Swedes Off The Mark

[A ORLOV]

So what would your solution be for the following year (2015), when all these riders have vastly inflated averages??

Exactly, this has been the problem each time the team limit has been reduced. Riders improve their average because of the weaker league and possibly put themselves out of a job. The increase in rider average could be dealt with if more teams join the EL and the top average riders can be spread around, but this is where the supporters get fed up with their team changing every year.

[Ghostwalker]

SEE that Swedish clubs are already formulating their 2014 teams with Darcy Ward to champions Piraterna just one example. Why oh why can't we get things sorted that quickly here?

 

You have to have in mind that our season is already over but you are still only half way through the semi finals.

 

And besides its only a few teams that really have signed more then just a rider or two.

Edited September 26, 2013 by Ghostwalker

[iris123]

MANY people now convinced that lack of communication from Sky is their answer. One Sky insider said "we tend to run down contracts we are not renewing and simply walk away."

 

They never actually told BSI/IMG that they were not renewing in as many words. Their actions spoke volumes and appear to be doing the same right now.

 

I thought you kept going on about the door not being closed on Sky showing the GPs right up until the end as if you had some inside info that a deal was being considered.Just needed a few details worked out.???? Now you are sort of saying the opposite.But i do agree that things should be sorted out earlier.Traditionally though GB is at the end of the food chain and do things last minute.Quite often it has been the case that new teams were being announced a month or two before the season started or maybe my memory is going

[Mick Bratley]

I KNOW Go Speed are going down the same route as BSI/IMG last winter ... knocking on the Sky door but getting no answers. Usually that means the people behind the door simply hope you give up and go away.

 

BT? Doubt it right now because they and others simply don't rate the product very highly. Sad but true.

 

That is not true.

[Hamish McRaker]

If you really think that promoters haven't already looked at 'draft' proposals for next year, then you are really barking right up the wrong tree. Its what the BSPA pre-AGM is for - aside from the MC meetings. That's where the rumours of a better fixture list have come from - from 3 or 4 different Promoter sources! One of the problems will be getting all the proposals voted in at the AGM, as all EL and PL clubs have one equal vote each!

 

If what you say is right about draft proposals having been made then all well and good, my mind was open on the question. Hope the phrase "one equal vote each" is true in all senses. As long as the proposals are all based on zero TV income, there's some hope of a realistic plan being agreed. But will they all take the realistic line, or will one or two harbour more grandoise (and unrealistic for the majority) aspirations and try to go in a different direction?

 

That is not true.

 

Based on............???

[Mick Bratley]

 

Based on............???

 

Discussions I had with the Head of BT Sport in August.

[SteveLyric2]

Once again, the point is not about televised meetings - whoever does it (or not) - more a question of how much they are prepared to pay for the product!

[LagutaRacingFan]

Why doesn't Phillip "Swedish League Lover" Rising mention the thousands of pounds that riders are owed in Sweden.

[T.N.T.]

So what would your solution be for the following year (2015), when all these riders have vastly inflated averages??

 

 

As I stated, riders that did not feature or start in 2014 would have 10% added to their averages. This could even be 15% so for example Kenneth Bjerre finishes on a 7.99 average but doesnt start for a team in 2014. Should a team wish to sign him once the season has started would have to sign him on 8.79 (or 9.19) so there would be no inflated averages really.

 

 

One thing I do think should happen is riders should have just ONE average. Therefore going on a calculation of 1.5, a rider in the EL on a 6.08 average would be a 9.12 PL rider. Any rider that rides in both leagues has his average calculated to just one average. Lets say a rider rides in the EL and has 64 races, scoring 59 points and that is an average of 3.69. However in the PL he has 94 races and scores 171 points which is a 7.28 average.

 

The 171 points becomes 114 points (/ 1.5) so he has 173 points from 158 races which gives him an average of 4.38. To make all riders have a realistic average, PL averages will be converted to give them a universal average. So a rider just riding in the PL and has a 6.23 average would carry an official average of 4.15 so Premier League teams would have a points limit of 30.00 (which in effect is 45.00) and at the end of 2014 the gap between the two leagues wouldn't be as great, plus ALL riders would have ONE Official average which wold then lead to ALL tracks starting 2015 in one big league where hopefully each track will have roughly 24 home and 24 away matches.

