Is This The Way Forward For British Speedway?

[Electric6]

I think for 2017 there should be a British League North & South - 8 teams per league

 

All attendances to be made public with 25% of the gate revenue going to the away team in all matches.

 

BRITISH LEAGUE NORTH

1. WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES

2. COVENTRY BEES

3. BELLE VUE ACES

4. GLASGOW TIGERS

5. SHEFFIELD TIGERS

6. EDINBURGH MONARCHS

7. LEICESTER LIONS

8. NEWCASTLE ACES

 

BRITISH LEAGUE SOUTH

1. IPSWICH WITCHES

2. PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS

3. POOLE PIRATES

4. SWINDON ROBINS

5. KINGS LYNN

6. RYE HOUSE ROCKETS

7. SOMERSET REBELS

8. LAKESIDE HAMMERS

 

15 Heat Format - Heats 14 & 15 being nominated heats

2 x Tactical Switches allowed if more than 8 points behind i.e. a rider can replace any other programmed rider once.

Home & Away meeting once so 14 regular league meetings.

Top 4 qualify for end of season British League Trophy -

1st in North vs 4th in South etc.

 

Bottom 4 go into a similar KO competition to determine the "challenge cup winner"

 

BRITISH SPEEDWAY ASSOCIATION CUP

 

all 16 teams go into the draw for 2 legged knockout competition so teams from both north and south can face each other generating more interest.

13 Heat Format with no nominated Heats

 

BRITISH SPEEDWAY LEAGUE CUP

 

4 groups of 4 teams - so 2 x North A & B and 2 x South A & B racing home and away.

Top 2 from each group qualify for the knockouts

Run over a 14-heat format with Heat 14 being nominated

The twist is that points are awarded 4-3-2-0 so we will see a different style of meeting i.e. team riding

 

 

I listed a load of averages uses data weeks ago so I have compiled a mock-up of 16 teams, shows also why 16 teams are required and especially 6 rider teams as there are not enough riders to go around. Here are the line ups

 

WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES

1. F. Lindgren 7.48

2. J. Thorsell 6.26

3. P. Karlsson 7.04

4. L. Lindgren 5.20

5. Z. Wajtknecht 3.00

6. T. Perry 3.00

COVENTRY BEES

1. C. Harris 8.09

2. R. Worral 5.33

3. D. King 6.71

4. J. Garrity 5.87

5. D. Greenwood 3.00

6. L. Crang 3.00

BELLE VUE ACES

1. M. Zagar 7.39

2. S. Worral 5.85

3. M. Fricke 7.04

4. B. Wilson-Dean 4.00

5. M. Castagna 4.00

6. S. Nielsen 3.60

GLASGOW TIGERS

1. J. Doyle 8.61

2. K. Smith 4.52

3. R. Lawson 6.06

4. A. Summers 5.45

5. V. Palovaara 3.81

6. B. Morley 3.00

SHEFFIELD TIGERS

1. S. Stead 7.25

2. A. Compton 5.02

3. B. Kurtz 6.57

4. G. Walasek 6.00

5. A. Sissis 4.16

6. J. Bates 3.00

EDINBURGH MONARCHS

1. C. Cook 7.74

2. S. Masters 5.41

3. K. Gomolski 5.97

4. K. Wolbert 5.93

5. E. Riss 4.00

6. M. Clegg 3.00

LEICESTER LIONS

1. M. Janowski 8.80

2. J. Auty 5.80

3. K. Howarth 5.76

4. B. Barker 5.53

5. M. Williamson 3.00

6. D. Halsey 3.00

NEWCASTLE ACES

1. T. Batchelor 7.18

2. N. Jacobsen 5.37

3. D. North 6.86

4. T. Musielak 5.60

5. C. Henry 3.98

6. L. Carr 3.00

 

