StevePark

I could be wrong, but didn't the BSPL put a stop to teams being named, but not riding in their place names (e.g Cradley at Wolves)? So, if that is the case Newcastle couldn't be called Newcastle and ride at Redcar (or Berwick etc). My "buy Brough Park" was made slightly with tongue in cheek. It's an option, but highly unlikely to be feasible, sadly. I've been confused for a while regarding plots of land, only because some say there are places available, but some seem to think otherwise, so not sure if there is anywhere to build a track that would suit.

Or, buy Brough Park!!!

Sadly, I think that might be a long wait.

Only because Newcastle withdrew!!

Poole held the first leg and won 49-41. If Leicester can't hold the second leg, they should forfeit the tie and Poole be crowned Champions. I don't agree with the Play-offs and I think whoever tops the League at the end of the season should be Champions, but I believe they are here to stay. They quite simply should start the Play-offs earlier. Hoping fans turn out in what is usualy cold damp conditions is ridiculous (especially when you consider a lot of fans are of an older generation).

The whole idea of Season Tickets is they provide an income for clubs during the Closed Season. Taking that away would just make it more difficult for clubs to sign riders and pay out for anything else they may need prior to the start of a new season.

And then a hassle for Season Ticket holders to get a refund for all matches not run.....

The BSPL were soon on Newcastle's back after the Glasgow abandonment earlier this season.

Give it time.....

I have no loyalty to any team now the Diamonds are gone, but looking ahead to 2023, all this points to doing one of two things. a) Scrap the Play-offs altogether OR b) Top 4 reach the play-offs (Semi Final 1v4 & 2v3). Get the League programme done and dusted by the end of August and Play-offs, Cup Finals etc., can be run in September. It shouldn't be difficult. Just not as many "blank weeks" in the fixtures, when teams can be running in the summer.

IF they don't get a facility, then they don't get R/R as that is a facility.

Yeah, the NSSA. Where did you see it, if not on Facebook (just out of interest)?

The only place I saw it was on Facebook. And they wanted people to let them know if they were interested by PM on Facebook. So if you aren't on Facebook you probably couldn't attend as a) you didn't know about it and b) you couldn't let them know that you wanted to attend. Kind of limits the numbers of attendees somewhat. The thing is (and |'m guessing a bit here) the people who might have been interested in a "Memories Night" are the older fans, most of which don't do social media. Although, having said that, where else could they advertise the event? No Diamonds website now and, obviously, no speedway to advertise it at (Raceday Magazine, over the PA etc).

Maybe this is the end of "protected" race nights? . Just goes to show what a farce it is (trying to) running meetings at the back end of October. It happens every year, yet they don't do anything about it. I'm half glad I'm out of it all, but if the Diamonds did return (I know it ain't gonna happen) I'd be there in a flash.

On Speedway Updates site that he'd "announced" it during the meeting..... can only go by what was said on there... I know the Updates site isn't always accurate, but took it "as read" that is what happened.

James Sarjeant has announced that he's retiring from the sport at the end of the season. Aaron Summers also confirms he's retiring (again!), too.

I remember Ben riding for Edinburgh.

Harchenko scored his paid max (14+1) in what was his fourth match of that Tour. He had scored 9 at Poole, but only managed 2 at Ipswich and 1 at Peterborough. Vladimir Trofimov was the most consistent for the visitors, after a "tricky" start. with a score of 3 (at Exeter in a 78-18 loss), but followed that up with 12 (at Poole), 11 (at Ipswich), 8 (at Peterborough) and 7 (at Brough). He was also captain.

The reason given for the postponement was FIVE riders had withdrawn from the meeting, not helped by Glasgow re-arranging their meeting against Poole for Saturday afternoon.

Which would make supporting either/both clubs damned expensive, especially Monarchs fans who have the extra cost of fuel for getting to the track. And, we appear to have forgotten all about the Armadale Devils in all of this. What happens to them?

How long do you put a License "on Ice" for? Surely if there was somewhere in the area, it would have been found by now (similar to Newcastle's vain attempt to find somewhere)?

Possibly because 6 out of the 8 have Prem/Champ teams as well and they will take preference in getting fixtures on?

What about the Newcastle riders? As an example, Matty Wethers hasn't ridden since Newcastle closed. Does this mean he keeps his 2022 starting average, or does his Newcastle matches count?

OK., I'll start.... You're a miserable old git....( )....... which makes me one as well, because, unless you have very deep pockets and don't care about losing money as if it's going out of fashion, you must be mad to even think about running a speedway team in the current environment. Speedway has been on a downward spiral for years and yet, every winter, the "powers that be" bury there heads in the sand and ignore it, so the sport will continue to spiral downwards and, eventually, there will be a league of three or four (if they are lucky). Then it will be "well, the fans didn't turn up" and it will be all placed at our feet and they will walk away happily saying "it weren't our fault. We did everything we could..." when the truth is they've done very little to help.

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