Welcome to the latest installment of Asked & Answered, addressing a selection of your questions about all things speedway.
First up is Lyndsey from Motherwell:
It’s trophies that count most but it’s great fun too getting one over on your local rivals – which hasn’t proved easy in recent years. Edinburgh has a particularly tight track which doesn’t suit everyone. Which of Glasgow’s 2016 riders do you think are best equipped to handle Armadale?
Tigers captain Aaron Summers has intimate knowledge of the ‘technical’ Armadale circuit, having made his UK debut as a Monarch back in 2008. He’s well placed to lead us on our trips along the M8 to West Lothian in 2016.
Aaron should receive excellent back-up with newcomer, Richie Worrall. Richie has shown a real liking for the Monarchs’ race strip over the years. His guest appearance when he scored 9+2 during the Tigers’ memorable Premier League victory over Edinburgh last summer was key to the 48-42 success that night.
Ben Barker and Richard Lawson have also had their moments on Edinburgh’s home shale so they should have no fears going up against another strong side who will be keen to defend their league title. It should certainly make for some fascinating speedway when Scotland’s big two collide again!
Willie Barr from Glasgow, asks:
Do you plan to alter the entry into the corners of the track, in order that it’s wide enough to allow riders to go into the corners side by side?
This is a topic that is often debated on the terraces – is Ashfield too narrow?
We’re told there are no plans to alter the bends or widen the straights as long as the football pitch remains in place. The configuration or footprint of the stadium doesn’t allow expansion at either end due to a road and an adjacent private building, so increasing the size of the bends is not really an option.
Do we need more width? Maybe those who watched speedway at Shawfield compare it with our current home? The bends there certainly seemed wider.
Interestingly, the consensus amongst most riders is that the shape of the track is excellent, with the banking allowing riders to carry plenty of speed into the corners. One visitor described the Ashfield track as a ‘mini Exeter’ without the steel fence!
Frequently last season we saw all four riders to go into bends virtually simultaneously, which makes for great viewing. On the other hand it could also be a factor in why so many races were stopped when a rider fell at the apex of the first bend, due to coming into close contact with a rival.
Probably there’s no such thing as the perfect track but all-in-all Ashfield always seems to serve up some of the best racing in Britain.
Next we have David Wilson, from Bishopbriggs:
Would Glasgow Speedway ever think about putting a team together in the national league?
We are told that this isn’t on the agenda at the moment but possibly in the future.
The National League is essentially a development league and, to be brutally honest, at this moment in time there appears to be a lack of on-track talent in Scotland to nurture. This is where we have the chicken and egg scenario – if there isn’t a facility available for riders to try speedway, learn and practice the required skills of course there will be nobody to develop!
All that may change, however, once a youth training programme for budding Scottish speedway riders is created and becomes established at Ashfield. That’s what the owners of Glasgow Tigers Speedway would like to see, so that eventually a stream of talented prospects can be developed to a standard high enough to one day graduate to the Premier League team. A Tigers side in the National League could prove an ideal stepping stone to the top flight, so never say never.
Thomas, from Blantyre, asks:
What does the future hold for speedway in general? Supporters and journalists alike seemed captivated by what was going on at Ashfield last season. Can this be replicated elsewhere?
Is there anything better than a speedway match that goes to the wire when there’s a big crowd in attendance and a league championship or national trophy at stake?
When it’s good the sport is very good but the problem seems to be that the product on offer needs to be more than 15 heats in a run down stadium. First time visitors, lapsed fans and existing supporters liked what they saw at Glasgow last year. The surroundings were much improved and the ‘show’ was drastically enhanced to include additional entertainment to hold the attention, whether you’re 4 or 84.
Can this be replicated elsewhere? The physical redevelopment at Ashfield may have been exceptional but perhaps there are a few low cost improvements that other clubs could incorporate to enhance their race day or night experience. Lets be honest, a number of tracks in the UK run a slick show and their weekly attendances reflect this but inevitably some promoters might ask themselves if they’re doing enough to make the general public part with their hard earned cash.
The new National Stadium at Belle Vue, Manchester is surely going to help raise the sport’s profile in a city renowned for sporting excellence. Swindon are also expected to be in their modern new home before the 2016 season is over. Maybe the future doesn’t look too bad after all?
Thanks for some fascinating questions – keep them coming speedway fans!