mikebv

It could be argued having four from seven will keep the season 'alive' for most of the clubs...

I watch a lot of 'old league Speedway' on YouTube, mainly from the eighties, and a hell of a lot of it is pretty garbage to be honest. Even allowing for the one camera, independent, straight to video coverage of the time.. The main differences to today when it's garbage is that back then the crowds were bigger so the atmosphere was there, and riders were mainly part time and hadn't spent fortunes on machinery to take part, so didn't expect/need big money to compete.. Nowadays you get pretty mediocre racing, interspersed with the odd great race.. Just the same as happened back then.. Definitely worth watching a few YouTube League meetings from the eighties and nineties if you have an hour to kill.. Pretty poor fair in the main and definitely not too dissimilar to what we get today at most tracks..

So (if correct) that's £8000 to be found each home meeting to pay him for home and away matches? At £20 to get in that's 400 extra fans a week, more if less than £20 to get in.. And 500 when you take VAT on admission into consideration. . Presume a big sponsor must be involved to cover a fair chunk of that? Or is the TV money being handed over to the No1 like it did in the Sky days? Can see the novelty factor kicking in for the first few weeks but not sure an extra 500 per meeting will be sustainable when the novelty wears off to be honest.. Nice to see someone try something different though. Hope it works out...

Cheers for the info John... Sounds like post Brexit those who complain the UK lads don't get enough team slots may be quite pleased... Will it go to three a side..?

Now the BSPA have become a Limited Company as a collective, couldn't they, as the umbrella organisation, sponsor the riders to come over? Would surely work out easier one person/group, within the organisation doing every Visa application rather than each club doing their own, and mean individual clubs under new ownership can still get riders... And a National Sporting body must surely carry more weight behind it than individual clubs, especially in the eyes of those decision makers who will want clear belief that any visa restrictions will be managed and controlled as agreed..

Just let it be with all these Beatles puns and start talking about the Speedway. . For me, if Wolves go with a team two points below the limit there is no chance for you Wolves fans that next year you will get back to where you once belonged.... But on the positive side, it at least looks like none of your team will have visa problems so all of them should have a ticket to ride.. I'll get me coat. ..

Always thought all clubs should collectively purchase items showing the British Speedway Brand Logo and then 'personalise' them with their own respective individual logos.. T shirts, Polo shirts, Hoodies etc. All with one 'generic look' with each clubs own badge on them. . Similar as to how the US Sports sell their merchandise... Would mean better buying power if they did it as a collective rather than all going alone and it should mean better margins and keener prices.. Especially if they agree exclusivity with one manufacturer... As the BSPA are now a 'company' rather than an 'association' it would make sense getting some 'British Speedway' brand recognition out there, sharing the costs and sharing the profits..

Some truly great comments from such an experienced and well respected person as Neil Machin.. Hope what must be exciting plans see fruition.. The more wider thinkers the sport has around what constitutes 'entertainment' and a 'great night out' can only be good for it..

That's a fair comment, but would imagine without the GP his focus has changed somewhat, and why wouldn't you want to earn a 'good' few extra quid where you can before hanging up the helmet for good? Still box office though.. Especially for the rest of the League... Each team is pretty much guaranteed their biggest crowd of the season the first time Sheffield visit... The Aces must be truly rubbing their hands, the 'War of the Roses' back, Sheffield fans first visit to see their team ride there, AND Nicki P to boot... ? Kerching...!! Hopefully the novelty factor will delIver a long term feel good factor too for the Tigers too so crowds remain somewhere around the levels of the early meetings..

Batchelor is a much better 'second heat leader' than a No1 so it makes perfect sense to have him back.. Ht 13 and 15 should deliver points advantages most meetings (if Doyle is needed), and Doyle and Batchelor's six other heats will deliver at least three other individual victories I would suggest so Swindon can never lose points in those heats and, at home at any rate, should pick up heat advantages with at least a third for their other rider.. You can see the 8 heats (if both do Ht15), involving these two delivering at least a ten point swing in Swindons favour I would think and worst case scenario not too many 'game changing' 1-5's... Add in three from Musielak, Jensen, Ellis and Perks and you have another solid side whoever comes in lower down.. And keep more of those all important 'fan favourites' from a Championship winning team..

