mikebv

The tipping point has long since passed... What we have now is a made up, contrived operating model trying to masquerade as a team sport.. And that is the best they can come up with, (not a criticism as without them there wouldnt be Speedway)... It has to be, as by no stretch of the imagination would you want, or design, to run the sport in the current way, if you were starting it tomorrow.. Too many fundamental flaws in their "cunning plan", and too much self interest, with no independent arbiter to be the gatekeeper of integrity and credibility, delivers exactly what we now have.. That won't change.. The sport, over here, is just in existence to allow riders to earn as much as they can, as many times a week as they can, and for promoters to have a "plaything" that allows them to feel that they are in some way playing a major role in a "professional sport" which has some relevance.. And, to allow the feeling that it somehow all matters, fans then have to collude with them, and suspend reality each time they attend.. It wont matter how many riders per team we have, or how the leagues are constructed, or what nights they race on... It will still all ultimately end up as "let's make it all up as we go along" as no one will ever be "in charge" to stop it, and save the sport from itself... Just go along, enjoy the racing, and, if so inclined, join in and pretend it means something... The sport wont ever "reset", and it wont ever allow outside guidance and administration.. As, if it wanted to, it would have done so many, many years ago given the obvious flaws in its operating model.. Plenty of decent racing to be had around the country each week, so pick and choose which meetings to attend over a season, and enjoy them for what they are, and dont get too hung up on any results... Treat it similar to something like WWE and class it as "sports entertainment" and you can still have an excellent, value for money, night out depending on the level of racing and promotional skill set of those in charge on the night.. An almost annual dwindling amount of tracks and fanbase can only end one way sadly, so make the most of it, and, hopefully, your local track will keep going for a good few years yet..

Great to see Artem has got better and managed to make it...

One more go TB?

I liked it when it was in black and white... And had Bjorn Knuttson on the front.... An excellent publication that does much to make the UK version of Speedway look professional..

Thw only sport I can think off that those most in need of development can get replaced even though they are doing better than the level they were brought in at...

Oh the irony.. A plethora of guests available on a Friday night for Scunthorpe to use.... And not using any...

When I have been to Birmingham, it was noticeable how large a percentage of the crowd "wore the club shop".. Not large crowds in total, granted.. But it does suggest that a losing team could impact attendances quite a bit % wise if those fans in particular became disillusioned.... Many tracks have a fair % of fans who can just go along to watch the racing which can help them during a poor run of performances, as they turn up anyway.. It was also noticeable the age demographic of those in attendance proudly wearing their yellow and red, and, sadly, there will be other reasons as to their less regular visits too I would think as the years have gone by and continue to do so.. Certainly the "oldest" crowd I have seen at Speedway... Although a few will run them close.... It does certainly seem like it has been a "hard sell" for all Birmingham Promoters after the "honeymoon period" ended after a few years of their return.. You cannot knock those currently in charge for their efforts though can you?

Especially when so many at the tracks will say "the track is really slick"... What exactly is it they are grading for lap after lap, after lap? Within two laps into the first race after the grading, the inside is as bare as it was when the race before finished...

Attending meetings just "for the racing" definitely delivers for me too.. The only downside is that any team sport desperately needs their followers to believe in the teams from an emotional angle.. Which hopefully then encourages plenty of repeat visits, rather than the "occasional ones" that you and I (and countless others "generic fans"), currently do.. The actual racing is as good as anything i have seen in over 50 years of following it.. If they could ever add credibility to the quality of racing then they could be on to a winner.. Hopefully one day, it may sink in, and they give it a go...

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....