What must 2019 bring (speak now or forever hold your peace)

[4thbender]

Now the dust has started to settle for most of us on 2018 (it settled for Sheffield nearly two months ago!) It's an opportunity for true fans to have our say on what we want/expect for 2019.

With question marks hanging over Poole, Lakeside, Peterborough, Rye House, Redcar, Coventry and possibly some others, the question perhaps ought to be whether Speedway has a future at all. So, for the umpteenth year in succession, our sport faces crisis point. Perhaps 2019 could be the final make or break year.

It's hard to think of many plus points from 2018 - perhaps the greatest is that we once again have a British world champion - but there's no shortage of minuses. Amongst the oddities is that after 6 months of close competition, a mid-table team has been anointed Premier League champions and the same thing may well be about to happen in the Championship (the next few days will decide).

So, ahead of the November AGM, what messages do we want to send to the promoters?

From my perspective, the only sensible salvation must be a single unified Championship/Premiership league - hopefully with 18/20 teams - plus a National League. Whoever thought that "rationing" Speedway was a good idea has been proved wrong, so a meaningful league competition of 18-ish matches home and away, a KO cup plus a further cup competition split into four regions of 4 or 5 teams will guarantee a season of at least 24 matches for every team, with a few more for teams putting together a good cup run. Play-offs are silly and must go.

What is YOUR manifesto?

[foamfence]

Speedway must be made affordable for fans, riders and promoters. You can't keep chasing the tail of a country that gets ten times the crowds that we do and unlimited sponsorship due to it's high profile status. Look inward and make some moves, instead of talking about it but not implementing it.

[ColinMills]

2 minutes ago, foamfence said:

Speedway must be made affordable for fans, riders and promoters. You can't keep chasing the tail of a country that gets ten times the crowds that we do and unlimited sponsorship due to it's high profile status. Look inward and make some moves, instead of talking about it but not implementing it.

real sensible post, british speedway isn't worth more than £10 for the standard served up and standard of riders on show

[OveFundinFan]

It would be nice to have a team, riders you get to know, and stick together as a team for a whole season.  Guests should only be an exception.

The team that tops the league are the champions, non of this play off nonsense, especially at the end of the season where the team you followed during the year looks not much like the team in the play offs.

Get the admission prices lowered, and get pricing so families can afford to go. Get the kids involved with activities that they will never forget - aka IoWight.

Prepare tracks for racing, not just prepared for home advantage.

 

 

[ColinMills]

end doubling up

[ColinMills]

whilst it will never happen,would the return of Tai, help turn uk speedway around....slightly!

[topaz325]

1 hour ago, 4thbender said:

Now the dust has started to settle for most of us on 2018 (it settled for Sheffield nearly two months ago!) It's an opportunity for true fans to have our say on what we want/expect for 2019.

With question marks hanging over Poole, Lakeside, Peterborough, Rye House, Redcar, Coventry and possibly some others, the question perhaps ought to be whether Speedway has a future at all. So, for the umpteenth year in succession, our sport faces crisis point. Perhaps 2019 could be the final make or break year.

It's hard to think of many plus points from 2018 - perhaps the greatest is that we once again have a British world champion - but there's no shortage of minuses. Amongst the oddities is that after 6 months of close competition, a mid-table team has been anointed Premier League champions and the same thing may well be about to happen in the Championship (the next few days will decide).

So, ahead of the November AGM, what messages do we want to send to the promoters?

From my perspective, the only sensible salvation must be a single unified Championship/Premiership league - hopefully with 18/20 teams - plus a National League. Whoever thought that "rationing" Speedway was a good idea has been proved wrong, so a meaningful league competition of 18-ish matches home and away, a KO cup plus a further cup competition split into four regions of 4 or 5 teams will guarantee a season of at least 24 matches for every team, with a few more for teams putting together a good cup run. Play-offs are silly and must go.

What is YOUR manifesto?

You  forgot to mention Workington as well.

[Carlislecomet2]

British speedway to be run by a new independent governing body including ex riders and people with experience of marketing /attracting sponsorship. It is in desperate need of a cash injection from somewhere!

Not my idea, but Cinderfellas. GP series to be extended to say 20 events as F1, and these riders compete in this and this alone.

One league (plus national league), with obviously no doubling up which is a sham in any case. Unfortunately this may result in fewer teams due to a shortage of riders.

Look at ways of reducing costs, which should in turn should result in lower admission prices of say £10-£12.

