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I'm sure I've made this point before, but I'll keep on like a broken record anyway. Speedway has to tailor itself for a family day out....it can do that on a Bank Holiday or Weekend afternoon, it simply cannot on a school night....and will end up with the same shrinking ageing hard-core. It has to reach out to a wider demographic...like football, cricket, rugby, horse racing, basketball, netball all do. Imagine a restaurant running its business only on a midweek night because its staff were in Poland, Sweden etc at the weekend?! That's what British speedway does. It's Einstein's definition of insanity. Plymouth is my local track now. It's a 40mins drive. Am I going to take my 8 year old kids on a Tuesday night, rushing there and back for £50 minimum? No chance. The weekend is different, we are time rich and looking for something to do as a family. Are there any matches at the weekend? There's nowt. Quite simply, they won't see me and thousands of other families this year.

It's almost impossible to believe that no Premiership team has given Josh P a run. I know there's a work permit needed, but when you look at some of the mediocre riders who are in Premiership teams it is just incredible how a true thrillmaker can be ignored.

A quality meeting today at the EWR ,the racing was top drawer . Ulrich as guest was very good for the Scorpions and did a job . Jordan Palin with what I believe was his highest score in the championship was outstanding at reserve, also think Ellis will be an astute signing when he gets up and running . Some brilliant racing from all the riders but I’m not win at all costs and the star of the show was Josh Pickering the best visiting rider to be seen this year he was superb and kept the scores close ,Sam Masters was off the boil but the winner today was championship speedway and I think I can honestly say The Scorpions won’t be winning the Wooden Spoon as predicted by many on here ,bring on the Bandits on Friday

The fact i attend bath, lingfield, brighton, kempton and salisbury races without the need for a mask is good enough reason to swerve speedway til these ridiculous restrictions are binned. If things arent back to normality by july 19 esp after upwards of 140, 000 are piled into the gp at silverstone there will be stadia shutting at an alarming rate

Anecdotal evidence would suggest Ipswich, Peterborough,Kings Lynn; Scunthorpe; Leicester; Eastbourne ; Plymouth have been least affected in terms of crowd sizes and restrictions. Similar that Glasgow ; Newcastle; Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Poole have been most affected by restrictions. Kent and Edinburgh seem to be mixed messages. Glasgow it seems able to continue via excellent Streaming as you'd assume would be Belle Vue. As for people "losing interest" if the only reason is masks or not being able to move around the stadium I think that both hopefully that will improve after 19th July but also a bit of a reality check as it only mirrors the reality of the past 15 months. I'm sure some of the more professional and forward thinking Promoters (and there are a few) are just waiting for 19th July to put in place some of the ideas to attract children and new families using some of the suggestions made. The one thing that has more amplified the rotten core of the inner sanctum though is the decision of Ben Duffill to walk away from the Sport. He's one of a few of the new / newer Promotions who have been a breath of fresh air to the Sport relatively speaking and he will be a big loss. Promotions like Glasgow (OK they have the clout), Berwick, Edinburgh, Newcastle; Redcar, Brummies; Plymouth; Eastbourne; in the CL do seem to be trying hard but the old dinosaurs at the top table seem hell bent on fiddling averages, stopping progress, buying substandard tyres and non existent bikes, screwing up the Rising Star scheme and in alienating a guy like Ben Duffill, you wonder how many of those more positive thinking Promoters will jump ship or just give up as well? It's not so much as walking away as being driven away by the politbureau who don't seem to care a jot

Spiegal is dead right; it is a clear case of restraint of trade. The problem might be that riders simply aren't willing to risk any potential action, however illegal it might be. In addition, there could be under the table sanctions taken in that riders might not be offered contracts in the future. The way I see it, if one rider does agree to ride on the Island we could well see the flood gates open. Isle of Wight are running meetings this summer, so I will take the opportunity to wish them every success. They deserve it.

With so much talk if lack of riders due to covid / Polish rules, isn't this the time for riders to stand up for themselves & support Speedway on the Island!

I was there and can't believe it was 20 years ago. Bjarne was brilliant in that meeting.

He was in the declared 1-7 but due to Covid he decided not to travel initially.

