Boring

[LunnasPerm]

It's with a heavy, heavy heart that I declare that speedway is a boring sport.

 

As I documented elsewhere, I'm a Glasgow Tigers' fan who, due to work commitments, hadn't been to the speedway for five years. Before then, speedway was my drug.

 

I was at Ashfield last Sunday for the Glasgow and Edinburgh derby, though, and who would have thought it, ended up in the north east of England tonight which meant that, as a neutral fan, I was able to attend tonight's Berwick and Edinburgh match.

 

What have I learned, since then? Watch speedway in silence and it's boring.

 

I'm not long home and I've stuck on Leicester versus Swindon's live fixture on Sky from during the week; it's even worse than the live matches I've attended. I've got Pearson and Tattum exaggerating the excitement.

 

I'm disappointed, more than anything. I don't know if it's the tracks or if it's the fact that sides can freely scuffle their starting seven, they can employ riders who aren't ready to compete, etc., but I'm sad.

 

I'm not looking for answers, I'm simply throwing in my opinion, having left and returned.

 

EDIT I feel the need to reitareate how bad this fixture is between Leicester and Swindon. He who gates, wins. No wonder Sky are cancelling meetings. It's boring, plain and simple. Tattum can talk as much rubbishe as he likes, but it doesn't compensate for a significant lack of entertainment.

Edited April 17, 2016 by LunnasPerm

[John Leslie]

The irony is that this post of yours is the absolute definition of boring..... zzzzzzzzzzzz

[steve roberts]

The irony is that this post of yours is the absolute definition of boring..... zzzzzzzzzzzz

Rather than just write off the post it may be worth considering that perhaps there may be some credence with the observation and perhaps one of the reasons why the sport is now so desperate for new fans?

[Halifaxtiger]

It's with a heavy, heavy heart that I declare that speedway is a boring sport.

 

As I documented elsewhere, I'm a Glasgow Tigers' fan who, due to work commitments, hadn't been to the speedway for five years. Before then, speedway was my drug.

 

I was at Ashfield last Sunday for the Glasgow and Edinburgh derby, though, and who would have thought it, ended up in the north east of England tonight which meant that, as a neutral fan, I was able to attend tonight's Berwick and Edinburgh match.

 

What have I learned, since then? Watch speedway in silence and it's boring.

 

I'm not long home and I've stuck on Leicester versus Swindon's live fixture on Sky from during the week; it's even worse than the live matches I've attended. I've got Pearson and Tattum exaggerating the excitement.

 

I'm disappointed, more than anything. I don't know if it's the tracks or if it's the fact that sides can freely scuffle their starting seven, they can employ riders who aren't ready to compete, etc., but I'm sad.

 

I'm not looking for answers, I'm simply throwing in my opinion, having left and returned.

 

EDIT I feel the need to reitareate how bad this fixture is between Leicester and Swindon. He who gates, wins. No wonder Sky are cancelling meetings. It's boring, plain and simple. Tattum can talk as much rubbishe as he likes, but it doesn't compensate for a significant lack of entertainment.

 

As someone who watches a lot of speedway I don't think what you are saying is totally unreasonable (I turned off the Leicester-Swindon meeting)and some of your comments illustrate why it is difficult to get anyone new interested. Take them along to what turns out to be a poor meeting and they won't come back.

 

But truth is speedway now is no different from what it is has always been and those who say the racing was better 30 years ago are talking nonsense. It wasn't.

Quite simply even at the best of meetings its likely that a number of races will be won from the gate, that's how it always has been and almost certainly always will be. There's no getting away from that.

 

When its good, speedway is very, very good. Chances are, though, that the meeting you attend won't be. At a rough guess, about 1 in 5 of the matches I saw last season were good or very good. 3 in 5 were OK, and 1 in 5 was crap. Last weekend was a classic example : Lakeside was fantastic, Rye House OK and Mildenhall poor.

 

I'd maintain its about the quality of racing surfaces - after all, that's what allows riders to entertain us - and I just don't believe that every effort is put into ensuring that they are as good as possible. Reasons of economy, rider demands, incompetent track curators and other factors mean that the fan is short changed too often.

