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Logistically it isn't an issue. Especially if you are a rider wanting to line your pockets without the inconvenience of having to be good enough to be asked to ride in Poland. The problem is deeper than that though. Starting with it causing the disconnect between fans and the riders who race for their team. Ideally riders should have one club, having another club overseas is borderline acceptable. Ideally that wouldn't happen either. A lot of top tier riders have ended up with second tier clubs due to a relaxation of rules (doubling up numbers allowed and average conversion rate) 15 odd years ago. They've then hogged the team spots and stopped other riders from racing at second tier level and thus reaching a competitive standard. That is directly to blame for the lack of good enough riders now. To top it all off, most of them are now in their mid thirties plus and when they retire, which they'll have to some day sooner rather than later, leave a massive void in both leagues. These things hurt Speedway's credibility. As does guesting, which isn't a necessary evil, it's just an evil. It makes the sport look amateurish in the extreme to Speedway fans, let alone someone who may be a newcomer to the sport. The sport has to look credible to keep teams active, to help new/returning teams get back on track, to try secure another television deal and ultimately to draw in new fans. All these things that look stupid to outsiders (because they are stupid) need to be removed from the sport. For the good of the sport.

How can anyone be getting excited for a 5 team league is beyond me

Fans have always had an issue with their riders representing other clubs. The main issue of course is perhaps due to them potentially getting injured, doesn't diminish the fact though. The disconnect I'm talking about isn't the "Oh so and so used to come into the bar after meetings." It is simply being able to get behind a rider who represents your team and your team alone. It creates an identity. Riders should be allowed to carry on. But they should do so at one level. The level they are capable of performing at. The doubling up free for all (helped by the relaxing of the average conversion rate) dragged the standard of the top two leagues closer together because so many of the riders are shared. Those riders taking second tier spots has absolutely stood in the way of youngsters coming through. Maybe not directly but that is a consequence of the rule change. It has been squeezing the air out of development for almost two decades now and we're at a breaking point. The sad thing is that those riders now having an easy life also had a more defined path to the top as the gulf from Conference to Premier to Elite was a less abrupt one than the pathetic excuse we have for a third tier into the Championship as it is now. We now have a weaker top tier than we did 20 years ago but a much stronger second tier. That is a fact shown by there being Championship heatleaders who are also heatleaders in the Premiership. To use one of your old riders as an example, Tomas Topinka was an incredible second tier number one in the mid 2000s. He wouldn't have been anywhere near a heatleader berth in the Elite League at that time though. And if you wanted to watch Topinka you had to be at a Kings Lynn meeting. Even now Scott Nicholls is a shining example of the way it should be. He has one team at the level his ability allows him to race at and still be competitive. The raw product draws fans in. Once you fall in love with that it is the bureaucracy and stupid convoluted rules that is a turn off, not the state of a stadium or what music is being played between the heats. I'm not saying these aren't issues, they are but the real issues come from the way the sport is run. There are some stadiums in Poland that are falling apart, they play the YMCA three times a meeting but the places are still banged out to the rafters. Yes, the standard of riders may be better but the real difference is that they don't deal in half the BS we do here.

I love the debate that comes around guests necessary evil etc etc & what the alternative is. Its not a necessary evil, Poland & Sweden run with out guests they use a squad system. Back in the day the old National League under the management of Stekesbury & co banned the use of guests. At the time the NL was a fair better & more professional outfit than the BL. Guests & doubling up come about because of the absolutely ridiculous operating model that the uk have gone with. If you go back to the 80s & early 90s every team had a junior team which meant most clubs had their regular 1-7 with them a back up of anywhere between 4-7 good junior/second half riders. If you were running in the NL basically you had a squad of 11-13 guys the juniors would be called in to the team to cover injuries. The promotors decided to bin that off reducing the number of available riders though lack of opportunities to race remember those juniors rode in their own league match’s each week. While every other ‘professional’ sport have invested in increasing their squad systems & opportunities to compete & train British speedway has done the opposite. There is a route out however that will take time vision & creative thinking. The out of control guest & doubling up system is a condition unique to British speedway brought about by the way the governing body has chosen to operate the sport. It wasn’t ever necessary!

Should not be allowed Guests or R/R for riders missing due to other riding commitments for starters.That might changes Promoters mindset on who they sign.

Could be a signing of biblical proportions then

Invoking the SAS implies an elite service - not sure that holds for speedway futures maybe Trotters Independent Traders!!