Maybe the decent crowds have more to do with the lack of alternatives. Covid regs mean many other events have been cancelled and/or attendances capped. If promoters actually got their act together and put on added value for money (, I.e. children’s entertainers/singers/ands are crying out for work) so it might be mutually beneficial. Perhaps just perhaps a few people might continue to go to speedway once other stuff opens up. Most businesses have had to adapt, speedway as usual has just stood still. I have just seen three pigs fly past the window

He had the same chores when he rode at Ipswich but there was no cups to clean there for some reason !!

From your posts on here, you clearly have been a passionate fan in the past. Its sad to see that you are losing interest. I have made no secret of my admiration for the Isle of Wight promotion and the way they have been treated has left me disillusioned and angry. There are other reasons, but that is a major one why my enthusiasm has waned and I haven't been this year at all. I can only trust that when I do attend the old buzz comes back.

Sadly, the one league that produces good racing is disappearing quickly. I fear for speedway full stop at the moment. Something has got to be done at this level to get clubs like Buxton & IOW back up and running, the sport needs them.

Feel free to ask him yourself. Quite a few riders aren’t a fan of the EWR. More down to track prep than anything.

Had a great night in the Leaping Salmon , didn't miss the speedway at all . Be back at the end of July

An equal - if not greater - loss is the Isle of Wight promotion of Barry Bishop and Martin Widman. Don't take my word for just how forward thinking, innovative and customer focussed these two guys have been - read the comments of the likes of Peter Oakes, James Easter, Bert Harkins and more. The way they were treated - and are still being treated - was and remains shameful.

Is that not the rule that can be overturned by the Management Committee "in the interest of speedway"?

Not your bad at all Iainb. Nothing to do with being an insider. It's purely a social night (many of us that go are not darts players or members of the supporters club). I think that the cups were brought along purely because there was no other real way of getting a photo opportunity with them, as the season had ended. In addition to the darts evening, the cups were also available for photo opportunities at the end of season prize giving when all of the riders and promotion were there, happily mixing with everyone in attendance. They normally get about 40 - 50 or so people turn up every Wednesday at the darts, including friends who may not have any particular interest in speedway. It's just a great way to break the long winter closed season and I know that many of us missed it last year when regulations didn't allow it. A few kids are there, made welcome inside the pub and are encouraged to play. There is no elitism and if it runs this year (as I hope that it does), why not come along and join in? You'd be made very welcome!

Wow never seen this coming at all.

Not a lot of dirt, so not a lot of lines! Not much passing. I had a good night though.

For Speedway to be potentially losing fans like you two guys should be telling Speedway its in crisis, if it doesnt then the those at the top table need to take off there rose tinted spectacles and quickly get into the real world before its to late thats if already isnt, we need every Track/Promoter/Rider/Fan and right now the BSPL/SCB leadership are not encouraging anyone Promoters/Riders/Fans alike to stay/come into the Sport, except for the favoured few. If it carries on in the way that it is then i dread to think what the Sport in the UK will look like in a few years time. We need to rebuild from the bottom up, not from the Top down because very soon there wont be a Top in the UK, actually there is no longer a top in the UK its second rate, can it survive when it becomes third rate led by Scunthorpe ?, never mind there will always be Amateur meetings we can go to . Its such a pity that some current Promoters with leadership skills are to busy trying to keep there Teams afloat to be able to give more time to helping the Sport move forwards, because with the present crowd in charge Speedway is almost at the point of no return.

Crump was never gonna be here today injury or not... Regards THJ

If I'm honest, I'm not really enjoying this season. Multiple call offs, due to the weather, Covid and football has made it impossible to build up any momentum. Add to this, the need to buy tickets for every meeting has put me off attending some matches. Hopefully things will return to normal in July, although I'm not holding my breath.

Isn't the conversion rate, PL average x 1.5.

Have to agree especially with the consistency he has got in recent years

Not sure if Jan Kvech was a guess as he is in capitals but he is confirmed as the 2 meetings Prague wildcard.

I see. Grudziadz are stuffed unless they can pull off something spectacular. FZG are the least likely to get another point out of those 3, but I can't see Grudziadz getting more than 6 league points. FZG got a draw at Grudziadz.

Pumped

Maybe not around Plymouth!

