g13webb

I apologise if my reaction was over the top, but time moves on and we still don't have an official announcement of the format and rules regarding averages and riders. I too have thought out different ideas of race format, and like you say, the obvious races are clear to see. But what does it all mean? The whole issue of this was to protect the draft rider from riding against top class riders, but seeing how difficult it will be for the heat leaders to score, and the 2nd strings to benefit from the lesser opposition, it won't be long when these rider will be swapping places, meaning top class riders, will then be racing against these draft reserves. which was the main reason, these these stupid ideas were thought of in the first place. What's going to become of the averages. At present, all the riders have a CMA attained from riding in the old format of heats. Once the season starts, then the whole system has to be updated. Top riders will see their average go down, due to a more difficult race format. Riders who don't ride this year will retain their present average and thus be preserved to be better riders with higher scores. 2nd Strings will increase their CMA because of easier races. Will there be an additional factors (like 2nd Str = pts x 1.5) to bring these CMA's on a level footings . Who knows??? What the point of CMA's if they're not comparable. There are so many issues to be answered about these new ideas. Yes, everyone has there own opinions but nobody seems to have all the answers. Imagine the problems there will be next year with all the variable CMA's when trying to equalise teams.........

You obviously, have knowledge of the new heat format. Wouldn't it have been nice of the BSPA to enlighten all the speedway supporter and the media, rather than treat us like mushrooms. And you wonder why the sport is nearly dead.............

I have voiced this idea before, but was cried down. When the season starts, there's an equality points limit in place to ensure all the teams are competitive. So why should the equality stop when the season starts. If those averages at the commencement of the season were use when replacement were needed, then all the team would always remain equal. This would stop future issues when teams having riders with wholly unrealistic averages, upping their scores and being replaced when a far greater quality rider that would have been impossible at the outset..

Chris Harris is a strange one, Somedays, he looks poor, Somedays he looks slow, but then other days he can be amazing and beat the best in the world. The trouble with Bomber, is you don't known which one will turn up. Expecting the top riders to compete against each other, I cant see many of them upping their averages by much. The Reserves will not be riding to an average. so even those that perform well, their score won't be that noticeable. So its the 2nd strings that should be favourable to score easier points and up their averages score. Hopefully Lambert and Porsing to make significant improvements, but I can see Skornicki, Worrall, Fisher, Michelsen, Bech, Ljung, Milik, Gustafssen and Wells all doing similar. To pick out one, who I think will up his score the most would be difficult because there are too many unknowns, But it will be interesting to see what happens. As a seasoned speedway follower, I have voice opinions against these new ideas. I don't agree with draft riders, I don't like having protected heats, I don't understand the logic of having differing sets of averages. But, these new complicated ideas will generate added interest for the seasoned follower, but they will do nothing in generating interest from Joe Public.

Ok , I take your point, that each club had the opportunity to get these so called riders, but the difference comes, that some clubs can't afford to buy some of these riders, So we get back to cheque book ethics again. The assessed system that is employed create more issues then any other problem. Some people look at acquiring a rider with a low fictitious score as paramount to winning the league. I've even heard of managers and supporters bragging about their successes. The truth being, this should be looked upon as detriment to the equality of teams and the comparison that are needed to make the sport attractive. Rider with assessed scores should be properly governed. This is not a dig at Milik or Poole , it is a problem that pops up regularly. We need to make more stringent rules to protect all the clubs of thus situations.

This topic got mentioned on 'Early Predictions' Post No's 376+. Hope it helps your thinking, but I can see so many loopholes to be exploited by some..........

The idea of a squad system is not to better the league, it is purely and simple to accommodate a few top riders who don't want to commit full time.. Personally, I'm against anything if its detrimental to the integrity of the league. We are fortunate at Lynn in that we have a star rider like Niels. We don't want to swap him one week for someone else, we don't want riders who are not prepared to compete on a regular basis. All these riders, like Hancock, are thinking of themselves and feathering their own nest. If they're not prepared to commit to our league then sod off. I would much rather have the same riders every week, a team that each and every supporter can relate with. We cannot run our league on the whims of the top riders and if and when they want to ride. We cannot afford them and the sooner we accept that the better.

Come the play-offs, Kenneth will have upped his average, so then we will be able to swap him for Chris Holder.

It was said at the announcement, more riders can be added to the draft list later if necessary, but they, will need to fit the same criteria.

Obviously planned that way.

Having been there previous years, it's a real enjoyable day. seeing the riders in their new gear, testing machinery, have a chats with whoever, well worth the effort. Usually the day is broadcast beforehand on Twitter, There's usually a couple weeks notice, cant say more than that.

Everybody in the sport knows that the top riders come over here and want to get in some practise meetings before the first SGP. They also know, that after along winter Layoff, the supporters wants to see Speedway, regardless of who is riding or where. Surely it's not difficult to accommodate everybody. Just takes a bit of thought. But to promote a meeting called BLRC is asking for comparisons, To make it an Invitation format you are in fact devaluing the BLRC Name and all the previous winners. All the riders and supporters want, are any race meetings, just to rekindle the appetite after the long winter break. The name of the event is irrelevant. Just don't make it into something it's not.

