Hawk127

Brian Foote had similar characteristics as did Ted Hubbard, hard chargers. Brian always having elbows out and left leg pointing forward going into bends. Fun to watch and both hated being beaten.

Thanks for keeping us updated it really is appreciated.

For those that cannot watch, good commentary of the match on BBC Radio Oxford.

Sadly it sums up the dilemma that the sport finds itself in. Too few riders and those that are plying the trade in several leagues going with whoever pays the biggest wedge and the sport in the UK tends to come off second best. Surely those in charge can come up with a formula that allows speedway in the UK to survive and not be subjected to the Polish dominance. If no action is taken, speedway in the UK is on the cusp of turning from a professional sport to an amateur form with it acting as a rider feeder for the more dominate nations. Who knows how it will pan out but those clubs let down by riders who ply the trade in Poland need to think is it worth it.

I really don't give a fig what your opinion is and you carry on believing that only your opinion counts. I could not care less what vitriol you and many others spout and I am simply not bothered about thoseb who cannot accept criticism of any sort particularly Ipswich supporters who cannot believe anyone should have a cross word against the club.I stopped contributing to live speedway a while back like so i am ahead of your request and already comply with your demands and have long ago left the live version of sport like so many who can longer be bothered with speedway or this forum

Good, no one give a toss. Get a life. It is crap anyway and if you think the sport has a future in this country you are another of the deluded souls.

I don’t and stopped a long time ago giving funds to a dying cause.

Probably not but ilk might better describe it.You really are an FCW and sitting here in Malta, it is a great to read the crap spouted by people like you. No one gives a toss. In the wider world British speedway does not even register as a subject for discussion let alone on the home front where support has dwindled to the point where more people go fishing weekly than watch speedway

Who are you to say this. Management, speedway expert officinado or someone so special who believes in some good given right that only you know best. You sum up what this is all about and so I wish you well with your self opinionated comments. I could not care less what your elk think, this is just a good wind up up of suckers like you.

What do you know. Facts speak for themselves, Doyle could have been replaced with a rider, may not of the same calibre but they gambled on everything being OK and clearly a risky sport like speedway, that is a fool hardy position to take and unless you are in the know and can explain why they have either not picked decent guests or failed to get guests in, I suggest you wind your neck in. I have spent enough money and years attending meetings so when it comes to comments on the keyboard, I suggest you go scre yourself.

Your opinion only to which you are entitled and everyone is allowed to have a say but clearly in your world only you count and no one should comment adversely about a team that is at best mismanaged. I can remember when the club was on the verge of closure and many of us bailed it out largely due to the quality of the management at that time. The club has faced adversity in the past and dealt with it but now that is not the case for whatever Eason.You can spout all you want but many on this forum know that the current set up is crap and it seems that Louis and Co have joined the the BSPL club of everything is fine. As for the direct criticism and personal attacks because someone opposes your views, get on with it.

Scott seems to be doing what he does best and is racing hard, pity the rest cannot pick up on this attitude. Notwithstanding the Witches have been hit with injuries, the inept management who have carried on making no attempt to replace Doyle with a rider and continually using RR sums up the contempt they have for the supporters and the club. Almost a case of put up and shut because we know best. Well none of the management thought through what would happen if Emil was sidelined and then Ellis gets taken out. The only thing they did right was get Scott on board who has been a loyal servant which is more that Hawkins and Louis deserve. Am I the only one who cannot fathom out how Hawkins has held his position for so long. Maybe the Ipswich loyalty scheme, but that does not buy you titles or cups. Sad to say that the rich heritage that the witches had is slowly fading together with the sport which based on the current set up is past its best but those in charge don’t seem to realise it. Oh well not much anyone on here can do apart from vote with you feet and hard earned cash.

If you look at the Spedeworth fixture list a fair few Thursdays have been available and I know the restrictions posed by East Suffolk council dictate the frequency of meetings but go back a few years and speedway was run on almost every week, so most excuses are just that.

Time to reinvent the sport and build around what is available if the sport wants to survive. BSPL inactivity has allowed the likes of Poland to take a commanding lead and you really wonder what the hierarchy are thinking.

Have to reluctantly agree. And they expect punters to pay to watch this. It never use to be this bad at Foxhall and having avidly supported the Witches since the early 90’s having lost Rayleigh in 73 and intermittently gone to Rye House in the intervening period as well as Kings Lynn and Mildenhall it is sad to see how bad Ipswich has become. Oh well always next season and hopefully Mildenhall can make a come back.

