markyb Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) Ok, I understand that Poland has the capability to attract the best riders to compete in their leagues, but what is it that Sweden has over the UK elite. I look tonight at the play off in Sweden and the calibre of number 1, 3 & 5's plus some decent reserves too and realise how mugged off the speedway supporting fans of the UK are being treated. A serious issue that needs to be addressed. We got an almost certain "British" world champion again that chooses to ride outside of his "native" land. We got a 2nd in the titlle hunt who chooses to wear his U.S. colours anywhere but the UK, plus an ageing Danish star who lives "down the road" but avoids showing his face at a UK circuit. what is it so wrong with the UK speedway scene ? Money, taxes or earnings potential in general ? What needs to happen to bring them back ? Would be good to understand the reasons from a decent riders point of view especially. Edited September 15, 2015 by markyb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Bu**ered if I know marky but I do know it's a ****ing shame and probably the death-knell for top-class British speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 if there was one race night im sure theyd be back..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Ok, I understand that Poland has the capability to attract the best riders to compete in their leagues, but what is it that Sweden has over the UK elite. I look tonight at the play off in Sweden and the calibre of number 1, 3 & 5's plus some decent reserves too and realise how mugged off the speedway supporting fans of the UK are being treated. A serious issue that needs to be addressed. We got an almost certain "British" world champion again that chooses to ride outside of his "native" land. We got a 2nd in the titlle hunt who chooses to wear his U.S. colours anywhere but the UK, plus an ageing Danish star who lives "down the road" but avoids showing his face at a UK circuit. what is it so wrong with the UK speedway scene ? Money, taxes or earnings potential in general ? What needs to happen to bring them back ? Would be good to understand the reasons from a decent riders point of view especially. Been abroad for awhile and not reading the BSF, SS, etc. Been done to death this, on the basis of insufficient income and massive sponsorship sponsorship abroad. BTW The 'ageing' Danish Star hasn't lived in his country for quite awhile, so perhaps you have been out the loop for some time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 No-one earns any money from speedway in the UK. Perhaps they do in Sweden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmc82 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 MONEY 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 The UK is just pocket money or somewhere to test bikes out in a weak league,however the top guys don't need either. The only way they would comeback is if UK promotors offered them mega deals, big money talks. When the British champion turns is back on British speedway that to me is more of a concern than the likes of Pedersen,Hancock & Others not wanting to ride here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 if there was one race night im sure theyd be back..... Lovely idea in principle but won't work in practice I'm afraid. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoFastTurnLeft Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Top riders don't want to come here because they're not paid enough. They're not paid enough because speedway is not popular enough in the UK. Speedway is not popular enough because big crowds don't go to meetings. Big crowds don't go to meetings because top riders don't come here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Top riders don't want to come here because they're not paid enough. They're not paid enough because speedway is not popular enough in the UK. Speedway is not popular enough because big crowds don't go to meetings. Big crowds don't go to meetings because top riders don't come here. its a amateur sport in britain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Teams withdrawing from the play-offs? Or was that only last year?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoFastTurnLeft Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 its a amateur sport in britain Then we should be asking ourselves, where did it go wrong, and how do we bring the good times back? because we used to have all the top riders racing over here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Top riders don't want to come here because they're not paid enough. They're not paid enough because speedway is not popular enough in the UK. Speedway is not popular enough because big crowds don't go to meetings. Big crowds don't go to meetings because top riders don't come here. But promotors still want big money from the fans even though the top riders have long gone, speedway is a £10 sport, promotors need to budget for that price as its too expensive now. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 if there was one race night im sure theyd be back..... That is a massive factor. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 That is a massive factor. year on year its just tinkered with, and constantly watering down the product..we need a radical move, one league one night, and end doubling up...a main league...whatever you want for the other league/leagues should be secondary to a british show piece league..cant see british promoters being bold enough for this though...matt ford promoters who go sell the sport would help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
full-throttle Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 the same as Poland and Denmark, one race night per week, discussion closed 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iand Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Poland Elite League always on a Sunday only 8 teams. 14 league matches. Sweden Elite League always on a Tuesday only 7 teams, 12 league matches. compare that to Britain 8 teams 28 matches race night Mon,Wed,Fri and Sat. We have too many fixtures over too many race nights,somehow we have got to reduce the amount of matches in a season to entice the bigger names over and reduce the amount of race nights to 2 at the most. If teams don't like it go down to the Premier. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 one race night in the UK would never happen as most stadium owners don't give speedway promotors a choice, also Leicester who own there stadium only want to race Saturday's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Ok, I understand that Poland has the capability to attract the best riders to compete in their leagues, but what is it that Sweden has over the UK elite. I look tonight at the play off in Sweden and the calibre of number 1, 3 & 5's plus some decent reserves too and realise how mugged off the speedway supporting fans of the UK are being treated. A serious issue that needs to be addressed. We got an almost certain "British" world champion again that chooses to ride outside of his "native" land. We got a 2nd in the titlle hunt who chooses to wear his U.S. colours anywhere but the UK, plus an ageing Danish star who lives "down the road" but avoids showing his face at a UK circuit. what is it so wrong with the UK speedway scene ? Money, taxes or earnings potential in general ? What needs to happen to bring them back ? Would be good to understand the reasons from a decent riders point of view especially. MONEY (one rider told me he probably earns three times as much in Sweden than in England)... easier just to commute between Poland and Sweden without having to fly in and out of the UK as well as keeping bikes here ... tracks (so much better to ride than most in England)... permanent race nights... just for starters 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) this "better tracks" comment that rears its head again? pre grand prix did the best riders ever come up with that argument? did ole olsen, ivan mauger, barry briggs ever dodge Britain? it may well come down to money, but iwont be convinced about the tracks! Edited September 15, 2015 by ColinMills 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.