HGould

They may do that but not this week, next week but at near peak POSSIBLY it's a contingency measure. Government are preparing and filtering out a "worst case scenario" so that when it doesn't happen they can say (a) we handled this better than expected (b) we had contingency in place. Why are people so gullible! As for isolating over 70's, are they going to arrest any over 70 who is seen out and about... good assessment when you read it without prejudice and blind panic some seem to have fallen for.

I'm not sure that a Badminton Event and Non League soccer are either well publicised or major Events. Mr Power may like to offer his services to a Speedway Promoter to do as you say, put an Event on and seek to attract the bored and those who think that this issue has been blown out of all proportion and who have a contrary "stuff em" old fashioned British spirit that won't be told what to do but to make his own judgement and decisions. I take your point though and time will tell us what the long term future for speedway is, if there is one.

If there is going to be any speedway for the next few months (fear is it could be 3-4 months) and when it resumes, riders like Worrall (and I don't pick on him as there are many similar) may have to accept that their deals will have to be rewritten any way. Promoters will have budgeted for 16-20 home matches in the season at least and may be left with 10 -12 if they are lucky. If there is a 3 month shutdown millions wont be earning anything like money they are used to. Speedway will be well down the pecking order. £100 a point may have to become £50 a point Clubs can't pay what they don't have but something is better than nothing. Crisis time I'm afraid for Riders, Promoters and the Sport. This time next year they may have killed off the NDL at a time when lots of Clubs will be clamouring to join it!

what evidence?? Non League soccer that did take place attendances up Badminton in Birmingham attendances up Cheltenham Festival 250,000 attended over 4 days only small drop on record year last year according to The Times. As discussed elsewhere, Club like Brummies, like many will have have rental agreement, will have had to pay BSPA/SCB fees, probably have had to pay some riders small sign on fees, certainly Bomber would want one; have to ensure track ready and passed Track Safety inspection. In case of Brummies I know some work has been done to Pits and also some of the temporary stands on first bend. How much do you think Brummies will have to fork out over 6 weeks if 6 week delay to season? Will Sponsors pay as promised? Spend by end of April probably in region of £15-20k. No income, may be a bit of merchandise can be sold. Riders clamouring for help as they can't earn. Not a pretty picture is it?

Not going to do them much good going home...even if they can get a flight as Australia will insist on quarantine / isolation for 14 days from midnight tonight so if they are going home to earn money forget it. With contracts here signed and cost of flights, better to stay here and see what situation is like in 3-4 weeks time. An aircraft cabin for 24 hours is just about the worst place to be right now!

Fair point but you can't close down all speedway because of foreign riders travel issues. The BSPA has the option of dispensation (Guests) for any rider genuinely unable to travel and if those were mainly Britsih riders, giving them earning opportunity that has to be a win situation. If the Government guidelines make speedway feasible they why stop racing unless you have to? If foreigners won't come or go home scared, different matter but where can you go that's not scary right now other than China??

Ulrich posted last night to say won't be coming to UK for now as Denmark has suspended flights.

Front page of The Times this morning again suggests that any limit on Sporting Events may not stopSpeedway. They think crowd limit could be as high as several thousand as the main reason to stop some Events is not the risk of infection but to stop those that need big policing. What BSPA will have to decide is whether there are enough riders in UK to cover their teams and what Guest/Replacement options may be for riders quarantined and unable to leave other Countries. If Poland and Sweden close and riders like Doyle are resident in UK seems obvious they will sit tight and ride here and risk getting stuck in Poland. Do BSPA go for blanket ban ??

Don't understand the panic and pessimism on here. Leave it to the EXPERTS who seem to believe that large or small outdoor crowds are not an issue and that for the time being events can go ahead. IF a Speedway rider gets the virus, no doubt his Club(s) should have a different view as Arsenal have had with their manager. Its up to the individual to decide, I'm going to Birmingham if it's on and will take the risk. What's the point of closing schools??. Keep the little blighters together in groups of their own age range and self isolate if any get symptoms. Why, because if schools are closed the little blighters are far more likely to be running about surrounded by older folk like me who they are far more likely to infect in Sainsburys between 9 and 5 if they are unleashed. Once you impose a ban on sport, how long does it last, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks..I think if you ban speedway until July/August, then you will kill half the clubs as people will find something else to do and won't return for a meaningless 1/2 season. If it has to close, it has to close, but panic never won any argument.

So who from a very small available list would you have signed???

Agree about NZ Have not been to UAE not really interested in sand and camels

Not politically motivated at all. I think Boris has got it spot on and Trump dead wrong. Nothing to do with politics

Typical over-reaction from Trump, turns it in to a racist motivated rant aimed at Europe / China etc. If the virus is in US it's in US and it will spread. Customs Officials there are the most pig ignorant anywhere in the world, they cant get any worse. Stuff them!

