CB252 Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 (edited) Too many people come on here & say that we can't have fixed race nights & then moan about the trouble with re-arranging meetings due to doubling up or also moan about the number of guests. We can no longer keeping putting our heads in the shale, change is needed. There are many of the riders that need the doubling up to get the number of rides in to make a living & not all of them will get the chance to ride abroad. Secondly without those extra rides, many riders lose their form, Morris was a prime example of this last season. We can no longer live in the past we must move forward.I don't think anyone doubts that we need to move forward. It is beyond any doubt that the UK speedway model is useless when faced with the challenges of fitting in around international speedway. The problem is, our stadiums are not club owned and are so outdated and run down that it's virtually impossible to find a way to move forward that suits everyone. You can't sell a professional sport in our stadiums. They are literally a disgrace, barring a handful. Edited August 22, 2017 by CB252 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduds1 Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 If the God's (sorry Poles) restrict the amount of leagues that riders can ride in, then this makes this topic rather redundant. The only way to improve attendances is a bigger league where teams visit once a year (twice if there's a cup) and regular meetings on a regular race-night. The leagues can hardly be dumbed down anymore, why not share the riders out fairly to help teams from championship to compete on equal terms and pay what they can afford if the riders don't like go and get a proper job (or part-time as nearly all did years ago). I know this will lead to much gnashing of teeth of cheque book speedway but nearly all other sports are run this way and seem to be increasing attendances along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronScorpion Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 There has been long running problems in British Speedway & Rome was not built in a day so what do we, the supporters, want to see & be achieved, over a period of time. Buster Chapman became Chairman at the AGM at the end of the 2015 season & said straight away it was too late to make changes until the AGM in Nov '16. As there was a steady drop of top riders over the years, they decided to bring in a 1 average system for the PL & CL, bring back the present race format & doing away with the EDR system at the same time, hoping to bring the racing & results closer. They brought in promotion/relegation although I don't think this was thought out enough because of the amount of riders doubling between the 2 leagues. What will fixed race nights achieve or what do we want them to achieve? Which nights to be used? .......These must be nights that do not interfere with the other leagues so Monday(used by Sky & now BT Sport) & Wednesday. Choosing 2 nights together like Wednesday & Thursday means teams from the CL would have to change nights which would cause a greater problem. Entice top riders back? .......What most are doing, because of the Polish ruling, is race on, almost, fixed race nights in 3 leagues in Poland, Sweden & Denmark. The few that are racing over here are doing so because they are based here(families, visa, etc) & to race more to be race sharp. Reduce the amount of doubling up/down of riders? ..........This is a point well raised on here because teams are getting to have no identity as riders(self employed) are riding for numerous teams in both leagues meaning the need of guests & r/r. The main points for me would be the 1st & 3rd options. There is a problem with fixture planning but teams have not helped each other by getting as many done as soon as possible & to ask other teams to help by rearrangement of their fixtures to assist others. Now there is a mad rush to get meeting in before a deadline date for play off positions. At this stage of the season, there should have been no reason for the KOC final not to have been raced. We know the weather has not been kind these last 2 years, so it has not helped, but let's help ourselves by trying a bit more to get meetings sorted. Too many people come on here & say that we can't have fixed race nights & then moan about the trouble with re-arranging meetings due to doubling up or also moan about the number of guests. We can no longer keeping putting our heads in the shale, change is needed. There are many of the riders that need the doubling up to get the number of rides in to make a living & not all of them will get the chance to ride abroad. Secondly without those extra rides, many riders lose their form, Morris was a prime example of this last season. We can no longer live in the past we must move forward. If we need to change, we could go down the route of the Denmark League. They have 5 man teams & most riders race 6 & on an odd occasion 7 times if used as a Tac/Sub(better than t/r) so getting a 50% rise in races & race money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 More 'top riders'? More admission costs I presume to pay for them? How much to get in if so? £20? BV and Swindon showed in the past couple of weeks with their TV matches that a tenner and free entry to 'kids' will get you a very good crowd regardless of level of rider on show.. Not sure having more 'top riders' will deliver much better crowds than we currently have.. One thing a fixed night(s) will do though is cut the number of guests (cannot be in two places at once) so that has to be a positive.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie456 Posted August 22, 2017 Report Share Posted August 22, 2017 Heard from reliable source the premiership will run on 2 days next season Monday and Thursday Poland want Friday Saturday and Sunday Sweden on a Tuesday and Denmark on a Wednesday.Not sure we're that leaves the championship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welwyn Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) Redcar could move from thurs to fri but it would cost them in attendances - why should they suffer to prop up a failing division? Redcar crowds are up 20 pc If being on a Thursday means such an increase they they could always go up. Not like the cost of being Premiership would be that much more with the diluting of the league. I'm sure you could have put together a competitive team on the cheap with younger riders. One team does that and keep the attendances then it might convert others. Edited August 23, 2017 by Welwyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB252 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 If being on a Thursday means such an increase they they could always go up. Not like the cost of being Premiership would be that much more with the diluting of the league. I'm sure you could have put together a competitive team on the cheap with younger riders. One team does that and keep the attendances then it might convert others. But at the moment Redcar ride every Thursday. Why would they want to move up and be handed