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Attended this meeting on Monday as my first visit to Northampton and to play devils advocate here I absolutely loved it from the first impression. One of the promoter’s out the front greeting supporters was a really classy touch and made a world of difference. I entered feeling already valued as a spectator. The food was of a decent quality. The drinks whilst on the penny side come with a nice souvenir Foxes cup which is a nice touch. Merch is of a decent quality and I understand they are constantly refreshing and adding to it. The team is obviously sub-par but they’ve not exactly been pushovers, they could have easily won this meeting if Batchelor (get rid btw) & Jeppesen showed up a bit earlier. A quality rider up top and a better effort from Jeppesen and this team will win its home meetings which is vital to keeping good crowd levels. Yes the track needs work; and it is always going to struggle after Stox & Bangers meetings but it isn’t far off being a good race track as was shown in the latter heats. This has made me a fan and is a better option to me as a Coventry fan than visiting and supporting Leicester. I will 100% be back. Well done Northampton.

Iain's comments were very fair I would suggest, and given his opinion is based on facts, very relevant, and should be seen as constructive, especially given so many tracks seem to have lost the Quality Control that Phil Morris brought in.. To be honest, he came in and made changes that were, for me, quite embarrassing in their basic nature... Why Promoters needed some Quality Control checklist which included starting meetings on time, having the centre green tidied with the sponsors prominent, and riders ready for the next race as soon as the last one ended, was as low level as it could be... Never mind "grabbing the low hanging fruit" he was picking it up off the floor!!! Yet, this season, without him, we are seeing some of the "old ways" coming back.. Given the nature of the sport, incidents can easily happen which elongate the evening, therefore, starting on time has to be a given to ensure punters get home at a reasonable time... A new venture in particular should strive for excellence in everything it does, and all adverse feedback is often what it needs for longer term growth..

I dont condone what jye did. He shouldnt have done it. But let's not go there with the minor angle. Play with the big boys. You get dealt with like a big boy.

The truth is that modern super-tuned finely-balanced machinery has ruined tacks like Ipswich. The rapid pick-up when the throttle is opened, plus the unpredictability on other than perfect surfaces makes them far less suitable on smaller tracks. The behaviour of these machines is resulting in more high-speed crashes (Jack Holder’s is a prime example) - previously that would only happen if the throttle jammed open. The riders are to blame for that incessant need to “improve”, yet all they’ve done is increased costs for everyone.

Despite a very very good offer from "elsewhere" JJ chose to stick with the club where he has revived his career......

I can’t pretend to be impartial, bandits through and through. But other than being delighted with the result. Rushen is a serious talent, someone needs to help him cut the dirty riding out though. Clearly kicking other riders and in 15 he absolutely tried to bin PK mid bend. Someone with less experience may have been serious hurt. The kid has the talent to be the next British world champion but he needs to cut that crap out.

At least I think we can all agree that the Part Time Pirates defeat is completely down to Chris Harris and Simon Lambert and in no way attributable to contracted riders who decided not to bother riding for them👍🏻

“It’s fair to say we are already working on our team for 2027, and we are excited to see the kind of side we can build with the luxury of months to recruit riders, rather than facing the last minute scramble we did for 2026 as most of the teams were already assembled by the time we came to the table” I really like this fella 😁

Glasgow and Edinburgh will have no such decisions to make.🤔😂

He’s in front and not touched him. Jye gone for gap that was constantly closing. Standard of refereeing is getting worse as the years go on.

Sounds like a Swindon swiz to me... promise a track, get the stadium knocked down then pull the rug leaving Speedway high and dry!

why the criticism for a new venture in Northampton is beyond me....Lets look at some of the facts. The stadium is mainly built around cars, no cars equals no speedway, now if that means there are times when the track isn't up to it then that's the nature of the beast I'm afraid, far from ideal but unless you have a purpose built speedway facility then that's what the Foxes have too work with. The promoters were late to the party in terms of team building, it's not rocket science that the team isn't strong enough, take a look at the other side of the coin if the Foxes weren't in the league. Instead of fans getting on the backs of a new organisation who are willing to take a financial risk why not try and get behind them...then again if you listen to some on here speedway is already in the final throngs of existence and appear to thrive on that negative mentality.

