IanT 44 Posted September 6, 2016 I thoroughly enjoy the GPs. However there is always room for improvement. So here's a thread to add your own ideas. What would you do to change things, if anything at all. Here's a few ideas to get the debate going: Change the scoring in the GP final to 4,3,2,1. This rewards qualification with a rider guaranteed at least a point, providing he finishes the race Do away with wild-cards for the qualification rounds. Out means you are out. Reduce permanent wild cards from 4 to 3, increase GP challenge qualification from 3 to 4? Do away with the local wild card in all GPs. Let's have the top 16 riders competing If you compete in the GP challenge you are not eligible for a permanent wildcard pick the following year? These are just a few suggestions, not necessarily endorsing them as good ideas. Please add you own or comment on those already mentioned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) A thing i would like to see changed is to maybe reward a rider more if he wins the main meeting.Say he scores 13 but has a EF in the semi i dislike it when a rider scores 8 points wins the final and he earns more GP points it never seems right to me. Edited September 6, 2016 by Sidney the robin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humphrey Appleby 13,955 Posted September 6, 2016 The main change that needs to happen to the SGP, is being run by a consortium of the professional speedway leagues for their benefit. A competitive qualification system is also needed whereby riders qualify via their performances in national leagues rather than the current handpicking of those whose faces fit. The rest is just tinkering around the edges. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted September 6, 2016 The main change that needs to happen to the SGP, is being run by a consortium of the professional speedway leagues for their benefit. A competitive qualification system is also needed whereby riders qualify via their performances in national leagues rather than the current handpicking of those whose faces fit. The rest is just tinkering around the edges. So is it still a bit of a closed shop what is your opinion Humph.? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waiheke1 4,295 Posted September 6, 2016 Personally, i think the series as it is now is pretty much spot on. but ro address your points: I thoroughly enjoy the GPs. However there is always room for improvement. So here's a thread to add your own ideas. What would you do to change things, if anything at all. Here's a few ideas to get the debate going: Change the scoring in the GP final to 4,3,2,1. This rewards qualification with a rider guaranteed at least a point, providing he finishes the race No strong feelings on this one, I was fine with the old double points in the final. Equally happy with 3-2-1. Do away with wild-cards for the qualification rounds. Out means you are out. Tbh, I'd rather see the best riders get through, so if that means a wild card for someone who sufferred an injury, or just had a dreadful meeting, I'm ok with that. Reduce permanent wild cards from 4 to 3, increase GP challenge qualification from 3 to 4? Disagree. Quality of riders getting wildcards has typically been better than those through the challenge. as an example, who , outside of his family and KKS, would be excited about Kenny Bjerre having qualified for next year's series? Do away with the local wild card in all GPs. Let's have the top 16 riders competing Even the old World finals had a local rider guaranteed a spot. the local wildcard adds interest, certainly more so than a rider not ranked in the top 15 qualifiers. If you compete in the GP challenge you are not eligible for a permanent wildcard pick the following year? Disagree again. Suppose Dudek had won his first three riders, then got knocked off and injured in his fourth. Why should he not be eligible for a wildcard, wheras say a rider finishing 10th in the GPS is? Where do you pull the wildcard riders from if you don't allow those taking part int he qualifying series - make it more of a closed shop by selecting only from those alread in GPs, or select from those who didn't even try to qualify? These are just a few suggestions, not necessarily endorsing them as good ideas. Please add you own or comment on those already mentioned. Possibly a return to old regional qualification rounds. So an overseas final, Nordic final and two continental rounds followed by am inter-continental final and continental final, and then the GP challenge. I'd expect each of those to be relatively even in standard. All of the above is really just "tinkering", and none would really make any significant improvement to the series, imho. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparkafag 746 Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) I pretty much agree with the above. It is fine the way it is, if it is tinkered with it will end up back to some botched format comparable to that from years ago with elimination heats after 2 races. The qualification process is tough but fair, it shouldn’t be easy to make the GP and it generally isn’t. The Wild Cards have for the most part had some form of logic or thought to them. Edited September 6, 2016 by The Mockingjay Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PHILIPRISING 7,298 Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) The main change that needs to happen to the SGP, is being run by a consortium of the professional speedway leagues for their benefit. A competitive qualification system is also needed whereby riders qualify via their performances in national leagues rather than the current handpicking of those whose faces fit. The rest is just tinkering around the edges. PRESUMABLY you would include the BSPA For someone of your obvious intelligence your naivety at what goes into organising the series and how it would be well beyond the ability of the 'professional' leagues is staggering. Edited September 6, 2016 by PHILIPRISING Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trees 2,814 Posted September 6, 2016 PRESUMABLY you would include the BSPA For someone of your obvious intelligence your naivety at what goes into organising the series and how it would be well beyond the ability of the 'professional' leagues is staggering. Surely they could change the current series to suit them, they don't have to run it like BSI? