Kind of.... but in football, they have a squad of 25, so if someone quits, or gets injured, one of the 13 others steps up/in. Not quite the same as losing your 2nd best rider and not being able to replace him, is it really?
It's the National Stadium. So, that's like the equivalent of Wembley for football. All major UK speedway events should be held there IMO. Otherwise it's not a National Stadium.
As mentioned above, it's replacing "The Motorbike Show" which is a series presented by Henry Cole & Pete "The Restorer" Thorne. So no one "losing out" really.
How long have many people been saying this for now?
Almost every winter we hear "this is one of the most important AGM's we have ever had," yet, year on year, hardly anything changes. A tweak here or there, when a mass overhaul of the sport in the UK is needed - before it's too late. The clock is ticking.
Newcastle used guests or R/R Bradley Wilson-Dean in 2022, after he was injured in his third meeting for us. We then went under a few months later, though.
If the "Top Man" you refer to is Graham Trollope, then "I've heard" (as many on this Forum say) that he is only there in an "advisory capacity". Make of that what you will.