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Not required for speedway at Poole either I understand.😁

Rumours that the first signing might not be 'over the line' yet are thought to be wide of the mark...😜

Quite simply. You cannot create an 8 team PL if (a) no CL Club is prepared to be used as cannon fodder to enable Coleman / Lemon and Morris to create an 8 team PL just to get a few morcels of TV money and (b) it's the height of utter hypocrisy to try to parachute a returning Club, which is the case of Eastbourne (but could be many other examples like Birmingham Brummies!) has relied totally on the financial support of the Dugard family Business for over 80% of existence to bale it out year on year and destroyed within 3-4 years a handful of other outside investors who over many decades in the past have pumped endless sums of money in with good but utterly misguided intent to try to make it pay for a wonderfully loyal group of 600-800 regulars! By following (a) or (b) you are in fact diluting the very product that Coleman / Morris / Lemon are desperately trying to "big up" as a TV product and if that isn't ego driven, I don't know what is. In fact if you are a TV executive looking for an exciting meaningful nationally based product that is competitive and happy to be highlights only with occasional LIVE TV , then the Championship would actually be far more appealing and credible. A newcomer watching on TV would be far more interested in close competitive action staffed mostly by UK riders and not names they can't pronounce nor have heard of from various parts of the globe. The PL is what it is, a 6 team Division trying to live way beyond it's means and desperate to destroy the better product which is the CL.

Tate Zischke it is! I’m delighted with that signing!

All a bit unsavoury this. The kid is 17 years old, cut him some slack.

His average is still attractive but he’s such an infuriating rider. Never dominates when he should. Still not forgiven him for his showboating and losing the heat. Fanny

Officials at Foxhall over the weekend apparently surveying the track. Measurements, markings etc. Looking forward to see how this progresses over the winter. Bob Ellis has been track curator for as long as I can remember. I hope he’s not going to just slip away without any acknowledgment from the club. There was a tiny comment at the end of one of the last match reports from Hurry about Bob’s last meeting, but he deserves a proper send off through the official channels for the decades of service he’s given and for very little reward. The likes of Kevin Long got one as did others, Bob should get the same.

A lot of red faces with all the Zischke definitely going to Glasgow know it all's.

It’s perplexing it’s so cloak and dagger and yet another missed opportunity in the long list. Look at football for example transfer silly season gets its own special segments for rumours and team building. You go down the pub and you talk about transfer rumours with your mates and it keeps the sport alive in the off season. Same with any big successful sport. Speedway is no different. Look at the metrics on the forum for example. The most popular and active threads are always the team building ones. The most traffic is generally the off season for us die hard looking for rumours on rider signings. Speedway is in a unique position where is essentially a new team from scratch every year. However, instead of building on the mystery and intrigue to generate fan discussion they treat us with the usual contempt. Can’t even give us a concrete answer on a points limit for fans to put together their preferred sides and properly discuss outside the the ITK snippets we get. its baffling.

Yeah really poor finished on a 8.15 average, happy for him to have a another poor season.

Josh Grajczonek???? Game over with that on a triple word ..😁

Win lose or draw its the racing for me !

Maybe he'd heard that the fuel testers were there 🤷‍♂️

Will Cairns 6.44 is the first pirate of 2027

Higher ups are playing a dangerous game here. Most of these young lads will have their confidence shattered to pieces in a blink of an eye to a point where they may contemplate taking a break from the sport. Haven't thought this one through at all.

Got to say probably like the majority of people I’m very shocked at Tate going to Scunthorpe of all places ?! As far as track and set up it’s like shopping at M&S then going to Heron foods! I wish him well he’s been great to watch and is a fantastic talent hopefully we will see him back home at Workington one day.

