mikebv

The best part for me was when Neil Vatcher said in the "clarification statement" that what they actually meant by the first statement didnt come across like they intended.. Brilliant!!! There's some fair old reasons for the last two decades of decline in Speedway isn't there??.. And it certainly isn't just down to Poland, the GP's and developers is it?... I am looking forward to next weeks Speedway Star where we might read the "clarification of the clarification statement"... The sport definitely needs an "emotionally intellectual dictator" who signs off, as professional and fit for purpose, pretty much every bit of communication that comes out, and strategises the operating and business plan...

Tate Zischke is looking like a busy lad next year... Riding for about seven teams so far...

It was done for development of riders to ensure plenty of UK ones were available for the top league as riders retired, or dropped down and saw their careers out in the 2nd Div.. Giving them a "taster" as to what the top level was, without putting undue pressure on them by losing their other role... Now it is done simply to share costs of riders who are 20 years and more veterans of the sport... Hence restricted race nights for the top tier.. Hence Poland kept the weekend to themselves... (And now added eight Thursdays, plus rearrangements)..... "How not to run a sport successfully" would make a decent book title...

Good sentiments, but hard to police though I would think., Many of these riders would also be riding in the Championship, or maybe the Premiership.. Running a "Colts" team could see them doing less matches than for their other teams, so who should benefit?... One of the many issues with Doubling Up/Down..

Is that the rule?.. I thought it was now both wheels over the inside line?.. But then again, I always did think that was the rule given it was always quoted on TV when it came close to happenng, or actually did.. In the piece in the Speedway Star, Neil Vatcher said he didn't want to disclose those on the panel who said Cook had "breached the rule"... Why not? If it had been me who had decided he had done it, with zero other evidence than the ref had, then I would want my "vision superpower" to be known to all..!!

A lot of it goes back to it being a hobby for many... They are enjoying their afternoon at the Speedway so "no rush".. Supporters however may have a fair old distance to cover to get home, and some will rely on public transport at non peak times.. Maybe there should be a timetable of events published each meeting to help keep the organisers, and referees, focused on delivering a decently paced event?... I know some tracks have done it in the past, and maybe some still do?..

42 is the "perfect" average figure you get when all seven riders have 4 rides each.. 14 heats x 3 points per race per team.. A utopian situation that has so many variables that deliver so many inconsistencies, it becomes almost ridiculous to keep working out a new figure each season and changing it years in year out .

Wasn't there some "issues" that season, (one with Charles Wright springs to mind), that may have helped influence the decision... PTA will have more recollection than me I am sure.. FWIW I have always thought of Tom as a Steve Worrall level rider, ie capable of beating the very best, but not consistently enough to reach the worlds top 30 or so... Someone who will be a solid scorer in both UK leagues, but not an out and out top two HL in the top league.. He does look to be on a bargain average next season for any team who have a genuine top level top two, and can fit him in at No 3 or as a Second String.. You would have to think Ipswich wouldn't miss out on such a potential "cheat code" if they can use him as a second string in particular..

Spot on... All the tracks are really doing is providing track time for these young lads given they are never going to be assets... And they can ride in both leagues over here, and, at least, two overseas, and more if they don't do Poland.. Therefore to say one club "nurtures" them, and has some loyalty call on their services, is stretching things to a fair old distance... Getting a contract in Poland is the absolute aim for so many, and the UK provides a stepping stone, as do other leagues around Europe.. The aim for the sport over here, and in other non Polish leagues, is to have a conveyor belt of riders coming through to replace those for whom Poland becomes their "main home"...

Are the team averages actually set yet?.. Or is the AGM delay down to possibly a seventh team coming into tier one, which will mean an average change to accommodate them?... And, I presume the overseas U21 riders have an assessed average? If so, is it based on the usual Polish League riders assessed rules?... And if so, if they don't ride in Poland eg Sweden, Denmark etc, what will their assessed average be?.. Lower than Poland? Or the same???

A JCB couldn't keep digging so far down... A compounded load of tosh, on top of a load of tosh.. Embarrassingly out of their depth some people..

Both him and Tungate combined would be a decent way under 12... Not a bad engine room should they add Kurtz and Bewley to the top of the team, around 30 points in total for all four?... Would leave a fair few points for the fifth rider and two decent U21's (which you presume the Aces will get), and it would be another decent team.. Winning at home by a good margin is obviously key to overall success and track specialists at the NSS can pretty much guarantee that...

Run it like a bona fide business then?.... And not an "anything will do" hobby?... It will never catch on...

In the Speedway Star, Rohan Tungate says he is open for a UK place next season.. 5.89 average... The Aces must be interested I would imagine..

