Helicopter View

[Theboss]

 

I fail to see even in a merged league, how (short term and probably long term), for example, Berwick or Scunthorpe will ever be able to afford the same standard of rider as Poole or Coventry, and I don’t think that is a bad thing.

 

If a side builds a better, more sustainable business model they should be able to spend more than other clubs, that’s generally how sport works. As well as building decent 1-7s clubs should be rewarded for building solid clubs. If they have done that through the attraction of fans, sponsors etc, then the cash generated from that should be going back onto the track in some form rather than sitting as cash reserves just because others haven’t achieved the same level of success.

 

Excellent debate so may long it continue, however I must say that your post above goes exactly against the point I was making in my original post.

 

Every club must realise they are only as strong as the weakest club, therefore do you still think it is a good idea to let certain clubs have whoever they can afford when the consequence would be other clubs fielding 7 far less competitive riders*

 

* A good example of this to compare Poole and Leicester's team, tell me at which point a neutral supporter would think that this would be a good idea to rock up at Poole and hand over their hard earned money to watch?

Edited April 4, 2016 by jchapman

[sparkafag]

 

Excellent debate so may long it continue, however I must say that your post above goes exactly against the point I was making in my original post.

 

Every club must realise that are only as strong as the weakest club, therefore do you still think it is a good idea to let certain clubs have whoever they can afford when the consequence would be other clubs fielding 7 far less competitive riders*

 

* A good example of this to compare Poole and Leicester's team, tell me at which point a neutral supporter would think that this would be a good idea to rock up at Poole and hand over their hard earned money to watch?

 

 

No, I think the structure of the EL this season is completely ridiculous and whoever sanctioned the grade of FTR, the points limit and heat leader list needs sacked. I would also say though that this season is an extreme example of the utter mess that can be made though, it should be used to point to how things can go wrong.

 

There was no mechanism put in place to balance out disparity between Poole and Kings Lynn as an example, Poole have a better top 5 and better reserves, the theory should be that Poole are at least given Kings Lynns reserves to counter and balance out “strength”

 

I do though think that, if say riders were put in a pot and a form of NFL draft system in place with retained riders, young riders bracketed by age and region etc, that it could, in theory be totally fine for, to use the example again, Coventry to sign Harris with the proviso being they are left with, as an example, Lee Payne and Nathan Graves at reserve, freeing up the chance for a Carl Wilkinson to make his way to reserve at Scunthorpe to counter act balance as they would have the strong reserve to counter the strong Number 1/weak reserve side etc and so on.

 

I appreciate that in any grade or draft system there would be debate and questions re who was placed in which category, but if there was logic, fairness and independence to the draft you could find a way to do to that and include top riders who want to be here and young British kids who want to get better

 

From a personal point of view a build to and viewing of a draft would also be great online content that could be used throughout the winter to keep the sport fresh and in minds eg....North region will sign there Number 1 on week 1 of winter, South region week 2 of the winter working through, allowing time to negate deals for clubs etc (just fantasy promoting though). It could be promoted across the sport, all clubs and allows the chance of cookie cutter promoting to ensure clubs are getting news out in the best way possible, allows eyes to be drawn to the sport and every club in the country rather than......Rye House signed Peter Karger as a tweet that is known days and weeks before it is announced (just an example)

 

Again though, all of this is just adding humps to the original post which was a horse and turning it into a camel, I do agree with the vast majority of points in the original post, so I will back out of the water muddying.

Edited April 4, 2016 by sparkafag

[Theboss]

JC One little question for you on a personal level. Why, when you had a good foot hold in the BSPA ( running the Super7 for example) did you walk away ? Surely it would have been better to be in the tent spitting out than outside the tent spitting in ?

 

A Lot of what you say I agree with.

 

 

I will keep that story (along with the many others I have) in my back pocket until the right day

Edited April 4, 2016 by jchapman

[Sings4Speedway]

I don't think there is anything I would disagree with.

