enotian

Just watched Zielona Gora v Czestochowa recorded on Freesports. Fantastic advert for the sport. There appeared to be a great atmosphere in the stadium and the racing was top notch for the most part. I don't think there was any R/R or guest riders but admitedly I did fast forward as there were long gaps between blocks of heats. Maybe for TV but certainly too long even if the 15 minutes of action were mostly fantastic. I'd definitely pay £25+ to see action of that standard and I imagine if someone new to speedway watched it I'm sure it would have caught their interest. Notwithstanding the length of time the meeting took. Unfortunately this is the benchmark British speedway is up against and it doesn't compare favourably. Even if you could attract the big names back plenty of tracks are just not conducive to modern racing and/or the stadiums are basic. I can only imagine if someone new to speedway had watched that match on Freesports and thought they'd fancy watching some live action in the UK they'd end up feeling disappointed. I know there is no magic wand to resolve this but I've said before, if you can't beat them join them. Once people decide freedom is worth the risk again if you could enter Belle Vue into the Polish League there'd at least be some top level action supporters could access in this country. Maybe if it was successful in attracting visitors to Manchester other local authorities might be interested in having a similar facility? However fanciful that might seem right now. Of course it would undermine the position of the Premiership being the top level of sport in the country but that might just temper expectation. Although I'm not sure what that would mean for the pricing. My general point is that the sport needs to find away of being able to provide a product of comparible standard if there is any chance of attracting a new audience.

I don't think you can include rider assets on the clubs (promoters company) balance sheet. They are not true assets in any real sense as the clubs who "own" them have no legal control over them. Just as you or I are not on the balance sheet of the companies we work for (if applicable) because we are allowed to leave our posts should we wish as long as we adhere to the terms of our contract (i.e. notice period). The only difference with a speedway rider is that the contract they sign is for a fixed period of time. Normally the duration of a season. Once that contract expires the rider is free to sign another contract with anyone else. Of course others will say that the clubs do have rights over their rider assets and indeed clubs do seem to focus on building 'asset bases' but the fact that they are not contained on balance sheets and that transfer fees are infrequent at best reflects the fact that rider assets have zero value from a business valuation perspective. I believe this applies to footballers. Even if they have a long term contract their associated value is not held on the clubs balance sheet. Something introduced after the Bosman legislation I think.

lots of excuses here. I don't like masks, I don't like paying on-line/in advance, I don't like weekdays. I don't like the promoters etc etc The truth is that if the product was any good you'd more than likely be prepared to overlook these issues to get your fix. Unfortunately the product is just a bit naff. 2 hours plus for 15 mins of action some of which will be spectacular most of which won't, in mostly basic venues with zero atmosphere. Having attended about 99% of fixtures at Brough Park since 1986 I've not missed attending at all and can't see myself returning, certainly on a regular basis, and not just because the team is rubbish. In truth I'd just been turning up out of habit for a good while prior to 2020. The reason? It's just a bit naff (importantly) compared to the standard most of us can now view via the SGP coverage. Yes watching at home should be way less exciting than attending in person but the reality is that the British Speedway product is nowhere near as attractive (and I'm not even saying that SGP is unmissable stuff either). I appreciate that the pricing reflects that the standard of racing can't be as high as SGP but the product on a whole is just a but tired and lacks credibility. I actually enjoyed the last P'bro v Wolves TV match. Some of the racing was pretty good and as I'd recorded it I could fast forward the numerous breaks and what I expect were dull interviews and wittering. Didn't inspire me to buy a ticket for Newcastle's next match because I know the action wouldn't be on a par and that I wouldn't be able to fast forward the endless tractor revolutions (which never seem to have a positive effect of the standard of racing anyway). Maybe I just got bored with it. The trouble is I'm not in the minority.