Even the basics of conducting interviews in front of the sponsorship board has lapsed, saw an interview with Klindt on Fox's socials last week with tractors in the background... unless they've picked up a vintage tractor sponsorship recently it's to hell with the league sponsors, who needs 'em! You'll often see many riders when being interviewed go and reach for their cap first before doing so, it's the first thing on their mind, for many British promoters it doesn't even seem to be in their minds at all. It's pretty basic stuff really 🤷‍♂️

I hate to be critical of such a new venture, I really do, but there are some basics that need to be addressed and soon... The whole show seems a bit slap dash, they haven't yet once started on time! Craig Saul, as good and informative as he is at interviews etc. is no hype man! The team manager, the less said about him the better... but the track! The promotion may not be able to control many things, such as rider performances etc. but they can control the track and last night was the worst yet... yes there'll be the usual excuses, couldn't get on the track in time, the bowser broke down etc. but on each and every occasion it has been too dry and dusty to generate any grip for the riders and last night they had the added bonus of giant stones and rocks hitting them. BSN were towing the usual Speedway line last night in that we must be grateful that they have come to the tapes... NO! They are (or should be) a professional outfit operating in the top tier of British Speedway and what they're putting out, especially with the track, is just not up to muster and the "fans" are already voting with their feet.

Some riders come out of retirement to ride in benefit meetings. Craig doesn't have a team place. so fair play to him for honouring Jay's memory.

Should imagine the rule makers will be summoning Etheridge to explain himself. Throwing a punch at a minor carries a severe penalty.

You really are a complete nob! Insead of accepting and praising Berwick on their 16 point aggregate win, you choose to belittle the final because your Money club who are afraid of the top league haven’t qualified!! Poole fans really are a ‘special’ breed!!!

Absolute disgrace from Rushen. Not watching the meeting, so haven’t got a clue what happened, but won’t let that get in the way of a good opportunity. Ban him from the meeting!

This is the type of stuff that ALL clubs need to do far more of. You go on some clubs’ social media and official websites and they’re mostly incredibly poor. Some rarely get updated at all and it comes across as they really can’t be bothered. It’s such an easy and simple thing to do and this is the kind of thing Coleman was talking about in terms of lack of promoting. Keep the X posts flowing, Facebook, Official websites, ram it down people’s throats regularly and keep all the clubs in the forefront of their supporters minds. Its not a hard thing to do.

Next seasons' top tier points limit has just been announced... 24 (including the Rising Star at 2.00).... Voted in 5 to 1.....

The Northampton track has been prepared in 4 different ways so far, 1st meeting it was prepped, but had 2 hours practice on it, so not much we can do after, that. 2nd meeting we were asked to make it grippy, we did and they didnt like it. Different again for the 3rd meeting, it was better! 4th meeting similar, not bad. 5th meeting not enough water in early enough admittedly, but could of been controlled. Starts have been Different every meeting, on request, It's all experimental, to try and find the best possible track. It will happen,

The Foxes have no divine right to exist and no right to expect fans to back them just because they are there. After many years without a team, I am happy to have one nearby but am long past falling for the "use it or lose it" argument. If a track is well run, even within the confines of British speedway's current overseers, it will attract a strong core audience. It was clear from the off that the team was not good enough. However, you can't just expect fans to pay £25 a go to support any old rubbish. The speed with which Belle Vue signed Doyle to replace Bewley showed that there was no need for the Foxes to feed off scraps (ironically), and more thought should have been put into an exciting, winning team, rather than a collection of veterans and two promising youngsters. We all know why the Foxes were created but that doesn't have to be the reason they exist. There's no point in being a team to make up the numbers to stop your league looking like an embarrassment if your makeweight isn't going to be able to stand on its own two feet. Home defeat after home defeat may inflate the points totals of the other five teams, but it will kill a promotion quicker than any late start, uneven track, or even bad chips (the chips are good, though). We're not halfway through the season yet so there is a chance to make this succeed. But it needs the full weight of the BSPL behind it. Or, if that is already happening, please stop because it's not working.

I am part of the track curator team at Northampton, i have sent ianb a msg to call me, I will give him all the true facts!! Regarding the track prep, ect, sponsor boards, but as of yet he has not called? I will give him time to respond, but clearly if he doesn't, then he really isn't interested in facts, then it will show he doesn't want the truth, just wants to have a dig at a brand new club, who's staff are going well above and beyond to try and make it a success.

Hard riding?..yes.....dirty riding?...not in a million years! Some of us who have seen more sunsets than we would like to admit, back in the day you would get 3 or 4 instances like this in one meeting, however if there was instance of dirty riding, it would certainly kick off either on the track or in the pits, or the victim would have a notepad in the tool box with the culprits name on it...then in twelve months time fans would think "jeez that was a bit uncalled for".

