How Long Before....

[Gresham]

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

I ask this, based on the Nikki Pedersen interview in last weeks SS. Where he wishes Speedway could go in the direction of F1.

 

Wants to Introduce 'Factory' teams, with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki involved etc. To attract more money and sponsorship.

 

Goes on about how he has the most sponsors over most riders, his Professionalism, wants to take more of that from F1.

 

Then talks about moving to Monaco and rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers...

 

Can't help thinking it may end up going this way in the future.

[steve roberts]

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

I ask this, based on the Nikki Pedersen interview in last weeks SS. Where he wishes Speedway could go in the direction of F1.

 

Wants to Introduce 'Factory' teams, with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki involved etc. To attract more money and sponsorship.

 

Goes on about how he has the most sponsors over most riders, his Professionalism, wants to take more of that from F1.

 

Then talks about moving to Monaco and rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers...

 

Can't help thinking it may end up going this way in the future.

I think it was John Berry, amongst others, who thought that eventually this would be the direction the GP may/would go.

Edited June 30, 2016 by steve roberts

[foamfence]

I think it will end up being about costs, top riders spend a fortune and a lot on the next step down, spend a great deal just trying to get to the very top. The difference is that the 'very top' guys get more money and more generous sponsorships. Our league can't really afford them and the two main continental leagues have had finance problems over recent years. They would need something that offers more racing than the current GP and WC, or the European and pairs championships. So a travelling circus with more meetings would be the answer but would it attract enough spectators and worldwide TV coverage to attract the really big sponsors? No matter what happens in that direction, most folks over here will travel to team events on poorly prepared tracks and frequently find them rained off at the last minute.

[Gresham]

I think it will end up being about costs, top riders spend a fortune and a lot on the next step down, spend a great deal just trying to get to the very top. The difference is that the 'very top' guys get more money and more generous sponsorships. Our league can't really afford them and the two main continental leagues have had finance problems over recent years. They would need something that offers more racing than the current GP and WC, or the European and pairs championships. So a travelling circus with more meetings would be the answer but would it attract enough spectators and worldwide TV coverage to attract the really big sponsors? No matter what happens in that direction, most folks over here will travel to team events on poorly prepared tracks and frequently find them rained off at the last minute.

Isn't that the truth.... It really is unsustainable from what I can see.

[PHILIPRISING]

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

I ask this, based on the Nikki Pedersen interview in last weeks SS. Where he wishes Speedway could go in the direction of F1.

 

Wants to Introduce 'Factory' teams, with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki involved etc. To attract more money and sponsorship.

 

Goes on about how he has the most sponsors over most riders, his Professionalism, wants to take more of that from F1.

 

Then talks about moving to Monaco and rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers...

 

Can't help thinking it may end up going this way in the future.

 

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

I ask this, based on the Nikki Pedersen interview in last weeks SS. Where he wishes Speedway could go in the direction of F1.

 

Wants to Introduce 'Factory' teams, with Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki involved etc. To attract more money and sponsorship.

 

Goes on about how he has the most sponsors over most riders, his Professionalism, wants to take more of that from F1.

 

Then talks about moving to Monaco and rubbing shoulders with F1 drivers...

 

Can't help thinking it may end up going this way in the future.

WHEN John Postlethwaite first acquired the commercial rights for the SGP series for BSI from the FIM that was the direction he wanted to go in. John came from F1 where he worked for Benneton alongside Michael Schumacher.

 

But it will never work for speedway. Most if not all riders would want to race more than 12 times a year. It's in their dna.

 

And, of course, speedway has none of the commercial and sponsorship backing that funds F1. No factory teams, no significant manufacturers, huge TV deals, etc. Speedway lives and has to survive in its own little bubble.

 

Pedersen has been fortunate with the volume of sponsorship he attracts but believe me he works hard at it. And one wonders whether his current view would have been the same 15 years ago.

Edited June 30, 2016 by PHILIPRISING

[Star Lady]

....the 'Top Racers' just ride in Individual events like the GP?

 

Anyone else think the top end of racers, could end up just competing in a bigger GP series in time?

 

.

Can't come soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

[Gresham]

 

WHEN John Postlethwaite first acquired the commercial rights for the SGP series for BSI from the FIM that was the direction he wanted to go in. John came from F1 where he worked for Benneton alongside Michael Schumacher.

 

But it will never work for speedway. Most if not all riders would want to race more than 12 times a year. It's in their dna.

 

And, of course, speedway has none of the commercial and sponsorship backing that funds F1. No factory teams, no significant manufacturers, huge TV deals, etc. Speedway lives and has to survive in its own little bubble.

