waytogo28

It certainly isn't at King's Lynn where I have been so turned off by the poor quality of racing over the last three seasons ( except for Robert Lambert - the only rider to make me want to go and watch there ) that I am unlikely to attend, on other than the odd occasion in 2019. Gate and Go, all over by half way round the first lap, Riders chasing ( with little hope of or interest in catching the man in front - processional mostly ). And I have watched at Saddlebow Rd every year since it opened ) For me the racing in recent years is not a patch on what was on offer 10 - 40 years ago.

When it is about the "invisible" UK sport of speedway racing, the readers would not know it from the KL tiddlywinks team or carpet bowls. Michael who? Where does he play and in what position, the vast majority were likely to have commented.

Neither Godfrey nor Chapman have the necessary "people" skills ( other than to collect "yes" men and women ). Neither of them is prepared to listen to views other than each other's and both see feedback from fans as an irritant. Cleary they are NOT "right" as both believe themselves to be. If they were, speedway would be capable of attracting - however slowly - a new generation of fans, There was little mention of marketing or promoting the sport and it does not seem important enough to either of them. They are woefully bereft of positive ideas of where to go next or how to achieve growth. Masses of words but little of value and very little decisive analysis of the real problems of UK speedway at present. The only part of this overlong outpouring I could agree with is that the future of sport here, is as a semi-pro - one big league and that is something that many fans have seen as inevitable for quite a while ( as long as Chapman and Godfrey have been at the helm! ), The silence of the Chairman is deafening. he failed to respond to the SS "crisis" issue, pre the last AGM and has said almost nothing else since.

One problem is that they nearly all, after a year or two, believe that they are "international star motorcyclists" even if they have only ever practised abroad. They are brave jockeys of high powered bikes who need only to battle for the first half lap of a race, before waiting to see if they can start better next time. That skill must be worth £100k a season they believe, but sadly there are so few paying punters interested in their gating ability that if they get 25% of that in future they will be lucky. Part-time semi-pro status for those who race on in future. Bog standard 250 cc bikes would produce better racing despite Rob Godfrey's declaration that racing is better than it has ever been. Were that so, the terraces would be heaving instead of being almost areas of empty silence.

Kennett will certainly be Top Dog around Eastbourne but for him to dominate the league, he would need to have undergone a huge transformation with a sports psychologist. He holds the unenviable record of having the worst away average - compared to his home average.

Nothing to do with modern technology or it's "mastery" of it. Much more about "I know best and "I'm in charge". The second part of that is the truth. You have to make your own mind up about the first part.

He has not lost the plot, more that he now dreams BIG. Empire size BIG, the would be overlord of UK "top level" speedway. All in the best interests of the sport I am sure he would claim. The PL is now 'saved for a few months and the TV contract too. What of beyond this season? With his able deputy Rob Godfrey acknowledging that the most likely future of UK speedway is part-time semi-pro in one big league. Just what many fans have clamoured for. But we do know now that Promoters are the most passionate of fans. The mob on the terraces are also-rans it seems.

If it was a six-figure sum then you are right. It never was worth anything like that for the assets she acquired ( basically the right to promote speedway there and a few riders - which are never really viable assets ) . It was at the start of the terminal decline and Laura put her money where her heart is to sadly only see it slide into a sinkhole. Even though crowds were only just viable then, all new promoters believe that they can stimulate new interest ( or bring back those who have walked away ).

Colin Pratt is a widely respected and very experienced organiser within speedway but not someone who is bringing the younger dynamism with marketing knowledge that is likely to bring in a new generation of fans. In fact, he has been at the core of speedway administrators who have allowed UK speedway to dimish and dwindle over the last twenty-five years.

He is certainly better than anyone yet named as a Star's team member this year - other than Robert Lambert.

I think the majority of supporters can see things clearly, only too well. It is the BSPA"s members who just won't face up to the reality of where UK speedway is today. Look at the negative point of view that Rob Godfrey displays - over and over again, in today's Speedway Star. Blaming everyone else for the steady decline and "proud to be a promoter who is saving speedway" . Dragging out the last days more like it. Even he says it will have to end up as semi-pro sport where the riders will have to get a job to supplement what they can earn from the sport in the UK. Did they really think of re-branding it once again as "British Speedway"? Fantasists.

