mikebv

100%... In a sport that uses such ludicrous rules to fudge its way to the end of every season, you would think they would want to fudge a few more rules and bring in top level riders wouldn't you?... You cannot be a "bit" Mickey Mouse, it is all or nothing, so just contrive the play offs and get some decent crowds, or, at least, some decent stream numbers...

The whole thing was all a bit "handbags" wasn't it?.. However, I was surprised how many people came out in support of "St. Bomber"... I then thought a bit more about the reason why, and then it came to me .. Bomber would probably have been voted EVERY team's rider of the year for the past decade or so... He must attend so many end of season presentations each year ...

Wasn't he just handing his bike to his mechanic?...

No disrespect to the Meetings being discussed, but neither would get too many Aces fans to attend if they held either at the NSS.. Poole and Glasgow are the two tracks with the largest support in tier two so surdely it would make sense to use those tracks for any joint event.. Glasgow also having four other tier two tracks "not too far" away which could bring a few of their fans to the meeting... The bottom line is these meetings don't carry that much prestige or financial rewards anymore, which will always mean they won't engage too many to travel from a wider distance, especially given the cost of fuel these days, (and on a Wednesday when the kids had gone back to school!)...

The lineal World Champion...

Cook didn't change line, and it isn't up to him to ensure Laguta avoids him...

Magic!!!!!

Brilliant from Andersen to avoid Kurtz....

Edited for you....

Did you not get asked to sit down by some old dear because she couldn't see, and had been sat in that same seat for over 60 years?...😁

If he turns the volume up on his TV to halfway, it will be several decibels above the noise at the respective tracks...😁 And at least he won't have anyone saying "it's too noisy" or "sit down, I can't see"...😁

Personally I think it is crackers that a team so cut adrift at the bottom of the league are still in with a chance to stay up... Especially as their opponents can be just a couple of injuries away from disaster... However, it does mean plenty of jeapordy and has serious consequences, so it does tick plenty of boxes that a team sport needs to tick... Hopefully two massive crowds and a great watch...

Isn't the track a bit different most weeks?... That won't help engage riders... That clay surface also doesn't always lend itself to take too many risks...

Who are the riders, of the needed capability, who the clubs can sign?... Plenty get asked, plenty say they have enough on their plate already.... For me, Kings Lynn seemed to do better in tier two, both success wise and crowd numbers... Some clubs are just seem "organically" suited to a particular league, yet some decide to move into a higher bracket which they then struggle in...

Can't be too far off having a digital programme surely?….. Cheap to do, and could mean a decent price cut from current, and doesnt matter if not sold as nothing to throw away... Make it printable for those who like to keep a collection and even do some nice club official season binders to store the printed programmes in.. You won't even have to attend the meeting to print one, and you will never miss out by them selling out... Meaning your 50 years of programmes won't suddenly have one missing because you arrived too late one week!!! Nightmare!! It will also give the club direct digital access to their support base to target offers, keep regular communication etc... Some may need help from their sons or daughters with it, granted, (or even their grandkids if their own offspring are too old)...

Thanks for the info... I still think a one off stand alone "play off special" would get some decent income generated... There will be thousands more Speedway fans without a subscription I would imagine than currently have one, so a pretty big market to target... So few meetings carry any relevance or consequence in the UK, so when some do exist, in such a short space of time, then they should be used to maximise interest and income...

Interesting comments from Olly Allen in the Speedway Star... Recommending to the young British lads to ride in Poland as much as they can given the money involved will help future equipment budgets, and give them the required level of pressure to perform, given you don't get a job for a season like you do over here when of a certain level.. The more these lads compete in the International events the more they will get noticed, therefore more power to them... The very top of fhe tree can earn well over £3 million for five years of riding in Poland, (life changing money), whereas you could ride 25 years in the UK, (unless something dramatically changes money wise), and not earn the same... Best of luck to these lads in their journey, as it does look like maybe half a dozen of them have at least a chance of reaching international class... But time doesnt wait for any of them, and there will be plenty of riders of their age around the globe wanting the same, therefore every opportunity to get themselves noticed has to be taken...

A sad indictment of the sport (in the UK), but maybe, in house streaming will deliver better income than the money any TV company is prepared to pay to cover the play offs?.. Are BSN doing a "play off special offer"? Covering all 12 meetings in both leagues?.. I would suggest £120 for all 12 could get a decent response given how many "generic" Speedway fans there are in the UK..

There will be well over 100 Guests used in the 2nd tier this season... So what not just run more Guestfests during those weeks they chose not to run meetings?... And many of those weeks had no FIM/FIM Europe clashes...

There is nothing more Mickey Mouse than UK Speedway's version of the sport. Good luck to the lads broadening their horizons, as far too often you can get a false impression as to your actual level by competing against your peer group, many of whom being much less capable than yourself... Good to see these lads test themselves. . And, as has been said, the many weeks of venues not being used isn't their fault...

Caveat Emptor...

Whatever is in "the best interests of Speedway"..

Three Mondays being used for the Play Offs?? As three of the teams are Thursday tracks, does that mean TV are involved?....

Given the cost of living nowadays two meetings per monthly salary is the maximum affordability for many I would suggest, therefore every fortnight should be the target, but if not possible, then still run just the two meetings per calendar month.. I do think though that they should always work around those "Mickey Mouse" FIM meetings, given, if alive today, Walt Disney might sue UK Speedway for copyright, given the amount of Mickey Mouse meetings they run...

The GP"s in Manchester showed Speedway, in the UK, can still attract plenty of people, at admission costs that are Premier League football level... As they bring relevance, credibility, close racing, and atmosphere.. Unfortunately, none of that is regularly replicated in domestic UK Speedway... There are a great many out there still following the sport, and closely, but don't see UK Speedway as something that warrants their attendance and monetary outlay... A huge opportunity for growth if those running UK Speedway ever listened and got things right...