ouch

The Aces take on my favourites to once again be the best team in the land and top the table as they have made a habit of lately. Lots of question marks with The Aces. Will Tate finally get going as we know he can? Will Will be the star fans expect? Will Norick get back on track and move forward after stalling for a season or two? Will Peter turn the clock back if only a bit? He is the most problematic signing for me and not very “Belle Vue”. Once Bangs went beyond our budget maybe potentials were scarce. I could see The Aces breaking the mould and look to team changes mid season with this team place but I hope I’m wrong. We are dropping over 2.50 points in this position but that is countered with the limit dropping by 3.00 for all. As with any team if some or all come good then we are sorted but if not I still expect to meet the tigers in the PO final where anything can happen. Tonight 47-43 and another NSS last heat decider.

When I have days like yesterday I truly believe there is no hope for this sport to continue in any kind of professional way. Self interest rules and is displayed on here every other post and the fact it’s fans now running the sport, I can’t see that changing. The kick back when a team dragged in someone from outside the sport to ensure the rule book was applied fairly and as it had been earlier in that season was deafening. The rule was only broken in the first place by a top table promoter trying to gain an advantage with the backing of many. Self interest and rule breaking is hated unless it gives their team an advantage and then it’s ok, so the bigwigs think they can get away with it as they have the backing of the masses. These same masses then question way the sport is in a bad way. Unbelievable. People want an independent body as long as it’s their independent body that will bend to their will. Anyone else in that role is seen as the enemy without foundation.

Coming from a bloke who has “filled almost every role there is in speedway” during what Backtrack would term the sh*#^show years, I’m not going to listen this constant negativity towards a sport I both love and seek to see improve. Enjoy your speedway, so long.

It certainly was a failing system and not unexpected given those who sat at the top table for years. Give the new lads a chance I say.

I’d say bringing a new club to the fold at considerable expense is a big change. Whether Mark & Rob can continue to build hope for a new era given how those who previously and still sit at the top table behave is debatable. At least one of last years bigwigs has departed the sport so that dilutes the self interest somewhat.

I’d agree with that and it would no doubt help in speedways much needed aspect of creating personalities, good & bad for fans to engage with.

Is it really the case that people won’t attend due to the name Foxes? If so I’m either really laid back or out of touch with modern sensibilities. I just hope Mark doesn’t bring along his bleedin’ podium.

Looking at the fixture at Owlerton, is it correct that the only Adult tickets available online are £35? Ouch! I’ll be 10mins away that day so will pop along to enjoy the racing.

They got the name following conversations with local people as the thing they kept hearing when mentioning Northampton speedway was ”wear the fox hat”.

Well they are certainly on brand for British speedway. Still no full team announcement and I’ve no idea which riders will be taking to track for their opener in 10 days just a TBA put out over two weeks ago. Will these clubs ever learn?

Spot on. It’s something Belle Vue have engaged with recently and has seen a massive uplift in our social media output but it’s new and it’s baby steps. Below is one of the many tie ins with the various student groups around the area. https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1339901534-–-PG-on-campus-Prospectus-2024-25-Digital-Pages.pdf This was from the tie ins with the Hide Out youth zone. https://www.hideoutyouthzone.org/hideout-attends-belle-vue-speedway-race-event/

If they threaten to close their track that might get it. Also, whilst they’re at it they could get a reduction on their number one’s average. https://britishspeedway.co.uk/21results/kings_lynn_17.05.21_res.pdf

I wish they’d done that last year and 2021.

Well played sir.

I think integrity in this instance applies structurally rather than morally in that without a sixth team the whole system could have tumbled. Morally, speedway has had little to no integrity for decades and it will take more than Mark & Rob sitting at the top table to alter that. With regards credibility, speedway has the same as wrestling or monster trucks and the sooner they realise that and lean into it the better. Speedway is a thrilling entertainment not a creditable sport.

Which shop did you work in and was it in our home town of Stockport as if so I probably frequented it?

The point isn’t being missed at all. You don’t like the podium and I do so it’s just a matter of opinion not right or wrong. If the third step was missing, that’s obviously wrong and not fit for purpose. This podium has been used successfully for a decade at the PCMT and the attendance has remained strong over that period which indicates the podium along with other aspects of the “first impression” have had no negative impact on the customer experience. Seemingly a bitter pill for some to acknowledge as they continue to unfairly nitpick the minutiae of the sport whilst completely letting the big issues sail by. When reading this site it’s little wonder we are where we are with fans & ex riders running the sport. Nice pop at the brick in the wall fundraising that helped when we built the NSS, keep ‘em coming.

It’s the very fact that we have looked beyond our own nose that we have our wonderful facility and all its trappings. I’d love it to be replicated around the sport but as you point out some people cannot see beyond their own nose. If the take away from Mondays meeting is about the podium that we have used for over ten years then I’ll take it as a win. If someone came to me and said they have sorted the podium and it only cost £500 I’d say they should be sacked. The current model does exactly what it should do and that £500 would be better spent on the SRBF. You are correct in that I’m not getting your point if it’s not just being unnecessarily picky. We’ve bigger fish to fry as always in our endeavour to drag this sport to a better place and we will continue to do so. I’m sorry you feel we don’t provide you with a good first impression before a bike is even on track and I can quiet see why you are and always have been disillusioned with our sport given the feeling you must have both at the NSS and other circuits across the country.

Not the reason but you have inadvertently nailed it. Phil Morris and his like are happy to tinker with things around the edges without addressing the MAIN issue - the racing. That is why the sport is on its arse as it’s a very boring spectacle and the reason I hardly attend. I’ve never, nor would ever stop attending due to bogs, food, cost, rider standard or podiums but when it’s consistently boring, I stop. I am no way alone on this but this propensity of some speedway folk to be continually sprinkling glitter on a turd is astounding. Anyway back more important matters, the podium - rosewood, mahogany, teak?

No, my argument is the fact we put an individual meeting on with a fabulous line up and people comment negatively about the bleedin podium. A podium that does exactly what it should do. 1,2,3 & sponsors backdrop for photos. Anything other than that is personal preference or more likely a bias against all things Belle Vue. We’re not going to stop pushing on so there will be plenty more for you guys to feed on. Podium, I still can’t believe it. What to you aspect from a Manchester podium, Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeests sweeping majestically across the plain”.

Time to compare podiums used for clubs flagship individual meetings. Wait a minute………

Hope things improve for viewers at home. It was there seventh event and obviously first of the season with some personnel changes. When reading the Championship Streaming Channel thread, BSN had similar issues in the beginning but have improved so I’m sure things will be sorted with the streaming service soon enough. It’s a great addition to the sport and provides easy access to enjoy the racing at the NSS.

Decent opener dispute the weather being cold & wet. A fair few entertaining racers with an Aces/Dan win in the final. 22 heats and home for 10 to 10. Roll on the rest of the season.

It would be good if there was a partnership within the sport with the necessary skills to handle the long term negotiations when planning, funding and building a multi million pound, purpose built speedway stadium. They would be gold dust currently and rightly cosseted by the sports hierarchy.

You can watch racing at the NSS for £9 if you are 12-17 & £15 if you are a student aged 18-22.