Agreed I can remember I think it was Joe Owen who an 11 point man in the old national league being called on by the british league and he struggled at reserve in the top league the gulf back then between top men in division2 and 1 was massive when the likes of Havvy and Andrew Silver moved up it took them a while to get established and they were both super naturally talented riders.

Years ago when you became a number one at division two you would move up into the top division and become a number 7 at your new club imo when the promoters changed the natural progression ladder it all went downhill.

Because those that are getting excited, just love speedway. I don't think it's wrong that people are excited for a new season. I - personally - would still be getting excited if there were just two teams left as I always miss speedway over the winter. Yes, the current situation is far from ideal and there's plenty that could be done in the future to improve things, but it's not going to stop me from going to meetings and enjoying myself. Boycotting the sport is not going to save it.

Another factor is the age profile of speedway supporters. As folks get older they don’t turn out for every meeting in poor weather to stand outside in often spartan conditions on cold evenings to watch the stop start racing punctuated by all too frequent delays . With each passing year, I would suggest there are fewer “hard core” fans who will turn up every meeting .

Bowtell, Hook,Heeps,Gusts,Knudsen,Vuolas,Starke to name a few on the sidelines from 2025

Interesting article in this weeks Star written by Lukasz Chrzanowski on how the world’s richest speedway league is slowly killing the sport and highlights how Britain, Germany and Sweden are struggling and economically outgunned when in Poland a reserve is paid more than heat leaders in other countries. Whatever happens the sport in the UK needs to go its own way and offer the public what it can realistically afford and if that means starting again and building talent from within so be it. The top riders find it easier to move equipment around mainland Europe and mechanics can travel by road to most places so why add to the cost by racing in the UK and given the extra expenses riders financial demands will only go one way, the question would be how long can the sport over here meet those costs.

Spot on... They have basically tied themselves up in knots by using short term fix after short term fix, rather than having any vision, strategy and ambition for the sport.. That lack of an independent, no vested interest, voice clearly being missed... They needed (still need), saving from themselves, as they lurch from sticking plaster to sticking plaster to cover major (self inflicted), wounds.. So many well meaning, passionate about the sport hobbyists, being in charge of, and self policing, a national professional sport, with so many widely different needs and wants from the team owners, can never work successfully... Hence it hasn't, and we are where we are.. Is it too late now? It is if nothing radical changes, and quickly...

The BSPL / Speedway futures have issued a new line of promotor inspired t shirts

I remember the back of the star always had a team on it with the captain labelled as ‘ on machine’ . That was your team with your riders.You were attached to them. Nowadays it’s a free for all . A pay day for the rider. That rider could be doing his own team damage by winning with his guested team. Just dosent add up in a professional sport.

Big difference between having some issues with drugs off track and ROBBING THE ELDERLY in their own home at KNIFEPOINT.

Delighted to see Cook back this season. I’ve been critical of some instances involving him in the past, but a British speedway without Craig Cook is a sadder, less entertaining and lower in quality place. Really strong side being built at Northside.

Despite the chuntering on here once Louis had decided to sell up he was up against it time wise to get this sorted - it’s to his and the buyers credit they have managed to get this in place inside 8 weeks (even less) - if hadn’t - all hell would be breaking loose here! Let’s hope all is in order and the sale goes through smoothly.

Doubling-Up was originally set up to allow young brits to gain experience in the higher division/league, while still riding regularly in the lower division/league. That is great as a principle, but it was allowed to get out of control, so that any rider (depending on converted average when doubling-down) could race regularly in both divisions/leagues - so much so that there have even been accusations of senior riders dropping their top division/league average so they they qualified to double-up. If you can't see a problem with any of that, then fair enough - as always, we makes our choices.

198 Guests used last season across both top leagues.. When other leagues can cope without a single one, it shows just how poorly the UK version of exactly the same sport, with access to exactly the same riders, is ran... No excuse for such nonsense is there? A "necessary evil" I believe it is said to be....? Using 198 of them suggests its more of an easy cop out, rather than running a team sport properly to ensure you deliver the required emotional attachment to your team.. And if you don't engender that in a team sport, especially in the digital 24/7 news, and the constant social media review, and potential ridicule, of what you deliver today, then you have no chance of being successful...

As part of my earlier Teams and Fixtures blog, which I posted about last month, I've now created a week-by-week fixtures list for all mainland European leagues and other relevant fixtures such as SGP, SEC, IMP and others. Obviously we don't have all fixtures as yet, so it's a work in progress, but once the remaining leagues publish their fixtures, I'll be adding them in as well. Everything is colour coded to make it easier to follow. Hope it helps for anyone planning any trips this coming season. Link here: https://speedwayteams2026.blogspot.com/p/calendar-of-meetings-in-2026.html?

