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What Changes Have To Be Made In 2017?


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Because fans are fed up with guests and r/r the bspa are going to register 60 eligible riders for the EL and any manager can pick any 7 riders for a meeting from the 60 registered, sorted no guests or r/r.

 

How about 14 riders drawn at random to turn up at the home track then the two team managers take turns at picking riders for their teams like playground football.
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Tatum and Sandhu

IMO Kelvin would be a great choice he is perfect in every respects , all round knowledge of the sport as an ex rider ,tech skills and he is still riding the bikes although obviously no longer racing .He has an obvious passion for the sport and has it's best interests at heart ,you can just tell that by the way he talks and I am sure he would get the job done definitely gets my vote .

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What needs to change?

 

Make the No1 priority a fixture list that grants clubs the maximum opportunity to deliver their biggest crowds. (whatever night or day, that may be)..

 

Then fit only riders into the teams that can deliver that fixture list...

 

Seven man teams? Six man teams? Five man teams? (even four man teams with four teams per meeting which bring three away teams' support?)..

 

Whatever....

 

Pick the teams size (and overall team strength) against rider numbers that can (to the best of knowledge) commit to 100% availability..

 

Give the fans consistent race nights, a team made up of 'their riders' each week, and fair and equal team strengths and who knows, maybe the sport can start to move forwards again?

 

Lets hope 'radical' is the biggest word used to describe whatever changes do get made...

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Ok, how do we make sure that no team builds to a much higher standard than the other teams in the division?

 

I know that to much rider control is bad for the sport, and we can't afford to water the league down any further than it already is, but there has to be a way to ensure a fairer spread of at least team number 1's...

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If the general idea is clubs are in it for themselves and their business (which I think is both obviously true and at times exaggerated) it is worth working with that chain of thought to in turn enhance the overall product The Aviva Premiership for example, is a model worth looking at when it comes to credits and points gained for doing things right, such as development, accounting etc, speedway could use that as a blue print IMO. That systems was in part introduced to Rugby to work with “self-serving attitudes” and to leak in a one size thought re rules and how things should work

 

The major issue with the development of such a system would probably link to the utter shambles that is the current asset system – I think it is slightly overlooked just how much of a problem that particular minefield is.

 

A correctly implemented and managed asset system affords sport so many things that fans can buy into such as rider development, local talent, feelings of riders who belong to the club, seeing riders moved on and or sold, or simply creating stalwarts/long term assets and relationships with riders.

 

The whole “retained list” and questionable ability of clubs to harbour talent at certain tracks played a huge part in destroying what is fundamentally an excellent idea.

 

Whether or not the system could ever be repaired is open to question as it might already be too late – which is a shame as there are so many things that could be enhanced with a functioning system.

 

Examples being sides being able to have unlimited points to play with for 3 team spots as long as the riders in those spots adhered to certain criteria such as “home grown/certain age” etc. Things like this would increase the churn of British riders, encourage clubs to stick with and develop riders, sell them on, see clubs financially rewarded for doing the right things.

 

A system like this might also create “super clubs” who develop better than others, but at least that is then fair as they have nurtured and grew their club which Speedway has sadly removed over the years.

Edited by The Mockingjay
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Ok, how do we make sure that no team builds to a much higher standard than the other teams in the division?

 

I know that to much rider control is bad for the sport, and we can't afford to water the league down any further than it already is, but there has to be a way to ensure a fairer spread of at least team number 1's...

 

 

Allow clubs to sign 1 “marquee” rider a year. It would be the one list that was specifically in place to allow rider designation as such to ensure all sides had at least one “star” to get behind, a team can go quite far based on that.

 

Asses that criteria based on previous averages, GP rankings, world form etc, try and assure the riders on that list are kept as logical as possible and promote and brand the riders on that list as “marquee”, make them feel like a big deal.

 

If sides show competence re running their club correctly, sustainable business plan and genuine organic growth allow that specific club the option of 2 “marquee” riders the season after (if they can attract or bring a new "marque rider" back to Britain) and thus they are rewarded for doing things right – and also allows the “marquee” list to expand rather than freezing riders out.

 

This option allows the likes of Doyle, Holder, NKI etc to remain and make further additions if need be (Woffinden etc) and organically creates more “marquee” riders, thus spreading the net of "top riders" wider to other clubs.

 

It doesn’t punish sides like, for example Poole, who have organically worked to have a larger budget than most, and thus can sustainably afford good riders who do add to the spectacle in this country. At the same time it slightly opens up rider movement as such in that sides can’t collect "marquee" riders and thus certain riders of a certain standard might be left having to accept lesser deals else where if they want to be here (which is an issue).

 

If over time club grows stronger than the rest and can begin to sign more “marquee” riders or develop riders who become “marquee” standard, good, that’s a massive part of sport.

 

There is never going to be complete fairness and there will at times be a gulf between sides, that is ok, it is actually something that should have been embraced IMO. The knowing that sides are always going to be quite close has created a lazy attitude within team building and rider development.

 

I also feels the perception of fairness does little to allow club ethos, club mentality etc. If sides yo yo they never get to embrace the idea of their natural place in the food chain in the way sides like Man U or Sunderland can. If you support either you have a pre-set idea of how your season will play out and thus don't become disillusioned with it as quickly as fans do in Speedway, a culture created by the idea of fairness IMO.

