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Not me, he's is a Great Britain Speedway living legend. He's done nothing to deserve the hate at all. I'd argue with anyone, that without him, we may never have seen the likes of Lambert & Bewley competing near the top on the World stage. He singlehandedly demanded & lifted the standards of our international setup. We were an international laughing stock before this guy came along. He's a little hyper, swears a bit, has a little arrogance, grew up in Australia. Who gives a feck. Wearing that Union Jack, he's given everything, almost killing himself a few times doing so. Like you, I do not get the hate at all.

What I do not really understand from a financial aspect is that very few if any riders are a major draw for fans who know the sport let alone potential new supporters so why pander to the riders demands paying over the odds for nil return? Build teams that are viable and some riders will climb the professional ladder and perhaps make it to GP level but if the tracks that do exist put out teams who can provide exciting racing each week at whatever level and it is affordable and competitive then that is where UK speedway is. Let’s face this country cannot get decent crowds to turn out for a GP and the halcyon days of big names attracting 50k to 60k are never going to happen. If riders cannot make a living riding for one club then the cost of participating is too expensive and needs looking at. Expecting increasing numbers of supporters and sponsors to pay someone the equivalent of an annual salary for six months work is nonsense. The whole business model is barmy and has been for years. Fools and their money are soon parted and that applies across the entire speedway spectrum.

Northampton Cobbledtogethers have announced their exciting new team to take on the 2026 Premiership. Spearheaded by the new Norwegian sensation, Redd Herring, the Cosmopolitan line-up will also include; Nevva Urdavim Legg Traylor Lass Tagane Myles B. Hind Novvi Swobbla Ove Andout

Speedway deserves better than this, it’s a shambles and nobody can defend anyone involved

Those that are managing/controlling this Ipswich campaign are running the risk of losing the good will of not just the Ipswich fan base but that of the entire Premiership where those declared clubs are seemingly being held to ransom over the indecisiveness or one or more parties when it comes to the fixture list etc. The dwindling fan base who like to plan ahead to support their team at away matches are ignored to the point where that particular contribution that fans make in terms of travelling support falls on deaf ears of those in charge. Promoters are happy to take the punters money but pay scant regard to realising the importance of keeping supporters on side and the mushroom syndrome is the mantra that suits the promoters business model. Many more will find other things to do on race nights and pick and choose those meetings they want to attend yet those running the sport seemingly have their respective heads buried in the sand so much so that you feel they could not find themselves a way out of a paper bag let alone solve the issues of. the self inflected mire the sport finds itself in and actually go out of there way to ignore the contribution the die hard supporters offer this great sporting spectacular. Speedway could be so good if promoted as something special and run by those who had a vision to expose it to broader audience, but the insular way in which it is runs means this will not happen in the short to medium term. Get rid of the old guard and things might change, but leave it as is and it will pass into history.

I do get frustrated by the rhetoric continually posted on here. There’s a fallacy that things were different in speedways heyday and the problems blighting our sport are of the modern era. The other week I posted about the excessive use of guests on one Saturday night in ‘74 and the fact that most teams did NOT ride at the weekend, yet people will still point the finger as these being the failings of modern speedway Taking the now famous ‘73 KO Cup final as an example. Belle Vue used a guest and Reading ran R/R. The 2nd leg wasn’t run until the last week of the season, some 3 weeks after the 1st leg as due to the late running it was hit by the bad weather. Sounds familiar? Jim Mcmillian had been knocked out in an earlier round but enjoyed his “winners” medal as a guest for the Aces. We had been running a guest since June. The rules stated in the event of a draw it had to be re run but this was jettisoned in favour of a run off. All this was carried out on a cold Wednesday late October night. All those people who attended that night and in ‘74, ‘75, ‘76, 77 etc did not suddenly experience amnesia, they DECIDE not to attend. During its heyday we had ALL the ills currently affecting the sport, the big difference is that of the customers - they have changed massively and we need to find the holy grail to attract them back. The league is as meaningful as ever. The guests & R/R as prevalent as ever. The UK FIM golds are pretty much as regular as in our heyday. Our “gaters paradise” tracks are still here as they were back then, etc, etc. If we keep kidding ourselves that the sports ills are new then we will waste an awful lot of time and energy trying to fix the bits that are not the reason for our downfall. Speedway is primarily populated by old blokes who think the old days were better, but the reality is that’s not the case and it is to our peril that we get bogged down by this dogma instead of looking to the future and how we engage with modern customers in the modern era.

