Respected track man Gerald Richter will oversee the initial stages of fundraising but the Club are keen that all those that wish to join in this effort should do so and the Club will be the point of payment with all funds going direct to Emma. Richter can be contacted on 07973 839056 or email at spdwy@hotmail.co.uk

Chris Holder “What a shit track in Wroclaw!!! Looks so bad!”

Scott Nicholls “Sounds like nasty injuries to lee. Sad part of any sport. Really hope they take good care of him on Poland & he makes a good recovery”

Gecko Fitness “Thoughts with Lee Richardson, I know this dude and I know he’s a winner, thinking of you champ”

Chris Holder “Fuk speedway”

Lewis Bridger “Thoughts going out to Lee Richardson must be horrible for his wife not to no his exact condition he’s a great guy I’m [praying] he’s going to be okay”

Nicolai Klindt “fuck man, this is it! can’t believe it….”

Troy Batchelor “Shock….”

Tai Woffinden “sad day rest in peace mate”

Alun John Rossiter “This is not right RIP mate xx”

Lewis Bridger “dude ((((((( I’m fucked up right now (((((“

Oliver Allen “in absolute shock”

Sam Masters “Oooh shit worst news RIP lee “

Nicki Glanz “Sad day for World Speedway RIP”

Nicolai Klindt “so sad! what a great bloke…. all my thoughts goes to wife and kids rest in peace!”

Scott Nicholls “I am speechless & can not think of any words to say at this very very sad time. My thoughts are with the richardson family & friends. RIP”

Troy Batchelor “RIP RICO don’t want to believe it …”

Chris Holder “Un fucking believable!”

Hans Andersen “I’m shocked life ain’t fair and my thoughts goes out to Richardson family… LEE always a top bloke and you will be deeply missed RIP”

Jon Cook “I am numb and just can’t take this in, Lee’s loss to his family is beyond imagination and I can’t see further than that at the moment”.

Stuart Douglas “Lee’s death is a truly shocking piece of news. Sometimes the dangers the riders face in this sport are sidelined in the competitive spirit, but this proves just how brave speedway riders are. Lee is a magnificent rider, and our club, and the speedway family around the world, are left totally bereft by this tragedy. Understandably, and as a mark of respect we will not be competing in our scheduled Elite League meeting at Coventry on Monday night. It is important for our riders to get together sooner rather than later to collectively mourn the loss of our Skipper, but it won’t be on Monday.  We intend to race at Poole on Wednesday and the club will stage Fridays meeting with Swindon in memory of a rider who was a star for both clubs. Jon, myself, and all the management and supporters of The Lakeside Hammers join together to send our love and prayers to Lee’s lovely young family at this tragic time. RIP Lee. God Bless you.”

Peter Johns “So sad, thoughts are with the Rico family, RIP Lee :’(“

Lewis Bridger “RIP RICO top top bloke in the sport I looked up to u so much man I’m in tears right now I really don’t want to believe this”

Nicolai Klindt “speechless”

Danny King “Cant believe what im hearing. Thoughts go out to the richardson family. Devastating news”

Chris Holder “Sort ya fukn track out u fukn kunts!!!”

Troy Batchelor “People wonder why we dont want to ride shit tracks…. Wrocław dish up Dog shit and look what happens…. Sort your tracks out”

Paul Burbidge “I’ve just spoken to one of the riders in Wroclaw, Lee Richardson passed away half an hour ago. RIP. Feel absolutely sick”

Joseph Screen “Shocked and numb at the moment about lee! speedway can be a shite thing sometimes”

Paul Burbidge “Since I first met Lee Richardson at 2004 SWC Final, he has been an absolute pleasure to deal with. A top bloke who gave me some great stories”

Cory Gathercole “Cannot believe the news about Lee Rico Richardson. Just heard and it has shocked me to the bone. Thoughts go out to his family”

Greg Hancock “Unreal news I just heard! It doesn’t seem real and another innocent one is gone. Our thoughts are with the whole Richardson Family. RIP Lee”

David Howe “Shocked at the news about Lee, terrible news. Can’t imagine what his family are going though. Sad day for the sport, totally numb”

Phil Morris “Tottaly shocked, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. deepest Thoughts with the Richardson family at this unbelievably sad time”

Nicki Pedersen “RIP Lee! you was a true gentleman always a lovely person to talk to and Work with. All my thoughts goes to Richardson family not fair at all”

Sam Masters “Can’t even watch the rest of this speedway, fuuuck scares me big time!”

