Jump to content
British Speedway Forum
Sign in to follow this  
Skidder1

Team GB Franchise?!

Recommended Posts

well i was thinking Germany, Latvia, Czech Republic - should do ok!

Share this post


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

...or even England!

I guess you can call the team 'England' with an English Red Lion on the body colour but not the Union Flag as we Scots don't have any International class riders at the moment, but hopefully we will in the years to come. If we do, then we could revert to the Union Flag and call the team, 'Great Britain'. 

Share this post


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

Will Great Britain or England be riding in Test Matches again ?

Otherwise there is only the "Speedway of Nations", now that there is no Speedway World Cup anymore.   

 

...Ah! The days of Test Matches between England, Denmark and the USA...even England vs. The Rest of the World!

Happy days!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
5 hours ago, Bavarian said:

Will Great Britain or England be riding in Test Matches again ?

Otherwise there is only the "Speedway of Nations", now that there is no Speedway World Cup anymore.   

 

WHO said not anymore?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
11 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

Argentina, France or Italy it is then :lol:

We might struggle against the French though..... :lol:

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Will be interesting to see who buys the franchise and what they do with it .... 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For a start hopefully everything that Woffinden says that they should be doing and currently are not. Make it a much more professional set up with proper training schedules and a progression path right through to the first team with regular meetings on the continent.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Bagpuss said:

For a start hopefully everything that Woffinden says that they should be doing and currently are not. Make it a much more professional set up with proper training schedules and a progression path right through to the first team with regular meetings on the continent.

Sounds good but in practice, as soon as anything remotely impacts on league teams the promoters will kick up a fuss and issue bans to riders who put GB before club.

pessimistic I know but can anyone honestly believe otherwise :wink:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Star Lady said:

Sounds good but in practice, as soon as anything remotely impacts on league teams the promoters will kick up a fuss and issue bans to riders who put GB before club.

pessimistic I know but can anyone honestly believe otherwise :wink:

It doesn't have to impact league teams though, does it? If the franchisee can simply help young British riders get Swedish and Polish team places it will be a massive boost to our competitiveness.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
2 minutes ago, MattK said:

It doesn't have to impact league teams though, does it? If the franchisee can simply help young British riders get Swedish and Polish team places it will be a massive boost to our competitiveness.

It will if they decide to hold practice sessions/training/fitness camps like the Poles, regardless of the UK leagues. If the franchisee really wants success it could very well be the scenario.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If the new World competition, which seems like a Pairs event, is the only thing on the World stage, who on earth would want to

take a franchise on the British title.  I certainly agree with those that do not like "Team GB" stupid IMO.  Bring back  "Great Britain"

or, even better, "England".  Didn't "England" win the World Team Cup  ( or whatever it might have been called then) 3 times in succession ?

Can anyone confirm that ?   Would be nice to see some of the old Test Matches that used to be regular features a few years ago , England

v Sweden,   England  v  Australia.  Hugely popular at the time...why not now ? 

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, East End Fan said:

If the new World competition, which seems like a Pairs event, is the only thing on the World stage, who on earth would want to

take a franchise on the British title.  I certainly agree with those that do not like "Team GB" stupid IMO.  Bring back  "Great Britain"

or, even better, "England".  Didn't "England" win the World Team Cup  ( or whatever it might have been called then) 3 times in succession ?

Can anyone confirm that ?   Would be nice to see some of the old Test Matches that used to be regular features a few years ago , England

v Sweden,   England  v  Australia.  Hugely popular at the time...why not now ? 

Them were the days!!

Great Britain won the World Team Cup in 1971, 1972 & !973 and as England in 1974 & 1975 (loosing out to the Aussies in 1976), 1977 and 1980...last win during 1989.

World Pairs Champs during 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1980.

Winners of Test Match series against the Swedes home and away in 1975, World Series Champs during 1972, 1973 (winning the Final at Wembley) and beating the only 'team' able to compete against England in 1977 that being The Rest of the Word...and nether mind the Tests won 'Down Under' during that glorious period!

May have missed some success out...or got some facts wrong from the top of my head but no wonder British speedway ruled the waves during the seventies...speedway's last golden period!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Think it’s a great idea build a team based on a brand . Needs expanding to take on the best of the up and coming riders as well have development squads right down to the kids on 125s give them a clear insight into all the ins and outs and ups and downs . There plenty of talent about just needs nurturing and the opportunity to progress 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, East End Fan said:

If the new World competition, which seems like a Pairs event, is the only thing on the World stage, who on earth would want to

take a franchise on the British title.  I certainly agree with those that do not like "Team GB" stupid IMO.  Bring back  "Great Britain"

or, even better, "England".  Didn't "England" win the World Team Cup  ( or whatever it might have been called then) 3 times in succession ?

Can anyone confirm that ?   Would be nice to see some of the old Test Matches that used to be regular features a few years ago , England

v Sweden,   England  v  Australia.  Hugely popular at the time...why not now ? 

Would love to see the test matches back, but one problem is trying to get available riders with their commitments in the different leagues and countries they now ride in.

If they started with U21 the riders might be more eager and available, but the fans would need to show support so that they pay the track and the organisations.  

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
16 hours ago, East End Fan said:

If the new World competition, which seems like a Pairs event, is the only thing on the World stage, who on earth would want totake a franchise on the British title. 

I think there is huge potential here. Given the BSPA seem unwilling/uninterested in properly funding the national team, so much so the best rider is no longer interested, it seem ideal to bring in someone who can run the team with a commercial view.

 

16 hours ago, East End Fan said:

Would be nice to see some of the old Test Matches that used to be regular features a few years ago , England

v Sweden,   England  v  Australia.  Hugely popular at the time...why not now ? 

I guess the problems are twofold. Firstly riders now race four times a week against the best in the world, so they don't need the experience or the additional meetings. Secondly, unless you can attract the top riders (see first point) fans are unlikely to support these events especially given how accessible the GPs and SWC are.

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
Sign in to follow this  

×

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