Birmingham 2018

[Guest GiveusaB]

There isn't a 'dearth of new talent', but there is a dearth of encouragement and help for them. I was told recently by a NL promoter that his set-up was a commercial organisation and didn't do training. What he meant was that he couldn't be bothered; and he was hardly alone in this.

It's mostly about cost.

I bet there's not many riders who haven't had some sort of motorcycle upbringing?

 

I'm sure there's a load of talented kids out there, but simply cant afford it! That will never change!

[Argos]

There isn't a 'dearth of new talent', but there is a dearth of encouragement and help for them. I was told recently by a NL promoter that his set-up was a commercial organisation and didn't do training. What he meant was that he couldn't be bothered; and he was hardly alone in this.

So I rider contacts a NL Promoter for some after the meetings, The Promoter knows the rider having seen him at a Practice meeting at another Track,the rider is in his late twenties, his equipment is very poor, is style is dreadful and in the opinion of the Promoter will never make a Speedway rider, Would you give him valuable track time.

You only have to look what Birmingam have done since joining the NL, Jack Smith, Zach, JPB, Hume, Bacon, young riders, good equipment, and will go far in the sport

[Guest GiveusaB]

So I rider contacts a NL Promoter for some after the meetings, The Promoter knows the rider having seen him at a Practice meeting at another Track,the rider is in his late twenties, his equipment is very poor, is style is dreadful and in the opinion of the Promoter will never make a Speedway rider, Would you give him valuable track time.

You only have to look what Birmingam have done since joining the NL, Jack Smith, Zach, JPB, Hume, Bacon, young riders, good equipment, and will go far in the sport

Add Taylor Hampshire to that list, once he gets his equipment sorted out !

Kyle Roberts has bags of potential too imo !

[*JJ]

So I rider contacts a NL Promoter for some after the meetings, The Promoter knows the rider having seen him at a Practice meeting at another Track,the rider is in his late twenties, his equipment is very poor, is style is dreadful and in the opinion of the Promoter will never make a Speedway rider, Would you give him valuable track time.

You only have to look what Birmingam have done since joining the NL, Jack Smith, Zach, JPB, Hume, Bacon, young riders, good equipment, and will go far in the sport

Except that they never started at Birmingham: Smith came from Australia, Zach from junior speedway, JPB from Buxton, Hume from Rye House, Bacon from Mildenhall etc. There is plenty of time after NL meetings for some practice or training.

[gazzac]

Surely since the NL has become a 'proper' league over the last few years we've had more young British riders looking like they can make the jump to a higher level and perhaps to the highest. I think British speedway is in a more promising position than the last 20 years. This is not just the Birmingham riders mentioned but Brennen, Jenkins, Bewley,Kemp just to name a few. Think this league is just right at the moments for bringing on the youngsters. I know this view won't please everyone, but it is still a development one really.

[teaboy279]

Gazza that is a very good point, British speedway as a product is not doing great at the moment, but we certainly have a very promising future riders wise.

[Guest GiveusaB]

Gazza that is a very good point, British speedway as a product is not doing great at the moment, but we certainly have a very promising future riders wise.

I think you're right.....however, I think a rider will get to a point where better equipment is needed and more sponsorship required for them to go on to the next level?

They wont become world beaters on 'talent/ability' alone!

[arnieg]

So I rider contacts a NL Promoter for some after the meetings, The Promoter knows the rider having seen him at a Practice meeting at another Track,the rider is in his late twenties, his equipment is very poor, is style is dreadful and in the opinion of the Promoter will never make a Speedway rider, Would you give him valuable track time.

You only have to look what Birmingam have done since joining the NL, Jack Smith, Zach, JPB, Hume, Bacon, young riders, good equipment, and will go far in the sport

As tenants with tough planning restrictions Birmingham are never going to be able to offer too many opportunities for practice.

 

But one of the problems is that those tracks that can, often put in time and effort only seeing their best prospects enticed away by higher paying teams. If that disincentive isn't removed then the danger is that fewer tracks will make the effort to introduce youngsters to the sport.

[Sings4Speedway]

I think you're right.....however, I think a rider will get to a point where better equipment is needed and more sponsorship required for them to go on to the next level?

They wont become world beaters on 'talent/ability' alone!

 

Sadly very true of the riders progressing at present there is a very common denominator and that is available funds. Its also the reason that riders like JPB & Georgie Wood despite being very talented will struggle to progress without good sponsorship appearing.

 

As tenants with tough planning restrictions Birmingham are never going to be able to offer too many opportunities for practice.