 

This would mean no real spare weeks, a more varied fixture list as no team returns for a second or third visit and gives riders committed to riding here at least 48 league matches each season. In 2015 the limit would be set at a figure that takes into account riders moving up from the NL on 2.00 averages and the fact riders would no longer be doubling up. Also with all tracks in one league it gives everyone a better scope of riders to choose from should they require a guest.

 

 

 

There may be a few hiccups in the first year or two, but by 2016 we would be seeing the benefits of a league more evenly set up and cost effective. Riders that rode in 2013 but not in 2014 but signed up in 2015 to the one big league would then have a further 10% added making Kenneth Bjerre a 9.67 rider for example.

[Woz01]

BT Sport have huge gaps in their summer schedules. Speedway can help fill the gaps with a couple of meetings a week, EL and hopefully PL too.

[LagutaRacingFan]

BT Sport have huge gaps in their summer schedules. Speedway can help fill the gaps with a couple of meetings a week, EL and hopefully PL too.

 

BT are not interested in a sport like Speedway.

 

Speedway's a lower class sport, Not a mainstream one.

[mrcts]

 

 

BT are not interested in a sport like Speedway.

 

Speedway's a lower class sport, Not a mainstream one.

Do you ever have anything positive to say?

[kiwi]

will there be three leagues or two next year?

Which teams will be in which league?

[B.V 72]

Just a question does anyone know if Euro sport or B T sport have the facilities to film themselves or do they just buy a product that has been filmed by someone else and then add there own commentaries ie like they do with the Euro championship.Because if they have not then there is no chance of them showing the Elite league next year if Sky pull out.

[Ghostwalker]

Just a question does anyone know if Euro sport or B T sport have the facilities to film themselves or do they just buy a product that has been filmed by someone else and then add there own commentaries ie like they do with the Euro championship.Because if they have not then there is no chance of them showing the Elite league next year if Sky pull out.

 

I am pretty sure that Eurosport does not have any own production capabilities but that they rather pay a production

company to do the events if someone else's feed isn't available.

[jimmy jimmy]

The Swedish obviously have the funding for next year's league funded, the UK doesn't. I think this winter will be the quietest yet, as they won't know if they have a new tv deal possibly until next March. I find it amazing they didn't talk to BT Sport until August, according to the guy earlier, so don't expect any news on teams until after Christmas. All the other leagues will be sorted and the number of guests in 2014 will soar as riders are committed elsewhere.

 

Plus, talk on here of one big league?!! How is the UK going to find 23 or 24 teams of riders, that's the best part of 200 of them, once you get the quota of injuries and cover for them. How are all the fixtures going to be crammed in? Guys like Cook and Worrall are going to want to try their hand at European speedway so are they going to commit to 50 UK fixtures? Will Woffinden, Harris, etc? I doubt it, especially if the points money is lower.

 

Poole May end up with Kyle Howarth as their number 1 next year, Belle Vue with Dryml and Wolves with Klindt. That'll bring them flocking through the gates......

 

I can't help thinking no one in UK speedway has thought this through at all. Maybe there is a master plan but if there is, it's a pretty well kept secret.

 

I APPLAUD your optimism but no one from Sky has even been prepared to talk about it... shades of how they dealt with the SGP contract last winter.

 

Exactly, it went to the last minute and they said no. Are all teams going to wait until march before signing anyone?

Edited September 30, 2013 by jimmy jimmy

[Trees]

Wouldn't it be great if BT Sport definitely want to televise british speedway in 2014, the BSPA would hold all the aces then, that's a dream I guess?

[rob tatum]

Why would BT want to shell out anything on a product which is rotten to the core. Administrators crap ,stadiums crap ,rules crap etc etc etc. Wake up until we start again & stop p****** in the wind it aint going to happoen

[LagutaRacingFan]

BT Sport