HGould

Totally agree. Pay rates in D1 and D2 (the tiers below) are a fraction of Extraleague (Top Tier) and chronic history of late and non payment. So do you have 4-5 rides a week in Polish D2 or probably 20 rides a week if doubling up UK and riding in Sweden or Denmark? Those in D1/D2 in Poland - especially D2 in Poland may be better off and certainly get more meetings and rides by doubling up in UK and riding in Sweden and likely get paid too.

All the BSPL are doing at the moment is planning for a near normal season. From that will come all kinds of contingencies that can be implemented. You seem to want to plan for nothing and then make it up as you go along Better to plan for everything and if you have to reduce you reduce. Your negativity is demoralising and planning for the best has built in contingency for the worst Planning for 100% allows contingency for 10%. You'd plan for 10% and pray come February that your doom laden hopes have come true. Sad..

A number of Overseas Riders live in the UK and spend winter here. A similar number have properties they own or rent and have European base in UK. Probably a few may decide not to ride in UK in 2021. Poland and Sweden now have Covid 19 outbreaks as bad as or worse than us so no safer. There is no indication of mass absentees, definitely not in the Championship as yet. Jason Doyle is definitely basing in UK to ride for Swindon. Generalisations don't reflect a lot of positive intent that is coming out of BSPL. I went to watch speedway in a safe environment with 400 others in September. If the Covid cycle is similar I Spring, who would deny all other tracks to open with measures in place and viable crowd limits especially if early vaccines are on stream for the most vulnerable.

https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38468

Looks like things are progressing positively in the Championship https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.38468

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't on here! If they wait for Covid to go they'll wait until 2022 or 2023 and that would kill any Sport. Better to plan and announce as usual in hope something may be possible, than do nothing and then have to rush with accusations they haven't planned. A few teams got racing on with 400 to 500 allowed in September, if that's how speedway has to start up so be it. Something is better than nothing so may be for once stop moaning and whining and cut them some slack. I'm sure all Promoters and Clubs want to race so let's support speedway, why else are we here?

A few Clubs, Glasgow and Redcar from memory, seem to have confirmed same 1 to 7 as last year, Leicester have confirmed 6 of the 7. Do wonder if some Clubs are struggling to confirm riders and others may be waiting to see what others do?. Be good to hear some plans before Christmas.

Brummies made an announcement on the day that Garrity was arrested. They said they were aware of the matter and would be making no further comment. He is NOT a Brummies asset so it is surely up to his parent Club to comment whoever they are.

I would imagine most clubs will be desperate to retain Sponsors and Season Ticket Holders. Any negative actions such as delaying draft Fixtures could see them walking away for good.

I think what would boost all Speedway Fans and give us all hope would be a clear and early Fixture List. There seems to be some indication that March even April is too early to start but that should not stop any Clubs who can start in April and who have local permission doing so maybe with challenges and individuals the order of the day. If all Leagues then had a start date no later than 1 May and a Fixture List around that issued by New Year would give us all something to look forward to. Hope springs eternal ! Stating the blindingly obvious that any Fixture List will have to include "covid dependent" but rather that than wait and wait and wait like we did in 2020, and the gloom that brings..

Hopefully second peak will be over and things will have stabilised by Easter. Having been to an excellently staged and very well stewarded meeting at Plymouth in September and witnessed what can be done hopefully enough Clubs will get approval to do the same in the Spring. It's going to be a long and stressful winter though for many Sports including speedway.

Hard as an outsider to make sense of what's going on and gone on and Newcastle is a track I've always liked to visit mainly due to friendly fans and good banter. I wish everyone well but one question is this. On basis that those who ran last 3 tracks to liquidate (Rye House / Workington and Lakeside) losing their Promoters Licences, won't same fate befall Rob Grant.?? It would seem unfair if so as he has literally never promoted a Meeting due to Covid, but it does make Acesliders questions the more important. Hopefully Newcastle will be at tapes in 2021 and for many years after that.

wasn't he a late inclusion after tragic death of Danny??. Not surprising if a longer term option might now be looked at for 2021

Don't think that's fair or accurate. I've read on here and from various Clubs own comments that a PL home / away you can budget 15k and a CL home/away you can budget 10k. So, lets say a PL Club is getting a share of 50k - would cover 3 home and away, 100k would cover 6 home and away. Barely scratches the surface of a full season.

