 is getting a two point average jumper right off the bat.

Speedway riders are mercenaries it's all about what they earn . Winning is nice but getting paid is better . In a sport we're winning a title means nothing and there no financial reward you get the best deal you can

Supplementary Reg 31. (as of Feb 01/26).... Any Swedish rider, who hasnt ridden in either of fhe UK two top leagues for a "few" years, (let's keep it ambiguous), and whose surname has two lots of consecutive consonants in it, comes in at an average of 4.50...

I think it's really been the best worst close season ever, even better than the Coventry/Peterborough fiasco, this close season started pretty early and has been the gift that has just kept on giving, it's kept me fully engaged with the forum throughout as I normally dip out during the close season, part of me will be sad to see it all finally resolved 😁

You've literally mentioned every single rider currently riding Speedway at one point or another 😂