We can all tell Speedway season has begun, and no its not the smell of the engines revving nor is it the countless Press & Practice day pictures, but instead the weather front moving in with its usual start of season rain.
Heavy rainfall and showers has seen the postponement of 7 of the opening 13 fixtures across a spell of 11 days. According to the Met Office long range forecast we also have unsettled weather across the South and the West coming up over the next 7-14 days.
An abiding memory for me, especially in the opening weeks of the season, is driving past an empty stadium car park with a solitary fan having a quick toilet break up against the back of the grandstand, whilst looking up at the grey clouds as rain falls causing another postponement. This was long before the mobile phones and social media craze, where we are a mere fingertip away from finding a postponement. Back then, we either called the club hotline, or took a gamble and drove to the stadium, crossing anything possible that we would avoid the incoming weather system.
This is an all too familiar feeling, and one of which has happened season on season without a real cure. I mean, how can you control the weather? The simple answer is, we can't. Track covers have often been mused, without great success. If its raining, track covers can only go so far to protect a track, we can't ride under track covers.
Are we now in a position of thinking that we should be delaying the start of a season? In 2023, Poland will not start their season until April 8th, albeit, with a splattering of challenge matches before. Sweden begin on May 2nd and the GP Series won't hold Round 1 in Croatia until April 29th. Poland will operate with 8 teams in the top flight this season, and Sweden will have 7, exactly the same as the UKs Premiership. And guess what? Sweden are looking to complete the Grand Final on September 19th, even with a May start!!
It is possible, so surely it is now plausible, to delay a UK start until April to avoid the March rain. We all feel excitement, a tangible trepidation of the season beginning, like a child awaiting Christmas Day, but realistically we face the same troubles every season, whether it be rain or even frost.
Steve Worrall has today alone, seen the postponement of his testimonial, a meeting which has the most meticulous planning, all to be dashed by the rain. Although, an amazing gesture to see him donate all of the buffet to a food bank in Poole, fantastic from you Stevie!! Stuart Robson is now looking for take 5 of his farewell at Redcar, a situation he shouldn't be faced with having to prepare meetings at the very beginning or end of the season. Let's not forget, fans would have been graced by the presence of Freddie Lindgren, a sight we don't always see on UK shores anymore. Fair play to the authorities for allowing this to be scheduled in the middle of the season but the chances of Freddie being there must now be very slim. And then, there was the GP-esque line up for the Peter Craven Memorial at Belle Vue. Robert Lambert, Dan Bewley, Chris Holder, Freddie Lindgren, Matej Zagar, Nicki Pedersen, Jason Doyle et al throwing bikes at each other, what a treat.
Then we have the return of Swindon to the track for the first time since 2019. A chance for the Robins fans to see them resurrected for one night only. We eternally hope that this isn't the last of it and we get to see them back, preferably full time, if not for Rob but for all Swindon fans, a club steeped in such rich history.
I see myself as a voice, a supporter of the sport for 33 years, and I will be reaching out to push this as a serious alternative, to avoid such undeniably frustrating circumstances. The sport needs to listen to its fans, its shareholders, its stakeholders, because we all become irked by a rain off, unnecessary travel, and especially in the current climate, financial implications. Although we all see the same amount of speedway in a season, we may make 4-5 unnecessary travels to a track.
A final parting word from me, and thank you all again for listening to our Podcast. Rob, Cain and Myself are all extremely grateful for all of the support shown to us, we really enjoy the content, and hopefully we bring a positive, light-hearted outlook to all fans.
After donating £150 to Paul Ackroyd, and the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund, on Saturday evening, I promise I wont forget my roots after my television appearance on the British Speedway Network. A massive thank you to Ben Duffill, Martin Hunter, Hayley Bromley and Lee Kilby for letting me appear on the show, I am truly appreciative of giving this platform to plug our podcast. Finally, well done to Friend of the Show, Chris Abbs, who picked up the winning cheque for £75.
Coincidentally, Ian Brannan, who is a commentator on BSN as well as fellow Podcaster, will be appearing on our show this coming week, something we are looking forward to immensely, as newbies to this world, we are excited to speak and hopefully get some tips. BSN will also be streaming their first league fixture this Saturday as they roll into Berwick, to watch them against Redcar Bears at 7pm.
No fixtures for Bunting's Bookies this week, as King's Lynn and Leicester have made early decisions to postpone their fixtures against Sheffield and Ipswich respectively in KO Cup and League.
We also send our best wishes to Nicki Pedersen after his crash at Peterborough on Monday evening, as he recovers from a back injury and damage to his fingers.
For now, we hope you carry on enjoying the show, and I guess if you get a chance to watch some Speedway, and dodge the rain, make sure you make the most of it.
Until next time!!!
Nathan
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