Jump to content
British Speedway Forum
poolebolton

Is the league stronger in 2018?

Recommended Posts

1 hour ago, g13webb said:

  To evaluate the strength we need to look at the quality of the riders, and  like the years before,  this year we have seen a decline of the very top stars that grace our sport.  

 

Have we? Lindgren and Bjerre out. Vaculik and Iversen in. Plus Holder and Batchelor back. I'd say the top end is stronger over all, although Lindgren is a big loss.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Stronger? Who knows. Nebulous concept anyway.

But probably more stable. A relatively calm winter, for a change. Remember last year's turmoil? 

This time it's the same 8 clubs, line-ups all more or less sorted by end of January. Relatively low level of wholesale changes being made by clubs and in some cases "former favourites" returning and a small crop of newcomers to add interest.

When Leicester moved into the upper league, there were three seasons of wholesale changes from year to year. Looks like that's finally at an end. I see that Rye House and Somerset are being widely tipped to occupy the lower places in the league, but it's only their second season, and there is a lot of rider continuity unlike with Leicester when they stepped up.

Then you have the clamping down on doubling up clashes, the fast track lottery is gone for good, and so there's a lot of what supporters have been wanting for a long time. Foreign riders have always come and gone, so this time it's Lindgren and Bjerre but chances are they'll be back sooner or later. The biggest travesty is the continued absence of Woffinden. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

But the averages are based on last season, using the sane format? If you set a limit of 42 or higher, and all teams build to that limit, the league should be stronger.

Top end we've lost lindgren and bjerre and gsined puk and Vaculik. Not sure you can say thatvis weaker?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Overall quality is weaker but I think it will be more competitive this season with less gaps between the top and bottom teams.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If the quality of riders was higher then the averages would become lower as the points would be more difficult to attain...   

1 hour ago, ytsejam said:

Overall quality is weaker but I think it will be more competitive this season with less gaps between the top and bottom teams.

 I agree most teams appear to be more closely matched,  but the difference between the top and bottom are still too far apart....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, g13webb said:

If the quality of riders was higher then the averages would become lower as the points would be more difficult to attain...   

No they wouldn’t, there are still 6 points in a race no matter what the quality of riders 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Agree, they're are 6 points per race but the better riders would score more of them and the lesser rider would lose out,   So you cant look at the CMA to evaluate a stronger or weaker league...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Just now, g13webb said:

Agree, they're are 6 points per race but the better riders would score more of them and the lesser rider would lose out,   So you cant look at the CMA to evaluate a stronger or weaker league...

I'd agree with that.  The strength of the league isn't about the averages at all. It's about the strength of the top end riders. Iversen and Vaculik in place of Lindgren and Bjerre is like for like. Leicester have swapped a promising Pole from 2017 with a different one in 2018. Like for like. 

The 1 over 8 rule has scuppered any chance of making the league stronger in 2018.  You could argue that Woryna and Drodz make the top flight stronger but as yet are totally unproven over here. At best same as last year which I didn't expect to be saying. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, g13webb said:

Agree, they're are 6 points per race but the better riders would score more of them and the lesser rider would lose out,   So you cant look at the CMA to evaluate a stronger or weaker league...

I agree you cant look at averages in isolation to determine the strength of the league, as in anyvleague, regardless of strength, averages will tend towards a team average of 42.

But when you have averages obtained in the same league, you certsinly can. So the PL setting a limit of 42.5 makes it stronger thsn if they set a lower limit.

In fsct, based on averages the league this season is slightlycweaker than that which ended last season, but stronger than that which started it.

Id disagree that top riders scoring more points indicates a stronger league. Id ecpect Puk, Holder etc to average more in the PL than in Poland, but clearly the polish top flight is a lot stronger.

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 29 January 2018 at 4:54 PM, Call me wolfie said:

Not all tracks have increased their prices, Wolves remains at £18

Does it say ALL tracks ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 30 January 2018 at 11:12 PM, Ghosty said:

To answer the question "Is the league stronger in 2018?"well mathematically an average team any year would be 42 point average, with this years points average limit set @ 42.5 I think this year puts teams pretty much the same as last year!   However allowing for E/Fs, exclusions & DNF in 2017 on balance then 2018 would be stronger teams overall. Also with the 1 over 8 rule in place more balanced teams in theory. 

Just may be the BSPA where not so pi__ed after all @ the AGM.

 

On 31 January 2018 at 9:20 AM, Grachan said:

Have we? Lindgren and Bjerre out. Vaculik and Iversen in. Plus Holder and Batchelor back. I'd say the top end is stronger over all, although Lindgren is a big loss.

 

You can't account for falls, exclusions or engine failures as they happen every year but while Vaculik and Iversen replace Lindgren and Bjerre, we have also lost the likes of Nilsson, Przedpelski, Wells, Starke, Huckenbeck etc.

The riders not returning have a combined average of just under 91 where as the new riders coming in are at 72 and we now have six new riders under a four average compared to two of last years finishers.

 

Stronger or Weaker, the main issue of doubling up has been addressed with the set race nights but honestly feel the way forward would have been for all teams to be in one Championship level league to give more variety of fixtures. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/31/2018 at 1:45 PM, g13webb said:

 

 I agree most teams appear to be more closely matched,  but the difference between the top and bottom are still too far apart....

The difference is as close as it has ever been.

It was far further apart in the 70's, 80's and 90's.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 2/4/2018 at 1:41 PM, INCOGNITO said:

 

 

You can't account for falls, exclusions or engine failures as they happen every year but while Vaculik and Iversen replace Lindgren and Bjerre, we have also lost the likes of Nilsson, Przedpelski, Wells, Starke, Huckenbeck etc.

The riders not returning have a combined average of just under 91 where as the new riders coming in are at 72 and we now have six new riders under a four average compared to two of last years finishers.

 

Stronger or Weaker, the main issue of doubling up has been addressed with the set race nights but honestly feel the way forward would have been for all teams to be in one Championship level league to give more variety of fixtures. 

The league in 2018 is stronger that at the start of 2017. 

Comparing to the end of a season is foolish as teams who get off to a poor start strengthen during the season. Compare how Swindon would have looked without the Musielak change as an example. Or even how Wolves would have looked if they had stuck with Skornicki and he had continued to struggle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 29/01/2018 at 4:54 PM, Call me wolfie said:

Not all tracks have increased their prices, Wolves remains at £18

I would hope so too!!!!....£18 for just 15 mins action is already more than enough!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
26 minutes ago, ytsejam said:

I would hope so too!!!!....£18 for just 15 mins action is already more than enough!!!

Its not just about the 15 mins of speedway though is it.Its a night out where you can enjoy the racing but also if you are like me I meet up with my speedway friends(some I only see at speedway).Talk about all things speedway and all other thing ands have a good laugth etc and if I like I can have a drink.

I went to the pub the other night spent about £15 on a few pints  but that's all they gave me for my money other than a bit of background music.The enjoyment of the night was chatting and having a laugth with my friends etc= a good night out.If it was just about the booze i could have stayed in and drank the same on my own for a fraction of the cost.So what I am saying its not just the speedway its everything put together that gives me a really good night out at every speedway meeting I go to.

  • Like 7
  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now

×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy