Phil 303 Posted November 19, 2003 Please use this topic for voting and discussing the “Guest Rule” only. A guest rider will only be allowed for the top rider in a team with the rider-replacement facility in operation elsewhere Discuss.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Star Lady 5,400 Posted November 19, 2003 A step in the right direction but I'm reserving judgement until it's clear what happens when riders 2-7 are out. I foresee a team having 3 or 4 riders out injured/unavailable and even more special dispensations being handed out like sweets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted November 19, 2003 (edited) I'm with Star Lady on this, who actually knows, what happens if your number 2 and 3 are out injured? CL riders? is that not just cheating us AGAIN!? It's a step in the right direction, but why for number 1 but nobody else? Why not NO guests? CRAP, should be no guests or all guests. Guest for a number one bt not others is terrible. Newport had two rider with averages higher than Berwicks number one this year, so in Berwick vs Newport we could have had Niels missing and they coudl have had Makovsky(?) missing, they could hav a guest for the 8.3ish rider while we could not have a guest for a 9+ rider. I think the BSPA are running around shouting out my signature while men in whte coats run around behind them. Edited November 19, 2003 by SCB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sleepy 0 Posted November 19, 2003 If such a change makes it easier for everyone to understand its gotta be good. Only one issue with it is, as already stated, when lots of riders are out. Looking at it from one perspective - this would only further weaken the elite league, particularly if a team is unfortunate enough to lose all its heatleaders. And what about GP clashing fixtures or those close to them when riders have left? Nightmare decisions to be made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dmac1969 0 Posted November 19, 2003 This ruling makes it even more complicated that it was before! Surely the BSPA shud be making the rules easier for them to uphold not harder? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Custom House Kid 45 Posted November 19, 2003 I say give it a try! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean 3 Posted November 19, 2003 Early polls suggest we are split on this topic. will make interesting reading of your views behind your decisions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tintin 2 Posted November 19, 2003 This rule is a backward step in my opinion. Looking back on last season the amount of riders injured actually seemed to increase and there will be times where teams will struggle to field a decent side. If an away side have either their second or heat leader out injured then they are not going to be as competitive using rider replacement instead of a guest. This will lead to more home wins and in my opinion will have an adverse effect on crowds as many neutrals will not bother going to meetings as the away side will be weakened considerably. A more sensible approach would have been to allow guests for heat leaders only with a riders home or away average used to decide the level of guest allowed. This would stop track specialists being used as guests for riders with poor away averages. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rotskiracing 0 Posted November 19, 2003 Glad this wasn't in place for 2003. Exeter finished the season with 4 out of their original 7 riders injured. We could of had a guest at number 1 for Simmo but what about the others. Be interesting to see how this works out or not as the case may be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trees 2,814 Posted November 19, 2003 I was always for the guest system because it usually made a weakened team stronger with riders of the same calibre guesting for those out. That was if it was used fairly mind you, I was against a team using a guest for an injured rider ALL season! We, as fans, will have to suck it and see, will it make for better entertainment or weak v strong at times?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BTL 0 Posted November 19, 2003 Have to agree with anything that moves towards a squad sysytem - it will also gove credibility to the masses who don't understand the guest rules. Imagine the scenario - Rangers v Celtic and Henrik Larsson and Ronald be Boer out and being repalced by guests. Having said that the jury will be out for all speedway buffs until we see how it all pans out. How refreshing - 20-20 hindsight or a crystal ball would be a good thing right now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GM 26 Posted November 19, 2003 A step in the right derection maybe only half a step. If you want to bring this rule in you have got to have a squad system in place it can not be done by half. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HBKPCNBob 5 Posted November 19, 2003 I feel Rider Replacement is more reliable to use then having guests because using R/R your using riders that will be commited to the team were as when you use a guest you dont know if there going to ride to there potential. But i do feel that the BSPA have gone about this all wrong. I was especting them to have bought in a squad system to help cover for injuries but all they've done is let a team have two Premier League riders on there books if there original reserves get injured but what happens if the back-up riders are injured? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryce 349 Posted November 20, 2003 (edited) The guest rule is probably the one thing above all others that outsiders find bizarre about speedway. Restricting them has to be good. BUT. They really should have allowed a proper squad system to come into play. If the Elite League are using grading, then surely that makes squads much simpler to manage? 3 grade B riders on the books, and only 2 team berths for them. One misses out until another is dropped or injured. There are enough semi-committed riders out there to make it viable. Some would most likely welcome a less demanding schedule. Edited November 20, 2003 by Bryce Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leigh 1 Posted November 20, 2003 Will riders still be so keen to guest/clubs still be so keen to let them? If a team's second highest averaged rider can guest for another and he gets injured, then that could jeopardise the other club's season...that's just my thoughts anyway. I think the rest has already been said, R/R is ok as long as you have a team capable of performing and entertaining, that isn't always the case! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
