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kicks in – in about half an hour – it will be all systems go and I’ll be back on the roof again!” And how would he sum up the event in three words? The beaming Welshman was resounding: “Excitement, gladiatorial and unpredictable.” But did he have any embarrassing GP moments? He certainly did! “Anders Thomsen asked me if he could ride round naked if he won a GP. Standing on the podium (Gorzów, 2022), he nodded at me, and our eyes met,” Phil then momentarily paused as an eavesdropping Leon Madsen dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles, before acknowledging that this all sounded rather romantic. He continued: “I spoke to the Warner Bros Discovery Sports team and suggested that it would be great PR, as long as he kept his pants on. They agreed and his lap of honour was the biggest social media engagement on Eurosport!” Finally, what’s his most naff question? “I’ve just been asked one – what did you have for breakfast this morning? I don’t have breakfast!” TAKING to the streets, I was keen to add the fans’ perspective as they counted down the hours, whilst enjoying the sun and soaking up the city vibe. Could it be summed up in a sentence, what could make the event even more popular, and who was the smart money on to win the British GP? Newbie Phil, from a Plymouth contingent, excitedly declared: “Unbelievable experience!” Fellow Gladiator Jordan was celebrating her fifth British GP and simply added: “Cheaper tickets.” Poole fan Russell, celebrating his umpteenth home GP, was still as enthusiastic as ever: “A once in a lifetime event.” Adding that better promotion within the UK would likely lead to more fans through the turnstiles. Leicester Lions supporter Adam has attended 12 previous Cardiff finals and was adamant: “The whole atmosphere is the reason we come, and I wouldn’t change a thing, other than maybe making the beer cheaper!” Pondering how better it could be promoted, he believes that TV advertising would open it up to a much bigger untapped market. A cohort of confident Dan Bewley fans were still as excited as the first time they came, but made an astute observation. “The event has to be more socially inclusive, and the promotion needs to think more outside the box to attract • Russell and the rest of the Pirate crew fans from diverse backgrounds.” Ipswich Witches fan Keith has been a regular since it all started way back in 2001 Swindon Robins – who has never missed a final, summed it up as: “The yearly pinnacle of the speedway calendar.” and is still as enthusiastic. “The atmosphere, the whole weekend, meeting up with other speedway people from across the world – it’s just an awesome event.” His rallying call to increase the attendance was The seasoned GP observer was less than complimentary about the side show: “Sort out the pre-meeting entertainment, which is poor compared to the early days, and don’t bother with the fireworks if they are going to be the embarrassment they were this year.” straightforward: “Lower the hotel and ticket prices and more people will come.” The policing viewpoint was sincere: “There is a great vibe in the crowd, making our life much easier.” Oxford Cheetahs fans Felicity and sister Emma were here for the second time and both agreed that GP newcomer Paula, and recent convert to the Cheetahs experience at Cowley, was still bubbling: “A fabulous, thrilling, action-packed family night out!” Her suggested improvements were twofold. Firstly, she observed: “I thought it was brilliantly organised. The staff were friendly and helpful. It moved along at pace ? no hanging around between heats. The sound system in terms of commentary and announcements was difficult to hear/understand at times with some echo going on. If anything, that could be improved.” it was the atmosphere of the whole weekend that pulled them back trackside. • Oxford fans Felicity and sister Emma Secondly: “It seems the profile of speedway in general is very low. Clearly it was big in Cardiff, but nationally, not so much. Getting into schools and other places to target younger people may be useful.” Without a doubt, the pre-meeting fans’ favourite was Dan the man, with me placing a tenner on Robert Lambert. Perhaps we should all have reflected on the wise words of Phil Morris as the unpredictability factor was the victor: congratulations, Martin Vaculik! Concluding her review, she added: “Incidentally, I spoke to three separate people at work today who all said the same thing. There used to be a track in Oxford, but it closed down. None of them were aware it is up A FEW days after the event, I covered the last base and followed up with a group of spectators who had mulled over the experience. and running again, and they all live in Oxfordshire.” So where does the flagship event go from here? The 2024 Cardiff fix will take place on Saturday, August 17, and, in my humble opinion, the Principality Birmingham Brummies supporter Lisa had celebrated a decade of Cardiff weekends and her feedback was emphatic: “The SGP is one of the highlights of my year. The atmosphere is electric and it’s so much fun for all ages.” Having been a regular at the Arenacross in Birmingham, her suggested win was to advertise on the big screens to other motorsport fans. Tina – missing her beloved • Above and below: The Bewley Bunch Stadium still stands head and shoulders above any other UK venue. A successful Cardiff GP can only be good for every British club, but the messaging needs an overhaul. And who best to support this process? The fans themselves. Time – I suggest – for an organised fans council whose only ambition is to support our marvellous sport. @ianjkirke September 23, 2023 speedway star 39

kicks in – in about half an hour – it will be all systems go and I’ll be back on the roof again!”