Scrap the play-offs, the one this year in the premiership was a farce (with a 'bottom half' team being crowned 'champions'). The champions should be the team who finish top after riding home and away against everyone else.

Changing the rules to ensure supporters get to see competitive 1-7's each meeting. i.e. none of this having to use a national league rider nonsense.

[ColinMills]

don't know of anyone in favour of doubling up....ridiculous

[Badge]

3 minutes ago, ColinMills said:

don't know of anyone in favour of doubling up....ridiculous

Riders 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

41 minutes ago, ColinMills said:

don't know of anyone in favour of doubling up....ridiculous

Didnt think we were allowed to discuss the case.....

[ColinMills]

5 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Didnt think we were allowed to discuss the case.....

that gone right over my head

[ch958]

2 hours ago, foamfence said:

Speedway must be made affordable for fans, riders and promoters. You can't keep chasing the tail of a country that gets ten times the crowds that we do and unlimited sponsorship due to it's high profile status. Look inward and make some moves, instead of talking about it but not implementing it.

THIS

[Eyejay]

 Totally agree re the playoffs. Poole have been declared Premiership Champions despite finishing mid table. Farce. 

I would love to see a new body take over the running of the sport. Currently it is dictated due to certain persons vested interests and the rule book may just as well not exist. If it is to remain run by the current lot, it would be good to have half a dozen or so supporters voted on, to vote for things from a supporters perspective. Not everything, but things like race nights, competition formats etc would benefit from a supporter input. 

As things stand, I am not sure if I will bother next year. I have become very disillusioned with the sport especially with the antics of certain influential people. 

 

[Robinh88]

I'd like to see averages being scrapped in regards to team make up. 

Would also like there to be more fixtures in the calender and to get them completed with a greater sense of urgency.

Predictably 2019 shall bring little change. Probably more mediocrity, manipulation to suit individual needs and ideaolagies.

Edited October 11, 2018 by Robinh88

[Guest WTF1]

22 minutes ago, Eyejay said:

 Totally agree re the playoffs. Poole have been declared Premiership Champions despite finishing mid table. Farce. 

I would love to see a new body take over the running of the sport. Currently it is dictated due to certain persons vested interests and the rule book may just as well not exist. If it is to remain run by the current lot, it would be good to have half a dozen or so supporters voted on, to vote for things from a supporters perspective. Not everything, but things like race nights, competition formats etc would benefit from a supporter input. 

As things stand, I am not sure if I will bother next year. I have become very disillusioned with the sport especially with the antics of certain influential people. 

 

You'll be there like the rest of us suckers,  having started going in 1960 I stopped going in 1990 for personal reasons and I thought I was cleansed and cured but 21 years later from 2011 here I am paying over the odds for a sub standard product that is basically the inmates running the asylum but I'm afraid speedway will never change. 

[mikebv]

If you cannot run it properly as a Team Sport then don't...

You will never be a success...

[Spl77]

Every year at the AGM the direction of the sport is set by a few looking after their own vested interests.... We are told it will never be ran by an independent body because the promoter's will only want to look out for their own investment.

The ironic thing is that to anyone outside of speedway these investments and assets are basically worth sod all. What the promoter's see as their main assets are in fact self employed.

The only tracks with any real worth are the ones that own their own stadium.

So year on year the clowns who run the show make ever more daft decisions to protect their interests and investment when in actual fact those decisions only reduce the value still further of their investment. 

I'd like to see two leagues one semi pro one amateur and standard equipment so that costs can be lower for all involved. 

This is needed to save the sport here and hopefully in time stability comes in and one league could become pro again. The big goal and the only goal that the BSPA and riders should be looking at over the next 5 years is survival! 

[Eyejay]

8 hours ago, HerniaWise said:

You'll be there like the rest of us suckers,  having started going in 1960 I stopped going in 1990 for personal reasons and I thought I was cleansed and cured but 21 years later from 2011 here I am paying over the odds for a sub standard product that is basically the inmates running the asylum but I'm afraid speedway will never change. 

Trust me, I think it is unlikely. As you put it we are suckers, and I am fed up with being taken for granted. 

I have been disillusioned with the sport for a while but this year it really has hit a low. I think The shenanigans in the Poole v Kings Lynn play off final where the rule book was openly broken to allow an over the points limit guest beggars belief. That to me is the straw that broke the camels back. 

[IainB]

I'd bring back the green helmet cover