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I'm finding some of this Cairns criticism OTT and rather odd to be honest. The lad is 16 and it was his first meeting as a fully fledged RS. I hope Rushen won't get this kind of hammering if he makes a slow start.

I’m not about to read every post on this thread, and I apologise if this has been covered and discussed by you on previous posts, but I’ve seen enough to know that the silence coming out of Northampton is staggering. Unless someone who uses this forum that lives or works in Northampton can say any different, there appears to be absolutely zero noise in the local area. We are now in late March—barely five weeks away from the season starting for Northampton — and what have we actually heard? No confirmed team name, no full rider line-up, and next to no presence. How on earth do they propose to build a fan base from a standing start without drumming up any local support? Are they telling the Northampton public that they have a new Speedway team to follow? They will no doubt get a decent crowd level from existing speedway fans around the country at the beginning of the season for the novelty factor, but that won't last if they haven't done the groundwork locally. It feels like the management is just relying on disenfranchised Coventry and Peterborough fans to fill the void because we’re missing our own tracks, and the few Leicester fans that exist to pop along. I’ve personally started three different offices for companies from cold starts, and I can tell you now: this is not how you do it. You don't just open the doors and hope for the best. When you're launching in a new territory, you must be aggressive. You must get out into the local community, pound the pavement, and actually sell what you’re providing. If the person walking down Northampton High Street doesn't even know there's a world class sport (I use the term World Class loosely in the UK) appearing on their doorstep in five weeks' time, the marketing has failed before the first heat. And when those involved directly in the running of the sport and the decisions read things like this, they'll no doubt accuse me of being disruptive and moaning. They’ll claim we don’t understand the "complexities" behind the scenes. But in reality, there are plenty of Speedway fans who actually know how to run successful businesses, how to start a business from nothing, and how to keep it successful. In any other industry, if you launched a product this quietly, you’d be out of business in six months. You must create a "local anchor" — give the people of Northampton a reason to claim the team as theirs. If you don't build that local identity from day one, you aren't a club; you’re just a nomad team at a neutral venue. If they don't start shouting about this soon, they’re going to be racing in front of an empty stadium once that initial novelty wears off. I’d like to be proved wrong and see it be a massive success, and I might be wrong and all of the above is actually happening behind the scenes. But if the actual Speedway world doesn't know anything about it, I highly doubt it is.

There were a number of “Big Guns” as such in the original plans, but Poland arranged sparring matches and as it is their day of the week they pulled rank unfortunately. It was not riders refusing to do it, Paul Ackroyd said this yesterday. They possibly do have insurance but that isn’t the point, for example within minutes of a rider crashing insurance doesn’t arrange to pay for transport or a hotel for his family to be at the hospital, and look after them once there. Or in some cases pay for a flight the next for the family to fly from wherever in the world to be with them. Or even just to have someone on the phone organising things for them when in a split second their lives are turned upside down. And then the immediate weeks and months or helping with bills, until the insurance might come in which could be a while. Nor does the insurance kick in 30 years down the line for an operation to help fix a speedway injury long after the event which wasn’t a problem at the time, but through age you need a hip replacement. Or those who need ongoing care, like Ricky Ashworth or Garry Stead, regardless of whatever else they may get (if anything I don’t know), getting extra support to make life a little better surely is the point.

So, a young British kid (once again), goes from being a future World Champion, to being just another overrated rider... And. All in one meeting!!!!😁 Hyping these kids up does no one any favours, yet plenty seem to do it... "I watched him ride after the match and his times were close to those in the meeting itself"!! Was one particular pearl of wisdom I read about him about 18 months ago.. Riding on your own, without three far more experienced riders nailing you on turns one and two is a bit different from riding on your own, and your times , and finishing positions, in those races will get hit quite severely... Being fast is one thing, being a Speedway rider is another... Let the kid develop at his own pace, like all should be allowed to, as the entry level for UK riders is quite a low bar, therefore one or two can look "amazing" when riding against their peer group at 15/16... If these lads are Championship second strings by the end of 2027 then they are on track to become Premiership second strings, around two years later, (at 20/21 years old).... If they reach that level, then by 23 or so, Premiership HL and International level will be there "glide path"... Not many are Woffinden, Bewley or Robert Lambert level by 21 years of age, so just let these lads develop... And the aim isn't to have future World Champs, the aim is to fill team spaces with UK lads, something the sport desperately needs...

