1 valve

If there ever was to be two leagues, then there would need to be clear demarcation. One to run the top tier and one to run a lower semi pro comp. when riders sign for the top tier they know that they cannot sign for the a team in the lower tier. There would be no restraint of trade involved.

Maybe two separate camps under their own management but still under the auspices of the SCB/ACU to ensure alignment with the FIM is a way forward. Tier one for the fully professional league and tier two for a semi professional league. with very limited, if any, doubling up or down of riders to force the two tiers to work within their scope of operation.

As CEO its good that P Morris is independent and for now that's about as much as we can hope for. In the current climate its no use a sport relying on the board to run matters solely by themselves. Sub divisions of proactive promoters looking into wider matters is required and they should report to specific members. Of course as CEO PM should be leading the business and day to day decision making whereas (and I stand to be corrected) it appears matters have to go through the chair for his sanction. The good news is that besides the board there are new promoters with strong and refreshing views, hopefully they will not be held back.

The sport doesn't really need too many "new promoters/owners", what is required is a fresh set of thinking, taking into account what is possible in the short term and a vision to where this will lead in the more immediate medium term i.e. 1 - 3 years and then grow from there. One main issue (and there are a few more) is that the folk in power, albeit with good intention, are actually blocking the prospects of growth, and so first and foremost changes are required within the sport hierarchy that enables those better qualified, connected and vision to step up and lead the way forward.

Read my earlier post, where Poole are grouped with "the rest".

They don't have to rip anything up at all and of course they can stay where they are and choose to run their business as they choose. There is no reason why anybody would disagree with that. But if they do insists on continuing to do what they are doing in order to be successful both on and off the track in tier 2. then they cannot, and most probably do not want to be, included in plans from a top flight perspective, to move the sport forward if Mondays & Thursday race nights are a prerequisite.

The "greater good" is intended to refer to the success of many rather than "one" In Poole's case I do not argue that they are anything but successful. but their unwillingness to move from Wednesday as a race night is a significant example of them not being willing to comply with the needs of the top league. Hence why my original message on this forum grouped them with "the rest"

Agreed. As I said previously. Some promotions need step aside. If one is Poole then so be it.

The reason there is a doubt about Sheffied is that their current promoters have made it clear that although they love the sport and the Tigers in particular, they dont see themselves continuing in the medium term There is also the concern that the stadium is actually quite limited in terms of accommodating any significant growth in attendance due to the back straight being "out of bounds" on safety concerns. The three northern/north East teams team appear to have less concerns in that direction with management who would appear willing to more than give it a go. The issue with Poole remains their intransigence to move race nights, I agree they have always put out a decent team to say the least, just not very clear that the promotion is willing to entertain something that would be for the greater good.

Why? if its because of where Poole is placed in the third catagory, well, if they dropped the concept of "race night is Wednesday and if not, then the alternative race night needs to be Wednesday and because of that we're staying where we are". Then that could be a different matter. They just look like a promotion that prefers to to be a big fish in a small pool.

Rather than by individual, I'll list the clubs because in many cases its down to more than one individual. Also in Alphabetical order and by a few categories. 1. Definite. Belle Vue, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Leicester, Northampton, 2. Could be's Berwick, Kings Lynn, Redcar, 3, The rest, Either happy where they are with an I'm all right jack attitude or carrying doubts over the viability of running a team on a full time basis other than as an affordable hobby.

Can’t argue with that. But for it to be possible then a significant increase in points limit and some creative signings would be required to make it possible. of the 2026 team, Dickson will most probably stick with Douglas, Morris & Dan Thompson. With one of Joe T & Drew Kemp being a possibility. So three places needed of which 2 will be under 21’s

Can’t argue with that. But for it to be possible then a significant increase in points limit and some creative signings would be required to make it possible. of the 2026 team, Dickson will most probably stick with Douglas, Morris & Dan Thompson. With one of Joe T & Drew Kemp being a possibility. So three places needed of which 2 will be under 21’s

Good question. By step aside, I mean, if they are unwilling to adopt the need for change, instead using their position within the BSPA to keep things as they are and thus hold back or deter new thinking by ambitious and visionary promoters. Then by all means stay in speedway, but run a team on a semi professional basis in a more suitable league. As for Sheffield, as with any promotion, if the numbers don’t stack up to make it viable in the medium term for current or potential owners, then there is little hope for their long term future. one of the issues Sheffield have is their stadium availability and more so the unavailability of the back straight terracing which severely restricts the possibility growing attendance & associated revenue.

When the promoters realise that there are too many clubs trying to run full time professional speedway teams and those who can afford to run a loss making club as a hobby or are steeped in self interest step aside and let those with ambition & the vision to work towards profitably promoting the growth of the sport with one top tier league of eight teams.

If as expected teams have got to include two under 21’s in 2027 (and currently Lions have none) then significant changes to 2027 line up will be needed. Another rumour is that the points limit will be increase for the 2027 Premier league to make accommodation of GP riders possible. one rider who makes it possible of adding a GP rider and including a under 21 is Nazar Parnitskyi. Doesnt have UK experience but does kill two birds with one stone & easy to see a UK team signing him.

No because because both riders are banned by the FIM. The FIM reaffirmed and extended the ban during its Board of Directors meeting in February 2026, keeping it in place across all FIM World Championships with no end date set

Gone but not forgotten. Fortunately there is a new breed of promoter who recognises the opportunity and the “how” to stop and reverse the current death spiral the sport is in. As in business the solution resides in an approach based on running a profitable enterprise not an affordable hobby. Big changes required, quite a few feathers to be ruffled and quite a few home truths to be learned. I hope it happens.

Back in the 70’s, a time in history when football hooliganism at matches was rife and speedway was the “family sport” (a phrase coined because of the nature of the fans behaviour which meant folk could attend meetings without fear) on track rivalry was fierce and indeed fans were tribal. Lots of chanting, massive amounts of loud cheering for both individual riders and respective teams. Rivalry was fierce and the anticipation of respective number ones going against each other raised both the tension and the noise in the stadium. And yes the racing was every bit a good as today. Coleman is absolutely right, rivalry & tribalism should absolutely be part of the experience, something that will add to the means of attracting returning or new supporters. Something the current sterile situation evidentially fails to do.

If Leicester had Kept Fricke, and was their choice not to, then make up of the main body of the team would not have been the same as what it is now. It would have had to be a lot weaker…..want to know how weak, look no further than Kings Lynn.

At least The FA own Wembley. So yes it is the home of football in England. Maybe the BSPL could buy Coventry in due course?

Maybe the engine, but not the whole bike as they are already in Poland

Lions have been very poor away from home recently and it’s difficult to see things being any different this time around.

The Ipswich promoter and rights holder for the GP’s has recently said the track must be greatly improved (altered?) to hold a GP. Maybe he is talking to the owners to see if that is possible?

He’s still number one for Lynne in terms of average . Yes, he’s down on his 2025 Leicester average but nobody is near to that number in 2026. The problem for the Stars this season hasn’t been Max.