mikebv

Sadly, these kind of meetings show how little the competitions mean in the eyes of the promoters... Why run such meetings knowing FIM meetings are taking place? By definition the riders missing will be the "better ones" too.... If an independent body existed then this meeting wouldn't have happened or RR would have been the only facility... If the riders qualify then there will be even more clashes .. The UK has to stop "making up Speedway" as it does it no favours... There will be, I am sure, promoters out there wondering again how the local ice hockey team can get double their crowds.. And a if a track needs to bring in an overseas rider due to not having enough UK riders of the required level, then that is squarely down to their lack of focus on UK rider development over the past few decades... The vicious circle will continue unless UK rider development becomes the No1 priority for tier two in particular.... You need fans to take the sport seriously if you want it to be successful... I presume those who run it as a hobby don't feel the need to run it that way...

There will end up being a guest for at least one of them...

The fight between Wright and Allen got several hundred thousand views...... More of this "edge" is needed....

Disgraceful behaviour.... My 22 year old lad has just watched this and now needs therapy and counselling.... They should be banned for a decade st least.... Good, hard racing, "just enough room" left from Howarth which is fair enough... A bit more of this and the sport could be interesting again....

Aren't some of the top tier promoters part of the consortium of seven who are running Northampton? I would imagine they would be pleased to have Northampton reaching the play offs given the plan is to sell up as soon as it is shown to be a viable proposition...

Speedway? Is that still not going?...

Oh Good!!! Now. Which Popcorn to have? Decisions. Decisions...

It clearly needs radical change Phil... And has done for around two decades when the GP's and Poland started to impact it... A contrived, Mickey Mouse operating model simply doesn't cut it in a 24/7 digital media age... Winning either league carries almost zero prestige, publicity, or rewards... With the Play Offs usually sorted by the end of May meaning dead rubber after dead rubber to September... The inescapable fact is that the UK version of the sport can be perceived as no more than a hobby for many promoters and a money making exercise for the riders... Hence doubling up is rife so costs can be shared and riders get what they want from two teams, and both those teams can then afford them... And guesting is rife because (as one ex rider once told me), "It's the cherry on top of the icing on the cake. Kerching!".... Covid should have seen root and branch change, yet they decided to carry on doing the same old nonsense that still exists today... They need to sort it, and quick...

According to the Unofficial Fans Facebook page, the lowest seen at the NSS.... No idea when pre sales are so low why hundreds of tickets are not given free to local kids' sports clubs and schools, or even local businesses... It is always clear by Monday morning how sales are tracking so nothing to lose... And the 300 or so seats behind the start line up to bend four, rarely get used to any degree every meeting... Personally, I would close the South Stand and put everyone into the Grandstand to at least generate some atmosphere, charging the standing price of £25... Fill the South Stand with huge sponsors banners, and maybe leave one section for those adamant they want to stand...

Pretty much it... Add in almost zero atmosphere due to hardly any (if any at all), away fans, and it certainly isn't an "event" that stirs the blood... The Play Offs are similar to when a small football team get to Wembley... All their "followers" turn out, yet the week later, the usual "fans" are in the ground with the "followers" sat at home, (maybe), checking the score now and again.... The sport needs root and branch radical change if it wants to carry on.. Having to charge £25 to stand and watch, so you can pay riders what they want to ride for you, riders who will put hardly one extra person through the turnstile, meaning you have minimal budget for marketing, or enhancing "the match day experience" is truly barmy from a business perspective... Yet they continue to slavishly follow the same business and unfit for purpose operating model... Amazing...

If the line ups stay like that then Czestochowa have a chance of a draw!!!!

All that dirt must weigh the bike down... So that's why he struggles at the NSS....

To be fair, the Aces followers do make up a large portion of the GP crowds, easily the largest single contingent... As you would imagine given the locality... Therefore I can see why crowds drop, (like last year), in the weeks leading up to the meetings, given the cost.. You also have people like myself, and nine others, who will attend the GP's but are not regular visitors to the NSS, due to, as you say, not having any real engagement for UK Speedway meetings that have little importance.. There are many more "Followers" than regular "Fans", like at most tracks, with the GP's bringing them out... The key for the UK version of the sport is to re-engage those "Followers" to become "Fans" again, as it would seriously boost the attendances around the country...

Won £50 on Cook v Zagar,. Bricking it that he would be in Ht15 given he won Ht14.. ..😁

It's Speedway and Tractor Shows in Ipswich isn't it?😁 The hammering of Ipswich predicted doesn't look like it is happening...😮