Lewis Kerr

“Falubaz making a stand not going out riding. Respecting a fellow rider.Good on them. So gorzow riding round on there own #wankers”

Charlie Webster “Shocked – so sad to hear passing of rider Lee Richardson after crash in Poland. Lovely man. RIP Lee. My thoughts & prayers to family”

Jitendra Duffill “Gutted to hear of lee Richardson’s passing, so so sad, I can’t quite believe it. Thoughts are with him, his family and friends. RIP”

Rory Schlein “Speedway at the mo means nothin WILL MISS YOU LEE our laughs we had on our flights I will alway remember RIP RICO”

Nicki Pedersen “Total respectless of all riders there didnt Work out of the meeting today In Gorzow You should had Worked away ‘Immediately’”

Chris Holder “if we say track is not safe…. u cant call us whinge’s… we fucking mean IT IS NOT SAFE!! this should not happen to realise this! :’(“

Jon Davies “Gorzow speedway carrying on riding-disgraceful”

David Rowe “Cannot believe what has happened today. RIP Lee Richardson. We all love our speedway but this is the cruellest possible side of motorsport”

Jo Lowry “I just keep thinking its not real. I should be seeing him ride tomorrow. Not this. We’ll miss you Lee”

Gary Havelock “Devastated to hear the tragic news about Rico. He was a great team mate and a good man. Our thoughts are with his family at this needy hour”

Kevin Long “For 40 years I have been supporting speedway, I have had many good times & made so many friends;that’s the good side;today is the bad side!”

Ludvig Lindgren “Sad day for speedway! RIP LEE! Out of respect all meetings should be cancelled 2moro! One of the great guys! All thoughts to his family!”

David Watt“We’ve lost a great man today and I can’t comprehend it yet but I know, I’ll miss you mate. To all my family and friends, I love you”

Darcy Ward “Unbelievable RIP Lee Richardson Only raced and spoke to you other day!!”

Andy Povey “Deeply saddened to hear the tragic news about Lee Richardson. One of speedway’s nice guys”

Hans Andersen “I’m still speechless and sat stirring out in the air such a sad day for our sport which we love but when this happens it means Nothing..”

Ricky Kling “Im having a big 1 on the track. Lee riding for the opposition comes up to me after the event checking so it’s all ok! #RIPLeeRichardson”

Lewis Bridger “Out of respect all speedway tomorrow night should be cancelled RICO a true legend in the sport & a good friend !!! Fk the 13th “

Danny King “R.I.P Lee. It was an honour to know you and race with you”

Neils Kristian Iversen “RIP Lee. It just feels unreal. Thoughts are with your family. Times like this it just feels meaningless what we do”

Linus Sundstrom “What a shit evening, cant believe its true….#RIPRico”

Rory Schlein “Still awake can’t sleep I hope all matches r off 2moro in respect for lee and family and for everyone to come to terms I still can’t except”

Keith Heuwen “I have gone to bed too many times thinking of another racing family in grief #nevergetseasier #oldnow RIP Lee”

Gary Patchett “Not normally lost for words. Anything would sound inadequate. Sky should show a tribute to tomorrow night RIP mate”

Justin Sedgmen “R.I.P Lee just don’t know what to say or think ! Thoughts are with you wife kids family & friends …”

BSPA “THE British Speedway Promoters’ Association are deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Lakeside Hammers Captain Lee Richardson.
Lee died on Sunday in Poland as a result of injuries sustained in a racing accident…. 
The BSPA’s thoughts are with Lee’s family and friends at this awful time.”

Adam Roynon “Given time..the speedway world will unite and move forward…#onlythegooddieyoung RIPRico”

Mark Lemon “We’re all in denial, this sport we love is so so dangerous & no one should have to pay the ultimate sacrifice #RIPLeeRichardsonso sad&wrong?”