Think your a bit OTT regarding Rushen.

Always nice too see the Scottish clubs do well and I include Berwick’s performance also. Now I’ve got the Praise for the Monarchs off my chest I’m away for a lie down.

Give it a rest ffs. Plenty other threads to air your pathetic grievances.

A local YouTube historian, "A walk with Phil" has produced a video of the site of the old stadium. He has also walked what would have been the old track. Phil, by his own admission, only went to Dudley Wood once but produces many videos of the black country, referencing what used to be on the sites in days gone by. I've enclosed a link, hopefully some Heathens fans and speedway fans in general, might find it worth a look.

Nice to hear the so called big clubs can't always buy success by splashing the cash. Well done Berwick and jj

Excellent Post... From exactly the type of person that Northampton need to 100% listen to... A keen, glad to have Speedway back on his doorstep, passionate fan... If the track was poor then the club tell everyone why, not via a PM to individuals, and, more importantly, what they will do to resolve the issue... Yours and Iain's feedback should be "Gold" to any new business wanting to succeed... I used to spend the first three months of any new store I opened receiving as much criticism as I could get, as I could then review it and, if accurate, make positive changes.. The danger is they go down the route of many others who simply haven't listened (refused to listen?) to an ever disenfranchised fanbase, a fanbase which many of still closely following the sport, and even attend individual and overseas meetings, but don't see UK Speedway as being relevant enough for them to attend.. One of the big advantages they have is to NOT do what so many others have done, and use the obvious mistakes of others to guide them in their decision making.. The whole "we should be glad Northampton exists" attitude is complete nonsense, as that is as low a level of expectation as it is conceivably possible to have, (and almost then gives justification for things not going to plan).. If the sport ever wants to be taken seriously then its the professionalism of it, and its off and on track infrastructure, which will determine its success, not whether it just exists.... Hope you and a seemingly decent number of others who attend can keep interested enough to make the season overall a success, and also keep constructively criticising where required.. They seem to have done a lot of things well to get themselves open, so now need that feedback from you and others to improve their "night at the Speedway".. Looking forward to going to watch the Aces there to tick another track off the list...

Well some of you don’t like football but many of us do. I attend over 40 Premier League games a season plus a dozen or so lower league matches, plus several non league fixtures. Next season it could possibly be over 50 top flight and European matches with trips to the continent. I love my speedway and football as do many, who also like their cricket. There’s no point saying speedway should run against England in a World Cup. Unless you want to commit financial suicide.

Mate, credit for messaging me with your number, although the message was a bit passive aggressive, so I will not be calling you, especially now you've made your private message public (classy), maybe I should make your mobile number public should others wish to call you? As far as I'm concerned you can save your breath, I've heard it all before, I've just been going to Speedway for far too long. There were obvious concerns with the track last night. Maybe you should share the "facts" with everybody, many people won't come on here to point out the obvious basics that need sorting, they will just stop going... but as usual it's my fault for pointing this stuff out and not the management's for getting the basics right. I went to Aldi last night to pick some coleslaw up... they didn't have any! Basic, coleslaw... I went to a different shop who did have some! I await the facts.

Especially changing Fixture to Semi Final of Cup. IMO they thought they would trounce Berwick in their Home Leg,but Lawson’s mystery injury threw a spanner in the works and it backfired on them.

Another cracking Vlog from Dan T.... You really see the unconventional lifestyle these lads lead.. And the costs involved, especially when your van blows up!!!. Interesting he mentioned the need to lose weight, especially for Poland.. He must weigh the size of one of my legs.. Just needs a season of no injuries and he could become a true top level rider, as he definitely has a capability level higher than most... If you haven't seen his Vlogs on YouTube yet, then give them a go... He did say others are now doing the same?... The more exposure for the sport the better....

If you show the first running of this heat you can see cooper clearly kicks his leg out to stop jye getting over him into the corner, before riding into the side of him and crashing the ref asked to see it a couple of time and maybe gave coopet the benefit of doubt in that one and maybe thought about that when making the decision about the rerun

I think Berwick should be kicked out of the competition for what Etheridge did In the first running he had another rider kick out at him In the second running he was taken wide and fell 50/50 incident But for Jye to get up and throw 7 or 8 punches at another rider was disgraceful…. Does he not know the other rider is only young?? How dare Jye be infuriated to this level If only Jye had walked over to Rushen and just slapped his shoulder then every speedway fan could have understood his frustration and nothing more would have been said ….. even Rushen would probably have laughed it off But what Jye did was nothing more than assault and really takes the shine off of the win …..

