Fast Track Riders

[Hodgy 976]

Obviously there are fans lost to the sport because its watering down but what is the option? If riders wont come and commit a full season then its always going to be a struggle maintaining any high level or standard. Unfortunately we are so far down the pecking order these days we aren't an automatic choice for foreign riders to come to anymore.

Maybe we seriously need same one day EL racing as they do in Poland/Sweden et al.

We still have a league containing some of the best riders in World. I cant see a day that will end any time soon. Despite the bleak picture you and others might paint. Like i have said many see the benefit of the draft system and actually enjoy the racing more because of it.

They certainly aren't wrong and nor am i.

Some choose not to pay for what they see as `sub standard` EL product. That is also there choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do i?? But yes i agree that its OK for Sweden so its OK for us.

You are missing the comparison I was referring to. However, having just watched the next instalment of The Swedish League, as far as entertainment goes - give me heats 2 and 9 of The EL over that processional borathon. It just will not sell, it's too drastic - GB riders 6 & 7 would be my call.

[Tom Turner 347]

 

 

Obviously there are fans lost to the sport because its watering down but what is the option? If riders wont come and commit a full season then its always going to be a struggle maintaining any high level or standard. Unfortunately we are so far down the pecking order these days we aren't an automatic choice for foreign riders to come to anymore.

Maybe we seriously need same one day EL racing as they do in Poland/Sweden et al.

We still have a league containing some of the best riders in World. I cant see a day that will end any time soon. Despite the bleak picture you and others might paint. Like i have said many see the benefit of the draft system and actually enjoy the racing more because of it.

They certainly aren't wrong and nor am i.

Some choose not to pay for what they see as `sub standard` EL product. That is also there choice.

 

The point of the fast track system (I don't for one second believe it was really to support British youngsters) is to operate speedway in the UK at a lower cost so that clubs can run at a profit. Sure this has probably saved the clubs a fair bit of money but when you offset that against the fans lost they are making as little, if not less, than before.

 

"Some of the best riders in the world" isn't enough, every year more and more of them are turning their backs to us. You hear riders talking in interviews all the time about how riders abroad have tried to persuade them not to waste their time with our country.

 

Diluting the product is not the way forward, innovation is. First and foremost we need to sort out our tracks. The number 1 complaint from foreign riders is that our tracks are dangerous. When they ride here they get injured, and they never give it 100% like they do abroad. 9 times out of 10 they will simply hold their gate position because it is not worth trying anything anymore adventurous with track surfaces like a neglected gravel car park.

 

If it were my decision at GSI, BSPA or whomever is in charge, I would of focused my attention on several key areas of development:

 

1) Investing in the development of quality race surfaces across the UK so that riders can ride to their ability without fear of injury.

 

2) Investing in the development of high quality speedway websites, with a strong social media presence. Making an abundance of speedway videos and materials available online. 85% of youngsters aged between 13 - 21 in the UK go online every single day and It is those we need to be targeting, showing them just how brilliant and nail biting British speedway can be. The best heats or moments from every match, jazzed up and stuck online. Like a Ken Block video (Google Ken Block Gymkhana and look at the video style). Sticking a couple of bikes in a shopping centre once a year won't do a thing. This responsiblity should be given to young, uni students who want to prove themselves, not the old fogies who currently manage speedways abysmal online presence.

 

3) Injecting additional entertainment in to speedway to give more bang for your buck. For example, my grandfather would talk of golden heats at the end of a meeting in which the number one of each team would run off against each other in a 1v1 race. That is something I would love to be a part of.

 

4) Getting rid of stupid rules. Why do we still have double points? It doesn't make a meeting more entertaining, it leaves fans feeling robbed and crestfallen when their hard earned leads are stolen by one or two decent riders. Everytime I watch my team win with double points I can't help but feel we didn't deserve it. (And I'm a Pirates fan!)

