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I was prepared to update like minded fans who are interested in saving the club as to where we are with coordinating a rescue package as requested by a previous poster to try and save the club which has nothing to do with Rob Grant but a tell ya what Keith poke it... you do it and while ya on get ya little pal English back because he done a great job didn't he... Rob Grant is leaving what do you want him to do get on the Mic and say just for you Keith am really really leaving... there are things going on behind the scenes that Rob isn't aware of and its English syncophants like you who have compounded the problem so either get with the programme and come up with something positive or shut your trolling hole and let some Speedway fans not suck holes try and save the situation... So here's the plan you get ya pension spent and take it on yourself ... I'll pay to watch from the terraces and then come on here and moan on about everything from the team the parking the programme the cost and the strength of the coffee and while all that is going on you run the effing club... Believe it or not there are some people behind the scenes trying to coordinate things so the club keeps going.... Regards THJ

Amateurs are the lifeblood of all other motorsports. They pay to race as their hobby. Their entry fees put money into the sport. It supports venues and industry suppliers. There is none of this in speedway. Club racing, well run, can provide a fulfilling day's racing for competitors of all levels. Entry fees, not ticket sales, sustain the clubs. Young riders get an opportunity to practice and develop. Older riders get a chance of competing on their own terms. A few, very few, make it to a level where they make money, or at least break even. If I was a youngster, I'd rather race motocross where I get more track time. All Britain's top racers in other disciplines started off in club racing, it's where talent develops. The whole concept of developing speedway as a professional product for the fans is flawed in my opinion. Develop the product for the riders, a mass of riders. Give them a product that's appealing, that they'd rather do instead of motocross, enduro or banger racing, and let that keep the clubs and venues alive. Venues who feel that they can offer a spectator led offering are, of course, welcome to do so. I can't see a future for speedway, but having a stable base at the bottom of the sport is critical. How can speedway attract new riders when there is essentially nowhere to practice? BTW, speedway is not the only sport in this position. Consumers have more choice now. Going to speedway was a big night out for me in the early 80s. Now I have so many other things wanting my dollar, and they almost always win.

Unlike fans of other clubs who in the past celebrated finishing top as winning the league title, Pirates fans understand that finishing top has no more kudos than being able to choose the opposition in a semi final.

Do you not think a press release was sufficient saying he’d had enough and was not willing to run next year? He also thanked the fans.

As a chap who spent far too much of his life from the age of 10 to his early 30s traveling all over supporting not only his team but speedway in general I find myself in despair! Throughout most my time as an active supporter the sport was slowly losing its way & losing customers. Towards the end of my time as a regular 2009/10 it had become noticeable worse. Now on the odd occasion I've been in the last 10 years every time I attended you can see that it's gotten worse. It really is now at a critical point. The reason for my despair is I'm now in my mid 40s with disposable income the type of ex fan who the powers that be should be trying to win back. However when I go I am severed up a product that is poorer than the last time I attended & if I'm lucky only a couple of missing riders. It still appears that even though there are thousands of unhappy customers on here those in power do nothing about it or worse still come across as having no interest in trying to! So looking at it 2022 will be another year of the same old same old with possibly 4 tracks having closed down. No doubt more will follow after 2022 it really is a race to the bottom!

They always try to attract new fans while alienating old ones, when, going on history, it's the old ones who introduce the new ones. Speedway is now like football matches at school, when teams were never constant as long as you had two sides. I can imagine wartime meetings were like they are now - make do with whoever wants to ride, let all tracks choose whoever is available. And they expect fans to build up a bond with a team of make-do riders that won't be there next year and... at this rate, nor will the track. It is a team sport first and foremost. Why does it feel like it's set up merely for the individuals? I don't trust the folks who run it here, either. For years they went on about losing so many thousands of pounds a match, but admitted they funded the losses from their own resources. And then we ask why the sport is in its worst state... ever. Even the 50s weren't like this.

This is all getting very personal and maybe the font of all knowledge should write an in depth, no holds barred synopsis of the wicked wrongs committed by the previous promotion. It would only carry any form of credence of course if it is was signed by the individual concerned in their own name rather than the insidious invitations to come and hear it in person as it really was.

Think about it, though.There are six standout nations in speedway at the moment; GB, Australia, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. GB are seeded to the final, which leaves three in one semi, and two in the other. Had Laguta and Sayfutdinov been riding tonight, that would have been a little different, but it's not like we have a dozen nations battling it out at the top...

Paperwork still at the Argentina embassy or something ?

After all the horse-sh!t spoken by Castagna over the last few years in the instigation of this event and his vacuous defence of all its manifest imperfections ... and then Italy cant even come up with an Under 21 rider tonight.

https://vk.com/video-19139906_456239824?fbclid=IwAR1umQIBz2k2OFtHmWL4zkBoYl4o561wopzGGlrk_VTKMb_bfWUtSBWyTlg

well. they could use this forum for starters plus they have their own website where views can be expressed. For me I want the prices lowered. The level should be 10/12 pounds and ways should be found to operate around that, not the other way around. McDonalds can't charge what they want for chicken nuggets, they have to operate within a market just as speedway has to operate within a leisure market.

