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I except your post as a genuine and will answer in the same way. From a die hard speedway fan for more years I care to remember, we have always been brought up knowing the team has been announced before Christmas. Many times we have specially arranged 'Supporter's Meeting' purely to hear these announced teams. Usually we were among the first to know, but that was when son Jonathon was on board and the connection with the fans was important. Now the fans are forgotten and appear the last to know. Them days when were kept informed, we could take part in discussions, we could make predictions, we could have some banter with other fans, we could make plans for the coming season, in fact we could do all the things that other teams and fans from their privilege position. AS you so rightly say, most of us believe we know the team, but that only makes the situation regarding the club even worse. Every way you look at it, projects a club that don't give a toss for its fans and are more concerned that media exposure benefits the club rather than be informative to their supporters.. The team, we all imagine we know, is not good enough to drip feed to the media on an individual basis, the optimum would be to announce the riders as a proven squad, more a result of the total sum is far more effective than each individuals. In my book, the connection with the fans is more important than the fitness program the riders are going through. WE saw last year, when the riders showed their alertness making brilliant starts the Refs were constantly putting the light on believing it be an unsatisfactory start, making the program less beneficial. The fan base is the bread and butter of any club, but at Kings Lynn Speedway we are an inconvenience. At a time when the sport needs all the help it can get, you cant blame the fans for staying away when we are treated with so much contempt...

I dont know how many season tickets Kings Lynn sell? but how could you entice someone to buy one if you dont know the team.

I didn't realise how unfortunate Wolverhampton were at the time. I just wanted my team, Belle Vue, to win the match - and in doing so, the title. I'm talking about the 1993 season. Remember, that final showdown between Wolves and Belle Vue that decided the league winners, long before the hyped-up and often manipulated Play-offs. Although I was a keen Aces' fan at the time and got caught up in winning the title, I still felt sorry for the Wolves. But, just going through some mags from the season, I didn't quite realise the extent of Wolves' misfortune. They had been odds on favourites to win the title, all season, having a double-figure points lead much of the time. However, at the same time Belle Vue began registering their first league points on their travels - it was as late as August - Wolves had a terrible dousing of misfortunate sprinkled over them. Within two weeks of late August-early September, they suffered three injuries that would have finished most other teams. Middle-order rider Graham Jones was injured on August 21. That was six points a match gone. Then, 10 days later Charlie Ermolenko picked up arm injuries at Poole that also wrote off his season. Another six points were gone. But worse was to come. Twenty-four hours after the younger Ermolenko was crocked, Ronnie Correy, the number two, broke his back while riding in Sweden for Bysarna. His year was over - indeed, the injury meant he didn't race in 1994 either. That was almost another 10 points a match gone. Wolves should have been on the canvas and counted out. But they battled on. Obviously, the loss of over 20 points from three riders took its toll. Wolves lost five in a row and their title chase hit quicksand. Young Mikael Karlsson, for his first taste of British racing, and veteran Gordon Kennett, out in the cold after starting the year at Exeter, were introduced. Wolves battled on as the Aces clawed back the gap on the Midland side in an interesting end to the season that, in all reality, would have been all but over had the Monmore side remained untouched. Personally, I feel history would have been different and Wolves would have managed to hold on - but in their penultimate fixture, the final, cruellest blow came when Sam Ermolenko was injured and his year was through. It was the first race of Wolves home match with Bradford. Ermolenko, of course, was the best rider in the world and in domestic racing. It was his finest season. They had lost their kingpin, the World Champion, and did well just to hang on for a 56-52 win over the Dukes. Wolves went into the decider with Belle Vue four riders missing from the side that had brought them to within touching distance of their second title in three years. They borrowed Gustafsson from King's Lynn, and his paid 16 from six starts just wasn't enough to claim the draw (they lost by just a point, 53-54 ) which would have won the title for Wolves and denied Aces the dramatic last heat clincher. History would have been changed. Ermolenko, I'd have bet, would have roared to a maximum. He had scored the full 21 at Bradford before his injury. His presence in the team alone would have encouraged lesser men to cajole an extra point or two, maybe. But he was out with a broken thigh. Not only had Wolves lost three integral members of their side - numbers two, for and five, which otherwise they'd have coasted to the league, I believe they would have dragged out a win versus the Aces - and therefore been league kings - with Sam against the Aces. As it was, they won just thrice from their final 10 matches without their full side, and for the first time since 1979, the title had gone down to the wire. As a fan of Belle Vue, I recall the jubilation on the terraces that night. But, at the same time, I also felt like we'd won through an own goal. The annals of history should have been written differently. Luck swings two ways - good and bad. Indeed, it reminds me of the previous Belle Vue title win of '82, again fortuitous after Cradley lost Penhall. Wolves 1993 have to be the most unfortunate team... least in my memory.

