The problem with speedway popularity is that its hard to draw riders. I raced mx for years and all my buddies thought I was crazy for riding speedway. If you arnt familiar with the bikes the first time you sit on one your like screw this. The bike weights 160 lbs and is almost touching the ground, if you hold the bars in one hand and the rear push bar in the other you can easily flex the frame back and forth a couple inches. As for lack of brakes, never had the need for them all my laps. If something happens in front of you lay the bike over in a controlled laydown "crash" you stop almost instantly and after you do it a few times it's no big deal and nothing gets damaged except your leathers some. At first you crash quite a bit, a lot of times not your fault. Once you figure it out it's like magic.
If you have speedway near you I encourage you to check it out and bum a bike for a couple laps, you'll either love it or hate it. Yes I said bum a bike for a couple laps. Speedway riders are some of the hardest people I know, they are also the most generous and dedicated people I know. More times then not somebody at the speedway track will see your interest if your around for awhile and offer you a try. Not only generous but we like to see hold my beer and watch this moments, lol.
I'm a bit bias when it comes to speedway, its my first love and my son just happens to be one of the most natural talents on a bike most anybody out in these parts have seen. The shot of my avatar is him after only about 15 minutes of seat time ever.
That smoke dude you guys always talk about, I know for a fact he wanted to ride one pretty bad a few years back, he came to a race of ours in N. Carolina and was quite excited bout it.