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Jesus Christ people you are watching speedway on ITV for free and they finally got a deal done and all you miserable buggers do is moan. Better turn your phones / laptops off and just watch the racing because your negativity is embarrassing somewhat. If you want to moan at speedway on ITV for the first time in 41 years go ahead, but don’t you dare moan about it not being on TV the next time around.

I think most people would prefer it if you were hidden and out of sight.

there's some strange posts on this subject, it beggars belief that something so positive receives so many negative posts. Will Saturday nights showing change the face of speedway, of course not....having it on a "normal tv" is real positive as opposed to just a speedway club stream(no offence to club streams!). There are far more positives than negatives to come out of this. Bravo to all concerned in making this happen.

I thought it was a decent evenings entertainment. Clearly not the usual broadcast team from the TNT days, more a budget broadcast team, but that’s down to ITV who were never going to throw tons of money at a one off production. However, I think British Speedway can give itself a pat on the back and consider it a job well done, rider presentations were on point, background promotional material looked fresh, the racing got better as the meeting progressed. The interviews were a bit ‘bumpy’ in places, but I don’t think it detracted from the overall presentation. More importantly there wasn’t any cock up’s!

This is fantastic news. Phil said ticket sales are poor, they need to hand out a load of free tickets and pack the place out then because this is a huge opportunity to sell the product at the best race track in the country. Makes a world of difference with a packed stadium and great atmosphere.

I’ve shared the advert on my facebook urging people to tune in. But why haven’t the promoters of every club not been posing every day running up to the event asking fans to like and share with a CHANCE to go into a draw for free tickets. Lasts years final should have been reposted by all clubs and ask the fans to share and repost again. Costs nothing but another failed opportunity to really push the biggest chance to promote the biggest advert on terrestrial tv. these promoters are not fit for purpose. Couldn’t organise a car boot sale.

That is not solely what this is about and if a few more turn up at the local track that is a bonus. It is the exposure on free to air television first and foremost that the sport will get which has not happened for years and if enough tune in it could open the door to a television contract which the u k sport needs to survive and rebuild for the future. Like many on here you may not like it so don’t watch. If this could lead to top league speedway from Poland being televised on ITV 4 even it is a recording of the match then the exposure of what it can be like could only help UK speedway. Still with all the negative contributions on here, it might as well fail so that all the critics can say we told you so yet those critics do sweet f a to promote the sport.

Well I liked it, enjoyed the racing on a saturday night and most of all it was free to watch. Not the greatest meeting but it kept you entertained and some of the younger riders showed a lot of grit. This is what we need and I hope ITV4 put more events on.

Think a lot of Redcar fans being quite harsh on your team in terms of throwing it away. You have to remember Ashfield generally creates a better home advantage in the second half of the meeting, home advantage race lines become more apparent to the Glasgow team and tried and tested bike set ups used sooner. Think credit to both teams for great night of speedway and a brilliant travelling support both in number and in voice. Another week where speedway was the winner IMHO.

You'll be claiming he only found the will to become World Champion because deep down he knew one day it would secure him an Aces race jacket Without that motivation he would never have made it 😋

Spot on... Strong viewing figures bring sponsorship to the sport... And adverts to the TV company... If the sport is ever to turn around the tanker then it has to start somewhere... Saturday being that first opportunity...

Congratulations to whoever has pulled that off. British Speedway now needs to make it an event that brings the crowds in

They don't need to ban anyone just say we will not use you if you do. He who's paying the most will usually have the final say.

Or how about u were beaten by better riders !

How good is Emma Jones? Very professional, excellent at her job and comes across as a really down to earth nice person too.

Maybe you should leave the room then?

Jody Scott is always great to watch. I enjoyed seeing him tonight and was very pleased to see him win heat one. He was the only away rider to knock a point off Bomber tonight and he did it by passing him twice. With so much attention on Cairns and Rushen, I really don’t think he gets the praise he’s due.

