Aussie Speedway Season

[Ozrik]

My interest in speedway stems from my father and uncle racing what we called TQs (Three Quarter Midgets), which in those days shared the track and the pits with the bikes and sidecars. The only common ground being TQs ran motorcycle engines 500 cc. I grew to like the bikes better, and have been an avid supporter ever since. I work for a social research company and i am fortunate to talk to many people from all sorts of backgrounds, and so hear their opinions about many different issues.

 

Even though i have not seen a live speedway meeting outside of Australia, as an Australian speedway supporter i am well aware of the importance of the British leagues in the professional careers of Australian riders. It is still seen in Australia as a privilege for riders to be accepted to ride in Britain. There remains a strong link between British and Australian speedway, and a relationship in which Australia remains the lesser contributor.

 

On this site there is always a lot of talk about the sad state of British speedway, (that i read with interest), which has to be alarming for any true speedway supporter, Australian or otherwise. Naturally it is even more alarming to Aussie supporters, if access to the British leagues was made more difficult for Australian riders.

 

Not necessarily from any selfish point, but simply because the fate of professional riders and speedway in Australia is so closely linked to the ongoing success of British speedway. I know Britain is trying to increase the depth and quality of their riders (among other things).

So are the visa/points criteria placed on international riders aimed at aiding this outcome for British speedway?

 

Imo, British speedway holds a unique position in world speedway with it's preparedness to give young international riders an opportunity to ride professionally; far more than the other major leagues in Poland, Sweden or Denmark. For me that adds to the interest and strength of British speedway, or is it in fact seen as a negative in Britain?

 

Hope that clears a few things, and explains my slant on questioning the visa qualifications stipulated by your immigration bureau.

 

No offence meant.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Not necessarily from any selfish point, but simply because the fate of professional riders and speedway in Australia is so closely linked to the ongoing success of British speedway. I know Britain is trying to increase the depth and quality of their riders (among other things).

So are the visa/points criteria placed on international riders aimed at aiding this outcome for British speedway?

The bottom line is that the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in the UK means that every industry sector has come under scrutiny from a government that has promised to cut the number of immigrants. Speedway is of course very small beer in terms of the handful of professional riders involved, but it also has little case to be exempted either as it has virtually no impact on the national economy in the way (say) the English Premier League does. If an Australian rider is depriving a British rider of employment, then it's arguably no different than if they were a chef or car mechanic.

 

Added to this, the BSPA (or at least some members of it) were for years abusing the existing immigration rules for speedway riders, which is what led to the clampdown earlier in the year. I doubt the BSPA think far enough ahead to consider the state of the developing rider pool, and I suspect would generally prefer to have a free-for-all rather than a restricted choice of riders, so I'm sure the immigration rules for speedway are largely determined by the responsible government department.

 

I think we all understand the historic importance of Australian riders in British speedway, but I think the regulations are already quite generous for Australians compared to other countries in the sense of allowing qualification through state titles, some of which are little more than glorified open meetings.

 

Personally I'd like to see total freedom of movement between the UK and Australia (and New Zealand) for qualified citizens, but it's not going to happen in the current climate. Brits also get no real special privileges over anyone else in terms of Australian work permits, notwithstanding very part-time speedway participation, so it's a two-way thing.

[Ozrik]

The bottom line is that the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in the UK means that every industry sector has come under scrutiny from a government that has promised to cut the number of immigrants. Speedway is of course very small beer in terms of the handful of professional riders involved, but it also has little case to be exempted either as it has virtually no impact on the national economy in the way (say) the English Premier League does. If an Australian rider is depriving a British rider of employment, then it's arguably no different than if they were a chef or car mechanic.

 

Added to this, the BSPA (or at least some members of it) were for years abusing the existing immigration rules for speedway riders, which is what led to the clampdown earlier in the year. I doubt the BSPA think far enough ahead to consider the state of the developing rider pool, and I suspect would generally prefer to have a free-for-all rather than a restricted choice of riders, so I'm sure the immigration rules for speedway are largely determined by the responsible government department.

 

I think we all understand the historic importance of Australian riders in British speedway, but I think the regulations are already quite generous for Australians compared to other countries in the sense of allowing qualification through state titles, some of which are little more than glorified open meetings.

 

Personally I'd like to see total freedom of movement between the UK and Australia (and New Zealand) for qualified citizens, but it's not going to happen in the current climate. Brits also get no real special privileges over anyone else in terms of Australian work permits, notwithstanding very part-time speedway participation, so it's a two-way thing.

Yes, there are similar sentiments here regarding immigration and certain visas being used in a manner for which they were not intended.