An interesting article with AdrIan Smith of BV in the Speedway Star current edition re some of his thoughts on the future... It is noticeable that those who come into the sport without any 'emotional attachment' to any particular rider or team through either being a sponsor or fan, seem to look at the sport far more objectively and dispassionately, and therefore make far more clearer decisions based on good business practice.. He seems to have a lot of ideas, (many of which contributors to here will recognise as they have been mentioned on probably far too many occasions!), including the need for an 'independent body' to improve the sports credibilty and bring it in line with other sports.. He mentioned that he hoped several topics would be raised at the AGM, and also talked about his concern that changing points levels every year doesn't help the sport progress, and, as we saw from the AGM press release, that is being looked into with the Champs possibly setting the level the season after next. So maybe some of his ideas are starting to get some support and cut through? I would imagine though overall it will be a 'hard sell' for him to convince those who are 'too close' to the 'emotional' and 'hobby' aspect of the sport to agree to change.. He does though come across as a shrewd man who finds a way to get most things done, so more power to his elbow, (and those of a like mind).. Overall a very interesting read and in general another excellent issue again.. UK Speedway is VERY fortunate to have such a professional magazine cover it's output..

That idea needs a "Word Round" too.. Consonant, Consonant, Vowel, Consonant, Consonant, Consonant, Consonant, Vowel.. L L O C K S B O...

Sharing riders does restrict your 'opening hours' as you have to follow the FRN's allocated to you rather than have the autonomy as to when best for you to run to suit your customer base.. Too many team places? Not enough riders? Costs so high so riders need more rides? Too many Professional riders? Promoters wanting to run at too high a level for their income? All things that mean 'double upping' is here to stay I would suggest unless the reasons for it are sorted.. And that won't happen any time soon. From a 'credibility' point of view I don't think it has too much impact. When you can borrow your biggest rival's best rider for a night, as and when you like, then sharing an employee with another team in a different league isn't going to harm the sport too much..

They have to.. Newcastle are a classic example of all that is wrong.. Riding on a Sunday (a key day for leisure time) should be a 'shoe in' for such a unique an entertainment as Speedway. . Especially as that club has had some of the finest riders of all time representing them so have an incredible history.. Instead, as a Sunday track they must have had nightmares trying to ensure riders turn up, given Sunday has become such a key day for all three Pro leagues in Poland with so many UK contracted riders competing in them.. When Poland became the 'be all and end all' the UK should have just pulled up the drawer-bridge and gone alone... Instead it went done the path of 'fudge' and 'appeasement'. A subservient "We will work around you" became the mission statement.. Newcastle must have god knows how many difficult variables when trying to get a meeting on. Will their own No1 be available? Or will their opponents No1 be available? And if not, do they run? Or do they run with guests which makes the meeting somewhat contrived? Either way the fans (the life blood of the sport) and therefore the club, lose out.. Clubs should just be able to publicise a fixture list, and then market it, safe in the knowledge that all riders will be there, which then ensures a decent crowd can turn up safe in the knowledge they won't feel short changed. .. UK Speedway should set it's stall out and say "this is us", and build to whatever level it can. On days and nights fans want to (and can) attend.. And not bother about the wider Speedway world as they at the moment play on another level.. Four lads of similar ability per race, with a decent off track entertainment package, at a reasonable value for money admission fee, will tick a lot of boxes for a great many British Speedway fans, (both regulars and, more importantly maybe, non regulars). Promoters, who are business men and women in their own right, must know that surely? As lets be honest, it is very, very basic..