 

My only additional thoughts are that a lot of emphasis has to be put on training to attract and develop British youngsters to get them to a stage where they can compete for NL places and then to ensure a structured development thereafter.

 

Hopefully, the standard and numbers of British riders would improve year on year and eventually, as more get to a top international level, we can again open up the league to top foreign riders, rather than constantly lose Brits who have got to that level to Poland and Sweden. However, only if they ride for affordable rates. Lessons would have to be learnt so that we don't repeat present mistakes.

 

In regards to training / development i think second halves should be mandatory for all tracks. The MDL / NJL do a great job but there are very true tracks that actually include them.

The more accessible and affordable training becomes the more riders will pick up the sport, the more riders that pick up the sport will therefore make competition for NL places greater and therefore only the higher standard of British riders will graduate. This higher standard will in time resonate up through the leagues and eventually we will see a procession of top British riders competing at the top level.

If the sport is to flourish and prosper in years to come then it needs to be addressed from the grass roots levels upwards.

[AlexBrady]

Long time admirer of this forum, first time poster.

I have to say that looking in from the outside world purely as a spectator/sponsor, JC seems to have hit the nail on the head. As mentioned, I think the only idea that is a difficult one to police as such, is the idea exclusion of top level riders - What would/should the criteria be? If it is solely pay related, who monitors this? If these details could be ironed out, this post could, quite simply, be the way to save British Speedway.

For too long now, it seems as if Promoters will solely rely on the product, and have done very little to actually promote. The product has become more diluted and certainly weaker over recent years, and as a result, it appears as if we are on the cusp of a crisis - Lower attendance levels, higher entry fees etc etc.

Running my own business, and having been an area manager for a large National firm previously, the helicopter View is a brilliant way of analysing the DNA of your business/product etc, and a way to troubleshoot any issues you have, to fix these.

I can only really call it how I see it with Kings Lynn - but things have not been the same since Mr J Chapman left - Things such as the theme nights really brought the crowds in, and added something extra to the meeting. This, along with the loss of Mike Bennett from the centre green (The voice of KL speedway for me) has never really been filled/replaced.

 

To echo almost everybody else comments on numerous other threads on this forum, transpareceny in the key. In no other professional sport are fans treated in this manor, and I've read various comments from official members of clubs about attendances being down - THERE IS A DIRECT CORRELATION!

 

Something does need to be done to save professional Speedway before it is too late - the answers to me appear to be within this thread.

 

Alex

[June01]

Excellent debate so may long it continue, however I must say that your post above goes exactly against the point I was making in my original post.

 

Every club must realise they are only as strong as the weakest club, therefore do you still think it is a good idea to let certain clubs have whoever they can afford when the consequence would be other clubs fielding 7 far less competitive riders*

 

* A good example of this to compare Poole and Leicester's team, tell me at which point a neutral supporter would think that this would be a good idea to rock up at Poole and hand over their hard earned money to watch?

Yes, only a couple of meetings into the season and I really feel for Leicester. Comments after their home defeat about supporters leaving early, riders not making an effort, and the general despondency surrounding the season already, makes me fear for their survival. It must be great for Poole fans, winning the league each year, but in order to survive themselves they need to have the other teams to ride against. Clubs need to realise the bigger picture, that they're all on the same side, instead of the win at all costs, every man for themselves attitude. Edited April 4, 2016 by June01

[Fromafar]

J.C has very valid points but he is only repeating what the majority of fans on this forum has been saying for years now,so we won't hold or breath on anything changing.

[Star Lady]

As I see it, one of the problems with having a handful of "top international" riders, apart from flights, £s per point etc is equipment.

 

They ride in the GPs and use top notch expensive stuff which means that naturally to keep their reputation they need similar level stuff in the UK cos it wouldn't do them any good to be beaten by second strings regularly. That knocks on and the next tier down (for the sake of argument) Nicholls/Schlien need to use equipment of nearly the same level and so it goes on down to the EL reserves most of whom double up in the PL, so it filters down thro them to the NL.

