stevebrum

But folk ARE attending the GPs in much bigger numbers the world over and the Play offs always ensure much bigger crowds than usual. World finals always had also rans who qualified from the European states who hardly ever had a chance. No different to now. Speedway was much bigger in the 70s etc so of course it was an epic occasion. But let’s not pretend they offered superior racing to now. At least with the GPs you will get 10 or 11 chances to show world class speedway to the TV world. If we go back to the old final and qualifiers you would have empty stadiums for the qualifiers, maybe a little more interest for the semis but only one chance to really represent the best of the best. At least with the GPs you are guaranteed to see the vast majority of the best riders in the world 11 times. Plus of course there isn’t the mass amount of talent that we had in the 60 to 90s. can you imagine a one off world final with half the best riders missing due to an engine failure or tape exclusion and you get Kai Huckenbeck racing in Germany crowned world champion. A complete farce and absolutely worse than what we have now!

Like the GP series is going anywhere. What a ludicrous suggestion in the first place. Its successful, well run and a total success for the sport. British speedway’s failings have nothing to do with it.

Wolves fans didn’t turn out in vast numbers to Birmingham neither which is much closer although it’s understandable because there teams were pants. I understand perfectly why there won’t be one big league it’s simple really. There isn’t enough suitable standard riders to fill all team spaces unless you reduce team strengths to 5 or 6.

But the sport needs the big names to survive with any modicum of respectability. Without them it will be left to the hardcore supporters to keep the sport afloat and as we know it’s an ever increasing older generation that will continue to diminish. The sport needs a big company and TV promotion to keep its awareness alive. They won’t be interested if the big names aren’t involved. The sport has been on life support more like. All leagues are diminishing and more lower level tracks closed before the likes of Wolves/Peterborough/Birmingham closed. its a worrying trend that’s for sure.

Having a top flight is more important. Without it British speedway is as good as a dead sport.

I did say whatever it takes to get both teams in the top flight should be looked at. You fail to see that this isn’t a one league problem. Without top flight standard riders dropping down or doubling up there wouldn’t be a 2nd tier neither! I don’t believe that the top flight has been living well beyond its means at all. Top stars are usually paid mostly thru sponsorship so whilst costs are higher in the top flight it’s foolish to say all top flight clubs can’t sustain a business. The likes of Nigel Tolley are very few and far between. Most of them are very successful business people who manage to make speedway work for them most seasons. So let’s stop saying the top flight is the problem league because this is a UK speedway issue.

Absolutely, I’ve been saying the same thing all along. You pointed out the realistic and probable outcome to this one big league. it will be padded with NL riders completely out their depths and an horrifically imbalanced team set up. Do whatever it takes to get Poole and Glasgow to move up and drop same race nights if required. Top flight racing is a must if we want UK racing to survive.

Every track has great meetings and racing and also dire ones. Even the NSS.

Such a great advert for speedway, both teams really wanting it and good cut throat racing. Was certainly better than the bland ippo/aces affair. Well done the Lions but a great effort from the Tigers. Spoilt brat jack inability to do his job cost his team big time.

Absolutely, and so were those potentially capable of lifting the world title. Adams was a whole different level to Fricke, but yes way to fair to be World champion.

I disagree. You need to be in the top 7 to qualify for next season. All 7 achieved that goal this year. lindgren to me is by far the most entertaining to watch unparalleled. Adams was top dog in the EL year after year for many many seasons. This is the first season Fricke will have topped the averages. I get the comparison on world stage level but Adams was in a different league in the EL.

Gotta say Fricke is a different animal in the UK this season, probably the best rider of the season? However he is still lacking at GP level and remains pretty much an also ran.

Cardiff numbers would have stayed high if they got the track and the racing right. There were probably 3 or 4 decent standard track preps and good racing in the whole of its history at the PS. The dreadful track surfaces and not world championship standard racing put people off in there thousands. Which was perfectly understandable.

Disgraceful (lack of) performance from the Aces GP stars. I’d be embarrassed that they let your team down but instead saved their best efforts for the weekend. The Witches fully deserve their place in the final and hope that Emil can get his woes sorted for the final. They will face much tougher opposition in the final than the Aces tho.

Probably as expected. The Witches even not on full form can still push the weakest team in the play offs to a last heat decider. The Aces bottom 4 have been awful for most of the season. The reserves could have been changed before Tates average dropped to give them at least a better chance. Lemons faith in the reserves has cost them big time. The witches still have to do the job on Thursday and of course anything can happpen and the Aces have been able to step up under pressure in past play offs. Given that some Aces fans have already given up after tonight 🙄 I suppose they will be telling us to write us off at your peril if they pull it back. Lets face it it will be a huge shock if they do progress.