I don’t hate him, I don’t like him but I respect what he has achieved and as much as I dislike him he would be the first name on the list if I was putting on a big individual meeting because he is a headline generator and gets people talking and is vastly underused by British speedway as a marketing tool, the less said about his music the better though

Absolutely correct. Those in charge are deluded and while one league could work using a broader scale of riders (excluding GP riders and those plying the trade in Poland etc..) the sport in the UK is beyond redemption. If UK speedway continues to believe that it has a role to play on the world stage it is kidding no one but itself. Individual riders may make it to the top but the run of the mill league speedway rider in the UK may produce the odd one or two who can crack the mould and reach the top but most are average but still very capable of entertaining the punters who will then feel that they are getting value for money from an entertainment perspective. 2027 needs planning now but whether those in charge acknowledge this is another issue. Statements to date from the BSPL leave the door open but who can trust them as custodians of the sport?

Top5 I reckon.

I just don’t know where they expect the fans to come from, a few from Peterborough and maybe a few from Coventry and there will be some novelty fans at the first meeting so unless they are bankrolling it somehow this has Skegness written all over it and the sport was a lot healthier then

Maybe your team should run an NDL team

I think we can all agree .. This is the best, most comprehensive, and detailed update so far....

So you're happy to believe that Stewart Dickson is a liar while at the same time believe in your own mind that Mayfield Sport are going to be huge for British Speedway, with absolutely zero experience and no track record... how very strange

It’s no cop out at all. Had we not of brought Simon in to this team it was highly likely there would not have been a young stars team in 2026. Simon will be a fantastic rider coach. Even Jake Mulford will learn more from Simon. I like to have a rider coach in my teams whenever it’s been possible. In 2007 at Redcar I had Mark ‘buzz’ Burrows and in 2015 at Buxton I had Tony Atkin. 2 great captains and rider coaches. Every team should have one at this level, for the younger ones to learn from.

I think it's really been the best worst close season ever, even better than the Coventry/Peterborough fiasco, this close season started pretty early and has been the gift that has just kept on giving, it's kept me fully engaged with the forum throughout as I normally dip out during the close season, part of me will be sad to see it all finally resolved 😁

I'm sure I am not the only one who is thinking this but it looks like we have acquired a spammer on the forum. It is becoming very obvious that this individual comments practically every day on almost every subject in order to make sure they are seen. I'm not naming the poster but I'm sure you will all know who it it. There's nothing wrong in putting forward an opinion but the forum should not be a place for spamming. The moderators know who it is and should be taking action. Hey I'm just wondering what the odds will be of them being the first to comment on this thread.

I have said it for years the national league should go their own way with the blessing of the bspl, ultimately the higher leagues don’t and never have cared for the NL unless there is some sort of financial gain for them, they get jealous of any NL club that has any financial success and set out to penalise that club, the fake outrage when a Nora league was mooted was speedway in a nutshell, our way or no way, the likes of Barry bishop understand the bspl mentality, don’t expect any help because they don’t care

You've literally mentioned every single rider currently riding Speedway at one point or another 😂

imagine the scenes if the volunteers turn up tonight to be greeted by Buster handing out track rakes.

Eni Aluko being announced as the new Team Manager would sum this entire winter up.

I think the reality is most have other businesses that make money that they can offset the speedway losses against the other business profits , its still not ideal as it doesn't eliminate the loss merely reduces it from a tax perspective. I think 99% of us on here would agree from the current bunch of promoters other than Louis and the Fords probably nobody else makes money out of the sport. The promoters take plenty of stick and a lot of time rightly so but equally they are subsidising the sport we all desperately want to succeed like it did in the 70's and early 80's sadly I'm coming round to the idea there is no saving it the sport is just a bygone of another age like nightclubs where the young of today just have no interest in either of them.

Personally don't think there are any minor Fim events they are all major in each individual age category.

I think we can almost guarantee it... In the Speedway Star, Matt Ford mentions how those previous generation of promoters basically left a very poor legacy, and when the going was good, they didn't invest money back into the sport, and today's promoters get all the blame and stick from fans for the current malaise... Ford is someone I do have a lot of respect for but the previous promoters haven't watched over the last ten to fifteen years or so worth of unchecked decline have they? They didn't make "DU'ing" so fundamentally important, nor run Guestfests after Guestfests, nor indeed just pick and choose what league to race in whenever the moment came along to suit themelves.. And. Instead of "going it alone" when the GP's and Poland took over, they instead pandered to others and let their own operating model become defined by these outside influences... The result? Team Speedway in the UK simply isn't an authentic product to sell, which then hugely impacts its relevance, and therefore fan engagement. . This winter's goings on is just a "new way" of making the sport look the way it does, no doubt there will be other ways to keep the same reputation in the future...