 

I'm not technical enough to know how it could be done but if engines were more standardised, surely costs would eventually come down in real terms. If the GP boys want to keep riding finely tuned rocket ships - let them but not in the UK league.

 

Years ago most riders,even at the top level, used to do their own engines, the racing was certainly no worse than it is now, maybe we should try and go back to that and the Poultec Training thingy is an ideal place to teach engine maintainence etc. Let's get back to basics and build on solid foundations.

[Grachan]

Excellent debate so may long it continue, however I must say that your post above goes exactly against the point I was making in my original post.

 

Every club must realise they are only as strong as the weakest club, therefore do you still think it is a good idea to let certain clubs have whoever they can afford when the consequence would be other clubs fielding 7 far less competitive riders*

 

* A good example of this to compare Poole and Leicester's team, tell me at which point a neutral supporter would think that this would be a good idea to rock up at Poole and hand over their hard earned money to watch?

Every club must be as strong as the weakest club is part of speedway's problem in recent times, in my opinion.

 

Constant dumbing down of team strengths year after result in constant desertions from supporters.

 

The idea of making all the sides of Premier League strength just further drags speedway further down into the depths.

 

Of course, Imm saying this from a supporter's perspective rather thn that of someone who has to run a club, but it seems to me that as crowds get smaller, so attending a meeting becomes less enjoyable due to less atmosphere and you get into the downward spiral which seems to have been here since around the time the Tactical Ride and 40.75 points limit were introduced a few years back.

 

As EL teams get made weaker and weaker every year, so they get nearer to PL in standard and, as a result, crowds also get nearer to PL size crowds.

 

A lot of the problem with Leicester not having riders available is, I reckon, due to the new race format. This has seen averages equalling out somewhat. Smart teams, such as Poole, have capitalised on this by signing riders of heatleader standard who have second string averages. Teams who are not so dynamic then have to sign up the riders on similar averages who are nowhere near the same standard.

 

I don't know the answer, but having an entire country of teams of PL strength is not it. Die hard fans may well like having lower standard teams that provide good, close racing. But that doesn't bring casual fans in.

[semion]

Trouble is with that Star is it needs leadership and agreement from so many different people, with all kinds of different agenda's. Buster has said his true Chairmanship really comes into play next year, but will everyone buy into it, and will he have all the answers ?

[Trees]

J.C has very valid points but he is only repeating what the majority of fans on this forum has been saying for years now,so we won't hold or breath on anything changing.

Exactly ..... hey Jonathan did you read this forum when you were involved at Lynn.

 

I thought I'd read that Lynn went up to the BEL because costs were rising so much in the BPL?

 

BEL

My helicopter just wants to see fairness in team building, I would've weighted heat leader averages for this season following the change in race format last season. I would've pushed for 2 night BEL racing years ago (perhaps some promoters have been?). I would not have used BPL averages this year to list fast track riders, because it was stupid when the majority of them have BEL averages and the disparity of some which has benefitted certain teams.

 

As far as presentation, of course all of them could be improved, someone said to me once, take a lead from THE BEST ....

 

BPL

We had some great years in the BPL but dunno if we would've thought the same if we hadn't been winning! The fans love the long distances in that they have the opportunity to do 'northern\southern tours' but of course it costs promoters but then that's where the promotion comes in to do all they can to bring in the punters and sponsors .....

 

BNL

Plenty of teams competing in this league, some stand alone, some to develop riders for their senior teams, Lynn doesn't attract many fans but just look at Dudley!! They must do OK or the promoters wouldn't keep going .....

 

TeamGB

Ever since the parasites, BSI, took over, that's our lot. A couple of meetings per year supporting our national team (not that I have in person at the track for many years unless friends have bought me a ticket). So why should the BSPA or SCB or ACU put any money into our team only for BSI to take the monies?

Of course we want our riders to be proud to represent their country but their achievement to make the team should also be awarded financially IMO.

I'd absolutely love to see test matches brought back but finding dates for these are impossible now that the parasites are running their GP series.

 

BSPA Should just run like any normal committee, with items suggested and voted on, majority vote.

