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Leicester Lions 2016


Big Al

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Summary for the Lions 2017 - 1. Stay in EL. 2 race Thursday or Friday. 3 attract (some) better riders & be more competitive. 4.Attract bigger crowds. 5.go from strength to strength.

 

 

Couldnt agree more. Continued to race on a Saturday this year (and limited the options for team building) so as not to reduce the crowds. Seen an alarming drop in the crowd as the team isnt competitive enough. If there is fixed race nights next year (and we're still in the elite league), I assume more riders will be made available. If we can keep the core of this team and add two heat leaders from the potential influx of riders (and I stress potential!!) we'd have a competitive team.

 

For the first time in my life, Ive struggled to get Leicester City tickets this season- success will draw the crowd. Entertainment will draw the crowds.

 

A team that lines up something like:

 

1. Smolinski (has said he'd return to England with fixed race nights)

2. Klindt (knows the track, knows the fans, will probably have a low average, goes reasonably well at home)

3. Houggard (has impressed me this year. Not a number 1 but has shown he could be a strong third heat leader)

4. Wozniak (provided his polish clubs allow it, exciting, quick, learning, full of potential, loved by the fans)

5. A gp rider possibly? Someone who might return? Janowski? Zmarzlik? Pawlicki?

6. Auty (our fast track rider of the past 2 years, scores well, exciting, trier- will he still be in the draft next year?)

7. Starke (be impressed if we could keep him, been quality for us this year.. be surprised if he wanted to come back though)

 

That team would probably fit within the averages. Keeps a core of Lions riders that know the track and do their job well. Adds strength and experience. A lot depends on the riders that make themselves available to ride in the UK next year and who everyone else gets, because the Lions do seem to get what no one else wants

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Personally I think David and Yulia Hemsley have done a fine job in bring speedway back to Leicester.

The stadium is very good and shows what can be done when building a facility for the sport from scratch ( albeit with a slightly less than perfect track).

 

Unlike some other people here who think David lacks business acumen or is just plain stupid I think the club is well run.

 

The only thing I think you can accuse him of is a bit of over ambition and a maybe being a little stubborn.

 

As is patently clear you cannot run a successful EL speedway team with a Saturday race night (Eastbourne). However David has said that switching to a mid-week slot doesn't work as there is a significant drop off in attendance. Surely the best option then is a return to the Premier League where he can retain the Saturday night slot and with better rider availability in that league he can build a competitive team again and present a better racing experience.

 

I'd never criticise him for wanting to compete in the EL as I imagine it was always his ultimate aim when resurecting the club but it hasn't worked out so cut your losses and return to a model that works and most importantly the sport is retained in the city and the track continues to operate.

 

I'm a Swindon fan and intend going to Beaumont Park next Saturday and I wish the Lions all the best for the rest of the season.

This whole post , especailly the bit where you make claims that David Hemsley resurrected Leicester speedway . shows how little you know about David And Yulia Hemsley , or the resurrection of Leicester speedway ,

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This whole post , especailly the bit where you make claims that David Hemsley resurrected Leicester speedway . shows how little you know about David And Yulia Hemsley , or the resurrection of Leicester speedway ,

I'm interested, please expand.

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I'm interested, please expand.

To actually explain would take far too long , there is such a back catalogue of stuff that people either dont know or have conveniently forgotten . my post to gresham 78 is merely tipping my hat to the people who put in all the hard graft over 28 years to bring Leicester back some of whom are no longer with us and most are no longer part of Leicester speedway

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The top names in speedway are now just to greedy and are asking for silly money, money that the promoters, bar a few clubs are unable to pay them. When they all rode over here last time, with thier demands, they nearly managed between them to close down a few clubs, the promoters kept paying them until it was almost to late, when the clubs decided to put a limit on what they would pay the riders, we saw a mass exodus of riders, most of them will never ride here again, unless they get what they ask for, the likes of PK who wanted £4000 plus points money. How many clubs could pay this sort of figure to say 3 riders a team and still be running at the end of the season. You need an awful load of bums on the seats to even break even.

