Why Bother

[Shadders]

Why oh why do promoters NOT see and encouage the young brits. I hate cricket, but when I accidentlly saw on sky TV England beating the Aussies for the Ashes I stayed up several nights watching, The pure excitement from their barmy army was so infectous ( I read in a paper that they had spent thousands of pounds to be in Aussie ) I followed it until the end and loved the sheer joy of seeing us beat the worlds best....

.... with three South African born players in the side

[scribbler]

.... with three South African born players in the side

 

But at least they decided to play as England players - where they got their chance to play in an English League for an English team Unlike Speedway riders who ride over here because they want to ride in the UK and then ride for their own country in International competitions

Edited January 24, 2011 by scribbler

[Shadders]

But at least they decided to play as England players - where they got their chance to play in an English League for an English team Unlike Speedway riders who ride over here because they want to ride in the UK and then ride for their own country in International competitions

This is true, but KP and Trott only came over here for the mega bucks on offer, not because of a yearning to play cricket for England. They could've easily stayed in their homeland and played for the country of their birth.

[Paulco]

It's up to the supporters to get out there and back their NL teams surely, no-one's running a charity here after all. Belle Vue have stated their intention of running an NL team this year but if the fans don't get behind it it won't last the season.

 

Spot on Dave . When Glasgow tried to run a junior side , two men and a dog turned out to watch it . Similarly the Dale Devils , though relatively successful , came to an end because it wasn't financially viable to run them with the crowd that would turn out at Armadale on a Saturday afternoon .

Seems Newport's NL side is also under some sort of threat too , according to the report in the Speedway Star . We all might bleat about young British riders not getting a proper chance , but when it comes to actually going out to support them - it's a different story .

[jollie roger]

Spot on Dave . When Glasgow tried to run a junior side , two men and a dog turned out to watch it . Similarly the Dale Devils , though relatively successful , came to an end because it wasn't financially viable to run them with the crowd that would turn out at Armadale on a Saturday afternoon .

Seems Newport's NL side is also under some sort of threat too , according to the report in the Speedway Star . We all might bleat about young British riders not getting a proper chance , but when it comes to actually going out to support them - it's a different story .

Some of the problem is that there are fans who will not watch any thing but EL speedway,thinking it is the best thing since sliced bread and anything below is inferior but nine times out of ten PL/NL is better.

[June]

.... with three South African born players in the side

Well I didn't know that shadders! I'll bet there will have been some british born players in the Aussie side? that I dont know either! I know nothing much about the sport.

[CrystalCastles]

This is true, but KP and Trott only came over here for the mega bucks on offer, not because of a yearning to play cricket for England. They could've easily stayed in their homeland and played for the country of their birth.

 

Actually is 4.

Strauss,Prior, KP & Trott. 3 dual nationality, and KP qualified on residency.

KP & Trott did come over here for the money,Central contracts are incredible in comparison too what ave county cricketers earn.

Wonder if theyd have come over to play for glammy if they were forced too, seriously doubt it.

People seem also to forget all the foreign coaches england have had & the Kolpak players that have improved the domestic game, & also allowing Scots & Irish players too qualify for residency.

 

Without the improvements within the game & additions mentioned, plus Australias decline then think England would have struggled,

Would Freddie & Simon Jones learnt the art of reverse swing, would the likes of Cook, Broad, Finn have come through as quickly if they didnt play in such a competitive league, or be of as high quality.

Would the likes of tremlett made the step up, if they didnt have the luxury of the england A side.

 

Would the likes of Jimmy Anderson, Ian Bell have improved as much seriously doubt it.

 

People seem to ignore all that.

 

As for british speedway, unless there is a radical overhaul not much will change.I think whatever way you look at it things need to be looked at with regards to assessed averages, but seriously doubt they will be, why would EL Promoters have any interest in changing it, The next big foreign talent, or foreign riders are the best options for them.

 

As for oppurtunities for brits i think it needs to be looked at in the future but isnt ready to be looked at yet. Any radical overhaul in policy regarding forcing clubs to use brits, is only going to encourage richer clubs under current rules to chuck money at the best young talent which will result in the exact same situation as we have with regards to the foreigners signing for EL clubs.

 

For me, ive said on other threads, that all these riders moving up from NL to PL progressed so much because of the NL last year, why do they want to move up becuase they need to race against better riders if they want to progress & improve.

 

Reducing the competitive nature of the NL wont be in the best interests of the young riders IMO.

[CrystalCastles]

Seems Newport's NL side is also under some sort of threat too , according to the report in the Speedway Star . We all might bleat about young British riders not getting a proper chance , but when it comes to actually going out to support them - it's a different story .

 

Yep we have been, all newport fans have heard rumours about this for a long time.

Much will depend on the rules they set for next season i think, while other clubs have been expressing an interest in joining, or the possibility of running, we dont even know .

