Ben Fund Meeting - Berwick - Saturday 9 March 2013 6.30pm

[screm]

That still leaves 9 GP regulars who aren't appearing for either Topinka or Freddie.

 

It was mentioned earlier in the winter that six riders with either current or past GP experience were being lined up to appear at Berwick,hopefully some of those six will still be there.

[Backless]

 

 

It was mentioned earlier in the winter that six riders with either current or past GP experience were being lined up to appear at Berwick,hopefully some of those six will still be there.

 

And you'll find that since that was rather foolishly made public, virtually all of them have backed away from their original agreement.

 

I'm sure it'll make very little difference to them, but equally when there's easy money to be had from the likes of Bordernapolis bookings, the promotion will have two lists of "names" and only one list with phone numbers.

 

That still leaves 9 GP regulars who aren't appearing for either Topinka or Freddie.

 

Most of whom won't set foot in the country until April - hopefully not at all in the case of Ward.

[Teal]

Very true, the claim of 6 gp riders should never of been released till was set in stone.....don't expect much else of speedway tho, constantly shoots itself in the foot

[luluthetiger]

Where did that quote come from? Berwick, or the BenFund organisers?

[Topcat]

Jeez,c'mon there will be a competitive field with close racing,big crowd and a great start to the season. What more do you want.

[Backless]

A field the likes of which hasn't been seen in the north before.

 

One that can be used to publicise the cause (&, on the back of it, the sport) to people outside the probable 2500 - 3000 that'll probably turn up. A good crowd, that's not in dispute, but not what it old be.

 

The fact that the "superstars" of the sport aren't household names is irrelevant. The organisers would have the opportunity of telling the media that the cream of the sport were turning up. In Berwick. Little old Berwick! Hurrah!

 

Media interest generates public interest. That brings in new or lapsed support & money. Money that goes ultimately to injured riders.

 

A Google search produces the 2009 lineup:

 

Full Field: KEVIN DOOLAN, RICKY ASHWORTH, ANDRE COMPTON, SCOTT NICHOLLS, JASON CRUMP, LEIGH ADAMS, FREDDIE LINDGREN, TAI WOFFINDEN, DAVEY WATT, BEN BARKER, EDDIE KENNETT, JASON LYONS, KAUKO NIEMINEN, TOMASZ PISZCZ, FILIP SITERA, RICHARD HALL. Reserve JOSH AUTY.

 

God bless Richard Hall & Ricky Ashworth for their support of the cause, but in 2009 they were, with the greatest respect, not exactly the draw cards.

 

However, just to lighten the mood a little, how much of a draw would Filip Sitera be LOL!

[screm]

Where did that quote come from? Berwick, or the BenFund organisers?

 

It was in the December 22nd edition of the Speedway Star under the headline "Stars Lined Up".

 

As Berwick gear up for the start of the 2013 season the club has confirmed that some of the sports top stars are set to ride at Shielfield in March.

A club spokesman has revealed that following a meeting with organisers of the Ben Fundraiser which is to be held on March 9th six riders with GP experience have already been identified for the line up."At this moment in time we have been asked not to name names,but we can confirm that six of the riders who have been presented to us so far have either raced in the GPs last season or will be doing so next year.

One of the reasons the Berwick meeting is able to attract such big names is the fact that it is Swede Freddie Lindgrens Testimonial at Wolverhampton the following day and alot of the riders will be in the country.

[Robinh88]

GP riders or not the product wont change all that much, Ricky Ashworth makes the start here in Heat One, Gollob isn't passing him

 

Big crowd, no injuries its a pre season warm up

 

Lets crack on with the Soap Opera

[Backless]

Coentry's top two, GP- experienced performers (ok, under performer in the case of Nicholls) are taking the cash on offer at Lindgren's bash.

 

Co entry's website advises that the proposed bus to Berwick has been cancelled.

 

Of course, they MIGHT be riding at Berwick. But I don't think so.

 

I'd imagine there'll be a good few others go the same way.

 

Good crowd? Probably.

Full crowd? Probably not.

 

But hey, as long as they get paid for practice AND get to claim when they're injured, everything's good.