Here’s the team with the averages they achieved in 2026, both including and excluding bonus points. 2026 averages including bonus points: R. Lawson 9.14 C. Rushen 6.27 L. Harrison 6.97 M. McDiarmid 6.26 W. Cairns 7.57 E. Kennett 5.16 S. Lightcap 5.83 2026 averages excluding bonus points: R. Lawson 8.10 C. Rushen 5.14 L. Harrison 6.46 M. McDiarmid 5.79 W. Cairns 6.94 E. Kennett 4.74 S. Lightcap 4.83 The difference between the two is interesting: Rushen: 5.14 → 6.27 = +1.13 Lawson: 8.10 → 9.14 = +1.04 Lightcap: 4.83 → 5.83 = +1.00 Cairns: 6.94 → 7.57 = +0.63 Harrison: 6.46 → 6.97 = +0.51 McDiarmid: 5.79 → 6.26 = +0.47 Kennett: 4.74 → 5.16 = +0.42 That already shows how much more some of these riders contribute to the team than their official averages suggest. Then you’ve got the potential for improvement next season. Cairns, Harrison, McDiarmid, Rushen and Lightcap are all young riders who should still have plenty of natural progression in them, so you’d expect several of those averages to rise simply through another year of experience and development. Lawson himself described 2026 as “CHAOS” and an “eye-opening” year, so after a more settled winter and season I’d expect there to be every chance of him getting back to his best. Then there’s Kennett. If he stays fit and is on good machinery, he is more than capable of putting a couple of points on his average. It wasn’t that long ago that he was operating as a genuine No.1 level Championship rider, so starting him at reserve on that sort of figure could be a real trump card. And if Kennett does increase his average quickly, that doesn’t necessarily weaken the reserves. One of Rushen, Harrison or McDiarmid could then move down, meaning a strong reserve pairing throughout the season. That’s what I like most about the side. Other than Lawson, and perhaps Cairns, I could see the rest of them ending up relatively close together average-wise. There isn’t really an obvious weak link, and there’s plenty of scope for improvement right through the team.

You're comparing someone who dabbles in recreational drugs with a violent criminal who robs vulnerable people at knifepoint? I'm not condoning or encouraging drug use at all btw particularly if it involves riding under the influence and endangering others however comparing Complin's offences with those of Garrity is wild.

Cooper Rushen is pirate number 2. 5.01

I didn't realise what Danny Ford said is gospel. Who knew... Also, I believe that's exactly what they are trying to do with the Premiership. Why else would they be trying to get more teams?

I think it needs a bit of both. The gap between the NDL & Champ also needs reducing, and I believe many people want to see far less doubling up/down. The big guns in the Championship ideally need to choose which UK league they want to race in rather than getting the best of both worlds.

His average was actually 8.59 - based on just his 2026 meetings. So yes, terrible. 10th highest in the league and down just 0.01 on his 2025 average.

I couldn't disagree more about what a newcomer would want to watch. We need to be targeting the youth into speedway for it to have a future. And a lot of those kids will already be into football. Apart from the English/Scottish team they support, what other football shirts do you think are sold the most in the UK for kids? Those with Ronaldo/Messi/Yamal on the back. They love a foreign player that seems 'exotic' just as I did in the 80's with Maradona/Laudrup etc. They want to see and support the best out there, whether that be a player or a rider. When the GP's started to be broadcast by Sky in the 90's, it was the foreign riders just as much as the Brits that made me fall in love with the sport. And I cannot get my head around why you think the Premiership is desperate to destroy the Championship. Without the second division, speedway would collapse in this country. The only thing they want to do is create a clearer gap between the divisions to better the sport in this country. It's not about destroying it. It's about adjusting the product, consolidating, improving and then from there it will change organically.

Will is a great young rider, yes he’s a character but that’s a good thing? Speedway needs more characters as it’s bums on seats. I’m not saying he’s playing the villain part like Niki Pedersen did but even if he did? We should be building up and supporting Will Cooper Jody and even Luke. As them 4 are probably leading the charge as the future of British Speedway.