What a load of old tosh. If its the 'Elite League Riders Championship' then its open to the Elite league riders only. If you want it to be a Open meeting then call it what you want, like Joe Blogs Invitation. But don't take the P....s out of the few supporters that are left...... If you want to feather the nests of some riders who can't be bothered to ride here, then so be it , but don't say its one thing and mean it's something else

If, what you say is true, then it is very worrying that the BSPA deems it right to keep it away from the supporters and the media. Any sensible organisation would want all the input they could get to benefit a new plan. If this is to be a success they want anyone on board ASAP. To treat the fans with such contempt, is a recipe of disaster.

I find it interesting, reading people ideas of teams and how they think the season will pan out. My personal feelings are strong Heat leaders will always keep you in touch and you then have a chance of success. It must be sole destroying for a team when top man is being beaten. This year, the Reserves have a important part to play, in so much, they are riding their own agenda and will not be asked to compete against the top riders. You could say there will be two competitions running simultaneously in the same meeting, each having an input to the overall result. So in this situation, yes, we need strong heat leaders, and good reserves, but the jewels in the crown could be the Second strings, who will no doubt ride against, both the top men and the reserves. These positions could become the most important in the team, obviously, depending on the heat format. I find it quite alarming, that the heat format has not been released yet, putting tremendous pressure on team managers, who have had to permutate a team to succeed when they don't know the format of the competition. This should have been sorted out long ago.... It appears Mr Matt Ford is one of the last managers to finalise his team. No doubt, he is keeping his options open, for when the format is announced, so he can finalise his plans to best suit that of the format. Seems like a sensible thing to do, I'd say.

100% agree with that . A crap track can be any shape and size. Just because the track is of an ideal size, it can still be badly prepared.. If track men followed Buster's work ethics, crap tracks would be few and far between.

I was of the impression the forum was based on people ideas and opinions. They will never all agree. When you talk about a work situation, that's totally different. If you were then ask an opinion, I would assume you are a professional, one that was experienced and somebody who would take all your knowledge on board to give a structure response. Some times Facts are not available to substantiate your opinion, sometimes they are. I class myself as an educated person, who was involved with higher management for some years before I retired. Sometimes FACTs point to an obvious answer. I don't always like to except the obvious. Opinions are what separates us into individuals. No way can they all be the same........ Yeah I agree that Tai was the top rider last year, but why is the thread comparing him with Darcy. I thought Hampel and Niels done better than Ward. ( My opinion)..

Never known facts to govern opinions, why should it start now....... .

To pick out one specific track, I liked, that has closed is a difficult task, cause there are so many. Unlike today, I use to go to many away tracks, not necessary because I actually liked the track, but because of the entertainment on offer. An example of what I mean was Wimbledon. Every Whit Bank Holiday we went to see the class field assembled for the INTERNATIONAL. Riders trying their hardest to win the Jawa Bike on offer. Another date in the dairy, that was never missed, was Hyde Road, for the BLRC. The track created far better racing then that Plough Lane, but both the occasions were looked upon as the same. I would never class Wembley as a good track, but again The World Finals were always paramount and were never missed from ’63 till the close. I used to followed the Stars to many away meetings and regularly went to other places like:- Ipswich, Leicester, West Ham, Hackney, Exeter, Halifax, Reading, Cradley, all of which could offer it's merits to the best closed track, all have either closed or changed from what they were. But to get back to the question in the thread title I would have to go with White City just ahead of Blackbird Road, Leicester, both good race tracks which generated exciting speedway meetings…

You're no idiot Sidney, just a man with an opinion. Just to add my threepence worth to the discussion, Woffy did it when mattered. and that what counts. Although the points count towards the total in all the heats, they are not the be all you expect come, the semis and final. Most riders are only concerned of getting enough points to get to the finals. It is these 3 heats that really count. When Looking at them races, how many finals did Darcy miss out on ? how many times did he come third in a semi? and that's the reason he wasn't World Champion. Woffy done it when it mattered.. . Of course Darcy is an exceptional talent, but in this company you can't give the other riders a start and expect to always come from the back. For Darcy to contemplate being a WC is has to be a better gater, with a much higher success of trapping.

I have a video of Barry Briggs talking about world Champions, He says: there are many riders in the world who can perform on the World Stage, all capable of winning races. But the difference with world champions is , when it come to count, when the pressure is on, when you are in that position to win that championship. you will make that start and win. That's the difference of being World Champion or not. Like has been said, there have been many who have gone close, but only a few of those have achieved that mantel. Sure luck sometimes plays it's part, but you need more than that, when it is contested over 12 SGP rounds.

I take on board your comments, but in your reply, you are picking out parts of what I posted, and not seeing the point I was making. To me Niels is exceptional in every thing he represents. In saying that, I am also aware of other riders, who are also world class performers. Some of these have had brushes with the laws, some have done things they might regret, all I was saying, if you're looking for the complete package, a promoter's dream, then you wont find many better then Niels...

Pass.

As expected, I see it's been announced in the SS, that the top three riders will now ride in Team Positions 1, 3, 5. leaving places 2 and 4 for the second strings. This ruling alone has taken away the team managers options of places riders in more advantage positions. What Next?????

To me Niels is probably the best rider in the world. Its not about who he beats or where he finishes come October, it's about so many things. He's a Gentleman, He's pleasant, He's always adult like, He's responsible, He's reliable, He's enthusiastic, He's helpful, He's consistent, He's ever-present. And when on a bike, he's world class. When clubs are looking for a role model, and someone, for young rider to emulated, their non better then Niels Kristen Iversen. On a bike, Darcy has undoubtedly immense talent, but he has a some way to go to be compared with NKI