mikebv

The fundamental issue is that if you decided to 'invent' a team sport, and Speedway was the outcome of your invention, would any one run it in any way shape or form as it is ran (in the UK), today. ? Of course not... If you went on Dragons Den, or went to the bank for a start up loan, with your business plan and operating model, you would be laughed out of the respective rooms... Yet 19 Promoters, you can only presume, must see what they do as totally 'fit for purpose' in the 24/7, multi media, 'wow factor' led world of 2021.... To be allowed to 're-invent' itself there would firstly have to be an acknowledgement from these 19 leaders of the sport that what we have today isn't delivering what a product with such "strong raw materials' should.. And we know that isn't going to happen any time soon.... Best wishes to the IOW this evening, who decided that the current "offering" wasn't for them. and have gone away, been innovative, and are "loud and proud" about how they market and promote their business and (most importantly) the actual sport... As they realise the sport itself underpins, and holds together, all the other attractions they present....

Sadly, you cant even expect great racing at the NSS from what I have seen and read this season... The outside doesnt seem to have developed at all through the meetings I have seen.. Most passing is on the first lap, first bends, as the rider off gate four flies around the other three and uses that wider radius used to clear off into the distance.. Dan Bewley made almost zero ground on Jordan Palin the other night after spending a couple of laps getting into second... The kerb of bend 4 seems to be the passing place most used with the riders cutting the apex there and then using straight line speed to race their opponent down to turn one underneath them...

The counter argument is that by not showing any matches it meant that myself, my lad, and a fair few others around the country I would think, attended the meetings themselves in person.. If any match had been on TV I would have watched it, regardless of which teams were shown, and so would a fair few more I would suggest..

Heat 11 by Evian Water... Thirty quid a bottle...

A true race to the bottom isnt it Amazing such an operating and business model could ever be dreamt up, never mind actually implemented.. And then get implemented again... And again.. And again.. Ad infinitum... As you say.. Mental...

Or a Witch. .. Or a Star... Or a Tiger. ... Or a Wolf.... Only an Ace missing tonight from (quite ironically) a full house...

Maybe more individuals could get involved running one off meetings? Why is it that only the BSPL should have the authority to run "UK Speedway"...? There are plenty of weeks when stadiums lie idle so couldn't "someone else" rent them and put on an event during some of those weeks? Similar to what the IOW are doing under another organisation? Landlords get more rent, riders get to earn more money, and Speedway (Shalesport?) fans get to see racing under a variety of guises.. As has been said, track cycling have many a combination of races that Speedway (Shalesport) could use... And a few handicap races never go amiss when properly planned.... I have watched Speedway in the United States and it is truly an 'event' where the town it takes place in is acutely aware of when it takes place (due to "proper local promotional work") and many of that town turn up to watch a mixture of ages compete from 'kids' to 'seniors', a mixture of scratch and handicap racing, and a mixture of types of bikes/sidecars being used.. All presented by someone on the centre green and in the stand, who are very comfortable at presenting and keeping the crowds interest during the gaps between races... Gaps that are deliberately kept to a minimum to ensure the momentum of the event remains high. One race finishes, then a lap of honour, and before the lap of honour ends the next bikes are out of the pits.. Team Speedway here in the UK has been around since around 1930 with barely a radical change (except handicap racing for a few years) in those ensuing 91 years... It's tired, it's contrived, it's not got any real meaning, nor has it any kudos, publicity or financial rewards for any of the clubs winning any of the competitions... So why keep carrying on flogging a dying horse? Even if "something different" doesn't work, it will only match what we have now as that doesn't work either.. What's that oft used definition of insanity? Doing exactly the same thing over and over and over again, and each time you do it, expecting a completely different result...? Maybe it needs putting on a very large car park banner at the next AGM venue, so all those attending can see it as they drive in...

