2018

[Theboss]

41 isn't lowering the standard by quite a lot. A point limit of 42 would maintain the standard at this year's level.

If that is the case then I wish every club the best of luck in keeping their finances reigned in and keeping their clubs alive for the whole season.

[CookieIpswich]

I think the only thing that we can guarantee is that BT will not be paying for the coverage and that the leagues will not have a sponsor

[B.V 72]

Well it's going to be a 41 point limit so yet again lowering the standard. This time by quite alot. This team ive perdicted for us shows it.

 

Bjerre

Cook

Worrall

Tungate

Bewley

Perks

Smith/bickley

 

_ _ _ _ _ _

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its not that bad phil if the limit was set at 42 most fans would accept that and we would still have to lose nearly 2 points off the team this year.

This has happened every year for a long time the most success teams from the year before have had to weaken so its nothing new and nothing that we did not expect really.

We were glad of the rule back in 2007 when we had a terrible team because other teams released riders and the following year we gained Crump and Geadde so swings and round a bouts.Other teams next year will be stronger for it so they will be happy.

I must admit I did expect it to be at leased 42 as a lot of teams finished with higher team averages than that this year.All I can think of is that more teams will be joining the league and they have to spread the riders out a little more and give every team the chance to sign a competitive side.

Who knows the AGM will reveal all.

Edited November 2, 2017 by B.V 72

[INCOGNITO]

Well it's going to be a 41 point limit so yet again lowering the standard. This time by quite alot. This team ive perdicted for us shows it.

Bjerre

Cook

Worrall

Tungate

Bewley

Perks

Smith/bickley

That fits just under the 41 limit therefor swapping fricke for perks

Will the admission reflect this

Bjerre will almost certainly miss Britain next season as the DMU grant his licence and are Unlikley to grant it if he refuses or is unable to ride in their league. Therefore by signing in Sweden and Poland he has effectively closed the door on Britain himself.

 

If in your team you replace Bjerre with Fricke you have more to use in the place of Perks and while it is another watering down of the main product, can you see prices going down and crowds going up ?

[cowboy cookie returns?]

Watering down does not work. It's been done pretty much every winter for the last 25 years and the sport is almost dead.

[waytogo28]

Bjerre will almost certainly miss Britain next season as the DMU grant his licence and are Unlikley to grant it if he refuses or is unable to ride in their league. Therefore by signing in Sweden and Poland he has effectively closed the door on Britain himself.

 

If in your team you replace Bjerre with Fricke you have more to use in the place of Perks and while it is another watering down of the main product, can you see prices going down and crowds going up ?

 

In answer to this rhetorical question - NO. Prices will not go down ( possibly UP at some places ) and crowds will go DOWN almost everywhere. The downward spiral of speedway, as a professional sport in the UK is now unstoppable and can only end in a dizzying crash. If there is any hope it is that enough tracks survive to form the basis of a simple semi pro racing scene - which if run under a completely new generation of promoters might begin to attract sufficient new fans to begin to rebuild league racing. Starting again with new ways of doing things is the only way forward.

[Bagpuss]

Watering down does not work. It's been done pretty much every winter for the last 25 years and the sport is almost dead.

I'm sure watering down is a factor but there are lots of other things which have lead to the sports current state too. Poor marketing / promotion, fixture clashes, dodgy rain offs, crap stadia, poor atmosphere, irregular fixtures, expensive admission and boring racing all have an effect too.

[bigcatdiary]

Bjerre will almost certainly miss Britain next season as the DMU grant his licence and are Unlikley to grant it if he refuses or is unable to ride in their league. Therefore by signing in Sweden and Poland he has effectively closed the door on Britain himself.

If in your team you replace Bjerre with Fricke you have more to use in the place of Perks and while it is another watering down of the main product, can you see prices going down and crowds going up ?

BJERRE has lived in the UK for years what’s stopping him taking out a UK licence, NKI is another who lives over here and has for years.

[spanner47]

I can't see how two race nights can work, who wants to ride Monday except for Wolves?

This could mean every team riding on the other night some weeks. So where do the guests come from? The top 5 riders of the div 2 clubs will be riding in the 1st Division, so teams will be replacing top div 1 riders with div 2 reserves.

There are more Friday clubs in the 1st Division than the 2nd, so chuck some Fridays in when the Danes aren't riding, this would help Belle Vue and Somerset. Yes, it would upset Edinburgh, but better to upset one team than screw up a whole league.

[waytogo28]

BJERRE has lived in the UK for years what’s stopping him taking out a UK licence, NKI is another who lives over here and has for years.

 

That is an idea that would make for an interesting British Championship if they all followed Rory Schlein's example.

