Playoffs: pride or prejudice?

Proper or pantomime? Fair or unjust? Scintillating or exasperating? The playoffs have been part of speedway hierarchy since 2002 and have often had a habit of causing division across the terraces, especially when the top of the table team fails to be crowned champions. But is this sporadic criticism fair, and are the playoffs vital … Read more

Gearing up on the Goggle-box: Abi Stephens on air and methanol.

Monday night TV Premiership coverage has consistently maintained its triple A rating: Action, Adrenalin & Abi. Presented by the effervescent Abi Stephens, the unique feeling of being able to experience the meeting from both sides of the safety fence has been enthusiastically facilitated alongside her two amigos, Scott Nicholls, and Kelvin Tatum. Live TV broadcasting … Read more

Father of the ride: the view of a parent.

The internet is awash with parenting quotes ─ some glib, countless gushing, and many ─ honestly ─ graphic. As a dad myself, I prefer the latter references; Tom Hanks provides my favourite summation: “It’s like being caffeine-deprived for eighteen years.” Whatever the slant, if you are a parent there is one overriding objective: to keep … Read more

Win tickets for the most exhilarating UK motorsport event: The 2023 FIM British Speedway Grand Prix.

Kirkeytalk.com has teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to provide five pairs of tickets for the Monster Energy 2023 FIM British Speedway Grand Prix to be held at The Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday 2nd September. To enter the competition simply message kirkeytalk.com via the contact tab above with the answer to the following … Read more

The morning after the night before: reflections of a speedway showman.

The way we feel the day after an emotional high is usually in direct contrast to the manner in which our passions pulsated just a few hours previously. Psychologist Dr Elizabeth Lombardo describes this phenomenon as a “happiness hangover,” asserting that our instinctive ambition to hit a target is rewarding, a natural high, an adrenalin … Read more

Crowd clicks: the digital speedway promoter.

The word “promotion” is defined as an attempt to make a product or event popular or successful, especially by advertising. I’ve met many speedway promoters and their remit would appear to be much wider, albeit this principal business outcome reigns supreme – getting folk through the turnstiles on a regular basis and encouraging them to … Read more

Put your money where your mouth is: sponsors of speedway.

Allegedly, when asked “How do you become a millionaire?” Sir John Madejski – the former chair of Reading Football club – replied, “Start off with five million and buy a football club.” Speedway may be in a different financial league to most upper tier football clubs, but nonetheless certain parallels can be drawn in terms … Read more