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Now this is where I have a problem with this 8% rule, the rule has been made up by the crook which we all know by rob godfrey. The BSPA statement literally says, “It is hoped that this will provide some assistance to riders who have taken time out of the sport, and who are now once again seeking team places.” Abilitt, hasn’t been away from the sport, he refused more than one team place last year at championship level cause he couldn’t be bothered travelling that far north, plus rode NDT with Kent last year. Yet qualifies for this silly rule. That’s not a rider that’s been lost or taken time out. No wonder everyone gets fed up with Speedway guys like Godfrey killing the sport for a selfish gain.

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.

Stinks of desperation . Opening a new track with no fanbase and slinging them into the top flight. Whoever is fronting this will lose a fortune.

Can’t praise BSN enough; they’re almost single-handedly keeping the sport in the UK visible and accessible. I hadn’t attended Ashfield for many years until I heard about BSN and tuned in. Two years later, I’m a track regular again; all because of BSN. As such, I cannot get on-board with any criticism of them. I’ve been a season pass holder for two years now and I think they’re adapting to each venue and improving the product every year. I don’t think you can ask for any more. They’re good people too. They’re authentic. I think Ian and Greg (Brennan and Blair, if I recall) are great.

Just over seven weeks to go until Klindt’s testimonial for the season curtain raiser. Still have no (active) owner, Manager, team, sponsorship? Track man? So much to be done in such a short space of time. That’s without the bigger picture of fixtures to be sorted for all clubs as well as admission prices and season tickets etc etc. It’s been an absolute sh!tshow this winter let’s be honest.

If its a flashing light it still works half of the time

He may have refused a team spot because what was on offer was very poor. Riders shouldn't be penalised for refusing poor deals.

Like you say no way should Ablitt should be given a reduction. Same should apply to Garrity given the reason he was lost to the sport. The sport is becoming a laughing stock and cannot be taken seriously anymore,certainly not going to attract many newcomers.

Just listened to Rob Godfrey in full... Fair play to the host who asked all the right questions (eventually 😉) and also to Godfrey for responding to them. That's all I'm going to say about it really as there was a lot of "there's a lot going on behind the scenes" which I've heard too many times before in this sport only for nothing to materialise. Not filled with confidence when Godfrey couldn't even remember the name of the former MP that has joined SFL and he kept referring to SFL as "them" when he's on the board! Like I've said before Godfrey does a fine job at Scunny but should be nowhere near the top table of Speedway in the UK.

But apparently the management of said company continue to supply speedway tracks. I believe Mildenhall found an alternative supplier and that was allegedly why the BSPL/BSPA refused to licence the club. Another closed shop operation from those in charge of the sport. What is the matter with the morons who run the sport in this country. Time for more clubs to jump ship, join NORA and break the stranglehold of those who are determined to take the sport to its nadir.

Personally I hope it's all on BSN. I think they do a much better job than Discovery tbh.

No help was given to Mildenhall who moved heaven and earth to make their fence safe. They covered all of the metal posts with very high density foam AND have an air fence in front of that, yet it was deemed not acceptable because they didn't get the foam from the one and only recommended supplier. They ran two highly successful meetings under the NORA banner last year with no problems and had big crowds. I appreciate that rider safety is the number one priority, but when I stand at Kings Lynn where just behind the wooden fence that isn't protected by the air fence, I see a huge concrete armco barrier, I wonder how that can be safe yet Mildenhall's fence is regarded as unsafe?

Currently no decision is made on Luke doing the league, my personal feeling is he shouldn't do it as with the current pay scales even scoring 15 every meeting means you run at a loss and even more so when you factor in the loss of a days working wage for us both as well. But on the flip side of that with only a championship spot and the limited amount of racing that it will provide he may have to do it for bike time and to justify the huge outlay on equipment during the winter. From doing 70 plus meetings last year to probably less 35 this year is there any wonder why young riders give up.

But in this case it’s cause he didn’t want to travel that far nothing to do with what he got offered. The whole point is the rule is corruption by the guy in charge once again. Knew the second it was announced you knew which team it would affect right away.

He turned down offers before the season started though.Cant have it both ways surely.Introducing rules that can be manipulated as usual.

It would be fantastic to have a team from Northampton in the league (40/45 minute drive from Alwalton), however, I hope those in charge of Speedway ensure they have a good team that can compete, in fact it is essential. No new team/club in the top flight can be allowed to be making up numbers as Birmingham were and to a slightly lesser extent Oxford were. Teams need to be equally balanced and yes I know there is a points limit, but we all know that never really makes teams equal. I really hope Northampton happens for the future of Speedway in this country.

