Leaderboard

an easy statement to make but we don't control the riders - they're not contracted like footballers, they're self employed and will go where the money is, IE Poland. And yes, Brexit is another reason - we won't be flying in foreigners at the drop of a hat, we won't be able to. So teams will be weakened, like it or not and the sport needs to reset the 3 divisions to accomodate this ensuring teams are well matched.

“In certain areas Speedway thrives.” That’s the best one I’ve heard for a while.

Judging by the way the fans are disappearing ,I suspect the latter.

You say this as if most of our top tier riders are regulars in the top league in Poland where their imposed restriction is in place. They’re not. Certainly not at Championship level. Brexit has been coming for four years. Plans could have been made. As for European riders coming in the goalposts will now just be similar to those in place for riders outside of the EU previously. We have always had very little trouble with Australians coming in. The above issues have an impact but they are not the reason British Speedway is in terminal decline. They’re just convenient excuses to shift the blame from where it actually should lie and some people actually lap it up and believe it.

No chance of that happening unless the riders live in the UK- the riders who do Poland and Sweden use their Polish bikes, mechanics and vans for both(several ferry routes available) Whereas choosing UK means getting vans, mechanics etc etc.

Like watching the adverts on an online forum...

No one thinks it is "just rosey", but by the same token, it's not that bad either given the highly unusual circumstances the sport (and the country) finds itself in. Brexit causing a whole new set of headaches, some known, some not, on top of other rider problems caused by the Pandemic. Add to that some interference in our affairs by Poland ( must admit I do not fully understand this situation) and there will be decisions taken that many fans will not like. My personal complaint is that all this should have been sorted within the last month. Maybe we will get a big Christmas present with all the details we are looking for from the BSPA ?

Thanks for your support Chris. You have always been direct but I have nearly always agreed with your comments You don't need to like Steve Ribbons and if you have past issues with him please park it Right now he is doing everything he can to try to save the day for Rye House, its gonna be hard but he has made real progress (it would be bad timing to list the details right now). Keep going Big Steve.

Yes that is what happens to all sports, but the speedway authorities genuinely try to reverse the trend to keep the sport alive, but the 'usuals' still harp on regardless. All initiatives are criticised and the moral in the sport goes down and down. Plans to pay for marketing consultants, reduce admission fees, higher riders pay, engine changes, riders in a team , number of heats, having second halves, protected reserve slots, fixed gate positions, match points, tac subs, fixed league race nights, etc, have all been implemented and criticised but they are trying to please all but they only please the few. At the end of the day, the sport is all about 4 blokes racing around a oval for 4 laps. The rest is just froth.