Mikkel Beck Jensen “Just arrived home.. Feel really sad about Lee! Hope you’ll rest in peace my friend”

Tai Woffinden “had the shitest sleep cant stop thinking about this loss! was talking to him before the race long way to wolves today RIPLeeRichardson”

Rory Schlein “I don’t feel like racing today….. Just want to go home to my family”

Oliver Allen “i feel ya mate”

Rory Schlein “words can’t explain how I feel”

Oliver Allen “same, can’t sleep, can’t think about much else”

Jenni Hancock “It’s a sad day… I wish I could take some of her pain. Wish I…”

Jason Crump “All thoughts…..#LeeRichardson”

Kenneth Bjerre “R.I.P. Rico”

Jennie Hancock “If only… I wish I could help!”

Scott Nicholls “Thoughts are with Lee’s wife,Emma,their 3 children & family today x”

Alan Boon “I’m in two minds on tonight’s speedway but I think that it should go ahead, as long as the riders are okay with it. I think an actual match containing a tribute will get more viewers than a tribute show, and thus more people will see Lee for what he was. And if people who heard about the death but haven’t watched speedway tune in, then more fans = more money for riders = Lee would want that”

Jenni Hancock “Again… Life is depending on that we take advantage of every little ounce of luck, love and laugh. Use it don’t abuse it”

Niall Strudwick “Not in the mood to work or ride atm. But i will ride again. Keeping black & sliver colours in memory of Lee”

Nicolai Klindt “#RIPLeeRichardson – i hope meetings today all over the world will be cancelled in respect of him and his family!!”

Jo Lowry “2nd headline on BBC radio 1 news this morning. I have NEVER heard speedway news mentioned on there”

Nigel Pearson “Feeling numb this morning. GB speedway rider Lee Richardson died after racing in Poland yesterday. Family man and good guy, great company. Apologies for not replying to tweets last night or this morning, but I have read them all. Didn’t want to post anything last night. Always enjoyed good conversation with Lee on Speedway, Football, cars and life in general”

Lewis Bridger “Feel so sick this morning can’t understand y this has happened 2 such a successful father of 3 & his poor wife I can’t even imagine the pain”

Darcy Ward “#RIPLeeRichardson still thinking but still speechless”

Reverend Michael Whawell “I’m devastated as he was one of the few riders that I had got to know quite well. First met him when he came to Panthers in 2004, his little boy Josh then a baby. Always friendly & ready for a chat. We shared many a smile about his early days at Smallmead partnering Phil Morris at reserve.”

Nigel Pearson “Just a note to all speedway riders, past and present, who follow me on here. You’re a hero to me. That’s all #riplee”

Alan Boon “Lakeside v Swindon on Friday will be an impromptu memorial for Lee Richardson, I guess. Going to try and get there – you should too”

Andrew Tully “Thinking about what’s important today!”

Casper Wortmann “Feel so blessed I’m still alive, when I think about I had internal bleedings like Lee. Then I’ll give a fuck about my scar. RIP Lee:(“

Bob Tasker “RIP Lee Richardson – puts a sport and entertainment into perspective. Our thought with his family & friends”

Chris Neath “So so sad to hear about Lee. All thoughts with his family and friends right now #RIPRico”

Chris Holder “Something’s in life jus don’t make sense!!? Can’t stop thinking about you mate! #RICO”

Shane Parker “Ride in peace #RICO”

Ludvig Lindgren “My best moments with Lee was all the fights to poland and back 2010 he and Harris made the trips much easier! RIP”

Lewis Bridger “tell me about it mate It’s messed up #RICO why ??? No1 knows what’s around the corner, now track creators sought it OUT !!!”

Tai Woffinden “whats your best #RICO moment? i wanna read all the good things people rember about lee!”