Is he on the Rising Star list? I don't think he was on the original list but that's not to say he hasn't or won't be subsequently added.

it suggests the opposite doesn't it? i.e. where do another 35 riders come from? Going back to 2019 double uppers were getting ave 28 PL and ave 26 CL matches (excl KOC and play offs). So an ave of 54 standard league matches. If there was one big league of 16 (although not all would be able to afford it) gives a rider an equivalent of 30 matches. That's almost half the chance to earn than before. Yes you could increase fixtures but would clubs want to change from c14 home meetings in 2019 to c27 home meetings give the riders the same amount of meetings? Could they even? It's an impossible mess and a totally predictable one at that.

I recall there being a reality TV style series which I think aired on E4 around a class within the BSB championship for young riders. It was a good while ago because it featured the likes of Jonathan Rea, Tommy Hill and Tom Sykes. From memory it was a higher level than the British Talent Cup but they were all young lads trying to climb the ladder. There wa as much behind the scenes footage as there was actual racing coverage. Focusing on the rivalries between the competitors and their backgrounds. Not something speedway has ever been short of!! Imagine if you could document the previous rivalries between British riders alone. The North South split etc I guess the stories are endless. I wonder if any youtube content would be best focussed on a (GP style) series for young riders to try and reach that younger audience. I'm thinking the current crop of youngsters Brennan, Kemp, Rowe, Palin, Flint, Thompson's etc. Maybe throw in a young American, Aussie. Europeans etc. riders of similar standard and age range. Invitational to ensure the right 'cast' and product. Charge £10 for spectators but have each competitor provide background content to build their own brand to attract sponsors. Hopefully attracting a younger audience (who can relate to the competitors ) and even an older audience (who relate to their parents) and maybe even attracting youngsters who want to emulate these youngsters. It should be relatively low cost to run and at the very least would give these youngsters track time and hopefully media exposure. And you never know some people might just follow these youngsters journeys beyond the series.

Easy to do the maths as well. If anything I wrote was wrong please advise. Not being negative just pointing out the risks.

not if you're just converting £18 into £8 for someone who would have attended in person but now just watches from home. Or worse still say a family of four who might have spent c£50 who now spend £8. Does the income from away supporters and neutrals offset those losses and the cost of streaming? If attending the event in person was a much better experience than watching from home it might be worth the risk..... I've said before, I can see it working for shared events when multiple teams are involved but not for individual league matches.

Is Atkins the Rising Star? And therefore need to be replaced by another Rising Star? Which might include Stoneman but might not.

Can't you just VPN to appear to be more than 50 miles away? That's a thing isn't it?

Long over due but all a bit low key. Maybe get some public votes for some of the middle order men who were never big names but played a massive part in British Speedway. As you say there are so many worthy entrants with some many interesting stories.

60 on Sunday. Get Well Soon.

Perhaps they should be offered a refund if the product wasn't up to standard..... .....how much did people pay to access the stream??? Honestly, some people. Well done for making the meeting available online.

Sorry 'Skunny' thread but when/why did assessed averages for new foreign riders get reduced? I'm sure Nicki/Bjarne Pedersen and Kenneth Bjerre can in on 9 or at least 8 assessed so they had to have a certain pedigree to be given a chance. It got reduced to 7 when the Diamonds went for Rune Knudsen which obviously didn't pay off but it's now 4??? If you're in the game of collecting rider assets you'd probably always go for a new foreigner on a 4. Whack it back up to at least 7 and, importantly, don't let their average ever fall below the assessed level. Just to bring it back to 'Skunny' they'd not be under the points limit if Aarnio and Piper had assessed 7 averages

classic but you might want to brush up on your ladies topiary

fair point. as it stands I wouldn't be able to attend as I've not been offered a vaccine. but it would mean I couldn't take my father who has had his. but I was talking more generally. I'm sure pub owners will be delighted to open their establishment just for the vaccinated whilst the young people who spend more money are barred. Who is going to pay these businesses the resulting shortfall? Starting to feel like some kind of Black Mirror dystopian society in which you only get access to recreation depending upon how much tax you've paid in your lifetime.

