Hawk127

I understand the sentiment but that does not deal with the real problem. Dwindling numbers turning up to watch a live meeting. Do what they like tinkering with double up, r/r.etc. if no one is watching it is all rather irrelevant. Give the punter what they want and they will turn up. Allow the tail to wag the dog and you have what is a sad situation that speedway finds itself in. Someone seems to have forgotten about the customer which is what ever supporter is.

Wholeheartedly agree. To add to the debate I am not sure why promoters think that fixed race nights will solve the problem? Has anyone bothered to consult the fans who pay. Is a Monday or Thursday going to suit the majority who turn up having been used to Wednesday or. Friday or a weekend. What happens if many cannot make it because most have busy lives and many other commitments/options. It is pie in the sky to think that the top riders will flock back. Not many clubs can afford them and if it ends up reducing the fan base on a night that does not work locally it is game up for the team and track. The same applies to having a national league of teams dotted around the country. Financial suicide. Supporters do not travel in numbers to away matches unless they are relatively local (Ipswich/Kings Lynn/ Peterborough/ Lakeside/Rye House as e apples) so each club is relying on a dwindling number of locals to turn up come what may. Therefore to add to what has been said above, they seriously need to contsider a spell in the sport where it is regional leagues, north and south and finals in both then the winners of each contest a national championship which will give clubs some opportunity to fill the coffers and rebuild the business. Other team events and an individual championship could if structured correctly give clubs weekly racing assuming that they want to think outside the box. Carry on as is in the blind belief that anything other than radical changes are needed and the sport will become amateur in a very short while. Think about open licences for race tracks and turn the clock back a bit, it was not all bad in years gone by.

All to ride for on Thursday. Wish Rory well and look forward to seeing a large contingent of Panther fans at Foxhall for the showdown. Whoever wins thanks to all the riders.

No intention of meaning all of you. Met some great genuine Panther fans over the years and believe that th core are not represented by a few. Sad that a family sport with real good fans at heart has some down and outs in the r@nks of supporters. Whatever the result grateful that it is an East Anglian derby and hopefully also a good meeting on a Thursday.

Why such aggressive feedback/uncalled comments from Flappy and Jeremy Corbyn fan? Guess it is a reflection of the management riders and track staff of the once gracious Panthers. Sad how times have changed.

Allegedly an unhelpful start Marshall. Nice to hear that the Panthers track team believe in fair play and gentlemanly behaviour. What goes around comes around.

Farcical does not do enough to describe the situation. Such a shame that it has to go down to the wire because those with some authority have let the situation drift, irrespective of the current weather. It should never have reached this situation and when will those in charge of managing the sport, which they currently do very badly, have some balls and get a grip with what is going on and is so wrong about where speedway is today. Poor management is not solely the cause of where things are, self interest by a few in the higher league is killing the sport and it has become a joke. Is it any wonder supporters continue to drift away. Award the cup to the witches by default and use the next available date for the 16 Lapper and let all Ipswich fans watch a spectacle of eight riders in one race ( yes to the whinging wimps of riders who moan about five rider races, more than four in a race can work and some riders have no fear and get on with it).

I think in Poland riders get a siging on fee and then points money. I read this on the International page a short while back. I wonder if UK teams pay a fixed fee and the points money is on top. A bit like sales with a basic that is just enough to keep,the wolf from the door but the opportunity to earn more if you (get sales) read score the points. Surely they have a basic pay scale and the rest is up to individual negotiations including the 'additions' such as van, flights etc. No one begrudges them earning a living but I think it is some pleading poverty and treating the fans with contempt. Most of the young riders ought to know that most supporters were not born yesterday and do not like having the p.... taken.

OK concede defeat. Suggest that the final round is held at the off shore haven for tax exiles known as the Isle of Wight. Failing that I see in the Times that Canvey Island are seeking independence. As far as Canvey is concerned, stick some outboard motors on the west side and move it as far out into the Thames/North Sea as is possible. Having lived on the Island for a short while even moving it offshore is too good for it.

If you live in Wales you are independent. Why would you wish to associate yourself with the rest ✌️✌️. The point is that given it has no speedway teams and effectively it is Scottish and English teams that are the nearest you get you could in theory draw the same parallel by having it in a non speedway nation in Europe providing it is easy to get to by plane, train, car or shanksy pony. In reality who cares apart from the odd 10000 who bother to trek around Europe (exception being Poland and Wales who manage a few more).