No jest at all.. The BSP's made it crystal clear that the NDL is now "back to its roots" as a development league only.. My lad has been lucky enough to be in a League One Football development squad for the past two years and results simply "didnt matter"... The measure of success of any development leagues are the number of competitors who make it to a higher level.. My lads team "won" the league both years but after every game there was never any discussion win or lose, no celebration and no autopsy.. At the next training session two hours were spent reviewing the video on things they did well and things to improve on. As for the top two leagues 90% of the riders race in both as they need to, to make it feasible, hence neither of those leagues have any real credibility on the back of this operating model.. And added to that dont forget is that every single rider, including the very best rider riding in both leagues, can ride for every team in those leagues on an adhoc basis, as and when required, meaning even less authenticity to the leagues.. Speedway is set up in the UK for the lads to ride as many times as they can during the season, to pay for their large outgoings, and can still be a very entertaining night out given the (even in the UK) serious talent on show, however you cant take it seriously from a "proper sport" perspective.. As for Mildenhall? They decided to stay within the "development league" as was their right to do so as it must have suited their business plan... However, that still doesnt mean the league is any more than a training ground for talent, which is what the BSP's wanted so tracks could run "second teams" at a cost level that they could afford... Let's hope giving as many lads the opportunity to learn their craft (without pressure), pays dividends..

Moto GP is in a different stratosphere to Speedway.... It has a world wide following, particularly strong in the bike buying market of Asia.... As Poland proves, run the sport 'properly' and big business will engage with it, fans will follow it in numbers, and TV companies will pay plenty for the rights to cover it, out bidding each other to do so.. Run it like the BSP's do and they simply can only ever get what they have got.... No amazing secret to its malaise, no puzzling lack of success driven by its operating model... It simply cannot be any other way.... Maybe instead of reinventing itself it should just concentrate on undoing all the nonsense it allows to pervade which drives fans away annually? I am sure many thousands who no longer regularly go are still out there as 'followers' of the sport and plenty of them could be enticed back if they saw a 'proper team sport' being presented weekly in front of them...

Peter Collins, Mark Loram, Jason Crump, Alan Wilkinson, Tai Woffinden...

Wow... A problem for Grudziadz then..... With a must win match to come...

I believe he calls you something similar.... Depending on which one of you he is talking to obviously.....

Wow... Sounds great.... Next season probably now I take it..? Those Hungarian stars will pack 'em in I am sure....

And the beauty is you can both book a table for one...

He needs to be careful... Too much racing might impact his Sheffield scoring potential.. ..

Speedway does (or maybe has) actually "punch/punched above its weight" when it comes to TV viewers since Sky started covering the domestic competitions.. 40,000 or so as a lower end of the viewing audience suggests many still follow the sport, but simply don't see the "live" product as worth attending.. 40,000 is possibly double an average weekly "live" following in the UK? Cardiff also shows how many "followers" the sport has with circa 45,000 there each year, with the vast majority UK based.. And it isn't the same circa 45,000 either as many dont attend every single year, yet the crowd levels remain pretty constant, suggesting that there are plenty more followers of the sport out there in total, with, I presume, many being "ex regulars" to domestic Speedway.. Obviously there will be those who attend simply because of the size of the event and their partner, family etc are going, however it does show how many know about Speedway.. It's just getting them to attend a local speedway meeting every week, or even semi regularly, remains the biggest issue to overcome...

By "protecting" the RS the danger is you will build "flat track bullies" who get used to beating their peer group only, and also some teams will end up with riders well in advance of the average RS rider, so getting all the advantages of having him ride in protected heats.. Wasnt that why the last "system" tried failed? Jordan Palin the other night showed a simple fact.. If you are good enough then you will compete, if you are not good enough then you wont... That is sport.. The perfect obvious stepping stone scenario would be to only run the RS system in the 2nd Division, but as 90% of all 1st Division riders ride in it, many will be found just as wanting in that league too if not of the required capability.. However, again, that is sport.. And the aim of the RS scheme isn't dont forget to make "World Class Superstars", but it is in place to make "decent riders" who can hold down team places in the top two leagues, thus meaning less reliance on "journeymen foreign" riders, especially post Brexit..

