Speedway Gp In Tatters !

[Andy Wilko]

Boring !!!!

 

........... is your answer to the question "what has the SGP actually done to advance the sport?" I wouldn't say the sport is now boring, but it is certainly not as exciting as it used to be.

[Mr. Clemens]

PLENTY of World Finals left me stone cold ... 1974 was a typical example. Michanek made five starts and that was that. But that doesn't make me right and you wrong or the other way round. It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

 

 

 

 

Might have left you stone cold but ranks as best final I ever saw

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

dam right, to many old gits on hear trying to relive the past. bet they dont drive a ford consol now

i started riding motocross 35 years ago and was far better then. i still ride today but dont go on about the good old days like a broken record.

get real were in 2011 now and things wont go backwards.

 

This is the standard line given against those of us who question the status quo... Interesting that it was alright to advocate chance in 1994/5 but NOT okay to advocate change now...! So we're "old" (I doubt if you rode motocross 35 years ago that I'm any older than you!! ) and simply live in the past..?

Not at all I'm far more interested in junior Speedway, helping young riders and doing what I can to support the sport at grass roots than I am in the Elite League and the GPs.

What concerns me is the obstacles put in the way of the young and talented - because trust me (and frankly Football at the highest level in this country is even more guilty of this..) if you make the top of a sport the province of a pampered few sucking up all the benefits and all the money, then you WILL lose the interest of the young and ambitious who see that ambition thwarted...

 

Now many on here fundamentally disagree with me and think that all is perfectly well with the state of SGP... Fair enough - I actually don't abuse them for having that view.

But let's NOT have it said that those of us who have concerns live in the past...: we care about the future; to me the SGP is too much about the self-serving of those happily making money out of it..

[Cockney Rebel]

Your opinion, and you're entitled to it, but personally I, like many others, prefer Individual meetings such as the GP's, ELRC, Aussie Championships etc.

 

It’s not really a matter of what you or I prefer but the facts are there are more league meetings throughout Europe, where most of the speedway takes place, than there is individual meetings. The GPs attract big crowds because they are the best in the world but there are only 11 of them if you increased the number people would most likely get bored with seeing, effectively, the same meeting 20 or 30times a year. If you used riders outside the top twenty or so people wouldn’t watch because the meetings would have no meaning. The more GPs we get the more they affect the leagues and if the leagues cease to be I’m afraid so will speedway. League racing must be protected as it is the life blood of the sport, it is where the riders hone their skills and hopefully go on to become world class. The FIM seems only to be concerned with individual racing, all other types of bike racing are individual after all, and seem unaware or uncaring about the effects on domestic speedway. IMG/BSI are in it to make profit, don’t blame them for that, but they also don’t give two hoots for the domestic leagues. Therefore it is up to the National federations be it PZM, SVEMO or the BSPA to make a stand. Incidentally I also think this confusion over whether speedway is an individual sport or a team sport is a large factor in why the mainstream media doesn’t take it seriously, but that’s for another topic perhaps.

 

Just out of curiosity BFD roughly how many meetings does each venue down under hold each year?

[Humphrey Appleby]

The GPs attract big crowds because they are the best in the world but there are only 11 of them if you increased the number people would most likely get bored

 

With the exception of maybe 1 or 2 GPs, I'd have thought the Polish League has better crowds many times over.

 

Ultimately though, there's a limit to the number of times people will want to watch the same old riders. Team racing not only provides variety over a season, but also provides continuity year-after-year as riders come and go.

 

Team racing has not been well promoted in recent times, but ultimately I think the SGP will reach saturation point. That was the lesson from the very early years of speedway, and whilst some are dismissive of the past, some things remain constant.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

With the exception of maybe 1 or 2 GPs, I'd have thought the Polish League has better crowds many times over.

 

Ultimately though, there's a limit to the number of times people will want to watch the same old riders. Team racing not only provides variety over a season, but also provides continuity year-after-year as riders come and go.

 

Team racing has not been well promoted in recent times, but ultimately I think the SGP will reach saturation point. That was the lesson from the very early years of speedway, and whilst some are dismissive of the past, some things remain constant.

 

The other thing about team racing is that it allows a greater breadth of ability. There are top stars (heat leaders) but then there's also reserves and second strings many of whom are never gonna be heat leaders. Though of course getting the chance to race with and against better riders does allow riders the chance to move up.

[BigFatDave]

 

Just out of curiosity BFD roughly how many meetings does each venue down under hold each year?

I'm sure if you have an idle moment this Northern Winter you can look up each club on the internet and add them all up, but the main bike venues run every fortnight through 'til end of March. Don't forget some tracks, like The Alice, run mixed meetings with Solos, Sidecars and Four-wheeled classes as well. I'll be doing about eight or nine meetings including Auckland GP, Senior, Under-21 and Junior OzChamps plus Longtrack and the final of the Sidecars Grand Slam; venturing out, armed only with several jars of highly volatile home-made Mango Chutney, from my Fortress of Ineptitude in the Northern Territory to invade SE OZ & UnZud!

 

Just out of curiosity, Cockney Rebel, how close is your nearest bikes-only track? Mine's 3000km away.

Edited November 3, 2011 by BigFatDave

[The Know]

How long have you been watching speedway 2 minutes ?THE KNOW by the sound of it you KNOW nothing.By the way if things go backwards anymore you wont have speedway to watch.

 

from about 1968 at poole where i have always lived. think i know a bit more than you thank you

 

A lot of things seem to bore you.

 

yes indeed you are correct.