A trick is missed every year. The first two weekends of the season should be a 4TT with Glasgow, Edinburgh, Berwick and Workington. Get big crowds in and some semi competitive racing before the real business starts. East Coast one weekend, Edinburgh Friday & Berwick Saturday then Glasgow and Worky the other.

While I respect the views of the 'good old days' brigade I think we are way past the point where random bikes and kevlars for team mates are acceptable or appropriate for our sport or any other which claims to be professional. British speedway gets plenty of things wrong but the correct team image is vital with social media, live streaming/TV and merchandise sales etc. Can't think of any other team sport where a side looks like waifs and strays and doesn't all wear the same kit.

Following up on my post from yesterday, I think it’s important to clarify one thing: some people seem to confuse concern with criticism. My comments come from a point of genuine worry, not just for the situation at Northampton, but for UK Speedway as a whole. In Northampton's case, I can only assume the deal isn't fully over the line yet. As Karlito mentioned in his video, why wouldn't there be at least some social media activity? It’s free advertising, yet there’s a total vacuum. Speedway has been the backdrop of my life and my brother’s for over 40 years. We’ve had the highs and lows following Coventry, travelling the country together when we were younger. Mum and Dad taking us to Coventry away meetings in the 80’s are great memories. When the Bees weren't riding and we could drive, we’d be at Cradley or Stoke on a Saturday. Dad would take us to Long Eaton and Birmingham Wheels. When I moved to Woking for my first job after Uni, I was at Reading every Monday. Now living in Lincolnshire, I’m at Scunthorpe for every home meeting. This isn't just a hobby; it’s a lifetime commitment. My Dad is 80 this year and has been a regular since he was a boy. Now, he has nowhere to go. The sport hasn't even got a proper TV deal for him to watch — and yes, I know BSN exists, but it doesn't solve the visibility issue. If I were a promoter right now, I’d be turning to the one big asset every club has: its fans. I’d be appealing to the fans in the Speedway Star and the club programmes for help, because some of us might just have some good ideas on how to actually run a business and turn things around. Clubs seem to treat us as the enemy these days rather than engaging with us. I can think of one fan who runs a very successful business: Alex Brady. Yes, he’s been involved before, but I believe someone like that has incredible transferable skills. You only have to look at his company’s social media output to see that they know what they are doing. Both himself and his business partner, Jamie Minors, have gone from strength to strength from a cold start all those years ago. They are young people who know how to engage with a young audience as well. In my view, promoters and speedway managers should stick to building teams and using their contacts within the sport to do that. Yes, the promoter also puts his or her money in. But seek out people who actually know how to drum up paying customers. Not just wait for them to magically appear out of thin air. At Scunthorpe, I think they get a lot right. The price point is spot on, and the programme is a no-frills scorecard that does the job keeping cost down. Their biggest bonus is the track itself, which serves up terrific racing. They deserve bigger crowds. But the social media output and the website are poor. They could put some great races out on their social media as advertising from the EWR. I haven't been into the town centre, but I can’t imagine there is much around telling people the Speedway even exists, or in any out of town shopping areas. There is a big sign at the entrance to the car park....... It shouldn't just stop at Scunthorpe looking for fans, either. Lincoln isn't far away, and I’d be heading straight to Lincoln University and other UNI’s nearby as Lincoln isn’t the only one. I’d be seeking out the Media and Graphic Design courses and offering those students the chance to promote the club. Give them access to the social media channels and let them crack on. When I was at school, we were taught to keep a display book of our best work for interviews; this would give these students real-world results for their portfolios. I notice my own football team, Coventry City, have let Coventry Uni Graphic Design students handle some of their social media content and it looks superb. They also have a "City Unseen" video on YouTube—watch it, it’s brilliant. You could do the same at any Speedway club on a smaller scale. I’ve heard the "wait until May" argument for Northampton, but I try to imagine that logic in my own professional life. If my directors asked for an update on my latest £1.75m project and I told them I was just waiting until May to see what happens without telling anyone about it, I’d be out of a job. It’s not criticism; it’s concern for something that has been part of my life for four decades. If promoters stopped treating the fans like the enemy and tapped into the skill sets, we have, we might actually be able to help this sport thrive again.

