Auckland 2012

[PHILIPRISING]

It's not what IMG/BSI require because they usually don't take the financial risk on GPs. It's the local promoters who have make sure they're not going to take a bath, unless the NZ GP is indeed going to be a jointly promoted event with shared risks.

 

 

 

I wish NZ the best of luck, although speedway and optimism are strange bed fellows...

 

HAVE mentioned here before, your idea of what MIG/BSI require is no more than guesswork and usually way off target.

[BigFatDave]

Apart from being a passionate Speedway Fan, Western Springs Promoter Bill Buckley has another interest, which may account for his almost-magnetic attraction to the Sport - http://www.buckleysystems.com/ - check it out.

The thought of Western Springs brings back memories of Rock Concerts I attended there in the 70s, including Fleetwood Mac and the Beach Boys.

[Humphrey Appleby]

HAVE mentioned here before, your idea of what MIG/BSI require is no more than guesswork and usually way off target.

 

Mention all you like, but you noticeably never enlighten us with any substantive information on the subject. There's plenty of information around with respect to what BSI demand, from a variety of sources as well.

[thehammer]

AUCKLAND doesn't have to support a speedway team just a one-off Grand Prix. There is no doubt that people from the south island, and especially Christchurch, will happily make the journey north. And who says they need 30,000? Your grasp of what IMG/BSI require is quite often wide of the mark as it is on this occasion. It will be a partnership between IMG/BSI and the local promoter Bill Buckley but the key will be a long term, at least three probably five years, commitment. The cost of materials for the track and various other items can be amortised and plans to transport riders, their mechanics and equipment were already in place had Tauranga gone ahead in March.

 

Motor sport in general, including bikes, is very popular in New Zealand and the current tour there by Briggo has illustrated the level of interest in speedway that has laid dormant but is now coming back to life.

 

The support of the city of Auckland is important but the key remains Buckley, a remarkable man and a speedway fan and his imagination has been captured by the prospect of staging such a prestigious event at his beloved Western Springs.

 

Try being optimistic for a change.

 

Definately Philip.... I for one would make the trip up from Christchurch, and there would be plenty of others that I've met at Moore Park who would do the same.

 

I also know of a few in the UK that have talked about coming over should there be one.... a good excuse for them to finally come see me again too, although I think my house may get a bit full!

[PHILIPRISING]

Mention all you like, but you noticeably never enlighten us with any substantive information on the subject. There's plenty of information around with respect to what BSI demand, from a variety of sources as well.

 

THAT'S their business, not mine nor yours. And who is to say your variety of sources are reliable. Every deal is different, I'm sure, but having been in Auckland a week ago I can assure you every effort is being made to get this off the ground.

[Blazeaway]

WHY is there the need to start every post with a word entirely made up of capitals?

[Humphrey Appleby]

And who is to say your variety of sources are reliable.

 

They're not my sources - it's information published in the public domain. To give you one specific example though, are the disgruntled Gorzow councillors who released the contractual details of their GP agreement to the press in 2009, a reliable source or not? Straightforward question - yes or no?

 

Whilst I'd agree that contractual matters are really none of anyone's business other than the parties concerned, I also do wonder why the main trade magazine has never seen fit to ask why several million pounds are apparently lost to the industry each year...

Edited April 6, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby

[ladyluck]

They're not my sources - it's information published in the public domain. To give you one specific example though, are the disgruntled Gorzow councillors who released the contractual details of their GP agreement to the press in 2009 ...

 

Well, it was actually the SWC, but nevermind. It's good to see Mr Rising knows his own opinion on this subject, at least. As it goes, I think IMG/BSI would tailor their demands depending on the circumstances and in the interests of expanding the series outside of Europe I would guess they wouldn't hold out for too much.

[BigFatDave]

Well, it was actually the SWC, but nevermind.

I thought it was both SWC and GPs, LL?

 

Will we be seeing you and Humphrey Downunder if this one gets off the ground?

[ladyluck]

I do believe it was only the SWC:

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=51366&st=0

 

Surely Gorzow was only confirmed as a GP venue last year?

Anyway, I really don't think I'll be attending. Apart from anything else, although I know both New Zealand and Australia are beautiful countries they're not places I've ever wanted to visit.

[kiwi]

well looks like we'll be able to sit back and watch a GP without whingers then.

 

No more will be known now until about July, it would be good just to keep quiet about this until there is something to report, rather than just slag it off so we are sick of hearing about it as is done with everything else on here

 

 

 

 

 

There is a lot of interest as Philip says, and wheels are turning. Top people were here a couple of weeks ago.

