mikebv

The six figures in two years is obviously a lot of money, but... Say it was £120k...? Over say 30 home meetings in that time that is £4k a match.. At twenty quid to get in, and pay the VAT, that is only around 250 fans a week from "break even"... I would say most tracks have (at least and probably many more), than 250 fans who no longer attend regularly due to its operating model.. But these fans turn up "now and again" if a particular rider is in town, or the mood fits on any particular night (eg decent weather, not been for a while etc).. Many of the official, and unofficial, social media club sites have well over 3000 followers of the respective clubs... And, as the play offs show, 3000 crowds can be delivered... So, the potential is definitely there for the sport.. New fans coming in is fine.. But. Getting those who are still fans of the sport, but dont have enough emotional attachment to their team, due to how the sport is ran, is the real opportunity... Eg 2.75M live within 45 mins of the NSS in Grt. Manchester.. Surely even the most basic marketing could get an extra 500 there each week..? You don't even need the same 500 from week to week, just another 500.. Promoters must be putting in huge amounts individually, and all to deliver "what?" in all honesty.. Imagine all putting in the same figures to collectively market the sport together? With no promotion or relegation, and the quite ridiculous operating model, the sport needs to ensure the entertainment keeps fans interested.. If "Fortunes are spent" then spend them on promoting the sport before the night, during it, and after the event... A really honest interview in the SS with Alex Brady, who seems one of those positive, modern thinkers that the sport so desperately needs... Let's hope he can come back into it soon...

Would be interesting to see if the Aces or Ipswich signed him... Bet it would get reassessed to a seven very sharpish... "Based on his performances in the meetings he did compete in, we feel that we need to put him on the average that he should have been allocated with in the first place.."

If he doesnt complete enough meetings and keeps his 5 average you can bet he will get plenty of offers...

Charles Wright and the 3 who pick themselves... We have 3 of the worlds top 10, with two of them being absolutely top notch around their home track of Wroclaw at times this season.. Worrall would be my choice if at Vojens.. And Ellis seems to be having an injury impacted campaign... So why Wright? Wroclaw and the NSS are pretty similar in shape as both built around American Football pitches with wide, sweeping bends... And Charles does have that bit of "devil" in him when it all becomes "too close for comfort", he wont take any prisoners in those "clutch" moments of races... And you won't be passing him without having to take a risk or two. He will make sure of that. And if behind won't be scared of doing the odd "Bartek" across any of the apexes, and riding his opponent up the track... For me, it is a great opportunity to win in Poland's "backyard"... As long as we get "No 4" correct...

100% Heat One.... We will see how it goes after that...

In the Speedway Star this week (another excellent publication), Alex Brady in a very good, honest interview, mentions the £10k a match thrown about on here.. And states it wasn't even half that but as a "world champion" he (quite rightly), doesn't come cheap.. He also said that the "TV money" basically paid for Artem....

Didn't Justin Elkins trial this?

They would have a fit for purpose R/R operating model? They would have less riders per team to create a surplus of unattached "subs on the bench"? They would stop running meetings on nights when they 100% know key riders who should be there are already booked to be elsewhere, or, are likely to be elsewhere as they have made it clear at the start of the season that they are pursuing individual ambitions, eg GP Challenge qualifying, U21, U19 domestic and world qualifiers etc? They wouldnt be agreeing so readily to meetings where they know they would be allowed to improve their team by bringing in a better rider on a higher average, or a better rider at a specific track? They wouldn't have such ridicule based on much of the nonsense and manipulation that is allowed to pervade by having guests in the first place? The sport may be taken seriously by the wider media and fans? Sponsors may come on board to support credible sporting contests? Ex fans who still closely follow the sport may start to return?

I seen to remember Ronnie Correy at Kirky Lane getting 18 one night off six, riding at reserve.. I seem to also think he missed his first ride due to late arrival.. Maybe confusing two different meetings mind..

The UK gave up Thursday's as a priority race night in return for the chance to get top riders riding over here.. The very same top riders who now end up riding in Poland on the Thursday's that the UK no longer has any priority on... We must have driven a hard bargain.. Just run these national championship meetings on the ONE night that fhe UK has priority for.. Obviously, you may have to factor in the odd severe strain of food poisoning going around in Poland on the Sunday before....

It's all going very well this isnt it? I for one am shocked...

If correct... Then just come out and tell the public that he wasnt going to be there.. Guests are an ever present at virtually every meeting for a myriad of reasons... This would be just another one..

"In the best interests of Speedway".. When those words are used, it is strange how often they actually mean the complete opposite... "In the interests of us not having to run the sport like a credible sport" might be more appropriate on so many occasions....

Nicki P mentioned a few years ago that his contract stated that missing Polish meetings through having accidents riding in other leagues would mean a default in the contract on his part.. Resulting in no money being paid whilst out, and possibly having to pay back some or all of his signing on fee... They pay the (very) big bucks, so, quite rightly, call the tune... Interesting that when the GP started, many of the UK Promoters were not pleased that this new enterprise were using, in the main, "their riders".. Regardless of their nationality... I presume the Polish Promoters sees everyone who rides for them nowadays as "their riders", regardless of nationality..

If you had something to eat at a Speedway stadium, whilst riding for Wroclaw, and got food poisoning... Is that still a non Speedway related illness? ..

Embarrassingly inept, or deliberately in contempt of their fanbase? Make a mistake, but FFS, stop making it time and time and time again.. Because that can only mean two things... A lack of integrity.. Or a lack of competence.. Either way, neither are a good look if you are a custodian of any entity.. Phil will sort it....

I am sure everyone on here agrees.. Another great day for Speedway in the UK.. Now.. Where's me loo brush and me air pump....

I have no response emojis left..... Probably a good job.... I will add to the inevitable responses tomorrow......

Well. Praise the good Lord.... Been going through the rosary beads all day for the lad.... "Artem, take up thy bed".......

I dont think that Poiret, Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher, Morse, Columbo, Kojak, or Frost (and even him off Midsomer Murders, that Bergerac fella), are needed to solve this case... The prosecution rests M'Lord...

Der. Der. Derrrrrrrrrrrrrr....... The thick plottens...

Best years well behind him if his Polish, Swedish and GP form is anything to go by.. Easy pickings for a lad so good... Still a big name so will get an excellent deal, and still put bums on seats.... I will go and watch him the first time he is at the NSS... After that? Watch this space...

When was the programme printed...? That would tell us much of what we need to know... Unfortunately Hercule isn't available as he is on another case in Poland... But, lucky for us, Detective Inspector Harris has stepped in....

Spot on... They seem to want to commit "death by a thousand cuts" don't they? Surely there are at least a few running it who must think "something needs doing"... They cannot all be so completely out of touch with what their customer base wants (and an even larger customer base who no longer attend) can they? I refuse to believe the likes of Mark Lemon and Chris Louis are happy to see such nonsense that pervades each week, season in, season out.... As ex riders who gave their all each time they appeared at all tracks, and are both positive forward thinking people, I amazed that they would align themselves, (and have their own businesses impacted by), some of the decisions made, and some of the people making those decisions...

Indeed... With the added bonus that if you do, you seemingly can officially go on forums and have an opinon on how the sport is ran...