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humphrey Appleby 13,955 Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) PRESUMABLY you would include the BSPA For someone of your obvious intelligence your naivety at what goes into organising the series and how it would be well beyond the ability of the 'professional' leagues is staggering. I've more than a fair idea about event organisation. There's nothing inherently complex about running the GP series, and BSI have hardly always been the best exponents of it over the years. The most difficult part is undoubtedly the track construction at temporary venues, and there's a bit to think about with respect to television. But that's why they hire in specialists to deal with that aspect, and it primarily comes down to being organised. Why on earth do you think that leagues that stage far more meetings per year and manage to televise them, wouldn't be capable of doing the same if they put their minds to it? I know that BSI probably look good when compared to the BSPA, but nothing they're doing is rocket science for a moderately capable events management company. Edited September 6, 2016 by Humphrey Appleby 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PHILIPRISING 7,298 Posted September 6, 2016 I've more than a fair idea about event organisation. There's nothing inherently complex about running the GP series, and BSI have hardly always been the best exponents of it over the years. The most difficult part is undoubtedly the track construction at temporary venues, and there's a bit to think about with respect to television. But that's why they hire in specialists to deal with that aspect, and it primarily comes down to being organised. Why on earth do you think that leagues that stage far more meetings per year and manage to televise them, wouldn't be capable of doing the same if they put their minds to it? I know that BSI probably look good when compared to the BSPA, but nothing they're doing is rocket science for a moderately capable events management company. AS I said, you really have no idea of what goes into organising the series as your comments plainly illustrate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Beevers 207 Posted September 6, 2016 I pretty much agree with the above. It is fine the way it is, if it is tinkered with it will end up back to some botched format comparable to that from years ago with elimination heats after 2 races. The qualification process is tough but fair, it shouldn’t be easy to make the GP and it generally isn’t. The Wild Cards have for the most part had some form of logic or thought to them. Have to agree with here and waihekeaces1 posts. If it works well and isn't broke, it's best not to fix it. Would also agree it looks a little silly having an 8 point finisher win the final and not being more rewarded. 6-4-2 for the final is ok in my opinion. As long as the GPs don't go back to end of the last century where riders were going home after two rides is all I care about. Dreadful rules back than. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humphrey Appleby 13,955 Posted September 6, 2016 (edited) AS I said, you really have no idea of what goes into organising the series as your comments plainly illustrate. Yes, it's much more complex to arrange shale in a pyramid shape than we can imagine... and it's difficult to avoid women's basketball tournaments. Edited September 6, 2016 by Humphrey Appleby 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveEvans 248 Posted September 7, 2016 Off the cuff.. Run 20 heats as no, but put top 3 on points straight to final. 4-7 do a Last Chance qualifier for the last spot. Points would be 6,5,4,3 for final, with 2 for 2nd and one for 3rd of LCQ. Go back to old GP Challenge format - run it after final round, include the bottom 7 in GP plus 9 qualifiers. Top 7 go to next years series, no nominated wild cards! Qualifying format an Intercontinental final to determine the 9 to join the bottom 7. 5 from Overseas Final (Brits, Aussies, Yanks, Kiwis) 5 from Scandanavian Final 6 from Continental Final (Poles, Germans, Czechs, Slovenia, Latvia, Italy, etc) These finals are fed via National Championship qualifiers like the old days. The qualifying races would therefore have TV appeal (especially the challenge) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanT 44 Posted September 7, 2016 (edited) Some interesting replies. As I said in the opening piece, its an enjoyable spectacle as it stands. I like the idea of national qualifiers, and if this could be linked to to national championships all the better. Imagine the British final where the the top 6,7 or 8 qualify, that would certainly improve that event. Not sure if it could all be fitted into a yearly calendar, but it's an idea I would endorse. My mine gripe at the moment though is the final. A rider who reaches the final should receive some sort of reward for doing do, so 4,3,2,1 would get my vote. Also any campaign to get the GP qualifiers onto TV gets my backing. Do BSI have any control over this? Edited September 7, 2016 by IanT Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PHILIPRISING 7,298 Posted September 7, 2016 Yes, it's much more complex to arrange shale in a pyramid shape than we can imagine... and it's difficult to avoid women's basketball tournaments. THOUGHT you were better than comments like that. Disappointing... My mine gripe at the moment though is the final. A rider who reaches the final should receive some sort of reward for doing do, so 4,3,2,1 would get my vote. THEY get their reward with the points scored in the semis. BSI have nothing to do with qualifying rounds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites