Spidvej

People within the FIM for starters, wondering how a guy can run a MotoGP team, Tech3, which is based in the south of France, as its Team Principal, whilst simultaneously running a Speedway Grand Prix Series. Maybe Richard Coleman can teleport himself between venues, but I doubt it. The FIM have realised that its impossible for one man, Richard Coleman, to be a team principal of a MotoGP team for 22 rounds whilst simultaneously managing a 10 - 12 round Speedway Grand Prix series. Unless some very good people are put in place, the speedway GP series will probably be the loser, as its unlikely that the charismatic but volatile Guenther Steiner will accept the team principal of the MotoGP team he owns taking race weekends off to go to a Speedway Grand Prix. For what its worth, which some will no doubt call "garbage", I can see a 6 round GP series in 2026 at most, with Phil Morris taking on more responsibility, together with the staging tracks, as Coleman and his wife just dont have the large resources of Warner Brothers Discovery at their disposal, either money or manpower.

British speedway fans are a curious bunch. They’ve long lamented the decline of the sport, shouting loudly for change — yet the moment anyone dares to suggest or attempt something different, the very same voices instantly turn against it. It’s the living embodiment of that old saying: “If you always do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got” This insular, short-sighted mindset has become part of the sport’s identity in Britain. Instead of embracing progress, too many cling to nostalgia, treating innovation as some sort of betrayal. And heaven help anyone who dares to be optimistic — for in British speedway circles, positivity is often treated as heresy. Those who still see potential in the sport, who genuinely believe it can rise again, are mocked, attacked, or dismissed by a fan base that seems to draw pleasure from rubbishing the very thing they claim to love. If British speedway is to escape its slow decline, the culture around it must change first — from one of cynicism and self-sabotage to one of belief and boldness. Until then, the sport will remain trapped by its own spectators, let alone its promoters, who must be sick of the pessimism and negativity from within its own fan base! Knowing a little of the inner workings of British Speedway, I used to think some on the inside of the sport, promoters, officials etc were disrespectful when showing disdain for fans, but now, I understand it! Some of you would happily nail the coffin shut on the sport, purporting to want change, but not really, you would rather moan and whinge from behind a keyboard! British speedway's fans are its biggest asset, whilst simultaneously being its biggest weakness!

Looks like the charming individual calling my post “garbage” doesn’t know their facts. Before throwing insults, maybe check who’s actually running the 2026 Speedway Grand Prix series. Richard Coleman from Mayfield Sports—the very group supposedly managing it—is now the team principal of the south of France based “Tech3” team in MotoGP. That role demands his presence at 22 race weekends across Europe and beyond. So tell me, how exactly is someone supposed to oversee an entire SGP season while spending nearly half the year on the MotoGP circuit? Doesn’t quite add up, does it? Maybe do some research before dismissing my post as “garbage.” Then, you also wonder whether the FIM conducted due diligence re Coleman, given his losing a court case brought by another MotoGP team he was involved in, Craft Bamboo Holdings, with judgement against him being as recent as June 2024. So yes, you may very well be mistaken! Time will tell of course. Your post is obviously devoid of knowledge, and yet you think its fine to throw insults around! https://moto3.tech3racing.fr/index.php/en/news-gp-2025/253-news/884-guenther-steiner-leads-acquisition-of-tech3-motogp-tm-team https://legalref.judiciary.hk/lrs/common/ju/ju_frame.jsp?DIS=160551

If the Speedway Grand Prix series doesn’t go ahead in 2026, that’s 15 world-class regulars suddenly searching for ways to keep racing fit and keep the income flowing. Once again, the usual detractors can’t see beyond the status quo—while ironically wishing that very status quo would change. The motto of many British speedway fans seems to be “What do we want ? We want change ! But not that!” Whatever “that” is, they actually prefer to remain wrapped in the blanket of cold pessimistic negativity!

