Sings4Speedway

Looks a clever little plan Buster has put together, buy up two teams and generate plenty of local derbies, entice travelling supporters and have the basis for a breakaway league should everything else go belly up. Im guessing the completion of the Mildenhall deal hasn't gone through yet or they will be Championship this year and Prem next? Either way at Ipswich the first name on the sheet id be looking for is Kennett who must be on a bargain average?

Hasn't stopped Rye for the last 15 years lol. Ive always found the slight Stig of the dump look part of its charm, granted ive not been since they dumped a load of soil in the middle but if it has a track, pits, lights, bar, food & bogs thats all that is actually required. Things could be upgraded if required but what is really required is a promotor and a team on track.

I would think no rider can drop below 3.00? Although where that leaves riders already sub 3 im not sure. Im guessing that with the conversion rate you need to be a 4.50 or above rider in the Championship to be able to move up into the Prem which isn't the worst decision in the world.

Seems unlikely there will be a Leicester or Coventry in the NL with the main team moving to Saturdays. Can see Plymouth being the other side to move up along with Brum as i can't see Eastbournes crowd numbers being enough, Kent have switched to sat nights and are likely to take a chunk of lakeside/Rye House support anyway to make up for those who won't attend as much. Would be nice if a team (maybe Cov) could get into Peterborough at the weekends now they have been vacated ?

Are things that bad? Yes its a bit iffy that Buster owns 3 clubs but there are two excellent tracks moving into the top flight, plans to clearly define the 3 tiers with points limits and therefore overall standard making it clearer to insiders & outsiders alike that there are different levels. The clubs that have stepped down a tier have done so to protect themselves financially and return to race nights that suit them best. There are plans in place to produce a feeding system from Nl up to higher leagues and to reduce the amount of doubling up/down. Its naive to think that everything can be resolved in one season/AGM but for once there is actually a plan for the future so potentially the sport might have one.

Give Buster a chance, he may just be digging the last of his change out from the back of the sofa before buying up Rye House & Mildenhall too. Creating his own Anglian league. Seriously though its a crying shame that both venues appear to be going un-used but especially Rye which at present is under no planning threat. Fingers crossed there will be a venture this season at NL level.

to be honest sometimes a surplus of riders is good, it creates competition for places, offers up suitable replacements when the inevitable injuries hit and allow all teams to have the chance to build capable teams. However low points limits offers up falsely inflated averages and whilst the focus is to get riders moving up through the leagues its important that they do when they are ready and not when their average says they are ready.

Tom Bacon

All dependant on the 3 pointers and Brum got burnt that way this season, add in Embleton didn't work out that well at Brum and the Thompsons likely elsewhere. Heatleaders will put a point on each and most likely miss plenty doubling up.

To be honest THJ isn't too far off. Ive been harping on about an end of year British riders only average reduction for ages (although i can't be bothered to trawl my old posts to prove it yet) but also some radical changes and reductions on costs. Of course there will be riders threatening to quit, to only ride abroad or head into early retirement.....Good go get a real job, see what the few qualifications you have and no experience will get you, generate a CV that states you can drive, you don't like rain and are an expert communicator (when huddled together moaning about something). Now you have a job and it isn't perfect, the boss is on at your to do better and the money is paying all your bills but not making your silly rich.........i bet Speedway probably doesn't look so bad now does it.

The problem is that the sport is run by those operating in the "now". They have no incentive to make is sustainable in 10 years time as most will have bowed out by then (although who they will sell the ailing clubs to remains to be seen). Chris Harris is the last person who's opinion should count, if a rider who has competed at the top level in the UK for 10+ years cannot make it pay without doubling up/down then we are in a very sorry state. Bomber has a few years left max so is obviously out for his own interests and to grab as much cash as he can before he is kicked off the gravy train. If the sport is to move forward it will need to allow the semi-pro's time to develop before deciding if they can commit to speedway full time or not (and by full time i mean race UK & abroad not 100+ UK meetings) as at present far too many talented riders are falling between the cracks purely down to lack of finances.

