uk_martin

Injuries won't be the problem. Premier League teams poaching the best riders will be the problem. If Ellis and Perry are as good as is being said, then what's the betting a struggling PL team comes and takes one or both of these riders away? And then what? Remembering how fans reacted during "Birkogate", there may be all sorts of disquiet especially amongst the forum afficionados if the Brummies team is decimated. I think that it's going to take some getting used to that at NL level, winning the league isn't everything. Feeding riders to the upper leagues should be a mark of success as well. But who will see it that way? How many arguements and fall outs will happen along the way? And who will think that their hard earned cash is worth spending on a team that could struggle if the big guns are taken away from it? It's a fact of life that's not been faced before, and I think that fans need to be reconciled to it before making great expectations for themselves. I think that in true olympian spirit, the NL is all about the taking part, not the winning. The bigger picture is going to hang around whether there will be more fans on the terraces at the end of the season than at the beginning. If there are the season has been a success. Where the Brummies finish in the league will be very much secondary.

4.00 points left to spend...how best to spend it?

The governing body needs to pay for representation in international matches. The fans already pay their share with the admission money, part of which pays for teams and riders registration fees to the governing bodies. There's money in the BSPA / SCB coffers, it just needs to be spent. It's a shame when your governing body isn't interested in international competitions as you then get to the situation that the Russians are in. Their top riders (the Lagutas and Emil Saturdayjob especially) will not ride for Russia because their governing body refuses to pay the bills. So the BSPA / SCB aren't alone in having their heads in the sand, but it's not great company that they keep is it?

There's always a cost of doing something...but there again there's always a cost of NOT doing something. I also agree with E I Addio - our riders need to get their butts over to Poland and Sweden. HOWEVER it's been made all too comfortable for them to dumb down between leagues in Great Britain hasn't it? The result is going to be Ben Barkeresque career stagnation. Craig Cook is going the same way, preferring to stay in Scotland rather than developing himself abroad. All too McComfy for him up there. It's where he says his heart is, you know. Mind you, he can't afford to travel can he? I'd guess that until all the dumbing down riders have done their two year stint (starting from now and not from when they started doubling up, in some cases 2-3 years ago) nothing will happen on that score. And when their leases on dumbing down spots has run out, they's all be 2 years older and 2 years further behind the development curve that their competitors are on. Oh deep joy.

Is he any relation to either Sir Thomas Chapman or Colin Chapman?

I rwspect those opinions but we are faced with a real world situation where the BSPA / SCB is only entering one person into either the World or European u21 tournament and no pairs or teams into any under-21 World or European Pairs or Team events. In any case, many of our "juniors" are over 21 and would not qualify for the events anyway. There are, to my knowledge, no u.23, u25 or in the case of some of our "Fast Track Reserves" no u29 tournaments either. So where else do these riders gain international experience? Rob Lambert and Kyle Newman have gigs in Germany and Poland respectively, and all credit to them for it, but the rest are opting for the option made so easy for them by the BSPA's cost cutting measures, of dumbing down between the British Leagues, so where's it going to happen for the next generation then?

OK, so now back to the theme of the thread. If YOU were tasked with picking a GB team / squad for next season, who'd be in it? Fantasy Speedway if you like, but don't just criticise other people's selections, that's easy. Let's see your picks as well.

My bad! Error corrected. I had Vetlanda in one post and Piraterna (2013 champions) in the second post...now both show the right team.

I gather that due to a bout of pneumonia, the Archbishop of Canterbury was unable to give his Christmas sermon this year, and that a homily was given by the Dean of Canterbury instead http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30604249 I'm assuming that this wasn't either of you two. Not unless either the Dean of Sutton Coldfiled or the Dean of Crewe has quietly and secretly been promoted to this new position???

It seems many of us do. I was also told that Liam was Les's son...then someone on here says he was his grandson...now we're told that there is no relationship at all. Whatever.