so not only do you have to have had a vaccine but you also need a smartphone!!! incredible really but I'm not informed enough to comment with authority. i wouldn't have thought having had a vaccine makes a person less likely to transmit the virus, they are just (hopefully) immune to becoming ill from it. so if the unvaccinated public are now those less likely to become ill from it anyway what difference does it make? I'm not sure who we're protecting now??? sounds like the young people in this country are being handed a rough deal. they're the one's who've put their lives on hold to protect the elderly and NHS, they're the ones who'll have to pay for all this (in one way or another). imagine if the strategy a year ago had been only the old and vulnerable had to be isolated, for their own safety. not sure exclusion of a section of the community would have been viewed acceptable then.

how would it be enforced?? I can't see your standard Speedway promotion having access to a government vaccine passport database. alternatively are they going to insist on airport customs style checks to get into stadiums??? causing queues which are no doubt not distanced. Imagine you've bought your ticket in advance then forget your passport (or don't have one) who turns you away? Do you get a refund? Or do they just let you in.

Whilst again I don't disagree I think it's becoming more common place. If you look at cricket someone like Jos Buttler will be able to name a half dozen teams he plays for in different competitions around the world. But he's entertainment and the competitions are viewed as distinct separate brands that mostly don't run concurrently. So he's in the Big Bash for a month, then at the IPL for another month, the Hundred at another point and domestic T20 some other time. Whilst the big names are a massive part of these competitions it's also the experience which is being sold.

that's just unlucky though isn't it. And luck or lack of it plays a massive part in any sport. You'd still be on an even par with your opponents. How many times in the past has a youngster increased their average from the assessed two or three to then find themselves replaced, by an old hand on a lower average, once they start to struggle. At least by retaining their star status once ready to return from injury the young rider will be able to re-take their place. I'm not a fan of the rising star scheme but something needed to be done to make sure youngsters are given time to develop rather than being chucked in and replaced by a more experienced rider at the earliest opportunity.

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport. Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours. However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words. I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes...... ......getting good at that this government. PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron. I'm 48.

I don't disagree. All sports suffer from the competitive nature in which the most talented purveyors can place demands for their services. Perhaps in speedway (athough the £ signs are smaller) the pool of top level talent is more limited, which magnifies the problem. I also think that you might be right about the culture of watching from the sofa. But I don't think this extends to other sports. I imagine crowd levels at Football, Rugby and (limited overs and test) cricket were higher after satellite TV took over the coverage. I've always found physically attending sports events far more preferable than watching from home but what is the obvious difference between other sports on TV and speedway which has meant attendances have increased elsewhere but decreased for speedway meetings? I think there's a follow the herd culture and if you watch an event in which there are full stadiums of people visibly enjoying themselves you'd be more inclined to think 'I wish I was there'. Cut to coverage of league speedway........ not a lot there to convince the herd mentality to follow suit. Maybe league coverage isn't the way forward? Maybe speedway on TV should be more limited to bigger events which can attract bigger crowds and perhaps have a bigger production budget. How about trying to sell a Speedway Festival to broadcasters. Package up all the grand finals into a week long event during the summer, make it an occasion make those watching at home 'wish they were there'.

excluding assessed starting averages Tsumani!! Arguably if he scored a 15 max on debut he's been on the decline ever since wasn't he a nine pointer from the off? Obviously started on an assessed two or whatever it was at the time but was never anything less than a nine pointer straightaway. I was more interested in riders who had difficult/average starts to their career but suddenly improved during the course of a season. Charles Wright is a more recent example. Having spent a fair few seasons as a four ish pointer was it Somerset he went to and added three points to his average?

No definitely meant status. The Standard has improved. Whether the quality of the entertainment has suffered as a result is debatable but certainly the sports popularity in this country has waned. I suspect there are numerous reasons for this. We'll free to whinge if that's your bag we all enjoy a bit of one now and then. Personally I prefer to spend my free time enjoying whatever I'm up to but it takes all sorts.

exactly. who ever got excited about a healthy balance sheet. the trick is being able to do both. it's the failing of the competitive sporting environment where contracts are negotiated annually and top men are a scare resource with a format where you can't win without one.