I loved the old days when you'd wait for Speedway Star with baited breath to see where all the top riders and some decent others were being allocated. In some ways very old fashioned but you could argue it's no different to the American "draft" system in other ways. I'm sure that some Clubs are already contacting riders to replace riders they think won't come back or can't come back. Hopefully Brummies are active as we have a couple to replace Johansson (although we have him covered I think) and he who is best not named, detained by her majesty I guess Eastbourne are on this occasion sitting pretty with an all British team?

My generation would view holding a knife to a pensioners as brutal and nasty . It's the act of a dangerous criminal and a coward.

As long as it is fair and equal for all. Fear is some Clubs get a head start and some are left floundering. May need some form of the old rider control.

Don't in any way condone the use of drugs, recreational or more serious. I don't think drug use should excuse Garrity though, he carried out a brutal nasty attack on vulnerable pensioners. That's not excused by drug taking or drug abuse. He is a violent criminal. We all know or have heard of riders through the decades, right up to the current day who have had issues with recreational drug taking, some have been found guilty of dealing. Many are / were well liked and respected, their drug issues understood and sympathised with, because aside from that they were decent. Why were they on the scale of "acceptability" - I'd suggest because at heart they were basically honest, young men with an issue, not a brutal thug like Garrity. A lot of very good people in Speedway have tried to help Garrity, right up to last season, they did all they could to give him a "final chance". He needs to rot for 7 years and hopefully learn and understand the errors of his ways.

most likely one of the Aussies who may either need to confirm a work permit is valid and/or who may have a good job back home. wonder what the cancellation of the 2021 Aussie Championships (a route for many to get work permit) might have for those who wanted a top podium finish in State Championships to get a work permit for 2021? hopefully they get sorted as enjoy my trips down M69 to Leicester

Kyle has ridden at Workington, Glasgow, Berwick. Belle Vue. Seems to have stalled a little. If I was his mentor, I'd be on the phone to Newcastle. He needs to learn how to ride more technical tracks better. Will make him a more complete rider.

I watched last night, I've sent them £2.50. That's not being sarcastic just what I felt it was worth. I paid £10 for Peter Craven having spent £13 (nearly) for British Final I thought British Final was worth every penny. I paid £5 for the Plymouth live stream, I thought that was worth a fair bit more but not as multi camera as BF I think BV did an excellent job and worth it. I think Plymouth did an excellent job and worth it. I can't and won't attack Berwick, they tried, did what they could and we saw more than we would have without it. To me it was worth £2.50 as not as good as BV or Plymouth but credit to them for trying. It's been a nightmare season for Speedway everywhere. Hopefully the BSPL can get a Fixture List out for all Leagues by New Year, give us something to hope for and hopefully the covid situation will allow a start of some type sooner rather than later next Spring. Lets hope we are all here to praise or moan as we see appropriate

Somerset 2020 page 36 quote from Iron Scorpion...

Was reported when he went.

Anders has also had a lot of help from Ashley Holloway who is based in Poland and sorted a deal and specific equipment out. That's main reason he went over there. It's been a great experience and he's done very well but unfair to attack others for not taking the same route, when the route nor the necessary equipment was not open. We've seen how much Bewley has suffered with under-power equipment and how much more competitive he was over there on Tai's bikes. Hopefully Anders will show the benefits and Holloway will help other young British riders in the future.

We all have to hope for an April start if possible. If crowds are limited to reduced numbers I think some may have to sit out season or part of it. Most worried about teams like mine that rent stadiums.