Interesting article about the following of Polish Ekstraliga teams on Social Media, along with some eye opening stats here - http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/489749/raport-sportowefaktypl-kluby-ekstraligi-w-social-media/7 Are there lessons to be learned here? To put things into comparison, GoSpeed International Ltd claim copyright to all media so forcibly prevent any "official" video from going onto YouTube, or any "official" photos from going onto photo sites like Instagram, Flickr etc. YouTube and Instagram therefore may be difficult for British teams to emulate. Facebook and Twitter though, British teams should be right up there with their "likes", "shares", "friends" and "followers" shouldn't they? Which teams in this country are most effective at using Social Media for raising their profile, public awareness and interest stimulation? Should there be a rethink about the distribution of photos and videos on YouTube, Instagram, Flickr etc? Would that be in the best interests of British Speedway for that to happen?

There are some really good lonng distance coach operators in Poland now...and of course the ever improving railways with all their second generation Deutsche Bahn hand-me-down rolling stock. That said there are some routes where the coach is quicker than the train. Gdansk to Torun was one that I went on using Polskibus last year. Saved an hour. Likewise, Poznan to Gorzow on Polskibus takes 2 hours rather than the 3 hours on the train. e-podroznik and Polskibus also have apps for your phone to do all your ticketing on. Anyone here who remembers Poland in the communistical days would be astounded at how much it has changed. http://en.e-podroznik.pl/ http://www.polskibus.com/

The rule is clear in the event that there is a rider who rides for more than one of the teams concerned. The first team a rider signs for is the one he rides for. With most Aussie and Americans riding in GB before heading over to the continent that's a rule that's sympathetic towards the British teams. Combined squads of 20 top riders with at least half a dozen SGP winners in there is a better field than you'd get for any kind of individual meeting, and best of all, it's a team event. I dare say there will be those who think that this has nothing to do with them but parks and non league football team fans probably don't think that the UEFA Champions League has anything to do with them either. Too bad really as I think that this has the makings of a great meeting. It's interesting that no-one ever says "nothiing to do with us" on threads about Aussie or Kiwi speedway, or about an individual meeting in the USA - (http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=78325) but as soon as you get a meeting that was the idea of someone in Poland, which first took place in Poland and which has it's funding and promotion coming out of Poland, then we get negative comments like these. Are people really that threatened that they have to react like this? Or is it just sour grapes at the realisation that Poland IS the sport's powerhouse now and Great Britain's now just a bit-part player in international speedway?

Rob Lambert and Steve Worrall have both now chosen to double/dumb up/down. So that leaves only two full time British riders in the British EL and one of those has retired from riding for Team GB again...so that leaves just Chris Harris. And the British Elite League is the weakest of the three main European "Elite" leagues at that. Does anyone think that is a situation to be proud of? Shoot me for telling it to you straight if you like, but that won't alter the facts as they stand. ONE full time British Rider in the British Elite League, able to represent his / our country. A total disgrace to the state of the sport in this country and a total humiliation to the governing body as far as I'm concerned.

What I meant was it is 4 or 5 races one after the other...with the bikes getting pushed out for the next race as soon as the riders return from the last race...then the interviews take place during the tractor racing, then 4 or 5 more quick fire races...and no advert breaks until the meeting interval. Compare that to the way that SkySports do it...Heat 1 then an interview with Chris Louis then another interview with whoever that woman is then Pearson and Tatum have a rattle, then, after the commercial break it's heat 2...repeat formula 14 more times...

Start the list of differences here: 1. Average age of a Polish Speedway fan is at least 20 years younger than a British fan. They are young enough to be enthusiastic, exhuberant, and energetic - and it shows. 2. Stal Gorzow had 4 riders in their team who won an SGP last year.(..is that some kind of record?) - British EL teams don't even have 4 riders who are of EL standard. 3. All team members including management and mechanics wearing team colours. Looking professional not like a scrap dealers annual convention like the pits in the UK. 4. Atmosphere - no comparison needed. 5. Huge fan bases - Stal Gorzow's AVERAGE crowd was 13,100 for all regular season meetings. Falubaz, Torun and others not far behind. 6. Communication - brilliant use of social media by the Poles. Videos on YouTube, regular updates on Twitter and Facebook... 7. Polish teams are supported by their town and city councils. British local authorities wouldn't care twopence in many places if speedway was to disappear. 8. Huge media interest. The latest deal for the Ekstraliga is worth something like £110,000 per team per year over 3 years thanks to NC+. Do British teams get anything off Sky any more other than the "privilage" of being shown on telly? 9. Polish TV coverage has to fit around speedway NOT the other way around like Sky insist on over here. 10. Polish teams are superb at taking their riders into the schools and community and engaging with the public. Bartosz Zmarzlik, Adrian Cyfer and Piotr Swiderski were recently involved with knitting needles in hands in a fans / community gathering, learning how to knit yellow and blue scarves. What do most British riders (Tai aside) do to get into the community other than an occasional "forced" PR stunt, and to raise their profile and the profile of their team and sport? 11. Polish teams are already involved with Winter Training. This involves team building, gym work, aerobics, martial arts instruction, etc. Stuff to keep the miind and body fit. Ever heard of winter training over here? 12. The list could go on...

