scotty2hotty

But the vast majority have been closed down due to landlords accepting the big bucks from people who want to build houses. How many of those defunct tracks have now got houses on them or will have very soon. Very few close down due to lack of support. i actually think Speedway is on the way up actually. The crowds at meetings last year, granted in the Premiership, were fantastic most of the time and the enthusiasm from fans (apart from the usual moaners) was second to none.

I'm afraid I have sold out in the shop now, hopefully if he is back next year I will have more!!

they need to get people through the gate, that is the most important thing. No , winning the league may not give them much financial reward the following season, but it will give them huge crowds for at least one play off meeting, which in turn could help with team building the following season.

Hes had a haircut and ditched the bucket hat!!!

My Dad Colin Barber Birmingham 1970-75 Mildenhall 1975-79

I think 99% of Drew's problems in 2022 were financial. The costs are so high, but the points money for reserves is not good. His equipment was not the best as he couldn't afford the costs. He needs some good sponsors and he needs new equipment. How frustrating it must be when you know you are good enough, but you haven't got the speed. It knocks your confidence and you start thinking 'is it me or the bike?' He does also have a tendancy to 'strop', but I think this year, he has realised that that wasn't a good look and didn't win him friends or supporters. I really hope that Drew gets a team place at some point in the Uk this year, an up and coming British rider should not be having to go to POland to get a ride.

All 2023 GP Riders and also Leicester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Ipswich, King's Lynn and Peterborough. The first bike is £8.50, all subsequent bikes within the same order are £5 each. Available at Model Bikes – Jaybea Designs

If you had spent thousands on a 2020 range, as most people who run merchandise shops did before covid hit, you would not be prepared to chuck it to one side and spend thousands more on a new range. Come on Martin, you can't keep comparing everything to Poland. If it was your money, you wouldn't do it. But its easy to waste other peoples.

They are £8 for the first bike and then £5 for each one thereafter. It covers the cost of postage.

RIP Archie, lovely man.

Yes there have been too many tracks closed, far too many, but many are adopting other tracks. Quite a few Coventry at Leicester every week and quite a few Lakeside at Ipswich, Peterborough etc. But I have actually felt this year, that there is a new buzz. Crowds have been healthier at many tracks. Maybe coming out of lockdown has made people realise what they have and how much they missed it.

Oh Iain, why do you have do be so rude? I was merely stating that most people go to speedway for the spectacle and enjoyment of it. However, there are some people who will only ever pick on the problems and not actually look at what is good in the sport. If it makes you all so unhappy and all you can find is fault, why do you go? I never said the sport is perfect, it is going through tough times, but the basic product is still the same. Maybe we could look at the good and build on that instead of continually finding fault and problems.

Rarely to be honest.

I work at a lot if these tracks doing the track shops, so I see a lot of people. This year i have seen many new fans, a lot with children and a lot of returning fans. One guy came into the shop at Leicester last week and said he hadn't been since Blackbird Road closed. He had watched it on TV and enjoyed it, but thought he would come and see it live again. He was almost in tears of delight at the spectacle he had witnessed and said nothing beats live speedway and he had caught the bug again and would be back next week. What I'm saying, is that new people don't care about the politics of the sport or the rules, they just love the experience.