I dare say costs at Rugby could be cut and monies put to better use but I haven't a clue how many people are involved, how large the office etc ....

 

International Riders

Perhaps if the BEL ran on just 2 nights they wouldn't see it as an inconvenience but also if the FIM hadn't allowed the GP series to become as long they may see British Speedway as worthwhile ....

 

British Riders

I perhaps think they need more track time and guidance from those in the know, they have to speculate to accumulate with equipment. Things are getting better it seems.

 

SKY TV

Yes, a huge company, that cost us a fortune! Of course their production costs are huge too. It's the nature of the Speedway beast that the weather affects it big time. Of course promoters should see being on TV as a chance to promote their club and the sport big time. The fans too but of course many fans see SKY as an opportunity to save some money and sit in front of the TV instead of paying to watch the action at the track? Now if SKY were to pay more money for the coverage perhaps the promoters would be able to give the fans incentive to attend live ...... or would they see it as more money in their back pocket??

 

Supporters

Of course many supporters feel undervalued but that is down to poor promotion, although one can't always use those voicing their opinions on forums to get an overall picture of the views of their total fan base ......

 

Recommendations

Everyone involved in the sport needs to try harder,care about one another, not be greedy, we're all in this together, be positive, tell the truth (within reason), get rid of BSI ......

[Theboss]

Hey Trees, a postive contribution to this debate and nice to know how you see things from your helicopter.

Ps i can confirm as many others will as well that i always read this forum when i was a promoter and also answered peoples questions. This was all done under the alias of..... 'jonathan chapman'

Edited April 4, 2016 by jchapman

[Aces51]

Trouble is with that Star is it needs leadership and agreement from so many different people, with all kinds of different agenda's. Buster has said his true Chairmanship really comes into play next year, but will everyone buy into it, and will he have all the answers ?

No,if we look at how Lynn has been run for the last 12/18 months. The poor PR and lack of information coming out of the club, a track that has gone from one of the best to gate and go and the poor team put together this year.

 

He has been in post for about 5 months, I accept he inherited what has happened this year but he has certainly had more than enough time to introduce some initiatives and to implement the openness and transparency he promised. Instead we're not even getting it from his own club. I hope I am wrong but there is no evidence so far to make me think he is going to be the sports saviour, in fact the opposite.

[Shale Searcher]

Right, I'm in me helicopter, and ascending, hold on, Mayday, Mayday, forgot to get a pilot.. crash!!!

 

 

On a more serious note, from above, team strengths is a huge issue, but is this also due to there only being 8 clubs in the league?? If the league had 16 teams, the lesser teams would be competing for the 4th play off place, with 12 teams, not just 3 other teams, the difference between a very good season and an atrocious season is just to damn close together...

[SteveLyric2]

Its amazing what can be achieved with a bit of thought during the school holidays!!

[Phil The Ace]

Imagine climbing on board a helicopter and flying it high up into the sky to get a clearer view of British Speedway and how it operates. That is the exercise I have completed (not literally) and what is overwhelmingly clear is how fragmented the sport is with so many different groups who have different agendas:

 

Elite League

Consisting of 8 teams who are desperate to hold onto their Elite title and their share of the live TV broadcasting rights money. Unfortunately, in their desperation to retain top international riders to validate the name Elite they have driven the average rider pay to a new level each and every year, ignoring the knock on effect it has had for non-elite riders, such as those riding in the Premier League. There also seems to be new rules introduced every year which coincidently benefit a handful of the same clubs and makes it a non-competition from the start of each season.

 

Premier League

Consisting of 13 teams who go about their business in a 'workperson' like manor, and genuinely seem to want to start the season on a level playing field. Their downfall seems to be the travel expenses, (Plymouth to Edinburgh for example) and the increased rider costs which have trickled down from the Elite League. Most teams find it hard to make ends meet and often rely on additional financial donations from fans, demonstrating that these clubs are more community focused rather than commercially focused.

