British Speedway Promoters Meeting

[pandorum]

The sliding scale brought in for match points was one of best ideas the promoters have come up with.I know the playoffs divide opinion but fans and viewers vote with their feet,they are the best attended meetings of the year and attract the largest TV viewing figures

I agree that rewarding a team for a good away performance was a really good idea long overdue.

But the BSPA could not resist being daft after such a good idea by rewarding a team who slaughters the opposition at home.

The extra point for a home massacre is a silly idea. Better to allow a bonus point for the aggregate win which again allows for a good away performance.

The idea is to promote good speedway so in a sport where home advantage is so strong keeping the opposition interested should be a priority.

The shortened version of cricket is real money spinner, maybe NOT for the purists, but its what Joe public wants to see, County Cricket produces the Test match players,but very few want to watch it. Speedway has to look at ideas like this, 13 Main Heats for the usual points, 5 Single lap races, and then perhaps we could look at a way of producing Tag racing, ie similar to relay racing, Maybe a stupid idea, but something has to be done to GET excitement back, and crowds through the doors, lets all try to think outside the box. The tried and tested formula, is failing..

The tried and tested formula isn't failing.

It's the team building that has failed miserably.

It's racing surfaces that are failing.

It's the bringing on of new talent that has failed.

It's the overcomplicated rules that have failed.

Everything about speedway is failing except the core idea of 4 man races over 4 laps.

What difference does it make to have one lap or 5 laps when the riders in the race cannot compete.

Two teams that are competetive racing on a circuit that is prepared for racing will produce good speedway.

[iris123]

Way back...maybe 1989, Edinburgh ran a little 2nd half competition where each week the top 5 riders from the meeting (or maybe just top 5 home riders) went into a 1 lap dash race. Last man dropped out and the other 4 came straight back round to go again. Repeat until you have a 2 man match race for 1 lap and a winner is found.

 

That actually proved to be pretty entertaining but got dropped after a while...Shame.

 

It would be fun to see that return.

Sounds interesting.This is an American idea,isn't it?Didn't they do one or two meetings with this style(not sure if it was just one lap though)a couple of seasons back when on tour?

[bigcatdiary]

Be a bit careful what you say mate. Mr Russell does a lot of work on behalf of British speedway. Without him Sky would not have taken speedway on in the first place, and Speedway would have been in a dam cite poorer state than it is now.

 

Terry Russell does a lot of work for Terry Russell, Speedway couldn't be in a poorer state than it is now its rock bottom and Terry Russell has to take his fair share of the blame.

[Daniel Smith]

I agree that rewarding a team for a good away performance was a really good idea long overdue.

But the BSPA could not resist being daft after such a good idea by rewarding a team who slaughters the opposition at home.

The extra point for a home massacre is a silly idea. Better to allow a bonus point for the aggregate win which again allows for a good away performance.

The idea is to promote good speedway so in a sport where home advantage is so strong keeping the opposition interested should be a priority.

Unless I'm mistaken I thought it was always 3 points for a win before the introduction of the latest points system? If so big wins at home change nothing but only just winning at home benefits the away side.

 

Reintroducing the bonus point will be a disaster and a major backward step. That will end up encouraging teams to be built for home advantage looking for big 30+ point wins. It's easier to build a team for home victories than trying to build one for away results.

 

The current scoring system encourages teams to at least look for some kind of home and away balance within the sides.

 

We really must not lose one of the BSPA's best ever rules. Move the sport forward not back

[Hodgy]

Terry Russell does a lot of work for Terry Russell, Speedway couldn't be in a poorer state than it is now its rock bottom and Terry Russell has to take his fair share of the blame.

Not sure about that BCD. TR was the main man that pursued and eventually gained Speedway coverage on a major sports channel. Unfortunately the responsibility for not succeding must lay with the promotors. They had a great opportunity but didn't take it, but took the money. The product in general was not entertaining - until they covered the odd Premier League match.

[StevePark]

 

Way back...maybe 1989, Edinburgh ran a little 2nd half competition where each week the top 5 riders from the meeting (or maybe just top 5 home riders) went into a 1 lap dash race. Last man dropped out and the other 4 came straight back round to go again. Repeat until you have a 2 man match race for 1 lap and a winner is found.