 

IMG have the SGP until 2021. They know they aren't going to make a profit in Auckland straight away if at all, its about increasing tv audience, they are looking at spreading the gps across the world. This is the furtherest it has to come, if it works here then the model will work everywhere else.

 

There are a lot of links with speedway and NZ

for a start

 

IMG head of motorsport has his office in Auckland.

Steve Brandon is from NZ

 

[PHILIPRISING]

WHY is there the need to start every post with a word entirely made up of capitals?

 

FORCE of habit when writing for newspapers, mags, etc ... sorry if it offends

[PHILIPRISING]

They're not my sources - it's information published in the public domain. To give you one specific example though, are the disgruntled Gorzow councillors who released the contractual details of their GP agreement to the press in 2009, a reliable source or not? Straightforward question - yes or no?

 

Whilst I'd agree that contractual matters are really none of anyone's business other than the parties concerned, I also do wonder why the main trade magazine has never seen fit to ask why several million pounds are apparently lost to the industry each year...

 

IF you read Speedway Star you would know that we have consistently challenged the FIM about what they do with their income from speedway, much of which is derived from BSI/IMG.

[BigFatDave]

 

IMG head of motorsport has his office in Auckland.

Steve Brandon is from NZ

Looking forward to catching up with Brando at Gorzow!

 

PS Just a bit more news: Ole stopped off in Oz on the way back to the North Pole: the result?

 

From Speedway Racing News: "The International Management Group is looking at the new Sydney Showground facility as a venue for a future round of the World Speedway bike Championship in Australia. The new Sydney Showground site in the Olympic Park precinct at Sydney’s Homebush Bay is very appealing to Grand Prix and IMG/BSI executives."

Edited April 7, 2011 by BigFatDave

[Humphrey Appleby]

IF you read Speedway Star you would know that we have consistently challenged the FIM about what they do with their income from speedway, much of which is derived from BSI/IMG.

 

Avoiding the question about Gorzow then..

 

However, as you know, the FIM pay the prize money of the SGP and SWC which accounts for a large percentage of the income they receive from IMG/BSI.

 

I think a more pertinent question though, is why did the FIM sign such a long-term (until 2021) and apparently one-sided contract for the rights? Could perhaps understand a favourable concession at the beginning to attract a promoter to come forward, but is the sport benefitting as much as it should from its premier event?

 

PS. Absolutely no problems with BSI making profits as they're a commercial company, but not sure the interests of speedway are being properly served by the authorities.

[Humphrey Appleby]

There is a lot of interest as Philip says, and wheels are turning.

 

Think it would be good for the sport in NZ to have a GP, and who knows, it might encourage me to pay another visit to the land of the long white cloud.

 

However, you'll forgive us if we've heard all sorts of speculation about expanding the GP outside of Europe over the years. GPs in the US, the Middle East, Malaysia, Adelaide, Wellington, Tauranga, and the only one that came to fruition was the Sydney GP a few years back which was widely acknowledged to have lost its promoter a fortune. Hopefully something might happen this time, but one would hope there would be some sort of shared risk for a venture like this.

 

BTW - anyone know what happened to the postulated Russian GP?

[PHILIPRISING]

Avoiding the question about Gorzow then..

 

However, as you know, the FIM pay the prize money of the SGP and SWC which accounts for a large percentage of the income they receive from IMG/BSI.

 

I think a more pertinent question though, is why did the FIM sign such a long-term (until 2021) and apparently one-sided contract for the rights? Could perhaps understand a favourable concession at the beginning to attract a promoter to come forward, but is the sport benefitting as much as it should from its premier event?

 

PS. Absolutely no problems with BSI making profits as they're a commercial company, but not sure the interests of speedway are being properly served by the authorities.

 

GIVEN the mess the British speedway is in and some of the decisions being made by the FIM I would say that the SGP is the shining beacon at present. No doubt you will say that I would say that. And I would... But it's only an opinion, nothing more.

 

Avoiding the question about Gorzow then..

 

However, as you know, the FIM pay the prize money of the SGP and SWC which accounts for a large percentage of the income they receive from IMG/BSI.

 

I think a more pertinent question though, is why did the FIM sign such a long-term (until 2021) and apparently one-sided contract for the rights? Could perhaps understand a favourable concession at the beginning to attract a promoter to come forward, but is the sport benefitting as much as it should from its premier event?

 

PS. Absolutely no problems with BSI making profits as they're a commercial company, but not sure the interests of speedway are being properly served by the authorities.

 

GIVEN the mess the British speedway is in and some of the decisions being made by the FIM I would say that the SGP is the shining beacon at present. No doubt you will say that I would say that. And I would... But it's only an opinion, nothing more.

