Warsaw Gp Saturday 18th April

[oldace]

I'd have said not having a working starting gate (or replacement) in a GP is a bit like forgetting to put up the goalposts in a World Cup Final.

 

 

 

I agree, it was a major cock up but not one that should get a meeting called off

 

 

Regardless though, the riders have put up with one crap track after the next over the years, and yet in what should be the crowning glory of a GP in the capital of the world's most important speedway country, they apparently all decide to throw their toys out the pram over an allegedly 'not as crap as some' track. I think you seriously have to ask why they felt the need to take that action, but rather than ask or attempt to answer that question, the Spar instead reports anecdotal observations from ex-riders who admit they didn't actually see the meeting, quotes from known how-shall-we-say-we-say speedway eccentrics, and alleged investigations of the FIM President who probably doesn't even know or care what speedway is.

 

 

Fair enough, you could ask the question but the answer from all concerned will only be the carefully scripted cobblers of an unfit track. I prefer to believe the evidence of my own eyes. Why was it "not as crap as some tracks". It was actually starting to provide good racing by heat 12. Too many have bought into this bad track cobblers when the evidence is there in front of their eyes, the track was fine

[weatherwatcher]

I was only trying to find a list of world tracks, little did I know or read that it was done by Humphry many years ago, sorry for that, but what I am saying is if they keep rolling out thetrash like they did in Warsaw, you will be able to put the GP's in a stadium with a seating capacity of about 200, because that is about the total number of fans that will bother to show up for them and half of those will be on free tickets.

[waiheke1]

But most of those tracks were utterly unsuitable to house GPS.if you are so against temp tracks where would you hold the British go if up to you?

[Starman2006]

Where's REDCAR!!!? :shock:

Somewhere op North...

[sommelier]

Some of the comments about stadiums, i can see both sides. Regarding good amenities, having just got back from the Plymouth v Peterborough, my second visit ther this year, i know they must run on a low budget. But i'm appalled at the standards of such simple issues like toilets, absolutely filthy. If it was my first time or a potential sponsor i know what i would think. Not even any paper towls to dry your hands!! Surely in this day & age its not to much to ask for!!

[fullbore]

But i'm appalled at the standards of such simple issues like toilets, absolutely filthy. If it was my first time or a potential sponsor i know what i would think. Not even any paper towls to dry your hands!! Surely in this day & age its not to much to ask for!!

Some posters would see that as the perfect venue for a GP!

 

Niamh

[racers and royals]

We haven`t yet had the thoughts of Dr know the 2nd-persumably he was there ? might give us all a lift !

[iris123]

We haven`t yet had the thoughts of Dr know the 2nd-persumably he was there ? might give us all a lift !

He probably has to keep quiet until his contract has ended?!?

[Grand Central]

We haven`t yet had the thoughts of Dr know the 2nd-persumably he was there ? might give us all a lift !

 

He probably has to keep quiet until his contract has ended?!?

 

 

I bet he's the only man to come away from Warsaw with a refund.

Seeing 'Meridian Lifts' emblazoned on a non-functioning clock is not the sort of publicity anyone wants.

Or would pay for.

 

As bad as being 'Lift Sponsor' on 'The Big Bang Theory'.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Grand Central

[weatherwatcher]

Hopefully, next seson will see the new stadium opening at Bel Vue. not sure what the seating capacity will be, we will have to wait and see, I just do not like the tempory tracks, the racing is terrible, good to see the crowds, but can't say that the product is great.

It just goes to show how far behind the times British speedway has gone, we are now in the 21st centuray and still have tracks from the dark ages. When or if ever will we get a track that is good enough over here without having to use the one at Cardiff.

From what we saw at Warsaw it may not be a bad idea to use the old track at Newport, the trailers and lorries would add that extra bit of excitement, just the sort of things, the paying public crave for.

Out of all the people who go to Cardiff, how many of those go to regular speedway meetings, or do they just go for all the razzle and dazzlle, that they get at the GP's, even if nothing works on the night..

[The White Knight]

 

 

 

I bet he's the only man to come away from Warsaw with a refund.

Seeing 'Meridian Lifts' emblazoned on a non-functioning clock is not the sort of publicity anyone wants.

