mikebv

100%... Even more so when you consider Ipswich have won just one top tier title in almost thirty years... Several of their fans on here have often made, almost smug, comments on how poor the crowd levels at other tracks are, and boasted that Ipswich have consistently had good crowds, regardless of success or not, all down to their loyal fanbase.. That one title seems to have increased expectations far in excess of their traditional position in the sport, which, has been one of doing "OK" most seasons, with some "yo-yo ing" between the top two tiers as and when the team struggled or the crowds dropped... Given the cards dealt to Coleman I would suggest it worth putting some perspective to this season, and just be glad "someone" decided to buy the place, as it didn't look like too many were coming forwards to do so.. I hope his endeavors to more Speedway forward reach fruition, as that will also positively impact the Witches, and their fanbase continues to support him in his plans for the club...

Is this a copy and paste post from the last ten years???

How so? Poole ride on Wednesday's, so no clash with the Premiership, with Denmark the only other league running that night... So, if riders are in Denmark, just use guests for any missing riders like the majority of all meetings do...

Nonsense... My all time favourite rider was PC... And he was (quite probably) the best rider in the world from 76 to 78.. An incredible talent... Woffy won THREE world titles... No maybes, no might have beens, no wudda, cudda, shudda... THREE world titles...

You can't change what a majority dont want changing....

Hoi, Woid an Anzum!!!

Eight teams, maybe, due to rider numbers, only five riders per team like Denmark, and make it "Elite" level.. Running on "best nights" for the tracks.. Home and Away once, top four into play offs.. No guests, given there are only 40 riders needed so plenty of "subs" to use from outside these 40... Sell this to TV... Each team also then runs a "second team" in a lower standard league which is ran, like now, with DU's and Guests galore, again, on nights which are the best for the tracks.. Make it five rider teams again, so 75 riders needed, no superstars given they will be doing the top tier in the UK, Poland and the GP's, (and maybe more leagues if Poland allow)... Linking up with Poland could be the key to making it happen as they could provide plenty of young riders to learn their craft over here as well as in Poland... The next five years in particular are fundamentally key as to how the sport survives, or not, in the UK given the ageing demographic of the "key" riders who currently take up two places.. Young/New rider development has to go (pardon the pun), "full throttle" over the next few years, with every club needing to provide regular NDL (and below), level opportunities to ride over the season.. Each club having to hold just one meeting each season, as now, is ridiculous given the demand (of the level required), will outstrip supply massively over the next few years... It really is time for that radical overhaul, which will bring some short term pain, but is so desperately needed... One league for the "professional promoters" and one league for the "hobbyists", which the "pro promoters" can also use as a development conveyer belt for their No1 team...

A fantastic rider, who had a stellar career... I am sure whatever he does next will be a success at given his incredible drive, resilience, dedication and desire... Maybe the BSP could get him involved in promoting the sport in the UK?.. He is still the one rider many outside of Speedway in the UK will have heard of and could recognise.. And is still young enough to connect with a younger demographic... The greatest British rider ever?... I think his three World Titles cements that accolade.... Good luck to him...

"ThrottleJockeyWay"... (But not at Ipswich)...

They know the World Cup won't impact both the meetings taking place, and those Scottish fans buying the stream.....

A "Presentation Tsar", Mick.... I like it!!!

The GP's in Manchester must have had circa 3,000 Aces followers there on both nights... They get less than half that for a UK domestic play off qualifier, simply down to a lack of interest in the league competition.. This shows that there is still a decent demand for the sport out there if done properly, and the events have actually something tangible worth winning, which brings interest... As a "team sport", as you say, it does appear to have a restricted shefl life in its current guise (in the UK)... You can't see too many of the current 30 and 40 something's holding down two HL positions in both leagues in five years, or so.... And that truly will leave a huge hole to fill and a huge problem for "team Speedway" (in the UK)..

Richard Coleman seems to have pretty much the same thoughts on the sport as many of us on here... However, the challenge I would suggest will be that the clear and obvious issues facing the sport are, in the main, all self inflicted, and delivered by their own design and often done to "fix" the problems that previous decisions have created, (and this ironically then often compounds the initial problem!).... The challenge he faces is that the promoters must all know what is needed for the sport to move forwards, (as it is all pretty clear and obvious), however, the very fact they know this, yet have never shown one iota of enthusiasm in changing anything, shows that "moving the sport forwards" is simply not on the agenda for many... In short.. Many are quite happy with their lot, with few actually running their tracks to make profits, but, instead, it gives them an affordable hobby to enjoy.. "Moving the sport forwards" will mean unpicking so much of what has been done, and also bring greater scrutiny and accountability, neither of which too many promoters will be pushing for I would think, hence "moving it forwards" hasn't been focused on for, at least, a couple of decades.. There are many promoters like Buster who, year in, year out, put their hands into deep pockets and shell out several hundred thousands to their riders, to keep the sport running in the UK... That is the sum of their ambitions...

Contrived nonsense... Simply set up to provide as many riders as is possible to earn a living. With well meaning, Speedway loving, happy to fund affordable losses, promoters, all colluding together that the sport has some relevance... Who wins?... Who cares? ..

And neither of the top two leagues have any relevance or resonance... Change that, and it would definitely be worth watching and investing emotionally, and financially in.. Sweden on a Tuesday and Poland on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, delivering jeopardy, consequence, and great racing, each week, (plus the GP's) is more than enough for me.. Watching UK Speedway "just going through the motions" hardly inspires you to subscribe..

I do agree 100%, but.... Promotion and Relegation will be a pipe dream unfortunately due to so few riders willing to ride over here, and the many second tier crowds not bringing in the income to pay riders to ride exclusively for them, meaning DU'ing will remain forever... For me, some major prize for winning the top league is the thing that would generate interest... Sadly, pretty much since the Sky money disappeared, and a nationally recognised company, (Skybet), sponsored the league, winning any of the leagues has had little rewards... The last decade, in particular, unfortunately has rendered any league largely irrelevant given the lack of publicity, the crowd numbers reducing, and the farcical operating model which is now set in stone as fundamentally the only way they can keep running their tracks... The inescapable feeling is that the tracks are now just open so riders can earn a living, and promoters can rub shoulders with them, enjoying their hobby... Nothing more, nothing less..

Up to THIRD in the league!!!!!!!!!! It looks like them or Ipswich for the last play off place!!!

Awwwww Bless.....

Crowd looked a bit sparse... Or, were they mainly on the back straight?

If you want world class No1's to be signed then you can't use second strings or reserves to replace them.. And Guests just make the meeting contrived nonsense... A fit for purpose RR system would ensure teams win or lose as that team.. Not some random select, with the odd ringer brought in.. No one would think Sheffield were manipulating a situation where one of the best riders in the world was replaced by Chris Holder and Pickering, should the manager so wish, with all riders having seven rides max..

RR for a No1 should mean that (should the manager so wish), the other two HL's take his rides.. Not second strings or reserves,, (unless the manager wants to).. As all other teams were riding no guests of the required level were available, which would usually have been the first call for Sheffield, and all other teams... Jeopardy in sport is fundamentally what it needs to be successful and Sheffields team tonight brought that jeopardy, however, one way to cut guests, by a significant amount, would be to have a fit for purpose RR facility..

Not really... Hate the game, not the player. One of those "bomb proof" doubling up Heat Leaders who can just coast through a season in the UK... Edit: And are allowed to do exactly the same thing every single year, as they cannot get replaced due to hardly any better riders wanting to ride over here...

Incoming!!!!....

Outstanding night from Klindt... (Again).. Couldn't replace him...

Northampton a 5-1 away from a one point victory... I wonder.....