 

Pedersen has been fortunate with the volume of sponsorship he attracts but believe me he works hard at it. And one wonders whether his current view would have been the same 15 years ago.

I agree it wouldn't work with how Speedway is in it's present form, but to say 'it will never work' is surely short sighted?

 

With respect, and not looking for an argument, as I'm sure your knowledge of Speedway is greater than mine....however, it was what NP was saying that needed to change in speedway to make it possible...ie Factory bikes, the likes of Susuki, Honda etc being involved....more sponsorship to be found.

 

That in itself would be a massive change...to get massive bike manufacturers involved would make huge changes and a completely different mind set.

 

Imo, I think there are people in Speedway who have a vested interest financially, that wouldn't want it to change. It would be them who would find ways of stopping anything like this.

 

I agree, as it stands, it wouldn't work...but if change were allowed, then I see no reason why it wouldn't happen.

[RobMcCaffery]

There are times when I hear of riders wanting speedway to be more like F1 or Moto GP or Superbikes that they went off and raced in those sports rather than wreck the one they're currently in.

[moxey63]

I started watching speedway because it wasn't like most motor sports, it had a league, a team ethic like other team sports, and was for the sort of bread-and-butter guy (or gal). In recent years though it has become too flashy, too sanitized, really like formula one and other types of sport I didn't want speedway to go like.

 

You don't have to like motorbikes to like speedway. I mean, how many actual motor cycles do you see parked at a speedway?

 

Would it be such a bad thing, the top riders just racing for themselves and cutting away from team speedway. Then perhaps the leagues could get back to running themselves?

 

Then again, team speedway should be about supporting your team, full of your riders.. and that chance ain't been happening too many time lately.

Edited July 2, 2016 by moxey63

[customhouseregular]

Spot on moxey...could not agree more.

[Gresham]

I started watching speedway because it wasn't like most motor sports, it had a league, a team ethic like other team sports, and was for the sort of bread-and-butter guy (or gal). In recent years though it has become too flashy, too sanitized, really like formula one and other types of sport I didn't want speedway to go like.

 

You don't have to like motorbikes to like speedway. I mean, how many actual motor cycles do you see parked at a speedway?

 

Would it be such a bad thing, the top riders just racing for themselves and cutting away from team speedway. Then perhaps the leagues could get back to running themselves?

 

Then again, team speedway should be about supporting your team, full of your riders.. and that chance ain't been happening too many time lately.

Nail on the head... I really do wish the likes of NP would just do one...so many of these top riders are hanging out with the F1 and Moto Gp guys, and seeing the money and lifestyle. They want the same now.

 

Speedway is far from being any of those sports...

 

So like you, I'd like a break away. Let them get on with their individual glory.

 

I'm all for supporting my team and it's riders.

[PHILIPRISING]

I agree it wouldn't work with how Speedway is in it's present form, but to say 'it will never work' is surely short sighted?

 

With respect, and not looking for an argument, as I'm sure your knowledge of Speedway is greater than mine....however, it was what NP was saying that needed to change in speedway to make it possible...ie Factory bikes, the likes of Susuki, Honda etc being involved....more sponsorship to be found.

 

That in itself would be a massive change...to get massive bike manufacturers involved would make huge changes and a completely different mind set.

 

Imo, I think there are people in Speedway who have a vested interest financially, that wouldn't want it to change. It would be them who would find ways of stopping anything like this.

 

I agree, as it stands, it wouldn't work...but if change were allowed, then I see no reason why it wouldn't happen.

THE likes of Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha will never get involved. There is no market, no spin off from racing machines for them. Sponsorship isn't easy to come by because so few large multi-national companies are involved with speedway.

 

Danish and Polish riders have generally enjoyed the most lucrative sponsorship deals but even they would be dwarfed by those in many other disciplines of motorcycle racing.

 

Nicki is in the twilight of his career and has no doubt done very well financially out of it and may well fancy riding less. But that certainly wouldn't apply to the young guns coming through. They are racers and want to race.

[moxey63]

I was just thinking, how far team speedway has been harmed, especially since the GPs and their extension from six rounds to the 12 (or whatever) now.

 

It got me thinking again... to 1990, and Shawn Moran and Richard Knight actually riding at Belle Vue just 24 hours before the World Final at Bradford.Another was Peter Collins riding for Belle Vue at Hackney on the eve of Wembley's big night in 1975.

