mikebv

For me, its similar to winning the Premier League in football against winning say, the Vanerama North or South.... (I would have said a few years ago the 5th tier Conference, but many of those clubs get 3000 plus crowds, and have a wider impact on their localities).. One comp gets national coverage which resonates across a nation, whilst one comp gets "some" coverage and means something more at a "town" level, to a (at most), few thousand... And you then obviously also have the massive financial disparity in rewards against Poland. Much of it down to a heavily invested national company sponsoring the top tier, and the fact that (similar to the Premier League in football), TV companies have to compete against themselves tendering for the rights to show the sport. With the result being very big contracts getting signed by the TV Companies.. With that TV money then getting shared amongst clubs to deliver "huge" contracts to riders in the top tier in particular, in comparison to the UK equivalent.. You can also add in team sponsorship money to the differential mix which again is invariably national company involvment rather than a local business... Winning a league over in Poland brings national recognition, (hence national companies get involved), large financial win bonuses, and obviously huge crowds and admission income as the season comes to a conclusion... However, with such "rewards" also comes great pressure to not only maintain standards but improve them, which the UK given their chosen operating model dont have to face, therefore Poland have to ensure that the sport remains "current", and "relevant", otherwise the massive deals and large following would reduce.. The UK on the other hand can keep using it's current operating model without any real pressure, particularly as crowds are not far off consistent every week at most tracks, (just as long home wins mostly get delivered), and, as we have seen before, "success" can close clubs down, so finding that sweet spot between entertainment and results is, for many, more key to UK Speedway than individual on track success for me.. Those I would suggest are the key reasons it means so much more, with a "fans outlook" addition being that their team truly is "their team", and, unlike over here, not too many in Poland go home from a night at the Speedway, "happy", after seeing close exciting racing but ultimately defeat, whereas plenty of Speedway fans in the UK can go home pleased to have seen great racing regardless of result, and look forward to the next meeting to see more of the same..

It will be a niche market given the overall size of the sports following but sometimes that is perfect from a business perspective.... I personally have had no interest in watching any of the streams put out, however, that doesn't mean I won't be interested in the future... The big challenge for me to make it a success is to make each league have some actually meaning, other than just facilitating a system for riders to earn money, which is basically what the sport in the UK has been allowed to evolve into.... If you could get that "this actually means something" into every meeting then streaming would have a much higher chance of success, simply down to more "neutrals" logging in... Poland get lots of "neutrals" watching every week from the UK because it has some real relevance and reward... Get that criteria into UK Speedway and it would make a huge difference to the streaming success I would suggest as circa 25,000 weekly regulars of the sport (with probably even more lapsed who still keep a pretty close interest), being a potential "huge" audience for its small size... Getting credibility into the sport could be an absolute game changer for the success of the sport as an overall entity, and streaming in particular, as it would open it up to all rather than just mainly be of interest to the fans of the two teams being covered...

And that could actually be when the stream comes into its own... Without it, at the moment those type of meetings with iffy weather get zero income from the 'stayaways'... Maybe with a stream these people will still contribute some money...

All common sense in a much needed "reset" plan.. However, it wont happen for all the obvious reasons that exist... With the main one being Div 2 currently rules the Speedway roost... And turkeys dont vote for Xmas.. The NDL up to a few years ago seemed to have the perfect set up between cost, income, entertainment and development progression/opportunity.. Sadly that was taken apart.. The whole operating model is beyond fixing unless the sport works as a collective to fix it.. And that would take huge compromise and a clear plan for demarcation between the leagues, promotion, relegation, (or one league only) and one club per rider etc... What we have is pretty much all that we will ever have I would think is more the reality..

Spot on... If it doesn't work then sack it.... But at least try..