Almost every contributor on here can see the problems looming for the sport but those in charge of its destiny are not doing too much to keep the fan base onside and give some ideas as to how things might change. An announcement following the AGM then radio silence. No provisional fixture list, no details of the new competition, no more news about the mystery 6th club and none of this can help riders, sponsors etc. plan for the coming season and it must have a negative impact on season ticket sales. With the lack of clarity is any wonder some supporters are disillusioned with the sport and riders have opted to ply their trade elsewhere. You would have thought that some press releases would have been forthcoming even it was only to update of progress or otherwise of changes which may at least placate some of the doubters. The BSPL really have not got a clue when it comes to taking care of the fan base. If they are unsure as to what to do might I suggest they take a look at Poland, Sweden and Denmark all of whom are way ahead of the UK.

Yes

And there definitely won't be a future if everybody stops going.

Probably Louis I’d have thought. Think some deals were already done early doors so they’ll probably be resurrected if those riders are still available. Wonder if Vaculik could be tempted? Only has one club in Poland as far as I can see, nothing in Sweden or Denmark and of course, no GP’s now either. Needs more racing than that surely?

Another Poole Speedway article in the Echo online today with Matt Ford (more coverage than Semenyo!) stating that any discussion about a 'one league set-up' for 2027 should start NOW, including clarity on likely rider costs and any TV/broadcast contract. Its no good leaving it til August/Sept when many clubs have started their team-building for the next season. He has confirmed once again that Poole will NOT go 'up'(?!) into the Premiership within the present structure and fixed race nights!

Went to a restaurant once and saw "Oasis Soup" on the menu. Asked the waiter what it was. He said "you get a roll with it" 🤭

Yeah, but there’s not enough riders to go around 🙈, so the bosses say

I watched the Aussie meetings on bsn and I think Reid will do okay, he can gate, and is a racer, may need to calm himself a bit though. Will be an interesting watch. Disappointed that Jacob Hook does not have a place. We really need to stop losing riders that increase their average due to the team limits, it's always the 5 pointers that lose out.

Blimey the lad isn't even in the country and he's being criticised, give him a break. Many years ago there was a couple of young lads from New Zealand who spent a lot of time hitting the deck or the fence, remember some other riders wanted them banned. Briggs and Mauger were their names, i often wonder how their careers panned out.

I'm heading towards my 50s and I'd love all that. Youth today are addicted to every day statistics. Gaming, sport, fashion, music etc are all statistic driven. Many under 30s are guided by statistics over 'the eye test'. Even falsified stats today are believed by a lot, governments knowingly issue false statistics on a regular basis. TV ads knowingly display false statistics. How many products do you see with "Voted No1 by the general public." It's another thing the Promoters Association are terrible at, hoodwinking the public. That old saying "Speculate to Accumulate" still rings true today, but in a different way. Just use Statistics. "British Speedway, Watch by 30 Million People Around the World." The public don't need to know that that's since 1932 🤫

4 guests and R/R in a "team", not amateurish? You're having a laugh 😂

All of that, total nonsense. Let's go through it. "Starting with it causing the disconnect between fans and the riders who race for their team." That's just not true is it. Before, during and after the season, no fan complains about their riders, riding elsewhere overall. The only disappointment is when a rider gets injured racing for someone else. The only time "fan disconnect" ever gets mentioned is when people try to argue against the doubling up/down. _____________________ "A lot of top tier riders have ended up with second tier clubs due to a relaxation of rules (doubling up numbers allowed and average conversion rate) 15 odd years ago. They've then hogged the team spots and stopped other riders from racing at second tier level and thus reaching a competitive standard. That is directly to blame for the lack of good enough riders now." This one again. The sport has changed globally, not just here. The older guys are not 'blocking' anyone. The majority of the top rider's are 30+. Some near or nearing 40. Why shouldn't these guys be allowed to continue their trade when they lose that "Elite" edge?? When King's Lynn went Premier League, I really enjoyed (with the competitive moaning) watching the Topinka's, Screen's, Havelock's etc. I bet most still enjoy Harris & Nicholls in the 2nd tier. Nobody wants them gone. There only thing that stops youth coming through is the youth itself. We've had 100s come through the lowest tier of British Speedway & almost all of them get shots at Championship & Premiership Rising Star programmes. Life is what gets in the way of youth across the world in every single aspect. If you want the younger rider's to get more opportunities, they need to be better, as simple as that. __________________ "It makes the sport look amateurish in the extreme to Speedway fans, let alone someone who may be a newcomer to the sport. The sport has to look credible to keep teams active, to help new/returning teams get back on track, to try secure another television deal and ultimately to draw in new fans." Let's get things straight here, 4 rider's, 4 laps, x15 is never the embarrassment of the sport regardless of who & age. The embarrassment is everything that surrounds it. Standard of Stadia, 70s & 80s music, zero mid heat / mid meeting entertainment etc. = zero Value for Money. All the problems with Speedway, globally, is everything the promoters put on offer away from the racing. Newcomers never give a s#!t about the rules, I'd argue 50% initially, enjoy the thrill of the racing. Why do they disappear?? Quite simply, away from the racing, lack of comfort & boredom, again, = 0 Value for Money. Everyone today wants everything yesterday. Nobody can handle a void, the brain has to be constantly entertained. If British Speedway wants the under 30s trackside for 2+ hours, the brain needs entertaining for the 90 minutes of nothingness. Practice starts, the odd wheelie & 4 laps will never, ever be enough in 2026.

