Idea For Sgp / World Final

[dabbsjoe]

I had a bit of spare time at work and started thinking about how to improve the competition that is the SGP however that spare half hour soon became a whole morning and the competition then become the whole national championships and GP qualifying rounds so here goes.......

 

Get rid of the whole SGP format for starters then in it's place select a whole week in the season (like is done for the SWC but towards the end of the season like end of August early September time), then choose a country this country will then hold the Speedway World Final of that year, however instead of a one of meeting or 11 meetings held over the season choose 3 or 4 different tracks in the chosen country and have them hold a meeting on the same format as the old world final (each rider has 5 rides and rides agianst everyone once) so that the World Final is then held over 4 legs in 1 country in 1 week (obviously chosen country will change from year to year) and highest total at the end of the 3 or 4 meetings is the World Champion.

 

This then led to my thoughts of qualifying for the event and brought back great memories of the Overseas Final at Coventry back in the day. Anyway the World Champion would automatically be entered into the Final for the next year so no need to qualify. Then obviously bring back the old format of the British Final and the top 7 from that then go to the overseas final with the top Americans and Aussies, then the Scandinavian final with the top 6 or 7 from the Danish Final, Swedish Final so on and so on, then the Intercontinental finals and top 6 or 7 from each go to the World Final. But then thought to give more importance to the British Final (same applies to Danish and Swedish and others) that the winner of the Final automatically qualifies for the World Final meaning that the further you go in the qualifying process the less places in the Final are available bringing more importance to do well in the competition.

 

Bit complicated but in my head it works fine

[Bill leahy]

I had a bit of spare time at work and started thinking about how to improve the competition that is the SGP however that spare half hour soon became a whole morning and the competition then become the whole national championships and GP qualifying rounds so here goes.......

 

Get rid of the whole SGP format for starters then in it's place select a whole week in the season (like is done for the SWC but towards the end of the season like end of August early September time), then choose a country this country will then hold the Speedway World Final of that year, however instead of a one of meeting or 11 meetings held over the season choose 3 or 4 different tracks in the chosen country and have them hold a meeting on the same format as the old world final (each rider has 5 rides and rides agianst everyone once) so that the World Final is then held over 4 legs in 1 country in 1 week (obviously chosen country will change from year to year) and highest total at the end of the 3 or 4 meetings is the World Champion.

 

This then led to my thoughts of qualifying for the event and brought back great memories of the Overseas Final at Coventry back in the day. Anyway the World Champion would automatically be entered into the Final for the next year so no need to qualify. Then obviously bring back the old format of the British Final and the top 7 from that then go to the overseas final with the top Americans and Aussies, then the Scandinavian final with the top 6 or 7 from the Danish Final, Swedish Final so on and so on, then the Intercontinental finals and top 6 or 7 from each go to the World Final. But then thought to give more importance to the British Final (same applies to Danish and Swedish and others) that the winner of the Final automatically qualifies for the World Final meaning that the further you go in the qualifying process the less places in the Final are available bringing more importance to do well in the competition.

 

Bit complicated but in my head it works fine

 

[Bill leahy]

I think the present sgp 11 round series is ok, but needs some qualifiier before, scrap the practise, have one or two semi finals before, make the whole weekend a sgp event, keep the top eight through to the next gp, the qualifier or two semi can have the old 16 rider 20 heat format with the top eight going trough to the sgp or two semi, whatever, that way we won’t see the same old 16 riders, because there always an upset, shock exit or shock qualifier, then the main event will be more exciting as we will also be looking not at who’s going to win, but who’s staying in the top eight the next gp and who’s going to have to re qualify also give more riders a chance to break into the sgp exclusive club, don’r seed the world champion either, let him qualifer if he has to…..the present format is boring with the same old same old……

 

 

[Gemini]

And breathe! I couldn't find a sentence to quote because it was rather a long one so I've just extracted this little bit to comment on.

 

make the whole weekend a sgp event.....

 

The problem with this idea is it would be too expensive for most fans who are already trying to cut out staying over in a hotel for the weekend so the attendance for the semi finals would be quite small wouldn't it? Or perhaps I have read your post wrongly?

 

 

[Wildcat]

I had a bit of spare time at work and started thinking about how to improve the competition that is the SGP however that spare half hour soon became a whole morning and the competition then become the whole national championships and GP qualifying rounds so here goes.......

 

Get rid of the whole SGP format for starters then in it's place select a whole week in the season (like is done for the SWC but towards the end of the season like end of August early September time), then choose a country this country will then hold the Speedway World Final of that year, however instead of a one of meeting or 11 meetings held over the season choose 3 or 4 different tracks in the chosen country and have them hold a meeting on the same format as the old world final (each rider has 5 rides and rides agianst everyone once) so that the World Final is then held over 4 legs in 1 country in 1 week (obviously chosen country will change from year to year) and highest total at the end of the 3 or 4 meetings is the World Champion.