Agree. Swedish Fixtures moved, that's his homeland and main income stream, no brainer. Unfortunate for us and happened at a time with very little options available, especially when we don't have access to a work permit. I remember seeing Grobhauer at Somerset, he looked OK and he seems to have become homesick and left at a time when he was starting to show some form. Lets get behind the lad, it is still a very solid 1-7.

I'm no fan of Boris but think he got this perfectly right so far. Many are banning "mass gatherings" as political decisions made by Government because they think they know best! In UK we seem to be basing on decisions of Health professionals. Their current opinion is that the virus passes and transfers less well in fresh air and that there is less risk in a big crowd (up to 70,000 has been quoted) than in a small confined indoor place with 10 people. Who is right and who is wrong, a Health professional or a professional politician. (time will tell). i think Boris's judgement is that while less than a 100 people a day are being confirmed to have it and deaths are exclusively so far with elderly people with a pre-condition that public mood is to carry on. The outcry from soccer fans in particular with the statistical numbers as they are and the infection / death rate would be a huge groundswell of anger. Who is right and who is wrong we wont know for months, may be years. I think there are more specific issues for Speedway to consider rather than a blanket ban, such as rider travel and age dynamic of supporter base. Ultimately if Birmingham are allowed to race I will make the judgement on a week to week basis, risk of going v reward of entertainment. At the moment I see no reason not to go and hopefully for as long as possible every individual will be able to make that judgement for themselves. IF we got to Italian situation may be different. Seems China and Korea have managed to reduce spread markedly. I do wonder if we'd have been as bad as we are if hadn't been half term and a lot of tourism to Italy as most of the confirmed UK cases seem linked to trips there and contact with visitors there.

Brummies website is one of those awful dated off the shelf AP ones. Desperately needs a refresh as does the social media. A lot/most Clubs far better than us at it.

might not be the smartest move in hindsight! looks like they might have to self incubate for 14 days when they get back?

According to some Facebook posts it would seem that Paco is in the UK preparing for the season and has been here for a few days at least. Who knows what is going to happen by the start of the season, whenever that may be regarding rider movements .

That would explain why he couldn't sign for Brummies then as I believe Brummies current Promoters don't have a Work Permit in place to offer

Won't know until he rides if he is on a par with BW-D better or worse. Most tracks will be new to him and may take him time to bed in. He'll likely have all US linked Competitions to deal with plus Poland so key for Somerset will be how many Friday / Saturday / Sunday matches he will miss on FIM or Polish commitments. He will do well to average 8.5+. It's a more than adequate replacement for BW-D in my eyes but the weakness or strength in Somerset team will be Barker / Bates who if they stay fit and focused could make Somerset a top 4 team, but if they don't stay fit or focused could make Somerset a bottom 4 team. If Barker or Bates bomb out, and both have a tendency to self-destruct it looks like a long tail to me.

This is contrary to comments made by the Chief medical expert when interviewed on all major News yesterday who said that large gatherings of up to 70,000 in a stadium was lesser risk than 20 people in a Church Hall or School or Doctors Surgery, due to the spread in only very close personal contact and in an indoor environment and that there would be no benefit to cancelling big event outdoor gatherings. The Daily Tripe (Mail) say that sporting event crowds will be limited to 500 - that should suit Mr Godfrey perfectly to keep Scunthorpe running but not many other Tracks. The crunch point may be Easter and if any closedown comes it won't be a perfect April Fool and no joke for riders (who wont earn any money), Promoters (who will have to sit and wait with very little income coming in) and supporters with nothing to watch. Can't see how speedway can work "behind closed doors" can anyone??

They seem to think it could peak in May / June time and seem to be pushing towards delaying until then for the reasons that warmer weather reduces the spread and impact and that the NHS will be more able to cope. I guess it also builds in time for contagian to lessen possibly and for some kind of vaccine to be found. It would seem sports events in late may / June / July are currently more at risk so if Speedway fans decide it's safe to do so on a person by person basis at least the season should start and get to some point in late May on the current model. I would think what happens in Poland and Scandinavia will dictate a lot of travel plans for our sport in particular. Can see some bumper early crowds if people think Sport could be affected in mid summer!

I'm with Rob with this. It is a virus and so far has affected China (whether you believe the conspiracy theories about lab creation or from animals is irrelevant) Iran and Italy and in vast majority of cases has been passed and be traced to hot spots. Only a few cases in UK out of about 50 can't be linked to mainly Italy or China/Iran. No need for over-reaction, no need for panic and no need for abuse. Attendence at any sporting event in voluntary, let the individual decide.

That's why PL Promoters suddenly interested in Junior PL League - hoover up any 16 year old who looks half decent as an asset to hedge against any sudden Pritti induced culls on permits!

I think the more they build there for everyday use the better the opportunity that Speedway CAN not only go back there but survive. No stadium can lie empty and unused for 300+ days a year. That's how Speedway thrived and did best when sharing stadia with Dogs (especially as could be 4-5 meetings a week) Stocks and Football. Every day a Stadium is unused is like throwing money away.