 

National League

National League is like grass roots football which is fundamentally what British Speedway requires for feeding riders into the higher leagues. Things certainly look promising for this league with the average ages of riders consistently dropping over recent years. My only concern would be that competing teams do not start to believe they are competing in anything more than an amateur/training league.

 

Team GB

This should be what every British rider aspires to part of, however over the years it has lost its appeal and is seen by some as a hindrance. More emphasis clearly needs to be put on how important this team is to British Speedway and international matches are arranged to inject some glamour and excitement . riders should be fighting for team places instead of giving them away.

 

BSPA

British Speedway is administered at a staffed office in Rugby. The costs for this are paid by each and every club on a monthly basis (albeit the majority of that cost is now taken directly from the TV monies). With the advances in technology and communications, this is clearly an expense which can be reduced and funds allocated to a better use such as marketing and PR which seems to have fallen a long way behind those of other sporting bodies and organisations.

 

International Riders

At the start of their careers most International riders see British speedway as paid training and are therefore keen to ride for sensible money, unfortunately once the offers start coming in from other countries their attitude often changes and their pay demands increase due to taking their main bikes to the continent and then needing to buy new bikes for the UK. For the very top riders British Speedway is simply an inconvenience and therefore clubs have to pay completely over the odds to generate any interest in competing here.

 

British Riders

Most British riders will have a family and base already established in the UK and therefore costs for them to race on their shores are considerably lower and keeping points money at a sensible amount should be possible subject to them having enough meetings to compete in. Also unlike International riders any additional set up costs to ride abroad will be bearable by the other countries. The problem seems to be the initial investment that is required for competitive equipment which in turn can stop them progressing past National League.

 

Sky TV

Sky is one of the worlds most successfully run commercial organisations, and it seems that the sport in general seems to have either forgotten that or fails to appreciate the significance of it. Personally I think they are treated like a thorn in their side by the majority of clubs and fans. However surely their worst enemy can see that over their years of broadcasting the presentation has continued to move forward whilst the Elite League it is still struggling to put out two teams of 7 evenly matched riders worthy of a TV audience.

 

Supporters

Across the board supporters are very loyal but are too often taken for granted with a lack of clear and concise information and news being provided to them. New supporters are hard to attract due to a combination of lack of press, uncool image and high admission prices.

 

Summary and Recommendations

 

Whilst so many groups and individuals fail to recognise they are only as strong as the weakest amongst them, costs will continue to rise and the spectator numbers will continue to fall.

 

I would therefore recommend that a Chairman with no official affiliation to an existing club is appointed, with the directive of forging a closer relationship with Sky TV and drafting a long term action plan that considers the strengths and weaknesses of every club and every group of individuals.

 

The result of this could be, for example, the amalgamation of two leagues into one and consisting of between 16 to 20 competing teams with no top level International riders permitted to participate, and restrictions on the amount of work allowed to be made to a standard bike to reduce costs. A set admission tariff could also be applied across the league to offer superior value for money compared to other sports, which if paired with the right marketing strategy would encourage a new wave of fans to attend matches and hopefully become long term supporters.

 

The National League could work on a standard equipment only initiative to reduce costs for riders, and a couple of bikes could be made available to each club by the Association to introduce and train potential newcomers.

 

 

I welcome others thoughts and look forward to the prevailing discussions?

Did you have these views when u was a promoter or only Since u was outside looking in???

 

What I mean is, why do those on the inside not have these views?? Or do they have these views but to scared of someone/something to air these views?

[RobMcCaffery]

 

They have signed him for 12 seasons (I think) so the suggestion is they can?

 

Is finding a way to pay riders not a massive part of building a sports team? If they (or any club) finds ways to pay riders through subsidiaries and sponsorship is that not a good thing, a part of sport?

You clearly don't understand the point I was making. I could have a sports team with an annual income of say £500,000. My costs may come to £600,000. I find £100,000 to cover the loss. Suppose my star performer cost me £100,000 a year. I could hire him for 12 years by subsidising my business. It doesn't mean that my business can afford him, just that I can prop up my business. Now, that's all well and good if I can do that but it doesn't mean that the star is affordable BY THE BUSINESS.

