Hawk127

I think it depends on what company runs the sport at the respective tracks. Take a look at Companies House and the last set of accounts filed for the teams in each of the leagues and most file abbreviated accounts and few have a decent net worth despite the longevity of the trading and you question how much goes through the companies that run the sport at the relevant tracks versus those riders where the cost/expenses are picked up directly by sponsors so the cost and overhead never appear in the figures for each track operating company. It is difficult to get to the bottom of who is earning what. For example do a search of Ipswich and then the Directors and then the accounts and the resultant filed figures do not match the presumed costs of running the club. Who knows what the real cost is of running a club at the highest level in the UK so to suggest who can and cannot afford to participate in which league is pure conjecture. Financial Transparency is key but it does not exist. To suggest that the likes of Glasgow should move up has no foundation without financial information in the public domain to support that argument.

What a good rider he was for anyone who watched him. Peter Moore was another one with an unusual handlebar for his machine and one of the fastest away from the gate particularly during his time when riding for Rayleigh. Those were the days.

Agree, it is about what works for the local business model. Tracks/promoters/home teams can no longer rely on swelling the coffers with income from the opponents spectators attending away matches. Firstly you have the cost of travel, then the possibility of a call off because a dark cloud is expected at around the first race and add to this the fickle attitude of riders who cannot cope with damp tracks etc. and that is just a few of the reasons why racing from yesteryear does not work today. Week day speedway works for a number of clubs but others have seen increased support from weekend meetings when at least the chances of away support increases. Tracks need to promote what’s on offer when they can get the best number through the turnstiles. It is so difficult to come up with a formula that works for the speedway demographic given the self interest of the club owner/promoter and the influence of overseas competition where some riders can, assuming they are good enough, earn top dollar in places like Poland but I still wonder how many riders sit down and work out the risk factors should they end up on the sidelines because of an injury and are asked to repay the advance fees. it is a shame that so many on this forum have good suggestions on ways to improve the offering but no one is listening. Oh well we await the annual debacle in November and thankfully ignore the outcome and instead look forward to another season of racing from Poland which seems to be so much more organised.

All the thoughts and ideas on here have some validity but the unknown factors are the state of the TV coverage, the level of sponsorship for the sport and to a large extent the set up of the leagues which are largely determined by the self interest of the business owners who are ploughing money into a sport in decline. It seemingly has no major media coverage in the U K and is largely ignored by the average person on the street and or is unknown to the average sports follower in the UK nor does it have any profile beyond the anoraks. Despite this it can be one of the most exciting two wheeled sports and needs to be marketed correctly. Take a look at the recent Polish Gala event and watch some of the races of each season going back to 2016 and watch the likes of Gollob winning races and find another sport that can match it. Like almost all on here we do not put money into the sport other than the entrance fee and whilst some have the answers to its failings we are not the custodians and until the club owners work for the overall best interest of the sport it will stagger from one crisis to the next and without a major change in 2026 it is the same old same old followed by a further decline in attendees.

Some terrific races and anyone who wants to promote to a wider audience should show some of these races. That aside I was lucky enough to see Tomasz Gollob at Ipswich but those races from 2015 and 2016 are phenomenal. What a class act the man was reading the track and the riders to pick them off with apparent ease.

Agree with that and you would hope that the top table realise that. Perhaps I am missing the point but if you reduce the number of home meetings, stadium owners are still going to want a decent return on the asset or decide it is not worth leasing the stadia out to speedway if the revenue is not coming in from rent food and drink. I guess if you normally run a season of 16 meetings which is agreed under the lease and you end up running eight, the rental cost will remain the same as if it were 16 and so no real saving on that overhead. It may even go up because of the loss of the profits on food and drink. Unfortunately so many issues affecting a sport which is on its knees with no real appeal to joe public and the mainstream media having long since deserted the sinking ship. Fingers crossed someone somewhere can bring something to the table.

Following it on the updates was tense, congratulations to both teams for what was seemingly a cracking meeting. On to 2026 and more to look forward to. Chris seemed to do the usual in raising his game, never fails to entertain, a legend of British speedway.

Well done to the riders and in particular Cooper.

That was a great rider by Cooper Rushen

Yes you are right and all second half meetings should be using these riders. Take it for what it is, which is those trying to make a way in the sport. It has costs supporters nothing if you are watching the stream so I don’t see an issue. For the purist who only want league racing it is not for those followers. Credence for Ipswich and the mentors who have been on site offering help and advice and putting the meeting on. No different to some of the meetings in Poland with the junior riders. I really do not get those who criticise this level but each to their own.

Some good talent on show tonight. To all the purist, you have to start somewhere. Well,done to Ipswich giving race time to these lads. Need more of this 2026. League racing has its place so do these lads.

BSN deserves some credence. Obviously it is all about income for the clubs but perhaps a reality check is needed without the easy money from a national broadcaster who apart from Sky have done no favours for speedway. Yes ITV or Chanel 4 or 5 would be a good choice but I doubt if that will happen. Maybe Tai’s story could sell it but not a lot else makes it an attractive for TV. Streaming seems to be the option to attract a younger audience who do not watch terrestrial TV

These lads are the future and more of these meetings should be held. Well done to all the lads involved.

A thank you to BSN for the stream. Appreciated and hopefully they get the nod for live televised speedway from the UK in 2026. They deserve it.

Congratulations to all at Ipswich speedway. It has been a long time coming and JL will be looking down with a big smile. Two great feats for Suffolk in one week.

19 points needed from 6 races for Ipswich to win

Ipswich are not convincing, the Lions are on this and unless the Witches get it together this is going away from them. Not totally convinced that the Witches can do this.

Most on here care but it is probably those in charge who have lost touch with what supporters of this particular two wheeled sport want. SON was in the most part boring except for the underdogs in Germany taking a title. It seems that speedway has lost its way at international level and has become very insular from a local league level. It will take something or someone special to pull the sport together at the highest level and as long as the riders and not not the authorities dictate when and how meetings take place and what conditions it is on a downward trajectory. Someone needs to get a grip particularly in the UK as the current set up is failing all genuine supporters.

Unfortunately that is it until 2026. Thanks to all the riders, clubs, officials, broadcasters, forum members, particularly Racers & Royals and Stewmac and all in involved in the Polish league racing, it has been great watching all the meetings here in the UK and hopefully many will get the opportunity to turn up at tracks in Poland next year to experience all that is great about the sport of Speedway.

All over well done Stal.

Tom is a very lucky man after that one.

That was a bit unfortunate.

Another very good ride by Tom. Keeping the meeting interesting.

Hopefully Tom rides like that for Ipswich this week. Good riding.

Thanks. Missed that one but now on it.