So i understand the clamp down, and if i were honest it probably has not had a great effect on most speedway riders (yet). But there is a possibility this could have a big impact on those riders and British league racing in the future.

 

Once again, thank you HA for your response, clear and informative, however it seems Brits are still looked on quite favorably in the immigration application process in this country as well, which is a good thing, and a situation that would not draw much argument from Aussies at the moment. But we are far removed from what is going on elsewhere.

[Pinny]

It seems to me, the Aussies biggest concern is the amount of Chinese coming in. As well as vietnamese, koreans, etc.

 

Although most developers who our company work for are owned by asians, so in a sense the aussies have them to thank for the boom in construction work (in Melbourne at least).

 

Their buying deserted land everywhere here and building six-twelve storey high apartment blocks.

 

If it wasnt for them, we wouldnt have half as much work as we have on at the moment.

[Ozrik]

It seems to me, the Aussies biggest concern is the amount of Chinese coming in. As well as vietnamese, koreans, etc.

 

Although most developers who our company work for are owned by asians, so in a sense the aussies have them to thank for the boom in construction work (in Melbourne at least).

 

Their buying deserted land everywhere here and building six-twelve storey high apartment blocks.

 

If it wasnt for them, we wouldnt have half as much work as we have on at the moment.

It isn't Asian immigration that is the problem, for the most part Asians have assimilated quietly into Australia, bringing with them different cuisine, new festive and cultural occassions, a strong work ethic and a different approach to family that have all contributed to enhance Australian society.

So long as the Chinese developers are not abusing the visa system, by flooding our workplaces with cheap foreign labour, then Chinese investment is a good short term boost for our economy.

 

However we have to be careful in the long term about the amount of foreign ownership we allow. Look what Chinese investment and ownership has done to the mining sector in this country. Imo, Iron ore and coal prices have crashed, because they can now dictate through ownership of the process, the demand, and therefore the price.

 

There are strong government regulations in place to control both foreign investment and ownership in Australia, and i know they have had trouble following the money trail to determine ownership, and where the money is comming from, as corruption is still a problem in Communist China.

So i hope Australian finance and government agencies continue to regulate/legislate the situation where necessary to get on top of it. We don't want to sell the wheels off the train, so to speak.

 

Good luck to you Pinny and hope you continue to get droves of work. Maybe next time with an Australian developer.

 

Anyway, i am way off subject here and looking forward to more discussion about the current Australian speedway season.

[Humphrey Appleby]

It isn't Asian immigration that is the problem, for the most part Asians have assimilated quietly into Australia, bringing with them different cuisine, new festive and cultural occassions, a strong work ethic and a different approach to family that have all contributed to enhance Australian society.

I think the Asian immigrants make a great contribution to Australia, and in the main seem to be happy to integrate. I'd also agree with Pinny that some, although by no means all of the locals have a poor work ethic, although there does seem to be a better work-life balance in Australia than in the UK. However, I also think this causes problems in industries such as tourism which seems to be dying on its knees in Australia because it basically operates for the convenience of its staff rather than the customer.

 

However we have to be careful in the long term about the amount of foreign ownership we allow.

Foreign ownership is not a problem if you have reciprocal rights to trade and invest other countries, and I think some of the restrictive foreign ownership laws in Australia (e.g. owning property) do seriously hold back its economy. This said, relationships with China are always asymmetrical with seemingly everything favouring China, plus they're currently also responsible for a property bubble which is overheating the economy. Australia has become a pretty expensive place to live as a result, and wages are no longer commensurate with a high standard of living, particularly when you take into account the fairly high taxes.

 

Getting back to speedway though, I doubt anyone is able to make a living from the sport in Australia, and foreign riders are probably more likely to enhance the attractiveness of line-ups than deprive a local of earnings. The equation is therefore always going to be different to Australians riding in the UK.

[Waspman]

I can understand why some Australians don't want to belong to the commonwealth u get no favours.try this scenario all Australian riders listed for the uk 2016 are told u can't take part what would happen to the Elite and premier leagues then? As for jobs im in dental If I was younger I could get a job no problem in oz

[crazysue]

Aussie Champs qualifiers currently under way.....

 

http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/15232/australian-championship-qualifier-2016-approx

[Reviresco]

Thanks for the link and the results from the Qualifier on the Updates site Sue.

 

Hopefully there is nothing more to read into Taylor Poole's non-appearance other than possibly a dispute over points money.

 

Looking back at the Jason Crump Invitational from last weekend, I see that Kurri are showing Jason Crump as 'Retired' now from his 2nd Heat rather than 'Excluded' and that Karl Lawler took Tyson Nelson's place in the programme:

 

http://www.kurrikurrispeedway.org.au/jc2015.pdf

Edited January 1, 2016 by macca56

[Marksman]

Does anyone know if the Aussie champs going to be streamed live online again this year? I think last year it was on that speedway gone wild website?

