Hawk127

Another nail in the coffin of speedway. CL has been a rider who you have the utmost respect and today’s clan of whimps should learn a thing or two about adapting to conditions and giving it a try. If after a few heats the track does not improve then fine but frankly what you have now is the equivalent of fine weather fishermen. Time the fans boycotted meetings to show they have had enough. Today’s riders are so far removed from being men with skills and track craft that frankly they are killing off the sport @nd deserve to be out of work.

These were just five fixtures in the Premiership from the 8th August to Monday 13th 8th - Kings Lynn v Belle Vue / Swindon v Leicester 9th - Poole v Leicester 13th - Leicester v Belle Vue / Poole v Somerset And yet Still outstanding from A fixtures based on SS are the following KL v Leicester / KL v Wolverhampton / Swindon v Belle Vue The B fixtures still to be run Belle Vue have five fixture (after taking into account Somerset yesterday) ( 3 home 2 away) KL have six (3 home and 3 away) Leicester have four (2 home and 2 away) Poole have six (3 home and 3 away) Somerset have seven (4 home 3 away) Swindon have three (2 home 1 away) Wolverhampton have seven (3 home 4 away) You have to question why by the third week of August so many fixtures are still to be run when there have been so many blank dates throughout most weeks since May and with some A fixtures still to be completed, it is a farce. Set cut off dates and that is it. The clubs really need to organise themselves better.

While we still have no news, an interesting comment in SS this week by Stuart Kellie of Plymouth when he is quoted as saying “We have an idea of how speedway will run in 2019 and it is just a case of forecasting how we can balance the figures, taking into account the potential gate figures and sponsorship income” This was said as Plymouth are considering stepping up from the NL. I guess all will be revealed in the fullness of time but if Plymouth have an idea why can’t the BSPA be more open and in doing so perhaps generate some good will from one of their most important assets, the supporters. I suspect I know the answer and in the end their approach to public relations continue to be dire.

It might be good for the sport providing the punters turn up. Too many promoters looking after number one and the lack of cooperation is evident. Also give a thought to those fans who have lost money on hotels and booked holidays around fixtures only to find them changed at the last minute (not because of weather) without a second thought by the promoters. All have had adequate time to get their house in order and most have failed miserably. If it down to overseas commitments, that is another issue that needs to dealt with, if it is the double up then that confirms FRN etc. Is not working. No extension is the fairest way. What happens if they did and it peed down that week. Another extension?

I do not think you are alone. I long gave up on six man teams made up of guests, strays and anyone who could ride a bike and the fact that the powers that be felt I only needed to watch speedway every two or three weeks has been the final straw and my response is well screw you lot. I will save the cash and find something more interesting to follow. Too many of the people running clubs are so far removed from reality that they really need to get out and do everyone a favour and take up knitting because they are of no value to the well being of speedway

I don’t think it is just a case that the standard of rider that has dropped. You do not have to have Gregg, Tai and others to make a good race, but you do want to see riders with track craft, throttle control and the ability to adapt to the track as presented and put on a show. Fans are fed up with seeing those that work at it to hone their skills versus those who ride in so many leagues and countries that Speedway U.K. is just pin money. The paying public deserve better. Aim for a level playing field and that does not mean clubs wasting money they do not have on the top stars because the UK version of speedway cannot afford them any longer. Speedway is a spent sport that will struggle for years to come so it is time to wise up and run at a level that can be reasonably funded out of the very little revenue that each team can generate. Those that cannot make ends meet should close. It needs to be a part time income for those riding over here not the sole source of pay for the participants. Why supporters want to watch six riders plus R/R every other week really makes no sense. Being weekly is probably more a case of if you are lucky (more like,ly every three to four weeks) and with no real allegiance to the team because of guests and double ups supporters no longer recognise or have a local team. You have a bunch of riders who are mercenaries and take what they can get from any source. They are not interested in the punter just the pound in their pocket from the nights racing be this a fixed fee and/or points money.

