mikebv

Get that, But if you are spending more to generate "not enough" to pay for "the more", then you would be better off budgeting for keeping your costs as low as you can.. When Doyle, Emil, Bewley, Holder, Fricke, (and Laguta) visit, then crowds will at least be two or three hundred up at each match as those who have dropped off turn up, meaning another £30k or so from the four matches against the teams with GP opposition .. Add in the derbies that Peterborough and KL have together which bring decent (ish), away followings and you will have some ok return without breaking the bank in points money... Given the state of Peterborough's future I understand reticence to spend too much on either of the businesses...

I get the frustrations of following "your team" but, in all honesty, I think the promoters see putting out "any" Speedway as their main remit... Hence the operating model they follow.. The relevance of your team winning or losing is very small to the overall UK Speedway plan.. Keeping the sport going and getting to the end of the season is no mean achievement for a fair amount of them given the state the sport is in in the UK I would suggest.. For the majority of followers nowadays, I would suggest the racing is the key driver for them to attend, rather than the match outcome, hence they dont get too concerned about performances, but are content to accept that they have a meeting to attend again the next time.. Hence a winning or losing season often doesnt generate massive differences in crowd levels at most tracks.. As for "regime change"? Well not attending at all will easily facilitate that, but with the sport losing tracks so quickly, and no real financial rewards available, who would put their money into it to replace the current promoters? At least they are prepared to fund it...

When I used to go regularly to watch the Aces from 88 to around 2005, they were pretty crap for virtually everyone of those years.. Yet crowds never really changed much, given there was never a huge starting number.. And most tracks seem to have a similar pattern.. Nowadays I suppose you have the added cost implications and many more meetings nowadays being "a bit made up" which may put a few more off..

The reality is that for most tracks, being 'successful" doesn't bring in several hundred more every week.. Yet being "unsuccessful" doesn't lose you several hundred every week either.. But being "unsuccessful" can be better financially... As we have seen, title winners can end up going bust.... Being competitive at home is the mantra, with happiness truly being 46-44, meaning a close score line to maintain interest and a victory to celebrate, and, if you take a few 60 - 30's away then so be it... Your own fans are not likely to be there anyway...

I know sometimes a "Golden Ticket" reserve has been on considerable money, given his bargaining power, and the impact he can have makes him a "must have". Poole in particular over the years always seemed to bring in a "four point superstar", who pretty much becane a fourth HL, but one that gave great flexibility by replacing anyone at anytime.. But given their level of success,, and the crowds it brought, they obviously built it into their business model and it worked great for them.. Maybe KL are not of the same financial position to speculate the same? And let's be honest, a successful team wont probably bring in even 500 more every week will it?

They can use Bomber every other week.. Bomber's other commitments to everyone else not with standing obviously.. The Polish 2nd tier is full of riders that could be suitable.. With the beauty being you only need to sign them, they turn up once, and then have guests for the rest of the season due to all the Polish fixture clashes that UK Speedway have allowed to take place..

Will Poland let Max ride though?

No sun break though so that will save time.....

Rew having a good meeting in Poland... Cannot gate but definitely a talent on the bike...

"There's no doubt Harris would still be a go-to choice when available in the future".. I am pretty sure he will be available, don't worry about that. .. But, as Fred Pontin used to say... "Book Early"....

Best is to close ranks. .. Because everyone may need an "emergency call off" at some stage... As a test, I have just entered "metal fence and gate repairs" into Google (other search engines are available) and quite a good many company names have come up... And if I send them my details they will contact me to arrange a repair... Within 24 hours for many, and even same day for a few.. Might be worth at least trying do you reckon?

It all smacks of being the usual "Mickey Mouse" plaything for a few Promoters, rather than a bona fide Professional Sport... As, let's be honest, if the Promoters themselves regarded their Championships as relevant they would never agree to run meetings on the few Mondays that the FIM run some of their meetings, and would definitely never in a million years agree to running on the same night that Poland now have priority for, handed to them gift wrapped by the UK in exchange for Poland graciously allowing Dan, Emil and a few lesser lights to be available.. (But obviously, maybe not always available).... What's that definition of insanity? Doing exactly the same thing over and over again but each time you do it you truly expect a different result? Can't be too many years left of "doing exactly the same thing and expecting a different result", given the multitude of track closures over the past decade or so, I would predict... Will someone/enough promoters ever be brave enough to go it alone and radically restructure the sport in the UK? Being in charge of their own destiny, cutting their cloth accordingly, running on the best nights for their business, and offering a VFM night out based on an admission cost that reflects what's on offer, not what they need to pay their employees to be pro riders.. The IOW seem to follow the last paragraph well...