Whose fault is that. You have so many blank dates on a Thursday because the sport has capitulated to Poland and riders who seem to be dictating far more than is healthy for a minor sport.

Watching on Eurosport and the picture is breaking up sums up the rubbishe state of the sport, no wonder it is not taken seriously and even having a 1/2 in the GP in Cardiff the media is not interested. Sums up the position of the sport and who in there right mind would want to get involved in this mickey mouse presentation or put serious money into speedway. You faff about having to follow it on Discovery+ and most discerning follows simply cannot be bothered to hunt down the televised coverage. BSPL seemingly do not have a brain when it comes to the most sensible media exposure.

It’s why I stopped going to meetings a good while back. First you had six riders and Mr R/R and now you have a sad imitation of what use to be such a good evenings entertainment and the club owners think this is acceptable. CL use to command respective but now he has joined the ranks of BP and dear old Godfrey.

Absolutely agree. British speedway at its best if you believe the morons who run it. You really wonder why those in charge think that this is a spectacle, it is crap and when you look at Poland and the crowd, the atmosphere and even if the racing is not good the rest makes up for it. Dan Bewley is in town and a depleted crowd says it all. It is an embarrassment.

Basso really is taking the p… Add to this the fact that Poland are calling the tune and British speedway is being shoehorned into oblivion it is time that all the powers that be called a halt and stared dictating the terms for riding in the UK. Put your bloody thinking caps on and come up with a formula that works for fans and riders who are available to commit to a weekly meet in this country on days that suit the tracks from a business perspective. If the promoters cannot do this simple task then time to close up shop. BSPL get a grip. You have screwed the sport now it is pay back time. Ditch Eurosport because the casual channel hopper is not going to pick up on this and is certainly not going to faff about with anything other than a main stream channel. Discovery+ is on the peripheral of the average viewers engagement and does nothing for the sport. Might just as well watch the reliable Kergel on the internet but the rest is justification for a sport in decline with only the nerds hoping to find it on TV.

Belle Vue would be good for a second GP in the UK but given the state of UK speedway is it any wonder why anywhere in the U K can justify holding this event. Cardiff and Wales have been supportive of the sport and it should not be under-estimated the contribution Wales has made to the UK GP speedway. It is not a disgrace it is simply economics and whoever the piper is they call the tune. You also have not picked up that speedway is a second rate sport that does not deserve the exposure that the Cardiff Millennium stadium gives speedway. Face it, speedway is on its knees and the majority of the UK does not know it even exists and could not give a toss whether it is held at Cardiff, BelleVue or the IOW.

Tom is on the pace and should be pleased with his efforts. With experience he will be another Brit to look out for at this level in the future

Ipswich have three home meetings and one away and with decent guests they could expect to pick up at least two wins so maybe fourth is a little pessimistic. Notwithstanding it is going to be close this year and hopefully we get to see some of the best racing without further injuries. Whether another campaign in 2025 is feasible with seven man teams is debatable. Given the Polish scene and the pressure on riders to compete or suffer substantial financial penalties which in itself is detrimental to other European leagues it might well be time to start all over in the UK and try something different. Too few riders chasing too many empty spots is not going to work long term when Poland are calling the tune.

It may well be that the Foxhall hierarchy have lined up an adequate guest for the play offs and as long as Emil is back I do not see that it matters how they finish as they are capable of putting up a good show at any of the other top three contenders, although it would be nice to have an easier passage but this UK speedway with rules made up as it goes along and no one is taking into account an Ipswich or KL scenario with riders injured or unavailable or withholding services and managers failing to act in the best interest of the sport. Screw the punter and let’s race based on the lowest common denominator just about sums up the folks who run the sport in this country. Is it any wonder no one takes speedway seriously and with so few riders available or coming up through the ranks, it is on a a self inflicted hiding to oblivion.

Unfortunately the Polish scene knocks spots off the UK presentation and any rider worth his salt would rather ride in front of a packed crowd with an atmosphere that is second to none compared to the sparse speedway support that turns up at a UK stadia. Those that ride in Poland and frequent UK teams/tracks are simply topping up the pension. If you are a regular who watches on Kergel then you will understand the phrase chalk and cheese when watch weekend racing from Poland versus what is served up from the UK Clubs. The UK broadcaster cannot ever offer a comparable form of entertainment no matter who are the commentators and if they had any sense they would quietly part the sport in some dark corner and leave it to BSN to show the best bits from the lower leagues.