[PHILIPRISING]

Think it would be good for the sport in NZ to have a GP, and who knows, it might encourage me to pay another visit to the land of the long white cloud.

 

However, you'll forgive us if we've heard all sorts of speculation about expanding the GP outside of Europe over the years. GPs in the US, the Middle East, Malaysia, Adelaide, Wellington, Tauranga, and the only one that came to fruition was the Sydney GP a few years back which was widely acknowledged to have lost its promoter a fortune. Hopefully something might happen this time, but one would hope there would be some sort of shared risk for a venture like this.

 

BTW - anyone know what happened to the postulated Russian GP?

 

RE NZ ... totally different with current regime. And Tauranga was just a signature away from reality. Russia? Difficult to deal with, currency, visas ... lots of problems but if they keep producing riders then maybe a SWC will be the first step. Once again, just an opinion.

[Humphrey Appleby]

GIVEN the mess the British speedway is in and some of the decisions being made by the FIM I would say that the SGP is the shining beacon at present. No doubt you will say that I would say that. And I would... But it's only an opinion, nothing more.

 

Nothing could be worse run than British speedway at the moment, but it's all the sum of parts. The SGP needs the professional leagues and grassroots as much as the grassroots and professional leagues need the SGP.

 

I also think the likes of the FIM are neither here nor there if promoters and clubs are well organised and have a degree of vision. Years ago the Formula 1 teams curbed the autocratic power of the FIA and insisted on a much better financial deal, and such should the likes of the BSPA and the equivalent organisations in Poland and Sweden be doing.

 

Russia? Difficult to deal with, currency, visas ... lots of problems but if they keep producing riders then maybe a SWC will be the first step.

 

Agreed that Russia is a logistical nightmare, but I thought I saw an announcement of a Russian GP at Togliatti from 2010 (or maybe 2011) onwards. Then again, a Wellington GP was once announced, only be cancelled a few weeks later, which is the sort of thing the BSPA do...

Edited April 7, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby

[PHILIPRISING]

Nothing could be worse run than British speedway at the moment, but it's all the sum of parts. The SGP needs the professional leagues and grassroots as much as the grassroots and professional leagues need the SGP.

 

I also think the likes of the FIM are neither here nor there if promoters and clubs are well organised and have a degree of vision. Years ago the Formula 1 teams curbed the autocratic power of the FIA and insisted on a much better financial deal, and such should the likes of the BSPA and the equivalent organisations in Poland and Sweden be doing.

 

 

 

Agreed that Russia is a logistical nightmare, but I thought I saw an announcement of a Russian GP at Togliatti from 2010 (or maybe 2011) onwards. Then again, a Wellington GP was once announced, only be cancelled a few weeks later, which is the sort of thing the BSPA do...

 

THERE was never a Wellington GP ... who ever put out that was way off the mark. Tauranga was very, very close as was confirmed to me when I went there last month. Western Springs is entirely different ... IMG know what they have to do and contribute, as does Bill Buckley, the promoter, who will be featured in Speedway Star shortly. An extraordinary man. He says he is convinced the city will come on board and having met him you get the feeling that he isn't used to anyone saying no to him. Hopefully all the pieces of the jigsaw will fall into place.

 

The prospects of events at Togliatti haven't been helped by a succession of promoters/owners there being bumped off by the Russian mafia. Three at the last count. Hardly surprising that there is an absent of candidates looking to take over. At one stage they appeared to have lots of money and have a magnificent stadium with terrific facilities. Now it has gone pear-shaped but BSI/IMG have no shortage of people knocking on their door looking to stage an SGP.

 

The reason the FIM sold on a long-term basis is quite simple: any prospective bidder for the commercial rights would require a significant length of time to build the product and reap the rewards.That is the big difference between IMG and the previous regime at BSI who had relatively limited resources. Rob Armstrong, a Kiwi and the Global Head of Motor Sport, was instrumental in acquiring BSI and always views things in the long rather than short term.

 

Theoretically, of course, the BSPA have no claim on the World Championship. It is the ACU who are affiliated to the FIM and I would suggest that clubs in Sweden and Poland are quite happy with the current set-up. Anyone who has been going to Malilla for the past few years will witness the huge benefits there which can be directly attributed to the SGP. The number of new speedway stadiums being built in Poland also owe much to the success of the SGP there ... not just gate revenue but because of the prestige (perceived or otherwise) that it brings to the various cities.

 

The 2010 mayor of Bydgoszcz has lost his job ... no prizes for guessing why!