He grew another helmet size this year towards the end, do him good to move on for experience

I attended the Manchester Storm v Cardiff Devils ice hockey match at the AO Arena in Manchester city centre on Sunday (1 November 2026) – and so did the majority of the Belle Vue Aces!! When I arrived at my seat, the big screen above the ice rink displayed ‘Today’s Game Sponsor’ with the Aces logo below it. Not having seen or heard anything about this happening, I was quite surprised. Before an ice hockey match, the two team captains and, usually, representatives of the game sponsors take part in a ceremonial puck drop. So, after both teams entered the rink, came the announcement:- ‘Today’s Game Sponsor is the Belle Vue Aces Speedway Team, the 2026 Premiership Champions. Please welcome out onto the ice Brady Kurtz and Norick Blodorn.’ My seat was on the back row of the lower tier with one of the hospitality boxes directly behind it. When there was a break in play after a few minutes, I thought I heard the familiar dulcet tones of Norick Blodorn behind me, and so I turned to look over and there indeed was Norick and Brady Kurtz – with Brady sporting a Storm replica away shirt. Then I could see Mark Lemon; Zach Cook; Tate Zischke and William Cairns were there also – along with a couple of faces I did not recognise. I wonder if one might have been ‘Chase The Ace’ in civvies?? I managed to exchange a few words with Brady & Norick during the break at the end of the first period, and the chap near me asked ‘Do you know those guys?’ I replied, ’They're members of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team, tonight’s sponsor’. ‘I’m not sure I know what that is’ he said, ‘Are they actually based in Manchester?’ I wasn’t sure then whether to laugh or cry!! LOL!! Anyhow, the drinks must have been flowing freely, as the cheering from the Aces box got louder and louder as the match progressed. Norick seemed to be acting as cheer leader as they were all joining in with the 'Let's go Storm, let's go' chants. Finally, at the end of the match, the man-of-the-match presentations (one player from each team) were done by Mark Lemon and Zach Cook. Maybe it wasn't the best time in the Ice Hockey season for this to have happened? The season goes on until May/June, so had the Aces done a sponsorship in e.g. late March, it would have been just about the perfect time to have incorporated some Aces ticket marketing to get some newbies (like that chap near me) to go along to the NSS and witness some speedway?

Disagree with your assessment, Lawson did not gift many if any points to Will, he won races on his own merit, nothing gifted, Lawson had trouble keeping up!

Mario was injured...

Sat 31 October I took paid a visit to the Lymm Heritage Centre to see the Peter Collins exhibition. Lymm is a small but really nice village in Cheshire, just about 3 miles from M6 junction 20 and on the A56. The Exhibition Centre is virtually next to the Bridgewater Canal that runs through the centre of the village, makes a pretty picture with it's lived in narrow boats. Parking is good, couple of car parks within 50 yards of the Exhibition Centre, free for up to 1 hour, £1.70 for up to 2 hours, pay cash (coins) at machine, no change given. Half a dozen or so nice cafes in the village centre, together with a very old stone monument and stocks. In the village is what's called the "small dam" the "large dam is up stream by the side of the A56 with it's own parking area and country walk along either side of the dam...nice for dog walking. Saturdays the exhibition opens at 12noon till 4:30pm and I understand it's been extended through Nov and part of Dec due to popularity. If you thinking of going please check it out by googling Lymm Exhibition Centre (whatever works for you). I got there just before 12:30 and although people were in it was fairly quite and because of that I must of managed about 25 minutes chatting with Peter. It's not a large exhibition, it's not a large building. Couple of Peters bike, a trophy cabinet with about 20 of his collection of over 400, and some snippets and photographs from his growing up days on his dad's farm along with Chris and Dave Morton and other lads on Partington, some went on to be speedway riders. I definitely recommend a trip to Lymm Heritage Centre but do check beforehand that it and the display will be open and Peter will be in attendance on that day. Lymm itself, with the Bridgewater canal, Lymm Dam, the historic Lymm Cross and stocks, the cafes etc well worth a visit.

Raises an interesting point about the ACU license thing - what happens if a rider simply can't get a team place? What if their average doesn't fit, their demands too high, or maybe they are just not good enough? Is there a definition of the difference between a rider who's willing to ride here but can't, and a rider who just doesn't want to ride here?

Not quite Robert Lambert stuff is it 🤣 But welcome news all the same! Important that all clubs retain/gain financial backing through sponsorship. Hopefully Sheffield will be next and they’ll have a new title sponsor for 2027. The sooner the better as that can affect team plans.

It was announced last night that Watling JCB are continuing their sponsorship for another 2 years. That maybe the news?

