Hawk127

If Ipswich join the upper echelons would Jason Doyle be an ideal candidate to lead the witches? Could Jarek also feature in the line up. These riders plus a local derby against KL, something to look forward to.

But he rode NL and you stated the class of rider in that division.

Ok so it settles at a certain level you decide I cannot possibly comment on where the top league sits but I am sure Rosco has an answer but next year who knows. Could yet be Swindon versus Ipswich in 2019 but not as good as the days when Leigh Adams graced this sport✌️

Unfortunately for you I have. Stick to Swindon. It is your level.

It was his attitude towards NL riders. You have to start somewhere and quoting Barry Norman is irrelevant. This is about speedway not some crap movie or presenter.

Agree. Was Robert Lambert not a product of the NL? It is a shame that those who criticise have probably never ridden a speedway bike and frankly are talking out of their backside. I would like to see the scumbag in a race against any NL rider. Any rider at whatever level deserves some respect. Everyone has to start somewhere.

I agree but also think that of late CL has been worn downand all but given up. The 16 Lapper cancelled for spurious reasons when other clubs manage to run individual meetings and Ipswich show little respect for the speedway supporter and the loyal local following. Here we are at the end of September and most clubs have shut up shop, what has gone wrong with the sport? Years gone by, the end of season closing meetings were something to behold now it is a damp squib. As a sport the farce continues with events at Peterborough versus Lakeside which while it might be beyond the control of Peterborough it sums up the shambles UK speedway finds itself in. Poor stadia, indifferent rider loyalty, riders who cannot be bothered to turn out for anything other than an league meeting yet they whinge about the lack of track time, promoters who have buried their heads up their own backsides and ignore the current loyal supporters and with no hope of attracting new support because of a p poor product.. the only saving grace at this time is Tai, Workington, Mildenhall and Kings Lynn all whom deserve success and on the rider front, Robert Lambert has so much more to offer but is not quite ready for the GP. Dan, Drew and a good few more give English speedway a bright future and in summing up, league racing has fallen well short but on an individual front the sport has some real contenders who without the pressure will go all the way. RL to be GP champ by 2022.

Got confused with the FIM shadow logo but now read your e mail, wholeheartedly agree and e mail sent.

Good racing in the end with a few different lines. Well done to all riders for making it an interesting meeting and hopefully the FIM will show even more live events on line next year.

So could that be a North/South divide. Both divisions racing Wednesday to Sunday and double up/down only allowed between North and South but not within each division. Top four from each division contest an end of season play off for a national title. All teams (North and South) to have a NL team and the NL is run on. 4TT basis so that the likes of Buxton etc. can compete. The NL has a Championship play off with the top four teams racing one round at their home track and a final championship meeting in Manchester. Most tracks would have weekly meetings. Something different but that is all that is left for the BSPA to try, as all that has gone before has failed. For rain offs a share of the points, no trying to re-arrange meetings. Then bring in U.K. riders championship with every track hosting a meeting. I guess none of this is in the thought process but tinkering is only going to finish off the sport. No turning back without a radical change the few fans left will walk.

It is a shame as fair few rave about the biggest individual meetings the GP yet cannot be bother turnout for this type of meeting and I really do not understand the obsession with league racing as it is today. I would rather see individual riders going for it and looking after number one with a pot of money for the winner then the drawn out league meetings that are so often what is offered up as entertainment. The other point is that riders need to be on track regularly and competively to improve and the punters are denying the riders the opportunity to show what they can do with regular riding by effectively boycotting meetings other than league racing. Any wonder the British riders struggle.

Perhaps if they run league meetings on a 4TT basis would that make a difference? Surely the powers that be really don’t want to shoot themselves in the foot with grass roots speedway (no disrespect to any club) being lost. Entertainment wise it is great and the IOW and Plymouth and all the others in that league are great ambassadors for the sport. BSPA get real.

Sorry about that only quoting what the commentator said. Must have misunderstood. Probably get a bollocking for starting the topic on another thread. Still bit like U.K. promoters and rides, who gives a t...

