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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/10/2022 in all areas

  1. 15 points
    Been banging this drum for a few years now, British speedway is run by the riders for the riders and until someone somewhere within the sport realises the fans are the be all and end all the sport will continue to die
  2. 6 points
    For me, the lack of credibility is THE key issue and one that, if fixed, would at least start to encourage and engender that vital emotional attachment to a team that any fan of a team sport must have for it to have any purpose or merit.. When you can pick and choose what league you want to race in as "it suits you better" then all it sends out is a message that the leagues have no real worth in winning and should be treated accordingly.. Without aspiration to grow, any entity will stagnate then ultimately regress.. There is no doubt that within the sport there are clubs who are clearly at a certain level, yet choose to ply their trade in leagues either above or below their "natural position", which ultimately then renders the leagues uncompetitive as some teams are too strong for the league they compete in, or wildy out of their depth, and it also then means the supposed "flagship league" is nothing of the sort... Therefore. What should be seen as the aspirational pinnacle of the sport becomes almost an irrelevance given there isnt the will for many to want to compete for it... And when the "top league's" reputation carries such llittle kudos it then permeates down into the other leagues who subsequently then have even less kudos... The current set of Promoters are not responsible for all Speedways ills obviously, but their lack of innovation and desire for radical change to try and do something different, is definitely down to them.. Covid being a huge opportunity for a reset and relaunch that they chose to not take... What's that definition of insanity? UK Speedway is unfortunatley on rinse and repeat to do the same thing ad Infinitum... Yet. Frustratingly, the 'raw product' can still attract very decent crowds when the infrastructure around it is fit for purpose.. Something we often see, as an example, regularly, whenever an FIM meeting is held over here.... Proving that there is definitely many who still have an appetite for Speedway in the UK, and will willingly pay "top dollar" to attend it.. It's just not an appetite for domestic UK Speedway... As to why that is, is what the Promoters should be finding out, fixing the reasons why, and then hopefully reaping the reward of their enquiries by having fuller stadiums, and wider media coverage of their competitions due to their renewed level of kudos in winning..
  3. 4 points
    If you've been around long enough you'll know that they tend to know something that they've heard elsewhere that someone else heard from elsewhere etc etc. It's usually uninteresting and nothing that you couldn't have worked out or sourced yourself anyway, as well as missing the important detail. Even if they think they do know something unique then they're almost always wrong.
  4. 3 points
    If that is the case I hope the Promotion take legal action to recover any sign-on fees, travel costs etc. Last year after he attempted to ride as Ashfield in the GP Qualifier he was "available" to any British club but reportedly made demands up there with GP Class riders. Think he should realise, with respect to other current Kiwi riders who we've seen the class of, the NZ Championship is of Disney standard compared to the past with legends like Moore, Brigg and Mauger.
  5. 3 points
    I’ve said this before, but none of us know why certain riders are picked/not picked for heat 15. Many things can dictate selections that we’re just not privy too.
  6. 3 points
    I've seen the cost of living mentioned as a factor. I'm not really buying that. It may be a factor this year however speedway attendance levels have been in decline for past 30 years and in Sharp decline for the past 10. The sport doesn't have any credibility outside of its own inner circle the team competitions are run as a merry go round circus of riders of which a high proportion could appear for any team in any competition at anytime. The out of control doubling up & use of guests takes away any worth from these competitions. I hate to pick on Chris Harris but he highlights the issue. In the past week he has ridden for 3 different clubs across 2 divisions if Plymouth hadn't been called off on Tuesday it would have been 4 that is madness. The answers aren't easy and to be honest it could well be too late to save speedway let alone grow the sport. I don't like football comparison's however here in Ipswich we had a club that was on its knees no investment no interaction with the community. The club gets taken over investment is made it becomes attached to the local community again regularly starts pulling in gates in the mid 20000s and has sold almost 16000 season tickets for next season. Why it became appealing to go again they won back fans who hadn't been in years myself included but also a whole new audience.
  7. 3 points
    Not for the first time Adams has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with his bizarre selections in heat 15. But more worrying is where Drew Kemp goes from here,his Monmore form is OK,but on his travels hardly looks like picking up a point.
  8. 2 points
    I also know and have been told in confidence, I let you know a couple of minutes after the club announcement just so you know I was right.
  9. 2 points
    Its no different to last season at this time. Will Leicester still be as strong when the Thompson twins swap places? All ifs, buts and maybe's at the moment. btw Steve Worrall seems to be coping well enough after visiting his 'specialist' in France......
  10. 2 points
    Not at all. I'm not that kind of person. You have 2 riders coming in that will improve you. I though the news would cheer you fans up.I'm sorry
  11. 2 points
    Suppose you've just gotta make best use of the rules while you can in certain situations?
  12. 2 points
    Depending who hires the best Guests..!