Or would pay for.

 

As bad as being 'Lift Sponsor' on 'The Big Bang Theory'.

I love that - you certainly made me laugh..

 

I'm surprised that Sheldon Cooper hasn't come up with a Plan to fix that Lift. :unsure:

[bruno]

Although the track wasn't great we have seen worse it's obvious the riders had had enough of officials incompetence.however the riders should never have the final say on getting a meeting cancelled. Although it would have been a farce should the meeting have carried on and whichever riders didn't want to carry on then so be it. If Harris wanted to take his last rides should he have been allowed to?

[fullbore]

Out of all the people who go to Cardiff, how many of those go to regular speedway meetings, or do they just go for all the razzle and dazzlle, that they get at the GP's, even if nothing works on the night..

Well the 300 mile round trip to our nesrest 2 tracks rather prevents attending regular speedway meetings... Cardiff is only a 180 mmile round trip.

 

Niamh

[Humphrey Appleby]

Seeing 'Meridian Lifts' emblazoned on a non-functioning clock is not the sort of publicity anyone wants.

The two minute clock wasn't functioning either...?

[500cc]

 

For the record: no one from BSI or anyone else for that matter threatened the riders with fines. It is not within their jurisdiction to do so anyway.

 

Anyone who thinks that there isn't a massive investigation going into what went wrong in Warsaw is living in cloud cuckoo land. I believe there will be a meeting with the FIM, BSI and the PZM in Geneva next week.

 

Also, there are a number of riders, including those at the top of the tree, who are privately admitting that had the starting gate worked the meeting would probably have reached its conclusion. It was the straw that broke the camel's back

 

None of which exonerates those responsible for the problems in Warsaw, not least the lack of a second starting gate which, had it been available, might have saved the day.

 

FIM rules quite clearly state that if a starting gate malfunctions races should be started on the green light.

Not a cause to call a meeting off. However, as soon as the riders said the track was unsafe it was a different ball game. The FIM cannot force riders to compete on a track they claim is unsafe even if, in their (FIM) opinion it is not so.

 

Thank-you for the insight.

It does again highlight the fact that how a failed starting gate can appear to have made the difference between a GP completing or not. There are clear rules for starting on the green light if the tapes failed. Ok, they tried to fix them. But we lost NINE heats.

The riders deserve all the backlash they get for this. Riders influence has become to much in recent years. They are given the benefit of doubt over safety, but they are abusing that privilege.

But even the area of safety is becoming blurred. So having pushed it this far, it's time we cleared it up. A rider in this meeting compared his fitness and limitations to driving a car with his legs. Well, any rider deemed not fit by a medical expert taking into account safety implications must be excluded from riding (that includes the equivalent of driving a car with your legs). Other sports have no problem with this and that is typically only the health of the individual. Motor sport needs to consider other competitors.

Can riders really not be fined for refusing to ride, even if it's not just for delaying the start?

And then into the realms of riders saying a track is unsafe. It's a difficult one. The riders will know best, but how independent is their view.

My view on this is in maintaining the riders veto on safety issues, there should be ZERO tolerance on all other issues. They should have no influence on issues such as starting procedures unless the referee specifically requests their input. Any (including Safety) rider meetings are only allowed at after request to and agreement from the referee. The Referee would not be allowed to reject a safety request. Personally I wouldn't allow any rider meeting without the referees presence.

Any unofficial meeting should result in rider fines, and if holding up the meeting, exclusion of all 4 riders from the 'delayed' Heat. Any meetings called under the request of Safety that are proven not to be, should make the riders liable to fines and suspensions.

There was lots at this meeting that need resolving, but the riders have pushed this to the limit. So let's take away the grey areas. But the riders shouldn't expect sympathy if they aren't then happy then.

[The White Knight]

 

 

Thank-you for the insight.

It does again highlight the fact that how a failed starting gate can appear to have made the difference between a GP completing or not. There are clear rules for starting on the green light if the tapes failed. Ok, they tried to fix them. But we lost NINE heats.

The riders deserve all the backlash they get for this. Riders influence has become to much in recent years. They are given the benefit of doubt over safety, but they are abusing that privilege.

