Time To Stand Up To The Polish Clubs ?

[Countershaftcounter]

So the Polish clubs are now limiting where top riders can race, we're seeing a lot of the top guys already sign for Polish / Swedish clubs, possibly ruling them out of racing here. The question is … Will British promotors stand up to them ?

 

For years we've let the Poles take the pi$$ out of our leagues, unknowns coming over and taking the place of British riders and promotors fall over themselves to sign them up, hoping to find the next big thing. Problem is the next big thing could have been the young British rider you overlooked and threw money at the Pole instead.

 

If the young Brit does drag himself up to an acceptable level, ( usually by getting into a load of debt) can he get a team place in Poland ?? Hell no ! They look after their youngsters first over there.

 

Maybe they're doing us a favour ? Maybe this years AGM will put a limit in place to the number of foreign riders per team ? Maybe they'll put the interest into looking after and encouraging homegrown talent over mediocre foreigners ? Maybe the promotors will grow some balls for the good of our sport ?

 

Maybe pigs will fly ?

[Little Thumper]

So the Polish clubs are now limiting where top riders can race, we're seeing a lot of the top guys already sign for Polish / Swedish clubs, possibly ruling them out of racing here. The question is … Will British promotors stand up to them ?

 

For years we've let the Poles take the pi$$ out of our leagues, unknowns coming over and taking the place of British riders and promotors fall over themselves to sign them up, hoping to find the next big thing. Problem is the next big thing could have been the young British rider you overlooked and threw money at the Pole instead.

 

If the young Brit does drag himself up to an acceptable level, ( usually by getting into a load of debt) can he get a team place in Poland ?? Hell no ! They look after their youngsters first over there.

 

Maybe they're doing us a favour ? Maybe this years AGM will put a limit in place to the number of foreign riders per team ? Maybe they'll put the interest into looking after and encouraging homegrown talent over mediocre foreigners ? Maybe the promotors will grow some balls for the good of our sport ?

 

Maybe pigs will fly ?

 

0 is a nice round number!

Commonwealth friends being the exception, obviously.

[Grachan]

Not sure how us putting a limit on foreigners is standing up to Polish clubs.

 

It wouldn't affect them in the slightest.

[Little Thumper]

Not sure how us putting a limit on foreigners is standing up to Polish clubs.

 

It wouldn't affect them in the slightest.

 

I think it would affect them.

If foreign riders can no longer earn their money in this country, they will have to do more racing at home.

If they are doing more racing at home, then the extra money that they earn will be paid by the clubs in their own country.

 

The money that clubs in this country were paying to foreign riders would then be paid to British and Commonwealth Riders.

 

Should you feel that this is a little draconian, then perhaps an exchange scheme could be set up whereby a British club takes on a foreign rider for a set number of meetings on the understanding that the British club's rider does the same number of meetings in the other country.

 

At the end of the day, surely we must have some control rather than being dictated to by some third party?

 

Be seeing you.

[foamfence]

So the Polish clubs are now limiting where top riders can race, we're seeing a lot of the top guys already sign for Polish / Swedish clubs, possibly ruling them out of racing here. The question is … Will British promotors stand up to them ?

 

For years we've let the Poles take the pi$$ out of our leagues, unknowns coming over and taking the place of British riders and promotors fall over themselves to sign them up, hoping to find the next big thing. Problem is the next big thing could have been the young British rider you overlooked and threw money at the Pole instead.

 

If the young Brit does drag himself up to an acceptable level, ( usually by getting into a load of debt) can he get a team place in Poland ?? Hell no ! They look after their youngsters first over there.

 

Maybe they're doing us a favour ? Maybe this years AGM will put a limit in place to the number of foreign riders per team ? Maybe they'll put the interest into looking after and encouraging homegrown talent over mediocre foreigners ? Maybe the promotors will grow some balls for the good of our sport ?

 

Maybe pigs will fly ?

There's the Polish League and the GPs, nothing else can match the money so they can do whatever they like. Personally I'd prefer to see us go our own way, whatever that would mean to the standard of riders, a couple of months and everyone would be used to it. Anyone wanting to miss meetings to ride elsewhere would have to be replaced by a NL rider NO EXCEPTIONS! The promoters would soon get the message when assembling their teams.

[Fundin5]

There are a number of issues involving this topic.

 

1. Personally,I think that doing this would contravene European Law by restricting the number of countries any rider could race in. However, should a rider decide to sign a Poland contract with this fact written into it, I would imagine by waiving the right, he would be agreeing to abide by this. Therefore, Poland would not then be breaking any EU Laws.

