Corona virus

[Mimmo]

Seeing this on the British Speedway Website today ROBERT Lambert’s Speedway Euro Championship title bid is on hold – after Wednesday’s third round in Gniezno was postponed.

The Great Britain star is just two points behind series leader Leon Madsen, with the overall winner set to claim a Grand Prix place for next season.

However, Lambert is one of four SEC riders currently in isolation after a positive Covid-19 test was reported from a member of pits personnel at the Rybnik v Leszno fixture last Friday.

It means they must be tested negative next Monday, after the incubation period, in order to return to racing, with the SEC due to resume at Rybnik on July 22 and the re-staging at Gniezno the following day.

Surely we here in the UK have got to cancel all ideas of running this year, there is just to much uncertainty running rife.
 

[iris123]

5 minutes ago, Mimmo said:

Seeing this on the British Speedway Website today ROBERT Lambert’s Speedway Euro Championship title bid is on hold – after Wednesday’s third round in Gniezno was postponed.

The Great Britain star is just two points behind series leader Leon Madsen, with the overall winner set to claim a Grand Prix place for next season.

However, Lambert is one of four SEC riders currently in isolation after a positive Covid-19 test was reported from a member of pits personnel at the Rybnik v Leszno fixture last Friday.

It means they must be tested negative next Monday, after the incubation period, in order to return to racing, with the SEC due to resume at Rybnik on July 22 and the re-staging at Gniezno the following day.

Surely we here in the UK have got to cancel all ideas of running this year, there is just to much uncertainty running rife.
 

More importantly for the league all riders from both teams have to self isolate......If this happens in the UK with a late start anyway, what chances are there of finishing the season orderly ?

[BWitcher]

3 minutes ago, iris123 said:

More importantly for the league all riders from both teams have to self isolate......If this happens in the UK with a late start anyway, what chances are there of finishing the season orderly ?

It demonstrates more than ever what an utterly farcical situation has now been created when things grind to a halt so quickly.

[iris123]

10 minutes ago, BWitcher said:

It demonstrates more than ever what an utterly farcical situation has now been created when things grind to a halt so quickly.

While I wouldn't disagree, it has been mentioned a number of times how British speedway seems to rely on the help of a lot of people in the section of society most at risk. Plus a lot of supporters seem to be as well. The riders themselves should have no trouble, even if they have got Covid

The big problem could also be with doubling up, riders that have to self-isolate riding for other teams, it all could 'spread' like wildfire, in that sense

Edited July 15, 2020 by iris123

[Mimmo]

23 minutes ago, iris123 said:

While I wouldn't disagree, it has been mentioned a number of times how British speedway seems to rely on the help of a lot of people in the section of society most at risk. Plus a lot of supporters seem to be as well. The riders themselves should have no trouble, even if they have got Covid

The big problem could also be with doubling up, riders that have to self-isolate riding for other teams, it all could 'spread' like wildfire, in that sense

As much as I want speedway to happen this year, as like all of us, I'm missing it very much, but as hard a decision it must be more for the promoters due to financial difficulties it might put them in, sense must prevail, and write the season off immediately, for the good of everybody. 

[iris123]

11 minutes ago, Mimmo said:

As much as I want speedway to happen this year, as like all of us, I'm missing it very much, but as hard a decision it must be more for the promoters due to financial difficulties it might put them in, sense must prevail, and write the season off immediately, for the good of everybody. 

I agree. I know one or two here have said they are willing to risk it and attend meetings, but quite honestly if you have a job and risk having to go into self isolation because someone at the meeting had tested positive as the ruling stands, it is a big risk. OK maybe if you are a pensioner. You can afford to, but a younger person ?

[cityrebel]

I'm one of those that would be prepared to gamble at my local tracks, but i sense by the lack of enthusiasm on here that i might be in the minority. I understand this, because i feel the same way about attending top flight football anytime soon.

[Fromafar]

40 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

I'm one of those that would be prepared to gamble at my local tracks, but i sense by the lack of enthusiasm on here that i might be in the minority. I understand this, because i feel the same way about attending top flight football anytime soon.

Until fans find out what is going to be on offer regarding meaning fixtures and restrictions it’s hard to get enthusiastic, fans have not taken to well to Individual Meetings in the last number of seasons,that would maybe put some older fans from taking the risk. Its going to be a gamble for the Promotions if they get the green light.It will be interesting to see will actually run if they get the go ahead.

