Ole Olsen

[wotnoaj]

Something has to be done, I can't remember the last time I watched a GP and not heard the riders say how slick the track is and how its completely different to practice. What's the point in practice in the first place? I've always thought Ole sets the track up with certain riders in mind.

As Speedway fans we want to see racing at its best, that means grippy tracks with more than one bloody race line. The same guys will be in the mix but it will be a lot more entertaining and we may get more than two guys fighting for the title.

[hagonshocker]

The guys either inept or has been ordered to produce' tracks' that keep the advertising visible...araid its all about image with SGP and NOT entertainment....Cardiff's my G.P swansong in as im bored by it all now...its not just about getting Olsen out but for the organisers to have a major re-think....i.e think about the paying public and not just Speedy Hire and Veidec!!

[racers and royals]

I get the sane response. However why don't we all e mail the Head of IMG Motrsports and let him know what we think. In a constructive manner of course!! Will be interesting to see if we get a response.

harry.horsley@imgworld.com

my thoughts have been sent, including the fact you can't e mail the Speedway GP Site.

Correct person to contact is Head of Motorsports-Rob Armstrong at rob.armstrong@imgworld.com

I would like to think that no one would send anything abusive.

[Humphrey Appleby]

I can't think running slick tracks is completely about the sponsors' logos, because the SGP seems to have hardly any these days. I think it's more to do with Olsen's belief that hard, slick tracks produce closer racing.

 

The fact that it's a total bore for everyone else, and that people are turning off as a result, doesn't seem to register. Ole is always right.

Edited May 11, 2009 by Humphrey Appleby

[Blazeaway]

It's funny, someone I know that was there said, "the track wasn't that bad" and "the racing was much better than last year"

[Ghostwalker]

I can't think running slick tracks is completely about the sponsors' logos, because the SGP seems to have hardly any these days. I think it's more to do with Olsen's belief that hard, slick tracks produce closer racing.

 

i also heard that Ole is afraid of accidents both for the riders sake but also because more serious accidents would cause delays in the tv schedule...

 

 

[Sir Jasper]

It's funny, someone I know that was there said, "the track wasn't that bad" and "the racing was much better than last year"

 

Did you agree with that?

[The Know]

I can't think running slick tracks is completely about the sponsors' logos, because the SGP seems to have hardly any these days. I think it's more to do with Olsen's belief that hard, slick tracks produce closer racing.

 

The fact that it's a total bore for everyone else, and that people are turning off as a result, doesn't seem to register. Ole is always right.

its not how many sponsors you have but the amount they are putting in

on a par with the elite then. only decent racing i have seen this year is national.

[Blazeaway]

Did you agree with that?

 

To be honest yes. The latter part of the meeting produced some decent racing.

[Sir Jasper]

Could you remind me of that decent racing?

[Blazeaway]

Could you remind me of that decent racing?

 

Mate my memory is awful! But just remember being more entertained during the latter part of the meeting, but that may have been the beer goggles!!

 

Look everyone knows the GP tracks are gonna be on the slick side is it not about time that set ups were developed to be able to pass on slcker surfaces.

[AndyM]

I can't think running slick tracks is completely about the sponsors' logos, because the SGP seems to have hardly any these days. I think it's more to do with Olsen's belief that hard, slick tracks produce closer racing.

 

The fact that it's a total bore for everyone else, and that people are turning off as a result, doesn't seem to register. Ole is always right.

Well it's an interesting theory and I would not be at all surprised. Any evidence to support that idea?

[racers and royals]

Could you remind me of that decent racing?

I was also there and whilst we knew it wasnt the best GP it also wasnt the worst-the atmosphere created by the Polish fans(must have been 98% Poles)was terrific and certainly helped make up the entertainment package.

Edited May 11, 2009 by racers and royals

[Blazeaway]

Maybe we should let Bob Dugard prepare the GP tracks.

[Humphrey Appleby]

its not how many sponsors you have but the amount they are putting in

 

How much are the sponsors putting in though? Sponsorship revenue seems to have been declining over the past few years, and now largely down to tourist boards and media 'partners'.

