Club Team Bikes...

[BangerBoy]

 

Never said anything about carting bikes all over Europe

I know but suggested that we in Britain could try it alone

[Gresham]

 

You can but you also have to think about the viability for the manufacturer of the engines & the riders.

I don't think you could go down the route of just 1, they all have to be available.

 

Jawa

GM

Gerhard

 

Then there would be the cost of scrutineering this. That's not a 5 minute job

 

You'll also have the issue where a 'factory rider' is on the GM tuned by PJR everywhere else in the World but knows the 'Sealed factory GM' is outdone by the 'Sealed Jawa' just for the UK.

This he can't change to because he'll lose the GM contract so quits British racing.

 

Basically, all I'm saying is, for sealed engine racing to work it has to be across the board. It cannot happen in just 1 country.

I'm not so sure about that...

 

Out of choice in Individual meetings...then yes, a contracted rider to an engine manufacturer couldn't ride another manufacturers bike, for risk of losing contract.

 

If however...he is contracted to ride for a team, who supply the engines, then that is a different type of contract.

 

Think along the lines of a football player who is sponsored by Adidas, but his Club is sponsored by Nike...he still turns out for them.

 

Tbh...I'd rather a rider chose to only ride abroad...if it meant speedway could change to this.

 

There aren't enough places for every rider to ride abroad.

 

There are plenty of riders that would ride, if costs were less.

 

It may need taking a step backwards...but I'd rather see that, than watch Speedway strangle itself with ever increasing costs.

 

Riders imo, have way too much say on how Speedway is run.

 

I'm glad the BSPA have thought about having sealed engines...I hope they try and find a way of making it work.

 

For them to even think about it, means they have concerns about how it is being run now.

[uk_martin]

You always hear of riders having their "favourite" engine...and maybe this is inevitable. I know engines are produced to standard tollerances, but can any engineering /production process guarantee that all engines are produced absolutely equally? You can seal them up in whatever plastic bag you like when they come off the production line, but some, I think, will still be more powerful than others. Is the suggestion really then that a speedway riders fortunes should depend on the luck of the draw on which engine he is given? Would YOU go to work with your weekly salary being decided by some kind of lottery. I'm sure you'd be keen on that wouldn't you?

[iris123]

Another quoted sum for a decent Danish rider is 100k in sponsorship for a year. Thats not as reliable as the season cost naturally 'cos no one seen the books... With that he's halfway the season already...

Don't forget his payment up front from BSI,as I assume this top Dane paying that much out for a season is actually in the GP series

 

And it does seems as if they are assuming he is starting from scratch,buying everything brand new and not selling anything off from the previous season?

[Gresham]

You always hear of riders having their "favourite" engine...and maybe this is inevitable. I know engines are produced to standard tollerances, but can any engineering /production process guarantee that all engines are produced absolutely equally? You can seal them up in whatever plastic bag you like when they come off the production line, but some, I think, will still be more powerful than others. Is the suggestion really then that a speedway riders fortunes should depend on the luck of the draw on which engine he is given? Would YOU go to work with your weekly salary being decided by some kind of lottery. I'm sure you'd be keen on that wouldn't you?

Maybe there would be slight tolerances of difference...but at least riders would be relying on their skill, more so, than their bank balance and what engine tuner they have now.

 

Riders are competing every week, to out do one another with their engine tuner. That in itself is a lottery, and an expensive one at that.

 

Only today...it mentions in the SS, that the top four riders in the GP all use PJR tuning and the others need to find a way of catching up.

 

Someone mentioned, that recently Craig Cook bought six new engines, had them tuned by Tuner A....they all came back not to his liking...so bought six more, got them tuned by Tuner B and they were to his liking. He then had to sell the first 6 he bought on again.

 

How mad is that?

 

Riders are constantly trying to find that edge...getting their engines highly tuned to near breaking point.

 

They are all doing it...every week. What's the point, when all they are doing is chasing their tail. It's thankless and never ending.

 

You are fast one week....then someone else is faster because they have found another milli second....so off you go again and spend a fortune trying to find another milli second to get back in the hunt....and so it goes on.

 

Then they bring in a new silencer or new restriction...and so it starts again. It really is madness.

 

If the top boys want to play that game in the GP...let them...the money they have is beyond what most riders have in Britain.

 

When you read about Nicky Pederson being a Millionaire and moving to Monaco next to one of the F1 guys, then you realise, these top racers are on a fortune.

 

They've taken from Britain...moved on and are now bleeding Poland and Sweden dry.

