1 valve

Uh? Where common sense prevails - some outcomes are inevitable and thus can be regarded as factual for the purpose of deciding on a way forward. However, to sit on the fence, maybe "considerations more than likely to happen" could be a more liberal view to understand possible implications of one UK league coming to fruition, such as: Maybe those riders riding in both the UK and Poland will elect to give up on the UK because they need to be available Friday, Saturday & Sunday to ride in Poland for which they will be paid a lot more to do so than the UK (maybe?) Of course they may decide not to race in Poland in favor of the UK, thereby avoiding energy sapping travel and some more meetings in the UK. And maybe Scandinavian riders may elect to give UK a miss if it means they are unavailable to ride in their own countries domestic league and governing body who issued their licenses? And maybe if there is only to be one UK league, then maybe the powers that be (BSPA) might decide that doubling up will need to be amended so that when two teams who share a rider race against each other, the riders rides for the home team only? (maybe) and the away team uses RR or maybe a guest? also maybe they will have to really think the consequences through considering if it (one league) had happened this year then some meetings would have had to accommodate multiple riders riding for both teams - I could name them, but that would be stating something factual. One opinion I have held since the possibility of one league for the UK reared its ugly head, is that It will not happen any time soon, certainly not in 2026 mainly because there are insufficient riders to ensure the current promotions could continue "as is" and that is something the BSPA incumbents cannot see beyond or around (in my opinion).

Having removed the double counting of double up's there were 85 individual riders that finished the 2025 Premiership & Championship seasons. As well as excluding current GP, Ekstraliga & Ekstraliga 2 I also discounted (from a quality standard) a small number of riders who would be in a much lower class than those remaining from the current Premier & Championship teams. Far from "doom-mongering" I am just pointing out the undeniable math of the situation should folk wish to continue down the one league argument they need to understand that it would result with at best, 8 possibly 9 teams in it. Hence why the BSAP will not be considering one league as an option.

Of course all trading businesses need to ensure that their customers are satisfied...No customers, no business. However the point I was making, perhaps poorly, is that the concept of saying yes to everything a customer wishes or wants, is not always possible and other considerations influence any final offering. so, for instance, There is no point speedway promoters saying we will race on any night of the week when the majority of stadiums are not available every night. Or saying they will get all sixteen GP riders to race every week at weekends (or any day) as that is clearly unaffordable to do so. And as much as I am sure you actually do everything possible to meet your customers expectations, If one or more insisted, that despite reducing their annual requirement from you by 20% they wanted you to ensure twenty four hour availability i.e. open 24 hours and with a 30% price reduction you'd be pretty pushed to see any merit in meeting that expectation. That all said, As much as I fear the BSPA do not (unlike you) adequately consider their customers first & foremost, they also are devoid on a plan which would guide them towards profitably growing their business, and we should all bear in mind that any business continually failing to make profit is not actually a worthwhile business but a hobby for those wishing to find and fund the associated cost.

Scunthorpe announced on their website that not only have they signed Josh Pickering for next season, they will also be competing in the Championship...... Does this mean we can stop wasting time contemplating "one big league" BTY, in another topic on this website, its been revealed that Dan Thompson will be riding for Leicester next year apparently brought about by a good sized sponsorship deal for him. Ok I appreciate that this is not a formal announcement but does appear to sow the seeds that Lions will be riding in a top flight division given Dans possible continuation with Glasgow or if not, with other fixtures on the continent. Think this look like meaning two leagues for 2026 with doubling up to make it possible....?

Thanks for your reply and to be clear I personally am not trying to hang on to anything in particular only the hope that something will be done by the BSPA collectively to create a futureproof way forward for UK speedway. I see you are proposing to keep all 14 clubs "as is" whilst recognising that the number and quality of available riders will fall and suggesting five man teams being the way to accommodate the drop off whilst allowing clubs to race across a seven day week. Whilst that, at first glance all looks plausible , the following needs to be considered, - One league would remove doubling up causing an immediate reduction in the pool of riders. - All Polish, Scandinavian, Many other foreign nationals and most Australian's will not ride in the UK - No GP riders will be available - so no worry about Brady Kurtz or Dan Bewley riding against Sam Hagon. - The number of riders available from those who rode this year will be around fifty - not taking into account retirements and those possibly stepping up from development leagues. - Given the above there would be sufficient riders for ten x five man teams. - It is highly unlikely that the majority of speedway supporters would see value in a league made up of 5 man teams and lower skills. although some will, the majority would see it as the death knell for UK team speedway. To be clear, the above is not my personal opinion but the brutal facts regarding the numbers and overarching influences effecting UK speedway. There is a way forward but I remain to be convinced that the BSPA have the foresight and the courage to implement it and is something I sincerely hope I am proven to be mistaken.