This drip feeding rider's isn't about media exposure for me. King's Lynn could be back page headline news in the Lynn News or EDP but if you're not interested in those sports do you read it? Of course you don't. In the same way I wouldn't read about local Basketball, hockey, rugby or motor racing driver's etc if they're back page. To take notice you have to have a smidgen of interest. Let's be honest, if it's about keeping the club in the news in the hope it may entice the lost fans, well, these fans know that only Robert Lambert is of any real quality to watch, plus, they don't forget the reasons they knocked going to Speedway on the head in the first place. This drip feeding nonsense does nothing to sell the sport in the area, all it does is allow those that don't have a clue about Speedway or the signed rider to skip past the article. To get the locals interested you need to sell the sport first, some random in a cheap polo shirt with the club emblem isn't selling anything to the public.

The other point about the drip feed method ( which I detest in UK speedway ) is that the recently announced name of Ty Proctor ( for example ) means absolutely nothing to a non speedway fan wherever he or she reads it ( or stumbles across it ) because Proctor is unknown in the wider world within 50 miles of KL. As it will be for the rest of the team, who are known only to existing ( or past fans ). It is very, very unlikely to attract the longed-for new generation of supporters.

You're kidding right

Who said Somerset were strapped for cash in the Championship, Premiership possibly, "cut your coat according to the cloth" comes to mind They had the sense not to throw money away so that they could operate at a lower level , not like some other clubs who have gone to the wall (unfortunately)

Just as well Gospeed didnt need to be asked......

I think the biggest positive is its another season of speedway at Foxhall for those that want to go and watch it.

If this is set in 1954, how come Geordie is driving a 1965 Singer Gazelle Mark V, complete with inertia reel front and rear seat belts?

Hopefully my Club Birmingham will be a breath of fresh air too and if we could see likes of Kent; Plymouth and Mildenhall try to venture up too in next few years and no one else lave it could be a cracking League. Mighty impressed by what's happening at Eastbourne though.

Or Berge Pole....

I havent visited rough park for several years. There are two reasons...1. The track can be downright dangerous at times (just look at how many riders get injured there). 2. A section of the so called home "fans" are a disgrace to their club..they are compared to animals, due to their antagonistic attitude to visiting supporters, with them LAUGHING as a visiting rider is taken away by ambulance, swearing and making threats to away supporters etc etc. I am sorry if this offends genuine Diamonds fans, but it is a fact and I and my fellow Comets supporters have had experience of this quite often ! So you can understand why I am reluctant to visit !

Considering the tragedy that was Lokeren, West Ham has to hold that sadly unwanted title. Any other team's perceived misfortune pales in comparison.

Workington like other clubs relied on riders from the Premiership and visa verse. So who pays for the van and accommodation? The doubling up and down has, in my view accelerated the decline of clubs at this level.

Great that Doris, used to work at Whitworth rd cemetery and Teo's final resting place was always kept nice.

Good post. Apart from the fact that speedway is in a big mess mainly caused by the BSPA promoters, the people currently running BV don't seem to have much idea about the sport and how to promote speedway. I visit on a regular basis and to say the stadium and track are without doubt the best in the UK the crowds are more often than not relatively poor and the fact that speedway and NSS actually exists in Manchester is a closely kept secret. I sent a constructive email to the BV management Mr Smith with some supporters views and didn't even get the courtesy of a response. Which says it all...they think they know better than the paying fans..!