Luke Harrison might have struggled a bit. He'd only be five years old.🤩

Kevin certainly doesnt get put off by less than perfect track conditions due to weather. The lad can certainly gate, ride slick or grippy, can ride a tight inside line and when pushed to the outside isnt fazed either. Extremely professional approach , fantastic determination and looks like a great signing for Glasgow after outshining several heat leaders who know Ashfiled like the back of their hand.

They got the name following conversations with local people as the thing they kept hearing when mentioning Northampton speedway was ”wear the fox hat”.

I think "panic-merchant" is a bit of a stretch. As far as I can tell, nobody on here is actually from Northampton, so technically it isn’t "our" club and I suppose, in that retrospect, none of us should care. But we do care, and that is the point. It isn't about panicking; it’s about genuine concern from people who have a lifelong investment in this sport. The Star article might have made perfect sense to some, but for others, it still leaves a lot of silence where there should be activity. If pointing out a total lack of engagement or questioning a "wait and see" approach is considered demanding, then so be it. But most of us aren't looking for excuses to moan, we’re looking for signs of life in a sport we want to see succeed. There is a massive difference between being a "forum merchant" and being a concerned fan who understands how a modern business should actually communicate with its customers.

Batchelor ?. Thoughts with the good people at Northampton Speedway at this difficult time.

It’s a decent side, not title winners but solid. Let’s face it, we would all rather have them in the league than not so I’m glad they have a decent team. A lot of Ipswich fans have already said they will be there for the opening meeting so solid crowds is what a new club requires. More positivity than negativity, a nice stadium, good track and a good time out. Good luck Northampton 👊🏻

Pleased to see Luke Harrison in there, liked what we saw from him last season and exactly the kind of rider that the RS system is about.

I'm not sure I understand all this stressing about the name. People are talking as if Foxes is synonymous with Leicester. If that is the case then why are the Speedway team called the Lions, and the Rugby team called the Tigers ?

Did Bomber not guest for him instead?

This post is a classic case of demanding blind faith in a sport that’s already on its knees. The idea that fans should just "stop knocking them" and wait until May to see what happens is exactly how we ended up in this mess. In any other industry, if a business asked for your money but refused to tell you the name of the company, who the staff are, or what the product looks like until the last minute, you’d walk away.

Doesn't quite rival the unmasking of Kendo Nagasaki !

I don’t particularly follow the sport that closely in this country since I don’t have a team to support anymore but its remarkable how we are at the point we are at with teams closing yet when a new one arrives people still can only find the negatives. They’ve done a fantastic job building that team in the timeframes they have been working to, hopefully it’s a success.

But for this to happen British speedway has got to get it's house in order, clubs to give intention to run etc by the end of August, so these top riders can sign up and know where they are potentially gonna ride at in 2027, before they commit to other leagues

I don't know... A 30 something year old, grey, now far too small to cover a gut, Iron Maiden 1992 Tour T shirt, matched with a pair of dirty blue jeans, (also now too small), allows for a surfeit of "arse crack", when bending over and fixing a chain, which always looks professional on the TV...

Wouldn't be the worst idea for someone at Northampton Speedway to have a word with Karlito and see if he can help with spreading the word... I'm sure that the vast majority of posters on here are fully behind the venture at Northampton and hope it will go on to be a great success... Any perceived negativity is purely down to the fact that they don't seem to be giving themselves the best chance of succeeding... As Karlito says... it doesn't take a lot to get the interest started... and once it starts momentum can build... The total lack of news can only lead to many of us thinking that there are big problems that still need to be resolved and could be putting the whole thing at risk of ever happening...