Ludvig Lindgren “It was yesterday I said that I enjoyed my speedway again! And boy did that feeling flew out the window after the horrible news! #RICO”

Gecko Fitness “he last time Lee trained he talked about his desire to win British Champs, this years winner should dedicate to rico #tribute”

Alun John Rossiter “Floral tributes being left out side the speedway gates at Swindon respect #RICO”

Tai Woffinden “well there ya have it a fuckin top bloke”

David Watt “Denial isn’t working anymore so it’s nice to feel the love from the big speedway family that have come together now Peace & love. Thanks”

David Howe “Been moaning about my injury for 4 wks but playing with my daughter this morning I realised I’m the lucky one, my problems seem small #RICO”

Mark Lemon “Attention span today, zilch #RICO”

Simon Stead “I cant believe all race meetings haven’t been cancelled today, not only as a mark of respect for Lee but surely as fellow racers we deserve at least 24hrs to greave over our friend before having to get back on a bike”

Please click here to see the initial day 1 reaction tweets to the devastating Lee Richardson news

(apologies for blog issues)

Ignoring that it’s hardly a fan friendly time to showcase the first meeting of the 2012 SGP series, nor a rider friendly location since it’s circa a 27 hour journey from Europe, for the first time since 2008 the UK satellite television SGP viewing figures are actually on the up! That’s right, the average 2011 Sky Sports viewer numbers were 73,100 per SGP or around 6% UP on 2010!!! See below and hold page 74 for this astonishing news:

However, before fans of the SGP or the management visionaries of BSI management team break out the budget supermarket sparkling wine, it’s wise to check back over recent history. There we find that 2011 saw the second worst average SGP viewer numbers on Sky Sports:

2005               109,571

2006               140,333

2007               124,000

2008               145,272

2009               103,333

2010               68,714

2011               73,100

Apologists for the falling popularity of the SGP for viewers of Sky Sports like to doubt the veracity of the BARB figures or clutch at straws like the weather, changing start times or, arguably more relevantly, the position of the the moon in Aquarius.

That said, with things notionally more positively poised, it’s definitely beyond dispute that 2012 will see the SGP series expand to 12 events. So, maybe just maybe, the viewing figures will start to vaguely match many years breathless hype provided by BSI press statements or the SGP website? Let’s see but not hold our collective breath.

The chance to get up in the middle of the night to see Jason Bunyan mix it in New Zealand with the ‘big boys’ is – as Chris Holder might say – “awesome” and certainly something to really get the juices flowing here at Methanol Press towers. Never afraid to make wild but grandiose press statements BSI Head Honcho and speedway ‘development’ guru Paul Bellamy has claimed without substantiating evidence other than some draft version of one of his own business plans, “Taking the Grand Prix series to nations like New Zealand is vital for the future development of the sport” Equally unafraid to hold forth speciously, IMG big cheese Rob Armstrong completely failed to get worldwide media attention by – possibly drawling in a slightly robotic voice ideally suited to such corporate piffle – “When we acquired the promoter of the world speedway series, we had an understanding with the FIM we wanted to take it outside Europe.” Be still my beating heart…

With a capacity of “15,000 approx” according to the always reliable capacity figures on the SGP website, (assuming a sell out) let’s hope tonight isn’t the first time fans numbers at the event exceeds the Sky Sports audience!

As usual, many thanks to Charles McKay for his kind help in providing these viewing figures.

Their quotes from the 2011 speedway season appear in #speedwaylife along with those of many other riders, promoters, journalists and fans.

The selection of Steve and Nick’s quotes below give a flavour of the contemporary difficulty of running a British speedway club on a commercial basis.

22^nd January 2011

Nicky Mallett

“Mark fitted in like a glove on a hand”

19^th February

Steve Mallett

“We are extremely disappointed with the conduct of those clubs which decide to let it be known that they have taken over a rider, but without having agreed terms with us. You would think that clubs would want to make sure the rider they are wanting to bring is actually their man. In the cases of Atkin, Webster and Armstrong, I can reveal now that terms have not been agreed and the paperwork has most certainly not gone through the BSPA office.”

23^rd April

Nicky Mallett

“The riders were left in no doubt whatsoever (during dressing room pep talk) that no-one here at this club was happy at all with the performance in that home reverse against Rye House. They were told straight that a list of would-be replacement riders was going to be drawn up there and then and that every one of them could go.”

10^th May

Steve Mallett

“We have had to let our heads rule our heart with respect to Mark (Jones). We had to do something to improve matters and we are preparing the ground for another move. It is now up to the Newport fans who cried out for change to turn out in force and show their support for the adjustment in team personnel. Justin (Sedgmen) has been plying his trade with Swindon in the Elite League so far this season and his acquisition is a real coup.”