 

This then led to my thoughts of qualifying for the event and brought back great memories of the Overseas Final at Coventry back in the day. Anyway the World Champion would automatically be entered into the Final for the next year so no need to qualify. Then obviously bring back the old format of the British Final and the top 7 from that then go to the overseas final with the top Americans and Aussies, then the Scandinavian final with the top 6 or 7 from the Danish Final, Swedish Final so on and so on, then the Intercontinental finals and top 6 or 7 from each go to the World Final. But then thought to give more importance to the British Final (same applies to Danish and Swedish and others) that the winner of the Final automatically qualifies for the World Final meaning that the further you go in the qualifying process the less places in the Final are available bringing more importance to do well in the competition.

 

Bit complicated but in my head it works fine

 

Would need some tweaking, but an awesome idea! Get a letter to BSI as soon as possible! .. They prbs wouldnt read it though, would they?!

 

[Bill leahy]

And breathe! I couldn't find a sentence to quote because it was rather a long one so I've just extracted this little bit to comment on.

 

 

 

The problem with this idea is it would be too expensive for most fans who are already trying to cut out staying over in a hotel for the weekend so the attendance for the semi finals would be quite small wouldn't it? Or perhaps I have read your post wrongly?

 

you may be right about the expence, but then were not going next year as were now bored with it but come the weekend we may make the effort, it's just the first time since cardiff started we haven't bought tickets in advance

[pugwash]

So basically instead of having 11 Gp's you have 4?

When will this one off World Final thing be dead and buried? It's deceased, it's an ex-parrot.

[lucifer sam]

So basically instead of having 11 Gp's you have 4?

When will this one off World Final thing be dead and buried? It's deceased, it's an ex-parrot.

 

Give it a few years and the World Final will be back. The world recession will kill off the GP series.

 

All the best

Rob

 

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Give it a few years and the World Final will be back. The world recession will kill off the GP series.

All the best

Rob

 

You are absolutely spot on Rob.

 

What makes me laugh are all those people who say, the GPs are here to stay/the play-offs are here to stay/the sudden-death races at the end of a top indiv. meeting are here to stay etc.

If this laissez faire attitude really did exist then surely the old World Final would never have been replaced by the GPs in the first place...

 

Things DO change.

 

The sudden death final race was brought into the closest thing we have now to a proper World Championship, the U-21 World Final - delivered a largely-seen-as-unfair result and was scrapped.

The Premier League title last year was NOT decided by a play-off and won't be again in '09; so that (also unfair) system has been scrapped in Britain's largest league.

 

So tell me again, that these things when brought in are "here to stay"...!!!!!

 

The sooner we end the closed shop that is the GP system and bring back excitement and meritocracy to a truly open World Championship then the sooner we halt the currently terminal decline in the sport...

For it's those who merely repeat the mantra that the "GPs are here to stay" who have no vision for the future of the sport NOT those who support the return to a proper World Championship....

Edited December 27, 2008 by Parsloes 1928 nearly

[The Know]

Give it a few years and the World Final will be back. The world recession will kill off the GP series.

 

All the best

Rob

Ya talking rubbish.

[The Know]

You are absolutely spot on Rob.

 

What makes me laugh are all those people who say, the GPs are here to stay/the play-offs are here to stay/the sudden-death races at the end of a top indiv. meeting are here to stay etc.

If this laissez faire attitude really did exist then surely the old World Final would never have been replaced by the GPs in the first place...

 

Things DO change.

 

The sudden death final race was brought into the closest thing we have now to a proper World Championship, the U-21 World Final - delivered a largely-seen-as-unfair result and was scrapped.

The Premier League title last year was NOT decided by a play-off and won't be again in '09; so that (also unfair) system has been scrapped in Britain's largest league.

 

So tell me again, that these things when brought in are "here to stay"...!!!!!

 

The sooner we end the closed shop that is the GP system and bring back excitement and meritocracy to a truly open World Championship then the sooner we halt the currently terminal decline in the sport...

For it's those who merely repeat the mantra that the "GPs are here to stay" who have no vision for the future of the sport NOT those who support the return to a proper World Championship....

Maybe you should of asked for a brain for xmas. I expect you also wish for a return to gas lamps and such

[lucifer sam]

Ya talking rubbish.

 

But Humphrey Appleby has already provided a link that showed that BSI wasn't exactly flourishing. And this was before Gelsenkirhcen and the financial impact that will have, while the weak pound will deter British fans travelling outside their country for the next few years.

 

And the probable collapse of the Russian League, plus problems for the Polish and Swedish Leagues, added to the desertion of the top stars from Britain, will mean the GP stars will be wanting much more for their GP appearances.

 

It's a worrying time for the GP series, along with speedway at all levels.

 

EDIT: Please don't think I share ALL the views of Parsloes, though.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited December 27, 2008 by lucifer sam

[The Know]

But Humphrey Appleby has already provided a link that showed that BSI wasn't exactly flourishing. And this was before Gelsenkirhcen and the financial impact that will have, while the weak pound will deter British fans travelling outside their country for the next few years.

 

And the probable collapse of the Russian League, plus problems for the Polish and Swedish Leagues, added to the desertion of the top stars from Britain, will mean the GP stars will be wanting much more for their GP appearances.

 

It's a worrying time for the GP series, along with speedway at all levels.

 

EDIT: Please don't think I share ALL the views of Parsloes, though.