Wales has no speedway clubs but the fans flock to this independent nation so clearly any country could in theory host a round assuming that close by you have a Country that hosts speedway on a regular basis. Why not try France, Spain or Portugal for the end of the season GP finale. As an outside option Cyprus or anywhere in Southern Europe/North Africa where the good weather is guaranteed.

Whatever the result it is still good to have speedway on TV and with only one more meeting to go with the GP one can only hope that speedway carries on on TV in 2018. A big thanks to BT sport.

Set realistic deadlines and not have it hanging on in the dying embers of the season. Fix deadlines for various rounds and stick to them of forfeit the fixture. It is down to the powers that be to run the sport and not allow things to drag on. I really don't get the excuses if on the basis of what you are saying it is rider availability. That excuse applies earlier in the season as it does now, so we can agree differ. Just a shame for the supporters to watch a good team look so poor because they cannot put out the best 1 to 7

Totally agree. It has become a farce with an unrecognisable Wolves team. Creditably no longer exists as far as speedway is concerned and those whose hands the sport is in should hang their heads in shame. You have failed the supporters and the sport.

Well done to the witches. Still hope of a trophy afterall. Look forward to the final and glory.

You are not alone, it has become farcical and the tale is now wagging the dog. What would happen if the fans protested by deciding not to attend a particular meeting simply to make the point that we have had enough. It seems in Poland that some riders get a fixed amount plus points money but team places are more competitive and they have to go out ride. Here in the U.K. Quite a few stick two fingers up at the punters without so much a by or leave and still expect people to turn up,week in week out. Time the fans said enough is enough. Without money on the turnstiles most clubs would be in trouble if fans boycotted a meeting or two. Perhaps that is what is needed to get the message across.

Is it televised next Monday or can we all rely on updates while watching something more interesting, such as the adverts.

Every team to have a R/R from the start of the season to make sure enough riders to around. No point in waiting start as they mean to go on. Ten Heat meetings with five bonus races to follow when the points are 4,3,2,1. No jokers apart from the referee. It could work, one never knows ✌️✌️

A genuine question, is it the riding order rather than a superior team. Heeps, King and Newman when riding for Ipswich at Sheffield do not seem as competitive. The void may not be as great other than for the riding order. Perhaps I am wrong but just an observation.

This is dire. Let us hope that those who are Ipswich riders can repeat the performance later this week in the KO cup. Probably not but one can only live in hope.

Too late to change the format now but why not have qualifying races before the meeting (say the afternoon on the day of the meeting) for those outside the top eight. Throw in a couple of local riders as well and then hopefully the main meeting will be a competitive affair. The track can then be prepared for the evening meeting. This also makes it better for the fans as an event to attend.

League meetings held only between April and August. Any team that fails to complete its fixtures by the end of August loses two league points for each meeting not completed by the cut off date. Play offs first two weeks in September. Pre April and post September the British Invidual championship with at least one meeting held at every track. Grand final at the end of September. Then knock out cup or World Cup style meetings on a knock out basis. Three teams progress To the next round then the top two and then the final. Might want some work but it should guarantee regularly weekly speedway during the summer months for most teams. Oh a no excuses re rain offs etc in the league. Use the off race night or lose the league points. Bring back some discipline to running fixtures and stick to it no is or buts.

If a rider falls and it is evident that he seen where his team partner is in the race and as a result deliberately stays down to give his partner a second chance (assumes partner is in 2nd or 3rd) then the faller should be excluded and the partner penalised by having to go off 15mtrs in the restart. Last night at Swindon was an example of this tactic.

Well done to Wolves and a good team effort. Disappointed that both managers do not seem to give each other the time of day and while Wolves seem magnanimous and still do not under esmiate the task ahead the Swindon management leave a lot to be desired in walking away without a bye or leave.Accept with grace the result, shake hands and onward and upward to Wednesday. Rosco simply walking away after the interview is sadly lacking in manners or diplomacy. Good luck to both teams on Wednesday.

Thanks to all for the feedback. Can now book some flights.