 

Individual importance had its place then, but the team (and club speedway) was what the sport was existing for. There was many, so many individual meetings, each track had two every season, but they were just a side dish. They worked alongside the club...

 

Like Test matches have been shelved, it is more important that team speedway isn't regarded by those chasing individual glory as not worth unloading the bikes for.

 

It's like the fella begging his missus not to leave, promising the earth to keep her. There is only so much begging your knees can take, for god's sake, so grow a pair speedway... and stop worrying about squad systems, not being able to race this day or that. Grow a blinking pair.

 

There is room for GPs and domestic speedway, but perhaps not in all riders' minds. By bowing over backward to meet the needs of a few, it ain't doing the future prospects of team speedway much good.

Edited July 2, 2016 by moxey63

[Trees]

Nicki talks crap, always has, always will!

Edited July 2, 2016 by Trees

[Gresham]

THE likes of Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha will never get involved. There is no market, no spin off from racing machines for them. Sponsorship isn't easy to come by because so few large multi-national companies are involved with speedway.

 

Danish and Polish riders have generally enjoyed the most lucrative sponsorship deals but even they would be dwarfed by those in many other disciplines of motorcycle racing.

 

Nicki is in the twilight of his career and has no doubt done very well financially out of it and may well fancy riding less. But that certainly wouldn't apply to the young guns coming through. They are racers and want to race.

So what's the point of the likes of NP making statements about these bike manufacturers getting involved?

 

If it's the case like you say, then surely he would know better?

 

What's the point in making such a statement, if it's not even possible?

 

When you say spin off...as in sales of Moto X and Road bikes?

 

I'm really not so sure as to dismiss it totally. I'd say yes...dismiss it with the mind set speedway is in now...but if it were to change drastically with a totally different attitude, looking to make speedway racing more affordable and easier to get into for the general public, then maybe there would be a way in.

[PHILIPRISING]

I ACTUALLY have some experience of this. A few years back spoke to Andy Smith (not the three-times British Champion) but the UK and then European boss of Yamaha.

 

Asked him why Yamaha didn't or wouldn't make a speedway engine or indeed a bike. His reply was simple. They could, quite easily as it happens, but the time and effort tooling up for a motorcycle that they could probably manufacture the total needs of the sport in a day or two wasn't viable.

 

At the time what Kenny Roberts was racing was a road bike of tomorrow that ordinary people could go into a shop, buy and ride around the streets. And that philosophy applies right across the board of the giant Japanese companies.

 

If there truly was a market these companies would have become involved years ago. But there isn't. And they haven't.

[Gresham]

I ACTUALLY have some experience of this. A few years back spoke to Andy Smith (not the three-times British Champion) but the UK and then European boss of Yamaha.

 

Asked him why Yamaha didn't or wouldn't make a speedway engine or indeed a bike. His reply was simple. They could, quite easily as it happens, but the time and effort tooling up for a motorcycle that they could probably manufacture the total needs of the sport in a day or two wasn't viable.

 

At the time what Kenny Roberts was racing was a road bike of tomorrow that ordinary people could go into a shop, buy and ride around the streets. And that philosophy applies right across the board of the giant Japanese companies.

 

If there truly was a market these companies would have become involved years ago. But there isn't. And they haven't.

Interesting...thanks for that Philip...begs the question why Japanese engine manufacturers bother with other minor motorcycle sports like Flat track racing etc.

 

You wonder why JAWA still bother, when they make so many road bikes.

 

It's the only way money would get into the sport, and that's if the big motorcycle companies and Petrolium companies get involved.

 

Strange that NP spoke about it though...seems rather odd.

[Trees]

Wishful thinking now he's living in Monaco .....

[foamfence]

I ACTUALLY have some experience of this. A few years back spoke to Andy Smith (not the three-times British Champion) but the UK and then European boss of Yamaha.

 

Asked him why Yamaha didn't or wouldn't make a speedway engine or indeed a bike. His reply was simple. They could, quite easily as it happens, but the time and effort tooling up for a motorcycle that they could probably manufacture the total needs of the sport in a day or two wasn't viable.

 

At the time what Kenny Roberts was racing was a road bike of tomorrow that ordinary people could go into a shop, buy and ride around the streets. And that philosophy applies right across the board of the giant Japanese companies.

 

If there truly was a market these companies would have become involved years ago. But there isn't. And they haven't.

There is some F2 racing at Scunthorpe today, they use readily available 450cc motocross engines, Yamaha make such engines, as indeed do most leading manufacturers.

[PHILIPRISING]

Wishful thinking now he's living in Monaco .....

BEAT me to it ...