g13webb Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 We heard of comparisons before, but could we ever see a football match finish at half -time because the pitch was unsafe.......A utter disgrace of epic proportions. The whole occasion reeks of cost saving exercises. We have a majestic Stadium costing £millions, we have a full house of 50000 plus, we have cameras transmitting the show case round the world, And the gate, costing only a few quid is an oversight, turning the whole event into joke.... Temporary tracks have always been a problem, but TIME spent in the run up to the event was the time to sort it out, not on the day of the event. Even as the emergency meeting with the officials was taking place about the safety of the track, no one used that time to do any remedy work, that could have saved the meeting.......... Monumental damage that has been done to our sport, probably never to fully appreciate lost of future fans. Unbelievable............... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) I'm just left bewildered by the whole thing. Yes it was a balls-up from the beginning but, with the exception of the starting gate issue, I saw nothing that we haven't seen on countless other temporary tracks. Yes it was rutty and bumpy, but riders were hardly two-wheeling into the corners. A few riders fell, but riders have falls all the time, irrespective of ruts. And on these temporary tracks, there will be ruts and riders will fall off. It's not ideal but it happens. Look at the ruts and bumps when Bomber won at Cardiff. A quick YouTube search will show you that the track tonight was no worse than that. I just wonder, when the riders were sitting in their briefing, how many of them considered the thousands of fans who had paid their money to be there. Some who had paid hundreds of pounds plus to attend. And who now, with the meeting result declared, are left short changed (irrespective of any compensation package which may or may not be forthcoming from the organisers). Why was there a will to 'get on with it' back when the GP was initially brought into these stadiums, which seems to have disappeared now? What happened to 'the show must go on'? And before anyone pipes up with that old chestnut of 'rider safety is paramount', unfortunately riders get injured. It's an unfortunate part of our sport. But I've seen plenty of riders injured on 'ideally' prepared tracks. All riders know that the GP temporary tracks are inconsistent. When they sign up for the GP, surely they understand that there is a good chance that some of the racing surfaces they are faced with will be less than ideal. But, of course, I'm not a rider, so I'm not allowed to comment on this, I suppose. I agree, we have seen tracks in a much worse state at all levels if the sport. Riders also need to take a bit of responsibility here, they were put off by the tape fiasco then after a couple of falls it was clear some just didn't want to be there. The few heats before the abandonment were decent and close racing. Edited April 19, 2015 by woz01 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Although I'm a big critic of BSI, I can to some degree have some sympathy about the track problems. Trying to lay a track in a very limited time, is a big logistical challenge and even on permanent tracks, getting the preparation right is not an exact science. Trouble is taking punters money is an exact science though.They don't pay according to how well the meeting goes.They pay up front and expect a top job for top dollar.It was said that the riders were threatened with big fines.Those who put the show on should also be hit with big fines to compensate the fans.No excuses,no promises of getting it better next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mothorsen Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 What a crowd! Beautiful stadium! Worst meeting in history! Horrid ref decicions from the begining. And the tapes? Should be a minor problem in the world championship. Let's hope they've dealt with the issues from Tampere last year, so we can have a blistering round next time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Brown Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Just take speedway meetings to speedway tracks rather than the stadiums where the organisers can make the most money. These people continue to rip the heart out of our sport and they will not stop because I genuinely do not believe they care one little bit for the people who will have spent a fortune on travel, accommodation, time off work and tickets only to see another unacceptable shambles But look on the bright side the speedway press will have enjoyed brilliant hospitality so they won't criticise them This is 100% caused by going to a stadium without a natural speedway track, don't blame the Polish, don't blame the poor people who worked their socks off to put the track down, don't blame the riders blame the greed of the SGP rights holders, no-one else 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 We heard of comparisons before, but could we ever see a football match finish at half -time because the pitch was unsafe...... Yes, but football pitches are usually permanently laid in stadia and there's not really any massive science to growing grass, rolling and mowing it. A closer analogy would be preparation of a cricket pitch, and international matches have been abandoned due to them bring unfit. I think the problem with temporary speedway tracks is the extreme shortage of time that the stadium is available for, leaving very little time to lay the track and resolve any issues with it. I don't disagree though, that Olsen should know how to lay a temporary track by now, and it being under a roof there's not even the excuse of inclement weather. I think Olsen's head should roll along with heads at BSI, although I suspect there's not really any other company with the same experience in doing the work. It's all very well firing him, but who's going to do the temporary tracks in Tampere, Cardiff, Stockholm, Horsens and Melbourne at short notice? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Brown Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Anyone know the re-admission policy ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Those who put the show on should also be hit with big fines to compensate the fans. At the end of the day, whilst I'm sure it'll be another embarrassment for BSI, they'll have their money and will move on to the next venue leaving the local organisers carrying the can. I doubt the FIM can or will take any action, because it'll jeopardise their income stream and frankly the sport is probably too low on the radar for the bigwigs there to really care. If BSI are responsible for the track though, then maybe the PZM could sue them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