For anyone interested the meeting is live now on Freesport TV and the return is also live tomorrow

Disappointing but with the general apathy it is not surprising. However they could have filled the gaps in the calendar with NL riders for individual meetings or a local 3TT using NL riders representing KL, IP and Mildenhall or perhaps have a final meeting that was a mixed race night with speedway, short track and sidecars. I guess that the promotion simply cannot be bothered to make the effort and similarly, riders cannot be bothered to turn out. I still wonder why did they not enter a team in the NL trophy as did Cradley Heath given that they would have known at the back end of last year how few home meetings they would be running. Perhaps even CL has given up on it now. Whatever the real reason it demonstrates scant regard for the supporters. How many will bother buying season tickets next year?

Cat amongst the pidgeons. Loathe him or admire him Matt Ford has run one of the most successful clubs and given that he appears to be reaching that point on where he goes next, perhaps he could relinquish the reigns at Poole and do what John Berry tried to achieve. Matt knows speedway inside out, is one of the few people who could probably command some respect from those outside the sport given his business acumen and at this juncture speedway has nothing to lose. Carry on with the current crew and no changes (either Matt or someone with a good PR and presence) then it is a lost cause and the chances of recovery are slim. It needs something radical to happen not just the regular tinkering and tweaking which simply alienates all and sundry.

Thought it was a good meeting and how refreshing to go through the card and been done and dusted in about 90 minutes. Hopefully another good encounter at Poole. Well done to both sets of riders.

Apparently 16000 at the meet. Dream on U.K. speedway it has some work to do to tempt those sort of numbers to a play off meeting.

Watching the meeting on Freesport, how a UK track would not die for an enthusiastic crowd like you have at this one and even though the racing may not be that great what it lacks on the track is made up for in the stands. If only this could happen in the UK with numbers like you have at this meet. It is infectious and they know how to create an atmosphere. This is what the sport lacks over here.

Well done to the bandits. If ever a team deserved to be in the play offs it is you but alas it is not to be. A great weekend to savour and something that can carry you through the winter months. You did the town of Berwick proud and hopefully next year you can go one step further.

Simply bowing to pressure and give up on the back of those who think they are better than the average punter. If either of the descriptive terms you use apply to individuals, fill your boots. I would still seek redress whatever as far too many are being ripped off.

Regrettably I am well qualified to suggest options for seeking recompense in such situations and have used these methods to good effect to get paid where certain parties are in default or breach of contract. Before you use such phrases make sure you know what they mean and then how to defend your position in similar circumstances. Far too many role over and allow others to take the moral high ground when the hard reality is that an individual feels they have been taken advantage of and suffered a loss and seeks redress. What is the issue with that scenario?

Why not test it in court. Firstly apply directly to the company running the sport at Arena for a refund plus consequential losses (travel cost etc.) and do this in in writing and it is always useful to attach an invoice with any receipts. Include a claim for fuel either by value or on a per pence per mile or receipts for public transport. Ask that they reply within seven days of the date of claim. If no response send a final demand and then if nothing happens within seven days file a claim through the small claims court. If you know their bank another option is available whereby you can send invoice and a bill of exchange and in the covering instructions to their bank request noting and protesting in the event of non acceptance/payment. Other than the foregoing, you simply accept the situation and unfortunately accept the loss.

Sad really that the once mighty witches who dropped down from the higher echelons of this sport with so much hope of picking up silver ware have failed spectacularly and while injuries have played a part over the seasons the real heart of Ipswich speedway has long gone. Will CL continue or sell up having tried so hard to get that success by saying enough is enough. They have nowhere to go now having fallen at the final hurdle of respectability and with the poor state of the sport, no one could blame the Louis dynasty if walking away was what they decide to do. They gave it their best shot. One last hurrah, the 16 Lapper hopefully

Totally agree. I have been going since 1969 to various clubs/meetings and more often than not two or three times a week in the early seventies but now I pick the odd meeting at Ipswich and Mildenhall. It has lost its appeal and I really find it hard to relate to teams made up of a pool of riders.