You were obviously only watching the front of the races, even Bartosz Zmarzlik almost ended up in the fence on the home straight. Rubbish meeting on a terrible track, only good thing was it was finished in time to watch Redcar's stream - great meeting on a proper race track. Today can only get better with more teams in with a chance of qualifying

Maybe a post or poll or something similar could be started/posted for fans who are interested in the idea who may not be able to attend the speedway meeting( Covid,work commitments) or indeed not make it upstairs. Maybe people just commenting that they’re interested?

A bit harsh on Greaves,when your struggling losing money and having a sh#t time,riding a speedway bike can’t be much fun.

I feel the only ones having fun from current day speedway are the riders, who still have a great living from the sport. The punters aren't getting value for money. Matches contain line ups, not for serious league or cup rivalry, but more as a testimonial type thing. The riders can still have a great week, the matches they ride. I read a rider the other day, a rider I admire, saying he felt bad for inflicting defeat on another rider and stopping his maximum - because it's his team mate at another team! When you have so many team mates at other teams, surely the feeling by fans of being connected to that rider is one of the sport's problems, especially in the dwindling leagues.

No ex fan here Trees . Lawson, TJ, Kerr and mountain are mentioned. You can't be loyal to everyone other wise you will end up in the same boat again. We need to be more ruthless if we really want to try and win the league, not just when it goes ** up, but from the start. The fans have stuck by them this season. Give us something to shout about next season i say.

Good on yer THJ. Fingers crossed for Newcastle Speedway, where there’s a will there definitely is a way.

We got another evening of rubbish tomorrow, only one super strong team tomorrow so racing between the others might be interesting. Tonight, Czechia came equal last. They used to be better then that, but even Malik is a shadow of where he was 3 years ago, just when the shout was put him in the GP’s. Someone on here the other day was suggesting newcomers to the GP’s should be given 3 years to prove themselves. Yes, Milik would have added something to the GP’s - boredom.

Maybe so but if you want a future ......always look on the bright side of life? Any club/business, given the right management, can be transformed. So I'd like to think that someone will come in there & get things back on track

I was at Newcastle for the Poole & Plymouth double header and sincerely hope Newcastle is saved. One thing I don't understand is how negative all the media is surrounding this meeting and the future of Newcastle speedway. Just look at the headline in speedway star, Diamonds not Forever. There's not even a question mark at the end of the headline which I think is bang out of order! Talk about kick a club when it's down!

I believe Poole have several boxes left over somewhere from the year when Cov beat them.. Might be worth a call? Could get them very cheap...

Loyalty is great to a point but a team which finished bottom and has won TWO matches all season needs some changes

Agreed

If you are vaccinated I think you still have to book a day 2 test for 2 days after you get back and will have to fill out a passenger locator form with the booking reference of that test booked, the difference coming back on 4th is you won't have to have a test in Poland before you come back.

You know what frankly I'm not that bothered of we win the play offs or not. It'd be nice but for me the team that finishes first are the champions and the play offs are a different competition

Totally agree, both points. I'm not one for having a pop at the commentators because it's not a job I could do and I reckon it's much harder than it looks but...... ....why do they struggle so much with the format? It's the same every year. I know both meetings weren't great but they should be building the excitement. Tonight Russia had two heats left and could have made the run off and what did we get.... "that's the Russians finished..... ....oh no they've got another heat..... but that's a dead rubber" total rubbish. In fairness the Russians never looked like troubling the qualifiers but technically they could still have qualified. I know stats aren't everyone's cup of tea but they could do with having someone providing stats to prompt content rather than "I've seen him with his shirt off!!!" tbf that was quite funny.

But… George English nicest man in speedway isn’t he? Highly respected etc etc I hope he and his cronies are ashamed of the state they left the club in putting its future in doubt!

When I get somewhere I get a decent signal I will send you a PM or come and see me tomorrow and I can give you the full rundown Also if Mr Likeapost @Tsunami wants to pop along I can appraise him of the situation as well... Regards THJ

He rests his case.

Can I just say that there are a lot of miserable old gits on here???

Looking forward to some actual racing as apposed to the snorefest that the SON has been over last 2 days!!

I maybe late to the party but is there any obvious reason why last night's S-F had most of the stronger (I wont say strong because the quality of the riders in virtually all the teams is dire!) Countries in it whereas tonight's line up is an utter embarrassment to the sport?

Really need to scrap the TS rule, if it’s to keep meetings close then their should be no limit to how many you can have if you go 8 points behind, but if clubs cannot afford to do that then scrap it, let’s be fair it favours the top heavy teams with out and out no 1’s.

So, it's not just me that thought that? Thanks...