refereerick Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Anyone know the re-admission policy ? It'll probably be the old retain your ticket and you can be readmitted to any meeting there in the next 12 months!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Yes, but football pitches are usually permanently laid in stadia and there's not really any massive science to growing grass, rolling and mowing it. A closer analogy would be preparation of a cricket pitch, and international matches have been abandoned due to them bring unfit. I think the problem with temporary speedway tracks is the extreme shortage of time that the stadium is available for, leaving very little time to lay the track and resolve any issues with it. I don't disagree though, that Olsen should know how to lay a temporary track by now, and it being under a roof there's not even the excuse of inclement weather. I think Olsen's head should roll along with heads at BSI, although I suspect there's not really any other company with the same experience in doing the work. It's all very well firing him, but who's going to do the temporary tracks in Tampere, Cardiff, Stockholm, Horsens and Melbourne at short notice? Buster Chapman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 I think the problem with temporary speedway tracks is the extreme shortage of time that the stadium is available for, leaving very little time to lay the track and resolve any issues with it. As I have said a couple of times,it is then stupidity of the highest order given those circumstances to hold a practice session!!!!! The rider who won last nights event didn't practice,so what does it all achieve apart from a negative effect on conditions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 FURROW Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Don't even try to defend this one!!I'm not defending it you just want to think before you put your mouth into gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) Anyone know the re-admission policy ?I have seen claims that 12 heats were required for results to stand and that also means no ticket refunds. So I don't think it's too unrealistic to think that the rider's meeting was just a hoax meaning that it was decided already from the beginning to call it off after 12 heats so that the results will be valid and so that they don't would have to pay out ticket refunds. Edited April 19, 2015 by Ghostwalker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 FURROW Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Arriving at stadium entrance with English flag told cannot take it in.No foreign flags allowed only Polish flags allowed to be displayed!Were refusing to allow me into stadium.After arguments managed to shove flag in bag and push through.Obviously cannot show support for foreign riders.Try stopping Poles taking their flags into Cardiff .Wow what a thing to criticise about y flags a minor detail in view of what happened get a life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) I have seen claims that 12 heats were required for results to stand and that also means no ticket refunds. So I don't think it's too unrealistic to think that the rider's meeting was just a hoax meaning that it was decided already from the beginning to call it off after 12 heats so that the results will be valid and so that they don't would have to pay out ticket refunds. Wow!!! That is some conspiracy theory But it seems the rule was changed,so I wonder when and as tickets sometimes go on sale quite early was the rule changed after tickets went on sale?If so,surely terms of conditions mean those who paid for tickets before deserve their money back at least,if no-one else.All very strange to change from 16 heats,which I believe is normal for FIM events.But I don't know the rules One small thing has to come out of this at the very least.Jim Lawrence(and that Pole Woyczech or whatever)should never officiate at a GP again.At least get a small thing right if nothing else Edited April 19, 2015 by iris123 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Wow what a thing to criticise about y flags a minor detail in view of what happened get a life NOT a minor view at all, this gentelman paid his hard earned cash to watch the GP & was obviously being patriotic 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepturningleft Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 We cannot go back to major speedway events being held in a field (Norden), or well loved but ramshackle stadia (Odsal). We have to get the temporary tracks sorted. The size of crowds generally at the mega stadia proves what can be achieved. The tracks is the one and only issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw42 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Wow what a thing to criticise about y flags a minor detail in view of what happened get a life No minor detail if you'd shelled out like he/she did to attend the meeting, 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WembleyLion Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) Wow!!! That is some conspiracy theory But it seems the rule was changed,so I wonder when and as tickets sometimes go on sale quite early was the rule changed after tickets went on sale?If so,surely terms of conditions mean those who paid for tickets before deserve their money back at least,if no-one else.All very strange to change from 16 heats,which I believe is normal for FIM events.But I don't know the rules One small thing has to come out of this at the very least.Jim Lawrence(and that Pole Woyczech or whatever)should never officiate at a GP again.At least get a small thing right if nothing else I agree about Lawrence - I was saying last season he should be banned from officiating in British Speedway. Does anyone ever assess the performances of these refs or do they just get jobs because they have mates in high places? Edited April 19, 2015 by WembleyLion 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ommer Mon Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 The Sport can get away with abandoning National League meetings in front of about 800 people because the track is a shambles (Cov v Crad last year) but this is a shambles of the highest order, played out in front of a multi national TV audience. How many viewers will be rushing to book tickets to see these events live? So far as Jim Lawrence is concerned, he proved himself incapable of refereeing a National League match last year when he let the Greaves / Sarjeant confrontation heat up to boiling point, leading to three young and inexperienced riders being fined and hit with suspended bans. A very sad day for the Sport and yet another nail in the coffin - there cannot be room for many more before the lid is finally nailed down! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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