Has Speedway Reached/over-reached Its Top Speed?

[Shale Searcher]

What I mean is, have speedway bikes got as fast as they ever can be, have we reached the tipping point? Can they go any faster than they are already going..? Should tuners now be trying to get a better spread of power, to not go faster, but work better at cornering, being able to handle deeper, wetter bends and leave top end speed where it is......

[Fromafar]

What I mean is, have speedway bikes got as fast as they ever can be, have we reached the tipping point? Can they go any faster than they are already going..? Should tuners now be trying to get a better spread of power, to not go faster, but work better at cornering, being able to handle deeper, wetter bends and leave top end speed where it is......

speedwayengines are capable of much high speeds ,it's the gearing and the set-up that determines how they handle track conditions,in GB especially the tracks are less compatible than abroad to modern day technology IMO . Edited June 29, 2015 by Fromafar

[foamfence]

Speeds will definitely increase, they do in all sports. Personally I would like to see a cap on the allowable amount of power. Slightly slower bikes would be more reliable, safer and allow more concentration on actual racing, the sport should be totally about the rider, rather than the equipment or the methods used to extract more power from it.

[Shale Searcher]

Yes, but haven't other motor sports tried to reduce overall top speed? Didn't F1 reinvent itself to an extent when it introduced the by hybrid engines, wasn't the intention to lop 10-15mph off the top speed?

[foamfence]

Yes, but haven't other motor sports tried to reduce overall top speed? Didn't F1 reinvent itself to an extent when it introduced the by hybrid engines, wasn't the intention to lop 10-15mph off the top speed?

That's true but F1 is a competition for manufacturers of cars and engines and has huge funding.

[weatherwatcher]

The bikes have now reached a speed, that the bikes are now getting un handleable, in the hands of some of the younger riders, they are just a nasty accident waiting to happen. They are racing around a small oval track and the concentration needed has to be at a full maximum for all four laps, one small slip in concentration can end up with you in a big heap.

Personally I would rather see the bikes slowed down giving far closer racing, than we are seeing now. You have the top riders on bikes that are tuned to the maximum and they spend silly money doing it.

Where is the enjoyment seeing a riders half a lap or more after the first couple of bends and he only increases his leads the longer the race goes on. It is not just about who is the best speedway rider, it all boils down to who has the most money to spend to get the fastest bike out there on the day, Not sure if you put a young rider on onw of these over the top tuned bikes if he would do the same, because he would not have the skill to handle all the extra power. We should have all the bikes set up to the same standard, that equals out the racing.

The sport these days just boild down to the top riders with that extra few years riding skill behind them and a bottomless purse to get the frastest bike.

[OveFundinFan]

Yes, but haven't other motor sports tried to reduce overall top speed? Didn't F1 reinvent itself to an extent when it introduced the by hybrid engines, wasn't the intention to lop 10-15mph off the top speed?

F1 cars have slowed down, now a lot of people, including and foremost the drivers, are saying they are too slow and excitement has gone.

I watched Formula E last night, I would think much slower (and quieter) but racing was probably more exciting, cars were sliding about a bit as well.

[Ozrik]

That's true but F1 is a competition for manufacturers of cars and engines and has huge funding.

What makes Formula1 unique, is the huge sums of money spent perfecting technology. Unfortunately that is also what makes it uniquely boring.

What makes speedway unique is riders are essentially on the same machinery. In the purest sense, riders with greater ability and courage should win.

Nothing worse to watch than predictable, processional racing in any motor sport. Hope speedway does not take the F1 path.

[FAST GATER]

The bikes have now reached a speed, that the bikes are now getting un handleable, in the hands of some of the younger riders, they are just a nasty accident waiting to happen. They are racing around a small oval track and the concentration needed has to be at a full maximum for all four laps, one small slip in concentration can end up with you in a big heap.

Personally I would rather see the bikes slowed down giving far closer racing, than we are seeing now. You have the top riders on bikes that are tuned to the maximum and they spend silly money doing it.

Where is the enjoyment seeing a riders half a lap or more after the first couple of bends and he only increases his leads the longer the race goes on. It is not just about who is the best speedway rider, it all boils down to who has the most money to spend to get the fastest bike out there on the day, Not sure if you put a young rider on onw of these over the top tuned bikes if he would do the same, because he would not have the skill to handle all the extra power. We should have all the bikes set up to the same standard, that equals out the racing.

The sport these days just boild down to the top riders with that extra few years riding skill behind them and a bottomless purse to get the frastest bike.

Spot on could not agree more seems obvious to me what's need but I don't have a vested interest in not changing things.

What makes Formula1 unique, is the huge sums of money spent perfecting technology. Unfortunately that is also what makes it uniquely boring.

What makes speedway unique is riders are essentially on the same machinery. In the purest sense, riders with greater ability and courage should win.

Nothing worse to watch than predictable, processional racing in any motor sport. Hope speedway does not take the F1 path.

It's heading that way at F1 speed at the moment sadly

[fatface]

The bikes have now reached a speed, that the bikes are now getting un handleable, in the hands of some of the younger riders, they are just a nasty accident waiting to happen. They are racing around a small oval track and the concentration needed has to be at a full maximum for all four laps, one small slip in concentration can end up with you in a big heap.

Personally I would rather see the bikes slowed down giving far closer racing, than we are seeing now. You have the top riders on bikes that are tuned to the maximum and they spend silly money doing it.

