mikebv

Been watching loads of '2nd tier racing' on YouTube over the past few weeks.. It's been great to see racing from different tracks.. Most of the racing I have focused on has been from around 2009 to the present day.. And one thing I have noticed is that there must have been only 30 riders in the whole of the league for the past 11 years, as every time you watch the next meeting from somewhere else, maybe a few years later, most of the same riders are there but all riding for some one else... Did anyone stay for a team for more than a couple of years?

I have MUTV... And it's amazing how successful we have been since SAF left when you watch it.. As you say, 'Our Top Ten Defeats' isnt going to get too many Poole fans watching is it? Might get 'one or two' others though..

Reading the plethora of doom and gloom predictions for many of the sports at the top table, eg Football, F1, Rugby, and Cricket, with regards to possible sponsorship issues and how they will pay their huge overheads post C19 as companies adjust their out going priorities... Is there then a chance for Speedway to attract some of those who would still like to be seen on TV, but would be now looking to spend tens of thousands (at most) rather than hundreds of thousands or even millions? Some major companies will be pulling out of some huge deals and the likes of F1 and Rugby in particular will be paying out vast sums greater than any 'match day revenue' would cover, hence they are so reliant on this sponsorship money coming in... Meaning just a few big deals going missing will leave huge holes to be filled, (by possibly no one).. Without wishing to sounding mercenary, maybe Speedway could piggy back on the back of their dilemma and hoover up some of the much lesser cash on offer? Some deals that will be on the table post C19 will make hardly any difference to those who need millions to survive, however, as all things are relative, some of these deals could be seen as huge with regards to what British Speedway is used to and could make a massive positive difference to the sport.. For me. Someone should already be putting a few feelers out to companies that Speedway ordinarily wouldn't even consider as they are 'out of their league'. As I would suggest some big names will be down sizing massively but will still want themselves seen on live sport coverage, and as it's now on Eurosport too there is an even larger audience reach...

He does seem to be open to bringing people in 'from outside' so that must be a positive if it influences real change and brings in extra revenue through sponsorship.. Having new (ish) promoters like the current Aces leadership team, who have mentioned in the past the need for more central independent control of the sport, maybe will start to help influence change? There does seem to be a more dynamic MC than the 'old guard' of years gone by.. This toe in the water of bringing 'outsiders' is hopefully something that will continue and maybe more will be invited in from outside the 'Speedway Bubble'...

As the recently departed Eddie Large may have said.. "Steps back in amazement"..

Says its 5 stars on trip advisor.. You can see six if you get given the top bunk..

Used the money, in the main, to pay for the team's world class GP riders.. Whose presence didnt prevent annually dwindling crowds... And then the vast majority of them dropped UK Speedway like a stone... All that money and zero development of the sport in the UK? In fact, it delivered actual regression in terms of fan numbers... Amazing... Another one of UK Speedway's fantastic, well thought out, long term, visionary business plans, which they have appeared so marvellously adept at making over the years...

Its that old chestnut of clubs trying to win silverware above all else.. Which is laudable for me if that success brings untold fame and riches on a global scale.. However, winning any UK Speedway competition brings you none of this, so surely there has to be one day that will dawn when this realisation sets in, and several of them finally realise that they will get far more long term success if they invested in British young talent as a collective, nurtured it and developed it to the highest level... Making this country the clear No1 Speedway nation for several years would have a far, far greater positive impact to the sport in terms of publicity and sponsorship value than ANY team winning a domestic trophy.. Just like it worked in the 'halcyon days' of the 70's when England (as it was then) filled back pages of newspapers and had TV companies wanting to show coverage at peak time Saturday afternoon of their victories at World level.. Does anyone really think that would have happened if the Danes for example had ruled the 70's? Of course not..

100%, however the BSPA need to guarantee spaces in teams for the lads as they develop.. No point in developing talent then leaving it to fend for itself in its formative stages and years.. There needs to be a clear development plan, with milestones in place for each individual..

Been that way for donkeys years though hasn't it? All to try and win something that hardly anyone gives a monkey's about, with the vast majority, who still attend, there each week whether you win or lose because they are die hards of the sport. Spending an incredible amount on riders who spend an incredible amount on their machinery, with hardly a penny spent on marketing and publicity? An incredible business model..

It's more the opportunities to ride that I think lets the lads development down.. There will always be the naturally gifted, and their talent will move them through the levels, but it's the next level of riders that need more track time and more assessing themselves against better riders to make gradual, incremental progression.. And that opportunity can only be improved by giving them ring fenced places to take away the intense pressure of losing their team place due to a few poor meetings.. Also the domestic leagues are desperate for more 'average' British riders to take places that currently get taken up by 'average' foreign riders, whose non availability due to home country requirements can often mean a disjointed fixture list.. The more British riders in the leagues the better the sport will be as supply will eventually overtake demand, something which currently helps dismantle the sports credibility when it comes to guests in particular and the use of DU when fixtures clash, not to mention the natural premium on cost of demand exceeding supply.. ie. When your the only real option for a certain team place I am sure you can ask for more than the position would ordinarily warrant.... Let's hope the focused development these lads seem to be now getting will be supplemented by several team places guaranteed for them..

Not seen enough of him to be honest. However, he does run an 8 point plus average so must be 'up there' with the better teenagers.. Anders Rowe appears to be another who could move on to bigger things.. It does appear that some real focus is being given to these lads with organised track days, advice on diet, mental health support, and the opportunity to listen to and learn from experienced top line performers, so let's see if it pays off for the sport.. No point doing it though if places are then filled by riders from overseas, rather than creating a framework for the lads to develop, and sticking with them as they progress...