If Newcastle go (and let's hope not), that's 13 gone in 19 years.. Thats 1 club going every 1.46 years... Surely someone who is involved in running the sport can see that what they currently have (and have used for far too long) as an operating model and business plan simply doesn't work..? How many will go before it gets sorted? Best of luck to the Diamonds... NB Did all these 13 clubs get £5,000 fines for closing?

I think the ever growing swathes of empty spaces in the stadiums provide a lot of data based feedback all by themselves.. As said before, the Promoters will know the reasons but simply cannot fix them without a radical overhaul of its complete operating model and business plan.. And that isn't on anyone's agenda any time soon I would think..

Old, old ground Moxey sadly.. The reasons why the decline has taken place are obvious I am sure to EVERY promoter.. The issue though is they cannot fix most of them because the oil tanker has gone much too far in the wrong direction to even stop it, never mind turn it around.. We have what we have, so let's just make the most of it.. And on the plus side. There's never been more TV coverage than there is now so you can still watch 'proper Speedway' virtually every week of the Season. And if you don't have a stream for the Polish Leagues then get one!!

100% agree, obvious isnt it? And in these days of the internet it's even easier.. Email addresses galore from which to target your offers to you customers!! BV have a scanner which reads your ticket. Therefore why not issue everyone with a card which they use to put their admission on? Could do it via the bank on line so no need to use the ticket office. Scan in and it deducts the money off the card.. And when you miss a few (they will now know as you haven't scanned), then that's the time for the Aces to make contact to find out why, and get you back again.. Attend say five on the run and you get a discount automatically from your next meeting, (or maybe a discount at the shop to encourage you to purchase something).. The whole sport is marketed on a very low key local level by individual clubs, using well meaning I am sure amateurs.. It needs to be done collectively on a national level, professionally through pooling resources and sharing the information.. It isn't really too difficult to find out what your customer wants (and probably more importantly doesn't want), in this modern 24/7 media world.. You just have to seek out the info..

Of course it is, but let's be honest we know that anyway.. They have done pretty much the only thing they can.. ie deliver more meetings with 'local' rivals without increasing any costs.. Rob was 100% right when he said fans don't want "tinkering"... They want radical change!!!! Simply not going to happen though.. It is what it is, it won't change because it either can't or those who run it are not capable of making it happen... Lets be fair, if things could change then those who run the sport would have done so by now such are the glaring deficiencies... We have what we have, (again), survival and getting everyone through to the end of the season is the 'measure of success'. "Bringing everyone to the table".. Rinse and Repeat once more just like it has been for at least a decade, probably more, and will be 'ad infinitum'... Just accept it, it would make life easier.. And with the SGP, the SON, the SEC, Poland and Sweden beamed live into our living rooms for a great many weeks of the season, we can still watch a host of excellent, 'properly ran' Speedway.... And can then get the added bonus of watching the domestic offering off Eurosport for what it is... And with the NSS, Peterborough, Swindon (and Sheffield with Andrew Meridith now doing the track), showing quite a few matches, I am sure there should be some very decent racing from the UK.. Sit back in your armchair, crack open a can, and just enjoy watching the racing... Since 2000 in just 19 years, TWELVE clubs have gone (maybe THIRTEEN if Newcastle don't run) and only SIX have come in, therefore lets make the most of what's left... (While we still can looking at that closure rate trend)...

An idea thats been mentioned on here many times.. Makes perfect sense to have your more 'local' rivals visit more often given how just a few extra fans in can make such a difference these days as you say.. Also getting the supporters cup done and dusted early too rather than having all the 'finals' being ran at the end of the season is another 'no brainer' we have suggested.. And looking at letting the Champs keep the same team from 2021? Good to see we are taken notice of... Maybe we should charge a fee?

Spot on... But that's been the issue for a good many years, yet it appears that the heads are still firmly in the sand.. No doubt during the AGM much passion and time will be shown and spent on discussing how 0.1 of a point will effect each teams average. Some will argue for an increase. Some will argue just as vociferously for a decrease.. Yet the real fundamental issues that you allude to will still not be resolved...