Just another of the usual self inflicted nonsense that gets allowed to take place.. All driven by any old Speedway getting cobbled together.. In a proper sport, if a team cannot make the event and the public would be short changed then it wouldnt take place.. In Speedway, they "find a way" to run meetings, with a contrived operating model, which just destroys the legitimacy of their competitions.. Which then leads to conjecture and cynicism when something like this happens.. I am sure this reason is 100% genuine but there is a history in the UK of when the home team in particular has issues, something akin to a sudden plague of locusts descends on the town or city the night before.. (I remember one night at the old BV track when the No1 rider couldnt get there, a flood that only Noah could have predicted hit one of the bends and the meeting was called off).. Yet, the away team facing similar issues will just turn up with whoever is available.. A proper sport simply wouldn't run if the teams were not contracted to the respective clubs, and Speedway in particular, given all the logistics of riders potentially getting injured on any given night of the week around the world, should have the caveat in its overall operating model that meetings can be called off for genuine team issues, such as two riders or more missing from a septet.. One rider missing then RR, or a No8 step up.. With consequence for anyone failing to follow the rules.. Running "Guestfest after Guestfest" leads to fans expecting Speedway every week, so when "something" happens, then the conspiracy theories come out..

Sadly. It isnt too difficult to understand to be honest...

Will every team be able to get two riders of their own there? We know that every team riding on the same night can play havoc with guests... Bomber might end partnering himself for two or three teams...

He can't The gate is broken...

My money was on the jenny...

Put them in charge of the sport...

Spot on... However, to deliver two full teams each meeting would mean a Speedway Season lasting about five years... (In fact, it could be one of their five year plans that always prove so successful)...

Cannot believe that you couldnt use "Speedway" in the title.. Its not like the UK has a tradenark for the word is it? Many countries use the term, including the USA for even other forms of motorsport, and the actual tracks themselves.. Worst case scenario, call it "Motor Speedway" and say you are calling it that to differentiate it from "Cycle Speedway" in the eyes of the public..

Correct And the fact remains... That it is still Thirty Quid... For a couple to go its Sixty Quid.. For around just 35 mins of actual "entertainment" (which by subjective opinion can be very varied in quality)... In a cost of living crisis... That's what those who run, or who are involved in the sport, dont get, (many of whom will help out, and in exchange, get in for "free")... That really isnt value for money, when, as has already been said, half the nights "entertainment" could have zero interest for a fair proportion of your fanbase.. Thirty Pounds for the 15 heats you are interested in is the offer in the eyes of some, and whether the club wants you to see it as that or not is irrelevant, as VFM is in the eye of the purchaser not the seller.. And, not seen any line ups obviously, but if it follows the majority of meetings in the UK, those 15 heats you are interested in could have a "few" guests on show, (with more over the two meetings) to reduce the relevance of what is on offer even further, meaning you are stretching the loyalty of even your most die hard followers with such a price point.. I have shook my head many times when having discussions with Promoters, and their support crew, around why crowds are so low, as they really do not "get it"... They invariably "love the sport" and become emotionally attached to riders, wanting them to have the most opportunities to earn money for the risks they take, and the machinery investment, so cannot see why their tracks are not "packed out" every week with fans showing the same enthusiasm for the sport that those within the sport do.. Unfortunately that can also prevent them from seeing the "bigger picture" that not everyone in their fanbase feels the same and, given the lack of credibility in the operating model, and/or maybe a dodgy weather forecast, you can see why even your most loyal followers sometimes can "take it or leave it" on any given night.. Emotional blackmail of "use it or lose it" also doesnt wash, as it is not the customers who must blindly follow the business, it is the business who must provide what the punters want, (not what they "think" the punters want).. Hopefully those of us looking at Sixty Quid for a couple to attend for 35 mins of "entertainment", as being "a bit optimistic and out of touch", will be completely wrong, and the place is full to the rafters...

Bartek not on his GP bikes then...

100%.... As the current nonsense stops many of the tens of thousands who have stopped going from attending... What you have now left are just the die hard fans of the sport just happy to see any racing.. With many of them colluding with the Promoters that what they watch has some relevance and status... I am amazed Poland hasnt copied the UK model to be honest.....

Great point... Given the "25% rule" or whatever it is, then Kyle Howarth too, may need to be included.. As he rides in the Top 5 for Sheffield (the team tipped to win the league), but can only get into Kings Lynn as a reserve.. Meaning KL must be stronger than Sheffield..... Yet the KL fans seem to be always moaning they are rubbish...

Bomber cannot be far off qualifying for a Testimonial at every track in Britain given he's rode for everyone for so long.. .