The Pedaler

Looks like this year if the fans want it, they will have to pay for it. There's not so many sponsors there to subsidise it any more.

I'm not one of Havvy's fans as such. He never rode for one of "my" clubs and in the 07-10 period he often rode against us...however he is British, and he is a former world champion, and deserves respect for that. What has been done shows nothing but utter contempt for Havvy and is a disgrace to the sport and to the individuals concerned with the making of that decision. It will leave top riders torn between which event to ride in and will leave the public with two diluted events, one of which (the wrong one) being televised as well. Maybe the Speedway Star could do some investigative journalism to see why the ERC was rescheduled to try to sabotage Havvy's farewell in this disgraceful manner? Should make a good story,

There were plenty of fantastic marketing campaigns last year that reduced the prices for kids right down, and didn't need them to be accompanied by adults. So what happened last year and what is happening this year are two different things. "Kids for a quid" was something which dates back to the summer holiday times in the Premier League era. It was a punch line to grab headlines. That was a different thing back then and in those days it did require an adult to accompany kids. Different things were tried at different times, you can't mix them all together and make out that they all happened at the same time.

They might come in gangs, and there's nothing that will terrify some existing supporters more than gangs of youngsters everywhere.

I can't wait to read those. The one with Terry Russell especially. The BSPA press release today TWICE mentioned that the deal was done between Sky and the BSPA. The spokesman for the deal for the BSPA was Alex Harkess...no mention of Terry Russell or GoSpeed International Ltd anywhere. Maybe you can ask why GoSpeed have been cut out of the loop. Was it a BSPA economy drive or was it GoSpeed deciding that 40% commission of nothing wasn't worth getting out of bed for? Maybe you can now ask Terry Russell what value GoSpeed places on the world rights to Polish Speedway now. Will it be worth them paying to keep the rights if they earn nothing from them and have no product to protect any more? Maybe you can ask Terry Russell what leverage GoSpeed now has over the BSPA over other media rights, and whether it is fair that GoSpeed should dictate what media is or isn't allowed - e.g YouTube Should GoSpeed be able to dictate how things are done in return for NOTHING of substance? Maybe you can ask Terry Russell what commission he things he is entitled to keep if GoSpeed ever secure a sponsor for British Speedway, in the way that they have singularly been unable to secure sport-wide advertising so far in their existence? You could arrange to make that a very interesting interview. Or, on the other hand, maybe you can perpetuate the image of being a toothless magazine, that just regurgitates press releases, as has been the topic of another thread on here. You won't want to upset your mates in the establishment do you? The choice is yours.

When you have sponsors you have to appreciate that sponsors have products and services to sell. Therefore you need to focus on people who can buy these things. What also has to be targeted is the person who will pay an adult price at the gate. Filling the place with people who are so young they get in for free or only for £1 doesn't pay the bills. And as was said, approaches were made to schools, some of who were receptive and some of who weren't. It's not in everyone's culture.

My god, Mary Whitehouse is not only alive and well, but is a speedway fan too.

The other clubs are also in BSPA controlled territory.

Nice defence of GoSpeed there. The thing is, by GoSpeed acquiring the rights, NOBODY else could show Polish Speedway. That was always the intention. Stifle the opposition. Hide the better product from public view. Preserve the illusion that British is best. PROTECT THE RUSSELL'S COMMISSION EARNINGS. That bit about Sky not being interested is nothing more than a smoke screen.

The decision to go EL was a commercial one. Based on SkySports revenue and the "pulling power" that TV exposure had. Sponsors were persuaded to double their financial contributions, and new sponsors were found that added to the revenue. That was of course in the days when a very hard working commercial manager was single handedly getting the sponsors on board to make it all possible. What was needed to make it a success would have been an extra 300 per week coming through the turnstiles. That was what didn't happen, and that's what caused financial meltdown. If you think that previous years were bad, look at the Brummies web site now. No sign of a Sky deal, no commercial manager to work miracles for the club, no new sponsors and most of last season's sponsors gone. As they say...do the maths.

Shame that they were late onto this thread...it means that you won't have seen my questions on the previous page.