12^th May

Steve Mallett

“I have already had preliminary talks with the sport’s governing body about the (NL withdrawal) implications in terms of fines etc but matters cannot continue to be sustained at the present level of attendance. We have one of the best infrastructures for rider development in British Speedway in terms of running training schools, a team in the National League and a senior team in the Premier League but the sums don’t add up and a tough decision with respect to the Hornets is pending. If fans want to see the lads continue in action they need to get down to Queensway Meadows and show their support.”

14^th May

Nicky Mallett a few weeks before ‘rain’ led to the early postponement of Newport v Plymouth on a SGP night that also featured Man U v Barca

“Let’s face it, the Grand Prix is watched by massive numbers of British fans and, of course, that includes (both of?) ours. It would have been silly of us to think that we could run a Knockout Cup fixture against the Grand Prix and we are delighted to announce that our fans now have the opportunity to watch both events. Now we have done that, we are seeking our fans to be loyal to us and turn up in their numbers to support the Hornets.”

Steve Mallett

“2011 has been the worst start to a season by the Wasps since the sport returned here in 1997 and that simply cannot continue, we need wins home AND away and I will do anything to make that happen.”

18^th May

Steve Mallett

“The attendance for our most recent home match in the (NL) cup was still not good enough but we had a meeting of senior management and decided to persevere for now. However, we do appeal to Newport fans that if they want us to be able to run a second team then they must get down here for the next home fixture against Mildenhall on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th and show their support.”

4^th June

Steve Mallett

“I just hope crowd sizes continue to increase. Things now appear heading in the right direction and we just hope the famous saying that a good team will bring in a good crowd is true and not just a myth!”

2^nd July

Nick Mallett

“To be frank, it is simply not good enough by the stretch of anyone’s imagination for four riders to only score ten points between them. It is my opinion that now is the time for me to unwrap everyone from their cotton-wool existence and spell out some home truths. Obviously I would never go public in what I plan to say to any rider, be it good or bad comments….as someone who has ridden myself, I am fully aware that no one ever goes out to deliberately underperform”

14^th July

Steve Mallett

“We have attracted increased coverage from a variety of media outlets, have set-up two highly-successful websites, completed several extremely large leaflet drops throughout Gwent and the valley and recently did so outside the Millennium Stadium before and after the Grand Prix. Anybody willing to give their time to work for the good of the club can easily contact ourselves and any fresh ideas will be listened to.”

13^th August

Nick Mallett

“On both occasions, the problem was started by members of the visiting sides and as such, we obviously had neither any idea it was going to happen or indeed control over it. It is crucial that people realise that speedway is an emotive sport and it would not be right of me to hide that fact that verbal and physical differences do happen from time to time. In the main, it normally happens away from the public. But on the two occasions at our ground recently, it has been in full gaze of everyone. We regret what has happened, obviously, and we are satisfied that appropriate action has and will be taken in an attempt to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But I stress, none of this was in anyway the blame of Newport Speedway and we cannot emphasize just how safe watching speedway at our ground is.”

20^th August

Steve Mallett

“To have only 401 for a meeting with our nearest rivals was a huge disappointment and people must realise that we, and I include all my family, cannot go on losing any more money.”

16^th September

Steve Mallett

“We have been advised time and again that speedway fans will only turn up en-mass to follow a winning side, so we dug deep into our financial pot and produced one which has won 13 and drawn another in its last 17 league and cup fixtures. But crowd sizes remain below what they should be and we really have reached the stage now that it’s make or break for local speedway followers. I really am urging fans who occasionally to come to watch to unite in a show of strength for Saturday night, without doubt the biggest meeting in our time here.”

6^th October

Steve Mallett

“We have done our bit in producing a side capable of winning ten successive home meetings and then picking up silverware. But what we don’t want now is for fans to say to themselves, ‘that’s it, we did our bit by turning up for the Cup Final. We really do, and I can’t stress this enough, want them all to return for our final few fixtures. The stark reality is if they don’t, then the very existence of this great club is in doubt.”

15^th October

Steve Mallett

“Here we are in mid-October and with only two weeks left of the season and this club still has seven Premier League meetings to fit in. That is a ludicrous state of affairs and one of the reasons we find ourselves in this mess is that other clubs have been highly uncooperative over dates and it was not so very long ago that we had successive weekends minus a home meeting. I said a few weeks ago that the two-phase fixture list had not worked as it had been planned and there are now many people agreeing with that thought.”

