mikebv

NDL+ is the most affordable level for the majority... Has been that way for many years but has been avoided, hence teams have been able to pick and choose which league to race in regardless of size and income.. Just like you had stand alone teams in the NDL with a "different agenda" you had Poole and Glasgow (and now Oxford), with a "different level" in the Championship.... For the majority of Championship teams they won't ever compete with the "bigger clubs" who have much larger fan bases and/or sponsors... And, given the issues facing the likes of Kent and Mildenhall, maybe a less expensive product to put out will help them join in? (The IOW too possibly?).. Or at least mean tracks don't move over to NORA, which would be "game over" for the BSPL.. Clear demarcation between the leagues was mentioned last year as one of the aims going forwards, which, given the NDL probably won't exist, only means a clear difference between Divs 1 and 2.. Those "bigger clubs", with Div 1 level attendance's, may have a decision to make...

Bomber would be delighted with that... He could be eligible for winners AND losers medals most seasons whether he actually rides in the final or not....

Yes Minister!!!!

Has Tarasenko ridden enough meetings to get an average considering the Play Offs don't count...? He could start the season at reserve next year if so.... Imagine the meltdown.....

They make Dorset w(h)ine from them...

That will be some size of order.....

Maybe the TV money only going six ways will help subsidise the move? Wasn't it said at the Brandon hearing that each team got "six figures"... If so, dividing up the seventh teams' money would deliver another £15k to £20k per team... Pays for a GP rider and some change...

Poole have won something tonight.. Their fans have just become the "World Hide and Seek Champions"... Looks like a bit longer before they get found too...

Not defeatist, just realistic... My thoughts on why we are where we are? The bandwidth of the forum wouldnt take it.... FWIW, there are two watershed moments for me... The first, the Sky tens of millions being used to basically pay top GP riders rather using it to invest in the sports' future, (both stadia and UK rider development).... (GP riders who pretty much all 'Foxtrot Oscared' when the money stopped).. And the second being post Covid. A HUGE opportunity to do something radical which would have been a "free hit" given the fans' craving to get back to watching speedway again.. Instead we had "same old, same old", which clearly hadn't been working pre Covid.. For those that still "take it seriously" and "believe it is real" similar to all other sports, I would never criticise their choice, and hope whoever wins any of the cups or titles enjoy the experience.. However, when something is allowed to take place as happened with Bomber in the semi and the final of the Premiership this year, you are asking a lot if you expect your sports' fanbase to regard it as a bona fide sporting championship.. Ultimately the Promoters do their best, but unfortunately many don't have the correct skill set to market and administer it, and, to be fair to them, probably don't need to as their track is often their personal hobby as a fan, so "big global picture" thinking doesn't form part of their overall remit... Unfortunately, that lack of "big global picture" thinking is probably its ultimate downfall... But, on the positive side, it is also its largest opportunity for generic growth should it ever be tried and delivered...

A pipe dream... You cannot run the level that the promoters want without ensuring many riders have to be full time pros.. 2nd Div Promoters want to use Div 1 level HL's, so that Div1 HL needs to be spending plenty and therefore expects a decent return... When £30k (and often well, well above) is the outlay on kit then riders need to ride as much as is possible.. In a perfect world, there would be clear demarcation within the leagues, and organic aspirational growth, with no rider sharing.. That ship sailed many, many years ago (if it had even ever been contemplated that is)... Speedway in the UK is in "survival mode" rather than "growth mode", and has been for a good many years, with promoters doing their level best in their own way to keep it going... If they could "run it properly like other sports" then I am 100% sure they would.. What we have is pretty much all there is, so no point in hoping for any magic wand to come along and change things.. Enjoy the racing, but dont get too bothered about the results, is the best way to look at UK Speedway... It still has the ability to provide huge excitement and a good night out when done well, as a fair few tracks do...

"Enough meetings for riders" is the starting point, and the major objective that must be delivered.. Seconded by "What level of rider can my club afford to have"... The structure chosen then has to reflect those two objectives..

They have to fit in the Jubilee Trophy 2022 as well don't forget...

How many rides is a steel shoe allowed to do when a team runs RR?

2H and 2A? Best start it next Monday then.....

Wow!!! Radical..... Luckily the sport in the UK has too many fans already so doesn't need to put meetings on when more people can get there...

I was running out of bandwidth to send it....

Tai, Tobi, Jack, Kyle, Lewis Jason, Chris, Adam, Richard, Connor Josh, Claus, Jye, Bomber, Robert. Edit- And David (Thanks RS50).. There may be more..

To be fair, those who you mention, especially the first 3, had a much wider public profile which was much larger than Tai's was, is, and ever will be... His racing level now is dropping so fast that maybe he feels he needs to be "street" to remain in the public eye..? But. At 33 it does look a little sad to be honest to try and come across as "hardcore yoof".... Maybe he could do some of that great music he does about it? My 20 year old lad, who has always been a huge fan of Tai given his success coincided with my lads formative Speedway watching years, summed it up quite elequontly when he said... "What a f***ing knob, how old is he?"...

Monster! Monster!!!!!!

Let's be honest, no one should really take it too seriously... How can you when Bomber played a major part in Ipswich reaching the final, then played a major part in their opponents beating Ipswich in that final... Bomber who rides for Peterborough... A last heat decider made for good TV, but given such nonsense is allowed to take place, it is best not to get too worked up about the result...

Sheffield certainly benefited having Bomber there instead of him in those conditions... And as for Tuesday st Foxhall? If he had rode there, his toys would have been even further out of their joint pram then Lambert's were...

This... Gate 3 is usually the worst by far at Sheffiekd so to have Emil and Doyle both off it in the first four races seemed daft... Two 3-3's there and a completely different start to the meeting...

And Ellis and Kerr who were there for about 70% of it...

A Sheffield fan.!!!.. Easier to find the world hide and seek champion than finding one on here on Tuesday...

Reg Wilson... Dougie Wyer... Robert Lambert,. Chris Harris... Sheffield Legends....