 

As for outside funding being justified it's all very well if you have a rich sugar daddy to 'sponsor', but not a sustainable long-term position nor is it fair on other businesses behaving responsibly. Speedway appears to have been paying more than it can afford for years. I remember one promoter over 20 years ago telling me at the end of a meeting "That's another grand I've got to find personally to give to the bank tomorrow".

 

Sport, especially football gets away with murder financially, relying on sentiment and tradition to get it through. Sport carries on trying to buy rather than build success - and it works, for now.

 

 

* A good example of this to compare Poole and Leicester's team, tell me at which point a neutral supporter would think that this would be a good idea to rock up at Poole and hand over their hard earned money to watch?

I suspect the truth will hit home when Belle Vue's first meeting at the wonderful new stadium turns out to be a 75-15 win against the weakest EL side in history, Leicester on Friday.

Its amazing what can be achieved with a bit of thought during the school holidays!!

What a fine, positive contribution.

The point has been made about the difficulties of having certain current Elite League tracks running in a merged PL due to their economic power being so much higher than the lesser PL teams.

 

There are risks. In 1985 three BL (D1) tracks followed Hackney's move the previous year into the NL (D2). The immediate response was the then extremely marginal promotions at Barrow and Scunthorpe didn't make it into the summer. Whether they would have survived in any case is open to discussion. The moves worked and did not destroy the league though, Ellesmere Port won the 1985 NL after all.

 

Eventually ambition did see one track force a ruinous amalgamation for their own needs and ambitions but for several seasons they were a welcome part of the old NL/Second Division. They were successful but not overwhelmingly so and did not become deeply unpopular with other tracks and their supporters. Readers may heard of them.....Poole.

Edited April 4, 2016 by rmc

[Coventry_Bee]

We have had topics before where we mostly agree on what's not going right in the sport, we hope in vain that the powers above might listen but all the see is "keyboard warriors" who's opinion doesn't count. This stance goes on now year on year, the teams get further and further apart and more and more of us stop going. It's that simple !! Who are we?? Only the punters who they want through the turnstiles.

 

Poole year on year put together a good team that you can't doubt but there attitude at win at all costs does make them a thorn in the side of many a fan(especially Coventry) Mr Sandhu walked away because of the way the sport is run, had he been given opportunity to put in what he wanted he would still be involved today and with the independent committee if I recall correctly that he suggested be put in place then I am sure we wouldn't be in the state we are today. We lose Brandon in a few months, where do the fans for the past 50-60 yrs plus go then, Coventry are one of the most supported teams in the country and we have no home to move in to. Leicester will be lucky to see the season out, Poole or Belle Vue will win the title. Season done and dusted. I just don't get where reserves score over 10 points? They are reserves, the weakest part of the team that should in theory be the lowest scorer not being a vital part in a team winning the title. How on earth do you explain this to a newcomer?

 

The leagues need ripping apart, start again and have some direction. Football, Darts, Ice-hockey and Moto GP all going from strength to strength and we go backwards? what's the appeal to new and the old fans... Where have they all gone? It's like a trap door opened and we lost 3/4. I know people harp on about the old days but stadiums were full, British finals at Coventry were massive. I don't think all the attendances in the last 10 years put together would match the crowds you see on the footage.

[FAST GATER]

As I see it, one of the problems with having a handful of "top international" riders, apart from flights, £s per point etc is equipment.

 

They ride in the GPs and use top notch expensive stuff which means that naturally to keep their reputation they need similar level stuff in the UK cos it wouldn't do them any good to be beaten by second strings regularly. That knocks on and the next tier down (for the sake of argument) Nicholls/Schlien need to use equipment of nearly the same level and so it goes on down to the EL reserves most of whom double up in the PL, so it filters down thro them to the NL.

 

I'm not technical enough to know how it could be done but if engines were more standardised, surely costs would eventually come down in real terms. If the GP boys want to keep riding finely tuned rocket ships - let them but not in the UK league.

