BigFatDave Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Sure that IS ancient history but it's "nonsense" (your word not mine!) to somehow make out that the SGPs have placed Speedway higher up in the national consciousness..! Welcome to the real world, Parsloes. Since the advent of SPEED Channel Downunder interest in our sport is booming; with a Speedway replay on at least once a day in most pubs & clubs people are taking more of an interest in all things Speedway. SPEED is also showing WOO and WSS, Tappy's Chequered Flag is about to start a new season with reports and vision from the FIM World Sidecar Championships at Murray Bridge, and from the end of the month will have a dedicated Two-and Three-wheel News show live once a week, plus repeats - it's all good mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIE-JA Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Hmm, define "outside world"..?! Speedway barely exiss at all to the 'outside world'... Unlike when Briggo beat Geoff Hurst to second place in BBC Sports Personality of the year in of all years 1966 and ten years later PC's world final win was back page main headline news in the Daily Mirror Sure that IS ancient history but it's "nonsense" (your word not mine!) to somehow make out that the SGPs have placed Speedway higher up in the national consciousness..! Well the coverage of the GPs on Sky helped keep some of the Leicester fans I know interested in speedway over the years. I've met plenty of people who are only aware of the sport due to the TV coverage of the GPs on Sky sports. That has also encouraged a couple of them to view it live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImpartialOne Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Hmm, define "outside world"..?! Speedway barely exiss at all to the 'outside world'... Unlike when Briggo beat Geoff Hurst to second place in BBC Sports Personality of the year in of all years 1966 and ten years later PC's world final win was back page main headline news in the Daily Mirror Sure that IS ancient history but it's "nonsense" (your word not mine!) to somehow make out that the SGPs have placed Speedway higher up in the national consciousness..! Formula 1, Moto GP, Superbikes. That's just for starters. You'd be amazed how many stars of other sports are into speedway and attend when possible and if they are taking an interest, I'm sure there are fans who do, or could do in future. The reason? They take it more seriously because of the glitz and glamour image of the GPs. Â What Briggs in the 60s has to do with anything I don't know. You even admitted it's ancient history! Â In case you didn't notice, speedway's popularity has taken a massive nosedive since then and the World Finals became tired, boring affairs which hardly made the sport attractive to outsiders. The GP series has created interest outside the sport and that is indisputable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillips11 Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Hmm, define "outside world"..?! Speedway barely exiss at all to the 'outside world'... Unlike when Briggo beat Geoff Hurst to second place in BBC Sports Personality of the year in of all years 1966 and ten years later PC's world final win was back page main headline news in the Daily Mirror Sure that IS ancient history but it's "nonsense" (your word not mine!) to somehow make out that the SGPs have placed Speedway higher up in the national consciousness..! Â Bearing in mind I am only 22 and way too young for this! Wasn't the world finals highlights on bbc? Â I can't see Elite league racing ever getting big in Britain but I see a possible niche for the SGP. If say ITV were to buy the rights and show SGP's live on ITV2 or ITV4 im sure general interest in the sport would dramatically increase. Â Nearly all of my friends my age do not watch speedway but do enjoy it when they watch it. A lot of my friends like speedway but i would say non of the, know that there is a SGP series that takes place on a Saturday night as the marketing is all wrong in my opinion. Â If it were on ITV4 and some basic marketing in adverts on tele and the newspaper interest would increase. Â I always wonder what is the point of the only adverts for the Cardiff GP being shown during the Elite league coverage when the only people watching the Elite league will watch Cardiff anyway, surely it should be in football, cricket etc to bring in new viewers? Â Does anyone remember that Channel 4 used to have the rights for about an hours worth or highlights from the SGP's? Used to be shown at about 6 o clock in the morning on a saturday the following week though so no one would even have noticed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_boon Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 One of the biggest stumbling blocks to the SGP getting bigger is the Saturday night slot - Sunday afternoons are pretty much a must for large sporting events to reach a decent televised audience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) The GP series has created interest outside the sport and that is indisputable. Â Well I'd argue the 'interest outside the sport' is mostly the fans who 'used to go to speedway' and drifted away. I daresay the SGP has attracted some new fans, but nothing to write home about judging from the crowds and type of sponsors it attracts. Â With respect to World Finals being boring affairs, well some were good and some were bad, but some of the latter ones were quite decent. I've quite honestly seen far more boring GPs, and without the excitement of following your favourite riders through the qualifiers. Â I don't suggest a return to that format, but neither do I swallow the propaganda that the SGP has been so wonderful for the sport. As to your suggestion that we all still watch it so it must be okay, well at one point it became so boring that I didn't watch a single GP in 2009. Edited November 9, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) One of the biggest stumbling blocks to the SGP getting bigger is the Saturday night slot - Sunday afternoons are pretty much a must for large sporting events to reach a decent televised audience. Â the problem with Sunday afternoons is that SGP would have to compete with F1 and MotoGP as well as other (motor)sports.which is also usually held on Sunday afternoons. Edited November 9, 2011 by Ghostwalker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillips11 Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I advocate the SGP drinking game i play with my mates. Â Everyone chooses rider per race or gate for the meeting. 