There have been plenty of rogues involved in running speedway over the years ( and there seem to be now ). One of the perennial problems in speedway is the secretive nature of any information released to supporters. It would be very easy for the current company to identify itself as previously NOT being the one under the Rogue Traders spotlight. Why leave the possibility open that they might have been?

Since 1928 I am sure that when would be promoters are interviewed by the powers that be, it is a prerequisite of their CV. Appearing on Rogue Traders is very much in the top league!

But IF it were to be - King's Lynn: Lambert, Iversen, Riss. ( Also rumoured ) Just about as good as anyone else.

Translated as - Have no opinion about what decisions we make " in the best interests of the sport". We offer no information as to how those decisions were reached and anyway it is nothing to do with you. Purely a business decision. We are handling the managed decline of UK speedway as we see fit ( as it belongs entirely to us ). What remains of the sport in the UK after crowd numbers and sponsors fall to an unviable level is equally of no concern of yours. How many clubs are owned by or under the control of any BSPA member is a private matter for themselves only. Yes, please pay by direct debit, whether you intend to go to matches or not - Oh, and bring a friend ( as our dependable marketing scheme has long directed ). You know it makes sense and offers you a stress-free way to enjoy speedway racing.

Other than for Doyle, Fricke or Robert Lambert I can't see any bids coming forward if such a thing existed. Chequebook speedway long ago departed from speedway other than perhaps the maximum allowed by contactless cards (£29.99 )

The other point about the drip feed method ( which I detest in UK speedway ) is that the recently announced name of Ty Proctor ( for example ) means absolutely nothing to a non speedway fan wherever he or she reads it ( or stumbles across it ) because Proctor is unknown in the wider world within 50 miles of KL. As it will be for the rest of the team, who are known only to existing ( or past fans ). It is very, very unlikely to attract the longed-for new generation of supporters.

Buster and the BSPA depend entirely on social media to do their marketing - believing that just being on facebook and twitter will reach millions of under 40's and get them flocking. But it doesn't work that way nor so easily. You only have to look at the numbers of followers or likes they have to see how many they are ( or are not reaching ).

Of course, he is only putting off the inevitable. I only hope that his own financial situation is not crushed by the ending when it comes. Unless he bought cheaply or recently won the lottery Buster's gamble on owning three clubs ( even if for the best of reasons ) may come back to bite him badly.

I think it reflects the lack of enthusiasm and interest in UK speedway at the moment. The last AGM, at an acknowledged "crisis" time in the sport here, took no positive actions whatsoever. Why then expect supporters to be upbeat for the future? Six weeks or so before the season starts the same problems that existed at the end of last season still continue to bedevil the UK. Other than a stranglehold gained on the PL by one promoter, there is little to report. The only "excitement" left is the lineup of the KL Stars team. And who is excited by that?

Speedway certainly doesn't have 10% of the pull it had a generation ago. The set up within Manchester is perfect as is the stadium and track and if this was Poland it would be copied in 10 -15 places. Speedway in the UK has fallen into a whirlpool of disinterest and may survive after the Big Reshuffle in a semi pro or amateur sport. The NSS was sadly born 15 or 20 years too late.

Phew! That is a lot of additional bums on seats for the next several years to claw it back. Around a 1,000 or so for 20 years. They must really believe there is a UK speedway upturn somewhere down the road. Better by far to buy a Euromillions ticket for tonight!

Whatever happened at Ipswich. Tungate needs to show "his warm side" in future or any chance of further seasons in the UK may be very restricted. Never bite the hands that feed you seems appropriate.

We all know that the only "surprise" is whether or not NKI rides in the UK and for the Stars.

Of course, Buster's involvement with modern media is far from a happy one, even though he now has someone with qualifications in the family. His non-communication is more down to a closed mind ( "no need for comment" ).