[foamfence]

I think it's boring because it's too predictable and lacks credibility, plus it's generally run by enthusiastic amateurs who are further restricted by lack of finance. Sky is a huge embarrassment where you see the same riders week after week (irrespective of which teams are taking part) and the crowds are pathetic. The new National Stadium was a great boost and a beacon of hope, but even the saga of that has become boring, as has the sight of two of the least sharp knives in the drawer, trying to maintain interest. The visa problem is adding to the boredom, as are rain-offs and 'too high' admission prices ... ... ... Tiddleywinks anyone?

[Gresham]

I completely understand where you are coming from LP...having returned recently after a very long lay off, and like you, I used to live for Speedway.

 

I totally understand you coming on here and venting your frustration too...I get it. You love the sport deep down...it just frustrates you so much, that you felt the need to say something...somewhere?

 

There are so many contributing factors as to what makes Speedway less entertaining.

 

I've come to the conclusion that it will only get worse...but I will try to enjoy what little bit of Speedway magic still exists, at the few meetings I will attend this season.

 

Having read threads and comments on this forum as well, it also gives you a good insight to how fans and others think about the sport...it's totally mixed...from people who see the demise to others that are happy clappers with their head in the sand...

 

I feel your sadness.

[Daniel Smith]

The strange thing is I to find Speedway boring but just keep going in hope.

 

I believe there's a age group that struggle to tolerate the sport

 

0-20 can't get enough of it

21-30 it's not cool enough

31-50 It's an irritation

51-dead find the love again

[cityrebel]

Last nights rye v peterborough meeting was pretty decent, but I have to agree that the Leicester v swindon sky match was an absolute shocker.

[Trees]

Re the TV meeting, my worry is that Swindon are working their averages so the meeting wasn't a 'proper' competition? With the advent of the playoffs we've seen this loads.

 

I haven't seen the meeting at all I hasten to add!

[phillipsr]

The strange thing is I to find Speedway boring but just keep going in hope.

 

I believe there's a age group that struggle to tolerate the sport

 

0-20 can't get enough of it

21-30 it's not cool enough

31-50 It's an irritation

51-dead find the love again

I think its closer to 0-10 dragged by parents

10-30 not cool enough etc

[FAST GATER]

I have to say that I do agree with a lot of what you say but the racing can only be as good as the riders and the track and IMO they are effected by the lack of money in the sport today .You will never get away from gate and go races ( they have always been there) and will remain forever ,how many times do we say he will never be any good till he learns to gate .

 

Think you need to give the sport a little longer and you will find there are some hidden gems which surface and make it all worthwhile ,also IMO if you want to see the best elements of the sport today ( I say this through gritted teeth) then trip to Cardiff would be your best plan of action .

Edited April 17, 2016 by FAST GATER

[Trees]

You need that passion for your team too, then you feel the effort that is being put in, also stand on the straight as close to the racing as possible, takes my breath away every time, the speed, the vulnerability, wooooooo

[Grachan]

Re the TV meeting, my worry is that Swindon are working their averages so the meeting wasn't a 'proper' competition? With the advent of the playoffs we've seen this loads.

I haven't seen the meeting at all I hasten to add!

Best not to make such a comment then, if you haven't seen it. For much of the match there seemed no way past at Leicester, and if Swindon riders tried to they either ended up nearly falling off or actually falling off.

 

Not the actions of a side trying to lower averages.

 

It was a boring match. The only thing that kept me watching was that it was Swindon.

 

One thing speedway needs to do is ramp up the team element so it doesn't just look like blokes riding round a track.

[van wolfswinkel]

If you think speedway is boring try watching from the centre-green if you can...if everyone could watch from the green loads more would turn-up, its fitting 'em all that's the problem...faster, noisier, more dangerous.

[LunnasPerm]

There are some excellent points, here.

 

Like I said, these past two weeks, I've longed to get right back into the speedway. I'm a wee bit gutted, in all honesty.

 

I paid £17 at Ashfield, £3 for a programme and last night, I got a bit of change back from £20. A ticket for today's Old Firm game is £1 more than I paid at Ashfield. That's incredible. I don't grudge it and no-one is forcing me to pay it, but the product isn't worth it, if you assess it from a value perspective.

