Hawk127

Looking at the turnout is it any wonder that the riders like riding in front of capacity crowds in league meetings elsewhere etc. Has the GP series run its course in terms of support/spectacular?

Jason is on fire and means business. Perhaps coming back to his best at just the right time, fingers crossed.

Hope he can keep it up for the GP, certainly seems to have got the bit between his teeth, good on him.

Not a bad meeting and Jason seems to be improving but, and I like Polish speedway, it is just a shame that the UK has lost its way. Thursday nights at Ipswich used to be to be a must but now speedway in the UK pays second fiddle. Ben Barker has some interesting points in his interview in the Star. I do think in this country it needs to go back to basics and stop chasing the impossible. The money is in Poland, the UK cannot compete so time to go back to what works best over here, re group and in five to ten years look to challenge on the international scene. Until then build up a solid base of up and coming riders. If that means supports falls because you cannot see the GP stars week in week out so be it at least what may be left may make it a viable business proposition. As it stands it is dead in the water if it continues to have its race days dictated by overseas clubs and riders.

Emil seems to be getting back to his best. Great ride in that last heat and that demonstrates why it can be so good and unpredictable

Michelson does not like team riding, just as well it was Emil

That shows lack of experience. He will learn.

Brian Foote when riding for Rayleigh gave Jack as good as Jack dished out. The boos started the moment his name was announced during the team introductions. A hard rider and a great character as was Brian. Ted Hubbard was another hard rider.

One of the main problems in this country is you do have enough money coming into the sport in sponsorship etc. to make it a viable proposition for the number of clubs and with riders wanting to be full time employees using kit which is far too expensive it is impossible to square the financial circle. Stadia want the rent, riders demand top dollar to earn a living and maintain equipment and pay mechanics etc and fewer pundits have disposal income to take a family of four week in week out. As Dean has already said, the bikes are not a lot faster than years back but a good deal more expensive to run and maintain. Do spectators really care if the race is a few seconds slower. As long as you are being entertained I do not see race times an issue. The British public are simply not in love with speedway like they use to be and it is a brave person who would invest in the current business model in the UK.

Do any of the Ukrainian riders ride in any of the Polish leagues? Nazar looks as though he could be quite useful.

Racing is not bad so far despite the scoreline and an enthusiastic crowd souring the teams on.

Yep, miles out, got it wrong and well done the witches. Will not do the lottery in a hurry. Great to see the witches pulling together. I will now crawl under the stone and disappear.

I think it could be closer than that. Depends on how well Jason performs. Looking at yesterday’s Polish matches, the Leicester contingent did well so a close competitive meeting looks to be on the cards. Good luck to both teams and hopefully an injury free meeting.

A great day of entertaining speedway from Poland and that last race with Fricke topped it off, great ride. Thanks to all the riders who gave so much today.

Try the Polish thread, it is much more interesting.

Great to see a wide range of age groups including the youngsters giving it everything. Some hope yet

Great race well done Maciej

Great ride by Maxim

What speedway follower would not want to be in a stadia like this on. Warm Friday night watching speedway. Brings back memories of Friday at eight at Hackney

The meeting is not great but the riders turn up one day before a GP and Poland seems to race on days/nights when fans want to attend. In years gone by this use to happen in the UK with weekend meetings well attended but now the sport draws the short straw. Perhaps the UK clubs need to get back to thinking what entertainment they can offer on nights that suit the business model for each one and if that means going back to square one then so be it. Give it one year of reverting to running how it used to be to be and I reckon attendances would improve. If that does not work then, it will simply shorten the inevitable and the fickle followers will see clubs fail.

Totally agree and some meetings are no better in Poland but the difference is the support, the stadia and the enthusiasm of all involved which is at another level compared to UK. Yes many many years back that following did exist in the UK but those days have long gone due mainly to mismanagement of the sport. It will never reach the heights of Poland but at least it is something to aspire too.

Freddie doing what he needs to do given the GP this weekend whereas Bartosz is a racer and is always out to win.

Heat 18 and heat 19 show why this sort of meeting is important to a cross section of rider skills, heat 18 and. Youngster claims a scalp and heat 19 shows the class of Bartosz. Perhaps the P9les would like to hold a round of the championship in the UK

It is good that the Polish riders turn up and the authorities seemingly are running the sport. Where did it go wrong in the UK. Why is it the same discipline and commitment does not apply to UK speedway. Something is definitely wrong and the attitude of riders seems way wide of those in Poland.

Overall, I do not think anyone has too much to complain about. The racing was good, two different winners, track held up well compared to the temporary tracks and the non speedway issues such as catering and ticket may need addressing but overall a good weekend of racing for the tight knit community of speedway followers. A shame it does not even make 1 on the Richter scale of press reporting and maybe the limited attendance when other sports probably get far more through the gate on a regular basis means it is not exactly going to register as a high profile event for ‘Joe public’. The sport has a lot to do to if it wants to get in front of more people in the UK and maybe it needs to ditch the current business model. What would work is only going to come about by trial and error. For example consider a sprint championship with races at every league meeting culminating in a knock out competition which would then be followed by league meeting with five or six man teams followed by a second half for the rising talent and let’s this be the equivalent of the SGP2. Stop time wasting, as one race finishes get the riders out. Start offences, riders straight back round to the tapes. Rider breaks the tapes, back off 15 mtrs. Just ideas but sadly as it is the sport is the pimple on the arse of world sports entertainment. Most probably wish that those in charge could recognise the issues but alas many have the head buried in the sand syndrome. Hopefully this years problems of the non speedway issues will be sorted for next and we get treated to a feast of speedway at Belle Vue.