 

But one of the problems is that those tracks that can, often put in time and effort only seeing their best prospects enticed away by higher paying teams. If that disincentive isn't removed then the danger is that fewer tracks will make the effort to introduce youngsters to the sport.

 

You are right there are plenty of tracks that could offer riders extra track time but don't for various reasons. Its often not the clubs that are not interested but the volunteer track staff that simply want to get away.

The lure of a bigger pay day will always be an issue but riders often cannot ride on their local track so those bonds are not formed plus add in that many second half riders are made to feel like second class citizens at many venues so why would they wish to show any loyalty to clubs.

[uk_martin]

... best prospects enticed away by higher paying teams. If that disincentive isn't removed then the danger is that fewer tracks will make the effort to introduce youngsters to the sport.

 

Hands up anyone who hasn't ever changed jobs to do the same thing for another employer for more money??? Keep your hands up so that I can count them...

 

So what's an ambitious young rider supposed to do? And what's the point of ambition if the result is that they don't earn more for their talent? The NL can't be a dead end street as far as earning potential is concerned else what's the point of a rider sticking his neck out and trying to better himself? If the cream floats towards the top and the pay at the top is better somewhere else then so be it. Better that in the bigger picture, from a GB perspective, than just having a league full of UHT Skimmed Nuclear Bunker Milk.

[Halifaxtiger]

 

Hands up anyone who hasn't ever changed jobs to do the same thing for another employer for more money??? Keep your hands up so that I can count them...

 

So what's an ambitious young rider supposed to do? And what's the point of ambition if the result is that they don't earn more for their talent? The NL can't be a dead end street as far as earning potential is concerned else what's the point of a rider sticking his neck out and trying to better himself? If the cream floats towards the top and the pay at the top is better somewhere else then so be it. Better that in the bigger picture, from a GB perspective, than just having a league full of UHT Skimmed Nuclear Bunker Milk.

 

The fact that a club has given a young rider track time, encouragement and the benefit of their experience must count for something. Money simply cannot be the sole factor in determining what team to sign for.

 

I am aware of at least one young rider who got his fingers badly burnt by signing - against advice - for the highest bidder and two of the most talented who have remained loyal to the club that gave them the initial support that they needed despite, in one case, a thinly veiled attempt to poach them away.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Halifaxtiger

[ProudtobeaBrummie]

JPB signs for Glasgow a Friday track so that rules out only Plymouth and B.Vue for NL 2018

[CUFC_Brummie]

Bacon re-signs, almost certainly ruling out JPB then, not sure I see the value there to be honest.

[Islander15]

Surely there’s more improvement in JPB than Bacon?!

[ProudtobeaBrummie]

oh thats defo no JPB then real shame that .

I really think hes a top lad but on the track hes not very entertaining i dont think he made a pass last year at perry barr

[uk_martin]

Let's not kid ourselves. If a NL rider is good, by which I mean really good, then they shouldn't stay in the NL for very long. They need to develop in increasingly more competitive leagues. So let's wish JPB a successful spell in the CL at Glasgow. Hopefully his career can progress there and it won't be long before he's in a PL team too. Let's also hope that equally promising talent can be found that the Brummies can provide a springboard into a promising future for. Yes that will mean waving them goodbye when they outgrow the NL, but that's the nature of the beast.

Hopefully if the crowd levels improve at Perry Barr, making it viable for the Brummies rejoin the second or first league again (whatever they are called by the time we get there) we may see these riders again, when their potential has fully blossomed.

[LordoftheShale]

A hard choice was made, but I feel it was the correct one.

Both are cracking riders and both would of been excellent at No1

But Bacon is more settled and age wise more mature.

Wishing JPB all the best for next season.

[adz_mft]

Why does this mean no JPB just out of interest? 

[Backstraight Viewer]

I think most are thinking as JPB avarege is 8.66 they will struggle to fit him in 

[CUFC_Brummie]

24 minutes ago, LordoftheShale said:

A hard choice was made, but I feel it was the correct one.

Both are cracking riders and both would of been excellent at No1

But Bacon is more settled and age wise more mature.

Wishing JPB all the best for next season.

Why?

JPB's trajectory is only going up, and he's done it at #1.

Bacon flopped at #1 and racked up his 8.75 average as a result of riding at #4 in the latter part of the season. It should have been a no brainer.

Hampshire + Cupitt + 3 pointer could still fit him in, but I don't see it happening.

Edited December 17, 2017 by CUFC_Brummie