Just thought that local charities might create more publicity and bring in that local support which is there or thereabouts and raise the profile in the local community. National publicity has not worked and the lazy promoters do not sell the sport relying on press and radio coverage (mainly BBC) so this is partly doing the job for them. We know that promoters rarely promote (unlike stock cars and bangers) and to keep the sport alive, something needs doing as without some ideas that are thinking outside the box speedway is dead in the water. Poor stadia, poor tracks, poor presentation and taking the p.. with running 15 races over two hours says all that is wrong. If you want to run something that takes two hours plus then invoke some interest such as betting but stop taking the punters for fools. Promoters need to wise up and get real. If they cannot get a grip on what is wrong, close down the venue rather than hold others to ransom.

I agree and add to this the option of picking the finishing order and heat result. Betting stops as soon as the tapes rise. Alternatively run it like a lottery with a percentage of the wager going to to a local charity each week and for the play offs a percentage goes to the Ben Fund. Put betting on site might see the numbers through the gate increase. Some comparison with dog betting but less time to wait between races.

It does seem that some of the debate revolves around the fans/supporters. Older fans were brought up on a diet of mixed racing, league, cup, individual meetings 4TT etc and enjoyed the weekly fix which also achieved the desired aim of riders in having more track time. Today many will not turn up / support anything other than league meetings. That is fine and a choice we all make However with fewer clubs not always having their preferred choice of racing night and having to fight over a dwindling pool of riders given the pull of European clubs, it does make it difficult to get a settled 1 to 7 in any BL club with regular weekly racing particular when the customer base only want one form of meeting and will not turn out in decent enough numbers to support/following speedway racing except a league meeting. Up and coming riders have little chance of breaking in when the track time is so scarce. Perhaps the decline is not just due to the product and all the associated issues, it may well be that the punter has played a major part in the decline with their choices. Other theories will do the rounds as to who or what is wrong and lots of ideas on here have merit but perhaps the supporters need to look inwardly and think would I run a speedway team with such a fickle client base.

Has Heeps had enough chances? Perhaps another change and possibly the witches could just make the play offs. I really hope that next season the teams can get back to weekly racing a build continuity so that the riders are getting regular track time and they can be slighter better in terms of race fitness then appears to be the case at present. Forget doubling up, build team to ride as a team and with that will come the confidence and camaraderie rather than individuals plying their trade around the country with little or no loyalty and no rider/club following

Scott needs to come home. The witches is where he belongs.

Thanks. Much appreciated

I know it is madness to ask when we are only July but is Berlin confirmed. Hotels and flights are really cheap at this time hence the question.

A bit of a long way to go for those of us south of Ipswich and a pity that more clubs do not take a leaf out of the Northern Junior league book and put on a show featuring different levels of skill so that we get a chance to see the future on a regular basis, not just an ‘ as and when someone feels like it’. What is your opinion of the mixed racing and is it recorded or on YouTube?

Agree Neil does appear to be working hard for the future but these youngsters deserve some support on the terraces. Take a look at the 85 cc Gold Trophy that was raced at Rybinsk today. A decent crowd, big screen and although some of the racing is a bit processional (bit like British league racing) the crowd get behind the next generation. Why not have teams with different classes of bikes racing in a meeting. Four man teams at 125, 250 & 500cc with the aggregate points scored then determining who wins the match and the league points. Something different but isn’t that what is badly needed to reignite the interest

Without Guy Nicholls and his Tru7 Group who sponsor the witches, the chances are Ipswich would find it difficult to run. Despite so many decent ideas being thrown into the pot, few on the forum will reach a consensus as to the way forward and with the ‘franchise’ mentality of those running their clubs and reasonable sums of money being put in by primarily local businesses sponsoring local clubs, is it any wonder the current business model is a failure with so much local self interest Perhaps it needs such a major change to fix speedway and that may drive away the dwindling fan base yet I suspect no one has deep enough pockets to take the gamble unless you give tracks an open licence to experiment but that would also mean no league racing. Radical changes such as dropping league racing should be considered by those clubs who cannot afford to run a team sport rather than expect the majority to fall into line with the minority. To owners and promoters perhaps you should cut your cloth accordingly and start thinking of the sport as a whole and not your own little silo.

Keep it up Craig I have you nailed on at 80/1 with an each way net. You can do it.