Yet. He may well be next season if his progression continues. To average what he did in his very first season at the age of 16/17 was some achievement. So much more to come.

Be strange for stock car promoter to trail big announcement and for it to be about speedway. Surely the announcement has to be about reopening Arlington and details of first stock car meeting.

Which Poole fans didn't want him back

Duty-free loans for items such as foam- or air-fences are available from within the speedway community. It it to Plymouth's credit that they want to raise the funding themselves themselves without going into debt, but if the alternative was to close down ..........

IF Bewley joins then IMO that’s a good move for him at this point in his career. If he has GP aspirations and wants to follow in the footsteps of Lambert then he’s going to need another string to his bow. We know Bewley is fast, when it comes to pinning the throttle and riding the boards on big fast tracks then he’s up there with the best of them. What he lacks, is a little bit of track craft on the more technical tracks and the problem he has, is there’s now more of those creeping in to the GP calendar. Warsaw isn’t a great track for him, obviously Foxhall is now on the calendar, a track he’s never got to grips with, Gilman is a technical track, can throw Vojens in there too probably. Is he going to learn much more by staying at the NSS? A season or two at Foxhall would IMO do him the world of good and help him on the GP stage. All immaterial at the moment as nothing is confirmed. Deals fall through all the time so nothing is certain until the ink is dry on a contract.

Shows the flaw in the U21 rule. Joe T after a good season, having to start in the top 5, could mean not getting a team spot. I can see that happening a lot, some weaker U21s getting a chance too early, but stronger riders getting left on the scrapheap at 22!

He can ride in Poland when we are at those tracks 😂

By all accounts the riders who were in the Premiership this year look to be the exact same riders in the league next year so I’m struggling to see how it’s an improvement at all

Well , well, Tate goes to Scunthorpe ............ will the person who said he was going North of the border please stand up. A Mr B Lobby.

No mods? Let's see ..... Phuckem!

Yeah, exactly. People have piled on since he said on camera that he doesn't care what other fans think, just what Poole fans think. Also what is the problem with doing a lap of honour running around. The young fans loved it. Sure he regretted it half way round when getting tired.

Discussion between Belle Vue investor and a would be investor looking to open up a new track. I see you got rid of another of your top riders, bit harsh. We had to. Eh? Their average was over eight and we are only allowed one. Why the hell are you signing two riders with eight plus averages. One was 7.50 and the other was 3 when we signed them. Right, so you have been a part of their development. Yes. Can’t you just have a good rider off another team to replace them? No. Why? Because they don’t have any. We would need to sign a lesser rider and help with their development. Sounds good. But we would have to give them up once they reached a higher level. Not good. Don’t other tracks bring riders on in the same way. No, so we have to send them ours. Isn’t there some kind of advantage or protection for bringing on your own riders from junior level, as I know it costs you a fair amount. No, when they reach a certain level other clubs tempt them with better terms. Why don’t you outbid them? We spent the money on running a junior team. Haven’t they done the same? No, so they can use the money they saved then entice someone who has come through our junior ranks. Investor promptly exits stage left. Only in speedway.

the championship should be the league that gets weakened. Year on year the championship gets closer to the premiership but further away from the national league.

Tbf he isn't an adult yet. Got another 8 months or so! But i remember everyone used to moan about Darcy being immature when he was at Poole. Everyone grows up eventually.

According to the speedway messiah that is Richard Coleman, the team building limit has been set at 40.0 (assume for top 6). Could that mean a team like this could potentially be seen at Lynn? 1. Max Fricke - 8.24 2. Tom Brennan - 5.76 3. Luke Becker - 6.88 4. Jan Kvech - 6.70 5. Robert Lambert - 7.80 6. Cooper Rushen - 4.61 (U21) 7. Jody Scott - (U21 RS) Total - 39.99

Is he goldilocks? This track is too small, this track is too big.. 😉🤭 Scunny? He only got 6. Order of preference: Ben Zach Rich Although Ben is about as realistic as Chris Holder. I don't really expect it. Problem with Rich is he doesn't want to be captain (or that is the general concenus), so if majority of team are young riders then that becomes an issue.