 

Interestingly, I note BSI has now vanished from the Companies register, to be replaced by a new company 'Benfield Sports Limited'. Their website has also gone offline with the message "Benfield Sports Limited has undergone a full group restructure".

 

Read into that what you will..

Edited May 11, 2009 by Humphrey Appleby

[spook]

who knows but its not harry.

 

 

Correct person to contact is Head of Motorsports-Rob Armstrong at rob.armstrong@imgworld.com

I would like to think that no one would send anything abusive.

 

When I looked into this the other night I came up with

 

paul.bellamy@imgworld.com MD BSI

george.pyne@imgworld.com President IMG Sports and Entertainment https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/111101

 

and for the FIM (cannot find or work out email addresses for either)

andrzej grodzki Vice President of FIM racing track commision

Roy Otto President of FIM racing track commision

 

lets not forget that although its in img's interest to have an impressive GP series their hands are ultimately tied on some things ..... the question is .....exactly what? Ole does have bosses at the FIM though and it is not in their interests for this to be happening

 

 

 

the irony for me is that this has been happening for donkeys years now and although it is a pleasant suprise im quite bemused by this thread.................... does this mean that if Ole serves up a decent GP next time that everyone will go quiet again? Will it buy him some more time? For me this had reached fever pitch a long time ago and tbh it doesnt actually matter why he is doing it... the fact is he is and has been for a long time and it is doing no favours for anyone other than gaters......................... sponsors will go away, the fans who didnt go to Prague will continue not to turn up, people will stop tuning in to Sky to watch it, and worse the longer it goes on the longer it will take to get some racers back into the competition

 

I find it incredible that something with all the ingredients of a superb product that will bring new fans in can be scuppered so badly by one guy with an agenda the opposite of everyone else

Edited May 12, 2009 by spook

[Humphrey Appleby]

does this mean that if Ole serves up a decent GP next time that everyone will go quiet again?

 

It isn't just about the racing. The whole SGP format has become tired, repetitive and lacks imagination, and its owners don't really seem that interested in it either.

 

Are the wrong people running the show, or it simply that the SGP format or even the sport itself is inherently limited? I really don't know.

 

[Blazeaway]

It isn't just about the racing. The whole SGP format has become tired, repetitive and lacks imagination, and its owners don't really seem that interested in it either.

 

Are the wrong people running the show, or it simply that the SGP format or even the sport itself is inherently limited? I really don't know.

 

 

It is what it is at the end of the day, 4 blokes going round in circles on bikes. Personally I still get a thrill out of seeing the best riders in the world battling it out and still find GP's on the whole pretty absorbing. I reckon this year could see one of the closest races for the title with seemingly no obvious winner, which surely bodes well.

 

What was a touch worrying was the size of the crowd at Leszno it looked well down on last years "sell out"

Edited May 12, 2009 by Blazeaway

[Humphrey Appleby]

It is what it is at the end of the day, 4 blokes going round in circles on bikes.

 

Indeed, but the ability to watch the sport at different levels is what originally interested me. At one level, it is inherently simple, but without the team racing element, tactical subs (as they were), rider replacement and reserve rides, the sport would quickly become one dimensional.

 

That's why individual racing has never much appealed to me. There's no complexity, and if you have too much of it, it just becomes boring. I think that's why the appeal of the SGP is now wearing off - there's really isn't much too it, and once the link between teams and riders is diminished (as a number of riders no longer have British teams), that reduces the interest even further.

 

[Blazeaway]

Indeed, but the ability to watch the sport at different levels is what originally interested me. At one level, it is inherently simple, but without the team racing element, tactical subs (as they were), rider replacement and reserve rides, the sport would quickly become one dimensional.

 

That's why individual racing has never much appealed to me. There's no complexity, and if you have too much of it, it just becomes boring. I think that's why the appeal of the SGP is now wearing off - there's really isn't much too it, and once the link between teams and riders is diminished (as a number of riders no longer have British teams), that reduces the interest even further.

 

 

Great point, added to the fact there are no likely British contenders for a while anyway. It will be interesting to see what sort of crowd Cardiff attracts this year.