Whilst the 2nd Div tail can wag the Div 1 dog it wont ever work too well.. Div 2 truly do have it all ways.. Using many of the best riders available from both Div 1 and Div 3... A few on here seem to take some satisfaction by talking up there clubs as if they have miraculously increased their followers through great promotional work.. And for some that may be a factor.. However, I would suggest the bigger factor is having six Div 1 heat leaders competing regularly at those tracks each season. Which has attracted more "lapsed" fans who have drifted away in the preceding years back to the sport.. The same would happen if an influx of GP riders came back in Div 1... The question though is obviously "how long will it last?"... The novelty of watching "better riders" only lasts so long before it becomes "normal" and then those "non regulars" who have been attracted back start to drift away again... And, as we see, having so many Div 1 heat leaders in a select few tracks in Div 2, wont help the whole sport organically and generically grow...

Problem being is six teams... Configuring a 4TT would be somewhat difficult using those numbers.. You would have to choose 4 teams only to make it work.. Dont disagree by the way as 4TT's often served up the best racing...

Quite a staggering concept isnt it? Having to run on nights that may heavily dissuade punters from coming along.. To prop up a ridiculous system that heavily dissuades punters from coming along... "Hello, is that the Dragons Den? I have a business plan and a half for you"...

Is the second one that Norwegian bloke?

Bartek and Majic?

Difficult to turn left when you have a bike alongside to the left of you I would have thought....

I would suggest if Justin was good enough to be a heat leader in Div 1 and Div 2, like so many other riders are, he may put up with the "sh*t money" given he would be getting two wages.... I am off to email my boss now asking her if she will let me work for just six months this year but pay me enough to live on for the full twelve.. Will keep everyone updated as to her answer...

Depends on the measure of success.. Keeping tracks going by keeping them worth visiting is now the No1 priority for the sport I would suggest.. When Rider Control has been used in the past riders had a huge say in where they ended up, meaning it became the usual "halfway house/not quite fit for purpose" plan that sadly UK Speedway seem to implement.... I would be surprised nowadays if any rider had the same clout, given hardly any of them are "superstars" (even more so at Div 2 level)... However, for me, just making two heat leaders allowed over "x' average, within an overall team figure, would suffice to share them around enough to at least give all teams a fighting chance of competing... And this mechanic has been used in Div 1 before now hasnt it so hardly a controversial system to use.. The top league only has six teams in it, how long before the second tier have a number similar due to the "have nots" either going to the wall or dropping into tier 3..? Given that is the natural occurrence if changes are not made then riders will naturally end up with less team places too, so surely for them it would be better to have a job in Div 2 than not...?

Well many would wouldnt they? As they are all Div One heat leaders... (And therein lies a pretty big problem in itself)... The counter punch though is that many would then NOT go along and watch their home team against a visiting team with no Div One heat leaders in their ranks... Due to a great many of the fans (the majority I would say), being Speedway fans first (those who want to watch close racing as an entertainment), and fans of "their team" second, (those who still take it seriously and want to see their team "win")... With no promotion, relegation, europe to qualify for, financial reward etc, for many teams their season can be effectively "over" by June/July, therefore keeping each meeting competitive has to be a priority to keep fans engaged...

Circa 0.03% of the populace attend Speedway.. Maybe double that figure (max), follow it "closely"... So "winning" will never make much difference to too many and make it worth more than ensuring all survive and grow... Tracks are closing annually meaning huge conurbations have no tracks nearby or within them... And the sport doesnt seem to take stock of this and review why? 18 tracks having sustainable business models (and as equal a chance to compete as possible will help a sustainable model) "may" help stop the rot and restart some growth in attendances.. The odd track growing its fanbase in isolation by 200 or so (a potential massive % uplift given the tiny low base to start from) because they are doing "well", will make not one jot of difference to the sport overall if you have a net loss by tracks closing down.. And using averages, as everyone knows, doesnt ever deliver equality simply due to the myriad of variances and subjectivity that make these numbers up... A max number of riders per team over a defined figure would spread around the heat leaders though and that is pretty much the key to most teams, especially in Div 2 where the top riders (Div 1 heat leaders) are miles in front of the reserves' standard.... A max two rider over "x" points would spread those heat leaders around. Currently some teams have a minimum 14 of the 30 rides per meeting covered by "good riders" whilst others have a lot less heat rides covered by that standard of rider.. There isnt much point in racing to the bottom, as even if you "win" by being the last there, you still have lost...

