Sgp/bsi And Sec/one Sport It Is War Now

[Grand Central]

Not in the same year though, and the SGP is already primarily a European-based championship.

 

Quite true, but there aren't any years when the SGP isn't running ... so how would a Euro competition get a look in?

Most sports have a World Championship on a bi-annual rota (or longer) to start with

We don't.

 

Running four alternate weekends of SGP/SEC seems about right..

Edited August 13, 2013 by Grand Central

[Humphrey Appleby]

Quite true, but there aren't any years when the SGP isn't running ... so how would a Euro competition get a look in?

 

Rights issues aside, I simply don't see the point of having European Championships in speedway because nearly all the World Championship meetings are already held in Europe. If the powers-that-be wish re-introduce pairs competitions or whatever, that's fine but give them World status.

 

If there's a need for more GP-type meetings then hold more GP meetings (although I think there are already too many GPs), or come-up with some format involving more riders. Alternatively, maybe the European Championship could be pitched as some sort of challengers' series like the NASCAR Nationwide Series which also involves some drivers from the top tier.

[Grand Central]

Rights issues aside, I simply don't see the point of having European Championships in speedway because nearly all the World Championship meetings are already held in Europe. If the powers-that-be wish re-introduce pairs competitions or whatever, that's fine but give them World status.

If there's a need for more GP-type meetings then hold more GP meetings (although I think there are already too many GPs), or come-up with some format involving more riders. Alternatively, maybe the European Championship could be pitched as some sort of challengers' series like the NASCAR Nationwide Series which also involves some drivers from the top tier.

 

OK fair enough.

I see your position.

But actually I like the look of it now it has started.

 

I have to say pairs events just leave me stone-cold and whatever status you give them they have zero appeal to me.

And a qualifying series with sub-GP riders ... not so sure I would be too interested in that either.

Can't actually see anything wrong with this.

 

.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Grand Central

[Humphrey Appleby]

I have to say pairs events just leave me stone-cold and whatever status you give them they have zero appeal to me.

 

Each to their own, although I find individual meetings pretty one dimensional after a while.

 

The World Pairs used to be one of the interesting events in the calendar, and it's a shame the thing that was staged this year was such a pale shadow of what was once a prestigious title. The SWC also needs a rethink as seeding such a weak host to the Final is just farcical.

 

Whilst World Championship level competitions are not in an especially healthy state, it would appear absurd to introduce further distractions at European level. Of course, it may be that change of promoter is needed to rejuvenate matters, but that's another matter and perhaps there's now some regret that the SGP/SWC rights were signed away for so many years.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Humphrey Appleby

[f-s-p]

and it's a shame the thing that was staged this year was such a pale shadow of what was once a prestigious title.

For a one off meeting organized by a promoter and getting it on Eurosport I thought the Eurosport Best Pairs was a decent effort. It had nothing to do with European Championships or FIM championships. It was just like the Scottish Open, only it was done in Torun, with pairs and was on live TV. Edited August 14, 2013 by f-s-p

[Humphrey Appleby]

For a one off meeting organized by a promoter and getting it on Eurosport I thought the Eurosport Best Pairs was a decent effort.

 

Appreciate that, but it seemed to masquerade a bit as an official championship, and of course there's the 'official' European Pairs as well just to confuse matters. To me, if there's interest in having international best pairs competitions, then I don't see why they just don't revive the World Pairs (with proper teams) which always seemed to be a popular competition in the past.

 

I also think it's interesting that SEC managed to stage a Russian round, and it's apparently cost effective to do so. Something that has seemingly been beyond the SGP until now...

 

Anyway, I'm sure we can expect the issues between IMG/BSI and SEC to be fully explored in a forthcoming issue of the World's Leading Speedway Magazine...

Edited August 14, 2013 by Humphrey Appleby

[Grand Central]

Each to their own, although I find individual meetings pretty one dimensional after a while.

The World Pairs used to be one of the interesting events in the calendar, and it's a shame the thing that was staged this year was such a pale shadow of what was once a prestigious title. The SWC also needs a rethink as seeding such a weak host to the Final is just farcical.

Whilst World Championship level competitions are not in an especially healthy state, it would appear absurd to introduce further distractions at European level. Of course, it may be that change of promoter is needed to rejuvenate matters, but that's another matter and perhaps there's now some regret that the SGP/SWC rights were signed away for so many years.

 

As you say, we each have our own preferences.

And mine would be for this years's set up of SEC and SGP running side by side.

Especially if it is run by a different company AND allows access to territory that seemed out of bounds to BSI.

With All the world to choose from BSI can take us anywhere so there must be room for four weekends across Europe for the SEC.

 

On the issue of pairs meetings.

One of my favourite meetings of the long distant past remains the 1977 World Pairs Final at Belle Vue so I am not blinkered against them.

The race where Ivan kept both Collins and Simmons at bay for four laps at Hyde Road was a memory that will last forever.

But seriously how many World Pairs meetings in the next twenty years they were running can you remember well or even slightly fondly?

Matters were never helped with the six-man race formula that came in or the hideously irritating 4-3-2-0 scoring farce that seems all the rage whenever Pairs racing is now staged.

And the use of reserves which makes a pair into a threesome, is even more loathsome.

 

I accept that a World Pairs may seem a reasonable competition to have on alternate years to a bi-annual World Cup for BSI's purposes but please lets not have anything more than one meeting every couple of years in the summer break.