IPSWICH WITCHES

1. S. Nicholls 7.24

2. K. Howarth 5.76

3. R. Wells 6.59

4. N. Covatti 5.53

5. A. Morris 3.51

6. A. Ellis 3.00

PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS

1. K. Bjerre 7.22

2. L. Bjerre 5.98

3. O. Allen 6.11

4. U. Ostegaard 5.80

5. T. Aarnio 3.46

6. Simon. Nielsen 3.43

POOLE PIRATES

1. C. Holder 7.78

2. C. Wright 5.12

3. R. Tungate 5.24

4. J. Holder 4.82

5. C. Heeps 4.62

6. P. Starke 4.17

SWINDON ROBINS

1. P. Kildemand 7.86

2. K. Newman 5.00

3. Zengota 7.40

4. S. Lambert 4.24

5. Thornblom 4.20

6. R. Hall 3.00

KINGS LYNN

1. Iversen 8.55

2. J. Sargeant 4.22

3. R. Lambert 6.95

4. N. Porsing 6.25

5. T. Stokes 3.00

6. J. Cockle 3.00

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS

1. H. Andersen 7.95

2. A. Mellgren 4.65

3. E. Kennett 6.56

4. M. Michelsen 6.67

5. R. Branford 3.00

6. K. Hughes 3.00

SOMERSET REBELS

1. N. Morris 7.40

2. R. Fisher 4.85

3. J. Graczjonik 7.07

4. M. Risager 4.75

5. K. Lykke 4.46

6. N. Lunna 3.38

 

LAKESIDE HAMMERS

1. A. Jonsson 7.56

2. M. Palm-Toft 4.72

3. D. Watt 6.41

4. M. Bech 7.11

5. B. Hopwood 3.00

6. E. Perks

 

Riders not in teams include

 

ANDERSEN J - 5.20

ATKIN T - 3.00

BERGE D - 3.82

BENKI R - 4.00

BOWEN L - 3.35

BOXALL S - 4.69

BELLEGO D - 4.51

CHAPMAN S - 3.00

CARR L - 3.00

DOOLAN K - 5.07

DOUGLAS R - 4.98

DAVIES A - 3.98

GARCIA F - 4.00

GRAVESEN J - 3.74

GRONDAL E - 5.20

HOLUB Z - 5.20

HARRISON R - 4.59

HANSEN K - 4.50

JENSEN R - 4.68

Kylmakorpi J - 7.00

KRCMAR E - 5.50

KUS M - 5.07

KONOPKA - 4.00

KLINDT N - 5.01

LYAGER A - 5.20

LANHAM L - 5.04

MANZARES G - 4.26

MAAESSEN D - 4.00

NILSSON K - 6.88

NIEMINEN K - 5.35

PEDERSEN B - 6.55

PIJPER T - 4.86

PROCTOR T - 5.01

ROBSON - 4.92

ROSEN A - 4.60

ROYNON A - 3.63

SWIDERSKI P - 6.34

STICHAUER H - 3.74

SIMOTA Z - 3.82

SKIDMORE H - 5.10

VOLDRIM M - 4.00

VISSING C - 5.52

WILKINSON C - 4.60

WILSON B - 3.89

WRIGHT J - 4.68

T. KURTZ - 4.48

R. HARRISON - 4.59

A. BIRKS - 4.34

A. EDBERG - 3.40

J. SEDGEMAN - 5.40

S. WOZNIAK - 6.63

M. WETHERS - 3.45

All teams are build using 32 points, I would have a 10-12 team National League backing up this league. Looking at some of the names that COULD not be in a team - looks like guests will be easy!

What do you think of the format?

What team would YOU pick?

and out of those teams, which has the best chance of success?

 

[foamfence]

Why have regional leagues and then pick riders from one region and put them in the other? Surely the point of a regional league is to reduce travel for spectators and riders.

[The White Knight]

I think quite a few Supporters of Teams like Redcar and Plymouth and others may have something to say about this...........

 

Not for me under that system I'm afraid.

 

Sorry.

