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When I decided to ride speedway it was because I wanted to be a speedway rider (still do in my head )I didn’t care about the money, it was a nice bonus but just the Privalige of being a rider was everything to me, I run my own business along side speedway for most of my career often working around 60 hours a week and doing all the bike washing myself, yes there were times I was shattered and just wanted my bed but would I do it all again? Hell yes, I would often drive from Wolverhampton on a Friday do a couple of deliveries in London or Kent then on to Weymouth or Plymouth to race that night get back home at 2am and I loved it ,but I just don’t see that desire anymore from riders , it’s all about the money, I read “I’m putting my life on the line so I want big money “ I never thought I was putting my life on the line(except when I raced against roman matousek) I was just loving being a rider and racing my bike and to do that for a team was just amazing, where has that love for racing gone ?

I don't believe anything you post on here and I don't think I am alone in my scepticism.

When that clock goes to zero ,you’re not ready to go you’re out no ifs no buts out ,works well in the GPs

That along with the 2 min clock is good news at last

Why dont you mind your own business and slag somebody else off in which you are very good at .that is why your probably the most disliked person on the forum have a nice day !!!

I agree with you Dean, the money wasn't the be all and end all of racing, it was the excitement, the adrenaline pumping going into corners fast and only inches from your opponent, the feeling of elation when you beat a more experienced opponent that you didn't expect to 70 seconds earlier. It wasn't just a means to make money or drive around in a sign written van, we used trailers or bike racks, saying " look at me I must be good my names all over my van " which is what I see from a lot of would be racers. The expense of all the trick bits that the GP riders use, throttles at £150 each, seem to remember Ivan used a Jawa throttle, longer so better for throttle control. Maybe some of the riders need to go back to basics and maybe improve their situation.

What would Buster know about success

when i was a kid going to Wimbledon Stadium, so much of the evening was the excitement and anticipation of the racing, and it's things like that that have me hooked, but where is there ANYTHING to get the kids interest and keep it these days? Logic says it should be the racing, but so much more needs to be done. the anticipation bit at Wimbledon was when the track lights were on but all the stadium lights went off so just a lit up track for attention. why doesn't that happen now, is it health and safety, or is it that the track lighting at so many places is so bad if the stadium lights went out we'd ALL be in darkness. and something Dean & Les mentioned .. riding speedway should be about enjoyment a lot more than it obviously is, so much is about money. when i rode in the first team i had no idea what i was getting and just took the envelope and that was that. i WANTED to race, simple as that. bike on the rack on the back of the car Sunday night, early to work for BT Monday morning, half day holiday and off for a 3 hour drive to Exeter in the afternoon

It seems to go unnoticed but there are actually five months from the end of October to the start of April.. A long, long time to work... I pay my night lads (inc premium, NI and Pension) £11 an hour.. Thats £380 a week or a total of £7600 for 20 weeks work.. That's to fill shelves in a Supermarket.. I am sure there are probably other 'basic skilled' jobs out there that may pay even more..? Who knows, seven lads all earning this amount might collectively mean they don't have to then request over £50k between them off a Speedway promoter..? Would buy at least one very decent bike that I reckon and a good few quid left over for plenty of spares... The penny will need to drop soon that riding Speedway in GB isn't a full time role which gives you the opportunity to put your feet up at Forty years of age and spend your earnings for the rest of your life.. Similar to all Sports very, very few make it to the very top. British Speedway seems to be starting to realise that paying out EFL League One and Two wages on Bostik League attendance income simply doesn't add up.. It may be difficult to get people to ride Speedway now, but it will be a damn sight harder when no places exist to ply that trade..

Won't need Kings Lynn's ex riders when Doyle Woffinden Nicholls and Drabik arrive as part of team Tru Plant :-)

Don’t be fooled by the past PR the acquisition of these clubs will prop up the league and all of those clubs in the Premiership that are haemorrhaging, it will retain tv coverage and create an opportunity for new Promotional blood to come in to that league in due course. He isn’t gonna make out of this but it will keep his own club in business too. I couldn’t agree more with some of his critics but all the harping and carping will not help one iota. Keith has taken decisive action to protect the interests of the sport as a whole. Nicely and politely give him a break ffs!

