Elite League

[spiegal]

Frankly the whole ELITE LEAGUE is continuing to show what a farce it has become and will eventually it will sadly strangle itself through its lack of integrity.

 

While you more overseas riders that home based ones you are always going to find that preference will be given by the star names to those who pay the most..i.i. Poland/Sweden/individual meetings. It is only human nature.

 

Add to that if a "star" rider has a diary full of dates in the coming months, are they going to race each other in a hard/competitive way, when the opponent is probably their colleague in an Polish/Swedish team...of course not.

 

The continuous commuting takes its toll around this time of the year, and those Europeans will always look for an excuse to stay at home rather battle with the queues at airports and our congested roads.....would you ??

 

This also answers the question why crowds are disappearing fast.

 

Speedway folk are sick and tired supporting teams with guests/replacements/short lived Poles/Swedes/Danes etc. etc who have absolutely no alliegance to their clubs.Every supporter loves to watch a British guy doing well for his club and laterly country. What chance of that now and in the coming 5 years...answer ...none.

 

Face up to it, Speedway is a "job" to the riders, they have little or no interest in who they actually ride for. Put away your "team alliegance" and face reality.

 

This is why the media has little or no time for the mess that is Elite League Speedway today. It has no interest to the media, and it has no future as a sport which can/will attract the A line sponsors. Speedway isn't Mickey Mouse...as Master Mouse makes great money, and the punters flock in.

 

The answer is not easy, and requires courage and far sightedness. That is something British Speedway is not known for.

 

Maybe an Elite League of say 10 fixtures per track....then a National wide 18 team League based mainly on British talent, and let them evolve over the coming 3/4 years. In that way you get a "Team basis" back, you cut costs, you get "Real" team racing, riders who the crowd can indentify with, and latterly an England Team that has evolved through natural progression.

 

But it needs courage, and it needs a Supremo.

 

But there again, what is the alternative?

[Shalewhale]

But there again, what is the alternative?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Move to Poland

[Dekker]

Every supporter loves to watch a British guy doing well for his club and laterly country.

 

That isnt true IMO, fans just want a winning team.

 

Maybe an Elite League of say 10 fixtures per track....then a National wide 18 team League based mainly on British talent, and let them evolve over the coming 3/4 years. In that way you get a "Team basis" back, you cut costs, you get "Real" team racing, riders who the crowd can indentify with, and latterly an England Team that has evolved through natural progression.

Sounds like a good idea but wont happen as a) its probably illeagal and in this country the sport is a business and the people in charge dont have the brains or money to develope a proper regional training program at grass roots level to focus the resources on the kids with real talent.

 

Plus have TR and Sky the nuts to kick the GP stars put?

[Kevin Meynell]

Face up to it, Speedway is a "job" to the riders, they have little or no interest in who they actually ride for.

 

I'd imagine it's always been that way, but at least the riders generally used to turn for meetings unlike now. We clearly need to revert to a league that stops using over-committed journeymen, even if it means a reduction in so-called quality for a few years.

 

Maybe an Elite League of say 10 fixtures per track....then a National wide 18 team League based mainly on British talent, and let them evolve over the coming 3/4 years.

 

You've been a promoter so would know better than me, but I suspect the two-tier approach would create a perceived inferior quality product in terms of the 'National League'. Fans would go to the Elite fixtures, but not bother with the second division fare.

 

I'm quite sure that many fans will attend anything provided it's regular, as advertised, and well-presented, even if the riders are of 'inferior quality'. The journeymen should be booted out, and British-based riders (who do not necessarily have to be British) promoted from the lower leagues to replace them. It may be necessary to change the meeting format to help the upcoming riders, but over time new stars will emerge.

 

Provided all the teams are in the same boat and the competition is fairly balanced, people will still come. You only have to look at Twenty20 cricket which started with hardly any of the top players at all. It still managed to attract fans in their thousands (most of whom couldn't distinguish between the cream and crap of the players anyway) because it was attractive and exciting.

[Old Saint]

Speedway is committing suicide.

 

I agree with what has been said about the riders but the rot does not stop there. Another thing that is killing the Elite League is the lack of variety. Who in all honesty really wants to see the same opponents several times a season? That is where the Premier League scores.

 

Similarly, how many times have complaints been made about tracks? I am fed with seeing good gaters beat everyone. I prefer to see speedway racing. No, I am not talking about passing but actual racing - there is a difference between the two.

 

As a speedway supporter of over 50 years, I long for the days of seeing variety in the type of meeting - Open meetings, championship qualifiers, test matches etc. all on tracks that encouraged good racing. Now it is a case of what was on last week on tracks that encourage gating and riders fiddling about at the start gate trying to dig down to Australia.