 

I'm not saying this is a golden fix for speedway, but it's a hell of a lot better than the current proposition. When you have taken these steps you have:

 

1) Given riders a surface they can race confidently on. There will be less processional racing, and therefore a more entertaining product with more appeal to the world class riders that have abandoned our shores.

 

2) Generated a new fan base to replace the older generation that is currently propping up the sport. They will not be there forever and if we don't replace them soon, there will be very few left to attend speedway at all.

 

3) There will be more to look forward to in a match, a little extra zing for your buck.

 

4) The sport will start to make more sense. I have introduced speedway to many friends and spent the whole time trying to explain and justify the overly complicated rules. Their faces alone speak a thousand words.

[stevebrum 6,821]

 

The point of the fast track system (I don't for one second believe it was really to support British youngsters) is to operate speedway in the UK at a lower cost so that clubs can run at a profit. Sure this has probably saved the clubs a fair bit of money but when you offset that against the fans lost they are making as little, if not less, than before.

 

"Some of the best riders in the world" isn't enough, every year more and more of them are turning their backs to us. You hear riders talking in interviews all the time about how riders abroad have tried to persuade them not to waste their time with our country.

 

Diluting the product is not the way forward, innovation is. First and foremost we need to sort out our tracks. The number 1 complaint from foreign riders is that our tracks are dangerous. When they ride here they get injured, and they never give it 100% like they do abroad. 9 times out of 10 they will simply hold their gate position because it is not worth trying anything anymore adventurous with track surfaces like a neglected gravel car park.

 

If it were my decision at GSI, BSPA or whomever is in charge, I would of focused my attention on several key areas of development:

 

1) Investing in the development of quality race surfaces across the UK so that riders can ride to their ability without fear of injury.

 

2) Investing in the development of high quality speedway websites, with a strong social media presence. Making an abundance of speedway videos and materials available online. 85% of youngsters aged between 13 - 21 in the UK go online every single day and It is those we need to be targeting, showing them just how brilliant and nail biting British speedway can be. The best heats or moments from every match, jazzed up and stuck online. Like a Ken Block video (Google Ken Block Gymkhana and look at the video style). Sticking a couple of bikes in a shopping centre once a year won't do a thing. This responsiblity should be given to young, uni students who want to prove themselves, not the old fogies who currently manage speedways abysmal online presence.

 

3) Injecting additional entertainment in to speedway to give more bang for your buck. For example, my grandfather would talk of golden heats at the end of a meeting in which the number one of each team would run off against each other in a 1v1 race. That is something I would love to be a part of.

 

4) Getting rid of stupid rules. Why do we still have double points? It doesn't make a meeting more entertaining, it leaves fans feeling robbed and crestfallen when their hard earned leads are stolen by one or two decent riders. Everytime I watch my team win with double points I can't help but feel we didn't deserve it. (And I'm a Pirates fan!)

 

I'm not saying this is a golden fix for speedway, but it's a hell of a lot better than the current proposition. When you have taken these steps you have:

 

1) Given riders a surface they can race confidently on. There will be less processional racing, and therefore a more entertaining product with more appeal to the world class riders that have abandoned our shores.

 

2) Generated a new fan base to replace the older generation that is currently propping up the sport. They will not be there forever and if we don't replace them soon, there will be very few left to attend speedway at all.

 

3) There will be more to look forward to in a match, a little extra zing for your buck.

 

4) The sport will start to make more sense. I have introduced speedway to many friends and spent the whole time trying to explain and justify the overly complicated rules. Their faces alone speak a thousand words.

 

 

You make some fair points, and yes there is a much bigger picture. Investment in its future should have been paramount years ago.

We know what the point of the fast track system was first and foremost for and myself, and others that praise it, are under no illusions it was introduced to save clubs money.

The point tho now is that i reckon it is here to stay and for the future of our next generation it has to be a good thing in the long term (long term isn't something the BSPA can ever be accused of thinking of!).

 

Whilst i am sure the point you make about `dangerous tracks` has some merit (cant say i have heard it in any interviews however) lets not kid ourselves the PRIME reasons are Too many meetings/ too many race nights & not enough money.

