Hawk127

I do not think it is just the Ipswich crew. Riders, mechanics etc talk either directly or using one of the electronic methods of communication yet not a murmur from anyone in the league. Perhaps all are under the threat of the sword of Damocles if anyone utters a word? Someone somewhere has some sway if that is the case. Maybe the season’s sponsors are lead by Don Corleone. All very unusual perhaps it needs a good detective to take a look. I would call in Kojak or Colombo, no point in those modern day detectives, Poirot or Morse. Maybe the answers will be forthcoming tomorrow.

What I do not really understand from a financial aspect is that very few if any riders are a major draw for fans who know the sport let alone potential new supporters so why pander to the riders demands paying over the odds for nil return? Build teams that are viable and some riders will climb the professional ladder and perhaps make it to GP level but if the tracks that do exist put out teams who can provide exciting racing each week at whatever level and it is affordable and competitive then that is where UK speedway is. Let’s face this country cannot get decent crowds to turn out for a GP and the halcyon days of big names attracting 50k to 60k are never going to happen. If riders cannot make a living riding for one club then the cost of participating is too expensive and needs looking at. Expecting increasing numbers of supporters and sponsors to pay someone the equivalent of an annual salary for six months work is nonsense. The whole business model is barmy and has been for years. Fools and their money are soon parted and that applies across the entire speedway spectrum.

Another version of spot the ball only you have a map of Gt Britain and you have to guess when and where the fixture will be the following week. Answer to be sent in on the back of a fag paper. First prize, tickets to last weeks fixture which was postponed until sometime in September or October.

Not controversial, but I think the logistics are slightly different with Doyle being in the GPs and if you can believe all that is written about the SPG, riders need to fund the riding themselves because the pay out is pretty meagre. When you consider the cost of travel, accommodation, mechanics etc. which the riders have to cover they are not in it for the money. Both riders need sponsors but Doyle’s income needs are likely to be greater than Tom and therefore needs to get some good sponsors onboard asap to be able to ensure the income is in place to meet the outgoings and still leave some take home pay but is conscious of the fact that to get the sponsors to promote on meetings covered by TV he needs to be sure of where the money is coming from. Selling himself and the sport to sponsors cannot be easy and at a lower level, the same applies to Tom. In summary I don’t blame him for getting his house in order as soon as possible and if that means being assured a team place elsewhere, so be it.

Out of interest, has anyone any knowledge of any work being carried out at the venue? Just a thought but what if it is not Northampton but another former venue where the powers that be have come up with cast iron guarantees over rent etc and then the initial investment for the prospective promoter could be a lot less of an outlay. The offer of guaranteed income is a reasonable business proposition to consider and if the owners of a former venue were given strong assurances why not think about it. The other option for these owners is for the track to remain unused and no potential revenue from a balance sheet asset. Leaving aside the history and attempts to reintroduce the sport to various venues which have been turned down, how many former tracks could you put an offer to?

Mayfield Sports or whoever it is who rests control of Ipswich should look at the rich heritage and understand what the club means to the county and the East of England. It is not a commodity and has an intrinsic value built up over the years by a lot of local riders who the supporters can relate to and the likes of sadly the great Billy Sanders and from a continuity perspective the Louis family. Whoever you are you are not buying something like a second hand car and if it does not work you dump it, you are acquiring something special I hope whoever it is you do the right thing and respect what the Witches who mean so many local folk.

That is taking doubling up to the extreme. Possible though, she could always get back to the refs box and take a look a video of the race and then decide where she finished. Not such a bad idea after all.

That seems like a trustworthy team to take the sport forward. A bent regal approval from the dross of society and luckily the real royals distance themselves from this slime ball and shag Ferguson. Sadly for them but the children have had to disown the disreputable parents. Oh well all part of life’s rich tapestry.

I doubt you would find any takers or support for freeing the 4,5 or 6. Lock them throw the key away and start again. Buxton to lead the way with real genuine individuals who want to ride without doubling up and know how to entertain. All riders to pay to compete and standardised bikes, track spare and second halves. Racing at weekends and the sport in the UK taking back control of its destiny and starting over without feeling the need to compete with other European leagues.

Perhaps that is why Belle Vue have not announced the number one yet. All the thinking leads to a conspiracy, perhaps this season is cancelled but no one is admitting it and all the news releases thus far are fairy tales. Too many why’s and not enough sensible answers. Bring in the detectives, anyone will do but I suspect Colombo could get to the bottom of all the conundrums. Either him or Kojak..

Ed Sheeran?

When is the next election?🙈

The only question is which Friday or Monday. Easter is not far off so I will agree😀

I know everyone is frustrated by the lack of news but, and I am not a user of Facebook, twitter or any other of the social media sites so I may well be wrong but it seems unusual that riders are not making any comments about the current state of affairs. Perhaps they have been sworn to secrecy or else and possibly those in charge are checking all European schedules to see when they can put together a fixture list that does not clash. Surely riders need to know where they are and start booking flights etc and getting sponsors on board and although no one knows when the season will start and it could be as late as April/May the silence from all sides is deafening. You have riders who did ride for Ipswich last season seemingly not signed up in the UK. it all seems a bit contrived but no doubt all will become clear by June/July you would hope.

Agree but someone needs to call these idiots out and ask how they can continue to target speedway tracks when I suspect not one has ever been to a meeting or knows anything about the sport. Heads up arses and nothing of any substance but no doubt enough readies to pass a few brown envelopes to local decision makers who bow to the biggest cheque book. No different to any other housing developer, liars, cheats and corrupt businessmen who claim to have the interest of the local community but are only worried about the bottom line. No such thing as affordable housing, it is smoke screen and mirrors or to put it bluntly, most building firms talk utter bollocks to weak councillors who you would not piss on if they were on fire.