Sings4Speedway

Seems a bit daft as signing date has passed so guests or RR only available options? Scorecard has who had off nights and with Muff technically being a guest as Ablitt already replacing him it can realistically be Bebee or Kelly. Of the two one is a liability and the other has zero confidence but can occasionally win races.

Dictated pay rates, prize monies, BSPL fees, 16 rider field etc. Running the mickey mouse cup could be done with a 12 rider field, own decided rates of pay and entrance fees. Wise decision by the Mildenhall promotion given how the season is heading and lack of fixtures any that incur a loss will be left in a dangerous position.

Perhaps pre season every club can pick two riders from a division lower up to a combined average to be thier guests that season. Usual rules apply so can only cover riders averaged above them. Bit like a mini squad system. Obviously 100's of flaws to be considered (although normally not) but least it would give a bit of affiliations to the stand in riders.

Maybe Oxford will be sensible and join a league with other like minded clubs who are sick of having thier own destiny decided for them......a destiny that is proving time and time again to be closure

Definitely no arguments there both more than doubled their averages, hopefully there is a decent league next year and the team building is reconsidered so assets like these don't end up getting frozen out of British speedway.

What was the crowd size like?

But its proven that a not enough people are interested in a 'better' product. Back in 2018 the NDL was at its peak but Eastbourne had a spectacularly good side that was battering teams at home and for the causal fan sadly the dominance didn't offer a great amount of entertainment.

NDL team have mostly chucked it in already and were far from happy campers all season, only Ablitt is likely to move on and that depends on his fitness plus he will probably benefit from staying on a 3.00 average for next year.

Does that matter if its proportionate? If rent and all other running costs are fixed and just wages are variable then they can be adjusted and team built accordingly. I reckon a break even point for NDL could be around 400 through the gate, if that isn't achievable then the sport in the area isn't sustainable at any level.

i thought clowns had to be funny and interesting.....

I think its vital that what went wrong is analysed, publicised and learnt from. Eastbourne have been a lynchpin of British Speedway for just shy of 90 years. Any and every promotion at any club who is budgeting to unattainable figures is doing nothing but harm to the greater sport and the fans of the club they are custodians of. We feared that Brum and Newcastle wouldn't be the first but perhaps for once Eastbourne can be the last.

Im guessing all assets will be seized to cover the outstanding finances? Really does need a thorough examination and publication of what, where and who went wrong (obviously that won't happen and it will all get brushed under the carpet). Those at the helm were clearly more stupid than they appeared and have destroyed a long running institution.

What makes the difference so stark between grasstrack and speedway is that despite both needing specialised kit that is largely useless elsewhere a grasstrack rider will travel great distances to find a track of varied standards, ride it and pay for the privilege (with the potential of some prize money), a speedway rider will travel great distances to find a track of varied standards, grumble about it at least 50% of the time, put in questionable effort and still expect to be paid handsomely for the privilege.....

Brutal as this may sound and i don't want to upset any Eastbourne fans here but the IOW's act of curiosities, oddities and entertainers (Circus) are highly unlikely to run March til October and nor should they as that won't produce the best crowds, best energy or best value for their crowds BUT there looks a strong likelihood that they will be running.....how many other clubs can say that with such certainty? “No one ever made a difference by being like everyone else.” ― P.T. Barnum

I don't think that IOW's 'circus' would work everywhere else. What i do think/know is that they know their audience and how best to please them / attract greater numbers. Its obvious that under the BSPL handcuffs that wasn't possible and is proving the same for a number of other clubs. I know fans can be fickle, there were calls at several NDL teams to step up to CL level for multiple reasons and yet the step up has brought financial issues to most of these (publicised or otherwise). What has often been needed is a brutal dose of honesty, we would like to move up but we just can't afford it or this is the best team we can build without breaking the club. Circus or otherwise IOW have two ringmasters who are calling their own shots, riders prepared to entertain and not be intimidated by the mafia and the only ones left looking like clowns are the BSPL.

Can anyone clarify the structure at Eastbourne? Arlington Owners - Margret & Eric Dugard Arlington leaseholder - Martin Dugard ? Speedway Directors - Ian Jordan + Fineing ? Speedway Promotors - Geer & Kilby ? So with that in mind regarding 'alleged' outstanding monies.... For the stadium how far up the chain has the money made it or not at all? Do the directors owe Martin D and then in turn he is liable to Eric & Margret? For the riders is it Geer & Kilby that are liable for the figures owed? Who gets first financial control of the gate monies? The Directors?

Sadly Weymouth fell foul of the ridiculous 'ghost team' ruling so cannot enter the MSDL. In fact officially i believe its only Birmingham, Wolves and Eastbourne (at the moment) in it.....very sad demise really.

Throw in a good lump of away fans which boosted the numbers. Kent have a dedicated travelling group and Leicester is just up the road. Im sure there are Plymouth fans who travel about but i wouldn't bet on a lot more than 20 through the gate.

No but sadly what happens at pubs the same as with Speedway is that people just visit less frequently Not sure why you are grumbling you've been watching the CL side be pants all season and the NL team do well. The only fear here is that the Bandits get turned over!

Precisely. Jack Smith signed on as a 6.5 averaged rider, given current form/opposition he is likely to finish on 8-9. Should the league stay at the same points limit he could be forced out. Should the limit be largely increased again to accommodate all the increased averages its more likely that those with falsely inflated averages like Rothery and Spencer will be pushed out. Everyone heralded the idea at the start and just couldn't see the problems coming. I guess the state of the NDL at present / future will gloss over the mess created by lowering the points limit.

Whilst i agree that a sensible distance between the two leagues needs to be achieved part of that would be helped by increasing the standard of the NDL again. Ive also always been an advocate that if you are good enough you will make it. There will always be those who can make the step up and beyond and those that can't, making it easier for riders is not the answer, keeping the bar high and making sure riders work to achieve it is the only way the sport will be able to progress.

So to clarify clubs should only field local riders if possible, using upright machinery that is 'reliable'? Obviously they will have time to visit schools with the bikes as most of the riders will be of retirement age! Reliability is a joke too as most are donkeys years old running on parts that are no longer manufactured and therefore are breakdown galore. Once speedway is dead and buried in the ground can a new sport with new machinery be brought in, until then no rider be they young and upcoming or established are going to sell their current suite of machinery in favour of 'standardised' upright gear. The on track action has always been largely credible when its between matched riders. What sinks it is ridiculous rules. However most have said before many don't care a jot about rules, regulations or even guests but thats because they don't even know the sport is happening on their doorstep.

Very true and expected Mulford to do little just Keleher and Goret exceeded expectations. Longtrack is far more brain and setup than regular speedway but delighted to see Waj through safely.

I used to like my trips to Mildenhall but one too many poor meetings and increasing bad reports keeps me and im sure plenty of others away. Its a tricky track to curate given its shape, surface and size. Sadly the new promotion are struggling to get to grips with this.

Everything ive heard is Seagull team is gone. Can't see BSPL encouraging the NDL over CL even if it does make far greater financial sense.