The 2016 Speedway Best Pairs Cup

[moomin man 76]

I'm sorry but I can't really summon up any real interest for this new format. I could just about swallow One Sport's 'Best Pairs' format when the teams represented countries, but not with artificial 'trade teams.'

There are some decent riders competing, but they are spread across the teams; aside from 'City Team' which maybe is a vehicle for German riders, but is woefully weak at this level.

[Ghostwalker]

I also prefer national teams but BSI/FIM didn't like that so One sport had no choice.

 

I also am not buying the "BSPA weekly schedule" thing.

[Bagpuss]

The removal of pairs representing a particular country has also removed my interest in the competition. Good luck to those who want to watch it though.

[Humphrey Appleby]

I also am not buying the "BSPA weekly schedule" thing.

Then you don't really understand how British speedway needs to be structured in terms of its economics.

 

I think you will find several professional speedway meetings organised every week from March to October in Britsin. Of course the smaller BEL may have flexibility to move to 1 or 2 midweek nights a week, or even run a Swedish or Polish style short programme, but the bread and butter of the sport is actually the BPL that has different dependencies and requirements even if it was desirable to move to s different model.

[Long Eye]

I have long appreciated your information and insight regarding Swedish Speedway, but if you really believe that the relationship between British Speedway and BSI is anything like that I really would suggest you stick to commenting on your own country since you clearly have no clue at all regarding matters here. The stupidity of your comment beggars belief. Sadly you're not the only one who's fallen for the One Sport parasite's propaganda. I really thought better of you.

 

It has been pointed out ad nauseam that the BSPA have boycotted One Sport Events because they deplore yet more insignificant international open meetings being added to the calendar and conflicting with British Speedway.

 

I am beginning to wonder if it is wilful ignorance, not only by yourself but of those who cannot see that British Speedway is fighting for its existence here.

 

Whether you agree with the BSPA's attempts to protect 80+ years of racing in this country, especially at weekends, at least understand that the last people that the BSPA or indeed the British Speedway community would worry about upsetting is BSI whose activities have sucked the sport dry in this country.

 

But then it's easier to make cheap jibes than think or listen, isn't it?

 

One Sport may work hand-in-hand with Polish Speedway but to suggest that the relationship between BSI and the BSPA is similar is quite frankly beneath contempt.

Don't you find it a bit short sighted of the BSPA to not allow a Great Britain team or certain riders to compete and raise awareness of the struggling sport on some decent TV slots? Maybe the BSPA could have entered a team of their own, found some sponsorship for the team and made a bit of a profit from it?

[DutchGrasstrack]

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[hagonshocker]

I actually quite like the idea...after all the likes of Red Bull and Monster will only raise the profile to outsiders and casual observers just like in f1....it's all about the competitors and teams

[New Science]

Are the Brits being allowed to ride in the Euros this year ?

[moomin man 76]

I actually quite like the idea...after all the likes of Red Bull and Monster will only raise the profile to outsiders and casual observers just like in f1....it's all about the competitors and teams

The concept in itself could work, but it is the execution of it that is wrong. Aside from 'Monster Energy' the actual 'trade teams' appear to have no immediate recognition outside of Poland and perhaps Germany. After all, what exactly is 'City Team?' As a result, any initial attempt to spread the speedway gospal outside casual observers; especially outside of Poland is doomed to failure...

In my opinion, the concept could work but it would also need riders of a consistently high standard, rather than those representing 'City Team.'

At present, it seems as if I had enough money, I could recruit any riders of some standard to buy my 'team' into the series. For instance, I could recruit three Finnish riders, make up an artificial team name and have my own 'Team Finland' in all but name...

[f-s-p]

The concept in itself could work, but it is the execution of it that is wrong. Aside from 'Monster Energy' the actual 'trade teams' appear to have no immediate recognition outside of Poland and perhaps Germany. After all, what exactly is 'City Team?' As a result, any initial attempt to spread the speedway gospal outside casual observers; especially outside of Poland is doomed to failure...

In my opinion, the concept could work but it would also need riders of a consistently high standard, rather than those representing 'City Team.'

At present, it seems as if I had enough money, I could recruit any riders of some standard to buy my 'team' into the series. For instance, I could recruit three Finnish riders, make up an artificial team name and have my own 'Team Finland' in all but name...

Probably without realising it yourself you summed up SBPC perfectly. It's about money. And even if it is doomed and mickey mouse, it's coming to it's third or 4th season. I'm still saying it's just a series of open meetings but they do have most of the top riders and it's on tv so how could you spread the gospel any better?

[DutchGrasstrack]

'City Team' is from a man who runs the City Casino in places like Werlte and Cloppenburg.

[Humphrey Appleby]

I'm still saying it's just a series of open meetings but they do have most of the top riders and it's on tv so how could you spread the gospel any better?

