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It's a TEAM sport so all of the TEAM should wear matching team uniform just like other sports....

Do you not think matching suits and bike covers look much, much more professional than a collection of waifs and strays in random colours? Race jackets worked in the eighties but this is a completely different era with tv coverage and team sponsors, social media etc. Teams and riders need to look as professional as possible. There is a reason that pretty much all other team sports have matching team wear for all team members.

That your username is appropriate it seems

my pictures from the Celebration of Speedway at Paradise Wildlife Park on Sunday https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_womble/albums/72157713252321707/page1

Got a message back from Jake this morning , he's on board with the idea.

Smolinski has to have ambition and he will try very hard. Doubt he is good enough for top 10 but you cant hold anything agaunst him for effort and having ambition.

Very pleased to be part of Drew Kemp sponsorship for 2020, spoke to him at the Paradise Park on Sunday. Very professional young lad, hope all concerned with Ipswich will give him time, big step up for him, but I believe he as a big future

But you have to remember that it is the bspa that come up with these ideas and how they are applied.

Of course they look more professional. Its a TEAM sport and the matching kit aligns with a TEAM of riders rather than a collection of individuals (Poole Pirates last season is a good example of the latter). Whether you like it or not is a different question.

Thought last years suits were very good, never understand people moaning they can’t tell who’s who - they tell you before the race who’s in it, as does the program and they were different colour helmets to differentiate

The thing with the young Australians is most come here and bust a gut to earn money as they ain't got Mum and Dad a few miles away to bale them out. I've said it on here before. So I'll repeat myself. Too many young British riders think they've made it when they get a signwritten van and a bit of eyecandy on their arm. Also of you were a young British Rider and wanted to really upset the applecart, I'm sure the relevant authorities would frown upon untried riders requiring a visa getting a job while a British citizen doesn't.

I'm just wondering, if in this new "golden age" where from January 2021 lower-skilled foreigners will no longer be welcome and their replacements will be drawn from among the 8.3 million British idlers and workshy backsliders whom the lovely Ms Patel has identified as the ready source as seamless replacements, that possibly I, as a member of the aforesaid classes, could finally have a chance to be a professional speedway rider? I'm ready, willing, and errrm.....

In all other sports opportunities are grabbed, gained and lost by either being good or not good enough along with a bit of fortune. All sports persons at the top of their game got there through dedication, hard work and because they did what it took to get to the top. In contrast Speedway can at times reward mediocrity and potential whilst genuine steady improvers can be frozen out. The numbers game is a harsh game and there has been a massive list throughout the years of good riders who never made it and it will grow year on year. The only way to guarantee a team place is to be so good that everyone wants to sign you.

And have different numbers on there backs,,,, and normally different styles. Think it's mainly the older fans,, back in the so and so years and all that. And does it matter who is in first and second,,, they both represent your team.

If you go into an task with a negative attitude, the likely thing is that you will fail. Have a positive attitude, and surround yourself with others who are positive then you have a better chance of succeeding. Smoli is doing it right, investing in new engines and fresh mechanics. Would be nice if he did what he did in the final of the NZ Gp few years ago..... that would lite up the forum.

His comments caused a bit of debate, with some saying ‘what planet is he on?’ And others asking ,what is he supposed to say ? ‘I’ll be happy if I don’t finish last’ !!!

Bears have a race night arranged for Saturday when they will announce the name of a new Promoter. No clue if it's a new addition or a replacement for one of the existing Promoters. Edit - Now informed it's an additional Promoter. I've put a pound on it being Jason Pipe......

Good point and one possibly not thought through when the window idea was muted The window needs to be open/closed at the same time for ALL teams and not flexible to individual circumstances for the very reason you state

What a ridiculous statement, I could easily name half a dozen world class riders who didn't "stay fit", there's a lot of luck with any motor sport.

Dump them and let the riders have their own race suits and pay for them/advertise with them. I know I'm seemingly in a minority here but I'm perfectly capable of telling apart the riders from each team without them having to be in clone suits.

In terms of rider numbers it probably would help several if they were a little larger. I also concede that under lights helmet colours can be a bit tricky to pick out (especially when faded/stained and this should be stamped out on its white no grey/blue tint). Maybe the away side should have yellow and black quarters and black and white stripes? As for the pink troy lee gloves i hope they have plenty of stock in......beautiful idea

A bit of an empty soundbite that one, often substandard British riders** can be as damaging to the team and themselves if just given a team place solely based on where their passport says they are from. This country already offers development leagues for riders to cut their teeth and improve their skills, find a pathway into the sport etc. If people are being asked to pay money to watch the product, they should be given a decent return on that investment for doing so rather than simply having to pay the wage of someone solely based on their place of birth rather than the talent and skill they posses. I would question if it is a sensible message, or even a true pathway of development in the long term to give a rider team spot based on where they are from either, in what is seen as a more "professional" league". I am not entirely convinced that actually benefits in the long term creating a psyche of an entitlement rather than earning it. ** not applying that to those mentioned, but simply applying a broad stroke statement as so many do on these subjects

My son needed some track time Before the season starts and with the weather up here in Glasgow really bad decided to head south we had planned to practice at Scunthorpe on Saturday But it was cancelled so we new rye house was also open Saturday and weather looked ok so just kept going south and glad we did got plenty Laps in to blow the cobwebs away

Does it really matter?