Edited by The Mockingjay
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The first thing we need for 2017 is CREDIBILITY the sport I've been involved with for 50 years has been going down hill for many years.

 

What chance have we got to attract new sponsors & supporters with the current product on offer?

 

Quite high given clubs generally attract both each season?

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So it would seem that the BSPA promoters who met in a General Council meeting on Tuesday are considering a new 'Chief Executive-style appointment with overall authority on decisions'!>

 

"A well known businessman from the sporting fraternity has been involved in pressing talks with the MC and has outlined his own version of a major blueprint!"

 

'The biggest question is whether there will be sufficient support for change - and real change at that - from the current promoters?' (Speedway Star, 27/08/2016)

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So it would seem that the BSPA promoters who met in a General Council meeting on Tuesday are considering a new 'Chief Executive-style appointment with overall authority on decisions'!>

 

"A well known businessman from the sporting fraternity has been involved in pressing talks with the MC and has outlined his own version of a major blueprint!"

 

'The biggest question is whether there will be sufficient support for change - and real change at that - from the current promoters?' (Speedway Star, 27/08/2016)

I desperately hope so - but - I doubt it.

 

They have proved very resistant to change in the past.

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So it would seem that the BSPA promoters who met in a General Council meeting on Tuesday are considering a new 'Chief Executive-style appointment with overall authority on decisions'!>

 

"A well known businessman from the sporting fraternity has been involved in pressing talks with the MC and has outlined his own version of a major blueprint!"

 

'The biggest question is whether there will be sufficient support for change - and real change at that - from the current promoters?' (Speedway Star, 27/08/2016)

Would be a great step forward but will the promoters actually agree to it?

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There isn't that much wrong with speedway. The main gripe I have is the make up of teams and the fact that so many ride for more than one club, even in other countries.

 

Another is the guest system. What a farce. Surely no one can take it seriously when Rohan Tungate guest for Wolves last night, hitting 14 points and helping them win at King's Lynn, in the process putting doubt on his parent side Swindon's chances of reaching the Play-Offs.

 

If there was ever an example of riders riding for themselves, these are said occasions. He isn't the only rider to do it either. Surely any rider wouldn't put an extra pay night before seeing his own side progress to the Play-Offs. And it wasn't even as if he had a stinker (knowing how Wolves were pressing Swindon) and Wolves lost - he rode like a hero. Then again, if he were to have a stinker purposely, then why take the guest booking in the first place? Indeed, why did Wolves book him, with focus on whatever he scored may have helped or impeded Swindon's march. If the lad was that way inclined, he could have performed like a prune and Wolves no doubt suffered defeat, helping Swindon.

 

All a bit silly.

Edited by moxey63
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If, the speedway in the UK decided to go down the no "superstar" route, commit to UK, or you don't ride in the UK, creates a problem over aspiration....

 

Johnny Singer, new, debut in 2nd Division start of season, within a month had progressed to heat leader status, come June, he's in top 10 of the averages. Gets approached by Sparta Polski and signs, even though same race night clashes every other fixture..

 

Ronnie Bathurst, promising 18 yr old qualifies world under 21 series, he also becomes unavailable for 5 of his home clubs fixtures....

 

Simon Gronfer, heat leader (same team as Ronnie and Johhny) breaks his leg, and out for 10 weeks, team now has 2 heat leaders and top second string missing....

 

In Speedway, I think there will always be the need for guest riders, I don't see a fair way of getting around it, as Johnny, Ronnie and Simons team have lost 2 heat leaders + top 2nd string for a good chunk of the season, and promoting juniors, although admirable, will not be good for crowd levels..

Edited by Shale Searcher
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Right, track grading......

 

How long did the 13 heat matches last in the 1970's?

 

Leicester used to start @ 19:45, then, they eventually opted for 19:30, and I reckon the main meeting was done and dusted for around 9pm/9.30pm

 

And they tractor graded, and raked after every race!!!! So, perhaps little and often, rather than 4 / 5 major track relays!

 

Optimum Meeting Duration

 

90-100 minutes is about right I think, the main time consumer is riders farting around at pit gates (very start of race) clutch/rear chain tightening after practise start. And then, all the gardening and mind games at the tapes!! They are perhaps the 2 areas that need work to restore the "Goldilocks" meeting time..

Edited by Shale Searcher
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Right, track grading......

 

How long did the 13 heat matches last in the 1970's?

 

Leicester used to start @ 19:45, then, they eventually opted for 19:30, and I reckon the main meeting was done and dusted for around 9pm/9.30pm

 

And they tractor graded, and raked after every race!!!! So, perhaps little and often, rather than 4 / 5 major track relays!

 

Optimum Meeting Duration

 

90-100 minutes is about right I think, the main time consumer is riders farting around at pit gates (very start of race) clutch/rear chain tightening after practise start. And then, all the gardening and mind games at the tapes!! They are perhaps the 2 areas that need work to restore the "Goldilocks" meeting time..

 

Perhaps the modern way of life has made humans want less wasted time. For example, how many of us watch the adverts of anything we've recorded on SKY+? Many people nowadays can't even walk without having to tap away at a keyboard on a mobile device.

 

Recall the days I used to watch a live SKY meeting from start to end, often four hours, all the chat between the heats. Now I guess I'd record it and fast forward the empty bits. If I attended, I think the gaps would frustrate me now, whereas I never noticed before.

 

We live in a "want-it-now" society.

Edited by moxey63
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