kelvinht 348 Posted January 10, 2021 If rider numbers are an issue, rather than fiddling with league structures and limiting teams, the only sensible option in my opinion would have to be 6 man teams. Double up/down should still be an option, but limited to one or two per team at most (or injury cover). Surely the powers to be should looking to start at beginning of April after the current restrictions are due to end, with some kind of small tournament for April. Leagues to start in May. If restrictions drag on past the start of April, then scrap the 'small tournament' - although that should be a last resort as riders will be in dire need of track time to get back up to speed. And they should be lobbying our parliament representative NOW so that speedway can hit the ground as soon as is possibly allowed. Crowd numbers in stadia are unlikely to be an issue going on last Octobers guidelines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon1983 557 Posted January 10, 2021 6 hours ago, kelvinht said: If rider numbers are an issue, rather than fiddling with league structures and limiting teams, the only sensible option in my opinion would have to be 6 man teams. Double up/down should still be an option, but limited to one or two per team at most (or injury cover). Surely the powers to be should looking to start at beginning of April after the current restrictions are due to end, with some kind of small tournament for April. Leagues to start in May. If restrictions drag on past the start of April, then scrap the 'small tournament' - although that should be a last resort as riders will be in dire need of track time to get back up to speed. And they should be lobbying our parliament representative NOW so that speedway can hit the ground as soon as is possibly allowed. Crowd numbers in stadia are unlikely to be an issue going on last Octobers guidelines Fair points but what if a lot of the Aussies and Europeans can't do the 2021 season so you're only left with predominantly British riders Do we allow every rider to triple up/down so that the premier, championship and national league run a league because if it gets to that stage there are only going to be enough riders for 8 or 9 clubs to run 7 man teams Even with 6 man teams it's not much better unless you then look at 4 or 5 rider teams Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringitsneck 348 Posted January 11, 2021 10 hours ago, Falcon1983 said: Fair points but what if a lot of the Aussies and Europeans can't do the 2021 season so you're only left with predominantly British riders Do we allow every rider to triple up/down so that the premier, championship and national league run a league because if it gets to that stage there are only going to be enough riders for 8 or 9 clubs to run 7 man teams Even with 6 man teams it's not much better unless you then look at 4 or 5 rider teams Make your mind up Falcon. Earlier in this thread you were complaining there were too many teams now your moaning there won’t be enough teams ? Your wasting your time anyway as now Swindon have withdrawn and Poole looking to follow suit , it’s only a matter of time before the plug gets pulled on the whole league season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,632 Posted January 11, 2021 2 hours ago, Ringitsneck said: Make your mind up Falcon. Earlier in this thread you were complaining there were too many teams now your moaning there won’t be enough teams ? Your wasting your time anyway as now Swindon have withdrawn and Poole looking to follow suit , it’s only a matter of time before the plug gets pulled on the whole league season. Why are Poole looking to follow suit? There may yet be an attempt to entice them back into the Premiership?? Who knows 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon1983 557 Posted January 11, 2021 3 hours ago, Ringitsneck said: Make your mind up Falcon. Earlier in this thread you were complaining there were too many teams now your moaning there won’t be enough teams ? Your wasting your time anyway as now Swindon have withdrawn and Poole looking to follow suit , it’s only a matter of time before the plug gets pulled on the whole league season. I stand by what I have already said and that there are too many clubs for the sport to thrive of any sort in the UK I am not moaning saying that now their won't be enough teams, someone else said that all clubs could run if riders were allowed to double up/down but I am asking a question, if most of the aussie riders and euroepans can't compete in the UK in 2021 there will be be enough riders to fill every single club - so it goes back to my original post of having some form of British League racing with limited teams i.e. those who can run a 1-7 Just because Swindon and potentially Poole might follow suit, it doesn't mean the end to a 2021 season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ray c 2,299 Posted January 11, 2021 On 1/8/2021 at 6:18 PM, sugarray said: Can't see Stadia Uk opening Poole Stadium for 7 meetings might not open it at all . has stadia uk got any other plans for use of the stadium yet ?. i presume it is still only the car park money which keeps it open now ? