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I went to Amsterdam and it wasn't good. The problem wasn't the fact that it was 2 days or the quality of the racing, it was that - apart from the British section on bend 2 - the stadium was practically empty. Cardiff, sadly, was starting to go the same way so was bound to get dropped soon. This is yet another sign of the decline of the sport in this country. If the GP is going to be held at a league track, though, Belle Vue is the best choice. The GP will continue to decline, at least until all the World's best riders are allowed to ride in it. It's pretty meaningless at the moment. I can also say that, as one of many people who no longer have a home track to support, interest in the sport itself gradually fades away as the years pass. Time is a great healer.

Unfortunately like a lot of other teams, the side is built to a budget, if you don't, you may lose your speedway. But monarchs have a good supporters club helping make up any loss.

THJ really wound up a few posters but I got on really well with him, We exchanged many private messages and he is a loss to this forum. I don't post that much but have been on the forum for many years now, having worked in the sport, sponsored a lot of riders over the years. As on the terraces, we have lost so many people on this platform over the years, some passed, some have just drifted away from the sport. This place is a sad reflection of how our sport has declined really and that's nothing against the BSF, just how it is.. RIP Shazzybird and London Witch, just two good friends lost..

Absolute practical solution, but remember something so simple would never work, remember this is Speedway 🤣

Yes!! I hope that all Redcar Supporters, Team, Management and Staff have a Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. 🙂🙂

Get over it, if it was your team/money you could sign whoever you want 🥲 but the promotion have signed batch over cookie so get behind the team UTC

Jenga is still about, he is too thick to hide it.

Had some good banter with THJ a few years ago on here, think had a similar level of sarcasm, was he not in the best health either a few years ago? Lost friends always sad, especially as a lot of us are long term fans and we're all getting old/older. First time I went was 55 years ago, so if I disappear off here, you probably know what's happened. On that joyous note..... Happy Christmas to you all 😅.

Looking at the bandits team this year I personally think it will be a good season with target been play offs. They are always going to have a strong No.6 and a strong top 2. If Drew can push on it will be a strong side, can’t see the bandits getting beat at home.

Max James back for 2025. Happy to see max back good kid and now had a full season of learning under his belt will help massively for 2025.

As Coventry staged a GP in the past and successfully, as I recall, perhaps the GP organisers could have taken the opportunity to try and buy the stadium, to have as a British GP 'flagship', but with Belle Vue as a second British GP venue?

Cardiff had plenty of options if you were willing to go on a 20 min train ride.

Wasn't necessarily comparing cities but the fact that the the two day world final was derided by many at the time and since and yet that's what's been put forward at Manchester albeit within a GP series?

I wouldn't say he did. As senior reserve would have liked a bit more from him. Could gate well but then seemed to go back the way after the second bend.

I can't help but feel sorry for Cardiff, especially all of those good folk who have already booked up accomodation, transport etc. Bit of a kick in the teeth really. As a Belle Vue fan, I am, of course, very pleased a Grand Prix has been given to Belle Vue, but Cardiff has really done very well for Speedway over the years. We should be very grateful to them. A very sad decision for me.

I just love the spin in the Headlines..rather than the doom and gloom and the disaster of losing the biggest day of the year in UK speedway its dress up as a great positive that we 2 GPS in a normal speedway track.

Depends if they’ve ridden polish u24 league or their average in polish league If they have ridden there. So for someone to qualify for a 6 they would have to have an average of over 6.00 in the polish league 2 or in Sweden.

I think, if I was a Monarchs fan, I'd just be glad that they can put a team together for 2025, bearing in mind how close they were to closing due to lack of track a few years back and the "increasing" worry, year on year, that this is the last season at Armadale.

IronScorpion gonna be fuming...

Apparently he's on his way.

Santa Claus Vissing announced tomorrow?

Obviously don't know jenga personally Far from thick Done a skilled job for years many can only dream of doing Then there's the speedway connection very few know about Jenga just likes to do a little winding up Couldn't log on a few years ago and tried to make a new account with similar username but it got rejected so not trying to hide But it's not my place to say who they are

can't see that happening while WBD have the rights, if they won't pay for Cardiff there's no way they'll do a London stadium with all the extra meetings/surveying/money

Charlie Wood signs .