 

I'm sorry...but when you read that the likes of Nicky Pederson have recently come out and said that ' He couldn't give a FU*K about the Danish Championship anymore'...and that he just used it to test things on his bike....then you realise Speedway has become so distant from what it used be like.

 

I'm personally not interested in GP's and Individual events...couldn't give a stuff about them.

 

I'm interested in seeing Club racing, and British Speedway evolving for the better and leagues expanding...not being bled to death.

[f-s-p]

And it does seems as if they are assuming he is starting from scratch,buying everything brand new and not selling anything off from the previous season?

Which is not at all what currently happens during close season. Been meaning to dig in to this but havent had the time.

[Pieman72]

I have tried several attempts to stimulate proposals to reconstruct speedway but alas it has failed to change the mindset and I'm afraid speedway remains in a stable but critical condition.

[GWC]

The NP issue suggests that GP riders shouldn't be employed in the EL .

At Rye House the involvement of a professional racing team albeit cars and go karts will given time be

interesting as to how they run the Speedway and maybe a template for the future.

[Trees]

Is that true about Pedersen? I wonder if he'd have cared if he'd won it?

[Gresham]

Is that true about Pedersen? I wonder if he'd have cared if he'd won it?

It's quoted by Danish journalist Paul Ferdinand in last weeks SS.

 

Quote by Pedersen...'I don't give a F**k about the Danish Championship' and admitting to using the meeting to test equipment.

 

Funnily...they then mention that if it was Tai saying it, that he would be crucified on social media.

 

They also mention that Pedersen is one of Denmark's richest sportsmen... a multi millionaire...and that he has upped sticks to leave Stevenage to live in Monaco.

 

And some people say there is no money to be made in Speedway.

 

Funnily, I re watched the Gary Havelock documentary yesterday....

 

Eric Boocock saying he rode Speedway, because he could earn in 5 mins on a bike, what his father earned in a week....and that riders rode because of the money they could earn.

 

Always makes me chuckle when certain people say, 'Speedway riders put their lives on the line to entertain us'... they don't do it to entertain us...they do it to earn money, and if they can make it more 'Entertaining' then they know more people will come, and hence more money in their pocket.

 

Riders race Speedway because of the money, and because they love racing...and if they can get paid for doing it, then it's better than doing a 'normal' job.

 

If they had a 'normal' job, they'd most likely race some form of motorsport in their spare time as a 'hobby'.

 

I was told recently, that one PL rider is on £150 a point plus paid for each race. Over 3 Grand a meeting some nights. Not bad for a PL level rider.

 

Couple meetings a week at PL level...plus 'doubling' up...soon adds up.

[heathen chemistry]

yes its quite well paid, BUT look at the costs....

 

new bikes, engine tuning, equipment, the list is almost endless , when you subtract all that , whats left ?

[Trees]

So the Danish people don't care what he thinks?

[Gresham]

yes its quite well paid, BUT look at the costs....

 

new bikes, engine tuning, equipment, the list is almost endless , when you subtract all that , whats left ?

What's left...ermmm...enough to be a multi millionaire by all accounts and move next door to an F1 driver in Monaco...oh the hardship ;-)

 

Check out what the thread started about...those costs would be lessened if riders weren't spending a lot on engines, that are tuned to right on the limits looking for that milli second of extra speed.

 

So bloody annoying when you see a class rider struggle, because this week his bike isn't fast enough. Ridiculous when you think about it.

 

Once a rider gets to a certain standard like they are in the GP's, it's basically about who's got the fastest engine and best set up. That's what you are actually paying to watch...basically which rider has lucked out this week with his set up and tuner on board.

 

It's almost like F1 now...it's like watching Lewis Hamilton struggle in a Lotus, because they haven't got the 'set up' that the top boys have.

 

If you stuck all the GP guys on standardised engines, in their own rolling chassis, I'm betting the likes of Chris Harris wouldn't struggle.

[Hawk127]

I guess it all depends on how many riders have the skill and track craft to ride a speedway machine versus those who can ride but don't have the track skills and rely on speed and effectively hold on for dear life. This assumes a thought process that every other rider works on the principle of those on track at the same time are a danger to your well being. This may explain why close racing and team riding is long gone as most riders no longer have any real control over their machine. Take on some of the suggestions in this thread with standard engines etc and if necessary make a 'British League' only then let's see who really can race rather than gate and go. Some great comments on here and reasoned debate for a change. A great pity that those that look after the sport don't take on board some of the constructive comments. If they want to experiment with standard engines/bikes start in the NL, after two years it applies to the PL and after a further year the Elite league. Those who cannot handle this can ride abroad.