I wouldn't say Belle Vue are too strong at all. But we are suffering from the winter problems caused by the Ipswich/Chris Louis situation and the Northampton late start. Arguably Sheffield were stronger than Belle Vue, and were the favourites for the title pre-season. The difference is that Belle Vue moved quickly to replace the injured Dan Bewley while Sheffield didn't replace Jack Holder and have been running much weaker since his injury. Leicester could still finish top of the league above Belle Vue if they replicate their "A" fixture wins at Ipswich and King's Lynn. King's Lynn are a solid side, with a GP no.1, who pushed Belle Vue all the way at the NSS last week, but don't seem to be getting on with their home track (King's Lynn used to be one of the absolute best, what has gone wrong with preparation these days?) Ipswich were done dirty by Louis, but with the new owners, they won't be this weak next year. Northampton of course were badly hindered by the late start and having to start from scratch. But they have a good set-up, decent crowds, and have had EIGHT matches which they have drawn or lost by less than 6 points. It wouldn't take much to turn them around into wins and they'd be quite successful. So certainly nothing is as black as is being painted here. Let's get a good ITV deal, get back Coventry, Swindon, etc, and build everyone up to the Belle Vue/Sheffield level. Let's not be negative and start weakening.

That isn’t a bad thing either IMO. Ties in with Richard Coleman’s comments that he wants a bigger gap between the Premiership and Championship, and this rule would naturally help that along.

As I commented on Karlitos YouTube video: “This is a GOLDEN opportunity for British Speedway, something which the authorities need to take with both hands. Just don’t mess it up! Many cynics may say ‘oh it’s only in ITV 4’, but in order to make a journey, first you have to take the hardest step which is the first. Good luck to everyone involved.”

British final to be shown on ITV4 on saturday

Since it's such a love in about having the British Final on telly, I must say I thought it was a bit of a bore. 3 hours plus was well dragged out. Lambert was always going to be head and shoulders above everyone else. It was pretty much him against a bunch of Championship standard riders - some of them reserve level. Maybe if the format had been cut down to 10 riders or so (and Lambert brought along for some exhibition rides!!) it might have been better. It was probably not a good event for a live tv relaunch. Maybe should have kept that for a League Riders Championship or something. And there didn't seem be much pushing of the sport, i.e. regular (?!) league speedway across the country etc. And I didn't hear much about the bikes - 500cc / no brakes / no gears on a loose shale surface. But there was a bit of random stuff like - changing setups and changing coils. And there was just no atmosphere at all. So If I was new to the sport (as opposed to someone who started watching decades ago but gave up attending 8 or 9 years ago, even though I have a track about half an hour drive away) I don't think I would be bursting a gut to watch another one or try to find somewhere to watch it live.

This is something Nigel Pearson excelled at. Used to bang the drum for speedway and plug meetings at various tracks at every opportunity he could when he was commentating. Sadly missed.

Emma is ace. Alongside the GPs, she does work for Leeds United and also for one of the horse racing channels. Always bright, bubbly and professional. She does a mega job. I thought all in all it was a good product tonight, tv show wise. I do think a little more could have been done in commentary for anyone new to the sport but most of all… …someone should have said something along the lines of “If you are new to speedway and enjoyed this evening, there are speedway clubs around the county you can visit for the first time. Go on to the British Speedway website to find out your nearest track and head down there to experience it in the flesh.”

And we'll done Ace pijper

It's probably the company they're keeping rather than the speedway itself

No complaints here, speedway on a Saturday night live on TV, Hopefully this is an opportunity that brings forth a new TV era and the powers that get on board and grab what is possibly on offer. It would be so good to see the sport live or recorded in 2027 on ITV 4. Fingers crossed.

Puncture them.....

To be positive for a change - I like the on screen graphics being used. Two minute clock, race time, time gaps, all things you’d think would be obvious to show, but I’ve rarely seen it before.