Strange how they let Fredrikson go . Yes the tinnies down, got the mother over for christmas so on best behaviour.

I don't know, but corporates talking to corporates might have more sway than action groups talking to corporates? Surely the stadium is a bit of a 'thorn in the side' for BE?

Thj was a really knowledgeable bloke concerning northern issues with clubs , a really nice person to know also. Hope all's well with him.

why try and shut down an interesting discussion? its a fair point being made

A lot of time for Max. Hopefully coupled with a stronger reserve will bring him on.

There were always cheaper options for Cardiff too. I used Premier inn as a comparison to the rates in Cardiff, because it's like for like. I was making the point that it's standard practice for hotels to hike prices around events. Manchester is no exception as the prices I stated show. 'Travelling out a bit' was an option at Cardiff too. There were plenty of cheaper options along the valley lines, with easy access to the stadium or city. We always stayed in Caerphilly and took the train. I accept that the GP alone, won't impact prices in Manchester in the same way as Cardiff, but that's because it's not a big stadium event in the city centre.

If they did that the fans would be having the exact same conversation about Batchelor. Saying "they could've still had a stronger reserve pairing with Batchelor. They could have had the exact same team with Batchelor" Once they decided to drop a top man to have strong reserves, it was Cook or Batchelor. I'm sure fans will have their own preferences about who should have been kept. I can understand arguments either way, but I don't think there's a big enough difference between the riders to categorically state they've got it right or wrong.

Back at Edinburgh

Also prob some posters, like me, who read the forum everyday but don't necessarily have time to chime in or new info to contribute....

Because there is a reasonably new member who posts with remarkably similar traits/characteristics.

As already mentioned THJ had a big fall out with speedway in the grant era at Newcastle, was a good sponsor to speedway in all areas not just Newcastle and worky. Was living part time I scaryport, wonder if anyone local has seen him. As for jenga not heard a peep for a while

Ive been 18 times. Best night of the year. I took my fiancee this year and she was amazed at the atmosphere and the size of the stadium. She had a great night was was really looking forward to 2025. Oh and by the way shes polish

As mentioned in an earlier post, THJ became disillusioned with certain aspects of the sport. Be good to see him posting again, as he didn't pull any punches, & was very witty.

An SGP in Amsterdam would be awesome !

If it was, the Trophy would have a lower points limit. It doesn't. So the answer to your question is no.

There's a few ways to look at it, now I'd agree Joe T should be too good for the NDT, but as he has so few Championship fixtures, can understand wanting to get extra rides. Also Plymouth are probably keen for him to ride, they could end up losing 60-30 every home match if they replaced him with a NDL second string. If that happens, crowds drop & they lose lots of money, they likely won't enter the competition next year, then the other 6 riders in the team won't get the same opportunities next season. Is it such a big deal that Joe rides for Plymouth, when they are giving SIX other "genuine" NDL riders matches? Compare that to the likes of Ipswich, Berwick, Glasgow & Poole who haven't entered a development league. I'd also disagree that the development leagues should be for "NDL second strings, reserves and newbies" the weaker you make the development leagues the harder it is for them to make the step up to the Championship.

Sensible decision if he's not 100%, gives him more time to prepare for the season for us and Belle Vue.

https://gorka-speedway.blogspot.com/2024/12/50.html

It’s certainly not Reider Eide.

Not seen it advertised by the club yet, but seen on Niels Instagram that his testimonial will be the season opener at Lynn on 16/03 (3pm start). Well deserved for a Stars legend. Hopefully the weather is kind and I imagine he’ll assemble a good field considering his standing in the sport. Sure they will be plenty of GP boys looking for track time at the start of the season.

I didn't miss a Cardiff GP so it's a very sad day for me, they were very enjoyable weekends. To me it feels like I have lost a loved one.

He should be an 8 however it will depend who asks.