And stick to 3-2-1-0 scoring over the 21 heat formula if we must.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Grand Central

[MunichMassive]

The german commentators from Eurosport said that the people in charge are very pleased with the way speedway is being accepted on telly and they want to plan more coverages for 2014.

sounds like a good sign but i hope its true what they told us!

[manchesterpaul]

It was nice to see a large Latvian crowd, i do wonder if the increased exposure of the sport via Eurosport instead of Sky is a factor in good overseas crowds recently that i see on TV and online. There have been some very good attendances despite the presence of TV cameras in the various leagues too.

 

The fact that there are several repeat showings on Eurosport means there is more chance of non-speedway fans catching sight of the sport, as on a Saturday most will be watching their own sports big events and would never glimpse the speedway.

 

The german commentators from Eurosport said that the people in charge are very pleased with the way speedway is being accepted on telly and they want to plan more coverages for 2014.

sounds like a good sign but i hope its true what they told us!

 

Please do keep us up to date on any developments or snippets of news.

[MunichMassive]

News from today...

http://speedwayeuro.com/news/n/105/sec-2014-in-germany-.html

 

There will be defo a SEC Round next year in Germany, so far nobody knows where it will be held but i think i will find out soon!

 

"Great numbers of Eurosport TV transmissions watchers behind the West border shows us how huge potential speedway have there. - When we decided to show SEC on Eurosport we knew that we could count on really good watchin' level in Poland. But the numbers of watchers we had in Germany (especially from round in Togliatti) were more than surprising. All of that shows how great potential speedway have on that market and we are all happy that SEC will be on the German ground next year - Adam Wiktorski from Eurosport Poland adds."

[manchesterpaul]

An interview with Ole Olsen in Sportowefakty today with questions concerning the rivalry between the two competitions.

 

He states he does not watch the SEC and that the SGP has more viewers some 12,000,000

 

http://www.sportowef...ktorem-cyklu-/1

 

"But fans in Europe and around the world - thanks to Eurosport broadcasts - they want to watch the SEC. The transmission range of Togliatti was almost six million viewers. You must admit that for the development of the slag is great news?

 

- Of course. We are very happy with it, that by broadcasting the slag reaches the countries where it was not yet known. You mentioned the transmission range of the SEC order 6,000,000. Grand Prix looking at 12 million viewers and abbreviations event reached over a hundred countries. Those are impressive numbers."

Edited August 20, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[Humphrey Appleby]

You mentioned the transmission range of the SEC order 6,000,000. Grand Prix looking at 12 million viewers and abbreviations event reached over a hundred countries. Those are impressive numbers."

 

But both are on Eurosport, so why would one competition get twice the viewers of the others?

 

I take the claimed viewing figures with a pinch of salt anyway. The number of countries is probably those that fall within the satellite footprints, and I suspect lots of extrapolation of the figures goes on.

[f-s-p]

But both are on Eurosport, so why would one competition get twice the viewers of the others?

 

I take the claimed viewing figures with a pinch of salt anyway. The number of countries is probably those that fall within the satellite footprints, and I suspect lots of extrapolation of the figures goes on.

SGP is not on my Eurosport, SEC is. I think I watch the Nordic version.

[Ghostwalker]

SGP is not on my Eurosport, SEC is. I think I watch the Nordic version.

 

you are correct although Eurosport Nordic is a local version of Eurosport International.

British Eurosport is different from ES intl as they have their own rights and feed.

 

In the Nordic countries, except Iceland, Viasat Sport have the rights for SGP.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Ghostwalker

[Grand Central]

But both are on Eurosport, so why would one competition get twice the viewers of the others?

I take the claimed viewing figures with a pinch of salt anyway. The number of countries is probably those that fall within the satellite footprints, and I suspect lots of extrapolation of the figures goes on.

 

Wasn't it just the simple case that the interviewer referred to Eurosport figures for SEC in Europe... 6M

And Olsen was quoting a worldwide figure for SGP including figures for other broadcasters in addition to Eurosport... 12M

 

[manchesterpaul]

Wasn't it just the simple case that the interviewer referred to Eurosport figures for SEC in Europe... 6M

And Olsen was quoting a worldwide figure for SGP including figures for other broadcasters in addition to Eurosport... 12M

 

Yeah that crossed my mind too. Statistics, damned lies and statistics etc lol.

[SCB]

FFS, speedway is speedway. Is there anything different about the SEC Championship and the GPs that would make someone choose to watch one over the other? Its why I don't see the point of the SEC, it's not doing anything different.

[lucifer sam]

FFS, speedway is speedway. Is there anything different about the SEC Championship and the GPs that would make someone choose to watch one over the other? Its why I don't see the point of the SEC, it's not doing anything different.

 

Same heat format (apart from we have one semi instead of two), "every point counts" (i.e. same as GP), lots of the same riders. The only big difference is in prestige - the World Championsip has plenty of history, whereas the SEC has none.

 

I agree I find it pointless - why have a second Grand Prix competition? Why not do something different? Such as a PROPER World Cup (i.e. two teams in each meeting).

 

The SEC is just pointless. Who cares who is European Champion?

 

All the best

Rob

[Hazzman]

Its why I don't see the point of the SEC, it's not doing anything different.

 

Two minor things; although I don't necessarily side with either party.

 

Firstly a qualification system during the season the Championship takes place. Second, the SEC do appear less reliant on red tape (or sums of money) to give the likes of Russia a meeting.

[Humphrey Appleby]

The SEC is just pointless. Who cares who is European Champion?

 

It is of course pointless, but this initiative seems to be more about politics and commercial rights.