Speedway Managers - What's The Point?

[Daniel Smith]

Can anyone find a genuine reason why Speedway has them? 

There is literally only 4 things they can do.

1. Starting line-up order pre meeting 

2. Tactical Substitute 

3. Reserve Switch

4. Heat 15 rider's & gates

 

Let's be totally honest, Speedway is such a simple sport off track any of us bobbleheads can do that. I'm not sure even this whole "Man Management" ethos is real either. 9/10 times it's teams with the best rider's win, not the managers pep talks. 

[SpeedwaySlider72]

If there were no team managers, who would fulfil the four duties that you 'literally' feel is all they do?

If you have ever been involved in any sport at any level then you will know how much management goes on behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning logistically, not including any of what happens on a match day.

[Roundthebend]

7 minutes ago, SpeedwaySlider72 said:

If there were no team managers, who would fulfil the four duties that you 'literally' feel is all they do?

If you have ever been involved in any sport at any level then you will know how much management goes on behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning logistically, not including any of what happens on a match day.

A responsible team captain perhaps?

[Daniel Smith]

42 minutes ago, SpeedwaySlider72 said:

If there were no team managers, who would fulfil the four duties that you 'literally' feel is all they do?

If you have ever been involved in any sport at any level then you will know how much management goes on behind the scenes to keep the wheels turning logistically, not including any of what happens on a match day.

That's my question, outside of those very very easy jobs what do they do?

What do they do that warrant such high stature?

 

[Technik]

I have to agree, the team manager position has been watered down so much over the years it is now almost pointless.

Each team may use a T/S once. So when you fall 6 points behind stick the number 1 in.

Put the best reserve in all the easy rides.

then tell the TV who is willing to ride in Ht 15.

There is nothing more to do!

 

[Dornier]

Its the team managers job to motivate the team !

[SaddlebowRoad]

getting the best out of 7 self employed riders, some of which may be guests and most who will be zooming off to race for a different team the next day. to make sure they don't just go through the motions and to make them feel that winning actually matters.

i'd say thats pretty important and easier said than done 

[E I Addio]

To some extent a team managers job is as busy or quiet as you want it to be. A good team manager is usually kept pretty busy in the pits. Riders are kept pretty busy with their bikes and often have no idea of the time or the score.

A team managers job is first of all to get everyone together for a track walk  then make sure the riders are ready with to go on parade and you would be surprised how many riders arrive an hour or more before the meeting and still have to be chased up to be ready. He has to make sure his riders are ready for each heat ( although the pit Marshall also does that). If a rider is on two minutes and has to sort his bike our with minor repairs the manager has to make sure the time warning is not exceeded.

He has to think ahead and have another rider ready to go in case someone touches the tapes, decide on things like reserve swaps and when to use a Tactical Ride , and of course use a bit of psychology to motivate riders and see every race in case he needs to speak to the ref.

I would say it varies from meeting to meeting but team  managers are kept busier than most people think at times although of course there other times when it all runs like clockwork.

 

[tyretrax]

Who would line the riders up for the photos?

[ONTWOMINUTES]

The team manager does most of their work away from the meeting itself, like has been pointed out their job at the meeting is pretty limited but away from that there is a lot to organise like team declaration and making riders available sometimes to other teams. 

[Skodaman]

21 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

Can anyone find a genuine reason why Speedway has them? 

There is literally only 4 things they can do.

1. Starting line-up order pre meeting 

2. Tactical Substitute 

3. Reserve Switch

4. Heat 15 rider's & gates

 

Let's be totally honest, Speedway is such a simple sport off track any of us bobbleheads can do that. I'm not sure even this whole "Man Management" ethos is real either. 9/10 times it's teams with the best rider's win, not the managers pep talks. 

5. Riders for Rider Replacement