Congratulations to the Monarchs who thoroughly deserved the victory and were possibly value for a little more. Gladiators simply never got going. Only led once as I alluded to in the commentary and looked off it all night. Incredible support from the Monarchs fans and great to see the riders acknowledge that at the end. Great spirit between all fans at the end mingling and talking. Close competitive sport, good crowd, great weather - it's what it's all about. The Coliseum has once again served up a thrilling end to proceedings, shame the home side were on the wrong end of it this time around but still so much to play for. Scott Nicholls - Incredible performance. Ran out of adjectives for him.

Looking at the heat 10 incident unless Cooper has eyes in the back of his head he can't possibly have known Etheridge was there, looks like Rushen moved out as Kerr went to the kerb just as Etheridge was attempting the outside run. Just one of those unfortunately. Certainly not a 'disgrace' and Cooper incredibly unfortunate to be chucked out. Etheridge made himself look a proper plank afterwards.

Rushen a disgrace

It'll be seven weeks next Friday since the last home meeting and it's ridiculous and it's no wonder people drift away from speedway. Imagine the football being postponed for that length of time during the summer. One day promoters will find out that there is a material called tarpaulin which could be cut into parts to the shape of the corners and laid together over it. Both sides are banked and rain water would drain onto the grass and the meeting could take place after they've been rolled off. Just saying.

Success is what brings in crowd levels. Has always been the case. Exeter were a prime example of that in the premier days, regular got well over 1000 a week due to winning at home 99 percent of the time even though they were awful away from home most of the time. And the racing there was absolutely rubbish, gate and go. Having a big council funded stadium with a nice, good race track doesn't guarantee a good crowd as Belle Vue have found out.

This was spoken about, they do have more equipment that was written online and they are investing in more, including a potential wonder wheel. Summer ‘27 the stadium gets some renovation but Mayfield have said they would pay rent upfront to bring that renovation forward. Nobody can say they aren’t trying!!! They have a good hour or so for Q&As last night and also one to ones!

Doubt it! He said they are not the answer to the future! And I agree totally!

He already told people last night he was going HoP today to meet with local MPs. Let’s face it, he is the only one actively getting off his arse and doing something about this sports so let’s all actually get behind him before we don’t have a sport to watch at all!

https://ipswichwitches.co/witches-season-ticket-holders-entered-into-free-draw-to-win-leicester-ko-cup-final-tickets/ This is something new, and again, I like it.

Those within the Speedway Bubble are often a part of the problem... They become "Three Monkeys" like, and, worse, make excuses on behalf of those they volunteer for, or work alongside... I have been impressed with the Speedway Star over the last 12 months or so, as they have constructively challenged much of the nonsense those within "The Bubble" believe to be acceptable and fit for purpose.... From what you say, the danger is, (once again)... "Any Speedway, is better than nothing".... Which is then seen as acceptable, and almost a measure of success.. As we know, crowds have dropped significantly over the last two decades or so, on the back of that "Mission Statement"..

Well done to Berwick on a great all round team performance, they were much better than us and seemed to want it more, we were a little unlucky home and away with refereeing decisions going against us but overall we had no answers to a very good Berwick team. Good luck to them and hope they win the cup.

Throttle goes both ways. Cooper was clear in front. Shocking call. Etheridge should have been out.

A fair call... I don't remember PC needing leading link forks, a lay down engine, electric ignition timings, nor a lap top in the pits, to make a Speedway bike "sing".. If BZ got some "Pride" coloured handlebars with matching mudguards, every NDL rider in the land would buy the same, thinking that was "the secret" to his success... It is too small a sport to move onwards and onwards with technology, to gain a (whatever?), as it can only restrict participation due to costs... Dan T's VLOG is fantastic (clubs please take note), and his workshop must have thousands of pounds of spares in it... Hence clubs then need to pay riders enough to afford all this equipment... And, in the UK, to achieve what exactly?....

Thats why we should run the Championship league season every week from late March/early April until a cut off at the end of June, with playoffs from the first week in July. Eight home meetings in 12/13 weeks is doable with ample time to reschedule rainoffs. Later rounds of cup comps can be run after this if required. The point where enough is enough is ever closer. Even Harris had a dig about this at the Oxford meeting on BSN.