[Arson fire]

GP riders or not the product wont change all that much, Ricky Ashworth makes the start here in Heat One, Gollob isn't passing him

 

[SCB]

It's funny how PL fans always hark on about the PL being best, the Pl being better, not wanting EL. But when they think they're getting a few EL riders and then it turn out they're not, they suddenly get upset. If the PL is so great, be happy you're not having to lower your standards to watch EL riders.

 

You have to ask who thought running a Ben Fund meeting in Berwick was a good idea though, hardly going to draw the fans in is it? And clearly not the riders either.

[topsoil]

It's funny how PL fans always hark on about the PL being best, the Pl being better, not wanting EL. But when they think they're getting a few EL riders and then it turn out they're not, they suddenly get upset. If the PL is so great, be happy you're not having to lower your standards to watch EL riders.

 

You have to ask who thought running a Ben Fund meeting in Berwick was a good idea though, hardly going to draw the fans in is it? And clearly not the riders either.

 

Whats wrong with Berwick like? its got an FIM licence, it means the meeting gets to go to an area where it hasn't been before.

 

Then again you won't like that, because it's not being held at the Newport dustbowl.

[luluthetiger]

You have to ask who thought running a Ben Fund meeting in Berwick was a good idea though, hardly going to draw the fans in is it?

 

Its going to draw fans from all the northern tracks, faithful speedway folk who have trekked hundred of miles south for years to every big meeting under the sun since they took the ELRC away from Belle Vue.

 

It is just as far from (say) Coventry to Berwick as it is from Berwick to Coventry. You just wouldn't think so at times.

Edited February 23, 2013 by luluthetiger

[Backless]

Obviously, it was only a matter of time before someone expressed an ignorant, I'll-informed, biased & plainly stupid criticism of the location of the meeting. Rest assured, the king of such things could be relied upon to do so.

 

The EL is justifiably mocked, not because of a handful of EL standard & GP "stars" or even the PL riders who make up the bulk of the teams. It's the ridiculous mid matching of these riders with third rate journeyman foreigners who roll through without any hope of achieving a ridiculously low 4 point average so that EL clubs can top load their teams within an artificially low points limit.

 

Berwick - that'll be the place on the edge of what the Flat Earth Believers understood to be this planet. Not the town with three international airports within 90 minutes, an FIM approved track& a safety fence more advanced than all but one in the EL.

 

But it's not ignorance, biase or stupidity behind the riders' attitude. It's greed - which is why testimonial meetings have started paying good money to get a field together.

[screm]

You have to ask who thought running a Ben Fund meeting in Berwick was a good idea though, hardly going to draw the fans in is it? And clearly not the riders either.

 

Take it you didnt go to the GP meeting we had last season.

[penchev]

Obviously, it was only a matter of time before someone expressed an ignorant, I'll-informed, biased & plainly stupid criticism of the location of the meeting. Rest assured, the king of such things could be relied upon to do so.

 

The EL is justifiably mocked, not because of a handful of EL standard & GP "stars" or even the PL riders who make up the bulk of the teams. It's the ridiculous mid matching of these riders with third rate journeyman foreigners who roll through without any hope of achieving a ridiculously low 4 point average so that EL clubs can top load their teams within an artificially low points limit.

 

Berwick - that'll be the place on the edge of what the Flat Earth Believers understood to be this planet. Not the town with three international airports within 90 minutes, an FIM approved track& a safety fence more advanced than all but one in the EL.

 

But it's not ignorance, biase or stupidity behind the riders' attitude. It's greed - which is why testimonial meetings have started paying good money to get a field together.

 

And a train station on the main east coast line.

 

bottom line is, topinka's meeting should never have been allowed to be staged on the friday,

 

I thought more of speedway riders, the amount of serious injuries last season and riders being killed, have some of the grand prix riders spared a thought for them?

 

Its a chance for all to put something back into speedway, and fair play for all those agreeing to attend the ben fund so far.

 

Chris harris for example can be bothered to make the trip to ride on sat then back to wolves for the sunday meeting, so the travelling can't be an issue can it???

 

Are they all really chasing the money for these testimonial meetings?

Edited February 24, 2013 by penchev

[screm]

And a train station on the main east coast line.

 

Amazing isnt it,even more amazing we also have hot and cold running electric now,internet and mobile phone connection,it modern miracle these new fangled things.

 

Chris harris for example can be bothered to make the trip to ride on sat then back to wolves for the sunday meeting, so the travelling can't be an issue can it???

