topsoil

I've long thought that clubs in Britain should be run along the same lines as those in Sweden and Denmark, i.e. proper "clubs", run by members. These members pay a subscription or buy shares in the club to raise funds. they then appoint officials to run the club, like a chairman, secretary, treasurer and a host of volunteers to look after the track, turnstiles, track shop, food and drink outlets etc. I get the impression that sponsors are far more willing to put money into a "club" run by enthusiasts, rather than an individual owner. Grants and state funding are also far more accessible for clubs, to improve facilities and buy equipment. Also, financially I think it would serve the sport better. You are more accountable for money belonging to a club, if the funds are not there, they do not get spent. Clubs live within their means. Clubs must present financial accounts to their members and if any member was seen to be spending vast amounts of money unwisely these people would be voted off. All that said I cannot see the current situation regarding ownership of clubs changing, simply because this has been the situation for so long.

Any idea if the Pairs events which ran last season will be ran again in 2015? Enjoyed those meetings. If so, does anybody know the dates? Cheers

There is a Northern Junior League run after PL matches, glad to say Berwick has a healthy junior set up at the moment. I would like to see it compulsory for all clubs to run junior meetings after EL / PL meetings now, firstly to increase the number of young riders in the country and also provide the spectators with more racing. There are a surprisingly high number of spectators who stay behind to watch the junior racing at Berwick.

To bring in new fans at Berwick the entertainment around the racing has to improve as well. There needs to be thought given to either filling in the gaps between racing with either better music, interviews or some other form of distraction, or reduce the time between races and fill the night in with more races, be it in the form of a junior meeting or second half racing.

Brilliant video, beats all the montages Sky put together.

If you really want to promote the sport, meetings on Sky TV are the best place to start in my opinion. I would follow the example Lakeside set a few years ago. They announced free entry and about 7,000 turned up according to Sky. I don't see why more promoters don't follow a similar pattern for TV meetings. If you can get a sponsor to meet part of the costs, get one in. Then promote the hell out of that sponsor, stick their goods in prominent places, get the track staff, start girls in t-shirts or sweatshirts with their logos, get one of their reps. to do the coin toss for heats 1 and 15, an interview with a sponsor with Kelvin or Chris Louis. That way the sponsor gets great exposure and value for money, the TV viewers see a stadium full of fans and any potential sponsors see that the sport is a worthwhile market place.

And? Doesn't matter what number he rode at, he scored a load of points and was the match winner on a few occasions.

I don't know if this would save money or not, but I've always thought it would make more sense for each club to own all the bikes, engines, machinery in a pool and let the riders use these. At least that way, if nothing else, the club has some proper "assets". Okay each one could be specified to each individual rider's liking if needed. These could be transported in a single vehicle, saving a bit of travelling costs. Also, does every rider need his own mechanic(s)? Again, I've always thought it would make more sense to have maybe have a few mechanics all working for the club, on a part-time basis, looking after this "pool" of bikes.

Brains beer, dehydration and 34 degrees Celsius don't mix well. Twocandan, Penchev, the memories :-)

Read the article and have to agree it's nothing that everybody didn't already know. The difference is it came from somebody who it appears is new to the sport and it is interesting to get a view of the sport from an "outsider". Unfortunately, I cannot see a whole lot being done about it. Too many promoters are hamstrung by the fact they are tenants. Speedway has an enormous amount of work to do if it is ever going to catch up with other sports where the facilities for fans are far superior. And there are no easy solutions. I only hope there are enough promoters who have enough energy, enthusiasm and nous and pockets to take the sport forward.

I've recently found a box of old copies of Speedway Star in my parents loft, from back in the 70's and 80's. When you compare these to today's version the difference in night and day. I especially like the coverage of European leagues. I realise that because it is a weekly publication, it is impossible to keep 100% up to date. The magazine does have a twitter feed which can cope with this. Unfortunately I cannot always see the Grand Prix meetings or those on Sky, but I would far rather read about it from a trained journalist, who is neutral, rather than get the opinion of forum members, many of whom have agendas because they obviously support one club or another. I suppose if it wasn't such a good publication, then it would not have survived all these years.

Wasn't there tonight so I will admit I have no idea of track conditions, Only going on what I have read from various riders' twitter feeds. Sometimes you are in a no-win situation. If the meeting had been abandoned before the start, people would have moaned about riders not giving it a go. They try a couple of heats and people moan about why they didn't call it off before the meeting started.