But even the area of safety is becoming blurred. So having pushed it this far, it's time we cleared it up. A rider in this meeting compared his fitness and limitations to driving a car with his legs. Well, any rider deemed not fit by a medical expert taking into account safety implications must be excluded from riding (that includes the equivalent of driving a car with your legs). Other sports have no problem with this and that is typically only the health of the individual. Motor sport needs to consider other competitors.

Can riders really not be fined for refusing to ride, even if it's not just for delaying the start?

And then into the realms of riders saying a track is unsafe. It's a difficult one. The riders will know best, but how independent is their view.

My view on this is in maintaining the riders veto on safety issues, there should be ZERO tolerance on all other issues. They should have no influence on issues such as starting procedures unless the referee specifically requests their input. Any (including Safety) rider meetings are only allowed at after request to and agreement from the referee. The Referee would not be allowed to reject a safety request. Personally I wouldn't allow any rider meeting without the referees presence.

Any unofficial meeting should result in rider fines, and if holding up the meeting, exclusion of all 4 riders from the 'delayed' Heat. Any meetings called under the request of Safety that are proven not to be, should make the riders liable to fines and suspensions.

There was lots at this meeting that need resolving, but the riders have pushed this to the limit. So let's take away the grey areas. But the riders shouldn't expect sympathy if they aren't then happy then.

 

Are you telling me that BSI has absolutely no responsibility for this farce? If you are, I cannot agree with you.

 

Consider this - the Riders would not have pulled out for no reason. It will cost them a lot of money.

 

Perhaps they are just sick and tired of the way things are run in Speedway GPs these days. I suspect that there is much more to this than meets the eye.

 

I am not saying the Riders were not to blame, I am only asking why you think that the Riders actions were felt by said Riders, to be necessary?

 

Before anyone mentions the Green Light issue - I find it hard to believe that Riders would walk out of a GP for being asked to do something that is catered for within the Rules and Regulations of Speedway itself.

 

I think we may have a deeper problem here - I doubt we will find out what it is though.

 

I await the next GP with interest.

[Barrycuda]

Post removed

Edited June 6, 2015 by Barrycuda

[weatherwatcher]

It was quite comical last Monday on Sky sport when, Nigel Pearson brought up about the Gp at Warsaw and Kelvin Tatum replied. " I would rather not go into that " That was the end of the issue and Nigel Pearson, just stood there gapping like a fish out of water. So I think that all parties where told not to mention what happened on the night.

I am sure it will all come out in the wash though, in the end, because if nothing is done about the whole farse then it just proves that money talks.

[gbrussell]

I hope Phillip Rising is right and the results of a massive investigation will be known soon. From where i sitting at the opposite end of the speedway mainstream in Sydney I am fearing another BSI "carpet sweep" similar to Gelsenkirchen 2008. The more that time ticks away with no news the more I think nothing will happen.

[PHILIPRISING]

I CAN say with absolute certainty that the SGP riders are very happy with the manner in which the series is run and organised by BSI staff.

There is a huge volume of work that takes place behind the scenes, much of which makes the life of the riders far easier than it otherwise would be. They fully appreciate the level of professionalism that goes into staging these events.

I have been attending speedway meetings for over 50 years, including just about every World Final since 1961, and it is chalk and cheese these days.

And I don’t know of any rider who doesn’t relish riding in the big venues.

The issue they have is when tracks, temporary or otherwise, are not up to scratch and they are quite justified in asking for the proper stage on which to strut their stuff.

And, of course, sub-standard tracks are not just in the SGP domain (Rye House yesterday, Poole this season according to their own Chris Holder)

And this is the key issue. Everything BSI handle and control themselves is almost invariably beyond reproach. The problems arise with the work that they ‘contract out’ which, of course, happens to be the most important component of the event.

Imagine hiring a builder to construct a drive at your house and he sub-contracts the work out which proves to be inferior. The sub-contractors are at fault but, of course, the contractor is responsible.

Also, many on here do not seem to appreciate that responsibility for much of what goes on at a SGP remains in the province of the FIM though their appointed Jury President, referee and FMNR representative and is not within the authority of BSI or any other of the various organisers throughout staging the season.

Edited May 5, 2015 by PHILIPRISING