[crazysue]

Link for Round 1 of the Aussie Champs (afraid it is not a televised link though)

 

http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/15233/aussie-champs-round-kurri-16

[crazysue]

Round 1 result

 

Winner: Rohan Tungate
Second: Sam Masters
Third: Max Fricke
Fourth: Brady Kurtz

Texter: Lunchy

Updater: Sue


Line Up

1. Cooper Riordan........0,0,1,0,3 = 4
2. Sam Masters...........2,1,3,3,3 = 12
3. Mason Campton.........1,3,2,2,2 = 10
4. Max Fricke ...........3,3,2,3,2 = 13
5. Rohan Tungate.........3,3,2,3,3 = 14
6. Justin Sedgmen........2,3,2,X,3 = 10
7. Josh Pickering........0,0,1,2,0 = 3
8. Alan McDonald.........1,1,0,0,0 = 2
9. Jordan Stewart........1,1,1,2,1 = 6
10. Kieran Sproule.......X,0,0,0,2 = 2
11. Ty Proctor...........2,2,0,1,1 = 6
12. Josh Grajczonek......3,X,1,3,0 = 7
13. Nick Morris..........1,2,3,2,1 = 9
14. Jack Holder..........3,2,3,1,0 = 9
15. Brodie Waters........0,1,0,1,1 = 3
16. Brady Kurtz..........2,2,3,1,2 = 10

17. Matt Day
18. Josh McDonald

Read more: http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/15233/aussie-champs-round-kurri-16#ixzz3w5FgYe7T

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

Well done Rohan.

Sounds like he was super quick and didnt just gate and go - passed some of the bigger names in a couple of his heats.

[phillipsr]

What a poor field that is!!

[Cj69]

Was thinking that myself. Altho the 'top' riders are all quite equal ability so should make some cracking races.

Thought would be more appeal to the higher level Aussies with GP wild card up for grabs (although think most injured or recovering).

Was thinking that myself. Altho the 'top' riders are all quite equal ability so should make some cracking races.

Thought would be more appeal to the higher level Aussies with GP wild card up for grabs (although think most injured or recovering).

[Reviresco]

Thanks for the link and the results from the Qualifier on the Updates site Sue.

 

Hopefully there is nothing more to read into Taylor Poole's non-appearance other than possibly a dispute over points money.

 

So, it looks as if there was more to Taylor Poole's non-appearance in the Championship Qualifier, as it is now reported that he has quit the sport:

 

http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=4644

[Bagpuss]

Has there ever been a weaker Aussie Champs field?

[arnieg]

Has there ever been a weaker Aussie Champs field?

 

I'd put forward 1987 at Mildura:

 

1 Steve Regeling 14

2 Steve Baker 12

3 Glyn Taylor 10

4 Ashley Norton 10

5 Craig Hodgson 10

6 Mick Poole 9

7 Dave Jackson 9

8 Troy Butler 8

9 Tony Rose 8

10 Stephen Davies 7

11 David Cheshire 6

12 Mark Fiora 4

13 Bill Barrett 4

14 Chris Watson 4

15 Nigel Alderton 3

16 Nigel Tremelling 2

17 Paul Wheatland 0R

17 Simon Lock 0R

 

Steve Regeling averaged less than 5 for King's Lynn in 1986,Stephen Davies was a reserve in in the same team, while Fiora and Cheshire were National League heat leaders. Poole averaged less than 5 for King's Lynn in 1987 and Steve Baker had a similar average in 1985, his last British season. Hodgson was a second-string for Peterborough in 1987.

 

Glynn Taylor was near the end of his career, while Troy Butler had averaged 2.22 in his only British season to date (1985 at Oxford). He did go on to be a second string in the BL and somehow made it to the 1989 World Final.

Edited January 3, 2016 by arnieg

[SteveLyric2]

Was thinking that myself. Altho the 'top' riders are all quite equal ability so should make some cracking races.

Thought would be more appeal to the higher level Aussies with GP wild card up for grabs (although think most injured or recovering).

Was thinking that myself. Altho the 'top' riders are all quite equal ability so should make some cracking races.

Thought would be more appeal to the higher level Aussies with GP wild card up for grabs (although think most injured or recovering).

Doyle and Holder are already in the GPs. Batchelor is injured. What other 'top' Aussies are missing????

[waiheke1]

Doyle and Holder are already in the GPs. Batchelor is injured. What other 'top' Aussies are missing????

deleted Edited January 3, 2016 by waihekeaces1