  13. 2 points
    Shouldn't have come over to the UK this season as he's clearly not fit enough for British speedway or polish league racing either as he has a deal with Rawicz aswell & according to his interview in the speedway star he's got a sweet life back in New Zealand & told Newcastle to replace him .. But there again where do Newcastle find a 8 pointer Average wise to come in that's not already signed or riding in poland
  14. 2 points
    As good as Bomber can be we need to be looking to the future now. We have plenty of U21 talent to be blooded.
  15. 2 points
    Sorry I have to disagree with your football comparison, Villa can fill there ground week in week out, Birmingham City are the equivelant of Brummies Speedway poorly run for seasons mainly due to lack of investment build a succesful Team and people will come to watch, T20 has had money thrown at it and so have the facilities, County cricket has fewer spectators than Speedway, whats the answer for Speedway ?, That I have no idea except 1 man and his bike for hire (Doubling up) is NOT the answer a bit more in the way of promotion/presentation might help but at the end of the day people pay/want to be entertained and Speedway is obviously failing in that.
  16. 2 points
    Have to agree,here, yes you made a few mistakes with names (paul) however who doesnt? i thought you were rather funny, the Cha Cha slide about the riders gardening I found hillarious and as said before you were spot on about the watering, and the cups of tea comment, ill never forget lol but bsn has really brought a new era to chanpionship speedway to people who cant always make it to every meeting so that is wondwrfull and ye, keep up the good work folks
  17. 2 points
    He is getting what he deserves.. having probably one of his best seasons riding for Berwick (and every other tom, dick and Harry before anyone else says it) and is being rewarded for it! We love him.. he’s engaged with our fan base in such a brilliant way!
  18. 1 point
    These days, less is often more, the success of T20 cricket shows this and then they went even lesser with The 100, even Golf is at it now with a 54 hole tournament with all the players teeing off at the same time... where as Speedway seem to want to artificially extend a meeting to beyond 2 hours by using tractor racing as a distraction as they think that punters will feel short changed if they've not had 2 hours "entertainment"
  19. 1 point
  20. 1 point
    Allen is a far better rider
  21. 1 point
    Last weeks Speedway Star has the league and KOC cup combined averages in, and George has had 9 matches, 28 rides and scored 6+1 for an average of 1. I have no gripe with George, Newcastle or anyone ( Redcar Fan I am), but surely if Jack Smith scores 8 points before the end of the season it must be an improvement. Like I say, no bother to me either way.
  22. 1 point
    Chris Harris guests again, reminds me of my time at work there was always one guy who would never turn down an overtime shift, he would say "yes whats the question!" Nothing against Chris , just think he is going to burn himself out.
  23. 1 point
    Idiotic things to say. Pump a ton of money in to the club and want to kill it??? As for the second highlighted comment, we have one of the best track curators in the Leagues. So, get rid of the newly signed Smith and also Complin and replace them with two riders, when it's fairly obvious to all and sundry we have been unable to find one rider, let alone two riders who are willing to ride for us. Genius.
  24. 1 point
    Uncomfortable truth, but a truth nevertheless, is that there are too many tracks running at an unsustainable level... And when I say unsustainable I also include impact to its credibility and reputation, as well as financial considerations.. You cannot run a team sport with 3 Divisions and all share each others competitors, therefore, if you decide to do so then it simply isnt a sustainable model to follow if you want fans to buy into it.. And if they dont buy into it, and it doesnt look like they do in many places, then the brand itself is damaged.. And with a damaged brand you will always suffer.. Poland, Sweden and Denmark have it right (not perfect, but right), in that they focus on their top league and everything else feeds off it... Some fans in the UK often complain about Poland and the GP's "ruining British Speedway", yet the ONLY nation wanting to run its Speedway operating model from Monday to Sunday is the UK... Not one other league does it and they seem to cope well enough with Poland and the GP's impact.. With Poland, dont forget, actually running the vast majority of their meetings at the weekends, (but AROUND the wide and various FIM calender)... Bottom line is trying to run two leagues using a huge % of the same riders cannot work if you want to have flexibility to attract the best crowds on the best nights for you, and if you want credibility for the sport.. We have so many guests for example because one injury often impacts two teams... With that rider possibly being due to ride all seven nights of the week, meaning seven replacements for him!! Less teams per league, with clear demarcation between them, with controlled DU's using only those not riding overseas as well, has to be a consideration.. Or one large league with controlled spread of HL talent, six man teams, with the number six slot being an "RS role" for each team, being another.. The current operating model will never deliver growth for the sport, and it has clearly shown that for the past couple of decades at least, therefore you can only presume to keep using it must mean what currently exists is all that will ever exist.. (In the UK)....
  25. 1 point
    I admit I'm not a dog owner, but I have respect for all animals. But it seems to me, we have moved dog ownership up a cog, whereby, owners seem to think it's a good idea to take the dog everywhere, including a noisy environment like speedway. We now have many dog friendly restaurants, which I feel is not condusive with health and hygene. A dog, is a dog, is a dog, not a human being! Don't get me wrong, we have many, so called, human beings, who behave worse than animals!
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