 

Perhaps a look back at what excited crowds in the past might encourage those that have the power, to alter their ways before speedway is dead and buried.

[rabbit]

Another thing that is killing the Elite League is the lack of variety.  Who in all honesty really wants to see the same opponents several times a season?  That is where the Premier League scores.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

There are currently only 3 more teams in the PL than the EL. Can't see that it makes much difference in either league - in fact I'd say with the PT Trophy, some teams see each other just as much as the EL clubs do. The down side of the PL is that you might only get to see a great team once in the League if you're in different regions. Swings and roundabouts.

Edited June 30, 2006 by rabbit

[south coast robin]

The Robins team of the 6os/70s contained mostly British AND local lads who were proud to wear the Robin . Nowadays with the exception of Leigh Adams they don't seem to have the same commitment .

There is very little passing after the second bend as well .

[smedley_scott]

The Robins team of the 6os/70s contained mostly British AND local lads who were proud to wear the Robin . Nowadays with the exception of Leigh Adams they don't seem to have the same commitment .

There is very little passing after the second bend as well .

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I am inclined to disagree with that, especially since the Tomasz Chrzanowski was signed. Just this week I have seen some very eventful meetings, with Swindon managing to claw back a 19-point deficit to force a run-off for the bonus point against Ipswitch on Monday, something you don't see very often in elite league meetings.

 

Then on Thursday they completely dominated Eastbourne, securing all three points after just 11 heats. The whole team contributed to that victory, but Leigh Adams, Seba Ulamek and Tomasz Chrzanowski were absolutely impecable. Chrzanowski even chased down and past Nicki Pedersen to finish in second and secure a 5-1 in heat 4. Leigh Adams was the only other rider to beat Pedersen on the night, which shows just how good that ride was.

 

I also think that both meetings, especially the Eastbourne meeting, showed exactly what Elite League Speedway is all about, with good quality racing and top class passing attempts (not all successful).

 

Regarding European riders, it is my belief that riders will show loyalty to teams providing promotors know how to support their riders properly. This is where Alun Rossiter has had immense success. Not only did he make the most amazing find in Chrzanowski, but he has managed his riders so well that they all want to ride in Swindon. All the riders look very comfortable with the club, and the support from all the supporters (attendances have been the biggest of any Elite League meetings - caused by fantastic team riding) has only made them feel more loyal. The only real rider problem for Swindon has been Adrian Miedzinski, but that is the fault of his Polish club, and has nothing to do with his loyalty, as I am sure he wanted to ride in Swindon at those times.

 

Apologies for being very biased towards the Robins in this post, but I honestly believe that they put on the best show of any of the Eilte League teams, and if it wasn't for a few bad away meetings, they would be top of the Elite League going into the playoffs. I should also note, however, that I have not travelled much and seen many other teams ride at home (I have only been to Coventry and Oxford, and they were to go and watch Swindon), so currently my comments are extremely biased, and thus I also apologise if I what I have said is in accurate.

[MattK]

I have to agree with Scott.

 

I think we are actually spoilt for choice in the Elite League. Almost ever team has at least one GP rider and you get to see the cream of world speedway visiting your home track twice a season. How many other sports can claim that? Certainly not, football, cricket, rugby...

 

I'm sure if you ask top riders why the commute from England to Sweden to Poland and back again on a weekly basis, they'll tell you, it's not because they enjoy airline food!

[AndyM]

I'd imagine it's always been that way, but at least the riders generally used to turn for meetings unlike now. We clearly need to revert to a league that stops using over-committed journeymen, even if it means a reduction in so-called quality for a few years.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thinking about it, there have been many riders so totally committed to their club they've stayed loyal to that club for the duration of their careers, excluding time spent elsewhere as a junior. And doubtless many more who wouldn't have moved but for their club promotion going down the drain. Whatever the duration of their contracts, some riders undoubtedly do have that rare quality.

 

As for your last sentence I don't know quite what you mean by: "a league that stops using over-committed journeymen, even if it means a reduction in so-called quality for a few years." If you're referring to the GP contingent, they should be the cream of the crop rather than "journeymen." Did you really want to exclude any rider who aspires to be the best individual talent?

 

If you mean middling riders who need to ride elsewhere to prop up their earnings because one league doesn't pay sufficiently to help them make ends meet, how will you fill the gap through their departure? Not that you would be able to ban riders from appearing in other countries anyway! Surely any replacements would face the same financial hardship and would probably end up working part time to pay the bills?

 

What sort of league are we aiming for here? The magnet for all the greatest talents or one that drags along the bottom of survival? Shouldn't we raise the ambitions here and find answers to the difficult questions rather than suggesting FURTHER cuts to the quality of the league? With that mentality we might find ourselves with no league at all in a few years' time.