Where is the enjoyment seeing a riders half a lap or more after the first couple of bends and he only increases his leads the longer the race goes on. It is not just about who is the best speedway rider, it all boils down to who has the most money to spend to get the fastest bike out there on the day, Not sure if you put a young rider on onw of these over the top tuned bikes if he would do the same, because he would not have the skill to handle all the extra power. We should have all the bikes set up to the same standard, that equals out the racing.

The sport these days just boild down to the top riders with that extra few years riding skill behind them and a bottomless purse to get the frastest bike.

I'm not sure I agree with this. Sure the bikes are faster, but I wouldn't say they are more dangerous. If anything I would say they are easier to ride than ever before. You only have to look on YouTube for any National League match in the 1980s and you'll see a vastly different type of riding than you'll see in today's 2nd or 3rd tier racing. Is that because today's riders are so much better? I don't believe so, but their bikes are much easier to handle with a much lower centre of gravity.

 

It's arguable that overtaking is more dangerous now, because more league riders can go full gas for four laps these days without making a mistake. So to overtake, the risk element is now much higher, riders have to go closer to the edge.

 

Whereas years ago - particularly in the National League - you could wait for an opponent to make a mistake.

 

Then again, although riders have to push that bit harder, the number of serious accidents resulting in death or paralysis seems a lot lower than in the 1980s. Of course, we have a lot to thanks the air fences for on that front.

 

It seems to me - in Britain in particular - the tighter and narrower tracks are just less suited to the bikes. As an example, speedway at Coventry now looks much different to me that what it did in the 70s and 80s. There are much less racing lines now with everyone able to bomb into the turns at full belt knowing that the bike is good enough to get them round.

[weatherwatcher]

The bikes are more suited to the larger Polish type tracks, that is why when they young Poles come over here it is quite a shock to their system, trying to ride the much smaller tighter tracks, They would be far better if the bikes where running that little bit slower over here than they are now. I still don't think that with the tight track of the UK that a lot of riders can handle the speed. How many meetings do we see where a rider is up the back wheel of the rider in front, he shuts the trottle back slightly and the rider in front has then gone 5 bike lenths in front never to be seen again.

It needs to be slowed down not by that much I am not talking of having someone in front with a red flag to keep them at 3 m.p.h, but enough to take maybe a few seconds off the lap times,

It is getting to the stage now where it is just gate go and win, with the riders strung out in long procesions, I would rather see them having to race to get the win not just go from the tapes like a rocket.

[Bruiser McHuge]

I'm not sure bikes are harder to ride now ..if anything the lay down design is an easier ride which in itself makes it harder to pass an opponent as they are less likely to make a mistake, even more so on the slicker tracks often prepared.

 

Mind you, I'm not sure speedway was always a thrill a minute with passes in every race...when I started going in the 70's all my friends said it was boring as the first out of the gate always won..and that was nearly 40 years ago !.........what it definitely had though was more teams, more tracks, a good variety of track sizes and good crowds that created a buzz and a genuine atmosphere....if you had all that you didn't always need fantastic racing ..it just felt good to be there, especially if the scores were close

[The White Knight]

I've said it before and I will say it again. Too powerful Bikes (circa: 2015) for the Tracks (circa: 1928) that they are expected to Race on.

 

I'm just waiting for the first Jet bike. :shock:

 

I'm only half joking.

 

If the power were reduced we would see closer Racing and less injuries. I cannot prove that - but I honestly believe it to be the case.

 

Who knows - more exciting close Racing may even bring some Supporters back?

Edited June 30, 2015 by The White Knight

[ruffdiamond]

If bikes are getting much faster, are track records coming down in comparison, or,,, are tracks getting slower ???

[The White Knight]

If bikes are getting much faster, are track records coming down in comparison, or,,, are tracks getting slower ???

Just look at the Track Record Section on here RD. Times are getting faster.

[ruffdiamond]

Just look at the Track Record Section on here RD. Times are getting faster.

a know times are getting quicker, but are they getting quicker as much as the bikes are,,, do you get what I mean ??? :-)

[The White Knight]

a know times are getting quicker, but are they getting quicker as much as the bikes are,,, do you get what I mean ??? :-)

I believe that to be so - yes.

[ruffdiamond]

I believe that to be so - yes.

a suppose that body weight and strength have to be factored in also,,, and being able to handle the power produced,,,

a mean, a 1.1 fiesta with 5 dolly birds in should go faster than 1 with 5 salad dodgers in, but it might depend on who's driving, lol

Edited June 30, 2015 by ruffdiamond

[billybikespeedway]

As for Myself I've never been impressed with just sheer speed cant stand F1 , but speedway offered so much more, I'm going back to 64 when I first became addicted ,not the speed but the thrill of the action, some of this has been lost ( for me ) with faster bikes, but I still like to watch TV only these days,frank smart ,stuart robson and the like did it for me .

[Wheelman]

I have heard it said ....In Auto racing you race the car beside you...... On a motorcycle you race the Man. ....We dont want to get away from this. I think teams are always going to go with the combination that that allows them to complete the race in the shortest time....... hence the set up..... I dont see this changing. There is apossibility a less radical , developed motor with the correct set up and rider could be very competitive .....Didnt Tai and Darcy get to the highest levels of the sport on feely standard machinery? Maybe the SGP could be given a free hand in their engine wars and the rest pulled back abit...... Rev limiter? ..... your thoughts?