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Been to Cardiff several times and always a real treat. Some of my mates are not real Speedway fans but they love the experience. The atmosphere outside the stadium with thousands of fans milling about, the electric atmosphere inside the stadium, the colour, the razamataz etc. Some really nice bars and restaurants at the waterfront once the live action has finished. Locals absolutely fine with us and no problems whatsoever.

OFFICIAL BACKING FOR WIGHTLINK WARRIORS The Isle of Wight Shale Track Racing Club has been given the green light to push ahead with their summer of sensational two wheeled sport. Warriors’ bosses Martin Widman and Barry Bishop are celebrating and relieved after the British Speedway Promoters’ Limited (BSPL) Board of Directors backed their plans for a full programme of events at Ryde’s Smallbrook Stadium. Warriors’ co-owner Barry Bishop revealed: “Martin (Widman) and I are absolutely delighted to have secured the support of the BSPL for 2021 which goes some way to easing the pain of the last months. The Island club withdrew from the National Development League (NDL) and the BSPL earlier this year after a fall-out over decisions made over the NDL’s future which, they believed, impacted severely on speedway’s future at Smallbrook, however the co-owners affiliated to the Island club to the NORA Motorsport organisation who licence clubs and riders in a variety of different forms of off-road disciplines on two and four wheels. Bishop added: “We have received an email that confirmed ‘at a recent Board meeting the Directors and the BSP Ltd discussed your advertised amateur events.....The BSP fully support you running amateur and practice events with Nora 92.’ “In my view this is a huge step forward for the Isle of Wight and the sport in general. We are of course saddened that we had to leave the Speedway Control Board (SCB) and BSPL but we feel this is a good start to improving our relationship with each other for the betterment of the sport, our riders, fans and overall product. “Martin and I, along with I am sure everyone else associated with our club, fully welcome their decision and we have informed the SCB, Auto-Cycle Union and BSPL of the amateur NL standard team we intend to have, that BSPL fixtures will be given priority over ours in the event of a fixture clash, and that we remain fully open to an SCB/ACU track inspection at any time that will enable the Isle of Wight to host the fantastic Great Britain Young Lions training camp in February annually and a round of the ACU British 1000cc Sidecar Championships should either express an interest to use Smallbrook Stadium. “Now we fully look forward to opening on Thursday, June 24 with an excellent season ahead, and we wish everyone involved in speedway and shale track racing the most wonderful of seasons and I implore all fans to get behind their clubs in 2021.” The Warriors have already announced an 11-meeting season, racing every Thursday (with one Tuesday exception) between June 24 and September 2. Events will include five National League level challenge matches; three rounds of the Island Masters Championship, two American-style handicap meetings and a Best Pairs. In additional to conventional speedway there will be additional attractions at every meeting, including sidecars, Formula 2 speedway, youth events for riders aged from 5 to 16, and challenges between riders on a variety of different engines, both lay-down and upright. Full information on the calendar of meetings is available at www.warriorsspeedway.com

I'm not sure if you've been to the new Wembley in recent years? Sadly, I don't think the present reality matches the name. If there was ever a magic about the place, then I think it's long gone or I am seriously missing something. I've been to a midweek England game there and an FA Cup semi final and both times, it was very underwhelming. You'd be hard pressed to find a worse part of London for a drink or a bite to eat and the stadium itself is pretty soulless...it reminds me of an airport terminal. I'm sure there was a time when Wembley was the greatest stadium in the world. Now, I'd say there were at least five better sporting venues in London alone...Olympic Stadium, Twickenham, The Emirates, Lord's and Wimbledon (haven't been to the new Spurs ground!)

New online sales platforms launched just 6 days before the first set of meetings.... What could possibly go wrong!

I think we all know the answer to that one.

As one enlightened promoter once remarked what is the point in increasing admission fees if it results in a significant number of fans no longer attending.

Honestly Treat this year as it is... bit of a non-entity... after what we have been through with this Covid carry on just enjoy that you; your club and the sport is still standing... I know several people who would be happy watching any team than where they are now... You will still see some exciting and entertaining meetings at the EWR that's for sure... Regards THJ

HOPE this link works ... https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-did-britain-fall-out-of-love-with-speedway

Pleased to see that British Speedway is joining the social media boycott against online abuse and discrimination. This forum has sadly been a hotbed for insults against others both riders and others involved within the sport. I myself am certainly no angel in that respect and have often allowed emotions and personal opinions of people affect what i have posted about individuals/organisations. Therefore from now on i pledge to only comment upon riding performances, issues and incidents. To ratify that any of my comments are solely noted as my opinion on a particular matter. Perhaps most importantly to not making any sweeping statements but rather offer the my suggested course of action that may be required e.g replacing "he won't make a league speedway rider all the while its a two wheeled sport" with "i think that particular rider would benefit from additional time at a lower level and coaching on the techniques required to be a safe and successful speedway rider" With any fortune my pledge lasts and a few others follow suit.

i will choose what people or what posts i reply to on a public forum, i don't get told by saps like you ..if you don't like people replying to you then don't post in the first place, its not hard to follow even for you . The ironic thing is that she has reply to me of course .. hard to make these things up

You see I dont view any meeting as "Mickey Mouse", although I admit some maybe more attractive than others. However we put on a show, week in, week out... and this is what people want to see now. It's true to say in my view we risk having a sport where the only entertainment is whether your team gets the league points or not and not the "show" on the track. For me, it's showtime every time. All the best

There would be at 55k + at Wembley - from all around the World, without a doubt. Have been to Warsaw, WOW, Cardiff is not a spot on that. The atmosphere at Wembley would just be incredible. West Ham's stadium another maybe possible if not Wembley ? I religously went to Cardiff every year bar one due to death of my mother in 2009 from 2001 to 2016. We have stopped going now was getting same old and the racing pretty poor and Cardiff hotel prices plus other a complete rip off, put up specially for the event ! Put Cardiff's racing up against Wroclaw and others and it doesn't even come anywhere near. Up to pandemic I watched the GP's abroad now. Cardiff is completely over hyped and over rated in my view.

From memory I've been four times. Two excellent meetings with lots of passing and the other two not so good. However, even the "not so good" meetings were still very enjoyable and exciting due to the fantastic atmosphere generated.

Little bit bemused by the post above. You state that people need to consider the times we are living through and prioritise speedway? Im sorry i love the sport but given the current times its pretty low down the list of priorities for many, promotions do have additional challenges to face and there may be extra costs/reduced capacity but those problems shouldn't be pushed directly onto the paying public thats just lazy and short sighted business. Promotors may be barmy to run a team but it is solely their choice to do it, i personally am grateful that they do decide to do it but i don't feel in any way obligated to make sure that they succeed.

Thank You for clearing that up Mrs Widman, So do you think that his mind may be changed about 2021 if it was at his local club ? ( Maybe he could do a double signing and ride for the Cubs and supply the burgers & sausages that currently taste like cardboard)

I've never met Lee Kilby but from what i know of him, i reckon if Swindon closed down and had to restart from scratch and run NL in a farmers field in Lydiard Millicent, that's where he would be, doing his best to promote the club and generate sponsorship. He is like his father a Swindon boy through and through. I don't even know if there are farmers fields in Lydiard Millicent, i just saw the name on a signpost when i was out that neck of the woods one day

I do understand that, Orion. I'd prefer not to interact with you again. I find you very rude. Please don't reply or interact with any of my messages any more.

What about specialist cleaning services to be employed, the money as to come from somewhere. I would have thought fans would be glad to watch live speedway. Hotel booked for the 17th

THEY aren't dropping at Cardiff ... have remained around 40,000 which considering how many people in the UK regularly attend speedway is impressive. One of the most popular SGPs for fans from outside the staging country is Prague. Why? The racing isn't fantastic. They are drawn by the city and all it has to offer.

