Bagpuss Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Halifaxtiger said: Some of them - Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls spring to mind - were able to ride speedway for years without doubling up. The only thing that has changed is that they have seen a way to substantially increase earnings. They did but they rode in Poland and Sweden back then, unfortunately very few do now and don’t seem to have the drive to do so when there are easier pounds and pennies to come by in the UK. If it was up to me doubling up would be for Brits of a certain age only eg U23. The whole thing has very much got out of hand with lots of foreign riders using the system too. Edited November 19, 2019 by Bagpuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 52 minutes ago, Halifaxtiger said: Some of them - Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls spring to mind - were able to ride speedway for years without doubling up. The only thing that has changed is that they have seen a way to substantially increase earnings. I believe that their earnings in this country will have dropped a fair bit as well as them not earning abroad. I think many on here would be surprised by who work elsewhere and just how much riders earn. There aren't too many pulling in better money from Speedway than the people watching them do from their jobs. Things have changed for Speedway riders with far less jobs that are able to fit around the sport than the old days which makes working difficult during the season for many, many others still manage it though. While fans talk about the good old days of a rider turning up with one bike on a rack the reality is that these days any rider turning up with one bike that is less than pristine will be slaughtered if their equipment costs the team points. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwright71 Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 11/18/2019 at 3:41 PM, RPNY said: Going forward would like to see the Premiership with 8 team, all ride against each other once home & once away. GP Riders are a non starter pretty much so dont even worry about set race nights. Just do whatever is best for each club to maximize crowd potential. 2 U23 British reserves for each team. Proper Cup competition with final at a neutral venue (Perry Barr maybe) help on a non GP Saturday in September. Ditto for the Championship with the Cup Final somewhere like Belle Vue or Peterborough (depending on what teams get to the Final) All other meaningless competitions forgotten about as they rarely attract decent crowds. Just a local friendly to kick start the season before the league campaign gets going. Most important though is a decent track so the boys can race and a fair price point so family's and young kids/students/young adults can go. Its really not a case of re inventing the wheel. 7 home fixtures a year plus a couple in the cup is not enough for promoters, many who rent their stadiums have to give a guarantee on the minimum number of meetings, 8 to 10 a season won't be enough, or for that matter riders riding in only 1 league. Also Cup finals on neutral tracks won't work, they must be at the homes of the contesting teams. The days of large speedway away followings are long gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwright71 Posted November 19, 2019 Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 11/17/2019 at 1:54 PM, DC2 said: It doesn’t matter if it’s old fans coming back or new fans coming for the first time; if the racing is rubbish they won’t come again. Swindon bit the bullet, redesigned their track and the racing has improved. Every track that currently doesn’t work needs to do that. If only all the promoters had the cash and the authorisation to do this . Pipe dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Halifaxtiger Posted November 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Vince said: I believe that their earnings in this country will have dropped a fair bit as well as them not earning abroad. I think many on here would be surprised by who work elsewhere and just how much riders earn. There aren't too many pulling in better money from Speedway than the people watching them do from their jobs. Things have changed for Speedway riders with far less jobs that are able to fit around the sport than the old days which makes working difficult during the season for many, many others still manage it though. While fans talk about the good old days of a rider turning up with one bike on a rack the reality is that these days any rider turning up with one bike that is less than pristine will be slaughtered if their equipment costs the team points. Its not precisely clear from Gambo's post above whether 140 days racing is enough to support a rider for an entire year (or whether he thinks it should be) but if it is, that is a stark contrast with what you are putting forward. Truth is that speedway has always been for the overwhelming number of riders a part time occupation even during the season. I have said this before but Mick Bell, a three time British League winner and a decent reserve/second string in the 1970's, once described it as a 'good paying hobby'. I'll be honest and say that my knowledge of rider pay is minimal, but to repeat again I'll be surprised - very surprised - if most those doubling up between the top two leagues are struggling to survive. The teams that pay them, however, most certainly are and what we cannot have is a situation where clubs are put at risk simply so that riders can use the sport as a full time occupation. Edited November 19, 2019 by Halifaxtiger 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 Basically another New Yawn then for suporters. Who won't be able to see live matches on Eurosport free to air. I cannot see the progress in that TV deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piotr Pyszny Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 22 hours ago, Halifaxtiger said: The teams that pay them, however, most certainly are and what we cannot have is a situation where clubs are put at risk simply so that riders can use the sport as a full time occupation. Hear, hear. Given modern British speedway's crowds - many counted in hundreds rather than thousands - it's ludicrous any participant should expect the sport to be a full time occupation. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f-s-p Posted November 20, 2019 Report Share Posted November 20, 2019 On 11/19/2019 at 7:53 PM, Halifaxtiger said: Some of them - Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls spring to mind - were able to ride speedway for years without doubling up. The only thing that has changed is that they have seen a way to substantially increase earnings. Those two 15 years ago, did they have time to double up in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidder1 Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 Just awaiting this week's Speedway Star with their summary of the AGM - just to see if there is anything different or missed out of the 'official statement'!!??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 2 hours ago, Skidder1 said: Just awaiting this week's Speedway Star with their summary of the AGM - just to see if there is anything different or missed out of the 'official statement'!!??? Will one issue be enough for that? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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