0 fingers if your rider wins, 2 fingers for 2nd, 3 for 3rd, 4 for last. If your rider gets excluded then see off your can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_boon Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 the problem with Sunday afternoons is that SGP would have to compete with F1 and MotoGP as well as other (motor)sports.which is also usually held on Sunday afternoons. So pick a date or time it doesn't clash! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 So pick a date or time it doesn't clash! Â THERE also has to be a rain-off alternate the following day ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImpartialOne Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 THERE also has to be a rain-off alternate the following day ... Plus it wouldn't fit with the Polish league on a Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Most Speedway meetings are not very good in the afternoon Nothing worse that dust billowing all over the place then watering .then shortly after the dust is back again. Much better Speedway in the evenings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cockney Rebel Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) Well I'd argue the 'interest outside the sport' is mostly the fans who 'used to go to speedway' and drifted away. I daresay the SGP has attracted some new fans, but nothing to write home about judging from the crowds and type of sponsors it attracts. Â With respect to World Finals being boring affairs, well some were good and some were bad, but some of the latter ones were quite decent. I've quite honestly seen far more boring GPs, and without the excitement of following your favourite riders through the qualifiers. Â I don't suggest a return to that format, but neither do I swallow the propaganda that the SGP has been so wonderful for the sport. As to your suggestion that we all still watch it so it must be okay, well at one point it became so boring that I didn't watch a single GP in 2009. Â Agree with a lot of that Humphrey. I would also add that some posts on here say "my mates/neighbours etc watch the SGP on sky and enjoy it" but what about the vast majority of people who don't have SKY? If the SGPs have created that much more interest in the sport why aren't the BBC/ITV/Channel4 and5 beating down the door of BSI/IMG demanding that they be allowed to show them. The terrestrial Channels don't even mention the results or even mention when a new world champ is crowned. Â Â When any of these channels give the result on a Saturday oreven Sunday then I will say the SGPs have done there job. Edited November 9, 2011 by Cockney Rebel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 So pick a date or time it doesn't clash! Â Pretty difficult these days, as there's either an F1 or Moto GP virtually every week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I think a Saturday evening works. Watch the GP with a few cans and a curry (or the drink and take away of choice) or in the pub (of you happen to have a speedway friendly local) before heading out for the night. Many a good night has started with watching the GP in the pub for me. Sundays would ruin that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Obviously no shortage of money in Wales in these chastened times... Â http://new.wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/decisionreports/culturesport/2011/5187738/?lang=en Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Obviously no shortage of money in Wales in these chastened times... Â http://new.wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/decisionreports/culturesport/2011/5187738/?lang=en There is the proof of "interests outside the sport" then.It certainly has got the interest of a number of tourist boards,local councils and now Government......hotels etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 There is the proof of "interests outside the sport" then.It certainly has got the interest of a number of tourist boards,local councils and now Government...... That's different from being asked to be interested by BSI as has happened ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 So pick a date or time it doesn't clash! Or just leave it where it is on a Saturday evening...I'm not sure why you think Saturday evening is bad. Â If you ask me it's actually a great time to have a motorsports event as there really isn't any competition from other major events. As Humphrey mentioned, it's hard to find a gap in the motorsports calendar on Sundays. Â From the middle of March until the end of November, there were only 2 weekends that didn't have F1, MotoGP, WSB or WTCC scheduled this year. Many Sundays had several of them. That's before you even bring in the big domestic championships like the BSB and BTCC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Know Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Obviously no shortage of money in Wales in these chastened times...  http://new.wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/decisionreports/culturesport/2011/5187738/?lang=en  speedway week brings a lot into cardiff money wise on gp week. also it is the cash cow which funds bsi for year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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