No chance... That would never happen...

Moto X have 30 riders hitting the first bend, which narrows massively from a wide start and sometimes they crash... Superbikes and Moto GP have 20 or so riders aiming to get the pole position coming out of the start, and sometimes they crash.. Short track has many riders from a staggered start in a race and sometimes they crash. (On UK speedway tracks).. British Speedway with just four riders on track has sadly had fatalities and serious injuries.. It's the nature of Motorsport that there are crashes.. One rider by themselves can crash and suffer severe injury. Having seen 8 man races from two starting points it is very exciting with so much happening over four laps.. And as it doesn't look like any time soon that most tracks can deliver enough exciting racing from four riders to keep the punters coming back often enough, (be it down to track surfaces, or bike characteristics, rider standard etc), then we have to look at the possibility of increasing the excitement value by other means.. Given the 'tenuous' way Speedway is ran as a 'team sport' in the UK, I would suggest most who go regularly attend for 'the racing' rather than the team aspect.. Therefore, focus 1000% on improving the racing as an exciting spectacle which leaves you wanting more...

When I first attended the sport it was heavily pushed on billboards around the old Hyde Rd track, and around the country as a whole, as a sport that provided "thrills and spills" for your money. Now it provides a "family sport" for (pro rata linked to inflation) much more money than you paid then.. Whilst never wishing injury to any riders the sport needs to be more "thrills and spills" and less a "family sport" to get people in I would suggest.. As I've said before Ipswich did it and the only downside for me was it was too long so riders got very spread out over the 16 laps.. And in the US when I watched it 'lesser' riders than over here didn't crash any more times than in a four or a two man race as they became accustomed to having so many on a tiny track.. Lots of sports have incorporated what could have been construed as 'gimmicks' over the past 90 years or so of Speedway's existence, often based on the feedback of their fans through either research or simply the fact less started to attend so "something had to be done".. And many of these sports have benefited accordingly.. One thing we know however is that doing the 'same old, same old' each season, sadly, isn't cutting it.. Something 'radical' might put off a few 'die hards' (personally I doubt it as they by the very loyalty they show/prove they will attend 'anything put in front of them') and might just reignite the interest of the (literally) thousands who used to attend regularly (and not too long ago either), and also maybe will attract some interest from new fans.. One thing for certain though is that if we don't try something new then obviously we will never know..

Most four man races finish with the winner 'miles in front' of second and the rider in last 'miles behind' the rider in third. . Riders second and third are usually the two closest to each other... In short, most of the action is done and dusted by lap one end.. In an 8 man race the rider in fourth cannot tail off like so many do now knowing they can't score as they still will score points for their team, some even currently slow down to save engine wear and tear when no chance of a point which provides nothing towards the entertainment... Also the rider in fourth will now have possibly the two best riders from the opposition behind him trying to get passed to score seven points for their team for finishing fourth and fifth and maybe making their team have four of the first five finishes... A rider like Jason Doyle who wins most of his races will, in a four man race, take the lead and for the most part 'coast' around given his ability level. And for that he will score three points... Put him in an 8 man race and I am sure he will set his sights on beating the other four in front after he has seen off the other three like he usually does by the end of lap two or so and try and get the seven.. As mentioned treat an 8 man race as two separate ones for pay like they would do now, ie you beat the three you started alongside and get paid three points worth of money, and maybe run them in heat four, heat eight and twelve (with twelve being the last heat of the night which is nominated).. That would be nine 'normal races' and three 8 man races, meaning exactly the same amount of laps by the riders as a current 15 heat match. With maybe the nominated being even longer than a usual race? Speedway is down to its die hards now so if it was ever going to take a risk and trial something new then surely now is the time to do it? Maybe a Cup competiton could be set up to test the water and get fans' feedback. ?