I think you Diamonds fans need to take a breathe and be thankful you have a new promotion,team manager and team .A couple of months ago it looked like speedway was going to be lost on the Tyne ,so be patient as your team due to the uncertainty has had to have the pick of the riders left after all sides had virtually picked there riders . Support Rob Grant or speedway will be lost ,as I know only too well when Hull Vikings closed a lot of years ago . I know get my methanol fix at Scunthorpe Scorpions alongside my dad aged 80 ,so give it time and support and good luck to all associated with the Diamonds for the 2020 season

Not my kind of rider.. if he don't gate he don't win.

Depends on make,, some riders prefer certain types, and also depends if you mean a pair or a seasons worth.,, or just a certain amount of pairs. I'm guessing some riders have glove sponsorship like they do with their goggles A pair of gloves depending on how you get them,, will cost between 20 to 30 quid for ya bog standard moto x type glove, add in a bit of leather, the price goes up. TLD pink gloves direct from them currently 23.60 as they have a sale on

Not as far as Bailey, Watson or Douglas for the same meeting....

Seems perfect proof that the club was/is and will remain bigger and more important than any individual. Perhaps those previously offended in the past and thus continue to stay away from race nights need to understand their ego/pride is the reason they are now staying away which is a shame because if last season is anything to go by they are missing exactly what they wanted in the first place. i.e. many good nights of speedway and an incredible season of success.

Management call it mouthwatering so who are mere fans to disagree.

Fair point Give Us a B The point I was trying to make though was that if the "unattached talent" is in certain areas it may be less likely to be picked up than others. I agree that I think that Brummies are looking to develop 3 and I widely applaud that and certainly get more of a buzz of of us developing shall we say Shanesy, Jack or Ashley rather than a Dane or even Paco, who I love as a rider and a real team man.

No, I don't. And I also remember some fantastic race suits some of the riders wore, looking very professional in the coordination with their machinery etc. Of course I'm not stupid and understand the points you've made except I don't agree on the need for team suits. TV coverage of course in the 70s/80s was less frequent but did air on shows such as World Of Sport, watched by millions rather than the tens of thousands who tune into the BT Sport coverage. Additionally, in those days it wasn't just teams that were sponsored, the whole league was! We could go further down the clone track of course, have the same helmets and ditch helmet colours because they no longer serve any purpose either because it's easy to see who's on each team - except for the new signings, guests etc.

Indeed, I remember when Woffy and Lewis Bridger were at a point in their early careers when they both seemed to have similar talent on a bike and looked to be going places, we know how that turned out for both!

Who is your son? and we will root for him with such dedication.

Great idea,,,, Troy Lee do a nice pair of pink gloves,,, only 20 ish quid

Only 2 Sundays left this 1 coming & next Sunday to get the jobs done kick boards on airfence up & washed & home straight to install as some of the lads are riding at kings Lynn & Redcar & Scunthorpe over the next few weeks & press & practice is only 4 weeks away so if anybody can spare a few hours this coming Sunday it would be great to see you at brough thanks in advance & wrap up warm

Hopefully very similar to last years, far and away the smartest I've seen tbh, possibly a bit of pink included this year

I take my hat off to you and the other parents that do all those miles for your kids, hope they appreciate it.

As I said before it looks that way. Why else would Smolinski be looking for a new mechanic for GP's etc at the end of January-start of Feb and also in the Poland/Czech area.......

I think Emil grondal could be worth having at reserve

Sad news indeed. I never had the pleasure of seeing Len ride, I'm much too young, but did get to chat to him at the Speedway dinners at Norwich. A lovely gentleman, who will be sadly missed by all those that had the pleasure of meeting him. My condolences go to all his family and friends. R.I.P. Len.

They have done a good job of that in the past few weeks, one way or another ...

Looking forward to my first visit to Kent this season, when Glasgow are in town.

i am not against sponsorship, all I wanted was an honest answer which I got from the club. You will note that I did not put the wording of my request on the forum and I was fair to the club by putting the fair reply on the forum.

Self Indulgence at its finest . Why anyone would moan about additional income into their club is beyond me .

All this crap...halfway through reading the article on Greg Hancock and his family in the Speedway Star, best wishes to Greg’s wife and all the family.

The truth is out there. The Prem clubs step in to save the day (after the destruction of the current development league) by running a second half division for "local young riders" to enable them to develop and hone their skills before finding there is no team place for them as they are all filled with overseas riders and fading GP stars.

It’s easier for promoters to bring in a foreigner hoping they’ve found a gem instead of a Brit who has been around the same average for a couple of years.

As a 21 year old Charles Wright was averaging less than 4 for Redcar in the second tier. So to suggest that Nathan Greaves can be so casually discarded seems very harsh. (And after 6 years of Conference league experience Paul Starke averaged below 2.5 for Newcastle in the PL). We need the likes of Greaves, Hume and Bowtell to have decent opportunities to continue their careers as we continue to find it more and more difficult to attract riders from abroad.

Danyon Hume and Ryan Kinsley.