I believe Nathan Stoneman is Welsh, as was Kevin Price. Wasn't Glyn Taylor also born in Wales? Had to laugh at the idea of Nicky Mallett as a suggestion for favourite Welsh rider. Would he ever come in a list of favourite anything? Maybe "favourite suspected arsonist (never proven)"?

I assume the drip feed logic is attempting to keep the advertising budget ( a laugh in itself) low. The thought process being if we are in the paper and on social media we don't need billboards, school visits, 2 for 1 type promotions to get fans through the turnstiles. It doesn't work. When Jonathan was around so was advertising/promotions etc and there were plenty of new faces on the terraces. Keeping them there is a whole different ball game which can't be solved by Lynn alone.

Other than for Doyle, Fricke or Robert Lambert I can't see any bids coming forward if such a thing existed. Chequebook speedway long ago departed from speedway other than perhaps the maximum allowed by contactless cards (£29.99 )

I wish Valentin the very best of luck having been given the chance to race in this country, but what a kick in the teeth for riders like Mason Campton and Simon Lambert who have no club to ride for, through no fault of their own.

No surprise at all that Berge has tippy toed away from Somerset, he did a very similar thing when at Berwick a couple of seasons ago. No sooner had he signed then he wanted away and ultimately got his wish, he is a talent but he needs to sort out his temperament.

It’s more than big enough. It holds 9k with temp seating, many gps on circuits gone by have held less capacity. Teterow being a prime case. There is this weird obsession around the size of the stadium in retrospect for a GP. I just don’t understand it. It’s going to compliment Cardiff, not replace it. 9K is absolutely suffice.

Jack Millen stands out a mile over all others off & on track..........hard as nails on both.....underrated as a rider.........yet a great bloke taken to early, RIP crazy jack.

Just for fun, here's my current Top Ten of German speedway riders: 1 - Martin Smolinski 2 - Kevin Wölbert 3 - Kai Huckenbeck 4 - Erik Riss 5 - Max Dilger 6 - Michael Härtel 7 - Tobias Busch 8 - Mark Riss 9 - Lukas Fienhage 10 - Valentin Grobauer

in that case every big meeting should go there. A National Stadium should be holding a GP at least, though i realise the crowd would be a fraction of Cardiff it would be bigger than some other GPs. The quality would be 1st class of course.

You can still have 7 separate press pieces by having follow up stories about each rider That could help build a team identity and promote a growing sense of club identity

Unless costs come down across the board, speedway will struggle to survive as a professional sport. The fans can't afford what the promotors want and the promoters can't afford what the riders want. It's a vicious circle that has to end eventually.

excellent news that stoke have been handed the national league best pairs event this year. things are on the way up at stoke this year with a great team and a good track to race on. a big well done to dave tattum and the team and good luck for the new season.

Yes of course Ralph,the reserves scurry was a great way of seeing a rider develope he was then thrown in against the big boys.

The difference being no top back up for Lambo. Imho, it will be a big mistake..NKI was good away as his average proves. Then add Kasper (2.55) on a 4.00. Then if lewis signs, his scores before he got injured averaged 7.58 home 3.87 away. I wish him well, but it's a big gamble for me. It's just my opinion Baggy. I hope i'm wrong. I will be the first one to put my hands up

I agree that Jack Millen was extremely hard - his battles with Frank Auffret were something to behold. No love lost there at all!

You're being over-kind.

When you look at the goings on at other clubs ( Berge at Somerset, Workington pulling out etc) it makes the current situation at Eastie seem even more admirable. An all British team certainty capable of the payoffs, management/promoters doing their utmost in obtaining secure sponsorship and backing, and making appointments that the fans want such as Kevin Coombes. Happy days for Eastie fans at the moment.

Blewett definitely, but I never considered Chris Julian "wild". Spectacular, yes, but that is different to "wild"! Steve

Colin Gooddy he was old school hard as nails also Tommy Roper he took no nonsense.

Good to hear that Barry is still around and still with his fine head of hair! Yes. The Roger in question is, of course, Bob, brother of Cyril and Bert. He only rode for New Cross for a short time in 1952&3. His two brothers rode for the Rangers for much longer.

Indeed, I was under the impression they dropped down to cut costs, with riders freely available already in the UK it’s a strange one.