 

All the best

Rob

Yes times will be hard for everyone in 09 but the gp in one form or another will stay. the old one off will not return.

 

We have pretty much decided to pull out of speedway in 09 completly but not because i dont believe in the gp .

[lucifer sam]

Yes times will be hard for everyone in 09 but the gp in one form or another will stay. the old one off will not return.

 

I realise it's largely wishful thinking on my behalf.

 

I'd like to see the GP series scaled back a bit, though. Now that it's 11 rounds, it's too become a tad too predictable and makes it less likely to have a close finish overall. I think a return to 6 rounds and only one GP per country would help. It would make the meetings more unique and special - at the moment there are ten-a-penny. And two-bob venues such as bloody awful Vojens should be avoided.

 

All the best

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Maybe you should of asked for a brain for xmas. I expect you also wish for a return to gas lamps and such

 

And you need to learn how to read!!!

 

Exactly why is it that you can claim universal right to saying that progress only lies with one idea (the GPs) whilst others are considered living in the past with another idea (a season-long competition of qualifiers, culminating in a one night Final )..?

 

As I pointed out in my earlier thread, there are many examples of change in Speedway history (one being from the World Final to the GP) and many examples later of either changing back or changing to another idea or format.

 

There's a kind of fascism among some supporters of the GP system which forbids any others an alternative view.. And it does you no credit....

 

[Humphrey Appleby]

There's a kind of fascism among some supporters of the GP system which forbids any others an alternative view..

 

I thought for a moment, I'd stumbled on the religion/atheism discussion in another section.

 

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

I thought for a moment, I'd stumbled on the religion/atheism discussion in another section.

 

Thing is Hump., me & you (and others) can have a reasoned discussion on the merits or demerits of this (and other) subjects, but then there are people who respond to a thread with a comment "you should of (sic) asked for a brain for xmas"..!!!

[Humphrey Appleby]

Yes times will be hard for everyone in 09 but the gp in one form or another will stay. the old one off will not return.

 

I can't see the one-off World Final returning, but I can see the SGP being scaled back, and possibly IMG not being involved in future. It seemed to have 2-3 good years a while back, but it just seems to have been on a downturn ever since (certainly before the current financial crisis came along).

 

not because i dont believe in the gp.

 

I don't have a problem with the concept, but there are too many rounds, and whole thing needs to be more closely linked with the national leagues. Of course, the national leagues are run just as poorly (if not worse), but we can live in hope of a brighter future...

Edited December 27, 2008 by Humphrey Appleby

[The Know]

And you need to learn how to read!!!

 

Exactly why is it that you can claim universal right to saying that progress only lies with one idea (the GPs) whilst others are considered living in the past with another idea (a season-long competition of qualifiers, culminating in a one night Final )..?

 

As I pointed out in my earlier thread, there are many examples of change in Speedway history (one being from the World Final to the GP) and many examples later of either changing back or changing to another idea or format.

 

There's a kind of fascism among some supporters of the GP system which forbids any others an alternative view.. And it does you no credit....

Why ? Because its the best way to find a true champion. All other forms of motor sport are run this way, none have a one off final. I do agree it should be less rounds and the w/c should only be every 2 or 3 years. I dont mind change but to go back to a one final even if it has semis and so on is the wrong way. What if you win every round and then be injured before the final or have a few dnf. The winner is then not the true champion.

[ballinger]

IMO, those who are anti the SGP do have a point that its too much of a closed shop, and the presence of BSI/Olsen rider nominations does the SGP no good.

 

Also IMO a return to the one off world final is not the way forward, as The Know states no other form of motorcycle sport decides its world champion from a single event.

 

Regretably though for BSI they have sold years worth of TV contracts with a minimum of 11 events per year, and are now in a position of filling the calendar with such events as the "Nordic Grand Prix". This IMO does the sport no good as it becomes clear to the casual follower, just by the name, that the event is nothing more than a fixture filler.

 

Therefore, IMO the whole SGP series would be better served by a scaling back of the number of events, or a radical overhaul of where the events are staged. However, neither are easy to acheive given the current TV contract set ups, and the current world financial credit crunch.

 

To the closed shop argument I say replace the 7 WC qualifying meetings with 6 SGP qualifiers, each to be staged a day or 2 days prior to the SGP, preferably at an alternative venue to the SGP. Qualifying could be reserved to SGP events 3-8, and would offer say 8 slots per qualifier to anyone who paid an entry fee. These qualifying meetings would be self supporting, and would offer no cash prizes to the competitors, but would be attractive enough to supporters as they would include the bottom 7 from the previous SGP.

 

To the repetitive nature of the current SGP calendar BSI should IMO be actively persuing more attractive ways of filling their 11 events, with the 'Nordic' being bumped in favour of placing SGPs at active Speedway centres such as Gorican and Togliatti. It is clear that some planning is going on behind the scenes given the announcements that Copenhagen and Leszno are to stage SGPs for the next 3-4 years, I just hope that BSI recognise that staging a Nordic SGP in 2009 directly after a Scandinavian SGP is just plain daft.

Edited December 28, 2008 by ballinger