Why speedway is failing

[truthsayer]

16 hours ago, The Dog said:

Personally I think the first thing speedway needs to address are user friendly bikes. 

Don't necessarily agree with that.

At an elite level, bikes that are easier to ride are likely to lead to more processional racing as the skill level required to ride them to the maximum is reduced.

That said, there is a need to create engines which are cheaper and easier to maintain, as well as easier to ride, for competitors at a lower level.

[cowboy cookie returns?]

Speedway hasn't always been played out in front of sparse crowds with not atmosphere in the UK 

 

[IainB]

Was that filmed by Eurosport? 

[cowboy cookie returns?]

 almost one man and his camera for ITV

[steve roberts]

Did John Cook allow the following Kai Niemi to eventually join him up front or was Kai wary especially when the following year Cookie infamously ran into Jeremey Doncaster at Cowley thus denying the "Witches" any chance of winning the KOC?

[heathen52]

On 9/24/2021 at 8:10 AM, steve roberts said:

It's often been said but until speedway takes on an idependant body to run the sport (although signs are now it is far too late) it won't survice under its present remit. I don't go along with the view that individual promoters who have a financial stake in their own club would veto such a proposal. Other sports run perfectly well whereby individual clubs/teams have an input but overal responsibilty/decisions are made/approved at a higher level.

Godfrey has already said he is not in favour of an independant person/body running Speedway, Its what many fans think is needed but most Promoters seem blind to the obvious, decisions are taken by the BPSL which favour certain Teams, but are to the detriment of the Sport as a whole in the UK.

[steve roberts]

33 minutes ago, heathen52 said:

Godfrey has already said he is not in favour of an independant person/body running Speedway, Its what many fans think is needed but most Promoters seem blind to the obvious, decisions are taken by the BPSL which favour certain Teams, but are to the detriment of the Sport as a whole in the UK.

...which is why speedway in this country continues the long slippery slope.

[IainB]

Do the Polish and Swedish leagues have an "independent" body running their leagues?

[wtf]

16 hours ago, heathen52 said:

Godfrey has already said he is not in favour of an independant person/body running Speedway, Its what many fans think is needed but most Promoters seem blind to the obvious, decisions are taken by the BPSL which favour certain Teams, but are to the detriment of the Sport as a whole in the UK.

I think it's pretty easy to see why he and the other promotors wouldn't be in favour of an independent body. You are asking a bunch of business owners to vote for a system whereby they have less control over their own businesses as they do now.

However much an independent body is needed, it's not going to happen in the uk until they are sufficiently enticed.

Most of the problem is there is a long conveyer belt of less than desirable characters waiting in the wings, to carry on where others have left off. Get rid of Buster, get Godfrey, get rid of Godfrey, who's going to take over? 

All of a sudden Alek Harkess looks like an angel.

[steve roberts]

4 hours ago, wtf said:

I think it's pretty easy to see why he and the other promotors wouldn't be in favour of an independent body. You are asking a bunch of business owners to vote for a system whereby they have less control over their own businesses as they do now.

However much an independent body is needed, it's not going to happen in the uk until they are sufficiently enticed.

Most of the problem is there is a long conveyer belt of less than desirable characters waiting in the wings, to carry on where others have left off. Get rid of Buster, get Godfrey, get rid of Godfrey, who's going to take over? 

All of a sudden Alek Harkess looks like an angel.

...but am I right in suggesting that other sports operate with an independent body? Do owners of Football clubs have any say in the organisation of the league and/or cups/rules etc or is that down to the FA who are an independent body?

Edited October 11, 2021 by steve roberts

[ch958]

9 hours ago, iainb said:

Do the Polish and Swedish leagues have an "independent" body running their leagues?

good question, however they don't face the same challenges as the UK seemingly

[mikebv]

5 minutes ago, ch958 said:

good question, however they don't face the same challenges as the UK seemingly

That's very much due to having a much simpler operating model...

You don't need regulations, and sub regulations for sub regulations, to try and cover every inconceivable issue, that your own rules require them to have, due to them being ambiguous and open to manipulation...

Guests, including 5% home and away rules, how recent the rider has rode at the track, Averages, Double up and down conversions, Rising Star levels based on a myriad of subjective criteria etc etc etc...

Take those out of the sport and make the criteria for competing uncontrived and crystal clear and there would be no need for any independent body at all....

[wtf]

19 hours ago, steve roberts said:

...but am I right in suggesting that other sports operate with an independent body? Do owners of Football clubs have any say in the organisation of the league and/or cups/rules etc or is that down to the FA who are an independent body?

Steve, you are correct, but those independent organisations have been in place for a long time, and were set up when people had integrity, could see the bigger picture and didn't see change and advancement as a threat. This lot have none of those qualities.

[steve roberts]

6 hours ago, wtf said:

Steve, you are correct, but those independent organisations have been in place for a long time, and were set up when people had integrity, could see the bigger picture and didn't see change and advancement as a threat. This lot have none of those qualities.

...it's a shame that speedway didn't take some sort of initiative when the sport was thriving however those running the sport chose instead to put their collective heads in the sand.