Edited July 15, 2020 by Fromafar

[ruckerroo]

Its the hope that kills you really.

These promoters are going to need clarification by late july to be ready to go mid august.

The silence is deafening on the sporting with crowds front.

Ladbrokes/coral own 4 dog tracks, all 4 councils have been asked if crowds can return, 1 yes, 1 no and 2 abstentions so far have been the replys

[teaboy279]

Banger/stock car stadiums seem to be phasing spectators in over the next few weekends, as many share stadiums with speedway and get far larger crowds and far more competitors and mechanics. Things must be looking positive toward starting up speedway pretty soon.

[arthur cross]

2 hours ago, ruckerroo said:

The silence is deafening on the sporting with crowds front.

Ladbrokes/coral own 4 dog tracks, all 4 councils have been asked if crowds can return, 1 yes, 1 no and 2 abstentions so far have been the replys

Two major problems regarding the government's hopelessly mixed messages on covid-easing in relation to crowds attending sports events.

Firstly, given the current restriction that while churches can re-open, singing in them remains banned as it's deemed to be a riskier transmitter of covid-particles, how ridiculous if sports crowds are told they can gather together again but can't cheer for their team ? !!

Secondly, as witnessed especially clearly on the first day of English pubs re-opening last Saturday-week and, coincidentally, in Burnham-on-Sea just a couple of miles from the Somerset Rebels' home track, the current fall-out from a customer finding out they're covid-positive the day after innocently attending a crowded venue is horrendous.

The covid-positive bloke there has become a social pariah and the pub manageress has gone public on how it was left entirely to her to track-&-trace the rest of her 80-or-so customers from that day's business with precious little help from the officialdom supposed to deal with that matter.

If dealing with the aftermath of a crowd of 80 is that wretched, how the hell are any of a speedway club, its stadium landlord or the government agencies going to cope with following-up any subsequent covid-positives among a speedway (or any other sports) crowd of several hundred ? !!

No wonder Ladbrokes-Coral found such a scrambled response from their 4 local authorities (no clue from them about exactly where Monmore in Wolverhampton, a long-time Ladbrokes asset, fitted into those mixed answers as the only speedway venue among the quartet with the other 3 being Ladbrokes' 1980's downsize rebuild of former speedway venue Crayford in the Kent outskirts of London plus the long-time Coral pair of Hove on the Sussex coast and Romford in the Essex outskirts of London). 

[HGould]

9 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

Banger/stock car stadiums seem to be phasing spectators in over the next few weekends, as many share stadiums with speedway and get far larger crowds and far more competitors and mechanics. Things must be looking positive toward starting up speedway pretty soon.

Stock Cars have a loophole though as it is a sport where competitors pay to participate. Classed as an amateur Sport and may get permission based on the update by Oliver Dowden last week of participation sports with small crowds.

Local Councils will approve on that basis but Government has yet to confirm what % or number Crowd can be.

It's possible crowd may only be friends and families of drivers.

8 hours ago, arthur cross said:

Two major problems regarding the government's hopelessly mixed messages on covid-easing in relation to crowds attending sports events.

Firstly, given the current restriction that while churches can re-open, singing in them remains banned as it's deemed to be a riskier transmitter of covid-particles, how ridiculous if sports crowds are told they can gather together again but can't cheer for their team ? !!

Secondly, as witnessed especially clearly on the first day of English pubs re-opening last Saturday-week and, coincidentally, in Burnham-on-Sea just a couple of miles from the Somerset Rebels' home track, the current fall-out from a customer finding out they're covid-positive the day after innocently attending a crowded venue is horrendous.

The covid-positive bloke there has become a social pariah and the pub manageress has gone public on how it was left entirely to her to track-&-trace the rest of her 80-or-so customers from that day's business with precious little help from the officialdom supposed to deal with that matter.

If dealing with the aftermath of a crowd of 80 is that wretched, how the hell are any of a speedway club, its stadium landlord or the government agencies going to cope with following-up any subsequent covid-positives among a speedway (or any other sports) crowd of several hundred ? !!