Two Wheels Unite: OBM Motorcycles Power Plymouth Gladiators’ 2026 Campaign Plymouth Gladiators Speedway are delighted to confirm that OBM Motorcycles have been secured as the club’s main sponsor for the 2026 season, marking an exciting new chapter for the club. Earlier this year, OBM Motorcycles were impacted by a highly publicised incident in which valuable vintage speedway motorcycles were stolen while in transit to a prestigious classic motorcycle auction in Las Vegas. The incident attracted widespread attention across the global speedway and classic motorcycle community. In the aftermath, the British speedway fraternity rallied together in remarkable fashion, highlighting the strength and unity of the sport. Despite the setback, OBM Motorcycles reaffirmed their commitment to speedway by stepping forward to become principal sponsors of the Plymouth Gladiators, underlining both their resilience and their long-term belief in the sport’s future. An OBM Motorcycles spokesperson said: “OBM Motorcycles is delighted to confirm its partnership with the Gladiators as principal sponsor for the 2026 season. This agreement represents a strategic collaboration with a club that has demonstrated resilience, ambition, and a clear long-term vision. The Gladiators’ commitment to providing a family-orientated, welcoming, and child-friendly environment strongly aligns with OBM’s values and community focus. Their ‘Fuel the Future’ initiative also reflects our shared commitment to innovation and the long-term development of British speedway. We look forward to working closely with the club as it enters an exciting new era and to supporting its continued growth both on and off the track.” OBM’s backing aligns perfectly with the club’s forward-thinking vision and the Fuel the Future mission, which has become a defining theme in the ongoing evolution of the Plymouth Gladiators. The partnership brings together an internationally active motorcycle brand and a club with renewed momentum both on and off the track. With new additions to the team and a competitive side assembled for the 2026 campaign, the Gladiators are firmly focused on building a bright and successful future. Promoter and Director Mark Philips welcomed the announcement: “Securing OBM Motorcycles as our main sponsor for 2026 is a huge step forward for the club. OBM operate on an international stage, and their decision to partner with Plymouth speaks volumes about the belief they have in our direction, our people, and our ‘Fuel the Future’ mission. It immediately raises the profile of the club and gives us tremendous confidence going into the new season.” As part of the new partnership, the club will officially compete under a new name for the 2026 season: Plymouth OBM Gladiators Speedway Further announcements regarding the 2026 campaign will be made in due course. Old Boys Motorcycles UK

Well hopefully someone who is attending can find out what the hell is going on and then let us know!

see even our jokes go back to 70s and 80s. we are all stuck in the mud. 🤣

Speedway was on prime time TV... England won lots of world titles... And, in Peter Collins they had a "Golden Boy' who was as recognised as much as Div One footballers.. Domestic Speedway lived off the back of what the World of Sport served up many Saturdays during the summer months... Domestic Speedway wasn't as quite as "Mickey Mouse" then, as it is now, (196 Guests last year in fhe top two leagues), but still had plenty of "nonsense" going on.. The huge difference being that you only found out when you were at the track that Larry Ross was guesting for PC who had a Long Track meeting in Germany the next day, whereas today you know the meeting in two days will be a "Guestfest" and the main crowd puller will be absent.. Add in the much greater percentage impact to disposable income that attending Speedway has nowadays due to "modern living" and there is no doubt what back then worked, doesn't now.. How is it fixed?.. Not a clue, but, one million percent, doing the same thing ad infinitum, like they do, definitely won't improve their lot...

Or they could be sponsored by Linda Lusardi: Northampton Knockers

Simon Lambert hasn’t stopped these riders from riding. I contacted Mark Parker back on January 18th and he told me he doesn’t want to ride in 2026. I already have my 2 reserves in Kenzie COSSEY and Ollie BINNS, who are both making their first full season debuts in the NDL and BOTH are British riders and always lived in the UK. You’ll have to ask the northern based clubs why they haven’t given team places to Liam Greens, Laylen Richardson, Owen Booth and Billy Budd. Maybe Greens didn’t want a team spot? I know he’s always busy helping the Pijper brothers these days. With respect to Booth and Richardson, they are not yet ready for NDL racing. That’s not saying they never will be, but they need to be winning races regularly in the NJL and Amateur meetings first, before clubs will look at giving them a start in a declared 1-7. Both great lads to deal with, but clubs look at things like this before they offer a regular team spot to riders coming through. Both are still young and have time yet to be knocking on the door for a regular team spot. Billy Budd impressed me last season when I seen him race a couple of times for the Colts at the back end of the season. Unfortunately I wasn’t in a position to offer him a team spot in the end.

My lad gets paid for playing football on Saturdays and on Sundays... Semi pro level on the Saturday and normal Sunday League stuff the next day... The bloke who owns the Semi Pro team runs a Sunday team and pays a few of the lads to play.. There are a couple of other teams on the Sunday who also pay players, with the three teams easily better than the rest... UK Speedway, for me, has a similar vibe to it... Many benefactors who are quite happy running it as a hobby they can afford, and, with no real kudos, publicity, or financial rewards for winning, meaning, its more of an enjoyable labour of love, rather than a bona fide sporting occasion that they present... And, given the lack of authenticity as a team sport that Speedway in the UK has, you can see why many are quite happy to never change things...