 

That actually proved to be pretty entertaining but got dropped after a while...Shame.

 

It would be fun to see that return.

 

 

Sounds interesting.This is an American idea,isn't it?Didn't they do one or two meetings with this style(not sure if it was just one lap though)a couple of seasons back when on tour?

Don't know when it was first introduced, but this is also used in cycling, Called 'Devil Takes the Hindmost' or 'Miss and Out.'

[RobMcCaffery]

 

Way back...maybe 1989, Edinburgh ran a little 2nd half competition where each week the top 5 riders from the meeting (or maybe just top 5 home riders) went into a 1 lap dash race. Last man dropped out and the other 4 came straight back round to go again. Repeat until you have a 2 man match race for 1 lap and a winner is found.

 

That actually proved to be pretty entertaining but got dropped after a while...Shame.

 

It would be fun to see that return.

 

This was an idea that Barry Klatt tried when he joined Ron Russell at Rye House. Yes, it was an entertaining alternative but ran into opposition from riders who were happy to do one clutch start and four laps but weren't prepared to run to four clutch starts over four laps.

 

Like so much 'post-match/second half' action it was killed as much by rider attitude as spectator apathy. I'd say that when rider apathy was picked up on the terraces that was the killer for not only second halves, but individuals,challenge matches, pairs and four team tournaments - and even the KO Cup in the case of the Elite League, leaving the sport in the desperate situation of only being able to sell league matches.

 

One very serious problem for speedway seems to be the shift from people going out for a night's speedway racing to people going just out to see their team win league points. It's not a shift from white to black though, there were always people who only went to see the team win and there are still people who go for the racing, where it stiill exists - I just feel the balance has shifted, much to the sport's cost.

Edited November 16, 2013 by rmc

[Fromafar]

Be a bit careful what you say mate. Mr Russell does a lot of work on behalf of British speedway. Without him Sky would not have taken speedway on in the first place, and Speedway would have been in a dam cite poorer state than it is now.

Regarding marketing and Major Sponsers I don't think it could it could be in a poorer state than it is now.Other forms of Bikesport seem to be doing better though.

[Tommy Sweetman]

Just listened a re-run of the Alan Phillips interview on WM last night,with him saying "After the end of day one of the AGM,with the new points limit,we would have to lose three riders anyway"

So it seems fairly certain now,that the limit will either be 38 or 36,and that the 42.50 is scrapped,and they are not allowing for a new contract with Sky.

[500cc]

rmc has touched on a very important point. Rider apathy.

 

Granted Speedway is probably the most dangerous sport. But is there any sport in which the "players" have such an influence.

 

I can understand where riding conditions are dangerous and why on those occasions riders may object to riding. Fine I get that. But in exchange for that you ride and put in the effort in all meetings. If for example the BSPA choose to run a competitive individual second half you ride. If not, stay away. If your injured, your injured, you don't pick and choose your countries to ride in.

 

Most professional sport is effectively run in a dictatorial manner. Speedway riders are given a lot of slack due to the danger of the sport. In exchange you need to extra committed.

 

This is especially an issue with top riders (not all). Riders need to take responsibility for these issues. Poland may look financially attractive. Somehow I don't think it will last. Not least if ultimately it's Poland or nothing for the big money.

[bigcatdiary]

Not sure about that BCD. TR was the main man that pursued and eventually gained Speedway coverage on a major sports channel. Unfortunately the responsibility for not succeding must lay with the promotors. They had a great opportunity but didn't take it, but took the money. The product in general was not entertaining - until they covered the odd Premier League match.

No doubt in my mind at all Hodgy

 

When TR started the deal he was a promoter at Swindon.

[Tsunami]

 

 

Don't know when it was first introduced, but this is also used in cycling, Called 'Devil Takes the Hindmost' or 'Miss and Out.'

 

Last time I saw it was at Edinburgh for Peter Carr's Testimonial meeting. Interesting as a one off spectacle, but it does only have a novelty value.

[Conkers in Gravy]

 

 

 

Yes... and cricket is about as dead on its arse as speedway.

