mikebv

Where's Ipwsich?

Exactly my point... A continuing downward spiral of short term reactions, that means UK riders get replaced, become disillusioned, and then give up... If genuine World Class talent was coming in, then fine... However, invariably, for the last 30 years or so, most overseas riders have been nothing more than journeymen using a revolving door... And all done to win something with little kudos or relevance given the operating model used... Maybe ensuring more supply than demand for riders could mean UK Speedway gets ran authentically like other nations run their version of the sport..? It certainly won't happen with so many teams not even bothering to take UK rider development seriously, and also not protecting those who are on the lower rungs of the professional ladder...

They could use a boat to get to the UK... Just like their great, great, great grandfathers used to get over there years ago... Hopefully they won't be chained up the same way, though. Edit: On the plus side, it did qualify their great, great, great grandchildren to ride NDL..

As I said... It just goes on, and on, and on... And all to try and win what exactly???

Great news for UK Speedway... Yet another overseas rider being given a chance to take up a spot that a UK rider should have got... And on, and on, and on, the Great Plan goes.. Well, if it ain't broken, and all that!!!

Running the sport in a way that removes pretty much all authenticity of both leagues is an even worse answer to develop the sport...

For several weeks that season, Sam Masters had the No1 average in both leagues at the same time..

And benefited hugely by using Ostergaard's average, which he gained whilst at reserve, but subsequently put him at No1... With his long term injury, meaning plenty of decent guests or RR covered by any of the team.. A perfect storm, season...

Laughably, we have seen the comments from some riders, who DU, that if they couldn't, they would have to retire... What happens come the inevitable day when they do retire, or heaven forbid, get career ending injuries... I presume the sport in the UK must cease to exist at that very moment, given the desperation, and panic, in trying to run a top tier with enough spaces to allow riders to DU... And still hardly any of the top two leagues' teams are doing anything to make a surplus of UK talent to meet the demand needed over the next decade, as "two job riders" leave the sport.. You can only presume that this is due to most tracks being quite content with their lot, and a major part of this being that sharing rider costs with another team works perfectly for both of them.... For now...

And also ask why it isn't compulsory for every meeting to have at least three rides each for NDL and even lower, standard riders... Either during the meeting itself, to add something extra to the event, or afterwards... Expenses only, or even "pay to play" like so many other Motorsports do at that level... Track time is obviously the largest fundamental requirement for rider development, therefore, common sense says the more laps that these lads do, the more in control, and faster, they become... Once again, both leagues will be bringing over riders at reserve and second string level, to take places a UK rider should have been trained up to the required standard to take.. When will it actually dawn on the promoters that this doesn't help the sport long term in the UK, one iota, hence, we are where we are now, with riders having two jobs due to a complete lack of suitable resource .. And Guestfests taking part each week, destroying any authenticity of the competitions due to no "subs on the bench"... The Glasgow promotion seem very pro active, and honest, so it would be interesting to hear their views..

I have seen on certain FB pages that the sport, to move forward, needs Coventry, Peterborough, Wolves and Swindon back... Who, it has to be asked, will ride for them?. Name those 28 riders of sufficient capability..

Of course it will... You know that, I know that, and tens and tens of thousands of fans, who no longer attend, but still closely follow the sport, elsewhere, know that... The undeniable issue, is that those who are quite happy to run the sport as a hobby, won't ever, for one second, accept that.. Until, of course, their hobby doesn't exist anymore..

What was once a laudable development idea, that gave those moving up a "safety net", should their higher division aspirations be beyond them... Became the ONLY reason two tiers can pass themselves off as a professional entity..

UK Speedway is clearly hamstrung by doubling up.. Neither league can pay those top tier third HL's/SS's, and 2nd tier "one and fives" individually, what these lads want to earn.. Therefore, they share the costs, to ensure so many teams can actually exist at the level they want to run at, and riders get what they want.. The top tier need to have some "top talent" to justify their "top tier" status... And those who run the sport as a hobby have zero interest in what the top tier do, and have even less than zero interest in joining them, but do like using riders they couldn't afford if the top tier didn't subsidise them.. In short... Doubling up, and Guestfest after Guestfest, (196 in the top two tiers last year), actually renders the sport a ridiculously "hard sell" to both sponsors (from outside the Speedway bubble), and potential new followers.... (Not promoted well Richard? Really? How do you actually promote that?) Sorting this sharing of riders is the No1 issue, and the biggest barrier to the sport ever becoming seen as "authentic" by those who no longer attend, or wish to sponsor clubs.. To the likes of Richard Coleman, I say... Good luck... Many before have seen the huge potential in such a unique concept of motorbike racing in a town environs... And all then basically, gave up, and cleared off, disillusioned, given those incumbents who run the sport, are more than happy with their lot.. Us fans may see potential, those who run it, particularly as a hobby, don't feel any growth is needed... (Especially If it impacts them)..

They have all been in it together... All are just as culpable as each other, for the situation the sport finds itself in... Making up some Mickey Mouse rules as they go along, all knowing that, one day, they may need to use any particular one of them, themselves..... In the interest of Speedway, obviously..... Adrian Smith, like a fair few before, got out bewildered by, and with, so many who are still within the sport... It will be very much rinse and repeat until the inevitable happens...

Joining a club of several others. Turkeys don't vote for Christmas....

You're sh*t, and you know you are!"...

The same plan they have had for many, many years.... #needtokeepgoingsoriderscandoubleup..

The six everyone knows and Bartek Zmarzlik on a 4.50 point average... This average is based on his one match for Birmingham in 2014, and the ensuing 11 years worth of reduction for not riding over here during that time.. An extremely new rule which only six times World Champions qualify for.. (And all done in the interests of Speedway obviously)..

One to tell the riders to make great starts and then ride as fast as they could..? And the other to tell them to turn left when they got to end of every straight..?

Hey! If it ain't broken, don't fix it..... PS (Don't tell your friends how much it is to get in to watch a sport they probably have never heard of, until they have got there!!)...

You already know how this ends..... Like so many before... Hobbyists rule...

"Great to have you on board Richard, and we appreicate your thoughts on how the sport has been promoted in the UK, however, for most of us here within UK Speedway, it is nothing more than an affordable hobby that we enjoy running. Hence, to ensure ir remains affordable, we run the sport in a way where we can just pretty much make things up as we go along, and don't really go in for too much authenticity when compared to properly ran professional sports"... "I am sure we all look forward to listening to what great ideas you have, before obviously just cracking on and doing the same things as always"...

Good news... No Team info? Or did I miss it? "Not always promoted or presented in the way it deserves"... Fair comment.... I am sure the other promoters will be closely watching and learning...

As it stands, I can see the Aces going full in on the PCMT, and the GP's... They may need the money to pay for their season!!!