Great racetrack Brisbane.. Another one of those more circular ones that always seem to deliver great racing..

Interesting info Arnie.. For me, the UK does miss a huge trick by not ring fencing U21's at Championship level. Each 2nd tier team should have been made to have two U21 reserves for the past two decades.. Similar to Poland and their ring fencing of their riders.. If they had done I am sure there would be many more UK riders taking slots in the two top leagues, and less DU'ing and Guests needed.. The natural progression then would be the top tier team to have at least three British riders per team as the U21 riders developed.. Nothing delivers media coverage like a successful national team, especially in such a small sport in the UK as Speedway, where, without being disrespectful, some clubs are unknown even in their own towns and cities.. Winning the SON regularly would raise the profile of the sport in the UK massively, meaning the clubs could feed off the back of it... Similar to the way Cricket, and Rugby Union, domestically have grown through National success on the World stage, and Cycling became a 'boom sport' through the likes of Boardman, Wiggins, Hoy etc...

Taking Robert Lambert as already a 'star' given he has been in the GP's, rode Polish top division, and held his own at SON level, (but still has much potential), my picks would be Dan Bewley, Jordan Palin and Leon Flint... To reach the higher echelons of say top 25 in the world, the glide path for UK riders seems to be that usually within four or five years of starting, they are riding (comfortably) at heat leader level in the top league in the UK.. Bewley is already there at that heat leader level and now needs to make an impact overseas, and I think Palin and Flint show the potential to go a long way in the sport..

The Royston Vasey Vikings... "This is a local club for local people"....

You can either... Take £482 a point and what is still a very large signing on fee... Or wait and see if there's any racing in the UK and, even if there is, ride for a hell of a lot less.... Decisions... Decisions..

I think to be fair to any of those who run the sport, they are not 'proper' sports' administrators... Just well meaning people who find themselves leading others of the same persuasion.. The top sports have a separate leadership team from the owners of the clubs, which means professionals can be brought in to strategically move the sport forwards. With their performance being measured by the owners.. Many of these people will get their positions through previous experience in similar roles and (possibly most importantly), a list of business and media contacts who can get the cut through needed to generate the right financial backing and publicity.. Speedway (in the UK), has never countenanced such a notion, preferring to keep everything 'in house', within the 'speedway bubble', therefore we have what we have.. I seem to remember, (maybe last year), a measure of success quoted was 'all clubs surviving'.. Maybe, even though appearing to be an incredibly low aspiration, that is indeed an achievement given where the sport currently sits in the UK within the wider sporting arena? Whoever is 'in charge', without all the wide and varied infrastructure needed, and a team of people around you with the required skill set to 'run a sport', leaving you to plan strategy, and be the figurehead, it must be a difficult, and maybe even a thankless task..

All the best Mimmo.. I am at the other end of the spectrum and only just getting days off again after a month or so, due to the tens of thousands of customers who have wanted serving.. Therefore I cannot begin to understand what such isolation must mean.. Hope you can stay strong for yourself and your good lady... Best wishes. .

I've said before on here.. British Superbikes dont try and compete with their larger 'cousin' World Superbikes.. They do share many technical characteristics and sometimes share competitors, (but ensure they dont fixture clash!), but it's a completely separate Competition.. They seem to do 'ok' with a mainly domestic and antipodean rider base, with the odd European or Asian rider who usually will be domiciled in the UK.. Some riders will be returning from bigger Championships at the latter end of the careers, (which can boost fan numbers when a 'legend' returns), some will stay at that level, and some will aspire to move on and use the BSB as a 'stepping stone' to improve themselves to move on to bigger things.. A situation they accept and plan for by running several support classes to ensure talent comes through to replace those who move on. A clear joined up strategy from novice to top level rider, with clear demarcation of what level each rider is at so the racing will reflect the closeness of rider capability.. No reason, for me, why British Speedway couldn't use this as a blueprint to devise their own strategy..

Anecdotal evidence from a mate of mine who lives in Wolverhampton and used to go most weeks in the first couple of years of Cradleys tenure. .. As a generic speedway fan he went to both Wolves and Cradley and felt the Heathens had more, although of course that could have been when Wolves were having a less than succesful time and some weeks were exceptions.. No doubt I would say that if they did get a track their crowds would still even now be one of the best in the sport.. Used to see lots of them at Stoke, Buxton and Belle Vue when they visited so still a large amount of interest in them... Still miss the roast pork van....

Excellent edition... It's a true credit to the sport..

Are these lighter nights keeping you up a bit later than usual..? Sorry.. Later than usual...

Filibustering gibberish...

If the Championship was the 'only ticket in town' and the Aces ran at weekends, then crowds would be better than on a Monday or a Thursday night..100%.. Hence the business plan from Messrs Gordon and Morton to the council made it crystal clear that the race night change from Monday and Wednesday was fundamental to their success.. The first year, riding at weekend in the main, they averaged around 1800 which was a massive increase on the previous year at the old place.. Unfortunately over 2000 was their break even budget outlined in their submissions.. The past two seasons haven't seen them get close to an average of 1800 I believe... Maybe, just maybe, Monday, Wednesdays and Thursdays are not as good? Or maybe it's having no Matej Zagar after year one? Going back to the Colts, if they were the only Speedway team going in Manchester, they would still get very decent crowds at weekends I would say..