[Electric6]

FoamFence - having teams regionalised for the league meetings will reduce travel for fans - riders for years have travelled hundreds of miles for home league meetings and its just an example, the team/averages etc.

 

White Knight - I hear what you are saying but it has to be kept to 16 teams, who to say those that don't make the cut can't have a very successful National league side? 16 teams should look to be extended to 20 teams within 3 seasons if more young riders come through.

[New Science]

How are riders who solely ride in Britain going to make a living riding 14 league fixtures a year,maybe 20 in all competitions ?

[Electric6]

14 Regular League Fixtures

2-6 Meetings in the "play-offs"

2-8 Meetings in the Association Cup

6 meetings in the League Cup Group with 1-3 additional meetings in the knockout rounds

 

You are looking at between 24-31 meetings per season

 

Perhaps instead of the play-offs - the top 4 from north/south go into a league and the bottom 4 go into a league instead...give another 14 meetings

 

so 38-55 meetings per year!

 

I would also make the British Final a mini Grand Prix series and run it over 3 events.

 

Looking at my line ups top 4 from each section would be

 

North - Coventry, Edinburgh, Wolves, Glasgow

 

South - Ipswich, Poole, Swindon, Somerset

Edited August 25, 2015 by Electric6

[Ghostwalker]

How are riders who solely ride in Britain going to make a living riding 14 league fixtures a year,maybe 20 in all competitions ?

 

The way as some of the Swedish riders do, and that is by working.

[New Science]

I think for 2017 there should be a British League North & South - 8 teams per league

 

All attendances to be made public with 25% of the gate revenue going to the away team in all matches.

 

BRITISH LEAGUE NORTH

1. WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES

2. COVENTRY BEES

3. BELLE VUE ACES

4. GLASGOW TIGERS

5. SHEFFIELD TIGERS

6. EDINBURGH MONARCHS

7. LEICESTER LIONS

8. NEWCASTLE ACES

 

BRITISH LEAGUE SOUTH

1. IPSWICH WITCHES

2. PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS

3. POOLE PIRATES

4. SWINDON ROBINS

5. KINGS LYNN

6. RYE HOUSE ROCKETS

7. SOMERSET REBELS

8. LAKESIDE HAMMERS

 

15 Heat Format - Heats 14 & 15 being nominated heats

2 x Tactical Switches allowed if more than 8 points behind i.e. a rider can replace any other programmed rider once.

Home & Away meeting once so 14 regular league meetings.

Top 4 qualify for end of season British League Trophy -

1st in North vs 4th in South etc.

 

Bottom 4 go into a similar KO competition to determine the "challenge cup winner"

 

BRITISH SPEEDWAY ASSOCIATION CUP

 

all 16 teams go into the draw for 2 legged knockout competition so teams from both north and south can face each other generating more interest.

13 Heat Format with no nominated Heats

 

BRITISH SPEEDWAY LEAGUE CUP

 

4 groups of 4 teams - so 2 x North A & B and 2 x South A & B racing home and away.

Top 2 from each group qualify for the knockouts

Run over a 14-heat format with Heat 14 being nominated

The twist is that points are awarded 4-3-2-0 so we will see a different style of meeting i.e. team riding

 

 

I listed a load of averages uses data weeks ago so I have compiled a mock-up of 16 teams, shows also why 16 teams are required and especially 6 rider teams as there are not enough riders to go around. Here are the line ups

 

WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES

1. F. Lindgren 7.48

2. J. Thorsell 6.26

3. P. Karlsson 7.04

4. L. Lindgren 5.20

5. Z. Wajtknecht 3.00

6. T. Perry 3.00

COVENTRY BEES

1. C. Harris 8.09

2. R. Worral 5.33

3. D. King 6.71

4. J. Garrity 5.87

5. D. Greenwood 3.00

6. L. Crang 3.00

BELLE VUE ACES

1. M. Zagar 7.39

2. S. Worral 5.85

3. M. Fricke 7.04

4. B. Wilson-Dean 4.00

5. M. Castagna 4.00

6. S. Nielsen 3.60

GLASGOW TIGERS

1. J. Doyle 8.61

2. K. Smith 4.52

3. R. Lawson 6.06

4. A. Summers 5.45

5. V. Palovaara 3.81

6. B. Morley 3.00

SHEFFIELD TIGERS

1. S. Stead 7.25

2. A. Compton 5.02

3. B. Kurtz 6.57

4. G. Walasek 6.00

5. A. Sissis 4.16

6. J. Bates 3.00

EDINBURGH MONARCHS

1. C. Cook 7.74

2. S. Masters 5.41

3. K. Gomolski 5.97

4. K. Wolbert 5.93

5. E. Riss 4.00

6. M. Clegg 3.00

LEICESTER LIONS

1. M. Janowski 8.80

2. J. Auty 5.80

3. K. Howarth 5.76

4. B. Barker 5.53

5. M. Williamson 3.00

6. D. Halsey 3.00

NEWCASTLE ACES

1. T. Batchelor 7.18

2. N. Jacobsen 5.37

3. D. North 6.86

4. T. Musielak 5.60

5. C. Henry 3.98

6. L. Carr 3.00

 

IPSWICH WITCHES

1. S. Nicholls 7.24

2. K. Howarth 5.76

3. R. Wells 6.59

4. N. Covatti 5.53

5. A. Morris 3.51

6. A. Ellis 3.00

PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS

1. K. Bjerre 7.22

2. L. Bjerre 5.98

3. O. Allen 6.11

4. U. Ostegaard 5.80

5. T. Aarnio 3.46

6. Simon. Nielsen 3.43

POOLE PIRATES

1. C. Holder 7.78

2. C. Wright 5.12

3. R. Tungate 5.24

4. J. Holder 4.82

5. C. Heeps 4.62

6. P. Starke 4.17

SWINDON ROBINS

1. P. Kildemand 7.86

2. K. Newman 5.00

3. Zengota 7.40

4. S. Lambert 4.24

5. Thornblom 4.20

6. R. Hall 3.00

KINGS LYNN

1. Iversen 8.55

2. J. Sargeant 4.22

3. R. Lambert 6.95

4. N. Porsing 6.25

5. T. Stokes 3.00

6. J. Cockle 3.00

RYE HOUSE ROCKETS

1. H. Andersen 7.95

2. A. Mellgren 4.65

3. E. Kennett 6.56

4. M. Michelsen 6.67

5. R. Branford 3.00

6. K. Hughes 3.00

SOMERSET REBELS

1. N. Morris 7.40

2. R. Fisher 4.85

3. J. Graczjonik 7.07

4. M. Risager 4.75

5. K. Lykke 4.46

6. N. Lunna 3.38

 

LAKESIDE HAMMERS

1. A. Jonsson 7.56

2. M. Palm-Toft 4.72

3. D. Watt 6.41

4. M. Bech 7.11

5. B. Hopwood 3.00

6. E. Perks

 

Riders not in teams include

 