[south coast robin]

I am inclined to disagree with that, especially since the Tomasz Chrzanowski was signed.  Just this week I have seen some very eventful meetings, with Swindon managing to claw back a 19-point deficit to force a run-off for the bonus point against Ipswitch on Monday, something you don't see very often in elite league meetings.

 

Then on Thursday they completely dominated Eastbourne, securing all three points after just 11 heats.  The whole team contributed to that victory, but Leigh Adams, Seba Ulamek and Tomasz Chrzanowski were absolutely impecable.  Chrzanowski even chased down and past Nicki Pedersen to finish in second and secure a 5-1 in heat 4. Leigh Adams was the only other rider to beat Pedersen on the night, which shows just how good that ride was.

 

I also think that both meetings, especially the Eastbourne meeting, showed exactly what Elite League Speedway is all about, with good quality racing and top class passing attempts (not all successful).

 

Regarding European riders, it is my belief that riders will show loyalty to teams providing promotors know how to support their riders properly.  This is where Alun Rossiter has had immense success.  Not only did he make the most amazing find in Chrzanowski, but he has managed his riders so well that they all want to ride in Swindon.  All the riders look very comfortable with the club, and the support from all the supporters (attendances have been the biggest of any Elite League meetings - caused by fantastic team riding) has only made them feel more loyal.  The only real rider problem for Swindon has been Adrian Miedzinski, but that is the fault of his Polish club, and has nothing to do with his loyalty, as I am sure he wanted to ride in Swindon at those times.

 

Apologies for being very biased towards the Robins in this post, but I honestly believe that they put on the best show of any of the Eilte League teams, and if it wasn't for a few bad away meetings, they would be top of the Elite League going into the playoffs.  I should also note, however, that I have not travelled much and seen many other teams ride at home (I have only been to Coventry and Oxford, and they were to go and watch Swindon), so currently my comments are extremely biased, and thus I also apologise if I what I have said is in accurate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good post Scotty..but although this is probably the best Robins team since '67 the unavailability of some foreign riders has cost them points in vital matches . Crowds started going down when foreign riders started coming in . I have been at the Abbey when the gates have been closed on 16,000 .The Robins possibly attract the biggest crowds with Poole ? but getting over 2,000 a meeting should not be considered good when compared to Polish and Swedish league crowds . We attract the largest Grand Prix attendance by far , so why are league gates dwindling..apart from Blunsdon ?.The Blunsdon track has been in better condition as well .We should be doing more to encourage British youngsters ,as they do in Poland , Sweden and Denmark , where they are able to have a spin on their local track when they get home from school .

[Kevin Meynell]

If you're referring to the GP contingent, they should be the cream of the crop rather than "journeymen."

 

The likes of Niels Kristian Iversen and Piotr Protasiewicz are really the cream of the crop?

 

Did you really want to exclude any rider who aspires to be the best individual talent?

 

I'm thinking more of riders who take on multiple league commitments, but who don't intended to fulfill them all. However, if the GP expands any further, the BEL will ultimately have to decide whether individual aspirations are compatible with league competition. Riders can't make a living out of the SGP alone, so they'll need to decide what's important for them.

 

If you mean middling riders who need to ride elsewhere to prop up their earnings because one league doesn't pay sufficiently to help them make ends meet

 

British speedway used to offer more fixtures in the past, but this is not possible these days because so many riders also compete elsewhere. Open meetings are all but dead, test matches are few and far between, formerly prestigious competitions such as the British Championship, Riders' Championship and Pairs are filled with whoever can be bothered to turn-up, and there are less regular team matches in order to fit around GPs and other overseas events. If the majority of regular riders were British-based, then it might be possible to offer them sufficient meetings that they didn't need to ride abroad so much.

 

Not that you would be able to ban riders from appearing in other countries anyway!

 

Sure, but you can still refuse to employ riders who are unable to ride in all your fixtures. In fact, this would have to be a league policy, as there would always be one promoter who'd undermine the system.

 

Surely any replacements would face the same financial hardship and would probably end up working part time to pay the bills?

 

That might have to be an option if the financial climate in speedway gets any worse. How much longer is it possible to afford full-time professional riders on sub-1,000 and falling crowds?

 

The magnet for all the greatest talents or one that drags along the bottom of survival? With that mentality we might find ourselves with no league at all in a few years' time.

 

You miss the point. We are already comprising the future of the BEL by employing supposedly top riders who then go missing at inopportune moments. That is far more damaging to the league than employing perhaps (initially) lesser-quality riders who are committed to riding in Britain every week. Furthermore, with enough exposure, many of these riders will eventually become stars in their own right, and people will wonder what all the fuss was about.

 

Now is the moment to make the necessary changes because so many of the top riders are nearing the end of their careers. It might mean missing out on the likes of Lindback and Jonsson, but British speedway can survive without them.