And how would he sum up the event in three words? The beaming Welshman was resounding: “Excitement, gladiatorial and unpredictable.”

But did he have any embarrassing GP moments? He certainly did!

“Anders Thomsen asked me if he could ride round naked if he won a GP. Standing on the podium (Gorzów, 2022), he nodded at me, and our eyes met,” Phil then momentarily paused as an eavesdropping Leon Madsen dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles, before acknowledging that this all sounded rather romantic.

He continued: “I spoke to the Warner Bros Discovery Sports team and suggested that it would be great PR, as long as he kept his pants on. They agreed and his lap of honour was the biggest social media engagement on Eurosport!”

Finally, what’s his most naff question? “I’ve just been asked one – what did you have for breakfast this morning? I don’t have breakfast!”

TAKING to the streets, I was keen to add the fans’ perspective as they counted down the hours, whilst enjoying the sun and soaking up the city vibe.

Could it be summed up in a sentence, what could make the event even more popular, and who was the smart money on to win the British GP?

Newbie Phil, from a Plymouth contingent, excitedly declared: “Unbelievable experience!” Fellow Gladiator Jordan was celebrating her fifth British GP and simply added: “Cheaper tickets.”

Poole fan Russell, celebrating his umpteenth home GP, was still as enthusiastic as ever: “A once in a lifetime event.” Adding that better promotion within the UK would likely lead to more fans through the turnstiles.

Leicester Lions supporter Adam has attended 12 previous Cardiff finals and was adamant: “The whole atmosphere is the reason we come, and I wouldn’t change a thing, other than maybe making the beer cheaper!”

Pondering how better it could be promoted, he believes that TV advertising would open it up to a much bigger untapped market.

A cohort of confident Dan Bewley fans were still as excited as the first time they came, but made an astute observation. “The event has to be more socially inclusive, and the promotion needs to think more outside the box to attract

• Russell and the rest of the Pirate crew fans from diverse backgrounds.”

Ipswich Witches fan Keith has been a regular since it all started way back in 2001

Swindon Robins – who has never missed a final, summed it up as: “The yearly pinnacle of the speedway calendar.”

and is still as enthusiastic. “The atmosphere,

the whole weekend, meeting up with other speedway people from across the world –

it’s just an awesome event.”

His rallying call to increase the attendance was

The seasoned GP observer was less than complimentary about the side show: “Sort out the pre-meeting entertainment, which is poor compared to the early days, and don’t bother with the fireworks if they are going to be the embarrassment they were this year.”

straightforward: “Lower the hotel and ticket prices and more people will come.”

The policing viewpoint was sincere: “There is a great vibe in the crowd, making our life much easier.”

Oxford Cheetahs fans Felicity and sister Emma were here for the second time and both agreed that

GP newcomer Paula, and recent convert to the Cheetahs experience at Cowley, was still bubbling: “A fabulous, thrilling, action-packed family night out!”

Her suggested improvements were twofold. Firstly, she observed: “I thought it was brilliantly organised. The staff were friendly and helpful. It moved along at pace ? no hanging around between heats. The sound system in terms of commentary and announcements was difficult to hear/understand at times with some echo going on. If anything, that could be improved.”

it was the atmosphere of the whole weekend that pulled them back trackside.

• Oxford fans

Felicity and sister Emma

Secondly: “It seems the profile of speedway in general is very low. Clearly it was big in Cardiff, but nationally, not so much. Getting into schools and other places to target younger people may be useful.”

Without a doubt, the pre-meeting fans’ favourite was Dan the man, with me placing a tenner on Robert Lambert. Perhaps we should all have reflected on the wise words of Phil Morris as the unpredictability factor was the victor: congratulations, Martin Vaculik!

Concluding her review, she added: “Incidentally, I spoke to three separate people at work today who all said the same thing. There used to be a track in Oxford, but it closed down. None of them were aware it is up

A FEW days after the event, I covered the last base and followed up with a group of spectators who had mulled over the experience.

and running again, and they all live in Oxfordshire.”

So where does the flagship event go from here? The 2024 Cardiff fix will take place on Saturday, August 17, and, in my humble opinion, the Principality

Birmingham Brummies supporter Lisa had celebrated a decade of Cardiff weekends and her feedback was emphatic: “The SGP is one of the highlights of my year. The atmosphere is electric and it’s so much fun for all ages.”

Having been a regular at the Arenacross in Birmingham, her suggested win was to advertise on the big screens to other motorsport fans.

Tina – missing her beloved

• Above and below: The Bewley Bunch

Stadium still stands head and shoulders above any other UK

venue.

A successful Cardiff GP can only be good for every British club, but the messaging needs an overhaul. And who best to support this process?

The fans themselves. Time

– I suggest – for an organised fans council whose only ambition is to support our marvellous sport.

@ianjkirke

September 23, 2023 speedway star 39

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