I certainly can’t see how there can be any criticism of BSN , you bought a package your were watching do roughly £ 5 a meeting. Race coverage was generally 1st Class and the Presentation Package on the night was excellent,unlike some Presenters on Discovery( no names) who hadn’t a clue on what to ask a rider.

Personally I think a possible new track at Northampton is just spin, by BSPL,to deflect how bad a state the premiership is in .the season is just around the corner, it would take a massive amount of money to get the stadium ready for speedway, which as we all know, theirs not a lot of money in speedway. As it stands now nothing has been sorted out at Ipswich, other tracked require fixtures released, so they can sell season tickets and get sponsorship, and they are still talking about a new track

We would be eternally grateful if you could spare two minutes to cast a vote for us. The sponsor of the event is the company that evicted us, the awkwardness if we won would be epic. Details here . . . . https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jVbPWKYhcPLyyVyyn7yovxywpADVHZZJ3Y9PMLamX1QcpVyuKcUwvzFM7nTjLTh8l&id=61553224922528

Only 6 teams confirmed is a travesty, but the bigger issue is only 1 home / 1 away per team, a total of 10 meetings per team. This is absolutely nowhere near enough meetings for the youngsters to develop. Why not 2 home and 2 away?! I know this was a very long time ago but in my short stint in the mavericks we rode 24 meetings in one season.

Credit to BSN for wanting to keep their customers informed. If the BSPL had any credibility, I’d say the lack of transparency and information was disappointing, but they’re not, so it isn’t.

He froze himself out, in a way! Declined at least two invitations to ride for clubs he judged "too far north" didn't he?

Jakobsen sounds like an exciting prospect, good to have some new blood in the Championship. The But for me has to be the fact he has four 2026 contracts, you would like to know where Workington come on the priority list. Not so great if he were to only ride half the time like say Nagel in 25. Hope I get to see him race down here at Wimborne Road though.

It wasn't that busy til you landed here Tommy Ten Posts.

Our main weapon is surprise!!

Think how much he could have increased it by if he'd scored in those 12 heats! And Speedway is not all about averages, it's about ability, attitude and machinery as much as anything else, he certainly has the ability, machinery questionable, attitude... terrible at times.

Garrity is available

Lets face it filling 6 teams competitively is going to be a struggle. There were development leagues (below NL) flourishing and full of riders driving all round the country to ride 2nd halves for at best a drop of fuel. Competition was fierce and it was a breeding ground for NL reserves and many many big names have passed through. All this despite being treated with contempt by many clubs and countless fixtures cancelled due to curfew or other daft reasons. However more and more blocks were put in the way of the volunteers running these sides that eventually one by one the either gave up or were pushed out. Then the assault on the amateur meetings started, then Nora and it will continue until there is nothing left. The horse has bolted, the numbers in the youth rounds reflect that, the opportunities to have a reset have been fumbled with terrible silencers, Gerhard engines and rev limiters. Enjoy whats left because its not coming back.

Nope, all signed, sealed & delivered. No drama, just waiting for March 👍

Decent side with continuity in the key spots - reserves could be a weakness but overall i reckon they will be fine top 5 spot awaits 😉

All it takes is for tracks to start 15 minutes earlier and put some races on during the interval and stop hanging about with riders going out on track as soon as the previous heat is finished. All could find a way to make sure the races take place but many tracks/promoters simply treat the youngsters with contempt. Back in the day with 13 heat meetings and a second half, the first race of the second half always use to be the new talent on the block. Now those in charge bemoan no new talent coming through in abundance but they do not want to do anything to change this and blame everyone but themselves. No wonder the sport is going down the plug hole and soon any rider who makes a serious living out of the sport will desert the UK and it will be left with amateur meetings which might not be such a bad thing.

No not at all but if a rider on a 10 point average is losing money riding and a days wage on top of it then it becomes massively unviable can you imagine the losses a 3 pointer is incurring

A long stay sponsor has confirmed they're sponsoring again this season and been told all the plans etc but just can't release that info until they have made it public once the sale fully goes through. Even though it's painful and seems so long to hear any news some will be coming soon

Agree with you Glasgow in the losers category was a strange one, its a pity they didnt get it over the line in the last heat but when you consider the racing/entertainment factor between the two legs they were easily the winners, nothing about that club puts them in a losers category, yes its nice to win trophies but for me its great racing i pay to see winning is a bonus. Not a mention of Scunny well cant upset Rob

Doesn’t Phil Morris answer to Godfrey ?