Bomber is a prime example of riders who are driving the price of the sport up. He spends season upon season complaining about engines and speed and throws money at them to generate results and therefore his signing on demands are high but with the right averages he is a good signing so clubs give him the money. Then at the end of the year everything is for sale. So for example a rider does 30 meetings per league per season. Very good bike with all the right bits costs 10k. If and its a big if a complete bike can be sold for 3k at the end of the year a rider has done well. Thats a 14k loss over 8 months that he is trying to find out of fees and points money before he has even started. I cannot believe that 1 bike cannot complete 120 races before being passed it, thats only 2 hours old! Riders need to look at maintenance of machinery not immediate replacements, A bike should be able to easily do 2 seasons and in reality many would last far beyond that.

The problems Speedway encounters are quite unique in the sense that many tracks are not available at weekends creating a lot of midweek fixtures which is something many with full time employment struggle with. I certainly agree that costs are spiralling and need to be countered but not 100% what all the answers are.

Huge Congratulations to all of you. Fully deserved and hopefully the first of many.

I think the definition of "crap" is largely important here as middle tier second strings are entirely different to riders just starting out. The problem with standard at present is that the gulf between riders is too vast. The GP's provide good racing and entertainment because the riders are of a similar level. Put on a match where all the riders average in min 4 and max 6 you will see a close entertaining meeting. Put on the current show where a 9+ point man goes to the tapes with a 2-3 point rider and wonder why we are served dull from the gate racing.

Personally i like additional races taking place throughout the meeting BUT in reality it is a big risk, im certain some refs don't allow it and there would eventually be crashes that cause delays due to track damage or paramedic attention. I think IOW's season finale was ended early due to something like that.

Taking a carer along might not be a bad idea, could use somebody to stand in the food/beer queue ensuring i don't miss any of the speedway action.

Im sure MCF ran grasstrack meetings at Coventry speedway a few years ago? DirtTrack? I too have heard rumours over the years about breakaways however rather than allowing an alternative the SCB/BSPA threatened to ban any rider competing under a rival banner which has sunk most attempts so far but the threat must still be looming.....

12 hours ago, Tsunami said: The first morning is all about closing the current season down with all teams in attendance. If you stay after lunch you are deemed to be running the following year. Big decisions to be made by several then.....stay for the sandwiches but leave before cake or leave before sandwiches and remove any risk of being deemed present after lunch

Not quite, that level of labelling is reserved for the development leagues

Oh don't get me wrong i completely agree that costs for all need to come down if the sport is to survive in this country but i personally feel that its the add ons that need reducing....get your own van, pay for your own flights, smaller / no sign on fee's and less points money.....still want to ride? yes great no ok there will be someone else who will. At the moment its not the big riders that are holding the UK to ransom its the average ones who are still profiting hugely.

Will only save clubs £22500 approx if clubs continue to charge the amounts they are now......however as most already think the sport is over priced, justifying 6 man teams and low points limits is going to be almost impossible.

Whilst slightly disrespectful to some "wobblers" your point about averages is very valid. Setting a low starting point is fine IF there is a much steadier stream of capable riders coming through each year PLUS there are opportunities to move up into the higher leagues which will also have to be severely weakened in line with the lower levels or the gulf will be huge. The likelihood is riders who failed to better a 3.00 this season would end up with an average of 5 - 6 if a 30 point limit was imposed, does that make them better than or equal to a rider who achieved a 5 - 6 point average this season?

Rider of the year - Drew Kemp Most impressive team - Mildenhall Team rider of the season - Jason Edwards One to watch - Dan Gilkes Meeting of the season - Kent v Mildenhall Play Off 2nd Leg Surprise of the season - Steve Boxall Underperformers (Team) - Stoke Unluckiest rider - Mitchell Davey Newcomer of the season - Leon Flint

Thanks for that. Never heard that before, im assuming its a smallish area given the proximity of some tracks to others. Any idea how long the BSPA licences last? Wondering if there was any merit in waiting for it to expire then attempting to place a new club in an existing venue?