mikebv

100%, however, at least, 10 years too late... When the Sky money went, and most of the worlds best with it, they should have pulled up the drawbridge and set out their own pathway... Instead, they decided to let Poland and the FIM dictate when they could and couldn't run.. And the 2nd tier got used to having tier one level riders getting subsidised by the upper level... With tier one happy, now the Sky money had gone, to use these riders also at a "reduced rate" compared to having to pay out for these riders by themselves... The result? Too many places being taken by too few riders, which then stifled development of UK riders, with a non stop stream of foreign journeymen entering and leaving using the UK Speedway revolving door... And, just to compound things, to ensure riders could DU, race nights were fixed, (not necessarily the best ones), but that was the only way clubs could actually put out a team of seven riders.. (Apologies, I mean it was done so GP riders could ride over here, because if they did the crowds all around the country would boom wouldn't they, and TV companies would fall over themselves to tender to cover it?!!!!) You have to hope that someone can see what not to do (ie the same old, same old), and build a clear strategy for growth... I like Richard Coleman's comments about just 300 extra at every track would be a game changer, as that puts into perspective where the sport actually is, and is surely a tangible realistic attainment given the conurbations so many tracks sit in... 300 x £20 is £6,000 x 15 matches per season = £90k... It must be worth paying someone a grand a week to try and get 300 extra punters through the door, (any random 300, they don't have to revisit), given the tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, if not millions, on the doorsteps of UK Speedway tracks, less than 45 mins away... Whatever they do decide, this time they cannot afford to keep getting it wrong..

I think that there appears to, finally, be an acceptance that the sport in the UK is "Donald Ducked" and change has to take place... However. Do the same people, who have brought all the issues, have the required skill set to make the right decisions?.. The evidence of their past lack of capability would say no, but hope springs eternal... Those trying to bring back the sport into closed down venues must despair given the current issues.. It cannot be easy to convince judges and authorities to side with you when you see "distress flares" going up from various places, and even 15 clubs unable to fil their teams with their own seven riders of the required level... Developers can point to a sport in consistent decline, which has been so for far too long, without, it appears, anyone capable of changing its course to better things... And some landlords of current tracks must also, quite naturally, be wondering if their tenants are going to be around in five years or so, especially if they are sat on some land which could deliver some excellent money... So much to unpick in UK Speedway, and, it appears, not too much time in which to do it, even if the capability is there in the first place..

But doesn't need to be.. They just choose to run it that way... Maybe next season will see, by necessity, a more affordable Championship and a clear difference in the Leagues...

Just one race win in Poland can earn you more than double what you get for a 15 point max in the Championship...

Dan T's excellent latest Vlog on YT covers off plenty of fan questions... Including money... In Poland, in his league, 700/800 quid per point is the going rate, with a grand a point for a No1.. Poland also give a very sizeable signing on fee, but over there you pay for tyres, and can use a new one each race... They also expect you to buy two new engines with your signing on fee, and they provide travel costs inc hotels... You can see why riders go over there and prioritise it, with some top league riders rumored to be on £3k a point... Over here, reserves in the Championship get £60 a point, going up to £100 for a No1.... In the Premiership, RS's get £85 a point, number six then gets £100, with the money moving up through the team, he didn't say what a No1 got.. All figures are "circa" as obviously riders get different deals with some having a guarantee and some choosing not to have one, but more per point... As Dan says, if riders didn't have to lay out so much to keep the bikes running then the need to earn so much wouldn't be there.. It will be interesting next season if Poland's contracted riders cannot DU over here, as I presume they won't give up their spot there..

It is an unfathomable system they use. They don't schedule meetings in during some of the months where we get the best weather, due to rider unavailability.... Yet on the majority of the nights they do schedule meetings in, at least one rider, and usually more, are always missing!!! Over 200 guests will be used this season so just schedule meetings in during the best months for the weather, and use even more guests if they need to.. I am pretty sure a "Guestfest" in July will get more people watching than a "Guestfest" for some dead rubber at the back end of September or early October...

Brilliant to watch tonight.. Speedway, with consequence, jeapordy and a decent prize fund can actually get some decent crowds. Who knew?... Witchcraft...

Brady never take red!!! Lambert the best in the world currently...

Come on Brady!!!

Robertt, best rider currently in the world?. .

Not a gimmee for BZ in LGBTQ+ .... Usually it is....

Home every fortnight, would mean all know when the meetings take place.... And, given the costs involved, may mean its affordable?...

Is Kvech averaging more in the GP's than in the Premiership,??

Go on Brady.... Incredible level of racing...

Kasper...

Did Kelvin ever ride a Speedway bike,?... I do remember him rubbishting himself at Bradford when Hans Nielsen took his left leg away at Bradford in the World Final....

Nothing to see here... Basic first bend bunching...

All four Kelvin, you knob!!!!

Box Office.... Regardless of result.. Let's hope he comes over to the UK (again)..

Not even maybe...

I had that rare privilege to watch Eric Cantona do his stuff week in, week out... A proper maverick.... My non United mates hated the club, but couldn't hate him due to his talent .. UK Speedway needs "mavericks"...

The same riders turning up, every three or four weeks.. That is what we want,!!! Even sooner, if they guest!!!!!

Someone who never gave Zmarzlik any respect, going back a fair few years.. Woryna rarely got burned going into bend three..

Like a cycle Speedway "nudge"... Those moaning never obviously watched Alan Wilkinson and Chris Pusey... Edit (When UK Speedway actually meant something)..

Cant believe Ipswich have signed him...