"2026 Season With the 2026 Season fast approaching, we would like to keep our customers informed of the current situation. With the well-publicised delay to the British Speedway AGM, our arrangements for the new season have been pushed back later than usual. We are currently in talks to confirm a new contract and building new packages alongside the BSPL to bring even more speedway to your living room for 2026. BSN remains fully committed to British Speedway and excited for the season ahead. As soon as we have further clarity, we’ll announce our plans and 2026 pricing via our socials, website, and email." Looks like things are far from settled for the 2026 season. I wonder if BSPL are looking to make up some shortfall in lost TV money from BSN?

It is noticeable that over the past few years the Speedway Star has become more critical in it's comments on the running of the sport in the UK.. With plenty of giving voice to the fans off the various social media accounts linked to the sport.. I would imagine they had to be more circumspect when their sales came in the main from the tracks... After all. You don't bite the hand that feeds you do you? I presume sales now come more from online, hard copy subscription, and retail outlets, given so few tracks... Nowadays it is a very good read, giving plenty of fans a voice, and not slow at challenging, but constructively, and fairly, (recognising the challenges promotions face), the current malaise that exists... The New Year addition covering every league and every major competition in the world was particularly excellent...

He did not have a world class season last season, he had a good season. He's not in the GP's Didn't make the SGP Challenge Not in the SoN team Not in the Ekstraliga Couldn't achieve an 8 point average in the PL Couldn't achieve a 7 point average away from home in the PL

And if they cannot double up they may retire... Of course they will.... How did the sport continue for probably 90 years of its 100 without D/Uing being so prevelant, why didn't riders with "only" one team to ride for, retire for the first 90 years of the sport? It is quoted that one "big" league couldn't happen as there simply isn't enough riders, yet, there is also a stated desire to bring back those tracks that have been lost over the past decade, and also to open up new ones... Hello!!! I think I have spotted a flaw in the cunning plan!!!....

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

I don't think most people would of heard of whoever the 5 point rider was, if you dig through the results he had last year in the Danish Semi-finals and U21 final, he seems a rather exciting signing for me. It's been 3/3 success in terms of the three 5 point assessed riders we've signed exceeding their 5 point average so far. He's been in much better company than the overall level in the Championship so I'm sure he will be very competitive and learn a lot

OUCH would be creaming his pants at the chance to spout his drivel about the virtuous benevolence of Belle Vue if this were to happen

Only 15 minutes in and he’s comparing speedway to potentially doing something similar to Wrexham football club. The amount of delusion is absurd, I have no faith in anyone currently in position to get the sport out of the mess it finds itself in

Things are now that desperate that Vatcher is ringing recently ‘retired’ riders ( one’s that have simply given up through lack of opportunities and rising costs ) to see if they would make a comeback ! When will they realise that they need to start at the basics by having open days with free ‘ Try it ‘ experiences to try and entice kids to come and have a go. The pool of riders is fast running out so where is the future plan ?

Loads of merits here, extra track time for the riders, extra value for money for spectators (or chance to nip to the loo etc if they don't want to watch) cost reductions for entry riders, reduced travel the list goes on..... Negatives and probably the biggest is the risk of delay/abandonment to the main meeting due to an accident in the match races. Also the standard of rider tracked needs to be looked at, there was a point when riders found their own level and progressed up accordingly but in more recent years there have been some development league riders who are incredibly wobbly and a risk to themselves and others. An "easy" fix would be an assessment of rider standard at a track post meeting. Can the rider circulate within x time of the main meeting, can they slide the bike, do they look in control? If not then its back to practice days until they can meet the level. Setting the bar lower continually for the benefit of inclusion isn't doing the sport any good.

I notice you're always quick to jump in when someone criticises BSN Ian - you're welcome to your opinion however! I'll say this though - your reply states that the free stream was a lesser quality because it was free? Not exactly a great idea from a business perspective is it?

I totally agree. It is just the apathy by those who promote/run meetings who pay scant regard for the up and coming riders. I really have never fathomed out why they ignore the novices who have invested in machinery and equipment only to be told to get lost because it does not suit those who run meetings. Over the years I have seen far too many riders turn up for a second half outing only to be told they cannot race and that is a disgrace. Why anyone would want to continue attend meetings when those in charge treat supporters and these novices with such contempt.

Does anyone know what effort or incentives were offered to Mildenhall, Kent and Isle of Wight to rejoin mainstream speedway?

And that’s mainly due to averages.Just the usual same as.No forward thinking.