A drastic reduction—or even a complete suspension—of the 2026 Speedway Grand Prix Series could unexpectedly throw British Speedway a lifeline. While such a scenario would deal a major blow to the global elite level of the sport, it could simultaneously open a window of opportunity for domestic leagues struggling to stay competitive and relevant. Without the guaranteed income and global exposure from the SGP circuit, top riders will be forced to look elsewhere to maintain racing activity and supplement lost earnings. We are already seeing signs of this shift with Dan Bewley and Freddie Lindgren venturing into the Danish League for the first time in 2026 - both riders seeking new challenges and perhaps some financial stability outside the Grand Prix arena. A diminished SGP calendar would only accelerate this trend. For British Speedway, this could mean the return of familiar names to its weekly fixtures. Riders who once limited their UK commitments to focus on the Grand Prix or foreign leagues might reconsider, drawn by the chance to race regularly and keep their skills sharp. Even short-term, that influx of talent could reinvigorate crowd interest, refresh team lineups, and bring a touch of world-class action back to British tracks that have long missed consistent top-level participation. While it wouldn’t solve the sport’s deeper structural problems in the UK, a wave of Grand Prix-calibre signings—motivated by the simple need to race—could provide British Speedway with a short-term survival boost and much-needed momentum heading into what could otherwise be its toughest season in decades. The question is, if the scenario with the Speedway Grand Prix series outlined above actually happens, will British promoters be able and willing to grasp this lifeline, and use 2026 to help get the sport in the UK back on track, quite literally, for 2027, or would it simply be a last throw of the dice before speedway in Britain finally ends up on life support, waiting to be put out of its misery?

Richard Coleman, head of Mayfield Sports Events, has still not released the 2026 Speedway Grand Prix series schedule, as we reach the last day of October 2025. This delay comes as Coleman balances his new, highly demanding role as team principal of the Tech3 MotoGP team with running the 2026 Speedway SGP Series, which is an unprecedented senior level dual responsibility in the world of top-level motorsport management Many insiders suspect the ongoing attempts to finalize the Speedway GP calendar are complicated by his need to fit events around the recently established MotoGP dates for 2026, creating significant potential for scheduling conflicts. The 2026 MotoGP Calendar Below are the official 2026 MotoGP dates that Richard Coleman must account for in his planning, as team principal of the Tech3 MotoGP team: Date Event Circuit 01 March Thailand Chang International Circuit 22 March Brazil Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna 29 March USA Circuit of the Americas 12 April Qatar Lusail International Circuit 26 April Spain Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto 10 May France Le Mans 17 May Catalonia Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 31 May Italy Mugello 07 June Hungary Balaton Park Circuit 21 June Czech Republic Automotodrom Brno 28 June Netherlands TT Circuit Assen 12 July Germany Sachsenring 09 August Great Britain Silverstone Circuit 30 August Aragon MotorLand Aragon 13 September San Marino Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli 20 September Austria Red Bull Ring-Spielberg 04 October Japan Mobility Resort Motegi 11 October Indonesia Pertamina Mandalika Int'l Circuit 25 October Australia Phillip Island 01 November Malaysia Sepang International Circuit 15 November Portugal Autodromo Internacional do Algarve 22 November Valencia Circuit Ricardo Tormo Potential Date Clashes The 2026 MotoGP calendar is dense, running from March to late November, with several European rounds occupying prime summer weekends. Speedway Grand Prix typically schedules events from late spring to early autumn, which overlaps directly with many MotoGP weekends, including key dates in May, June, August, and September. With Coleman committed to being present at every MotoGP round as Tech3 team principal, he faces logistical impossibilities in being on-site for both series during overlapping weekends—raising questions about leadership presence at core Speedway GP races. This overlap puts added pressure on the Mayfield Sports team, which, according to some motorsport commentators, is already operating with limited core staff—for example, Coleman and his wife Anoushka handle much of the key work themselves. Industry Scrutiny The continued absence of a 2026 Speedway GP calendar so deep into the autumn (late October) has drawn increased skepticism from longtime Speedway advocates and industry insiders. Some are questioning whether Mayfield Sports can deliver an effective and viable SGP season under the current management structure, as significant date clashes now appear inevitable unless novel solutions are implemented. With the start of the new era for both series rapidly approaching, fans and teams alike are waiting for a clear, feasible, and transparent 2026 Speedway GP calendar—as well as answers on how Coleman can juggle the demands of two of motorcycle racing’s biggest international properties.