Monday afternoon 4pm-6pm. But you will regret watching it.

Leicester and Redcar could also get to 46 match points, but given the fixtures remaining and the race points difference I agree that Poole’s top spot looks pretty safe.

I think you might have got a bit carried away with a love of Hungary or some nostalgia there... Zoltan Adorjan made it to the World Final three times, 1985, 1989 and 1990. His best finish was 14th (15th and 16th for the other 2). Sandor Tihanyi made it to the World Final once, in 1988. He finished 15th. I think Antal Kocso is the Hungarian that has actually had the best World Final result so far with his 11th in 1988, but I'm not convinced by my memory there, so wait to be told about some better Hungarian... However, the mid to late 80s seemed like a good time for Hungarian speedway. As a nation on the other side of the "iron curtain" they had comparatively good access to "Western" equipment and seemed to have good support in their home Nation...then the "iron curtain" fell and the financial situation in Hungary collapsed. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion, Jozsef Tabaka seemed like the best prospect from Hungary since Robbie Nagy, but sadly he didn't quite make it.

Elton John & Wayne Rooney have had there heads sorted

"just a little question why do riders lift their leg off the peg coming out of the bend s tonight it seemed to be causing them problems" I suspect their soiled pants are sticking to the seat!

Thought it was a cracking meeting and would have said the same even if the Lazarus Bears hadn’t pulled off another miraculous comeback. Leicester were electric out of the starts early on and stormed into a 12 point lead after 8 heats.Thought Ht 14 had scuppered our chances but 5-1 in Heat 15 squared it all up. Wrighty back to his best and Kerr fantastic. MPT had a rare off night and Allen struggled more than usual (not through lack of effort). Great last ride from Jenkins too. For Leicester - Howarth, Morris, Kennedy, Douglas all showed they like the Redcar track and contributed to some good races. Bears continue to struggle early in meetings and it will be their downfall in the playoffs but it was another good, entertaining speedway meeting in front of a large crowd. A good night out.

Why should it be up to you to update fans? Why can’t Rob Grant take the mic on Sunday and tell everyone where we are at ?

Watched this on the live stream an it was a very enjoyable match. Riders missing on both sides but those there gave 100% effort. Kent more affected by missing riders but this was evened up by George Rothery's machine problems all night until he finally came out on borrowed machinery to win his last heat. There was heavy rain early on but these NDL lads just got on with it. For the Devils Danny and Tom were rock solid but I've been very impressed with the improvement in both the Millar boys this season - especially Gregor. This is exactly what this league is supposed to do. For Kent, Alex Spooner and Vinnie Foord caught the eye with battling and skilful performances.

Just caught up with this, some good racing, Bomber on fire. Dad's Army must be faves now.

Unused fireworks and hot water available too.

many thanks TO Clean cut sports for uploading heat 13 of the Sheffield v Peterborough,as a speedway fan that is what speedway is all about ,and even the commentry was spot on , what was a sensational ride by Chris Harris.Speedway at its very best.

Maybe. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....and tbh, I am utterly biased in this discussion having grown up watching Mort at Hyde Road. His World Final record is shocking. No arguments on that front. But doesn't really fairly reflect where he was at. Not many riders have a CV like this... World Pairs winner (as top scorer) World Team Cup winner (as top scorer) Intercontinental winner BLRC winner British Final winner 9 times in BL top 10 averages (six times with a 10+ average) 2nd most capped England rider ever, over 100 Seven times World Finalist note: I'd also say that all of the above where achieved when there was no dilution in quality in those events, which came later on Like Mort, I don't think you could ever say that there was a year when Adams, Crump, Moran or Knudsen were the best in the world. But his CV is at least comparable and arguably better than most of those names. And it's certainly better than Ashby or Schwartz.

Then you surely mean ‘ former Peterborough promoter ‘ who watches at Redcar as he’s never had any formal connection to the Redcar club and neither has previous Newcastle promoter Phillips. I doubt ‘ The Gedfather ‘ of Peterborough has the funds to get involved again without a major backer like he had down south and from what I’ve heard of the current Brough Park landlords he wouldn’t want to get involved with such restrictions in place, and that’s supposing the landlords actually want speedway back.

It has been a steep learning curve for Flint having Berwick as his home track and then riding Monmore. I think he's been great since we signed him to replace Tom bacon and it would be great if we signed him on a premanent deal.

Riga for the SGP that was switched to Daugavpils at the last moment is the only track I have been to for a meeting that was not staged and subsequently I have yet to return. Apart from some UK tracks (most notably Belle Vue NSS) my first visits overseas to Landshut, Vastervik, Gorican, Avesta and Poznań were all rain offs but I subsequently went back. In the case of Landshut it took me 39 years though! I have seen some tracks where I didn’t actually see Speedway as there was not a scheduled meeting when I saw the track. These include Reading (Tilehurst) from a passing train and Western Springs (NZ).