[Phil The Ace]

This is the new polish contract apparently

 

The Polish Motor Association has published the rules and regulations governing slag sport in 2018. They do not like slogans who have a lot of objections. It is all about registration for players from PGE Ekstraligi.

What they do not like? Our interlocutor delivered selected passages from the regulations along with examples:

 

- supplying the club with his medical records to the athlete in order to verify whether the athlete complies with the anti-doping rules, the competitor's cost. Price is about 1000 PLN for each test.

- 45 well-defined advertising spots, uniform guards, kevlar and shields - pays the athlete

- no advertising on the golf course, back on the protection collar

- no sponsor logo on the back of the kevlar, seat

- no advertising on the muffler

- ads on the engine warmer

- rear cap - logo of only one sponsor

- helmet - maximum of 3 places

- cap - maximum of 3 seats

- all sponsorship agreements longer than 2018 are invalid

- everyone must obtain a written agreement to sign the contract with the sponsor before signing it

- if signed without written consent must be paid - club 1/3 of income and Ekstralid 1/3 of income

- the obligation to take part in all events for the PZM awards in the coveralls and clubs

- participation in the presentation of the ceremony without a bottle, helmet, fender or other accessories with the logo of the sponsor

- the obligation to give interviews on every request of the TV

- 6 marketing meetings in the season at their own expense for PZM and Ekstraligi

- on demand Ekstraligi need to write marketing reports

- every public performance in Poland

- each player's own use of his / her name, logo, nickname is subject to a penalty of 500 thousand. zł (ie, eg. for making your calendar, mug, lanyard, etc.)

- a club or PZM may at any time revoke the consent player to start abroad for any reason

- the obligation to start in the Championship Ekstraligi, Speedway World League and Super League Cup

- possibility to deduct 5% For every lost match

- a tactical reserve or a normal 50%. pay for each point

- 1: 5 loss - 25% pay for every point

- deductions for injuries for the signature for each match of absence

- for violation of anti-doping rules - 500 thousand penalties

- for losing the ability to take part in competitions (eg cross injury or fall from stairs) - PLN 50 thousand

 

Will this affect teams from getting anyone that rides in Poland top league

[stevebrum]

- a club or PZM may at any time revoke the consent player to start abroad for any reason

 

Will this affect teams from getting anyone that rides in Poland top league

Think the single quoted line just about sums up all we need to know.

[HenryW]

Think the single quoted line just about sums up all we need to know.

That particular rule has been in place for a few years now.

[waiheke1]

Well said Steve, seems some are oblivious to the main issue speedway currently faces.... Spiralling costs

More of an issue than declining revenue? Id say revenue is a bigger issue, costs can be cut but to grow revenue is tougher

[SteveLyric2]

I believe there has also been a statement from Riders Representative Krysztof Ciegelski - but I can't find it now.

 

The riders are apparantly up in arms about the new rules and their effect on earning capacity.

 

OK the Polish leagues make a big thing about announcing their signings for the following season - and then try to introduce new rider restrictions after the riders have agreed to sign!!

Edited November 5, 2017 by Skidder1

[poolebolton]

I believe there has also been a statement from Riders Representative Krysztof Ciegelski - but I can't find it now.

 

The riders are apparantly up in arms about the new rules and their effect on earning capacity.

 

OK the Polish leagues make a big thing about announcing their signings for the following season - and then try to introduce new rider restrictions after the riders have agreed to sign!!

They have said they wont sign contracts basically.

 

The extraliga has just come out saying they wont change the rules. They have said to riders they do not have to sign in Poland. Poles have already talked about not running the league for 2018.

 

I doubt this will happen. Extraliga will want to run and riders want to be paid. Sure it will all get sorted out.

 

 

 

In other news EMIL is not riding in Sweden this season. Could he be looking at the UK. (I doubt it) But i don't know he would not sign a contract in Sweden.

[SteveLyric2]

Emil's another that has good contacts in Glasgow and Poole!!!! ;-)

[T.N.T.]

The rule Poland are bringing in about taking away consent to any rider riding abroad is different to what is in place now as this means they can now recall a rider for a practice session or meeting sponsors but at present it's just about a scheduled league fixture

 

 

There will be.modification to their list as Woffy and others will get the ones that concern them altered but can't see why they would change this one so signing Vaculik Holder Doyle could be a risky choice.

 

 

 

Should have gone with one big league that is affordable for everyone which would have stopped all this doubling up and given a more varied fixtures list plus developing British youngsters.

[Barrow Boy 2]

 

 

Should have gone with one big league that is affordable for everyone which would have stopped all this doubling up and given a more varied fixtures list plus developing British youngsters.

 

Totally agree.