28^th October

Steve Mallett

“I am asking every fan who has ever watched this club over the years to come and support us in our final meeting of the season against Edinburgh. This is very much a ‘Save the Wasps’ plea from us all here at Newport and unless we have a good turnout, then what else are we to deduce from it? We won the Knockout Cup and have a chance to finish fourth in the Premier League and at the risk of repeating myself, speedway in this city is the only winning sport with all the rugby and football clubs struggling.”

29^th October

Steve Mallett

“The National League has been a disaster this year. The team hasn’t ridden well and the people have faded away. I didn’t come into this to do National League. Don’t get me wrong. Given that Nick came through as a junior, we wanted to do something to help the kids. But we want to be with the big boys. That’s the whole idea of it. If we’re running, we’re only doing Premier.”

Steve Mallett

“We’ve lost an absolute fortune without a shadow of a doubt. The crowds haven’t been good enough at all. I get told off for being negative, but I’d get told off if I shut the stadium on a whim. So what should I do?”

3^rd November

Nick Mallett

“We are having deep talks to decide the future of Newport Speedway and none of us really want the sport to be lost to the town, but we have had to have a realistic look at the finances involved in putting together what has been the most successful side in the club’s history. Our General Manager, Laurence Rogers, is working overtime trying to find a solution along with the family and Peter Mole. So when I said I wanted to do this slim down, Laurence asked why not do it as a sponsored slim to raise funds for the club’s survival?”

5^th November

Nick Mallett

“We had a warning from the council recently over the leaflets we’ve been putting out. We had a written warning.”

11^th November

Nick Mallett

“The reason we have decided to end the Hornets’ existence has been made purely and simply because of financial circumstances. Crowds have disappointingly been very poor here at our Queensway Meadows Stadium home track. That was even the case earlier in the season when the side put together a few home wins.”

12^th November

Nick Mallett

“Let me say right here and now that we would have made the same decision had we won the title.”

Steve Mallett

“We will sit around a table and thrash this matter out once and for all and, if it is to be bad news, then nobody can say they are surprised.”

17^th December

Nick Mallett

“It was partly my own fault and by the way the [PL] league situation worked against us whereby we lost so many home meetings….because of the lack of home [NL] fixtures, the crowd disappeared and at the same time the confidence of our riders seemed to disappear as well.”

4^th February 2012

Steve Mallett

“If this situation [Kurtz average reduction], of which the club is completely innocent is not quickly resolved, then we will be forced into a scenario in which we have no alternative but to withdraw the Wasps from the Premier League…I have long come to the conclusion that those who help run this club do not need the stress that British speedway always manages to heap upon us.”

11^th February

Steve Mallett

“What I will say at this point is that I feel I have been cut off at the legs and that Newport Speedway has not been treated respectfully by the BSPA. I feel bitter towards the BSPA and that the three years of hard work trying to establish a decent team appears to have been a total waste of time and effort on behalf of a lot of people.”

14^th February

Nick Mallett

“In all honesty, I simply don’t wish to be involved in this sport anymore after the way this club has been treated. But what I will say is that it is a disagreement which I feel could well have been avoided had this club been kept up to date with certain decisions which were made. I can also reveal that this is not the sole reason why I am leaving speedway, there are a number of factors away from the sport which demand my attention.”

related post about Tim Stone from April 2008 can be found here

Some of these photos take us behind the scenes in never before seen ways. Others showcase the mundane life that’s the frequent flier, hard driving daily reality of the grind of speedway life for the riders, their mechanics and fans.

Nevertheless, these photos are a unique ad hoc record of the 2011 season. Many caught my eye, here’s my personal selection….

Hans Andersen proved beyond all doubt the dangers of jogging – in comparison to the injuries you can sustain riding high powered bikes with no brakes if you crash or fall – but didn’t lose his sense of fun. Recovering from injury – whether burns, burns or breaks – quickly leaves scars but is essential since excellence brings material rewards.

Some riders travel round the world to earn their living in Europe, leaving behind loved ones. Once temporarily resident in the UK, often they settle into the Dorset lifestyle of car washes, boys toys or indulge their love of watersports.