I don’t think even speedway futures know what they are doing

Louis certainly seems to have been a bit of a "James Hunt" this winter.

Wouldn’t mind seeing the demise of Trackrat.

Big thanks to Antti for the last few years riding for us always professional and reliable as well as providing some unbelievable races. I’ll miss watching him around NS hopefully we wears the Blue and White again.

Maybe... However... The Promoters didn't develop enough riders over the past two decades to fill their teams without the DU riders becoming essential... What first started as "young lads" getting a chance to move up a league to develop their skills against a higher level of riders, whilst still having their "other job" to fall bsck on, instead, became the "main stay" of the UK version of the sport, and a "free for all"... Take the DU's away and both leagues wouldn't fill the 14 teams left without using many NDL level riders... The Championship in particular would struggle given these riders make up the majority of their HL's, and, the top tier effectively subsidise the riders salaries so the riders are "affordable"... A typical short sighted unfit for purpose "fix" which each year got bigger and more essential, rather than it ever being reset, and used for what it was initially set up for...

Unfortunately the malaise the sport finds itself is because riders like bomber have kept their cash register ringing twice over rather than once!

Batch at 5 sounds great to me especially if Cookie/Tate can reform their partnership. Batch for 2 seasons has been the backbome of the side and gets knocked for his one off poor performances when over the whole he held the side together. This is looking one exciting team 🤩

It's amazing that in 25 years of tv coverage they never ever addressed this... which is an indication that points to the rest of the failures within Speedway. If they couldn't/wouldn't address this, they were never going to fix everything else that needed fixing.

Workington looking pretty strong with there top 4 there’s no reason why batchelor,Zischke and Jeppesen can’t all put a point in there averages there definitely going to be near the top end of the league,anyone know who the 5.00 rider will be as I’m assuming that’s what they will do. shaping up to be a really competitive championship this season some very good teams being built very much looking forward to the season starting.

I think the biggest concern for Poole and every other team in Britain is not having a stadium but more importantly having a British league to ride in,especially now mark lemon is on the board of directors who will want to make the championship weaker and the premiership stronger.

I don’t think anyone genuine speedway fan will be disappointed if speedway stays on in the Poole area even if they don’t like the team. As soon as people hear the name Clark Osbourne they are then genuinely worried for that club. The man is a cancer to the sport and a habitual liar to speedway fans and promotions.

Cook`s signing will end one way and one way only. Recent history tells us everything you need to know.

He's another jumped up aussie with a face like a smacked arse much like Jack Holder, and also a bit of a gating tart, he wasnt all that special the few yrs he rode at Foxhall tbf, he might get a look in now Louis aint running the show, don't think he left Ipswich on the best of terms when he last rode for them.

At the end of the day, we all want what's best for British Speedway, we've all got workable idea's. The biggest problem we all have & see is that the Promoters Association ain't even trying anything at all.

No need to get personal with someone for having a different opinion but here goes. If second halves were re introduced , do you reckon that would provide 1 or 2 extra riders to add to the usual 7 , making a squad, so any absences would be covered by your own riders, not some fuc.er else’s ? These 1 or 2 riders would push for places so anyone not producing in the 7 would always have their place under threat. You know like in football? Probably nonsense though, as all this would get in the way of the half time band, comedian, juggler etc that you’re pushing for.

Drew told me not riding Championship this season due to the logistics involved with him riding abroad. The 2 seasons he has been at Berwick he has been excellent both on and off the track improving both seasons.