Speedway Tracks to Replace Air-Filled Safety Fences with Water-Filled Barriers in Groundbreaking Innovation In a revolutionary move set to change the face of speedway racing, the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) has announced that traditional air-filled safety fences will be replaced by state-of-the-art water-filled barriers. This bold initiative aims to combine safety with track maintenance, allowing circuits to water the track without the need for tractor breaks. The “HydroBarrier” system, developed in secret over the past two years, features high-capacity water bladders positioned around the track perimeter. During races, if dust levels rise, automated valves will release a fine mist onto the surface—all without pausing the action! A spokesperson said: "We’ve always looked for ways to improve safety and efficiency. Air fences absorb impacts well, but water disperses energy even better! Plus, riders will get a refreshing splash instead of a hard bounce." Early testing has seen mixed reactions from riders, one said: "I slid out, hit the fence, and suddenly it was like being hit by a tidal wave! My bike floated away, but at least I wasn’t hurt." Despite concerns over soggy race suits and potential track flooding, promoters insist this is the future of speedway. A trial event is scheduled in the next couple of weeks, though sources say backup dryers are already on standby, just in case.

The Poole promotion were quoted as saying, when they signed him, that they knew he would miss some meetings at weekends but would do their best to work around it to minimise it.. Given he already had a Polish contract, Poole are secondary in priority... The Aces ride Monday and Thursday so shouldn't clash... Poole didn't have to sign him, knowing he would 100% miss meetings... No one held a gun to their head..

I do think nowadays riders don’t really go through the hard yards like they use to,the fact is for everyone that really makes it (top 5 in world) there are a couple of hundred that fail, there are some really exceptional talents in speedway who were always going to make it like zmarzlik and bewley and then there are others like gollob and Pedersen who went that extra mile to make it but on the whole 99% just forge a league career which is no bad thing but my original point to this is you have to ride the struggle and get through it because it will come when you’re up against it and nothing goes right and the world is to blame and that experience will help you get through it,speedway is a mind game, the head on your shoulders is as important as the head on your engine, I’ve watched both Rushen and Cairns and indeed bickley, they all have the talent,Rushen seems the most natural on a bike but all 3 seemed from the outside looking in to have had the their career so far on the crest of a wave but the moment you take that to the serious stuff and three others want your peice of track it’s a whole new world and unless you are headstrong it’s a harsh one, good luck to both Cairns and Rushen and hope bickley makes a comeback too

Its not OTT and its not odd at all. Go and read what people said about Boughen then look at the same people slating him as over rated when the wheels come off. I will take my hat off to Cairns if and when he hits form as obviously would like him to be a future star of the sport but after 25 years of following speedway there have been many , many riders hailed as the next Lee or Loram who go on to do not a lot. All this nonsense that riders should be in the top tier needs to stop. Riders should be left to the bottom two tiers to develop not slung into the top flight as rising stars having their confidence dented week in week out.

Well done Glasgow and the riders. An excellent meeting with some great races. Nothing better than watching good riders go at it.

Some god racing tonight , well done to all the riders Glasgow have a real star in pedersen

BBC couldn't forecast tomorrow is Saturday never mind the weather 7 days away

As in a patchwork quilt of different racesuits with race jackets? Would be a massive backward step IMO.

Good for him. He take flak on here but I think he's a great commentator & enjoyable to listen to, better than a monotone nerd/dullard🙂

It would be great, however, Poland would destroy every other league due to the money they pay out... Every "decent" rider would choose to ride over there... And any rider not riding over there, would happily leave their non Polish team and replace those who did... I think a UK/Scandinavian League could work though, particularly if/when Poland force in the one extra league rule... A more similar renumeration package across the three leagues and this would bring variety... Use the Danish model, (five rider teams), and you could get 22 teams, meaning 21 home meetings... It would also give a true "Elite" UK league for the UK teams to race in... And would mean "Polish wages" wouldn't need to be paid to attract Polish top riders,(like happens already in Sweden and Denmark)... As an example. Northampton opening in such a league would capture the imagination of the locals far more than a six team UK league would, I would suggest...