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Couldnt agree more. Continued to race on a Saturday this year (and limited the options for team building) so as not to reduce the crowds. Seen an alarming drop in the crowd as the team isnt competitive enough. If there is fixed race nights next year (and we're still in the elite league), I assume more riders will be made available. If we can keep the core of this team and add two heat leaders from the potential influx of riders (and I stress potential!!) we'd have a competitive team.

 

For the first time in my life, Ive struggled to get Leicester City tickets this season- success will draw the crowd. Entertainment will draw the crowds.

 

A team that lines up something like:

 

1. Smolinski (has said he'd return to England with fixed race nights)

2. Klindt (knows the track, knows the fans, will probably have a low average, goes reasonably well at home)

3. Houggard (has impressed me this year. Not a number 1 but has shown he could be a strong third heat leader)

4. Wozniak (provided his polish clubs allow it, exciting, quick, learning, full of potential, loved by the fans)

5. A gp rider possibly? Someone who might return? Janowski? Zmarzlik? Pawlicki?

6. Auty (our fast track rider of the past 2 years, scores well, exciting, trier- will he still be in the draft next year?)

7. Starke (be impressed if we could keep him, been quality for us this year.. be surprised if he wanted to come back though)

 

That team would probably fit within the averages. Keeps a core of Lions riders that know the track and do their job well. Adds strength and experience. A lot depends on the riders that make themselves available to ride in the UK next year and who everyone else gets, because the Lions do seem to get what no one else wants

I think it could firstly be a matter of will Leicester be able to complete THIS season, because from the occasional video clip and photo, the crowd level has started to seem a bit on the sparse side.

Of course Mr Hemsley could be happy and able to put lots of his own cash in to keep things going as a kind of hobby thing, or maybe the bank is very supportive and happy to keep on extending more credit, because I doubt if the main club sponsors are putting in anywhere near what would be required to make up the losses which have been suggested on here.

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I think it could firstly be a matter of will Leicester be able to complete THIS season, because from the occasional video clip and photo, the crowd level has started to seem a bit on the sparse side.

Of course Mr Hemsley could be happy and able to put lots of his own cash in to keep things going as a kind of hobby thing, or maybe the bank is very supportive and happy to keep on extending more credit, because I doubt if the main club sponsors are putting in anywhere near what would be required to make up the losses which have been suggested on here.

I think it could firstly be a matter of will Leicester be able to complete THIS season, Are you for real. Of course they will. Leicester still get bigger gates than most other tracks.

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I think it could firstly be a matter of will Leicester be able to complete THIS season, Are you for real. Of course they will. Leicester still get bigger gates than most other tracks.

Haha . not rose tinted glasses but magnifying glasses ,

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I think it could firstly be a matter of will Leicester be able to complete THIS season, Are you for real. Of course they will. Leicester still get bigger gates than most other tracks.

OK, give us some numbers

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OK, give us some numbers

Numbers are no concern to you or any one else other than the promoter

The top names in speedway are now just to greedy and are asking for silly money, money that the promoters, bar a few clubs are unable to pay them. When they all rode over here last time, with thier demands, they nearly managed between them to close down a few clubs, the promoters kept paying them until it was almost to late, when the clubs decided to put a limit on what they would pay the riders, we saw a mass exodus of riders, most of them will never ride here again, unless they get what they ask for, the likes of PK who wanted £4000 plus points money. How many clubs could pay this sort of figure to say 3 riders a team and still be running at the end of the season. You need an awful load of bums on the seats to even break even.

good to see you last Saturday at BP

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Trust me....Leicester will see the season out.

It would cost them more in fines etc than to carry on.

 

Every promoter in the history of speedway claims poverty

Aye, only have to get through to end of August now of course, so might scrape through with a bit of luck

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