Leon will be at Berwick for sure he does not chase the money as he has knocked back a good few clubs from what I was told it’s who he rides with is more important to him than the money good lad

Yeah, got to agree with you there LesR.....sign written van and all the latest gear make many of them think they are superstars from the off.

It would be worth suffering the m6 wideneing , if it was going to be of any benefit long term , but just like the M1 widening , mr and mrs lane hogger will simply spread themselves over 4 lanes instead of 3 and the 6 years of pain will have been for nothing , it would have been cheaper quicker and more succesful to employ a team of extra police officers to ensure the 3 lanes we have now are properly used . once a few people were nicked for hogging , and queue jumping , the motorways would soon start to unclog

Let’s get real here, there isn’t a SINGLE club in the division who would turn their nose up at Drew Kemp on a 2 point average so behave. If Drew had spoken to the Workington promotion and said “I’d like to ride for you next year”, there isn’t a chance in hell they’d have said “nah you’re not for us” Sheffield have Simon Stead to thank for this signing. I believe he was all set to sign for Eastbourne until Stead persuaded him to sign for Sheffield.

The attraction in those days was the racing - the spectacle of speedway - and a challenge match was no different from a league match, it was a night at the speedway It wasn't about winning at all costs - that didn't seem to matter anything like it does today - yes, happiness was 40-38, but results weren't the be all and end all There were regional fixtures - eg Midland League, Midland Riders Championship - and as said over 30 meetings in a season if it rained a bit, the sawdust went down and the riders donned overalls over their leathers, so there seemed to be less rain offs

In the early 60's when George was becoming the star at Meadowbank he drove a Cattle Lorry for his uncle most of the days he wasn't riding, as a lad used to wait for him stopping at the Chippy most nights ,great guy always had a chat.Times have changed ,if you have a bike you think you are a superstar nowadays.

That isn't a quote by Alex Harkess. He is quoted throughout the article, with his words in quotation marks. The last paragraph is added by the columnist, who has history in the business of putting unsaid words into articles.

Nonsense, the costs to a rider's equipment is nothing to do with the promoters. The clubs should only pay what they can afford and look to turn a profit. If the rider's find they can't afford the same or better equipment, tough. They should work doubly hard to find more sponsorship or pay for the upkeep themselves. Equipment responsibility is nothing to do with the promoters at all.

Just thought it might be of interest to some of you. Notice the G force as the rider turns the bike. Makes you realise how hard it must be to hold on. Just click the link https://www.instagram.com/p/BSeOfPkARsn

Hahaaa it may be where I live now but I will always be a scorpion :’) I always wear my scorpions jacket to Berwick meeting

I think that's what's annoyed me a bit. There's a lot to be critical of where speedway is concerned but the colours of those who simply want to put the boot in have been shown all too clearly here. Buster Chapman has saved a team, a league and a TV contract and backed his actions and judgement with his own money. Surely that is a matter for credit rather than criticism and negative comment ?

With many, including waytogo, that's just about impossible. Only interested in doom and gloom, and trying to tell others how to run speedway. FFS.

I find the whole thing disappointing to be honest, why are we left completely in limbo of what the clubs plans are for 2019. I think a decision either way should have been made weeks ago to be honest, instead we have had no word. The AGM statement comes out and says 2 NL clubs have moved up, it happens to be on the Brummies website so my thought was that its not a matter of if but when its announced. Then today we hear that no decision has yet been made despite the championship agm finishing almost a week ago. What is going on? I will be at Perry Barr in 2019 no matter what league we race in but I hope its Championship. When you go to some away tracks and Cardiff people always say "Why is a club like Birmingham in the National League? its right, why are we?. We have a good track and good facilities in a good location with some great sponsors. After 2014 I was glad we raced again at any level but the club should be moving forward and looking to race in the second tier. Its a level we have raced at before, and I enjoyed so much the old premier league days of 2007 to 2010. It was a big mistake to move up to the EL, that clearly was a financial gamble too much. A move up to the championship is a big risk as well I dont disagree but I have every faith we can make it work. Theres some good people at this club. I am quite worried about what kind of National League there will be in 2019. What clubs will be running as in 2018 there seemed to be concerns with a few clubs. So bearing that in mind will there be a significant reduction in the points limit. Will admission prices stay £13 and the like if the points limit and quality on offer reduces? It will be hard to sell to the general public. My preference would be to increase points limit but that isnt suitable I know because its a struggle for some clubs. So if we stay in the NL I just pray points limit stays the same.