Rory - On a scale of 1 to 10 how excited are you for tonight Answer 100% 🤣

Speedway fans are weird. So we're at a point now where clubs can't sign rider's because others can't afford it?? Absolutely bonkers mentality. It's up to everyone else to be better, not lowering standards to suit the least well off. Even if the team averages were 25 or 55, in the main, if a club has the most expenditure available, they'll have the best team. It's the way in every single motorsport. It's very very simple, if you want a competitive league, bug all the other promoters to raise their standards

As opposed to Worky who appear to have been doing it all season!🤣

Best track in the world.

I understand and agree but with so few opportunities to get the sport on a main stream terrestrial channel at one of the best tracks in the country is not something that comes along every day. Someone somewhere has been pulling some strings because the current incumbents controlling the sport have failed miserably for years to achieve this so who ever has got the sport to this point is to be applauded. No it won’t solve all the problems and as long as the sport is self governed by those who cannot see beyond the business model which has not worked for years, it will not change overnight. However if this can be used to showcase not just UK speedway but European speedway and yes it might be banging the old drum but put a top flight league meeting from Poland on and you possibly have the makings of a revival of interest. Imagine if one or two clubs were allowed to compete in Polish league racing. Speedway UK needs an injection of good fortune and a kick up the arse. This might just be the start.

Having thought about ITV4 being involved in screening the BF i think a hour long highlights show once a week would be a nice thing to see - that would show racing and meetings etc in a good light and hopefully get a few more interested in attending so that is on my wishlist for 2027!

I'm getting all emulshional due to Glasgow's lack of redecoration.

Don't panic, it's not for Poole

As with most decisions and agreements in speedway its more than likely not worth the paper its written on, what happens if a club is sold and the new owners do not wish to run premiership? What if the present owners have decided that they have lost enough money already and don't fancy another season of it? Remember this is British Speedway and its made up of what ifs and maybe's, nothing can be taken as gospel or a certainty.

Dare I say it... That first lap from Rushen was Kurtz and Bewleyesque.... A proper level of talent ..

Kelvin's maths are not a great advert for a private education are they?..

Hopefully they give you a 30 day session for being a woke wet wipe.

Well done Jason Edwards great ride - I am just trying to enjoy this - what we need is some frantic racing in the later Heats just like the old British finals had! it’s actually nice to be watching speedway on a Saturday night on mainstream UK tv!

100% agree, I can never get my head around clubs ignoring the obvious and not doing things to promote/improve the sport where the costs involved to them is either nothing or practically nothing. It does my head in.

Well Ioswich start time is 7:45 and Leicester is 7:30 so the suspension was still 15 mins short 😉

For anyone on Twitter ITV Sport have posted about showing the final on Saturday evening. They do take notice of posts/shares etc on social media so a few extra positive comments wouldn't go amiss.

Belle Vue are far too strong, it really shouldn’t have been allowed. BUT, I’m happy for their supporters as they endured many seasons of crap at the old stadium, they really deserve to have some time in the sun, they’ve earned it. However, changes to rules are desperately needed for 2027 to make the league a more even playing field and thus a better spectacle.

My take was fine thanks. I've been to Ashfield regularly and while the racing is often better, your summary here is hyperbolic to say the least. I think many of us tire of being patronised about 'good racing' and what tracks should be like. There's a very Glaswegian trait of requiring validation and praise (Celtic fans being the worst) and i think we see a bit of it here from some Tigers fans with regards Ashfield.

If Northampton race next season (no reason why they won't), I think they should be allocated the British Final. Becoming pretty stale at BV and a new venue, next year at least, is required. Promote it big time with a Wednesday or Saturday meeting and I think it could be a big success.

Ha! I was thinking exactly the same thing! BSPL should really have a hot line giving away free tickets. I know it’s a shared event but the income clubs would get from it is minimal. The stadium needs to be packed out. It’s a massive opportunity for our sport.

It's called promoting! Fans more likely to attend when there is opposition riders they like as well as the home riders. For example a lot of Poole fans like King and Nicholls so bigger crowd when Plymouth come, than when Oxford are here.