Najjer

No probs - we moved up to the top tier and in my opinion, especially the 2nd season we were there, it was the best season of speedway I’ve watched. We had such an exciting team with Doyle, Wright, Holder etc it was what I had come to expect from Somerset. I completely get the sums didn’t add up and they had to drop back down to make it viable but once you’ve been watching that for a few years, to drop back down, pay the same price and a few uninspiring teams in my view since, plus a change in circumstances in my current life just made it no longer value for money and viable for myself anyway. I get and understand the decision, but doesn’t mean I have to go along with it.

That’s absolutely fine - like I said in my previous post you have to take it for what it is. British Speedway is what it is and it’s upto you whether you feel you are happy with what’s on offer for the price being charged. I still class myself as a Somerset fan but no longer feel I get value for money there now. I’m choosing to watch Poland as I’m still a speedway fan also and everybody wants the best.

There is so much more on offer when you compare Polish speedway to British speedway - and the whole spectacle you mention is exactly right. Going to a big stadium with a great atmosphere would make it an enjoyable experience even for someone who wasn’t a fan. When you compare that to riders going round on a clapped out pick up truck in Britain with a track in a field and 80s music being played through tinny speakers, it’s just not anywhere near the same experience. That’s before you even get into the speedway itself on offer. A lot boils down to the money on offer but Poland have nailed it and is the absolute pinnacle of team speedway. British speedway now just has to do what it can to get by.

Cheers for the info RandR

People who are currently watching streams have said bikes are on track.

There is only so much ice hockey I can watch on repeat....

Let’s hope Premier Sports get their fingers out and get it on then!

Makes sense - I’ll stay tuned for now.

What’s happening with the second match? It’s not on premier sports currently?

Just signed up on Premier Sports - sadly it seems I took too long and have missed out on the 3 months free offer as the deal seems to have expired. Have managed to get 1 month free using promo code SPEEDWAY2020 though. Looking forward to it!

In that case then, use the promo to get 3 months free and then cancel.... get the speedway season and don’t need to pay a penny, or am I missing something?

Does this include a 12 month contract? or could you just cancel after the 3 month trial?

And this, in a nutshell, is what is wrong with speedway promotions/management.

I'd take a guess after Glasgow's announcement, there is likely to be a few more that follow too....

Even part of the SpeedwayGB website does too! D’oh!

Is there any plans to show the second leg too?

I remember that now you mention it! Think that typified his will to win. You get the impression with some riders they want to win but it’s not the be all and end all of everything, but with certain riders it is. Fans really get behind riders like that and who show a passion for their club and go above and beyond. You don’t get that with every rider but is what made BWD, Charles Wright and few others so relatable I think. Ben Barker certainly isn’t as likeable but you can’t say he doesn’t bring an element of passion to the team this year and a will to win. Probably why people love him when he’s in their team and hate him when he’s against them. I think as long as he doesn’t bring his off track issues to the club, he could be a good signing.

His first bends almost became legendary how he would run in so deep and pretty much take anybody with him who got in his way. As Sugarray has posted, the drive he would get off the bends was unreal. You know he loved racing for Somerset too and was pretty passionate about it. I’m not sure why the numbers didn’t work out the following year as he would of been my first name on the team sheet, but he went to Peterborough and I think rode against us in a challenge match at their track and then was injured in the following meeting... and forced to retire

Something like that. I used to love watching Olly Allen at our track. Unpopular opinion perhaps but I actually think he is the best ever around the OTA - that includes Doyle, Zetterstrom and co too! He went through a period where he was unbeatable and wasn’t afraid to get the elbows out, ride the fence and come from the back too. Was gutted when he was moved on the following year.

Cliffeboy was referencing when Kennett guested as a replacement for Oliver Allen a few seasons later on.

Plus travelling expenses too - even for home fans. The main reason I stopped attending

Whilst I think spin king junior has gone abit over the top, I think he’s right on the whole and I was abit disappointed. After watching the Salford City documentary on sky with Gary Neville and co, maybe my standards were too high and I was expecting a speedway version of that. Throughout the whole documentary it shown one race which was a shame. It was good but could of been so much better, but Rome wasn’t built in a day and they now have numerous things to improve on for the next one. Showing discussions mid meeting and team talks etc was what I was hoping for which would be a great insight. Credit to the Glasgow promotion again for their stand out forward thinking and promotion which is unrivalled in the UK now. Such a professional outfit and I bet they have riders queued up at the door to ride for them.

Refreshing to see a promotion take time to explain everything - as oppose to just copy and pasting the BSPA's post.

Ipswich once again leading the way in how to present a professional looking outfit

You’ve been a fan for 64 years and you’ve only just realised you don’t matter? Speedway fans stopped being important years ago!