Hope he has a good set of goggles

I don't agree with every thing Buster does. And I wont be impressed if the Panthers have a lot better team as his beloved Lynn this season. He seems to put his money where his mouth is though. No one else would take a big gamble trying to save the Prem by buying 2 clubs in this day an age, with speedway on it's ar@e. I do think he want's to keep the Prem going. Why buy the 2 clubs otherwise. Neither are gold mines.. He is trying, but he does things his way, not to the liking of some many. Some Panthers and Ippo fans are moaning about him, but if they put themselves in the Lynn's fans place, I would imagine being well miffed off. Lynn suffered when he took over as chairman, and will probably suffer even more in 2019.If the Stars team is as thought, it will struggle big time.Its looking like Lynn will suffer again this season in a bid to save the Prem.. We came close in 2018, and the talk that Lynn where trying to go one better this season seems to have gone out of the window since he bought the other 2. clubs. We have only been waiting 50 odd years . Thing is I fear he is just putting off 1 big league for 1 more season only.

That's worrying in itself. What a shocking signing if that's the case. Berge was going to be a bit of a trump card and would of been mustard at the OTA within a couple of months I'm sure. The fact they're hoping the new rider will achieve his starting average is really concerning - whose improving their averages by enough other than Covatti?

Whether you agree it’s the best way or not I’d have thought it’s pretty obvious that the club gains extra exposure from seven relevant press releases over a period of weeks rather than just one. I don’t suppose the riders are fussed either way while for the fans it’s mixed feelings as is usually the case with most issues. As I’ve said before I think the idea is designed to benefit people who don’t eat, sleep and breathe speedway like folk on here but attend regularly between March and October and don’t pay too much attention in the winter, this method would keep speedway in their minds a bit more than otherwise and perhaps build their interest gradually up to the start of the season. Why does it have to be right or wrong? How about just different. One thing I would say is that it might have been better to state when each announcement will be ie dates when the press releases will occur so it’s not quite so vague.

Don't sign them then. I'm quite sure other riders would have signed without the extra cost to the promotion.

He could also have mentioned the time he beat Ivan Mauger twice at Cradley Heath in 1970, in heats 11 and 13 of a league match. At that stage Ivan was riding in his 7th meeting of the season and had taken part in 26 races, winning 24, paid for a win behind Soren Sjosten in one race and failing to finish due to machine trouble in the other. A memorable performance by CP.

What Laura has described is no different to any other club in the top 2 leagues it is the scale of it that brings Promoters to their knees. All of the northern clubs have over the years struggled to get Midlands and southern based riders to join them. Pre Facennas Glasgow was wholly reliant on "sponsorship" to get a decent rider there (Like Danny Bird), Edinburgh likewise and Berwick even bought/rented a house for the Czech contingent. Ironically it was Peterborough then in the top league and Newport in the PL that were to my knowledge the first teams to provide 7 riders with 7 vans all cutely signwritten. Fuel, tyres, insurance, mechanics and living allowances are not unusual at all but it is the Promoters who are armholes when they don't want to meet those demands and even worse when they close a club because of it!

Nothing Nowt Absolutely Nothing

Agree totally but it’s easy to invite calls when all teams are full and another 7 riders still looking for a team after the demise of Workington. I will be happy if we have 7 men standing at the end of April early season is usually carnage. Personally think most teams have a fairly long tail this year due to the points limit.

But leave a cherry too long and it goes mouldy. By the 3rd bite the taste isnt that attractive I can understand every few days over a period of time or even week by week til around Christmas Once a month from November and less than half the team announced by February though doesnt do it for me

Pretty obvious really. Four rider places left, four names not told to fans. Basically that's all fans want to know in the close season. Don't say fans are told about fitness training cos be honest who the hell cares that they are training in a gym, unless you follow gymnastics. just my opinion

My club Ipswich has gone from being one of the first to announce the team in one go in November to being the last to sort the team. Social media interaction was very good previously and that’s changed for the worse. Its 2019 not 1978. People can access information instantly and expect to so why drag out announcements on riders. I could accept one per day for a week but this is crazy. You are alienating your regular customers for what ??