Speedway is a small world so, understandably chance encounters abound trackside internationally and domestically but also in Luton or Middlesbrough. Recognition takes many forms, some of them worth framing. At Peterborough, they even have comemorative salt and pepper grinders!

After (or before) a hard day at the track, rather than shop for a nutritionally balanced but filling meal or hunt for a bargain – some riders love to get near naked or, if the opportunity presents, drive a tractor. Many riders take fashion very seriously, while others prefer comfort.

Ignoring how sponsors like a smartly turned out rider, how you dress, relax, the sunglasses you choose, the look of your moustache let alone your body art or how you style your hair says more about you than money ever can! They say workshop hours spent on your bikes and equipment generally directly translates into points on the track and celebrations if you win.

For the modest or eco-minded rider carefully looking after your equipment and kevlars while acting sustainably is second nature. Though silencer issues hogged the trade press column inches, the real revolutionary technical development of the season (white trainers and tracky bottoms don’t come fitted as standard) came from David Watt.

When it comes to the speedway twitter photo of the season, the Lindgren brothers lead where others dare not follow. Usually this crown jewels super hero with chequered flag pose would be the photo of the season for Ludvig (or, perhaps, his sleeping seal pose) but for this hairdryer special from his brother Fredrik.

If you enjoyed these speedway twitter photos, then don’t forget that the tweets and comments from the season are even more sensational and available for purchase in book form now (with a £5 donation to the SRBF for every copy sold) along with various other previously published titles!

Please provide your name and full postal address along with your answer. * Note: please DON’T submit your entry using the comment function

The first two correct entries drawn on January 1^st 2012 will receive their prize shortly afterwards.

For more information on  (or other Methanol Press titles including Bouquet of Shale), please click on the home page button above.

The publishers decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Thank you.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In pure on-the-day attendance terms, sadly, the metaphorical SGP dog continues to be bark free. Indeed, 2011 saw the worst average SGP attendance figures (15,261 per round) in a decade! All the pro-forma talk about the excitement of the racing, top-notch quality of the staging stadiums or the high calibre (primarily invitation only) competitors chosen by BSI continues to conspicuously fail to inspire more fans to part with their hard earned for the privilege of going through the turnstiles to watch said often humdrum ‘spectacle’.

Given historic questions continue to linger about their reporting accuracy and statement veracity, in the absence of confirmation from the BSI bunker – the recently released ‘unofficial’ attendance figures are the best snapshot we have of the situation. These still make sorry reading for genuine fans of world championship speedway everywhere.

If we assume these figures accurately reflect paying customer numbers, surprisingly we can actually find a few positives from the 2011 SGP series since the latest campaign saw Vojens attract 3000 more fans through the turnstiles, Prague 700 and Terenzano 200. The stadium at Torun came on stream and attracted 16,700. This in itself is something of a minor miracle since the SGP website lists the capacity of the Marian Rose Motoarena as only 15,500! Still organisers BSI have some previous in this regard after having accomplished this loaves and fishes type accounting wonder of exceeded stated stadium capacity in Poland at both Torun and Bydgoszcz (in 2010)! These kinds of ‘unusual’ but unique errors give continuing credence to scepticism about any rhetorical or arithmetical claims made by BSI.

The jewel in the SGP series crown – Cardiff – saw paying fan numbers shrink by 1,360 though, bizarrely, after tangential dark mutterings about the severity of the recession this performance was praised in the pages of trade press! Luckily for BSI, the Welsh Government remain big fans of the Cardiff SGP. So much so that they’re prepared to stump up an impressive £850,00 over 5 years –around £4 a fan – just for the privilege of staging the event within the principality. The Welsh Government clearly don’t do much due diligence otherwise they’d know that it’s not so long since the organisers specifically changed their own historic start time to encourage a ‘reverse tourism boom’ that they claimed was to enable more families to get away from Cardiff without the need to stay over! Even a cursory search of the pitiful number of (independent) national press clippings the publicity departments of Sky Sports and BSI collectively manage to generate between them would reveal the added bonus of BSI Managing Director Paul Bellamy slagging off the city for the allegedly usurious ‘expense’ of its hotels as well as the trials and tribulations prompted by limitations of public transport (train) provision in the Welsh capital city.