 

Itll be such a shame if we do, i feel sorry for the likes of Tim Webster, JWW, Tom Young, Granted situation will be resolved and we will all know soon but it will be sad if we do. Im a student and pretty much went to every hornets meeting & wasps meeting i could go to last year, and our attendances for the hornets meetings were seriously poor, but hopefully they will run again next year, and all the young riders we have got will be given places in a hornets team, but i dont think any wasps fan would be surprised if we didnt run .

[ancient mariner]

It's up to the supporters to get out there and back their NL teams surely, no-one's running a charity here after all. Belle Vue have stated their intention of running an NL team this year but if the fans don't get behind it it won't last the season.

Re your 'He must be good, he's an Aussie' remark, Rhidassa, that probably explains why we have British Talent Scouts spending a large part of the Northern Winter Downunder every year, unless it's for the climate.

This young Seppoo has excellent credentials; the likes of Penhall and Ermolenko pushing him may count for something wouldn't you say?

 

Watched him ride for the US touring side. OK at NL level, maybe sneak a PL reserve place. Unless he's come on a hell of a lot in the meantime, EL? No way.

[21st century heathen]

...nine times out of ten PL/NL is better.

 

Comments like that really bug me. There is equally good and poor meetings at all levels. I watched all three, four if you include the GPs, levels of speedway last season and enjoyed them all at times and half switched off at times at all of them.

[SteveEvans]

The real problem here is lack of British riders, lack of a development system and lack of anyone who takes on the task.

 

In the USA Speedway has no formalized structure. The AMA governing body has one track of the eight venues in California, the others all operate independtly. Despite the lack of structure, there are individuals who have, on their own bat done things for Younger riders. Presently we have the Billy Hamill Academy, Touring Team, Under 21 World Cup Team. As a nation there is plenty of work to be done but at least someone is doing something.

 

It would make a great hobby for a group of individuals who have the spare time and passion. It doesn't have to be up to the BSPA.

[Greg]

I think they need to bring in rules where u at least have 3 or 4 brits in your team.

[BigFatDave]

I think they need to bring in rules where u at least have 3 or 4 brits in your team.

Most NL teams already run five or six.

[jollie roger]

Comments like that really bug me. There is equally good and poor meetings at all levels. I watched all three, four if you include the GPs, levels of speedway last season and enjoyed them all at times and half switched off at times at all of them.

Prepare to be bugged because 9 out of 10 it is right.

[vog]

Prepare to be bugged because 9 out of 10 it is right.

 

Is it really?

 

I've seen some truly awful meetings in the NL, and some corkers in the EL, and visa versa. To claim that good meetings happen due, primarily, to the league that a team is in is pure nonsense. There are a multitude of factors that create a good meeting, and frankly you can get these at ANY level on a continual basis. I have yet to be disappointed by a Scunthorpe meeting, yet the meeting I saw at Plymouth was awful. In the same way, Wolverhampton is normally good in the EL, but Rye House is normally awful at both NL and PL level.

 

It is purely swings and roundabouts.

[Daniel Smith]

Times are changing in speedway as a whole.

 

The biggest complaint from promoters which started in the early 90's was the fact that young British riders lacked commitment to the sport. Once they'd reached late teens early 20's it was all about living the high life, drinking and chasing birds. Unfortunately, that still exists with our young guys. They start off hungry and full of flair then flop. A good recent example of that would be Lewis Bridger. This kid should be pushing a heatleader spots now but constantly plays the big time Charlie game. Also Ben Barker is of similar ilk.

 

The thing is, I believe the Aussies are know going down this route also. You only have to see what Darcy Ward & Chris Holder get up to publicly and these to are seen as the guys to take over from Adams & Crump. If they carry on they've no hope of that at all.

 

The super fit and super fast Poles are the ones to watch now, followed by the Danes then the Swedes. These guys are fully focused on the game. Kitted out with full on sponsorships and work extremely hard to try and get what they want.

 

I do not care what people say, the British riders ARE NOT focused and hungry and don't carry the same professionalism of our European counterparts. That's why they get overlooked. Our boys simply have to work twice as hard to get noticed these days

[comebackkings]

Times are changing in speedway as a whole.

 

The biggest complaint from promoters which started in the early 90's was the fact that young British riders lacked commitment to the sport. Once they'd reached late teens early 20's it was all about living the high life, drinking and chasing birds. Unfortunately, that still exists with our young guys. They start off hungry and full of flair then flop. A good recent example of that would be Lewis Bridger. This kid should be pushing a heatleader spots now but constantly plays the big time Charlie game. Also Ben Barker is of similar ilk.

 

The thing is, I believe the Aussies are know going down this route also. You only have to see what Darcy Ward & Chris Holder get up to publicly and these to are seen as the guys to take over from Adams & Crump. If they carry on they've no hope of that at all.

