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It was all a very dodgy deal from the start as the money wasn't actually paid by the Torun club to Peterborough Speedway. It was a business transaction between the Torun main team sponsor and Ged Rathbone which is a private case so this makes it more difficult in law to prove any wrong doing. I have it on good authority that Matt Ford and Poole were fully aware of the situation as his work permit sponsor they had to put their details forward as well for it to be approved by PZM

The facts I shared Mr Chapman were that in 2017 the racing was better,Crowd numbers were significantly higher for TV matches, Promotors were in general more supportive of TV. There has also been more large National companies getting involved with Sponsorship like at Leicester with JCB & Arriva bus and Premier Inn at Wolves For 2018 I have been told on good authority that there will be at least 7 GP riders appearing in the top league in the UK. This is to add to the regular race nights that's been agreed so wont have so many guests due to doubling up as won't be clashes.

Well I have had a meeting today with some of the rights acquisition team today on another matter and have had a positive chat about Speedway on Sky. I am not saying that it will be back but have made them aware fully of facts on the basis that BT covered it and on the costings & budgets they would have worked to. They were very interested to know that BT saw improvements in viewing figures in 2017 and that they want it back but are at present not offering any money. It may well be that nothing happens from the Sky side but just wanted them to have the full facts and the product has improved and will be even better in 2018.

It does appear that the original poster may be a bit premature with his news. My understanding is that BSPA have been told that BT are very unlikely to offer anything for the rights to broadcast the league and want confirmed information about league structure and rules before making any commitment. They are also keen to see a confirmation that the pricing will be reduced again for TV matches

Col- As others have said Lakeside will be looking to join the Championship and even if they had returned to the top league it would be highly unlikely that Kim would return to Purfleet unless they finished the business they had from 2016

This deal has been bubbling for a number of weeks but Martin wanted to wait until after the end of the GP season and whether he would have had the GP qualification rounds to do. To me it's a very good start to signings for 2018 with a Leicester fans favourite from 2017 likely to be the next signing after the averages and format of league is confirmed at the conference. There could also be another positive surprise signing for Lions fans in 2018 if everything fits into place with league structure

The deal should be that BT will cover the production costs and then if the BSPA can deliver more GP riders to the league then there will be money paid for each meeting

Gemini- There isn't that many children at Leicester compared to other tracks and Saturday just don't work for the riders and will only be worse next season even if club went down to Championship as more and more riders are getting Polish contracts even the likes of Erik Riss and Lasse have indicated that would not been keen to be at Leicester on a Saturday and away clubs have problems getting their top riders

Steve55- Like most things in Speedway nothing is definite until it actually happens but that is what has been agreed upon at pre AGM meeting and riders are being told this when asking about riding in the UK in 2018 with hopefully more top level riders being interested. I personally think Sheffield may take a gamble and go up in 2018 to keep their race night rather than running on say Wednesday crowds may have other things on. It remains to be seen what Ipswich do and suspect Redcar will move to Fridays where I have been told have been better this year.

It looks like Sheffield have a lot of thinking to do over the next few weeks about what they decide to do about 2018 Do they stay in the Championship and change their race night as to prevent doubling up clashes no Championship clubs will be allowed to run matches on Monday & Thursdays other than Bank Holidays. Option two is to go up to Premiership to keep Thursday nights but will the Sheffield fans support the team in sufficient numbers to make it financially viable.

The continued and increased sponsorship by JCB is excellent and will help move the club forward both on and off track. It is going to be an exciting and interesting winter for Leicester fans with track work set to take place to bends 3 & 4 to create more lines and to take out some of the bumps that have appeared over the season. From what I got told last night Leicester have 3 riders names that they are keen to have and opened initial discussions with. Obviously not a lot can be confirmed until after the conference but the club have set a top priority of getting the No1 sorted as they realise this is where Leicester have struggled for the last couple of seasons. The have two good no2 and then good support riders in mind.

GlennyLion The announcement will be a very positive thing for the club and there is likely to be another positive one in a few days time as well. By the sounds of it plans for 2018 are well advanced which is good to see.

Of the named reserves not sure who would be better Davey Watt or Justin Sedgeman not a lot in it both out of their depth. To me the most sensible option would be to put Nick Morris or Jack Holder in I am sure they both have kit out in Australia and just take a fresh motor out with them as baggage.

The Bates family own Leicester and Marc Bates is the main Promoter at Leicester with Neil Machin & Dave Darcy as Co Promoters. At Sheffield the club is Promoted by Damian Bates, Peter Mole and Julie Reading as far as I am aware.

Not sure whether Pawel will get a ban for missing last night as he was obliged to attend the PZM Gala last night so the he would not have had start permission to race even if he had wanted to. Not sure how it stands if a rider is missing a U.K. meeting due to his own national authority stopping him from riding especially as he joined mid season well after the date for PZM gala was announced

There was no fixing of the score last night you could tell that by the look on Simon Steads face, you could tell he felt very let down by his teams performance. As others have said if you were to fix the result to keep fans and BT happy it would have been a Sheffield home win by 6-8 and then Leicester to win at home by 10 that way more fans attend the 2nd leg and BT have the excitement of Leicester fighting back The problem is how do motivate the team for the second leg with even Bates admitting on TV that the promotion has got away from them.

Marc Bates is the Leicester co Promotor and has been since July he works along side Neil Machin & Dave Darcy. It seems pretty clear that Pawel will get a ban for not riding at Sheffield tonight unless a medical certificate can be provided

Second leg now next Monday due to poor weather forecast on Wednesday as per Leicester website. It's a bit of a strange date for Leicester fans attending as Leicester city are playing at home to West Brom live on Sky Sports

There is no medical reason for Pawel P not to be in the UK. In fact I am quite surprised that he has chosen not to ride as Polish season now finished he has done the GP so fairly easy money to come and do these two meetings in UK. He still has bikes here so could have just flown in today done the meetings and gone back Thursday. This is all on the assumption that the Sheffield & Leicester promotion wanted him to come and ride, to me it's a no brainier as especially with his GP performance would have put quite a few on the gate and made BT very happy.

Can anyone who knows the rules confirm whether Leicester have missed out with something here. Could they have had a guest for Pawel and then gone for RR for Lasse so can higher average guest Can anyone who knows the rules confirm whether Leicester have missed out with something here. Could they have had a guest for Pawel and then gone for RR for Lasse so can higher average guest

If the Pole was riding then Leicester would not have been eligible to have a guest for Bjerre would they ? As only one rider missing in the 1-5. It may be a cost savings thing although I think the opposite would have put more on the gates which is a win win for the Bates family. More likely the Pole does not want to come as has GP Saturday and then Relegation & promotion meeting for Torun on Sunday

Oh dear Leicester look in trouble with Lewis Kerr in for Lasse and no Pawel. They need to hope that Heeps and Newman can score lots of points at reserve and Kim & Danny can take points of Josh G and Lasse

It's not just the situation at the 4S in August,They have also allowed Holder to miss the pairs this weekend and a number of league fixtures

VTM not so sure about Sheffield smashing Leicester Nillson vs Josh G - Would say quite even Riss vs Kurtz- Riss especially around Leicester Guest TBC vs Bjerre- Depends on guest but say Lasse RR/Pawel vs Bates - Would say RR King vs Howarth- King but will be close Newman vs Graverson- Newman would say Heeps vs Wood- Heeps 100% The crucial thing for Leicester will be who they get as the 2nd guest to cover for Lasse who will be a big miss home and away.

Sam Ermolenko has been World Champion,TM at Reading and presenter on Eurosport Could David Rowe be the other person