I think its a question of both, because what people want is usually what's best for them. Clearly, the clubs think a 3 league structure is best. I very much take your point about the play off system. Phil the Ace made an excellent suggestion that the team that finishes top go straight into the final with the next two having a semi final, thus narrowing it to three teams instead of four. I don't have a problem with Buster Chapman having controlling interest in 3 clubs, especially as Ged Rathbone & Chris Louis will still be involved. Multi track bosses are hardly unheard of - Mike Parker and Reg Fearman springing to mind. Its also a question of what the alternative to retaining the Premiership was. You have mentioned amalgamation, but I think the top teams feared further loss of attendances and the weaker Championship ones trying to cope financially with the likes of Poole, Belle Vue & Wolverhampton. Furthermore, there was the question of the number of fixtures - based upon present number of clubs, there would have been 18 home and away to fit in - and the number of riders given the ridiculous number doubling up. Personally speaking, I think they have got it right.

Bit harsh Arch Theres bugger all else going on No foul no harm as they say

Jason Garrity has been the heart and soul of the Scorpions all 2018 . Steve may have been captain and a good PR man but Jason is without doubt the team motivator. Would welcome Jason back anytime.

It depends how you judge it. Far too few meetings for me with only 7 teams.

BEHIND the scenes, as it were, moves are afoot to standardise equipment and reduce cost for riders, from the top to the bottom.

Why? Money isn't everything early in a career if you are planning a long career in the sport and want to progress to ride on the continent/world level, there is so much more to it than that. Especially at a young age like these new crop of British talent, where you may have a lot of family members helping out and a good network of sponsors you work hard to get and then promote to aid progression, ala Kyle Bickley. Chasing money might be for good in the short term, but often a rider in 10 years time will have had 9/10 different clubs and be at the same level as they were on their 'bargain average' each year going from club to club with unfulfilled potential. Ben Barker is a prime example.

not true at all,seems the lad had much higher offers elsewhere,so fair play to the lad

problem with that is , if you accept that a certain level is all you will ever achieve and cut your cloth accordingly , you then get accused of having no ambition and because you have accepted you will never pull up any stumps you then get overlooked , because team managers are always looking for that 3 pointer who can score 10 .

there may not been a premiership league if buster had not stepped in ?

After the "incident" at Eastbourne this season I think it's highly unlikely that Drew would have ended up there tbh.Great signing for Sheffield.Drew is a huge talent

They cant announce until the NL AGM has taken place surely?

Have to disagree there singy...you only had to look at the crowds on Fridays this season ..lose a lot of shift workers too on a Friday

Could that be a deliberate ploy,so nobody notices how bad the racing is?

Don't want to go to sleep tonight because I'm scared that when i wake up the Drew Kemp signing will have all been just a dream ....

Depends who he signs for.. It it's Scunny it will an lower average than if he signs for anyone else.. And if he signs for Workington and they ride on a Friday then his average will be very high That's how it works

Drew is a fantastic talent - great control and composure for a rider with only 1 season of competitive racing But please dont expect TOO much - no doubt he will make a mockery of his 2 point average but equally he may still have the odd shocker I hope there wont be pressure on him for big scores from day 1

So much for the club's letting their owns fans know ......