You came on the forum to latch on to speedway as you had little support for what you were doing .. you hardly had enough people to hold up a banner outside the Abbey .Why would any speedway fans need to work together with you as stopping dogs would mean the Abbey would be less likely to reopen .You bring nothing to the table in terms of helping speedway return I would say it was more telling that someone who says they are not going to reply to someone does so in there next post ... bet you eat a bacon sandwich when no ones looking

Why is Wembley being mentioned? Now owned by the FA, there will be nothing allowed to interfere with the hallowed turf.

But Wales is part of Britain, and it’s a British Gran Prix. Sorted.

Perhaps they have covered them over with loose dirt to “mask” the problem

Thats for the Premiership teams, not the Championship.

Spot on Steve. Unless I am mis- remembering I saw every major speedway meeting at Wembley between 1965 and 1981. I went to Cardiff once,in 2014 and decided not to go again.

Potentially relegation fodder this Grudziadz team at the moment the way they are performing

I’m having the same problem trying to watch on my IPad worked ok last season but not this year.

Hopefully fixed and ready for a cleaner load

...Odsal that "big hole in the ground" as John Berry once described it! Been to the old Wembley three times (never for football) and even did the tour which was a magical experience! Went to Cardiff once...found it underwhelming if I'm honest.

Great thread about Odsall...

No I haven’t been to the new one, but the name and tradition alone should attract a fair few, even from abroad, if only for the first one or two years The Olympic Stadium sounds good. Been to Spurs ground, but only in the new shop and even at the time the museum wasn’t finished. Looks very impressive, but without seeing inside when a game is on, hard to say

Yes something has been done, there 2 meters apart now

Thought you may be interested in this photo. Dates 1910 San Francisco.

Damn auto correct!!

No mention of the racing

Try this. It's on page 59. http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/coventry1995.pdf

Which part of I don't want to interact with you any more didn't engage in your brain ?

Think the track record could be in danger !!!

And, plenty of farmers fields around there too!

Nicolas has started the season superbly it seems He was pretty impressive in Poland last night too

Amazon Prime is only about £70 for the year so not too expensive. I have DAZN and it is only £2 a month at the moment but that might increase as it seems they are taking the Matchroom boxing from Sky Sports apart from Joshua in June. ITV are also said to be interested in buying part of BT sports.

This comment from Mac101 highlighted for me how difficult this period is and has been for all the promoters up and down the country. They have all the normal considerations now added to countless Covid restrictions. And no one is giving them more money to compensate for the extra work ( and obviously extra costs too ). Yet there are some on this forum who are very critical of their own promoter or manager. Some seem so fed up that they suggest that their time following our sport is about over. Sad people. They need to consider the times we are living through.

Surely the biggest question must be....After 18 months or more with no speedway, have all the bumps and ruts been smoothed out on the track? Or has nothing been done to it at all?

I always felt the tipping point for speedway, was when it went up to over a pound a race.

It could all go wrong, they might be scrapping in the car park.

Totally agree. I am sure people won’t be happy with any price increase.

This Geoff guy seems a right pillock.

Not quite but almost....

Just to let everyone know the CHiPs episodes with Bruce Penhall are being shown on ForcesTV Channel at either 6:00PM or 2:30AM and repeated at weekends. Sky Channel 181, or Freeview 96. From what I recall there weren't many episodes which featured speedway; one called Speedway Fever, and there isn't much and the one centered around the 1982 World Final, it isn't that great and is pretty 1980's cheesy and possibly a bit of a wasted opportunity but are worth watching from historical interest. Shame Bruce left Cradley Heath & speedway itself, but you cant really blame him; vis a vis the queues of hopefulls waiting in all weathers to audition for 'Britain's Doesn't Have Any Talent Nor The X-Factor' - type shows in the quest for fame & fortune Stardom. Looking forward to the speedway bikes, meantime gotta love those Kawasaki Z900 & Z1000's which are worth a small fortune these days. Think I need to get out more....

If you or GWC can sort Speedway fan out an insurance policy for the replacement equipment, I'm sure that the premium can be funded out of another GoFundMe appeal.