Decent end of season meeting with some standout performances from Ostergaard, Doolan, Vissing and Wells. Vissing and Ostergaard had a couple of battles and two overtaking manoeuvres from Doolan and Vissing off the fourth bend that had you shaking your head. Nasty looking one for Matty, he's had three bad ones this season now. Be nice to finish off the season with a trophy. Wonder how many of the Bandits will be back in 2015? Would be very happy to see the majority back again.

The pay sensible rates and on time policy Berwick employs probably won't attract any superstars to the club but will ensure the club's existence in the current climate and long may that last.

According to the Speedway Star Rospiggarna are set to make a profit of around 1 million kronor for this season. Does anybody have any ideas how the club have managed this? Any hints that can be taken on board by other promoters?

Anybody any ideas as to when the 2015 dates and venues for the SEC and Pairs is likely to be announced?

As Vince says above there isn't a lot wrong with the basic concept of the sport. It is just a shame it keeps shooting itself in the foot. Too many rained off meetings, too many rider absences, inadequate facilities, lack of investment in training etc. If you look at old footage of the sport in previous decades there is night and day between the quality of the product on the track. Unfortunately costs have also gone up accordingly and a lack of investment and long term planning is catching up with the sport big time.

Apologies for being late to the topic but I've only just finished watching one of the best meetings I've seen in a long time. Race after race the commentator couldn't keep up with the passing manoeuvres. God only knows what would have happened had Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum been commentating on some of the moves pulled up. Got a feeling Tatum would have internally combusted live on TV. Just a thought for the GP series, and I know there are issues regarding the cost of holding a GP and so on, but maybe they should give a thought to alternative venues, i.e. established permanent tracks like Czestochowa (yes, the crowd was poor, especially given the standard of racing), perhaps Pardubice and the likes, rather than temporary tracks which don't often produce the same standard of racing. I've actually enjoyed watching the SEC and Pairs events more than the GPs and World Cup this season. The Pairs especially is a great format I reckon, and also enjoyed seeing tracks such as Holsted, Gustrow and Czestochowa for the first time.

Excellent performance from Kevin and well backed up by Alex Edberg. Matty had a decent night still coming back to fitness. Unfortunately not backed up by our normal big scorers. Chuffed for Kevin coming into form these past couple of months after a tough start to the seasson. Must take all three points tomorrow night if they we are to have any chance of winning the group, but that is going to be a tough ask.

Cant see us getting more than 30 tomorrow night. The record around Armadale is shocking. The only hope is that Matty is fully fit and can take seven rides. Any match points tomorrow night a bonus. Hopefully we can take the three points on Saturday but that will be a big ask.

Still laugh at the story I was told about the first time Wayne Brown went over the border to race at Edinburgh. Roger Wright and Mike Fullerton asked him if he had his passport with him. When he said he didn't they told him they would have to smuggle him over the border. Just after leaving Berwick they stopped the car and he got in the boot. Only when they got to Scotland did they tell him the truth.

Not just a "PL thing" but I would like to see every team in the country be forced to field a junior team. The sport needs as many young riders to come through as possible. Make it part of the second half, giving crowds more entertainment. Can only speak from experience at Berwick, but plenty of fans stay around for junior meetings there. If we must continue with tactical rides, make it off 15 metres. Generally better entertainment between races for the crowd. Promoters at least looking into the idea of track covers. Fewer doubling up / down riders if possible. More Sky TV coverage of the PL.

Wonder how many Edinburgh fans will be coming down to watch some more "gate and go" speedway at the Fromthegate Arena on Saturday night?

Good way to finish the regular season, beating a team who I thought at the start of the season would be right up there. Claus and Kevin, in particular looked fast tonight, probably the best I've seen Kevin ride for Berwick. Probably hitting his best home form at this time. Expected a lot more from Josh Grajczonek who I have seen go really well round Shielfield before. Kyle Howarth and Ricky Wells had flashes though. Nice touch to see Liam as part of the post match celebrations. Good to see he is still thought of by the promotion. Going to be a long road back for him. PS got to echo the thoughts earlier on in the thread regarding Matty Wethers. Great to see he has obviously not lost his nerve despite his horrific crash. Hopefully he will be back to full fitness soon. Just goes to show what I've thought for a long time, speedway riders are a different breed.

If the League Cup meeting was anything to go by this meeting should be good. If memory serves right Berwick only just scraped a win that night. Be good to see Berwick round off a successful campaign with a home win. Weather bright as well.