Updated Newsletter: PLANNING consultants acting for Brandon Estates have been forced into the correction of a key paragraph of evidence from their most recent submission to Rugby Council. Framptons recently completed a ‘Needs Assessment’ which seeks to make the case that Brandon Stadium is surplus to requirements in line with National Planning Policy. In addition to the error-strewn report itself, an item in the covering letter accompanying the document raised major concerns, and has now been amended. Those who attended our recent Public Meeting will be aware that Jeremy Heaver spoke briefly on behalf of Coventry Racing Club Ltd during the question and answer session. Mr Heaver stated that having had sight of the most recent documentation, Coventry Racing Club had contacted Framptons to inform them they would take action against them should it not be withdrawn. Co-incidentally, the day after the Public Meeting, Coventry Racing Club received an apology from Framptons together with a correction to paragraph 1.15 in their covering letter. The paragraph concerned initially read: “In mid-2016 negotiations between the applicant and Coventry Racing Club Ltd ensued with respect to agreeing a new lease for 2017 onwards.” Framptons have now stated there was an error in the instructions received, and that the paragraph should have referred to mid-2016 negotiations with Coventry Speedway Ltd and not Coventry Racing Club Ltd. We find this single retraction peculiar for a number of reasons, not least because the relevant paragraph appears in a section of the report entirely devoted to (and headed with) Coventry Racing Club Ltd. It goes on to cast doubt over the financial position of Coventry Racing Club Ltd in a bid to explain why a lease deal was not agreed, and subsequently why they stopped running stock car events ‘on tour’ after four such meetings in 2017. Coventry Racing Club Ltd have always disputed the notion that they were given the opportunity to agree a lease for 2017 and beyond, an issue we pointed out in our initial response to the planning application, and the correction of this paragraph has a major effect on the timeline of what followed later, leading up to the forced closure of the stadium. Given that the Turley Report (focusing on viability) also contains the following paragraph, we assume that this should now also be amended: 1.13 …New lease/licence terms were offered to Coventry Speedway Limited (owners of Coventry Bees speedway team and racing licence holder) and Coventry Racing Club Limited (owners of Coventry Stox stock car/banger racing and associated licence holder) in mid-late 2016. Any possible action taken by Coventry Racing Club Ltd against Framptons is not a matter for our concern, but we will be further scrutinising both the original and most recent documents to ascertain which items could now be further challenged as a result of this correction, and we will make the appropriate representations. It is clear that if it is now accepted that Coventry Racing Club Ltd were in fact prevented from continuing as leaseholders, it totally invalidates sections of reports which state that no parties were willing to continue staging sporting events at the stadium beyond 2016, leading to the false narrative which states the stadium closed because no credible businesses wished to operate there. This notwithstanding, we already have evidence of third parties who wished to discuss operating at Brandon in 2017/18, and the response they received from the owners, via Howell & Co Solicitors, under the guise of ‘willing engagement.’ The actual content of the ‘needs assessment’ – which embarrassingly attempts to argue that there is suitable alternative provision for both Coventry Bees speedway and stock car racing elsewhere - is another matter entirely, and one which was covered in great detail at the Public Meeting. Members of the Campaign Group met with the Principle Planning Officer last week to take her through our concerns, and we have been reassured by Rugby Council’s pledge to seek independent, expert advice in order to investigate all documents to ensure that decisions are made in full knowledge of the facts. We will be happy to co-operate with whoever is appointed to lead this enquiry, should that be required, and are absolutely confident that statements made in our representations are indisputable. Brandon Estates, Framptons and Howell & Co should be aware that they cannot, and will not, be allowed to make statements which fail to present a fully accurate account of events both before and after the closure – and whose analysis of viability and alternative provision are both wholly unsatisfactory. We have already shown that we have extensive documentary and photographic evidence to dispute, or dispel, many of their claims, several of which are made with no apparent understanding of the much-loved sports they are scandalously attempting to permanently evict from the area. We will continue to challenge, in the strongest possible terms, any document which indicates there is no requirement for speedway and stock car racing in the Coventry/Rugby area, and that no parties are interested in operating.

Kelvin's m8

No point in removing it now you have quoted it. Have done though, just leaves your quote !

Taken from witches website https://ipswichwitches.co/louis-i-am-still-entrenched-in-the-club/ Think he probably knows we are still a bit shell shocked

You'll find all the stats in the Junior Section of the British Speedway Website too.

No need to state the obvious

44.84 mph I use this. Just enter length and time and then X the answer by 4 https://www.countcalculate.com/cars-and-speed/average-speed

I can't believe this, how can an Australian get the numbers right and Najjer can't?

Not just the promoters - some of the fans who post on here should be avoided at all costs too