Hamish McRaker

Summary of Premiership news items in Speedway Star, dated 28 May 2026; BSPL say Ipswich now 99.9% likely to be coming to the tapes this season, as the takeover still has one niggling matter to resolve. No riders announced yet, apart from Edwards BSPL say Northampton now 97.6% likely to be coming to the tapes this season. Still hoping to complete a deal with an as yet un-named investor with £200k sitting in his bank. No riders announced yet. Rumours they could begin the season by staging home matches at Wembley as someone at BSPL remembered there used to be a track there a few years ago. Belle Vue, Kings Lynn, Leicester and Sheffield have already gone ahead and raced many of their scheduled matches against each other, the last fixtures being listed for the last week of June. No season tickets have been available yet, but hopefully they will be for their remaining matches, which will all be against Ipswich and Northampton alternately. Ipswich v Northampton matches will all be staged during the final week of the season, whenever that is. The big meeting of all current promoters and owners, to plan for the 2027 season and scheduled for June 6th, has been cancelled. Premiership owners and promoters are currently too busy flogging dead horses, and there have been no responses from any in the Championship, apart from the Scunthorpe representative who queried the need to look so far ahead. A BSPL spokesperson said that the meeting will now "probably be held sometime in October, or whenever the current season is over and done with". Bartoz Zmarzlik has been confirmed as World Champion for 2026, after already accumulating sufficient points from the 18 "sprint races" during the GP events staged so far. Interviewed, he said he was "very happy"

Maybe he was thinking of established clubs having to fork out big on points money for their riders when they win away at the new club and thrash them at home?

Spot on, i thought the article contained contradictions and looked like it had been hastily edited just prior to publication. Surely, even getting things ready by May would be a major undertaking. The track probably needs widening, and by the sound of things all kinds of infrastructure needs to be put in place. Then there's the need to generate local interest. This needs to be built-up over a period of time via local media and other marketing, all of which requires time and lots of money. They dont want to start the season without anyone locally knowing it's happening and without the right infrastructure! Maybe things are further along now than the article implied, but "edging forward" sounds more like 2027 than 2026!

I'd be surprised if he hasnt already included it within the deal, if only just verbally. It probably also includes the standard of his bikes maintenance.

They had to sacrifice Fricke and Becker because of the points limit reduction and keep the majority of last season's team together. Kemp has got the gig ahead of Sedgmen and has publicly admitted he needs to pull his socks up. If he doesnt, Leicester will have other options

Thr 8% reduction's only applicable for returning from injury (not including one inflicted to someonr else)

Well, as far as i can tell, there was a very brief reference to comparing Kings Lynn and Leicester 2026 reserves (despite Leicester only so far naming one of them) and otherwise the majority of posts seem to be Ipswich and Kings Lynn oriented, such as about Danny King and Robert Lambert. Eff all about Leicester

Ah, so what's all this got to do with Leicester?

Has Leicester signed Rushen Cooper? Or Cooper Rushen? What's happened to Drew Kemp? I'm Confused.com (not difficult these days)

Went to a restaurant once and saw "Oasis Soup" on the menu. Asked the waiter what it was. He said "you get a roll with it" 🤭

Probably not in soccerball, no!

I suppose that riders and team managers having a "full and frank exchange of views" isn't necessarily the termination of the relationship, as with any workplace. Probably just SD's way of trying to get the best out of Kemp, the old "kick up the backside" approach. I think Brian Clough used to have a long-serving player who used to question Clough's match tactics. He would invite the player into his office for a cup of tea and a chat, "at the end of which he would agree with everything i said".

I think you're about to become disappointed, then🤥

Could've featured Tolley with his Top Hat strategically placed. Bound to send sales soaring among a certain demographic

Yes, a topless calender, that's what is needed! 12 promoters as youve never seen them before (when sober). Fire-up the Grok!