This afternoon, i went to an excellent British Masters Grasstrack qualifier at the superb Dig Dog Lane circuit in Frittenden Kent. Over 40 races run at breakneck speed with the rain falling throughout. No track inspections, just brave riders doing their stuff. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Sadly my interest hasnt been rekindled.... after a year "off" from speedway I had a few meetings pencilled in ... as always the British weather intervened and advance purchase of tickets is not something I am going to do with dodgy weather forecasts. Set my mind on going to see Jason Crump at Kent ... but sadly he was injured. The Championship speedway team at Kent has been decimated by retiring riders , injuries and even absent youngsters in championship qualifier meetings. Just Scott Nicholls as a heat leader. AS for the NDL thats now a training league, and overpriced at Kent. The little TV coverage I have seen on Discovery + has been appalling ......still the delayed starts and restarts ...... interspersed with so many adverts. Looking at a tasty encounter EB vs Glasgow , but the silly so and so's at EB have made it a DAYTIME meeting. Never seen a good one yet. Think I am back to where I was last year with little enthusiasm to visit my local tracks at least until I can turn up and buy a ticket, choose where I want to sit/stand and not have to wear a mask for 2 plus hours.

Absolutely fantastic meeting Have to say I don't think I've ever seen anyone ride the Scunthorpe track better then Josh Pickering does. Stunning

He is someone I would categorize as having more money than sense

To think they have apparently signed Kvech and are not using him

https://vk.com/video-19139906_456239761?fbclid=IwAR2f9bvuROV8vCyU12hOr_3A4afZX5VULBo7R4uHesVUP83AEbCv-EMphfU

Its not an easy problem to solve but some of the decisions - that concerning the NL and the loss of Isle of Wight as a result springs to mind - are a matter of pure incompetence and could have been avoided. The failure to engage with the Warriors management is inexcusable.

Fair comment Iainb. I take your point fully concerning issues re promotion. I belong to a byegone Leicester facebook group that often post old pictures of Blackbird Rd and am always surprised at the number of people that comment on how much they miss the speedway, oblivious to the fact that the Lions have now been roaring at Beaumont Park for many years! I'm not defending the lack of extra exposure of the cups to the supporters by the promotion, but maybe, the club have been exceptionally pre occupied with complying with all of the rules, regulations and restrictions set by the council to allow speedway to go ahead this year. W9, if you read any of this, any chance of a word with the gaffer to see if the cups can be brought down to Beaumont Park when restrictions are hopefully lifted at the end of next month, so that supporters can form an orderly queue to have their pics taken with them?

Lodz v Bydgoszcz https://vk.com/video-53550004_456241028?fbclid=IwAR3GNSlmRLp-aKFJeTtyS-qfDnbK0fsPtrjcL-ivFToFbWdAfqzOM67g4es

Excellent reply Scooby.

It would only take one rider ! Maybe if Len Silver is serious about challenging the current Status Quo he could sanction the use of Ryan Kinsley ? The Lord knows the lad needs the rides and test the theory

I actually thought the racing was ok last night, despite the one sided scoreline.

I've not been this year because Lynn is £20 which is extortionate and there is a requirement to wear a mask at all times which I'm not prepared to do outside. I expect I will go and have a look at Lynn, P'boro or Belle Vue at some point this season but I don't really miss it any more which is sad as I used to be a fanatic. The watershed moment for me was probably Holder/Batchelor-gate in 2017 at Lynn, I've not been regularly since then.

That is brilliant! Rather watch it on the live stream! Haha.

Wow unbelievable

To be staged after Crumpy returns to racing (on Monday, at Ipswich).......?

Should be live here from 11am https://landshut.niederbayerntv.de/mediathek/video/niederbayern-tv-landshut-livestream/ and here http://assia.org/live2/mix-sport17/?lang=PL

Bet Pawlicki under 11 in his 5 rides- not sure Gustrow will be to his liking as much as Bydgoszcz

Correct decision to call it off, heavy drizzle for a while now so we can put our conspiracies away until the next time.

You have to love his forum. Make a late call off, the promotion gets slated, make an early call, why do they do that? everybody asks. An early call off makes a lot of financial sense. When I went for a run this morning there were some big puddles in the road. It's been light rain ever since and it's forecast to stay the same way up until about 5 or 6. How many would have been put off by the weather? If you have to call the meeting off late, it's financial suicide for the club. Gutted to be missing a Saturday night out, but at least the re-arranged meeting should be after restrictions are lifted. Hopefully get more in then.

Dont think there was a pass all race just nigh on side by side. Superb. Very underrated rider.