 

Years ago most riders,even at the top level, used to do their own engines, the racing was certainly no worse than it is now, maybe we should try and go back to that and the Poultec Training thingy is an ideal place to teach engine maintainence etc. Let's get back to basics and build on solid foundations.

Excellent post !!!!

[orion]

A very welcome and reasoned post from someone who has his own record of success to fall back on. I have long advocated the formation of one large league but strictly on the current PL model rather than the disastrous attempt in the nineties where the old second division was expected to operate at first division costs without having free access to the necessary riding talent or revenues.

 

It is time to let go of the riders whose priorities, both in hardware and commitment, are elsewhere and to stop squandering the Sky revenue on a hopeless escalation of rider pay that is not backed up by the necessary increases in attendances.

 

My chief concern is that the ills of the EL should not be allowed to pollute the new, unified league. Johnathan refers to the perceived manipulation of rules to favour an 'elite' few and it would be disastrous for the PL clubs to also have to suffer this cancer in the sport.

 

Sadly, there are still supporters who cannot grasp the concept that you do not need the world's greatest (and expensive) riders to stage great speedway. 25 out of 33 teams in Britain work successfully with this model and while there are still financial pressures that nearly cost the sport Plymouth this year it has to be the way forward. You could say that the days of seeing the world's best have already gone from the EL.

 

A regular, ideally weekly schedule of matches with a regular seven against a regular seven, allowing for absences for injury or FIM events is what has always worked in the past here and we must seek to return to that ideal. Crucially, we must reclaim weekend racing.

 

British speedway is wasting too much time and effort in trying to persuade riders to compete here who really have little interest, will charge the earth and show little interest or commitment. They have to go. Those 'fans; who say they will only watch these stars have to ask themselves if they really are supporters of speedway or the illusory glamour of fame? It dazzles easily but you soon see the reality behind that glare. We cannot continue to pander for this expensive, I hope, minority. We cannot afford it. I strongly suspect that the attendance increases brought by hiring the stars do not now cover the increased expense. If that is not the case then I welcome expert comment on the subject, ideally from those that know, not hope.

 

We need stability, to know that when we pay our money we will see our team race another full team, not a haphazard compromise of guests. We must offer value for money, free the sport from the publicity straitjacket relating to social media and rebuild in a sane manner.

 

Flying riders in from all over the continent to compete in front of crowds counted in the hundreds rather than thousands is insanity. We have to sell four riders doing four laps of RACING, and let the world know how good it can be.

 

Yes, the sport needs an American-style commissioner. There would have to be an enormous shift in attitudes amongst promoters to accept it. The most effective government is by consent. Is the sport mature enough to put the needs of the many ahead of the individual? Sadly, I think not.

 

I love speedway, despite all that it's done to me over the years and grieve at the sight of the modern-day EL. I saw some very successful days for the sport and while you cannot turn the clock back, the Polish and SGP genies are well and truly out of the bottle, we must adapt and rebuild, trying to recapture as many aspects of those successful days. A varied, regular fixture list of affordable matches, with teams composed of riders who will be there for almost all meetings, build a bond with the supporters and hopefully give and earn loyalty in return is essential.

 

The sport will always survive but right now it needs an attitude change throughout, from promoters and officials through riders to the 'fan' saying that if they don't see the world's best they'll hold their breath until someone does what they want.

 

The reward is enormous - a healthy, affordable and most of all wonderfully enjoyable sport!

ZZZ The standard guff about wanting to run like the pl thou quite clearly as Plymouth have shown hardly anyone wants to watch it ...when are you going to wake up and understand the pl is dying as much as other league .it's not working

 

The only way forward to get more fans in and that is making the standard better just like any other sport.. it's utter guff about the bonding varied fixtures etc etc otherwise the pl would be packed with fans rather than clubs being on the edge of going broke .

 

The first thing we need to do it's to understand that speedway is not working at all levels rather this stupid thinking that it's only at El level and somehow the pl is the way to go .because it's not .

Edited April 4, 2016 by orion