[The Know]

........... is your answer to the question "what has the SGP actually done to advance the sport?" I wouldn't say the sport is now boring, but it is certainly not as exciting as it used to be.

 

only really boring if you generally watch elite in uk

[The Know]

This is the standard line given against those of us who question the status quo... Interesting that it was alright to advocate chance in 1994/5 but NOT okay to advocate change now...! So we're "old" (I doubt if you rode motocross 35 years ago that I'm any older than you!! ) and simply live in the past..?

Not at all I'm far more interested in junior Speedway, helping young riders and doing what I can to support the sport at grass roots than I am in the Elite League and the GPs.

What concerns me is the obstacles put in the way of the young and talented - because trust me (and frankly Football at the highest level in this country is even more guilty of this..) if you make the top of a sport the province of a pampered few sucking up all the benefits and all the money, then you WILL lose the interest of the young and ambitious who see that ambition thwarted...

 

Now many on here fundamentally disagree with me and think that all is perfectly well with the state of SGP... Fair enough - I actually don't abuse them for having that view.

But let's NOT have it said that those of us who have concerns live in the past...: we care about the future; to me the SGP is too much about the self-serving of those happily making money out of it..

 

i started racing scrambles as they were called in 1976 and at the prime old age of 50 i am still racing so work that one out for your self

there are oppotunitys people just need take them as in all things in life. seems sgp always getthe blame for everything to do with english speedway.

[stratton]

from about 1968 at poole where i have always lived. think i know a bit more than you thank you

 

 

 

yes indeed you are correct.

I dont pretend to know everything,but id be pretty confident my knowledge of speedway is greater than yours.1968/69 i first went as a young one.Also there are alot of[ OLD GITS] on hear as you called us who also odviously have a great knowledge on speedway going by your posts you are not one of them.

[The Little Un]

I would make only one major change to the GP Series and that would be to have a rule that a GP meeting in any country must take place on that country's normal race night: So Sunday for Poland, Tuesday for Sweden and Wednesday for Denmark, which would free up a number of Friday and Saturday meetings available for UK EL teams. The other minor countries who do not have EL standard racing could be allocated meetings on Monday or Thursday. That would leave just Cardiff to be raced on a Saturday.

[philfromcov]

rather than a practice seession it should be aqualifier for the main avent.

top 8 from the last Gp straight through the last 8 and 8 riders who want to givce it a go battle to race the gp on the next day.

 

considering all that goes on in domestic speedway, the gp's are a shinning light of a proffesional sport, its the only tv speedway i now what.

 

if it wasnt for the gp's and seeing real stars i thing id have given up domestically, with the "elite" journey men teams, you need an extra eye to see the front and the back of a race now zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[racers and royals]

I would make only one major change to the GP Series and that would be to have a rule that a GP meeting in any country must take place on that country's normal race night: So Sunday for Poland, Tuesday for Sweden and Wednesday for Denmark, which would free up a number of Friday and Saturday meetings available for UK EL teams. The other minor countries who do not have EL standard racing could be allocated meetings on Monday or Thursday. That would leave just Cardiff to be raced on a Saturday.

What a stupid suggestion-great if you want to end world championship speedway.What about supporters attending on a weekday as against a weekend-would halve the crowd at a stroke.

Edited November 4, 2011 by racers and royals

[The Know]

I dont pretend to know everything,but id be pretty confident my knowledge of speedway is greater than yours.1968/69 i first went as a young one.Also there are alot of[ OLD GITS] on hear as you called us who also odviously have a great knowledge on speedway going by your posts you are not one of them.

 

i will bow to your greater wisdom on all speedway matters. no wonder speedway is in the state it is in the uk.

dont forget your wulfsport jacket it is winter now after all

[The Know]

rather than a practice seession it should be aqualifier for the main avent.

top 8 from the last Gp straight through the last 8 and 8 riders who want to givce it a go battle to race the gp on the next day.

 

considering all that goes on in domestic speedway, the gp's are a shinning light of a proffesional sport, its the only tv speedway i now what.

 

if it wasnt for the gp's and seeing real stars i thing id have given up domestically, with the "elite" journey men teams, you need an extra eye to see the front and the back of a race now zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

totally agree. i put this to the bsi a few years ago and had a timing system in place for friday quali.wasnt taken up due to cost.

[stratton]

What a stupid suggestion-great if you want wanted to end world championship speedway.What about supporters attending on a weekday as against a weekend-would halve the crowd at a stroke.

I think its a good idea be great to have a gp in the week wont happen thou.Sky will not want to clash with premiership and champion leagues football.Funny thing is sometimes by having it on a saturday affects the crowd i think because of so much going on.

[The Know]

I think its a good idea be great to have a gp in the week wont happen thou.Sky will not want to clash with premiership and champion leagues football.Funny thing is sometimes by having it on a saturday affects the crowd i think because of so much going on.

 

see your on top of this. wonderful idea i agree 100 %

[The Know]

I would make only one major change to the GP Series and that would be to have a rule that a GP meeting in any country must take place on that country's normal race night: So Sunday for Poland, Tuesday for Sweden and Wednesday for Denmark, which would free up a number of Friday and Saturday meetings available for UK EL teams. The other minor countries who do not have EL standard racing could be allocated meetings on Monday or Thursday. That would leave just Cardiff to be raced on a Saturday.

 

can i have some of the stuff your on please

[stratton]

see your on top of this. wonderful idea i agree 100 %

The young uns opinion, hes entitled to it im not on top of it its a suggestion I listen to everyones opinion.I would rather that than a BORING statement we get from you. DA.