In a sport where "winning" brings you so little reward, and is pretty much down to it's most die hard followers, and no more, everywhere... I would think having EVERY track competitive is far, far more important to any possible future growth of the sport as a generic entity than having teams possibly close down due to riders not being shared around, meaning home crowds drop.. Especially in Div 2 where clubs are using Div 1 level riders in the first place, and a 2nd div in any league has less kudos in winning than the top league in any sport.. If the likes of Newcastle and Birmingham do close the sport will lose around 1500 or so die hards, who will have attended virtually every week.. No team winning any league will add 1500 to their attendance every week of the season. Therefore. Another net loss in fans to add to the many other times this has happened over the past 20 years or so.. And the irony of it all is that having uncompetitive teams also impacts every other team financially as when these teams visit, crowds will invariably drop due to some home fans feeling it not worth attending.. Bottom line is, hardly anyone cares who wins any UK Speedwsy title, so the sport would be much healthier generically if the vast majority of meetings delivered entertainment through both teams being at least relatively even, and clubs all ended each season...

Can't believe they didnt base the dimensions on those of a Cycle Speedway track... That would work great if someone did it, wouldn't it? Great to see someone with pretty much a blank canvas thinking about how the entertainment value of the racing will be affected by its shape.. Look forward to visiting... Going to take my 18 year old with me and let him enjoy the delights of a night out in Worky post meeting..

Always liked Kenny... Seemed to get a rep as a bit of a "gating tart" early in his career but having watched him often both here and in Poland he can certainly mix it and pass, both inside and out... Always well turned out and professional too.. Takes many a "top scalp" in Poland regularly, so wouldnt let the Aces down if he ends up going there, and would provide more solid back up for Fricke than Kurtz will I would suggest..

Kenny or Lasse? ..

I am sure I read that they were doing some temp stands for this event, similar to what the NSS did a few years ago for the SWC... A crowd of 4000 or so would be similar to the NSS last year...

Just got in... Been out all night putting up "Welcome To Manchester Tai" banners across the A6 from Mcvities up to Kirky Lane... And done the same the other way from Piccadilly Station... They look great... Can't wait to see him ride for the Aces.. Edit : Bugger..... How do you spell KK's names?

Considering they seem to have crowds which are similar in size to the UK, Danish teams do seem to sign a lot of riders... Some of whom are very much "back up" riders who probably wont get too many meetings... Their major league sponsor has gone this year too...

Considering a 'squad system' (according to many), cannot happen in the UK due to cost... How do Denmark afford it? Some of the teams have several riders who quite possibly won't ride for them next season....

Miss a meeting for no good reason then a 28 day ban surely? Any injury or illness means you 'stand down' for 28 days also... (To help you get that so desperately needed recuperation obviously)... Wont happen though as we know,, given the top two from each team are involved and therefore 'vital' to all the teams.... However, as has been said, pay rates will be the make or break I would think... As from your home leg you will need to find enough money to pay 50 races combined from your top two riders in the five away legs... Or maybe the home team pays all costs of the other five in attendance..? If that was the case then you would think basic pay rates will be the order of the day.. 15 heats of racing from your top two in each team will need a few bob if you pay them their 'normal money'... Or who knows? Maybe a key sponsor has been found to fund the championship? Be a very good concept if done well... And it also means the Aces can enter a team..

Speedway in the UK is more "sports entertainment" than a bona fide sporting contest where who wins has relevance, kudos, publicity and financial reward.. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to embrace this and build on it by using the "core product" of the racing as its "centre piece" and then building an overall entertainment package around it... With hopefully, "something for everyone" being the box that gets ticked as this means a more likely repeat visit....