Another strange contradiction where Speedway is concerned... They're happy to ask for volunteers for menial things like track raking, stadium maintenance... etc... But when it comes to things that could actually have a positive influence on their business... advertising... marketing... promotions... they don't want to take advantage of the great wealth of knowledge that could be at their fingertips... Very odd...

Great heat on You Tube and Social Media from BSN - showing what Pickering will offer at Scunny,

It isn't really a professional sport (at ownership level in particular), though... More of a hobby than a pro sport for so many... Winning can even be detrimental to their plan as the costs can rise hugely, and close them down!!! We fans judge Speedway like proper professional sports, however these sports have professional marketeers, big sponsors, major media coverage, and an independent leadership team that are in position due to their personal skill sets and contacts, rather that just being an ex competitor in that specific sport... UK Speedway, has none of the above, hence it comes across as amateurish... Because, when it comes to marketing, promoting, administrating and managing optics, that is what it is..

As Bob Monkhouse once said "I havent spoken to my wife for years. I didnt want to interrupt her"

Rubbish.

Its not just one meeting though is it? What did he average for Poole from reserve last year, wasn't it under 4? As for crescent girl saying someone has lost their mind, dear oh dear. You lost your mind a long time ago mr barrie. its time the rising star program was removed from the top tier , it does more harm than good for young riders.

Who is Jaimon Lidsey going to talk to in the pits? The rest of the top 5 have a combined age of 160.

Not sure what anyone else expects other than to be competing in the bottom two, late to the tapes so to speak, all done last minute, the track isn't complete, no real home advantage once tapes do go up, Northampton is very much up against it before a green light goes on but, if they can offer entertainment, can get the name out there, and survive into 2027 who knows... I'll certainly try and make one night this season and take my old man, but really do hope it works out for them, hopefully win a few meetings if they do then congratulations to them as its literally backs to the walls stuff already

You are well aware and you've been very active. So why question? Why doubt? Why mire in the demise of speedway. Looks like you absolutely love it, cant fix it and never lend a hand but always online to want for more despite giving less. Aye but you bought a season ticket.....yet put down and question everything else. Get yourself involved Ian, change the dynamics of meetings, be more than a worthless typist on the Internet. You won't, you aren't.

I agree and this should extend to the mechanics and officials too, optics matter

I know Paul from Birmingham. I found him to be very approachable and knowledgeable. He constantly mingled with the fans, seeking their views and opinions and most importantly, seeking to take those views snd opinions on board. I hope this is going to be a great success snd with Paul at the helm, I am very optimistic.

Any chance you can tell us how Northampton's first season went?

There’s a Facebook page now for Northampton foxes speedway team

I'm from Northampton but my expectations are low. As long as they get the bikes in front of a crowd at both Franklin's Gardens and Sixfields, and have something in the Market Square a couple of Saturdays before, they should be alright. There's something to be said for THIS IS HAPPENING VERY SOON! rather than THIS IS HAPPENING WEEKS AWAY, PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT! However, people often make choices about where to spend their money in advance. I'm just happy to have a local track again.

I would like to see a rule implemented where riders have to prioritise the own country as part of their licence requirements and that includes riding in British final and the governing body’s from each country work together for the good of world speedway to avoid clashes

What amazes me is the amount of negativity towards the new promotion team. They are sinking much money into getting things up and ready to be in a position to run by May. They will live and die by their decisions. Just because they are not jumping to the timelines desired by people without any financial involvement or backing them is very unfair to keep bashing them. People need to get behind them and stop knocking them for trying to bring speedway to Northampton. Soon the keyboard warriors will be complaining about whatever nickname they decide on, then it will be the seven riders signed, then the design of the racesuits, then the cost of entry, then, then, then, the list will go on which is grossly unfair. UK speedway is dying on its arse and people need to unite and stop with the negativity towards pretty much everything and everybody who tries to run and finance UK speedway tracks.

Maybe they are keeping it quiet because they don't want prospective patrons to type speedway into google and end up here reading all the negativity. Good things come to those that wait