Not really. They would never be able to please all the fans all of the time - blimey just look at the mix of ideals and wants from forum members on here. In reality, any business needs to do what’s best for the business, and shockingly, that shouldn’t always be focussed on customers. Employees, suppliers plus legal & financial stuff have to be taken into account. And it’s no different with speedway - other than I’m not convinced the major stakeholders (promoters)actually work in tandem for the best interest of the sport thus providing something the customer actually want.

Although some places do have Thursdays as Student night - mainly because those nights are “dead nights” for the hospitality trade. Wednesday is the actual Student day for the majority of universities. Who deliberately schedule their academic timetables to leave Wednesday afternoons free from lectures and seminars, allowing a large number of students to participate in sports without conflicting with their studies. This tradition is often referred to as "BUCS Wednesday" Strangely enough the fact that the next day is a school days doesn’t appear to hold them back from seeing the night out. 😱

OK just a few of questions for the purpose of clarification 1. How many teams would you consider a suitable number for a " one professional league"? 2. What would be the race nights be - Monday & Thursday as current for the Top league or include (say) weekends? 3. What level of competition would you like to see in the one league, same as the current top flight, Higher or lower? And if you were not already aware, the answers to all three questions are very much interlinked into the viability of "one league"

I’m referring to those who currently ride in Poland of whom the vast majority will continue to do so.

I understand the sentiment but what also should be taken into consideration is that it’s not just the GP stars that will disappear from the UK racing scene but nearly all or every rider who rides in Poland. To include many Brits, Australians, Scandinavians & Poles and the occasional American. Maybe enough for around four five UK teams. But at least there would be one league - Just!

Sorry to be pedantic but you will need to deduct VAT from the gate receipts.

So, starting with a “blank canvass”what would you suggest would be “something different”

So, starting with a “blank canvass”what would you suggest would be “something different”

So what would “a total reset” entail presuming no TV deal of any significance?

You may well be right re Futures needing time to get some deals, but considering they have been at it for over a year you’d think they would have something tied up by now for 2026. Maybe the AGM being delayed is for more than one reason or another?

Because the contracts include a cancellation clause stating such.

In this your second post on the matter you have not told me anything I didn’t already know re Mayfield Sports, Richard Coleman and his future involvement with Tech3 especially since I have been fortunate to count the current owner Herve Poncharal as a close friend for many years and who will be a sad loss to the MotoGP paddock when he eventually signs off at the end of this current season, although I believe he will continue to be of help and assistance to Gunter's consortium following their acquisition of the business. Regarding the Speedway GP series, contrary to your assumptions, I am sure of many related facts. One being that Mayfield sports will be working closely with hosting organisations to ensure each meeting follows a suitable and consistent agenda mindful that broadcasting of each event remains with WBDS. You appear to be concerned that Coleman is spreading himself too thin on the ground whilst failing to acknowledge that it his company (albeit not a large one with huge resources but at least adequate) who will be promoting the SpeedwayGP series not just him. Although you and many others may share a mutual concern about the quality of the 2026 GP series (which I have raised elsewhere on this forum) your concerns are based on unfounded speculation to believe that the 2026 SpeedwayGP series will not happen leaving the top riders short of work & desperate to ride in the UK.

No problem with RR as clubs are using their own resources to cover for injured riders instead of guests. What needs to be severely limited in order to help establish credibility of the sport is riders doubling up and the drastic reduction of guests.

Not really. Riders contracts can be terminated without notice or compensation. The power is very much with the promoters.

Where is the source of this concept coming from. Unless I am mistaken, The 2026 GP series will run pretty much in line with 2025 concept. Or put another way, your post is without foundation and is in fact utter garbage!

Spot on. “Tomorrow’s a school day” by and large an excuse.

Spot on. “Tomorrow’s a school day” by and large an excuse.

Attending sporting fixtures is way different to going to a pub. This past Monday 41476 turned out to watch Sunderland v Everton. On a smaller scale 2820 turned out to watch Tamworth. And a good number of the people who went were kids with at least one parent - even though next day was a school day. Make Speedway interesting, consistent, worthwhile & known about and folk will come.

Actually - Monday & Thursday nights to see the (for now) top riders in action. Plenty of other clubs to see racing on the other nights - although prevailing attendance & sponsorship does not appear to be making those clubs hugely profitable sellouts - to say the least. As said elsewhere on this forum, it isn’t a single magic bullet that’s required to get UK speedway back on a growth journey (or even stopping the decline) it’s a good number of things which need to be addressed and put in place in a coordinated manner. One without the other is wasting precious time and certainly if the clubs/promoters cannot see or agree that working individually is of no long term use to the sport.

You may think it’s not good enough but the realty is that in the UK speedway is run as a business by the people who will be attending the AGM. You/we are customers of the people who run companies who will be attending the AGM - and if you don’t like what they decide on what they think is best for the sport the don’t support it. Meanwhile they will continue to try to get things right at their expense ….. and suffer the consequences !