Every year it's the same bollox isn't it?... Averages changing, eligibility changing, rules changing, no doubt prices changing, (and not going down)... There must be literally hours spent on this nonsense instead of hours spent on creating a product which provides you with a great nights entertainment... "Does he qualify for the 2.5%, 5% or 25% reduction or increase, and is his mam English and left handed?"... So much minute detailed planning each season to ensure a competitive league, and instead we always end up with, at least, one team being highlighted as complete cannon fodder before a wheel is turned, and have their season pretty much over by June!!... Edit. Having read the interview in full, it is clear that Phil Morris does appear to have a clear vision of how he wants the UK version of the sport to evolve, with much of what he is seeking mentioned ad nauseum on here down the years . Hopefully with him, Richard Coleman, and Mark Lemon involved more influentially there is a better future.. It is clear that they want an obvious demarcation between the top two tiers over here, so hopefully their ideas come to fruition and the top league becomes something to aspire to be in...

That's why a highlights package would be the best course of action.. Using BSN and the clubs own streams.. ITV could pay them to use their footage which keeps their own production costs minimal... And those having their footage used get credited on screen so hopefully pick up more business... All the best races of the week cherry picked with studio discussion around that weeks racing with a preview of the following week.. Short, sharp coverage, with the odd "live" meeting at play off time..

The two U21 positions they must now have would have influenced that decision I would think..

The barrier to this would be the top tier paying riders enough to be exclusive.. Currently they and the 2nd tier help out each other by riders Doubling Down.. If they had to pay reserves, second strings and third heat leaders on their own what these riders wanted, could top tier teams afford the GP/Polish top tier level riders to go with them too?..

Maybe, but many of the riders that the UK need to attract over here see Thursday as being too close to the weekend, where they earn their major money and expectations of them are at their most pressured.. And don't want to be in an out of the UK twice a week some weeks as can happen... Plus Poland use Thursday now for rearranged meetings which, as we know, negatively impacts UK Speedway.. If the UK can improve the product then maybe Mondays only would work? As we see with the play offs, all teams have possibly even as much as double the followers that attend regularly through the season, therefore maybe if the product, and its credibility improves, so would the crowd levels??

One of the "weird" plusses for Speedway is the actual lack of huge financial rewards for winning.. No team would put together a team of "World Beaters" as they couldn't afford it, or, even if they could, their own crowds would suffer, as watching them hammer opponents each meeting would become boring... It doesn't even need massive differences in team averages, just stop moving the sport backwards each season... And having a "Manchester United" that brings the largest crowds in when they visit can't be a bad thing for the sport.. Other "Minority" sports, like both Rugby codes, Basketball and Ice Hockey have their regular "top teams", who bring in good home fan turnouts when visitng other teams.. It should always be about moving the sport forward..

Perfect for the GP riders should any of them wish to come over here. Hence so many do Poland, and Sweden, with some doing Denmark too.. Riders of the level that the UK would want, If they did Poland, UK and Sweden, would be finished by Tuesday, so would have Wednesday and Thursday clear and be well prepared for either a Friday Polish league match, or a GP2, or a Saturday GP or Polish Sunday league match.. Any Thursday Polish matches would also no longer impact the UK... Once a fortnight speedway at each track over here, like happens elsewhere..

One of the most requested things on the forum down the years I would say.. That, and let whoever finishes top of the table be the benchmark for the year after... Fans build an affinity with riders and then they move on!!! Absolutely crackers from a business perspective... You become successful and then have to start again the year after!! What nonsense is that?.. Using the top of the table teams' figure would also mean riders not having to (ahem) "manage" their averages late in the season.. Kids in particular love having "heroes" so to maintain their interest, let their "heroes" stay if the club wants it happen... (THE biggest opportunity for the sport is more kids as they bring paying adults!!)... Due to the lack of any large number of new riders coming into UK Speedway each year, what we have is akin to shuffling exactly the same deckchairs on the Titanic each close season... Put simply, have an incremental growth plan for the sport, and stop dumbing down..

Dan did miss the UK out in 2022 when he rode in Poland and Sweden only, so maybe he plans to do the same next year?.. Edit. He won two GP's that year, and the British Final as well... Obviously was allowed to ride.!!

It certainly is if you want to attract sponsors from outside the UK Speedway Bubble... Which has to be the ultimate aim... Interest from some major companies is vital for any sport in the UK, and the credibility of what you can offer to them will ultimately determine their input, or not... They need to see that your brand has enough synergy with theirs, and that your sports' administration, and ways of working, are not going to embarrass them by association, given the public will see them as being aligned with whoever they sponsor...

Irrefutable Evidence...😁