Mad Potter 2 Posted March 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 They aren't excluded if they pledge their future to Britain. That’s the point, if they want to ride in the National League they should stay British. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 Surely if they were in the UK from such a young age they could apply for citizenship and ride in the NL. But it is still more important to safeguard the future of young British riders than to worry about a few possible exceptions in any case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 (edited) So how would an inexperienced foreign rider help bring more to a team than an inexperienced British rider? I don't think they would. On the other hand, some of these foreign riders are anything but inexperienced. The best example I can give is Cameron Heeps. He made an enormous impact on the NL, and not just at Mildenhall. Ask anyone from Dudley - I can say with some honesty that people went to meetings just to see him, and that's precisely my point. I'll agree that a foreign rider from unusual countries can be a bit of an added attraction but we already have the PL and EL for that. The NL for me has the added attraction of NOT being full of foreigners. The thing is though is that the NL is as much a commercial operation as the EL or PL - they rely on gate income in exactly the same way. Allowing one attractive foreign rider (and one hardly means that the league will be 'full' of them) will scarcely damage the main aim of the NL but could help those tracks to stay in business. Edited March 24, 2013 by Halifaxtiger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 That’s the point, if they want to ride in the National League they should stay British. And how do you enforce that? They can pledge to do it, but ultimately there's nothing to stop them changing allegiance later on. Happens in cricket all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Eye Posted March 24, 2013 Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 I don't think they would. On the other hand, some of these foreign riders are anything but inexperienced. The best example I can give is Cameron Heeps. He made an enormous impact on the NL, and not just at Mildenhall. Ask anyone from Dudley - I can say with some honesty that people went to meetings just to see him, and that's precisely my point. The thing is though is that the NL is as much a commercial operation as the EL or PL - they rely on gate income in exactly the same way. Allowing one attractive foreign rider (and one hardly means that the league will be 'full' of them) will scarcely damage the main aim of the NL but could help those tracks to stay in business. There's already a shortage of team places for British riders. It's not going to help the careers of British riders by reducing opportunities even further. If a team feels the need to improve its commercial position further by employing foreign riders then the should go PL or EL. In 1989 when Jens Rasmusen joined Rye House it was said at the time that the floodgates had been opened. Look at the state of British speedway now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Potter 2 Posted March 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 And how do you enforce that? They can pledge to do it, but ultimately there's nothing to stop them changing allegiance later on. Happens in cricket all the time. Then let them start in the Premier League under their Foreign Nationality at 16 on a 5 point average. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) My view on allowing foreign riders into the NL is based upon the fact that NL teams aren't just training tracks (there are only 2 double up teams in the NL, and if those planning to come in in 2014 do so the percentage will reduce further) they are commercial enterprises. As such, they rely on gate receipts and other income just as much as their PL & EL equivalents. The addition of one foreigner who can provide a great deal of colour and make the team line up far more impressive (Cameron Heeps at Mildenhall is the obvious exmple) will help to attract new fans and retain existing ones. I think that that is very much worth the sacrifice of one GB youngster's place. Well I don't HT. I doubt if that "one GB youngster" does either. There is also the argument that Cameron Heeps was that good - he shouldn't have been in the National League anyway. He should have started in the Premier League. Edited March 25, 2013 by The White Knight 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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