 

That's just not true. County championship games on midweek afternoons may be watched by only a handful, but the one-day game is thriving and Test matches in England sell out despite high ticket prices. There were 19 million ticket applications for Sachin Tendulkar's last Test this week. Cricket is a major international sport which Sky are prepared to pay millions for without being begged.

[MattK]

Just listened a re-run of the Alan Phillips interview on WM last night,with him saying "After the end of day one of the AGM,with the new points limit,we would have to lose three riders anyway"

So it seems fairly certain now,that the limit will either be 38 or 36,and that the 42.50 is scrapped,and they are not allowing for a new contract with Sky.

 

Have you got a link to that interview?

[SteveLyric2]

 

 

Don't know when it was first introduced, but this is also used in cycling, Called 'Devil Takes the Hindmost' or 'Miss and Out.'

Was tried at other tracks too, but I seem to recall riders were against it because of the extra cost of too many burnt out clutches!!

[Tommy Sweetman]

 

Have you got a link to that interview?

See Birmingham site for details of interview.(Number 127).

Its around 14 mins into the talk with Alan Phillips.

[moxey63]

 

That's just not true. County championship games on midweek afternoons may be watched by only a handful, but the one-day game is thriving and Test matches in England sell out despite high ticket prices. There were 19 million ticket applications for Sachin Tendulkar's last Test this week. Cricket is a major international sport which Sky are prepared to pay millions for without being begged.

 

But one-day speedway matches are attended by a handful, and yet by contrast GPs and Play-Off Finals are packed out. It's surely similar in the two sports... if the product is worth attending, it's going to attract big crowds.

 

Speedway needs to stay clear of little novelties - one-lap handbag dashes, two extra laps for Poole riders and it gives the rest a chance - these things aren't needed in a sport worth its name. Basic rules - yes, some kind of bonus for a side performing away but losing - but not rules that only baffle the fella who wants a quiet night on the terraces and even to have answers to questions about the rules, when that terrace newcomer asks.

[skthecat]

rmc has touched on a very important point. Rider apathy.

 

Granted Speedway is probably the most dangerous sport. But is there any sport in which the "players" have such an influence.

 

I can understand where riding conditions are dangerous and why on those occasions riders may object to riding. Fine I get that. But in exchange for that you ride and put in the effort in all meetings. If for example the BSPA choose to run a competitive individual second half you ride. If not, stay away. If your injured, your injured, you don't pick and choose your countries to ride in.

 

Most professional sport is effectively run in a dictatorial manner. Speedway riders are given a lot of slack due to the danger of the sport. In exchange you need to extra committed.

 

This is especially an issue with top riders (not all). Riders need to take responsibility for these issues. Poland may look financially attractive. Somehow I don't think it will last. Not least if ultimately it's Poland or nothing for the big money.

Reference riders being injured and picking and choosing their meetings.....

You cannot race a speedway bike unless you are attacking the track..

A footballer, after injury can come back on a gentle slope, last 10 mins of a game as a sub, if ok, he does last half hour next game, if still ok he may get a full second half before actually starting a game.

This cannot happen to an injured rider coming back, he may choose a lesser league match or take an invite to an individual meeting, but that really is all he can do after an injury so please cut them some slack on that issue. ..

[racers and royals]

rmc has touched on a very important point. Rider apathy.

 

Granted Speedway is probably the most dangerous sport. But is there any sport in which the "players" have such an influence.

 

I can understand where riding conditions are dangerous and why on those occasions riders may object to riding. Fine I get that. But in exchange for that you ride and put in the effort in all meetings. If for example the BSPA choose to run a competitive individual second half you ride. If not, stay away. If your injured, your injured, you don't pick and choose your countries to ride in.

 

Most professional sport is effectively run in a dictatorial manner. Speedway riders are given a lot of slack due to the danger of the sport. In exchange you need to extra committed.

 

This is especially an issue with top riders (not all). Riders need to take responsibility for these issues. Poland may look financially attractive. Somehow I don't think it will last. Not least if ultimately it's Poland or nothing for the big money.

Sweden can`t be too far behind Poland in the wages stakes,with the amount of top riders who ride in the country-having said that Tuesday`s are ideal for

any riders schedule.

[DW]

The Edinburgh one lap dashes was Devil tak the hindmost. I think it got banned ( surprise surprise) because it had more than 4 riders starting from the gate