 

2. I have always assumed that it is Poland and Sweden where a rider can reap the greatest rewards for his services. One fact I am not aware of the answer to, is whether it is mandatory for a rider to race in his own national leagues. Lets assume it is a Dane we are talking about. If he HAS to race in his countries leagues, he would then have to choose between Poland, Sweden and the UK (perhaps)for his other country to ply his trade. More than likely, he would opt for Poland above Sweden. By doing this, he would diminish his earnings, whereas as Swede would benefit by this arrangement.

 

3. We have seen two clubs, Poole and Wolverhampton, sign riders coming up to the Play Off stages of our Elite League. Whilst I don't agree with this, it was done legally within the existing framework of rules, so fine. Come next August, it would not be as easy to pull the same trick if a rider is riding under Poland's no more than two leagues contract restriction.

 

4. British leagues (Elite & Premier), have suffered from the lack of riders racing in the UK. This has resulted in riders racing in both leagues to make enough meetings available to justify the outlay for machinery. A Polish restriction could well reduce the number of riders available to both leagues . It would not surprise me if someone like Bomber Harris tried his hand at both leagues.

 

British speedway is not strong enough to start waving the big stick at Poland, if they did, I doubt much notice would be taken of it. The SGP, of which they get 3 rounds is a great coup for them. It would be nice if BSI took 2 of them away from Poland and awarded them elsewhere. Would they do that, NOT A CHANCE; and the FIM say they can do nothing about it.

 

We may well have to rely on our old friends from the Commonwealth and nurture our own talent. Do you agree or not?

[foamfence]

There are a number of issues involving this topic.

 

1. Personally,I think that doing this would contravene European Law by restricting the number of countries any rider could race in. However, should a rider decide to sign a Poland contract with this fact written into it, I would imagine by waiving the right, he would be agreeing to abide by this. Therefore, Poland would not then be breaking any EU Laws.

 

2. I have always assumed that it is Poland and Sweden where a rider can reap the greatest rewards for his services. One fact I am not aware of the answer to, is whether it is mandatory for a rider to race in his own national leagues. Lets assume it is a Dane we are talking about. If he HAS to race in his countries leagues, he would then have to choose between Poland, Sweden and the UK (perhaps)for his other country to ply his trade. More than likely, he would opt for Poland above Sweden. By doing this, he would diminish his earnings, whereas as Swede would benefit by this arrangement.

 

3. We have seen two clubs, Poole and Wolverhampton, sign riders coming up to the Play Off stages of our Elite League. Whilst I don't agree with this, it was done legally within the existing framework of rules, so fine. Come next August, it would not be as easy to pull the same trick if a rider is riding under Poland's no more than two leagues contract restriction.

 

4. British leagues (Elite & Premier), have suffered from the lack of riders racing in the UK. This has resulted in riders racing in both leagues to make enough meetings available to justify the outlay for machinery. A Polish restriction could well reduce the number of riders available to both leagues . It would not surprise me if someone like Bomber Harris tried his hand at both leagues.

 

British speedway is not strong enough to start waving the big stick at Poland, if they did, I doubt much notice would be taken of it. The SGP, of which they get 3 rounds is a great coup for them. It would be nice if BSI took 2 of them away from Poland and awarded them elsewhere. Would they do that, NOT A CHANCE; and the FIM say they can do nothing about it.

 

We may well have to rely on our old friends from the Commonwealth and nurture our own talent. Do you agree or not?

Yes.

[Brummiestormer]

Have to face facts speedway in the UK is a 2nd rate product compared with the Swedish and Polish Leagues and i doubt know we can ever get back to the power we once were and no amount of sabre rattling will change that......only money and where is that going to come from???

[pete cc]

While we are still in the EU we can not stop European riders from coming to this country.After brexit it should be interesting.

[HenryW]

2. I have always assumed that it is Poland and Sweden where a rider can reap the greatest rewards for his services. One fact I am not aware of the answer to, is whether it is mandatory for a rider to race in his own national leagues. Lets assume it is a Dane we are talking about. If he HAS to race in his countries leagues, he would then have to choose between Poland, Sweden and the UK (perhaps)for his other country to ply his trade. More than likely, he would opt for Poland above Sweden. By doing this, he would diminish his earnings, whereas as Swede would benefit by this arrangement.

Danes don't have to race in their own National league if they don't want to.

 

3. We have seen two clubs, Poole and Wolverhampton, sign riders coming up to the Play Off stages of our Elite League. Whilst I don't agree with this, it was done legally within the existing framework of rules, so fine. Come next August, it would not be as easy to pull the same trick if a rider is riding under Poland's no more than two leagues contract restriction.