But he does have the Polish ride. Seems a bit woe is me I must say. He's been one of many prime benefactors of the doubling up free for all of the last 15 odd years.

Mid Feb, no concrete confirmation on how many clubs competing in the top tier and no idea (officially) who is behind the Ipswich take over. No signings either. Its mental . People wonder why the sport is not taken seriously. As I read elsewhere, this has been the worst close season I have ever known of. Absolute mess. The posts I have read on Scunny signing a team over the limit just about sums the state of the sport up.

And the “unsinkable” Premiership decided they didn’t need their own …

The championship teams (In this case the steerage passengers) are rowing away in the lifeboats, whilst the Premiership teams ( luxury passengers) are quaffing cigers and brandy convinced the ship won't sink!

As it stands and with the rumoured team, I’d Fuc***g take him in a heartbeat! 😁

As pointless as a broken pencil making any kind of prediction at this stage

so if sale doesn't go thru its a 4 team premiership. sale will go thru ,but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru, but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru but it hasn't yet. 🤣

Yet again stringing supporters along, utter contempt for the customers

Because they’re not yet owners of a Speedway club are they? They’ll announce themselves, when they are! What on earth are people struggling with here?

You can't really have a behind closed doors signing-on night - they need members of the public to volunteer so, in theory, anyone could have gone if they wanted to. i'm completely fed up. There's more to life than wondering even if there will still be speedway, let alone who will be riding. No attempt at a publicity splash or big reveals will make the slightest bit of difference now.

It should, but you're forgetting... this is Speedway 😂

This is why I’ve been saying for months that if you’re going to persist with a top league, then it doesn’t suit a league with the amount of clubs that people are asking for because there just aren’t enough riders of sufficient quality to make them all competitive. The riders name dropped on the 360 podcast for Northampton sound like an absolute car crash of a team. Even with the likes of Doyle, Emil, Becker and Rew in the league last year and more options than this year, there was still only five teams putting together a competitive team in a seven team league. The two at the bottom were there just to make up the numbers and were with all due respect, cannon fodder. How is that going to be any different in 2027 if the aim is to have a top league of seven, or eight teams? Where are those extra clubs heat leaders going to come from?

I think the Northampton Norbolds has quite a catchy ring to it.

that comment was for a few people on here who because we say what we are seeing, they are classing that as hating British speedway , they have lost the plot.

It’s not really hate I don’t think . I think everybody’s opinions come from astonishment, frustration and anger but probably most of all , sadness, at the state our once great and attractive sport has been allowed to decay to this point. Any hate is towards the clowns responsible I reckon. I like your enthusiasm though . Bring on the March ? April? May ? start of the season.

I can 100% assure you that Lynn did not push for a 42 limit. Don’t know where you got that from. Lynn were 1 of 2 clubs who voted against the higher limit. The higher 42 limit nearly had the league down to only 5 clubs. We lost a full team and didn’t have a clue where we were going to get any Heat leaders from, as they’ve either decided not to race NDL in 2026 or they have managed to fit into the other 5 teams because of the higher limit. Believe me, we came very close to not having a team in the NDL in 2026. Simon Lambert and Jake Mulford coming in has made sure we can come back to the tapes for another season at this level.

The trouble is they're rich enough to buy and run a club but not rich enough to really do anything meaningful to improve things. I was listening to the guy from Mildenhall on the 360 podcast this week and he deserves all the credit for doing what he's done there and the same goes for the guy at Worky but when you listen to them speak it's painfully obvious that they have no real ideas on what to do to improve the sport, especially at a national level. Listening to Rob Godfrey also the other week and he said they've got David Howe's daughter helping them out with the socials. Now I know nothing about David Howe's daughter maybe she runs a successful creative agency, brilliant if she does and good luck to her, but if she doesn't then is that really going to achieve the results that the sport desperately needs?

So, Leicester who have openly admitted to (heavy?) losses over the last couple of years, have binned off their draw card and are in for another season with a (heavy?) loss... yet are still propping up a new team, that is bound to make, erm a heavy loss! You just couldn't make this stuff up! What on earth are those trying to make this happen thinking of? 🤷‍♂️ And that's just a Leicester perspective, Sheffield seem to be in a similar boat though they've kept their big hitters. Can't think that it would be any different for the Aces and Stars.

There are now more threads about the fixtures than there are confirmed fixtures

I am unsure why anybody would be optimistic about this project, where does a crowd come from to support it? Any new people to the sport will surely become disinterested once all the normal nonsense kicks in, guests, late rains off & all the other stuff that has been mentioned to death. Until a complete overhaul is looked at, I fail to see how the Sport is turned around.