 

The super fit and super fast Poles are the ones to watch now, followed by the Danes then the Swedes. These guys are fully focused on the game. Kitted out with full on sponsorships and work extremely hard to try and get what they want.

 

I do not care what people say, the British riders ARE NOT focused and hungry and don't carry the same professionalism of our European counterparts. That's why they get overlooked. Our boys simply have to work twice as hard to get noticed these days

 

 

Just look at the setup for helping young riders in Poland, Denmark and Sweden, from a very young age they are nurtured and developed to be the complete package. It is not a 100% foolproof setup though, Lindback went off the rails, a few of the Danes have come over and flopped as have some Swedes.

For every Lewis Bridger with the talent and the opportunity there are 10 Barrie Evans, Luke Priests, Simon Lamberts and Simon Walkers who are having to graft their way up the leagues, so the sweeping statement about young Brits is very harsh.

 

Until the BSPA take the comission off the Tango one for his "brokering" of the SKY deal and put it into the under 15's or younger 250 and 80cc development leagues. Or use some of the money from the EL/PL to help. Then young Brits will always be shovelling ball bearings uphill to break into this sport.

 

At the moment it helps the promoters to bring in untried foreign riders on low averages. When they start looking to the welfare of the sport rather than their own self interest then they will be fit to run the sport, until then they should be removed from the running of the teambuilding rules and an independant panel should be doing it.

 

P.S I forgot to add that your critisism of Ben Barker is unfounded as well, away from the track he may let his hair down, but when it comes to his machinery, fitness and attitude to his racing it is 110% professional.

Edited January 25, 2011 by comebackkings

[Vince]

Times are changing in speedway as a whole.

 

The biggest complaint from promoters which started in the early 90's was the fact that young British riders lacked commitment to the sport. Once they'd reached late teens early 20's it was all about living the high life, drinking and chasing birds. Unfortunately, that still exists with our young guys. They start off hungry and full of flair then flop. A good recent example of that would be Lewis Bridger. This kid should be pushing a heatleader spots now but constantly plays the big time Charlie game. Also Ben Barker is of similar ilk.

 

The thing is, I believe the Aussies are know going down this route also. You only have to see what Darcy Ward & Chris Holder get up to publicly and these to are seen as the guys to take over from Adams & Crump. If they carry on they've no hope of that at all.

 

The super fit and super fast Poles are the ones to watch now, followed by the Danes then the Swedes. These guys are fully focused on the game. Kitted out with full on sponsorships and work extremely hard to try and get what they want.

 

I do not care what people say, the British riders ARE NOT focused and hungry and don't carry the same professionalism of our European counterparts. That's why they get overlooked. Our boys simply have to work twice as hard to get noticed these days

 

Whatever nationality of rider there will always be the few who are completely dedicated and the majority who put enjoyment first. Plenty of Aussies, Danes, Swedes and Poles have partied to the detriment of their Speedway careers. There also some British riders who cannot be beaten for dedication to their sport.

[rhidassa]

Times are changing in speedway as a whole.

 

The biggest complaint from promoters which started in the early 90's was the fact that young British riders lacked commitment to the sport. Once they'd reached late teens early 20's it was all about living the high life, drinking and chasing birds. Unfortunately, that still exists with our young guys. They start off hungry and full of flair then flop. A good recent example of that would be Lewis Bridger. This kid should be pushing a heatleader spots now but constantly plays the big time Charlie game. Also Ben Barker is of similar ilk.

 

The thing is, I believe the Aussies are know going down this route also. You only have to see what Darcy Ward & Chris Holder get up to publicly and these to are seen as the guys to take over from Adams & Crump. If they carry on they've no hope of that at all.

 

The super fit and super fast Poles are the ones to watch now, followed by the Danes then the Swedes. These guys are fully focused on the game. Kitted out with full on sponsorships and work extremely hard to try and get what they want.

 

I do not care what people say, the British riders ARE NOT focused and hungry and don't carry the same professionalism of our European counterparts. That's why they get overlooked. Our boys simply have to work twice as hard to get noticed these days

 

That isn't entirely fair.

The younger boys, or those that aren't already rising or in the higher levels of the sport, often have more commitment, and do not go out partying etc as much as some others (not to mention couldn't afford it even if they wanted to with the drain trying to get somewhere in the sport can be without decent sponsorship, which isnt easy to get). In fact, you will find within all nationalities some riders that do have this mindset, and some that don't. It isn't fair to say all British riders are not 'focused on the game'.

Edited January 25, 2011 by rhidassa

[WIE-JA]

Whatever nationality of rider there will always be the few who are completely dedicated and the majority who put enjoyment first. Plenty of Aussies, Danes, Swedes and Poles have partied to the detriment of their Speedway careers. There also some British riders who cannot be beaten for dedication to their sport.

I'll second that Vince.