Is it not time that every race has four riders. If one gets excluded for whatever reason bring in the reserves rather than just have three only. Most people want to see four riders. As to the referee what can you say. Time you had two referees and not one short sighted lunatic. Apart from that not a bad meeting

We would only know that if you know every limited company running each track and then download even the abbreviated accounts from Companies House to assess who is in negative net worth territory or a substantially reduced net worth based on prior year trading. I suspect that for many clubs the numbers are not adding up and hence cost controls need to be put in place to make it an even playing field if the sport is to continue at many venues. Yes you will always try and protect your assets but given the many variables that impact on the sport from rider costs, sponsorship, numbers through the gates, machinery upkeep, stadium rental etc. it is a mystery as to why any sane business person would invest almost to the point of having a blank cheque book. I doubt we have seen the last of troubled and stretched clubs.

What has happened to the once mighty witches? 38 - 34 and seemingly finding it tough. Have the team given up or are Redcar in their element tonight. Whatever way you look at it a stronger team would be wiping the floor and you wonder whether the witches will pick up any points away from home let alone make Foxhall a fortress

Totally agree. Some of the better racing you see on home tracks is when it is an individual meeting. As you say many of us oldies are bored with the format and teams which are in reality a collection of riders with no loyalty other than to the bank balance which is fine, so give them and the punters what they want, weekly racing at every track with the opportunity to earn. As I have said before, tracks should have open licences and start this off with Rye House. Allow them to experiment with a few individual events at weekends and include different classes such as 500 and 250 cc and make it an event, not just a meeting. Good talented riders will rise to the top and if it is a locally based rider then people will follow. If marketed correctly this could be the saviour of the sport. For those who want club racing, watch the Poles and the Swedes or support an NL team.

All those purists banging on about seven man teams and shortage of riders for a variety of so called valid reasons but far too often you have a six man team with Mr R/R. Some will simply stay away as they pay to watch seven riders racing not six and something as simple as this is lost on promoters. Not necessarily an Ipswich situation but it does seem that the powers that be have an attitude of put up with it as it is what it is. No wonder punters are voting by not turning up. Sad to say but you reap what you sow promoters.

Over powered machines, riders with no track craft and inflation making it far too expensive for riders and punters. Promoters who no longer promote and took the easy money from TV. All gone wrong at roughly the same time. As one politician once said ‘back to basic’ and that is where it needs to go before it can move forward.

Perhaps start with the three leagues and price fix the admission charge so clubs have to build a team to a budget. If they get additional sponsorship that is up to them. Premiership £15 - Concessions - £10 - Under 16 free. Race sheet included Championship £12 Concessions and under 16 as above National £8 Flat rate except for under 16 who will be free. Revert to 13 heat formula and a second half split between the top five riders and the 6,7 and nominated number 8 Allow teams to race on the night that best suits them and if they sign riders who have commitments abroad, they will not be given any facility if the overseas team has priority. Scrap the restriction on over 8 pointers for the Premiership. Revert to home and away twice, k o cup and Craven Shield. introduce a British championship that runs throughout the season with every track holding one round Unless you get all tracks operating under a fixed set of rules when it comes to costs etc it will never work. Fans generally want a weekly fix or at the very least once a fortnight and sorting out the schedule of meetings should not be difficult if the league season runs from mid April until mid September. Clubs given two alternative dates when a meeting is postponed. If neither work they forfeit the league points. This would at least attempt to deal with the shenanigans that go on with rearranging fixtures and rider availability Keep the rule book simple. For example If riders break the tapes or cause a stoppage which requires a race to be rerun (and depending on the cause) it should be all four back with the culprit off 20 meters. The punter pays to watch four riders in every race. Unsatisfactory start, straight back, no pit gate being opened. Mechanics restricted to the pits once a rider leaves to race. it would not be difficult to simplify the running of the sport and introduce some scratch races as part of the meeting like for example the fastest lap or two laps or even bring back the golden and silver helmet match races. The odd tweak might make all the difference but getting all the clubs to cut their cloth accordingly is going to be the stumbling block.

Why not put together a team of NL riders, arrange some challenge matches and individual meetings and forget the rest of the league season. Afterall the witches are only making up the numbers now and so how about putting on some entertainment and see what riders can be unearthed for next year. Riders turning up knowing that team places are up for grabs will certainly be going all out.