Spectators essential if speedway is to get back on track says Sheffield’s Peter Mole

As sports across the country look to re-emerge from the current health crisis, the financial structure of speedway could make it difficult for the season to quickly restart.

“Talking for myself at Sheffield – and I think this is true of every track in the UK – racing behind closed doors would not be an option at all,” said Mole. “Our income is turnstile takings, sponsorship and programme money – and that’s it.

“Because we don’t own the stadium, we don’t get any takings, bar takings or food takings. They obviously go to the stadium itself which is fair because they employ all the staff to support those areas.

“British speedway, certainly for Sheffield, but I assume in general, it isn’t an option riding behind closed doors.”

However, while clubs may not be bringing any gate receipts at this moment, they also do not face major financial outgoings. With this in mind, speedway does seem to be in a pretty strong position compared to other sports.

Mole added: “The majority of teams rent the track on race nights. Other clubs own the stadium and they have got fixed costs going out. With ourselves at Sheffield, we rent the stadium. Although we have rider assets, all riders are essentially self-employed. They get paid on what they earn. The more points they score the more we have to pay them.

“Our meeting costs are stadium rent, which is a big cut of it, and riders’ wages, which is a massive amount. We then have other fixed costs such as St John’s ambulance, paramedics, officials, referees, any insurances we pay to riders. We’ve got marketing costs, programme costs. Not running, we’re not eligible to pay those costs.

“Financially, we haven’t got the fixed act going which a lot of other sports such as football do. Their players are retained and paid a salary. We don’t have that so that puts us in a good position. Although that isn’t true with everyone. Some have got outgoings if they own the stadium.”

With crowds making up a big part of the sport’s financial structure, it may take longer for speedway to resume.

Nevertheless, that same structure does seem to provide a lot of stability for a sport looking to return to the mainstream.

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Quarantine rules could keep speedway stars away from the British Premiership.

Coronavirus has forced many countries to adopt strict quarantine rules regarding international travel and it could adversely impact speedway here if the sports does resume.

With riders normally competing in different countries and multiple leagues over a course of a season, some may now have to choose where they compete.

In Poland, the world’s best riders are going through a 14-day quarantine before returning to training ahead of the season’s planned resumption on June 12.

One such rider is three-time world champion Nicki Pedersen, who was set to race for Sheffield Tigers in the Premiership as well as for GKM Grudziadz in the Polish Ekstraliga.

Tigers co-promoter Peter Mole said: “Poland have now got a system – because they can afford to run the top league behind closed doors – where they’ve got all the riders they want who aren’t Poland based.

“They now live in Poland and have to quarantine for two weeks and are living there while the season is on.

“We want Nicki Pedersen back. Our dream is to carry on with the team we signed this year, whether that’d be this season or even if the top league starts again next season. It would be great if every team could have the same line-up at the start of next season as we’re starting this one with.”

There is a growing consensus amongst UK speedway clubs that racing behind closed doors in this country is not financially viable.

Nevertheless, Mole does admit that the sport has not abandoned hope. “We’re still hopeful of staging speedway this season. Nobody’s given up on it and we’re still positive that maybe we can but I think quarantine would have some knock-on effects on teams’ strengths.”

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