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sotonian 609 Posted January 12, 2021 (edited) On 1/11/2021 at 1:14 PM, ray c said: might not open it at all . has stadia uk got any other plans for use of the stadium yet ?. i presume it is still only the car park money which keeps it open now ? If you mean non-sporting use, they can have all the plans they like but, unfortunately for them, they don't own it. Edited January 12, 2021 by Sotonian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ray c 2,299 Posted January 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Sotonian said: If you mean non-sporting use, they can have all the plans they like but, unfortunately for them, they don't own it. it is there business .they must have some idea of where there going otherwise they would have handed the keys back by now. nearly a year now there have been any activity down the stadium Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,632 Posted January 13, 2021 13 hours ago, ray c said: it is there business .they must have some idea of where there going otherwise they would have handed the keys back by now. nearly a year now there have been any activity down the stadium Well at least Danny Ford has announced today that it is still Poole's intention to be part of the 'Championship mix' whatever the format is!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ray c 2,299 Posted January 13, 2021 2 hours ago, Skidder1 said: Well at least Danny Ford has announced today that it is still Poole's intention to be part of the 'Championship mix' whatever the format is!! yes i saw that which is good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,240 Posted January 13, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Skidder1 said: Well at least Danny Ford has announced today that it is still Poole's intention to be part of the 'Championship mix' whatever the format is!! The 'Championship mix'? Will that be four double uppers/downers from the 'top league' and two double uppers from the NL, per team, I wonder...? With the 'top league' running pretty much the same, but replacing the NL riders with two riders who don't DU but ride overseas as well? That would keep the demarcation between the leagues that the 'top league' seem to desperately want.... Although no idea why this is given for the past several years a great many riders in every top league team ride outside the top league for lower league teams over here too... Not much difference in ability level when it's the same rider.... Edited January 13, 2021 by mikebv Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TotallyHonestJohn 3,078 Posted January 14, 2021 23 hours ago, mikebv said: The 'Championship mix'? Will that be four double uppers/downers from the 'top league' and two double uppers from the NL, per team, I wonder...? With the 'top league' running pretty much the same, but replacing the NL riders with two riders who don't DU but ride overseas as well? That would keep the demarcation between the leagues that the 'top league' seem to desperately want.... Although no idea why this is given for the past several years a great many riders in every top league team ride outside the top league for lower league teams over here too... Not much difference in ability level when it's the same rider.... Honestly I think there could be as many as 5 double up/down riders per team between the leagues with possibly a couple of foreigners who don't/wont (if they can be attracted at all); (or maybe one or two like Dan Bewley who may have a Polish team but will possibly still ride in the Premiership only) the only way they can differentiate between the leagues is let the 6 in the top league build their teams to 48.5 points (or more if they can find the riders) and allow the championship to build to 38.5 points as its the only way I can see to put some distance between the leagues. The National League can build to 28.5 points. With 6 top league teams and 12 teams (if Plymouth come up) in the championship leaving Mildenhall and the IOW as stand alone teams in the National League with others clubs 2nd or junior 7's it isn't boding well; as posted on another thread you need 126 riders to fill the slots in the top two leagues so that's 42 for the Premiership and 84 for the Championship and if 30 of those riding in the top league double up/down that still leaves 54 riders required for the Championship and the question is do we have that number of riders available? Its not looking good is it? Regards THJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GWC 495 Posted January 14, 2021 Swindon and now Somerset have dropped out of any future planning so maybe Falcons theory is a ‘last resort’ scenario. Almost 60 riders listed requiring nearly 9 tracks needed to at least get a speedway season in what would be a one-off season.The alternative of no speedway will be disastrous for riders and the sport in the U.K. Go back to 1958 I think there were less tracks operating and people said then that speedway as a major sport was finished. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,240 Posted January 14, 2021 (edited) 28 minutes ago, TotallyHonestJohn said: Honestly I think there could be as many as 5 double up/down riders per team between the leagues with possibly a couple of foreigners who don't/wont (if they can be attracted at all); (or maybe one or two like Dan Bewley who may have a Polish team but will possibly still ride in the Premiership only) the only way they can differentiate between the leagues is let the 6 in the top league build their teams to 48.5 points (or more if they can find the riders) and allow the championship to build to 38.5 points as its the only way I can see to put some distance between the leagues. The National League can build to 28.5 points. With 6 top league teams and 12 teams (if Plymouth come up) in the championship leaving Mildenhall and the IOW as stand alone teams in the National League with others clubs 2nd or junior 7's it isn't boding well; as posted on another thread you need 126 riders to fill the slots in the top two leagues so that's 42 for the Premiership and 84 for the Championship and if 30 of those riding in the top league double up/down that still leaves 54 riders required for the Championship and the question is do we have that number of riders available? Its not looking good is it? Regards THJ Not looking great, however... Some innovative, radical thoughts around meeting formats, team numbers, and how best to provide the UK lads with lots of racing to maximise earnings, and get lots of track time with which to improve, could still mean the season goes ahead... Promoters will be given a 'free pass' if their plan involves running on 'the best nights to get a crowd', and setting a 'reasonable' entrance fee to reflect what could be a heavily watered down product from the last few years'.... 'Any Speedway' will be seen as better than no Speedway by many, and supported by them too... The irony is that Speedway has always been a 'bit' contrived in the UK, so we as fans are used to 'making it up as you go along' regulations. Therefore, we will all be well used to any sort of 'happenings' as the season progresses and will, in the main I am sure, give it plenty of acceptance... Remember that this is a sport in the UK that as recent as 2018 decided that their flagship meeting could include two Swindon riders in a Final that involved Poole and Kings Lynn. And initially decided that they could 'swap sides' at 'half time' and both represent both teams!!! Not even a Covid impacted season, that sees lots of contrived rules to ensure it gets completed, could top that surely? But if it did, we as fans would accept it this following year I am sure.. Edited January 14, 2021 by mikebv Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TotallyHonestJohn 3,078 Posted January 14, 2021 (edited) Well I looked at your starting list and have pulled the following off the net and I have removed the ones I know for sure who aren't riding in the UK this year and there will be a few more who wont be riding on the here that others know for sure who will not be available and maybe one or two more who will be but I think we will struggle... The pot is still half full but I think someone might have had a Pee in it when no one was looking... All were used in the last full season (2019) 1 Aaron Summers 26 Danyon Hume 51 Joe Thompson 76 Matt Marson 101 Sam Jensen 2 Adam Ellis 27 David Bellego 52 Joel Andersson 77 Matthew Wethers 102 Sam Masters 3 Alex Spooner 28 David Wallinger 53 Jordan Jenkins 78 Max Clegg 103 Scott Campos 4 Alfie Bowtell 29 Dawid Lampart 54 Jordan Palin 79 Michael Palm Toft 104 Scott Nicholls 5 Anders Rowe 30 Dimitri Berge 55 Jordan Stewart 80 Mikkel B Andersen 105 Simon Lambert 6 Ashley Morris 31 Drew Kemp 56 Josh Auty 81 Nathan Greaves 106 Stefan Nielsen 7 Ben Barker 32 Edward Kennett 57 Josh Bailey 82 Nathan Stoneman 107 Steve Worrall 8 Ben Morley 33 Ellis Perks 58 Josh Bates 83 Nick Agertoft 108 Tero Aarnio 9 Bradley Wilson-Dean 34 Erik Riss 59 Josh Grajczonek 84 Nick Morris 109 Thomas Jorgensen 10 Brady Kurtz 35 Fernando Garcia 60 Josh MacDonald 85 Nicklas Porsing 110 Tobias Thomsen 11 Broc Nicol 36 Georgie Wood 61 Josh Pickering 86 Nicolai Klindt 111 Tobiasz Musielak 12 Cameron Heeps 37 Hans Andersen 62 Justin Sedgmen 87 Niels-Kristian Iversen 112 Todd Kurtz 13 Charles Wright 38 Henry Atkins 63 Jye Etheridge 88 Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen 113 Tom Bacon 14 Chris Harris 39 Jack Holder 64 Kasper Andersen 89 Paco Castagna 114 Tom Brennan 15 Claus Vissing 40 Jack Smith 65 Kristian Pieszczek 90 Paul Starke 115 Tom Perry 16 Connor Bailey 41 Jack Thomas 66 Kye Thomson 91 Rasmus Jensen 116 Tom Woolley 17 Connor Coles 42 Jacob Bukhave 67 Kyle Bickley 92 Richard Andrew 117 Troy Batchelor 18 Connor Mountain 43 Jacob Thorssell 68 Kyle Howarth 93 Richard Lawson 118 Ty Proctor 19 Craig Cook 44 Jake Allen 69 Kyle Newman 94 Richard Lawson 119 Ulrich Ostergaard 20 Dan Bewley 45 James Sarjeant 70 Leon Flint 95 Richie Worrall 120 Valentin Grobauer 21 Dan Gilkes 46 James Shanes 71 Lewis Kerr 96 Ricky Wells 121 Victor Palovaara 22 Dan Thompson 47 James Wright 72 Luke Becker 97 Rob Ledwith 122 William Lawson 23 Daniel Gappmaier 48 Jason Edwards 73 Luke Chessell 98 Rory Schlein 123 Zach Wajtknecht 24 Danny King 49 Jed List 74 Luke Harris 99 Ryan Douglas 124 Zaine Kennedy 25 Danny Phillips 50 Joe Lawlor 75 Luke Ruddick 100 Ryan Kinsley 125 So let the scratching begin and lets see what we are left with as like I have said there will be loads of these on here who will not be back any time soon... and the bottom line is we require at least 96(ish) riders as a minimum... Regards THJ Edited January 14, 2021 by TotallyHonestJohn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