 

Are they all really chasing the money for these testimonial meetings?

 

Dont forget there are still places to fill for the meething at Berwick,Im sure the organisers are doing all they can to get the top riders to support the cause.Apart from SCB,who believes Berwick -upon-Tweed is on another planet,travelling shouldnt be an issue,riders these days skip from Britain to Poland to Sweden on a regular bases so a trip to Berwick can be a big deal.

 

I thought that riders gave their time for free for testimonials these days,maybe they get their expenses paid for.

[SCB]

Whats wrong with Berwick like? its got an FIM licence, it means the meeting gets to go to an area where it hasn't been before.

 

Then again you won't like that, because it's not being held at the Newport dustbowl.

FIM licence? Nice pies? Loverly people? Nice scenery? But still miles from people and it's people that pay to get in, not FIM licences and all the other stuff.

 

Some dustbowl Newport is these days. Nasty cheap shot at a club thats been closed down though, nice one.

 

Its going to draw fans from all the northern tracks, faithful speedway folk who have trekked hundred of miles south for years to every big meeting under the sun since they took the ELRC away from Belle Vue.

 

It is just as far from (say) Coventry to Berwick as it is from Berwick to Coventry. You just wouldn't think so at times.

Have all your fans from northern clubs, but you're not getting riders are you? It was always likely, the riders you're going to get are always more likely to be local based riders. It's like hosting a meeting in Canada and complaining it's made up of nobody Canadians and Kyle Legault. Because you sure as hell are not going to get any European based riders there are you?

 

And yes, it's as far from Coventry as Coventry is from Berwick but Coventry has more people (and riders) within 100 miles than Berwick. Thats the point.

 

 

Obviously, it was only a matter of time before someone expressed an ignorant, I'll-informed, biased & plainly stupid criticism of the location of the meeting. Rest assured, the king of such things could be relied upon to do so.

 

The EL is justifiably mocked, not because of a handful of EL standard & GP "stars" or even the PL riders who make up the bulk of the teams. It's the ridiculous mid matching of these riders with third rate journeyman foreigners who roll through without any hope of achieving a ridiculously low 4 point average so that EL clubs can top load their teams within an artificially low points limit.

 

Berwick - that'll be the place on the edge of what the Flat Earth Believers understood to be this planet. Not the town with three international airports within 90 minutes, an FIM approved track& a safety fence more advanced than all but one in the EL.

 

But it's not ignorance, biase or stupidity behind the riders' attitude. It's greed - which is why testimonial meetings have started paying good money to get a field together.

WOW, actually some more than valid arguements in there.

 

However, the PL has it's share of duff riders and mis-matched heats. More EL reserves beat EL heatleaders in 2011 than PL reserves beat PL heatleaders, so if the EL is mismatched then what is the PL? Not worked it out for 2012 yet.

 

Take it you didnt go to the GP meeting we had last season.

No, because it was 700 miles (round trip) away then as it is now. That the point, it's too far from the people (and the riders)

 

 

 

Dont forget there are still places to fill for the meething at Berwick,Im sure the organisers are doing all they can to get the top riders to support the cause.Apart from SCB,who believes Berwick -upon-Tweed is on another planet,travelling shouldnt be an issue,riders these days skip from Britain to Poland to Sweden on a regular bases so a trip to Berwick can be a big deal.

So maybe it's not the travel then. Who has said it's the travel? The fans? Maybe the riders don't like the FIM licence? Or the pies? Or the great sponsors? Or the fans? Edited February 24, 2013 by SCB

[wjm]

Where in the North is Plymouth (Barker), Eastbourne (Woodward) Suffolk (King) and Norfolk (Korneilsen)?

[spin king]

End of the day I don't think the fact that Tomas Topinka having his farewell meeting the day before the Ben Fund meeting will effect attendances for the Ben Fund meeting.

 

I don't think that the Ben Fund meeting is so much about who is riding in the meeting more about the event itself, which does a good job in looking after injured riders and stricken riders.

 

Why Berwick, why not it seems to be the idea that a different track is given chance to host the meeting every year, and I believe that Berwick as a club raise the most through bucket collection last season over any other club.

 

I am sure that on the day the meeting will raise plenty of valuable money for what is a vry important cause.