Richard Coleman, head of Mayfield Sports Events, has recently come under scrutiny regarding his involvement in the FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP), his appointment within the Tech3 MotoGP team, and prior ties to European Rugby League. Mayfield and FIM Speedway Mayfield Sports Events, founded by Coleman and based near Silverstone, was appointed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) to take over global promotion of the Speedway Grand Prix series starting from 2026 following the departure of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. Despite initial excitement over Mayfield’s appointment, concerns have grown within the speedway community about Coleman’s lack of first-hand experience in running large-scale motorsport championships—outside of previously organizing the Cardiff Speedway GP as a local promoter. Detractors have questioned whether Mayfield possesses the operational depth required to deliver a unified, global SGP product over multiple countries and venues. Links to Tech3 Road Racing Team Coleman’s parallel appointment as Team Principal of Tech3 MotoGP, alongside new team owner Günther Steiner, beginning in 2026, has intensified concerns within motorsport circles. The flamboyant Steiner, a former Formula 1 team principal, will become the new boss of the French team, while Coleman will take over the day-to-day running of the team, stretching him even further, as with running a MotoGP team and the Speedway Grand Prix series, there will be times when Coleman will be needed in two places, two circuits at once. How will these inevitable clashes in the racing calendar be managed? Poorly is the answer from some within the industry. While these moves signal his deepening presence in motorsport, commentators perceive it as a potential conflict of focus, particularly with Tech3’s restructuring under Steiner’s consortium, and some believe Coleman to be sorely out of his depth. Richard Coleman : Tech3 will not be disrupted. The HQ will remain based in the south of France, Nicolas Goyon will continue to serve as Technical Director, and Hervé Poncharal will ensure the transition, remaining involved during this delicate phase. The team takeover places Coleman in a major leadership role just as Mayfield is expected to reshape the FIM Speedway brand—raising doubts about whether he can effectively manage two world championship-scale operations at once. European Rugby League Connections Coleman’s history with European Rugby League (ERL) adds another layer to his multidomain career. Appointed in 2022 as an independent director, he was brought in to help expand ERL’s commercial reach. His background in sponsorship acquisition and sports marketing—having brokered deals across Formula 1, cycling, and football—initially bolstered ERL’s executive credentials, but people within these sports suggest that his broad network of concurrent roles demonstrates an inability to remain dedicated to specific sporting ventures. Summary In essence, Richard Coleman is stretched across several major sports entities—Mayfield Sports Events for FIM Speedway, Tech3 MotoGP as incoming team principal, and links to European Rugby League—each demanding significant time to be managed at a satisfactory level. Coleman’s experience in motorsport marketing is extensive, yet questions persist over whether he can effectively steer the FIM Speedway Grand Prix through its crucial transitional phase given his fragmented commitments and limited direct experience with running global rider-based series. Richard is a marketing man, not a guy that can run the day to day logistics of a motorsport series. There are some within the world of two wheeled motorsport who suspect that Coleman and his team, basically just his wife Anoushka, have bitten off more than they can chew, and that the FIM are starting to wonder if they need to put a contingency plan in place, which may even include a return to the pre SGP days of a series of qualifying rounds and a one off world final, especially as we are now in mid October 2025, with as yet no sign of the 2026 SGP Calendar on the horizon. Of course, the real issue is that the FIM were so short of Interest in taking over the SGP series from Warner Brothers Discovery that Mayfield took control of the SGP series by default. Only time will tell whether Mayfield can deliver a viable SGP series, but unfortunately, experience, knowledge and time are against them. https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/The-World-Endurance-and-Speedway-Championships-will-be-hosted-by-Claude-Michy-and-Richard-Coleman-from-2026/ https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/MotoGP-Steiner-offers-Tech3-and-will-rely-on-Coleman-who-has-made-his-assessment.-It-is-a-team-with-exemplary-functioning./ https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/2156/european-rugby-league-appoint-richard-co...?

Surprised that some people still haven’t worked out that IainB is a lot like his avatar, clueless ! He largely posts compete rubbish to get a reaction from people, he is best ignored. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day, IainB can’t even match that. IainB is probably known as “thrush” by people that know him in real life.

Sagar retiring is confirmed on page 46 of the November 2nd edition of the speedway star.

Zagar has retired, only did a handful of meetings last year. I guess he could be tempted back for a good pay day, but father time has caught up with Matej, like it does with all riders eventually.

Your premise is spot on, but the problem is, even if Peter Adams gets involved, would Nigel Tolley have the finances to sign a team of riders that would like to ride for Peter ?

The ideas are there, but infighting, self interest and inertia stops them being implemented.

Did barely a lap on his Leicester debut at Swindon, broke his ankle If I Recall Correctly , and never rode for the Lions again.

Awww bless, it’s the school holidays, so your mummy and daddy have let you stay up and play on the computer a bit later than usual, you little completely un-knowledgeable nasty tyke.

Definitely take cash, to both Pardubice and Prague, otherwise you will go hungry and thirsty. Having been to several Golden Helmet weekends plus the Tomicek meeting, vendors that offer card payments are pretty much non existent, whereas of course all vendors take cash. In Pardubice, teenage boys and girls bring beers and other drinks to your seats, which must be paid for in cash. Whilst debit and credit cards are widely accepted in bricks and mortar shops in the Czech Republic, they are a rarity at speedway tracks in the Czech Republic. If you haven’t already, watch “Prague Honest Guide” on YouTube, a new episode every Sunday for about 10 years. “Real Prague Guides” on YouTube is also worth a watch.