a sporadic fixture list where they squeeze one match a month in and then do 12 home meetings in the last 6 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welwyn Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 But at the moment Redcar ride every Thursday. Why would they want to move up and be handed a sporadic fixture list where they squeeze one match a month in and then do 12 home meetings in the last 6 weeks. Well hopefully fixed race nights would fix this. But I take your point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB252 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Well hopefully fixed race nights would fix this. But I take your point. It might do to a degree, but at some point the Thursday tracks will need to race each other. At best you might get fortnightly meetings which, to be fair, would be an improvement to how it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Top riders have previously stated they don't want to ride in Britain on a Monday, as they like to travel directly from Poland to Sweden. It also makes sense for the nights to be consecutive to save on travel costs. For me, Wednesday and Thursday seems to be the best fit. HOPEFULLY with TV involved Monday will suit. Lots of riders got back from Poland for Monday meetings this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Why would they want to move up and be handed a sporadic fixture list where they squeeze one match a month in and then do 12 home meetings in the last 6 weeks. There are 22 weeks from April to August. With 14 home meetings (assuming eight teams) and seven away meetings (assuming an even distribution of teams between race nights) clubs would be able to have a home meetings most weeks with only seven gaps over the course of a season. As long as the gaps are evenly spread out, it should result in no more than a fortnight between home meetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aces51 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 HOPEFULLY with TV involved Monday will suit. Lots of riders got back from Poland for Monday meetings this week. But none of those clubs riding this week have a Monday race night and it is entirely different for riders when they are only coming back for an occasional Monday meeting. Belle Vue at the dog track and Wolves have both said that having a Monday race night makes it more difficult to attract riders and there are also the commercial considerations. Belle Vue decided that they could attract more fans by moving away from Monday and if that wasn't the case I suspect they would be changing back. I understand that Sky wanted Monday for televised meetings but did BT simply inherit that race night? Maybe they will be agreeable to considering other options but if not, then, as now, non Monday teams can race on that night for the couple of times they are on TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 PERSONALLY think one race night per week is not enough ... 50 per cent of the teams wouldn't have a home meeting that week. Two nights would probably work better, certainly as far as fixture planning (remember that?) is concerned. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldenGauntlet Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 2 or even 3 nights for the top league could work, avoiding Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, and the championship can ride on the other 4 or 5 days. Doesn't seem too difficult, and fans would get to see their own riders (and full visiting teams) most of the time rather than teams full of guests. If there are championship teams that couldn't move race day to suit this, then we just need a rule that premiership clubs get priority on doubling-up riders on premiership race days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC2 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 If only the overpaid footballers had double-headers and five matches a week it could all be over within three months rather than the interminable ten now! And they could do nine months community service. PERSONALLY think one race night per week is not enough ... 50 per cent of the teams wouldn't have a home meeting that week. Two nights would probably work better, certainly as far as fixture planning (remember that?) is concerned. Thought you would advocate one night so Mrs Lambert has six to do the housework? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekker Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) If the top tier did go to Monday & Wednesday, or Wednesday & Thursday, presumably the second tier would avoid racing on those two nights. As well as fixed nights possibly tempting some big name riders back, it should help too in avoiding fixture clashes for the double uppers (though probably should be called double downers these days). No just abolish doubling up They could continue on a thurs but would have to accept that any visiting team might have a few guests, plus it would be the case that they would have no d/u riders themselves. The whole point fixed days for the top league is to attract top line foreigners back thus we dont need doubling up any more, just use a #8 like the old days or go to squads. Thus the riders in the 2nd league can go back to being semi pro reducing the costs which hopefully means more teams. Edited August 23, 2017 by Dekker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 No just abolish doubling upThats the answer.Riders would just have to accept it.No worries about race nights and Stadium availability . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 If only the overpaid footballers had double-headers and five matches a week it could all be over within three months rather than the interminable ten now! And they could do nine months community service. Thought you would advocate one night so Mrs Lambert has six to do the housework? LET me clarify that I have nothing against Mrs Lambert personally. But have been around a long time and in close proximity to all of the top riders for over 50 years and have never seen a father in the pits work well let alone a mother. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shovlar Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 (edited) LET me clarify that I have nothing against Mrs Lambert personally. But have been around a long time and in close proximity to all of the top riders for over 50 years and have never seen a father in the pits work well let alone a mother. It does seem to work very well with James Shanes whose mother certainly seems to get stuck in. Edited August 23, 2017 by Steve Shovlar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRKYLANE Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I am certain that with most tracks renting from a stadium that one night a week for a league is not logistically possible. Two nights per week for one league has got a lot more chance .but it still requires an enormous amount of agreement and common consent to work Personally i think two nights per league for the top two leagues makes a lot of sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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