The top riders used to ride regularly in open meetings, but they were still open meetings. This pairs thing is likely financed out of television deals, but the question remains who does it actually benefit?

 

I actually like pairs competitions and wouldn't mind a proper World Paris returning, whether between national teams or league teams, but it has to have proper context.

[Mark]

Why can't fans just enjoy it for what it is. Top class riders in competition on good tracks that should provide exciting racing.

[f-s-p]

The top riders used to ride regularly in open meetings, but they were still open meetings. This pairs thing is likely financed out of television deals, but the question remains who does it actually benefit?

 

I actually like pairs competitions and wouldn't mind a proper World Paris returning, whether between national teams or league teams, but it has to have proper context.

OneSport created it, most likely it benefits them/him. And thats good, because if you work you should get something back. I don like pairs speedway personally.

 

But with top riders on tv, how can it bad "marketing the sport"-wise? Because my non-speedway friends would not give a rats ärse what the team is called, if it looks good and fun they might sit still and watch it.

[Humphrey Appleby]

OneSport created it, most likely it benefits them/him. And thats good, because if you work you should get something back.

You think groups of private promoters muscling in on an established competition structure is a good thing? In how many other major sports are there privately sanctioned tournaments in the middle of the established competition season?

[SteveLyric2]

Are the Brits being allowed to ride in the Euros this year ?

I'm sure it was stated somewhere (Speedway Star probably) that the BSPA would withdraw any objection to Brits competing in either the Euros or the Pairs, as long as One Sport arranged the dates well in advance and along with all the other international dates and it didn't affect any EL fixtures by riders missing!!

 

The BSPA's original objection a few years ago was to show support to Eastbourne - the only EL Saturday track at the time!!

[f-s-p]

You think groups of private promoters muscling in on an established competition structure is a good thing? In how many other major sports are there privately sanctioned tournaments in the middle of the established competition season?

Like I've said I'm pretty conservative. SPBC is not the problem though, it's three "almost open" meetings that are ridden on left over dates. SEC is different, but even in that case OneSport has worked and changed a turd to a jewel. Most if not all problems were caused by FIM politics that really did not know what they were doing.

 

FIM sold SGP to BSI, thats not really muscling in... about the same with OneSport. Dont have an answer for your other question and ice hockey is a major sport over here. = )

[Ghostwalker]

1. You think groups of private promoters muscling in on an established competition structure is a good thing? 2. in how many other major sports are there privately sanctioned tournaments in the middle of the established competition season?

 

1. BSI are also a private owned sports promotion company. I am perfectly fine with free competition.

2. There are several. Tour de Ski in cross country skiing is a sort of "mini-cup" in addition to the original world cup, albeit organized by FIS just like the regular world cup.

NHL owners doesn't want "their" players to play in the Olympic so they revived their own world cup tournament simply because they

considered getting too little pay from IOC's Olympic games tournament. The last thing haven't been said though regarding NHL player in the Olympic.

 

We had two parallel touring car racing series in Sweden during 2012. STCC was the old established series but a few teams left STCC and started

a new championship called TTA. For the 2013 season they had joined forces again though.

 

For many years USA had competing formula cars racing series. I don't remember which series was which anymore

but they were named IRL, IndyCar, ChampCar, CART and similar.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Ghostwalker

[iris123]

Like I've said I'm pretty conservative. SPBC is not the problem though, it's three "almost open" meetings that are ridden on left over dates. SEC is different, but even in that case OneSport has worked and changed a turd to a jewel. Most if not all problems were caused by FIM politics that really did not know what they were doing.

 

FIM sold SGP to BSI, thats not really muscling in... about the same with OneSport. Dont have an answer for your other question and ice hockey is a major sport over here. = )

Does the Spengler Cup qualify?Does seem a number of leagues take a bit of a break for that

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spengler_Cup

 

In any case,it doesn't really matter....all this do any other sports etc.Speedway is fairly unique in a lot of ways with most riders riding in a number of different leagues

[f-s-p]

I'm sure it was stated somewhere (Speedway Star probably) that the BSPA would withdraw any objection to Brits competing in either the Euros or the Pairs, as long as One Sport arranged the dates well in advance and along with all the other international dates and it didn't affect any EL fixtures by riders missing!!

 

The BSPA's original objection a few years ago was to show support to Eastbourne - the only EL Saturday track at the time!!

The pecking order is FIM, FIM Europe, national federations. OneSport is given dates after FIM has reserved theirs. I think they are trying to get along, as the SEC challenge for example is on a thursday this year.

 

Protecting your own is fine, but the BSPA's problem is not OneSport but the lack of a local pool of riders. Even 20 years ago it was 50/50 with uk or foreign riders in the top league. Why not wake up then and start making riders of your own?