I guess that would depend how they wrote the rules.

Those riders were only interested in coming over here because one or both of their other clubs were finished for the season.

As long as they were only riding one other league at a time it might fit with what the Poles intend.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

While we are still in the EU we can not stop European riders from coming to this country.After brexit it should be interesting.

 

It's not us trying to stop other riders coming here. The Poles have said they don't want riders they sign riding in more than one league other than the Polish league, and even then it's only the top Polish division apparently. The inference there could be that any riders riding in GB and Sweden won't be given rides in Poland. Nothing wrong there.

[INCOGNITO]

It's not a case of standing up to Poland as they try and restrict riders moving from league to league as they have the upper hand with some riders earning as much in one race over there as they would in a good night over here. Swedish riders have to ride in their countries league to gain a licence and the same in Denmark however top riders don't appear as much as others and it will be interesting to see how someone like Iversen doing four or five Danish meetings would leave him choosing Poland or Sweden and Britain.

 

 

Let's not forget also that there was talk in all leagues, including Britain about restricting riders movement as injuries were becoming an every day thing by August and it appeared riders were getting burnt out by then with non stop racing and travelling appearing to affect their reactions on the race track.

 

 

Riders like Chris Holder for example has been with Torun, Piraterna and Poole for season after season and if Torun said he had to ride in just one other, it would be likely to be Poole that he drops and can easily base himself in Poland or Sweden as he does here just as Lindgren resides in Angola and Hancock in Sweden.

 

 

Yes it would affect most of the top riders we have left here possibly staying away as most of their sponsors like our own Tai Woffinden are heavily backed by Polish and Swedish firms but maybe this is something that needed Britain to finally do something positive and understand it is no longer the number one league in the sport and no longer the league riders look to in order to earn a living and learn their trade.

 

 

Most riders in the Elite League either have a Premier League average already or have an average that can easily be converted to a PL average and Britain needs to work together and rebuild into one big league using Premier League averages to get a limit and create more spaces for National Leaguevridersbto gain reserve berths in the league. It also stops the big names coming back in when it suits them or when a rider has a false average due to the format.

 

If Poole, Wolves, Swindon and Belle Vue still wanted to ride at a higher level, they could look at either doing a Elite League between them with a few other clubs doing a short programme and maybe even invite two Polish clubs and two Swedish clubs in to start a Champion League style tournament.

 

 

Rebuild and forget what they are doing there, let's get British riders moving forwardmonce more insteadbofvstanding still by doubling up here there and everywhere.

[Vincent Blachshadow]

It's not a case of standing up to Poland as they try and restrict riders moving from league to league as they have the upper hand with some riders earning as much in one race over there as they would in a good night over here. Swedish riders have to ride in their countries league to gain a licence and the same in Denmark however top riders don't appear as much as others and it will be interesting to see how someone like Iversen doing four or five Danish meetings would leave him choosing Poland or Sweden and Britain.

 

 

I don't honestly think Denmark is an issue here, rather that the Polish stance is that they will not give rides to anybody riding in Sweden and Britain.

[R87]

The Polish League has shown scant respect to British Speedway ever since they opened the doors to overseas riders in the early 1990s, by refusing to co-operate or even attempt to work with the British League. Ok so British Speedway has done itself few favors over the years, but I believe it has done more damage to the sport here than the GP has.

[Mr Bump]

Jason Doyle must be putting this potential ruling to test, as he now has contracts in Sweden & Poland as well as his contract with Swindon.

 

Interesting....

[noggin]

While we are still in the EU we can not stop European riders from coming to this country.After brexit it should be interesting.

 

Let them come, we're not obligated to employ them.

[hagonshocker]

Jason Doyle must be putting this potential ruling to test, as he now has contracts in Sweden & Poland as well as his contract with Swindon.

 

 

 

Interesting....

Good point there is now way Falubaz will dump Doyley so it will be interesting how this pans out

[Bald Bloke]

2 years ago i read on hear that a top(ish) rider was earning around 30k a week.For 4 leagues.So take off around 2-3k for UK.Says it all..

[A ORLOV]

Good point there is now way Falubaz will dump Doyley so it will be interesting how this pans out

It will depend if he and any of the other top riders stand up to the Polish clubs or sign a contract and accept what the Poles want.

While Poland is paying so much the riders might just stick with it, but if the payments drop then the riders might give the country a miss.

[foamfence]

It will depend if he and any of the other top riders stand up to the Polish clubs or sign a contract and accept what the Poles want.

While Poland is paying so much the riders might just stick with it, but if the payments drop then the riders might give the country a miss.

Nothing like stating the obvious, is there?