scousedave Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 I just cannot understand for the life of me why World Speedway does not have a bigger and more varied International Calendar. Namely in the shape of a Test Series, as Cricket and Rugby Union do, and as Speedway itself had at one time. It would be better than having the World Cup yearly, which is being flogged to death due to it being run every year. Surely running it every 2 years at the least would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Spot on - this is why I get more and more disillusioned with the sport, or rather with the people running the sport of speedway racing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 But Cricket, Rugby etc only exist as team sports. In speedway the big international events are the Gp, world under-21, world cup Test matches would be held if: a) people would pay to see them - and recent experience has shown that they don't it was possible to get a credible national team in one place at the same time This is not just a British phenomenon if you look at: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/intspeedway/ which contains the complete history of speedway internationals you will see they have virtually died out everywhere (with the exception of junior internationals in Scandanavia) What we really need though is to see more GB under 21 fixtures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlivefrankie Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 team international speedway does not exist anymore, the world cup is not team speedway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scousedave Posted August 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 team international speedway does not exist anymore, <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Which is a shame, because I think it would capture the imagination of the general sport viewing public. Not just Speedway fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinuteWarning Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 One of the problems at present is the relative weakness of the British team. It wasn't that easy to find a 5-man team for the World Cup, let alone a 7-man team for a Test match. Plus, with riders like Kennett and Bridger withdrawing from the U-21 World Cup team this year, it seems that young riders don't have the pride in riding for their country anymore. That said, I would love to see a 3-match GB v Australia series next season - if it was properly marketed, and with the support of Sky TV, it could be a big success. And if EL fans complain that they see those riders week in and week out, then stage one or two of the matches on PL tracks, such as Sheffield or King's Lynn, where I am sure that GP stars such as Crump, Adams, and Nicholls would draw some good crowds. (And thanks to arnieg for plugging my website!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Let's call test matches what they really are - friendlies. One of the biggest problems cricket and rugby face on the world stage is that their respective World Cups are only every four years and without any form of qualifying they have to fill the inbetween years with something. Given the choice between watching the Speedway World Cup Final every year - or the SWC being every 4 years and the years inbetween being filled with pointless friendly matches - I'd choose SWC every year, every time. With all due respect, other than Aus, Denmark and maybe Sweden, what countries are there to have "Test Matches" against? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 The other benefit of have a SWC every year is that it can move round, geographically, and will come to England with relative frequency. If SWC was every 4 years then we'd likely see it held in this country once every 8 or 12 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoMinuteWarning Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Let's call test matches what they really are - friendlies. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Try telling cricket fans that, MattK! The Ashes and Test series are as big as - and for many people bigger than - the Cricket World Cup. It should - and used to be - the same in speedway. I like the speedway World Cup (even if we have problems finding a track that actually wants to stage it), but for me nothing can beat two national 8-man teams in a full 18 heat Test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtc Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I would like to see a 5 torniment. With GB, australia, poland, sweden and denmark similar to the rugby version. meet each other once alternate home and away. (australia playing "away" for all matches". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylor Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I would like to see a 5 torniment. With GB, australia, poland, sweden and denmark similar to the rugby version. meet each other once alternate home and away. (australia playing "away" for all matches". <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Rugby's 5, now 6 Nations is popular so why can't speedway put together something similar. We could make a 6th team - Rest of the World - using the Hancocks and Zagars of this world. It could alternate with a biennial WTC. My only reservation is to do with how many would turn up for Australia 'home' matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBKPCNBob Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 (edited) Its shocking how between 2001 and 2006 our team has gone stale in if you go to - http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/intspeedway/gbvden.htm and see the teams we put out against the Danes and see the teams they put out. There line - up is almost totally new for the danes yet our line ups are almost the same and even this year our team looked very simular to them with just the inclusion of Harris our other back up riders are the same as 5 years ago. Edited August 16, 2006 by pcnorwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Butler Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 (edited) Which is a shame, because I think it would capture the imagination of the general sport viewing public. Not just Speedway fans. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> A wonderful dream, Dave, but no more than that. There are many towns where 'the general sport viewing public' are unaware of the existence of speedway. Speedway, in this country, is only a minor sport and, I regret to say, doesn't show any signs of changing for the better in that respect in the foreseeable future. I speak as one who has been an enthusiast for sixty years. The 'head office'administrators are slowly but inexorably dragging the sport into a state of near oblivion despite the kicking and screaming of the supporters. Edited August 16, 2006 by Ludwig_ron_BertHoven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scousedave Posted August 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 I just thought it would be better with the World Cup every 2 years and Test series in between. With 7 or 8 man teams I think Poland would certainly be the best team, especially at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I like the speedway World Cup (even if we have problems finding a track that actually wants to stage it), but for me nothing can beat two national 8-man teams in a full 18 heat Test. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> An 8 man GB team? Jeez, I think even you and I would get a ride! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Rugby's 5, now 6 Nations is popular so why can't speedway put together something similar.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> But the 6 Nations has full coverage on the BBC. That's why it's popular. Even tennis is popular when the BBC show it non-stop on two channels for a fortnight during Wimbledon. Don't underestimate the power of TV to make a sport look more popular than it really is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtc Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 But the 6 Nations has full coverage on the BBC. That's why it's popular. Even tennis is popular when the BBC show it non-stop on two channels for a fortnight during Wimbledon. Don't underestimate the power of TV to make a sport look more popular than it really is. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> There is nothing to stop the BBC, ITV, C4 or even five getting the rights. Sky have the rights to the domestic and GP's at the moment a new tornimet would mean a new package for tv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylor Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 There is nothing to stop the BBC, ITV, C4 or even five getting the rights. Sky have the rights to the domestic and GP's at the moment a new tornimet would mean a new package for tv. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> But who owns the rights to something that doesn't exist? The BSPA own them for domestic speedway and BSI bought them for the GP's. Both competitions existed before so there was someone to buy them from. When will the FIM latch on to the fact there's something else to organise then sell? While they're at it can they also get their heads round a proper European Club Championship and sell that too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 While they're at it can they also get their heads round a proper European Club Championship and sell that too? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How would that work, with the same riders competing for three different teams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scousedave Posted August 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Im not sire how that would work but Im sure an International Test Series would work. It would all depend on how serious the other European teams took it? (Poland, Sweden, Denmark etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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