But do they though? They start their routines (or they ought to) before the riders are anywhere near the tapes, and are off the track before the start marshall has done his bit, so all they are doing is making "dead time" a little less "dead". Ought to add to the value, not take away from it...but for gods sake, get real confident women in to do it, not self-conscious pubescent teenagers. Women young enough to to look good and mature enough to take the matter seriously, not giggling little girls, checking their phones for text messages or allowing themselves to be distracted from their jobs.

Basically - YES! Let's face it, the Russell's (i.e. GoSport) had a product to protect - EL coverage on SkySports. They were too scared that "their" product would appear too inferior if they went out with Polish speedway on a Sunday and EL on the Monday. A bit like World of Sport's wrestling with Mick McManus & Big Daddy was made to look very silly by WWF wrestling being shown on Sky.

Has anyone got the text of what was said about the Belle Vue track watering incident last year? Likewise has anyone got the text of the report of the goings on when Belle Vue eventually did host Poole, in the atrocious rain, when the fans that entered the stadium had to freeze and get soaked for the privilege of watching Poole be allowed enough races to get their 7 point lead before the meeting was abandoned? Is the text available for the interview with Scott Nicholls for why he decided to retire from Team GB? Was there an investigation into the goings on that caused the suspension and demise of the Brummies web site and the role played by AP Media in that?

Again? "Could", as in "maybe", or "perhaps", or "possibly"...or as in "not at all"? I suppose sooner or later something will be announced, so by the laws of probability, if you keep on predicting it, eventually you will be right.

I agree with what's being said about doing it right. That would need an element of professionalism off the grid girls though wouldn't it? As in practise, rehearsals, putting the time into their routines to get them right. We'd be onto a winner if they adopted the attitude of American cheer leaders, for whom "being in the team" is a source of pride, and who work hard at putting on a good show for the fans. (BTW, anyone care to complain about cheer leaders in American sports?) Of course what British promoter in his right mind would employ Brolly Dollies that are more professional than the rest of the presentation being put to the fans? They wouldn't want to be shown up would they?

If only the allocation of #1's were the only problem with this league.

How long ago was it on another thread when everyone was wishing that Barry Hearne would get involved with the promotion of speedway? Well, show me a sport that Hearn is involved with that does not include an element of "glamour" to spruce up the presentation? Unless of course the suggestion is that Barry Hearne is wrong and the bah humbug brigade on BSF know better?

For as long as GoSpeed International Ltd don't buy up the rights, like they have with Polish speedway, there is hope for us all. If GoSpeed get the rights, it'll have been done just to block it from the eyes of the British public, just as they have with Polish speedway, in another cynical move to ration out only that speedway that they approve of...which will be the British Diluted League ONLY.

What new deal? Another day passes, another day without an announcement. Has anyone considered the possibility that by Matt Ford prematurely leaking the information to his journalistic mate at the Bournemouth Echo, he might have upset SkySports enough for them to cancel what was going to be the deal? No doubt the Russells would have been going flat out to rescue what remains of it, and who knows how long that would take, but would anyone think that Ford would be upset if the Russells were in difficulties? Only a theory, mind.

How can a team that rides at a venue that has no home track advantage be stronger at home than away? If they are weak then they will be weak at home too. March will be a big test. 2 away meetings and a home meeting against a strong looking Belle Vue team. Could easily be 0-3 after 3. The Brummies season could be over before most of the others have begun. Not impressed.

Coaching??? Now there's a novel concept for speedway in Great Britain.

If you're going to pluck names out of the air, then why not go for Pawel Przedpełski? If he can come in on an assessed 4.00 or 5.00 average then why not? (other than a. the counter argument of "why the hell should he"? & b. who the hell will be able to spell let alone pronounce his name?)

The only thing that you blow out of water are bubbles. Nowhere have I said that speedway shouldn't be on television, either national or international. What I have said is that speedway will be better served with a highlights programme on a weekly basis or even two or three nights a week, and not live speedway. That's my opinion. You don't have to like it. Feel free to kick and scream about it all you like. What would be less boring though is for you to prove how 10 odd years of live speedway on SkySports on a weekly basis has benefited the sport. If you are correct that SkySports has been good for speedway then there should be plenty of evidence. Feel free to present all that evidence to your hearts content.

Well, if you've got it, keep it for another thread please.