With total attendances for the SGP series falling by 9,220 fans (down 5.2%) from 177,100 to 167,876, you need to go back a decade to the dark days of 2001 to find average attendee numbers per event below the present execrable 15,261*.

With the SGP firework conspicuously failing to light yet again this year, there’s vague comfort for the BSI/IMG management team in the brute fact that Prague, Torun and Vojens all saw their 2011 numbers beat their historic average attendance figures. However, if BSI/IMG were actually accountable to shareholders (or speedway fans!), ongoing decline in this area alone would see the lame ducks from the executive team seek opportunities elsewhere.

Average Speedway Grand Prix Attendance Figures

2001   15,750

2002   20,100

2003   17,163

2004   15,793

2005   16,940

2006   15,639

2007   16,628

2008   16,997

2009   15,755

2010   16,100

2011   15,261

Before we get carried away, it’s worth noting that 2011 average viewer numbers (80,611) are 45% down on 2008 (145,550) and even 25% down on the 106,944 two years ago when 38,000 odd viewers were lost.

In the absence of specific information or comment from Sky Sports (let alone credible competing publicly available rival viewer statistics), ‘friends’ of speedway and insider experts continue to anonymously attack the veracity of the BARB figures on the British Speedway Forum. Though these posters unsubstantiated and, sometimes, tendentious criticisms are allegations unlikely to register beyond the BSF, this ongoing questioning the BARB figures sounds petty and horribly like sour grapes when you consider that BARB is the accepted standard form of audience measurement within the television industry. Apparently good enough for Strictly and the X Factor but allegedly too blunt an instrument for obscure or specialist programmes like Sky Sports Speedway.

Sky Sports insider, Flagrag takes it upon himself to articulate the apparent position of the satellite broadcaster, “Sky no longer rely on BARB figures much now anyway as they don’t take into consideration time shifted viewing like recording and repeats. In fact we now have a more accurate system as we have our own consumer viewing panel and online Skyline survey system this is all backed up by our internal viewing monitoring figures collected from set top boxes as this allows us to see how many recorded it along with repeat play outs.”

Interestingly after this scepticism about the integrity of the BARB figures, earlier this month Flagrag rushed onto the BSF to state that Sky Sports Speedway internal figures reveal a decline for viewing numbers for Elite League in 2011! “I have not had a chance to fully have a look at viewing figures year on year but in general they have been down a bit which is to be expected as has been going head to head with MNF premiership football on Sky sports 1 but the audience share has remained good all year and Speedway still out performs a number of other more well known and supported sports and events” It’s an immutable law of sales that whenever there is talk of market share, things aren’t usually rosy in the garden.

The calibre of the excuses aren’t up to much either, especially since – for example – Monday night football has been around for some time, this doesn’t seem a credible or creative explanation. Given the frequent praise for the quality and editing of the pictures broadcast, the decline Flagrag highlights is hard to fathom unless those legions of time shift viewers no longer bother to Sky+ Monday night live speedway meetings.

That said, during 2011 12 Elite League meetings were unmeasurable by BARB since their audience fell outside the weekly Top 10, so – if the figures for these are known by insiders at Sky Sports and added into the mix – it is conceivable that Monday night live speedway viewer numbers did slump as Flagrag claims. Speedway riders such as Chris Holder (“It’s an inferior product. They want to keep costs down but are watering down the product. If they want to make the Elite League in England ‘the Elite League’, they should bring all the top riders over”) and Hans Andersen (“No disrespect to some of the riders, but people are paying Elite League prices to get in, but it’s not Elite League riders on display”) raise partisan product quality questions but this isn’t a situation solely peculiar to 2011.

This blog suggests that we shouldn’t lose sight of the ‘good news’ that these increased BARB figures represent. We could also continue to hope this is a sign of further recovery in the future. Monday night expert commentators Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum often remind us during the season that the resurgent 2011 Elite League nowadays manages to attract stay away Speedway Grand Prix stars – riders like Nicki Pedersen and Emil Sayfutdinov – back to our shores. It’s a development they say that signals our collective speedway good health. So, perhaps, on balance these deeply admired returning riders are one of the key reasons behind the modest rise the BARB figures show for the 2011 season?