But APART from ALL that Barry..... What promoting are you doing???

And I bet his equipment was 'gleaming' as well... Something my lad said on Monday was "how good do his bikes look?" He rode on Sunday at Newcastle too... A true professional...

But they all ride in the 2nd Division too so are getting plenty of rides to develop against... (Oh hang on).... Exactly the same riders.... Bottom line is if they are good enough they will develop to a first or second division level, if they are not, they won't... And there is always the 3rd Division to go back to if some need to drop the top two leagues and 'start again'....

To be fair, the top two leagues don't carry any real kudos so the developmemt league cannot mean too much either.. As the BSP's have shown this year it is all about development of riders and "going back to its roots" so these lads who travel 100's of miles, and spend lots of money on equipment, really do deserve a full compliment of races, regardless of the match result...

All 'local lads' so get cut far too much slack in my opinion.. If they were not 'local' then they would be getting far more 'feedback'.. Criticise any of them though and the "dribblers" will come out with "have you ever ridden a Speedway bike?" etc..... You can carry one of the twins but not both and whenever both have rode for the Aces it seems to always have been the same.. Wright and the Worralls seem to get a fair few bonus points and not always for being second, hence they will be doing 'ok' from a points money perspective but invariably not positively impacting the scorecard.. And in their "key races" where they are the main Ace they seem to rarely win them.. But to fair to all three, it hasnt ever been much different all their careers.. Very inconsistent and every time you think they will make a breakthrough to a higher level they dont... Both Wolves and Peterborough seem to have more of a team unit, with a much higher desire to win than the Aces having watched them both race at the NSS this year, with their riders heavily involved in encouraging each other in and around the piits. And in Jordan Palin, Peterborough have a kid who can truly go places. Having watched him since his Colts debut he is certainly one who could reach the very top.. His Ht 13 win last night reminded me of a 17 year old Joe Screen riding against the best the league had to offer at that time.. Totally fearless and confident in his own ability, and never putting a wheel wrong. So much so, even Dan with his "Polish Speed", didnt make much of a dent in his lead... His style is very much suited to larger, wider tracks at the moment as he doesnt seem to turn the bike tight enough (and maintain enough speed), on the tighter circuits, but I am sure this will come, and as most of the major competitions are on the bigger Euro circuits this wont hold him back.. A shame the Aces let him go as he was always 'box office' with the Colts... Going back to the Aces, (and all teams). Changing riders at this late stage is hardly worth it to be honest, these lads have spent fortunes on equipment so need to race in both leagues. Be a bit unfair to take earnings potential off them now especially given the amount of meetings ridden so far with Covid and weather issues... And isn't there a transfer window or something that may have passed?

And of course you nowadays have the Internet to dissect such nonsense and spread it far and wide...

I am sure Mark will say that "of course myself and the riders are disappointed" and that "certain riders obviously know they can do better", but that "it certainly isn't through any lack of trying that they are struggling" and that they "will come back from this setback much stronger I am sure" and that "we all look forward to the next meeting" as there is still "lots to ride for this season"... One thing noticeable.about last night was the amount of young kids in attendance which must be a positive going forward. Many seemed to have 'noisy fan shape type things' which make noise when shook, with the Aces emblem on them which I presume were given away? Another thing noticeable (again as it was the same the other time I have been this year) is the lady on the centre green talking whilst music is still being constantly played in the background, meaning you can't hear what she is saying... £41 for me and my student lad to sit in the seats last night, £27 two weeks ago to stand at Poole.. (£37 to stand at BV).. Basically £14 to watch Dan Bewley given the similar levels of all the riders in both meetings (some are the same rider so you can't get more similar than that)!! Dan's good, but not sure fourteen quid worth of 'good'...

How many points do you get for winning by 31 or more away from home?...