[cwf]

What sort of league are we aiming for here?  The magnet for all the greatest talents or one that drags along the bottom of survival?  Shouldn't we raise the ambitions here and find answers to the difficult questions rather than suggesting FURTHER cuts to the quality of the league?  With that mentality we might find ourselves with no league at all in a few years' time.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

In truth the Elite League is now the poor relation of the top Leagues in Sweden and Poland. Gone are the days when riders had to come to Britain before they felt they could compete at truly world class level. The numbers of top riders who dont feel the need to ride here seems to grow by the year.

 

Does the Elite League need the Gollobs, Holtas and Jonssons to make it a true top league or are people happy to see close matches with more watered down teams but containing riders who are properly committed to riding in this country?

[AndyM]

The likes of Niels Kristian Iversen and Piotr Protasiewicz are really the cream of the crop?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe not, but PUK could well develop into one of the best. Who knows? You need to ask whether international riders like those enrich our domestic leagues or not. Sure their fans would think so.

You miss the point. We are already comprising the future of the BEL by employing supposedly top riders who then go missing at inopportune moments. That is far more damaging to the league than employing perhaps (initially) lesser-quality riders who are committed to riding in Britain every week. Furthermore, with enough exposure, many of these riders will eventually become stars in their own right, and people will wonder what all the fuss was about.  Now is the moment to make the necessary changes because so many of the top riders are nearing the end of their careers. It might mean missing out on the likes of Lindback and Jonsson, but British speedway can survive without them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As we've discussed in the past, there are various means of addressing the absence issue, though whether you like it or not I think British speedway can't survive as a viable competitive source without exciting new foreign talents, nor even the middle-of-the-road riders who make up the bread and butter of the league. And unless we can fill the void with equivalent British riders to compete with the best, it's not even worth discussing.

[Kevin Meynell]

Maybe not, but PUK could well develop into one of the best.

 

Sure, as indeed could numerous British riders if they rode regularly in a restructured BEL.

 

I think British speedway can't survive as a viable competitive source without exciting new foreign talents

 

I'm not suggested it should. I'm suggesting that we should only use riders who commit to, and actually ride-in in the BEL. They don't necessarily have to be British.

 

And unless we can fill the void with equivalent British riders to compete with the best, it's not even worth discussing.

 

We clearly couldn't fill the void with British riders on a like-for-like basis at the moment, but we never will if steps are not taken. The BEL gradually needs to start reducing its dependence on journeymen, whilst encouraging and promoting the use of home-based riders.

 

To honest, I think we're going to hit a crisis point anyway as Adams, Hancock, Hamill, Karlsson, Max, Loram, Louis, Wiltshire and Sullivan are all getting towards the end of their careers now. With Jonsson, Andersen and Lindback also seemingly disinterested in riding here, I don't see a vast number of riders lining-up to take their place as No.1s.

[MattK]

In truth the Elite League is now the poor relation of the top Leagues in Sweden and Poland. Gone are the days when riders had to come to Britain before they felt they could compete at truly world class level. The numbers of top riders who dont feel the need to ride here seems to grow by the year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it? Are you sure? On what basis are you making this claim?

 

Look at the Polish League team line-ups. Then look at the results and see the riders who miss matches. Adams, Pedersen, Andersen et al all miss matches for their Polish clubs. How many matches has Leigh Adams missed at Swindon this season?

 

I've said it once and I'll say it again, we are actually spolit in the Elite League as we have most of the top riders in the world racing here on a weekly basis. Yes, most of these riders have overseas commitments, but the evidence suggests that most riders also prioritise Elite League commitments above all other leagues.

[cwf]

Is it? Are you sure? On what basis are you making this claim?

 

Look at the Polish League team line-ups. Then look at the results and see the riders who miss matches. Adams, Pedersen, Andersen et al all miss matches for their Polish clubs. How many matches has Leigh Adams missed at Swindon this season?

 

I've said it once and I'll say it again, we are actually spolit in the Elite League as we have most of the top riders in the world racing here on a weekly basis. Yes, most of these riders have overseas commitments, but the evidence suggests that most riders also prioritise Elite League commitments above all other leagues.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Good point. Especially having seen the Rybnik team this year :-)

 

Our Elite League is a poor relation in terms of overall attendance, sponsorship and promotion. It is true that the majority of top riders are fully committed to the Elite League and all Leagues come to that. But what happens when the likes of Adams and Hancock retire in the not too distant future?. Of the next generation of stars we already have Hampel and Jonsson not wanting/needing to ride here for whatever reason. It just seems a little worrying that this League may not be in a position to attract the replacement stars when the ones that have served it so well finally hang up their kevlars.