 

You can bet your last pound that if those riders were lacking in meetings abroad the UK is the first place they would turn to for extra meetings despite all those other reasons.

 

I have also recently introduced families (with Children) to our great sport and from a pure perspective they have become fans. You don't have to over complicate things straight away with all the rules - they will get that if they are keen to continue to come.

They are and they now understand the rules are complicated.

But guess what?? They love the racing!!!! THE most important factor of getting the product right!

[JonHWeiner 95]

Settings mentioned generating a younger fan base. My 9 year-old granddaughter has loved speedway since she was 5. She started watching it with me on TV in 2010, when the Bees were in the payoffs.

 

She now watches speedway every week on TV including the GP's. Living in Kent, we try to get to Bees away matches and to Cov when we can. We also go to Sittingbourne to see the Kent Kings. Ben Morley is another good example of the Fast Track. As well as being a fans' favourite at Sittingbourne, he has performed well at reserve for Lakeside.

 

One aspect of speedway which has not changed since I started going to Brandon as a teenager is that it is a family-friendly sport. My granddaughter has met quite a few riders and I have been impressed with the way they relate to the younger fans. It is nice to see so many children at meetings.

[Tom Turner 347]

Settings mentioned generating a younger fan base. My 9 year-old granddaughter has loved speedway since she was 5. She started watching it with me on TV in 2010, when the Bees were in the payoffs.

 

She now watches speedway every week on TV including the GP's. Living in Kent, we try to get to Bees away matches and to Cov when we can. We also go to Sittingbourne to see the Kent Kings. Ben Morley is another good example of the Fast Track. As well as being a fans' favourite at Sittingbourne, he has performed well at reserve for Lakeside.

 

One aspect of speedway which has not changed since I started going to Brandon as a teenager is that it is a family-friendly sport. My granddaughter has met quite a few riders and I have been impressed with the way they relate to the younger fans. It is nice to see so many children at meetings.

 

I didn't say there were no young fans, that is the exact same way I was introduced to the sport by my parents. I am saying there is not enough being done to attract younger fans and would say a large majority of fans must be 50+. Even if somehow every single adult fan had a child, introduced them to speedway, and ensured they like it and attended weekly it would still only match the current attendance rates.

[stevebrum 6,821]

Settings mentioned generating a younger fan base. My 9 year-old granddaughter has loved speedway since she was 5. She started watching it with me on TV in 2010, when the Bees were in the payoffs.

 

She now watches speedway every week on TV including the GP's. Living in Kent, we try to get to Bees away matches and to Cov when we can. We also go to Sittingbourne to see the Kent Kings. Ben Morley is another good example of the Fast Track. As well as being a fans' favourite at Sittingbourne, he has performed well at reserve for Lakeside.

 

One aspect of speedway which has not changed since I started going to Brandon as a teenager is that it is a family-friendly sport. My granddaughter has met quite a few riders and I have been impressed with the way they relate to the younger fans. It is nice to see so many children at meetings.

 

 

I have introduced 11, 12, 13 and 14 year olds to the sport this year and they love it and go most weeks.

Some of us are doing our part to spread the good word of Speedway.

Edited June 18, 2014 by stevebrum

[weatherwatcher 664]

No moans on the fast track system. Other than they way they have set it up. All the riders of both groups riders 6 and 7 should be of the same quility of rider. Not what we have been given this year with 5 or 6 riders that are way above the level of the others with PL leage experience and not just at reserve and some that have been riding in the EL in a reserve potion. This is unfair to the the other riders that have only riden in the NL. I think the only riders that should come into the FTR places are riders that have only ever and do ride in the NL to make these reserve place from becoming a complete farce.

[JonHWeiner 95]

 

 

I have introduced 11, 12, 13 and 14 year olds to the sport this year and they love it and go most weeks.

Some of us are doing our part to spread the good word of Speedway.