I went through a list with a friend, of all the "second generatioin" riders that we could think of. At best it was a 50-50 split between those 2nd generation riders who were better than their parent, and those who didn't reach the same peaks. We've had our share at Birmingham, where Mark Warren wasn't as good as his father Graham, likewise, Jay Herne wasn't up to Phil Herne's standards, and Aiden Collins never matched Les Collins's achievements (and there are more). On the other side you have Jason Crump and Tai Woffinden who definately our-did their parents (likewise more could be reeled off) So basically you can't judge young speedway riders like you can racehorses. Breeding and bloodstock doesn't guarantee anything other than more pressure to bear than their compatriots get.

Craig Cook and Ben Barker, amongst others, have taken the safe and comfortable route by dumbing down between EL and PL for years, instead of grasping the nettle, committing themselves to the EL and bettering themselves in Sweden and Poland. What good's it done? How much further forward has it driven their personal International successes? That's the purpose. To encourage the riders to maximize their potential, and to turn out for Team GB so that Great Britain be competitive on the World Stage. Of course, if all that matters to you is your weekly league meeting and don't care about the nation's prospects, then you won't care about such things. Maybe the fairy godmother will magically appear and make everything alright?

Been told just now that he may be of Sean Wilson lineage...perhaps?

Illegal is it? You just issue different kinds of riding licenses. An "A Class license" if they are in the EL and a "B Class license" if they are in the PL. Maybe even a "C Class license" if they are NL. Just like a motor racing driver needs a "Super License" to drive in Formula 1. Then you set the eligibility criteria for obtaining the licenses to suit the policy of the issuing authority and allow it to entirely at their discretion to refuse a license. A rider can't complain if he then can't compete at the top level again if he himself decides that he is no longer good enough for an "A Class license" and swaps it for a "B Class license".

I think that there should be a "trap door" from EL to PL. Once that a rider is full time EL and decides to drop down to the PL it should be in the knowledge that there's no way back to the EL or the EL wage demands. That'll make them think. There used to be such a trap door when Rugby Union never allowed anyone back to the game if they went to Rugby League or American Football. Didn't stop anyone from doing it if they wanted to but they were sure of the consequences of their decision. Worst thing they ever did, scrapping that rule, but that's another issue. Give a rider on the upward slope of his learning curve a couple of years doubling up if he must. After that it should be the only time that they can choose to stay on in the PL. After that it's decision time. If they go EL it's for keeps. Another drop to the PL after a full time spell in the EL will be for good. Let the uncommitted make way for those with more determination to get on.

As long as it's NOT Harold Wilson.

Making it easier for a PL rider to advance into the EL and harder for an EL rider to look for a cushty little number in the PL...in theory. I don't see these calculatioin methods as being that objectionable in principle.

Too bad it co-incides with Rugby World Cup 2015 fixtures (seeing New Zealand All Blacks v Argentina at Wembley on 20th) else I'd make a weekend of it at Ostrow & TBA

Tis the season to be Bah Humbug for some I guess...however there don't appear to be too many line-up conflicts between the 2015 protagonists to it should be good to see Stal Gorzow, Elit Vetlanda, Holsted and the Puddle Pirates taking part in some good racing. Got a hotel room booked and am looking forward to making a great weekend of it. And on the subject of great promotion, what a cracking video clip this is...and look where it appears - YOUTUBE - the place that is banned, "Strengst Verboten" and off limits with a wall built around it for all British Speedway Video clips that the BSPA / Ronnie Russell / GoSpeed International cartel can lay claim to http://youtu.be/lhQG-ZieE8I