ANDERSEN J - 5.20

ATKIN T - 3.00

BERGE D - 3.82

BENKI R - 4.00

BOWEN L - 3.35

BOXALL S - 4.69

BELLEGO D - 4.51

CHAPMAN S - 3.00

CARR L - 3.00

DOOLAN K - 5.07

DOUGLAS R - 4.98

DAVIES A - 3.98

GARCIA F - 4.00

GRAVESEN J - 3.74

GRONDAL E - 5.20

HOLUB Z - 5.20

HARRISON R - 4.59

HANSEN K - 4.50

JENSEN R - 4.68

Kylmakorpi J - 7.00

KRCMAR E - 5.50

KUS M - 5.07

KONOPKA - 4.00

KLINDT N - 5.01

LYAGER A - 5.20

LANHAM L - 5.04

MANZARES G - 4.26

MAAESSEN D - 4.00

NILSSON K - 6.88

NIEMINEN K - 5.35

PEDERSEN B - 6.55

PIJPER T - 4.86

PROCTOR T - 5.01

ROBSON - 4.92

ROSEN A - 4.60

ROYNON A - 3.63

SWIDERSKI P - 6.34

STICHAUER H - 3.74

SIMOTA Z - 3.82

SKIDMORE H - 5.10

VOLDRIM M - 4.00

VISSING C - 5.52

WILKINSON C - 4.60

WILSON B - 3.89

WRIGHT J - 4.68

T. KURTZ - 4.48

R. HARRISON - 4.59

A. BIRKS - 4.34

A. EDBERG - 3.40

J. SEDGEMAN - 5.40

S. WOZNIAK - 6.63

M. WETHERS - 3.45

All teams are build using 32 points, I would have a 10-12 team National League backing up this league. Looking at some of the names that COULD not be in a team - looks like guests will be easy!

What do you think of the format?

What team would YOU pick?

and out of those teams, which has the best chance of success?

 

With this format you are presuming that established premier league clubs are going to increase their costs by paying star riders like Doyle,Anderssen etc. Under no circumstances are Premier league clubs going to increase their costs to produce a somewhat half way house between Elite and Premier.If this format is to be a goer then it will be at current Premier league level.While we are at it why not one big league 16 teams 15 home 15 away at Premier league level plus a knock out cup to feature all teams plus national league teams.

[Shale Searcher]

When did Kauko rejoin the UK speedway scene?

[teddy2706]

Kings Lynn and Peterborough are both farther north than Wolverhampton or Coventry.

 

 

The North/South divide is not to be encouraged in my opinion.

 

Berwick are beyond help then?

[Christopher Bcmma Cook]

Take zagar, Doyle, janowski, iversen, kildemand and jonsson out of those teams and it could be fairly realistic but one league of 16-18 teams.

 

Like the diversity of a 13 heat cup and the 4_3_2_0 scoring in another cup competition.

 

Current premier league play off system tho

[StevePark]

When did Kauko rejoin the UK speedway scene?

 

A few weeks ago with Glasgow. Currently injured (collarbone).

 

Berwick and Workington fans will be deighted by not being included!

Edited August 26, 2015 by Steve Park

[jenga]

berwick and workington could end up as a start of the breakaway group and others may join them. its not going to work, some poor teams there as well. its been watered down again.good effort tho.

Edited August 26, 2015 by jenga

[waiheke1]

The current el sides will have big crowd drops with those line ups. The pl sides won't get a big enough boost to pay for number ones.

People who criticize the el say it has too many mismatched races and is overpriced. These changes would result in huge mis matches in heats and can't see prices dropping more than a quid.

Big no from me

[ch958]

How are riders who solely ride in Britain going to make a living riding 14 league fixtures a year,maybe 20 in all competitions ?

to be fair that's their problem - they'd have to get a job

Speedway neither owes them a living or can actually provide one for them currently

[teaboy279]

You can remove Lakeside from the list as I don't think they have a track for next season yet, but can add kent who will be looking to move up the leagues in the winter I believe.

 

Don't think that would work anyway, not gonna reduce travelling either when well over half the riders fly in from mainland Europe anyway.

[Christopher Bcmma Cook]

Regional leagues only help boost attendances

[StevePark]

Regional leagues only help boost attendances

 

There is a positive out of it then.

[RobMcCaffery]

Regional leagues only help boost attendances

I'd be fascinated to be given actual examples of this in professional sport.

 

It may sound good in theory but I can't recall any major sport in this country operating regional leagues at the higher levels since the Football League abandoned the Third Division North and South back in the late 1950s.

Edited August 26, 2015 by rmc

[The White Knight]

I'd be fascinated to be given examples of this in professional sport.

To be fair rmc - Derby Games in Football do generally have increased Attendances over ordinary 'run of the mill' Games.

 

The argument is - would that happen in Speedway if you were playing your nearest neighbours. I think it could possibly be the case.