 

The irony is that this post of yours is the absolute definition of boring..... zzzzzzzzzzzz

A fantastic input, I must say. Amidst a conversation-igniting topic, supporting valid points and genuine concern, you've managed to look like you've taken offence. Well done, don't you look good.

 

I now feel the need to stress that I am not looking for an argument, I'm simply raising a topic that I feel is a valid subject.

[Mike.Butler]

if a decent crowd is in the atmosphere is lifted and the racing seems better..even if it isn't.

NB I never watch Elte League on TV as I don't enjoy it.

I am still attending as many live meetings as I've ever done though. (but possibly out of habit...)

I do think the racing deteriorated significantly with lay-downs...

I find the statistical side of my record keeping will maintain my interest in attending live meets until I can no longer do so..

[Paulco]

You get crackers , you get rubbish ones . Same as you get Liverpool v Dortmund on Thursday and Hibs v Dundee Utd or West Brom v Watford yesterday . Any sport is like that . I'd still rather watch a duff speedway meeting than a shocker at football .

[Stoke Potter]

Most races are boring. That's the reality, more so in Britain I believe.

 

There are 2 main reasons for this.

Firstly, the tracks are generally dire, only one line and poorly prepared surfaces.

Secondly, poorly matched teams with too bigger gulf from 1-7. This particularly applies to the EL.

 

Don't expect anything to change as most people are in denial about it. Track sizes need to change.

[StevePark]

It's with a heavy, heavy heart that I declare that speedway is a boring sport.

 

As I documented elsewhere, I'm a Glasgow Tigers' fan who, due to work commitments, hadn't been to the speedway for five years. Before then, speedway was my drug.

 

I was at Ashfield last Sunday for the Glasgow and Edinburgh derby, though, and who would have thought it, ended up in the north east of England tonight which meant that, as a neutral fan, I was able to attend tonight's Berwick and Edinburgh match.

 

What have I learned, since then? Watch speedway in silence and it's boring.

 

I'm not long home and I've stuck on Leicester versus Swindon's live fixture on Sky from during the week; it's even worse than the live matches I've attended. I've got Pearson and Tattum exaggerating the excitement.

 

I'm disappointed, more than anything. I don't know if it's the tracks or if it's the fact that sides can freely scuffle their starting seven, they can employ riders who aren't ready to compete, etc., but I'm sad.

 

I'm not looking for answers, I'm simply throwing in my opinion, having left and returned.

 

EDIT I feel the need to reitareate how bad this fixture is between Leicester and Swindon. He who gates, wins. No wonder Sky are cancelling meetings. It's boring, plain and simple. Tattum can talk as much rubbishe as he likes, but it doesn't compensate for a significant lack of entertainment.

 

It really depends where you go and when.

 

To be honest, one of the last places you ought to be going to see loads of overtaking, is Berwick.

 

A lot can also depend who the opposition is. Lots of teams turn up at certain tracks and are beaten before the start of heat 1, but, if the opposition are prepared to give it a go, then you can be entertained.

 

Last weekend, for example, I saw a dreadful meeting at Berwick (Berwick v Newcastle), but saw a half decent to good meeting at Brough Park the following night between the two sides. Last night at Workington I saw another poor meeting, where I saw two overtakes all night. But, I have seen some great matches at Workington (both when Newcastle have been there and also when they haven't).

 

Somerset is usually good value and Scunthorpe isn't too bad either.

 

Glasgow, usually, can produce decent racing, now they've adjusted the track.

 

I've given up on the EL (TV). I've even given up going to Cardiff for the Grand Prix.

 

I can't comment on the NL. Perhaps a NL fan can respond.

[Grachan]

Most races are boring. That's the reality, more so in Britain I believe.

 

There are 2 main reasons for this.

Firstly, the tracks are generally dire, only one line and poorly prepared surfaces.

Secondly, poorly matched teams with too bigger gulf from 1-7. This particularly applies to the EL.

 

Don't expect anything to change as most people are in denial about it. Track sizes need to change.

The gulf between 1 and 7 is irrelevant because they don't race each other.