old bob at herne bay

Shame Oxford didn’t choose to run in the PL and NDL ……..

And let’s not forget Sheffield , who only after some arm twisting and sudden change of mind ?? Have decided to run in the PL.

And let’s not forget Sheffield , who only after some arm twisting and sudden change of mind ?? Have decided to run in the PL.

All this criticism of Christopher Louis …. What about the other let downs of promoters at Birmingham and Oxford…….they deserted the premier league without even a whimper of protest ?? Something seriously wrong with the “Set Up” in the PL believe me 😂😂😂

To all the critics of Christopher Louis. If you were presented with proposals that you believe would make your business unprofitable in 2026 ... and you were dependent on that business for your living , would you decide to (a) carry on with your business, and make a loss (b) sell the business and take a change of career

Sadly you could say that about British Speedway for the past several years .... "always going to be fixed next season". Maybe this AGM in January 2026 really is "THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT" to quote the regular old chestnut trotted out in the Speedway satr to try and sell a few more copies. Dont think it is unfair to say the "one big league" has been suggested for a few seasons now - but what did the clever boys in charge do .... they started "doubling up" "doubling down" under some misguided belief that it would help riders progression. It has just developed into a money earning stunt for the mediocre riders and separated the 2 leagues further apart , making it nigh on impossible for teams to move up or down ... with so many doubling up riders. Sooperstars carried on regardless, and rabbits enjoyed the "rising star" charade. This also makes amalgamation nigh on impossible with the loss of sooperstars plus the loss of many doubling up riders who might just retire with only one teams income (albeit more meetings per season.) None of which solves the minor issue of getting MORE people through the turnstiles, something that has been continually overlooked !!

I am with you midland red. BSPL have said " at least 5 teams" Trobuble with arithmetic ?

2 offers that didn’t meet Louis’s expectations, we are told ? Any ideas on what valuation you would give for Ipswich Speedway Ltd. ? Top 2 riders from 2025 unavailable, 2025 TM has retired, main sponsor from 2025 left the building ….. Maybe airfence , tractor and track prep gear worth a few bob , any ideas please ?

2027 surely will be one league and an "NDL" or equivalent. The "PL 5" in 2026 will struggle to avoid making heavy losses, (even if 5 come to the tapes) with an inferior standard of product which will not be attactive to their established fan base. Still hamstrung by Monday and Thursday operations, and with upward pressure on budgets due to lack of TV sponsorship, don't see any reduction in PL admission fees. Will all 5 come to the tapes in 2027? If one more club falls the PL will fall in 2027. The big guns have all departed to Europe in 2026 and I don't see them returning. As has been pointed out riders can operate across mainland Europe and Scandinavia with just one set of equipment mechanics and transport, avoiding duplicating eqipment and avoiding costly and time wasting air travel to UK. The current CL will form the one league, but not without challenges in 2027. UK based riders faced with only one league to earn money will either choose to retire , go semi professional, or race overseas. There might just be enough riders willing to race in one league and sustain the curent number of CL teams with no doubling up opportunities. Meanwhile we will see a whole raft of old chestnuts of defunct tracks and new tracks being touted as being the saviours of UK speedway. None seem attractive business investments.

Re my recent post, now found both local Sainsbury and Tesco supermarkets stock Speedway Star.. for folks who cannot get their copiy by subscription. TG Jones appear not to carry the magazine in this area ... Not surprised about Royal Mail . We only see a postman on Fridays it seems , unless I have a mail order parcel, andthe parcel comes with a bundle of letters with an elastic band. Fortunately all my local GP surgery appointments and my London Hospital appointments are all sent online.

If Christopher Louis cannot get a buyer for "Ipswich Witches Seedway Limited" (including start gate air fence tractor and flags), I guess Spedeworth could thank him for his past business, ask him to clear out his equipment from their stadium, and allow Terry Russell's newly formed Ipswich "Robins" Speedway Limited to do a deal with Spedeworth to rent the stadium . If the Robins supplied all thier own equipment and defrosted their former Swindon license , what could be the problem? Riders are all self employed so no issues there. In theory Russell could do a deal with former Robin Jason Doyle to race for him. Louis's retirement from the sport does not grant him a lifetime exclusive ownership of speedway promoting rights at the Spedeworth owned stadium ?

Final point the Fords don't also hang around if they are struggling at the halfway stage. Do they wait that long ?

Buster making an offer for Ippo ? That way he would be guaranteed at least one team on t he p.offs in 2026. Must havea few old riders he could draft iin to race for him ? A lifelong ambition I guess?

and the BSN CUP, the KOKcupUP and the p.offs Nothing to touch them in the championship.

With 100,000's of Russian troops amassing near the Belarus border with the Baltic States and Poland , one wonders what might happen during 2026.

Should have said " one club" riders not unique 🙂 🙂

How many unique riders will there be in the 2026 teams ? ie NOT doubling up riders.

It surely there’s room for Co operation between the leagues to allow clubs to operate on more profitable race nights? Running 5 clubs just on 2 nights isn’t great … and Monday isn’t a great choice ?

Phew that’s a long one … one valve. Also might add in the level of support over the past few years and projected attendance targets oh and why do the PL still have to stick to off peak Monday and Thursday racing ?Teams full of uk double uppers - no SGP sooperstars.

With no TV sponsorship , why a reduction? Even the double uppers will still demand increases to cover inflation ….and with so few riders available to race here in the UK …… with fewer meetings , expect season tickets to be at 2025 prices and a rise in gate prices

Five green bottles hanging on the wall , five green bottles hanging on the wall, and if one green bottle should accidentally fall ………?.?

He aint got a team ... they have all left the building 🙂

Having dug the hole that is "double uppers" , guess the BSPL knew that they would have to preserve a "league" just for riders to be able to double up ? One big league appears to be unattainanble with the present number of double uppers. Also it is clear no team in the current CL was interested in trying to run in the PL. Will be interesting to see how the gang of 5 (whoever they will be ) achieve a 6 rider starting CMA approaching 37 with so many of the top stars already declaring that they are not racing in the PL 2026. The 2026 5 team league is clearly only a 1 season solution whilst further negotiations must continue to seek a more permanent solution for the possible continuance of league speedway in the UK? All this speculation and hot air about so many defunct and new tracks suddenly starting up and joining the PL..... most have no track and others no planning permission. Recent evidence shows Oxford as the only "new" track joining the PL and then lasting only ONE season.

Don’t forget the jewel in the crown of modern day speedway….. The P Offs. with only 3 teams to p off maybe they could invite the CL winners to a semi final p off . This would allow the spectacle of semi final p offs and a Grand Final p off.

Well I ventured into Tesco for groceries and yes picked up a copy of Speedway Star. First one I habought for a couple of years. Great article on one of my favourite riders Simmo ….who I watched from a raw novice. An accomplished motorcyclist on trials grass and speedway. Good interview with Jason Doyle,in ehich he made some fair and reasonable points from an Australian rider’s perspective. Most of the rest was the usual out of season gossip … good to see it on the shelves at Tesco though.