No wonder Ladbrokes-Coral found such a scrambled response from their 4 local authorities (no clue from them about exactly where Monmore in Wolverhampton, a long-time Ladbrokes asset, fitted into those mixed answers as the only speedway venue among the quartet with the other 3 being Ladbrokes' 1980's downsize rebuild of former speedway venue Crayford in the Kent outskirts of London plus the long-time Coral pair of Hove on the Sussex coast and Romford in the Essex outskirts of London). 

It seems that Dog Tracks are guarding "betting levy turnover" and understandably as that's majority of any income. If a speedway event with a few hundred people delivers a positive test the Stadium is automatically closed for 7-14 days and  some Dog Tracks have 4-5 meetings a week. That would be very negative for Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Kent; Sheffield, Newcastle (as we have seen); Swindon chances. The Dogs have not restarted at Poole as the Stadium staff are all on furlough still.

The best hope currently seems to be the Stock Car venues although Speedway is classed in a different category to Stocks as payment is made it's considered "professional" but may be good news for King Lynn, Ipswich ; Scunthorpe, Mildenhall and Eastbourne who stage Stock Car Meetings.  

The "standalone" Speedway Tracks like Berwick, Edinburgh, Redcar, Leicester, Belle Vue, Somerset; Plymouth, Peterborough , IOW will have to decide whether it's viable to open for speedway alone or with other stadium uses to cover their costs.

[IainB]

14 hours ago, cityrebel said:

but i sense by the lack of enthusiasm on here that i might be in the minority.

If you're looking for enthusiasm on these forums, you're looking in the wrong place... even in the best of times 

10 hours ago, arthur cross said:

how ridiculous if sports crowds are told they can gather together again but can't cheer for their team ? !!

It'd be like going to Ippo every week with their no air horns policy 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

22 minutes ago, iainb said:

If you're looking for enthusiasm on these forums, you're looking in the wrong place... even in the best of times 

It'd be like going to Ippo every week with their no air horns policy 

Just get a dirty great bell like me!! 

[2ndbendbeerhut]

13 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Just get a dirty great bell like me!! 

With or without the end? 

 

[Skodaman]

11 hours ago, arthur cross said:

Two major problems regarding the government's hopelessly mixed messages on covid-easing in relation to crowds attending sports events.

Firstly, given the current restriction that while churches can re-open, singing in them remains banned as it's deemed to be a riskier transmitter of covid-particles, how ridiculous if sports crowds are told they can gather together again but can't cheer for their team ? !!

Secondly, as witnessed especially clearly on the first day of English pubs re-opening last Saturday-week and, coincidentally, in Burnham-on-Sea just a couple of miles from the Somerset Rebels' home track, the current fall-out from a customer finding out they're covid-positive the day after innocently attending a crowded venue is horrendous.

The covid-positive bloke there has become a social pariah and the pub manageress has gone public on how it was left entirely to her to track-&-trace the rest of her 80-or-so customers from that day's business with precious little help from the officialdom supposed to deal with that matter.

If dealing with the aftermath of a crowd of 80 is that wretched, how the hell are any of a speedway club, its stadium landlord or the government agencies going to cope with following-up any subsequent covid-positives among a speedway (or any other sports) crowd of several hundred ? !!

No wonder Ladbrokes-Coral found such a scrambled response from their 4 local authorities (no clue from them about exactly where Monmore in Wolverhampton, a long-time Ladbrokes asset, fitted into those mixed answers as the only speedway venue among the quartet with the other 3 being Ladbrokes' 1980's downsize rebuild of former speedway venue Crayford in the Kent outskirts of London plus the long-time Coral pair of Hove on the Sussex coast and Romford in the Essex outskirts of London). 

It would be easy for tracks to do track and trace if everyone had to prepay; their details would be on file for each meeting.

[penchev]

Forget it see you next season 

be shocked if any speedway goes ahead this season, sincerely hope I am wrong , and also the situation in Poland can’t be good either 

[stewmac]

1 hour ago, Skodaman said:

It would be easy for tracks to do track and trace if everyone had to prepay; their details would be on file for each meeting.

This is the sort of common sense approach that is light years away in this country..

[Chris116]

1 hour ago, Skodaman said:

It would be easy for tracks to do track and trace if everyone had to prepay; their details would be on file for each meeting.

That is exactly what Spedeworth are doing at Ipswich and Aldershot for their first two meetings. 

[cityrebel]

50 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

That is exactly what Spedeworth are doing at Ipswich and Aldershot for their first two meetings. 

Well done to them, I'd say.