 

We try to - I am always telling people about speedway being family friendly.

 

My granddaughter took her 10 year-old friend to Kent Kings v Coventry Storm recently and her friend really enjoyed it. That was a strange match for us, as we have sort of adopted the Kings as our local team but when it's against the Storm then of course we support Coventry :-)

[Shale Searcher 1,264]

The fast track reserves draft system in its essence is a superb idea and worth pursuing, but, it was poorly implemented in its maiden season.. As other posters have said on here there's some riders in the system who were included that shouldn't have been included..

We need to find a defined ability level for these guys, a sort of goldilocks zone, just right for the system, some have been to week and indeed some have been to strong which has caused a big difference in the team's reserve strength..

If that "goldilocks" ability level can be reached and agreed, then the fast track draft reserves system can and will be a success..

[MrMungo 708]

The only real problem with that Draft List is that there was not sufficient numbers to really have enough strength in depth for all teams. There were probably 15 strong contenders, a few who have been around for a while, and the rest not quite up to that standard and required another 12 months.

Even so, I think it has been largely a success, and with a few tweaks, it'll be even better next season and beyond. Assuming it's here to stay.

[weatherwatcher 664]

The only real problem with that Draft List is that there was not sufficient numbers to really have enough strength in depth for all teams. There were probably 15 strong contenders, a few who have been around for a while, and the rest not quite up to that standard and required another 12 months.

Even so, I think it has been largely a success, and with a few tweaks, it'll be even better next season and beyond. Assuming it's here to stay.

It needs to stay and with the right tweeks with the corect riders of eqaul talents then it should work a lot better next year. I just hope that the powers above get it right the next time round.

[TheScotsman 2,483]

It would have been better if the reserves points only counted at a 50% rate.

 

There is far too big a gap between top FTRs and bottom FTRs which completely skews the team scores.

[wilsonpaul198 10]

The fast track scheme if set up correctly will only benefit British speedway. Nothing more pleasing than to watch the progress of Max Clegg at Leicester. A definite future under 21 champion. However what is the point of fast tracking a 25 year old with 10 yrs racing experience???. We must refine the draft system and we must include the premier league. If a young rider is fast tracked into the elite league he must also have the ability and oppertunity to ride in the premier league. Maybe Elite league should employ pool one draft riders one per team with a guaranteed doubling up spot in the premier league. The premier league to employ one rider from pool 2. We must also make sure that we do not leave riders like Ashley Birks out in the cold. I hope the powers that be refine the system so that it supports progressive young riders.

[TMW 533]

The fast track scheme if set up correctly will only benefit British speedway. Nothing more pleasing than to watch the progress of Max Clegg at Leicester. A definite future under 21 champion. However what is the point of fast tracking a 25 year old with 10 yrs racing experience???. We must refine the draft system and we must include the premier league. If a young rider is fast tracked into the elite league he must also have the ability and oppertunity to ride in the premier league. Maybe Elite league should employ pool one draft riders one per team with a guaranteed doubling up spot in the premier league. The premier league to employ one rider from pool 2. We must also make sure that we do not leave riders like Ashley Birks out in the cold. I hope the powers that be refine the system so that it supports progressive young riders.

TBF the system is a season old and as many riders who had PL teams such as Wright - Bates - O Greenwood pulled out which meant they had to go further don the pecking order to fill the team spots as the system evolves that should lessen. if you had excluded anyone over 25 that would have been Blackbird out. There is no point in having 1 rider to ride around at the bac all the time they need at least a fighting chance. I think the format is just right. I agree though on the PL idea, the better reserves all have PL spots, aprt from possibly Ben Morley, and that Birks should have been on the draft list like Newman. Birks has no more EL experience than Newman but Newman had Ford batting in his corner always makes a difference.

Edited June 20, 2014 by TMW

[Shale Searcher 1,264]

Does anyone think the Blackbird, Garrity and Kerr were at the same level of experience/performance as Birks and Auty?