Guest Posted March 30, 2017 Report Share Posted March 30, 2017 (edited) The Japanese government banned speedway many years because it was considered 'too dangerous'. A Japanese rider actually raced in the UK in the early 1970s when Jimmy Ogisu competed in The Internationale at Wimbledon. Japanese riders - including women riders - also competed in speedway meetings in Australia and - I think - New Zealand. A Japanese rider also raced in California, USA, in the 1970-1980 period. However, a puzzle in regard to the Japanese view about banning speedway is that they allow the betting related Autorace class of track racing, which is not very similar to speedway, and also permit Flat Track racing which is - see the Link. I wonder if Japan will eventually reverse its SPEEDWAY BAN and allow the sport again? Here is the Japanese Flat Track Link which was passed to me by fellow BSF member Bavarian. Many thanks indeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtncboslXW0 Edited March 31, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 I have seen Autojo in Japan ( as they call the style of oval racing using the 600cc bikes ) it is very exciting with massive handicaps used and so has a lot of passing BUT a meeting lasts 6 - 8 hours and there are usually no more than three heats in an hour. Lots of waiting around because it is primarily for betting so the process of collecting your winnings and placing your bets on the next heat consumes a lot of time. Take out the betting and it is more exciting to watch than speedway. There are many horse trotting tracks ( also a betting sport there ) which could easily be used for speedway if permitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) I have seen Autojo in Japan ( as they call the style of oval racing using the 600cc bikes ) it is very exciting with massive handicaps used and so has a lot of passing BUT a meeting lasts 6 - 8 hours and there are usually no more than three heats in an hour. Lots of waiting around because it is primarily for betting so the process of collecting your winnings and placing your bets on the next heat consumes a lot of time. Take out the betting and it is more exciting to watch than speedway. There are many horse trotting tracks ( also a betting sport there ) which could easily be used for speedway if permitted. This Link gives some reference to Auto Race in Japan: I could not find a reference/Link anywhere in regard to when 'proper' speedway took place in Japan. Nor could I find a specific reference in regard to the ban imposed on speedway. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_Race_(Japanese_sport) Edited March 31, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 I am not sure that speedway was ever "banned" as such in Japan, although it could haven been. After the second world war entertainment was very restricted as were all forms of legal gambling and I think that it was at that point that sand tracks of around 1/4 mile ( they could be used for speedway nowadays ) were designated for horse trotting racetracks. Motorcycle racing was then for some reason given over only to concrete or tarmac surfaces ( as in Autojo ). I believe that speedway could do well there on a league team basis as there is such a powerful identification locally with 'our team" and also in Japanese culture there is high interest in very short, high technique sports ( sumo for example where a great bout may last less than 10 seconds - is still popular ). I don't know anything about the origin of flat track racing on sand type surfaces or when that first appeared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 This is a good race....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-gyBmAr2i0 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) I have seen Autojo in Japan ( as they call the style of oval racing using the 600cc bikes ) it is very exciting with massive handicaps used and so has a lot of passing BUT a meeting lasts 6 - 8 hours and there are usually no more than three heats in an hour. Lots of waiting around because it is primarily for betting so the process of collecting your winnings and placing your bets on the next heat consumes a lot of time. Take out the betting and it is more exciting to watch than speedway. There are many horse trotting tracks ( also a betting sport there ) which could easily be used for speedway if permitted. I saw a couple of Autorace meetings a few years back, at Funabashi and Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi is an amazing place. One thing you really notice is the loudness of the bikes - the old, throaty roar that we used to get with speedway in the 70s. The races are handicapped, but the riders at the back work their way through pretty quickly so I think there is quite a gap in standard. Didn't Barry Briggs once have a go at Autorace? There's a chapter on the sport in his "Speedway with Briggo" book that I won at school for getting 10 commendations! Edited March 31, 2017 by grachan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) I am not sure that speedway was ever "banned" as such in Japan, although it could haven been. After the second world war entertainment was very restricted as were all forms of legal gambling and I think that it was at that point that sand tracks of around 1/4 mile ( they could be used for speedway nowadays ) were designated for horse trotting racetracks. Motorcycle racing was then for some reason given over only to concrete or tarmac surfaces ( as in Autojo ). I believe that speedway could do well there on a league team basis as there is such a powerful identification locally with 'our team" and also in Japanese culture there is high interest in very short, high technique sports ( sumo for example where a great bout may last less than 10 seconds - is still popular ). I don't know anything about the origin of flat track racing on sand type surfaces or when that first appeared. That's an excellent viewpoint on the Japanese motorcycle track sport situation waytogo28 and I found it extremely thought provoking. I have often pondered the Japansese government 'ban on speedway because it's too dangerous' comment but have accepted that somewhere it must have been reported. However, I have made many efforts to trace a Link to confirm this so-called ban and never been able to find one. It could well be a generated reason by others and used to emphasise the spectacle of speedway rather than being a reason for its disappearance from the Japanese motorcycle sport scene. The fact that Flat Track racing, which basically has many similarities to speedway does take place further puts an EXTREMELY LARGE question mark over a governmental ban on speedway because of the danger aspects of the sport. So far as a possible revival of Japanese speedway is concerned, quite probably those circuits now staying Flat Track could also be used? On the other hand, it would need much hard work by Japanese enthusiasts to rekindle the speedway factor. Promotion of meetings, a rider base, and the provision of bikes - that's just for starters! Much more than my sketchy thoughts are needed to achieve a return of speedway in Japan, but were they to start this one can rest assured that it would be done in an orderly and well-thought out way. Fingers crossed! Edited March 31, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 This is a good race....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-gyBmAr2i0 Lucy liked that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagonshocker Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 I saw a couple of Autorace meetings a few years back, at Funabashi and Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi is an amazing place. One thing you really notice is the loudness of the bikes - the old, throaty roar that we used to get with speedway in the 70s. The races are handicapped, but the riders at the back work their way through pretty quickly so I think there is quite a gap in standard. Didn't Barry Briggs once have a go at Autorace? There's a chapter on the sport in his "Speedway with Briggo" book that I won at school for getting 10 commendations! Yeah I remember that book and the part about Japanese speedway stood out in particular, it's great to watch It's like watching American flat track except it's on Tarmac and the bikes look more like speedway bikes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted March 31, 2017 Report Share Posted March 31, 2017 One of the problems in promoting speedway in Japan is that there is so much competition for the punter's yen! It was part of my dream when I lived and worked there to get some sample races put on at a horse trotting race track but even with the help of Japanese friends, the idea was given very short shrift.Very much it would "upset the horses"! The trotting races are very good to watch and surprisingly competitive ( not that I am much of a fan of that kind of horsepower ). And the organisers of Autojo and the horse trotting, go to great lengths to avoid any race fixing. No riders here would go through that process I feel sure. Briggo did indeed have a go and there was big article in the SS about 25 years ago ( which would be worth repeating or updating next winter). Because of the wide difference in graded riders the handicap is enormous - I think it was 160 metres back for the very best who were terrific at weaving their way through. Lots of happy memories there. I was watching in Hamamatsu. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted April 1, 2017 Report Share Posted April 1, 2017 Six to eight hours, sounds like a meeting at King's Lynn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Six to eight hours, sounds like a meeting at King's Lynn! :rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aces51 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 It looks as if they have cycle speedway in Japan. https://vimeo.com/92584105 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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