mikebv

Cannot blame the riders though... Div 2 Promoters have been happy to use Div 1 HL's, and also not use RS's, therefore they have been more than happy with the arrangements... Best of both worlds . You only have to read on the threads how poorly any possible "diluting of the league" is being received to see that the fans too are more than happy watching Div 1 HL's, with some complaining about admission costs needing to be reduced for a "lesser product" . These fans will have been happy though, for example, to watch Sam Masters top the averages in Div 2, for less money than Div 1 fans paid to watch him topping the monthly Div 1 averages at the same time, as happened the season before last.. Given the lack of rider development, and organic growth structure to the leagues over the past two decades or so, doubling up/down is simply now part of the sport... Riders, Promoters and Fans all require it...

Are all the Champiinship teams on the back too? Or inside if it is reverseable....

I do agree, however.. "Professional Juniors" have become far too prevalent so I can see why clubs may not want to keep running the NDL in its current guise.. Any "junior league" really needs to be expenses only, with track time and development, via a clear time lined structure, being the key determinants rather than renumeration.. And given the rents for some tracks, and all the other costs, to put on events, I do see why "blank weeks" will be left blank as, for the vast majority, the crowd who attend won't pay the costs...

I remember the old SJL.. I think all had four heats each in 3 man teans, with six heats in all... That could work maybe? Six lads per night getting more racing...

If it is so, then that is still a HUGE role given whatever is shown is the window into the whole UK sport for everyone watching at home... Seeing Bomber for example, meeting after meeting, riding for all and sundry, (and even sometimes for his own team,) is hopefully something that Phil will focus on and eradicate as part of a much larger radical move forward for the sport... The TV meetings sell the sport and it finally looks like the penny has dropped, with crowd levels at these events basically being the barometer of what success, or not, that the sport has, so hopefully more planning will be put into them to engage a large turn out and reflect positively into the living rooms of those watching.. Mickey Mouse rules obviously will undo any amount of other growth ideas so let's hope Phil keeps them away from Speedway, so as they dont undermine the sport like they have done so badly over the years...

Pity Huckenbeck is in the GP's, would be a decent rider around the NSS... Presume his average now goes up? Or does his old one apply? Adam Ellis is a surprise for me, presume it is more for away tracks? As BF apart not seen him have too many good meetings at the NSS.. Wright missing out would be a shame as always good to watch...

His remit for the CEO of UK Speedway is somewhat different... CEO's are not production floor managers, which is what you are describing... Hopefully he has had a year to grow into the CEO role, and, behind the scenes, started to move the sport forward... And his ideas will come to fruition this season... "Getting meetings done quicker" is so low level it is beyond even judging as the only ones who complain are, by definition, there in attendance. Its the "followers" not there that need to be "listened to" the most, as they will outnumber those who do attend quite considerably... Let's hope he gets the remit, and the opportunity and support, to implement the radical changes so desperately needed, and the many thousands who still follow the sport closely, but don't attend/infrequently attend, UK Speedway, are attracted back more regularly... Edit. And the GPs are driven by "satellite time" which means any over run and more costs, hence all through the decades of racing the vast majority are, and have been, completed to time. Ole Olsen was a particular stickler for it given the potential costs involved..

I would suggest not much visually given such a short amount of time in the role.. Hopefully now he has had some time to review what goes on, and the huge potential that the current operating model delivers, he will he able to influence the required change to move the sport forward..

He can never be World Champion if he doesn't learn how to ride small tracks don't forget...

For me the core product is very good, it is just the nonsense rules that prevent the actual leagues from ever being taken seriously... How the hell can anyone take seriously Peterborough's Bomber helping Ipswich to beat Belle Vue in the Semi, and then helping Sheffield beat Ipswich in the Final? You simply cannot market that.... Less riders per team would mean more riders to replace injured ones, so guests could be eradicated if the will was there .. A fit for purpose RR facility would also mean no need for guests... Development should be the 2nd Divs priority not Div 1, and clear demarcation within the leagues should always exist so the top league can be marketed as "Elite"... Every sport needs a "flagship" league that sells the sport with the other leagues feeding off it.. National generic marketing has to be the biggest opportunity. Huge amounts are spent on riders, very few of which bring a big crowd in, yet very, very little is spent on marketeers who may be able to put some bums on seats... Being able to take league racing seriously first though is needed before any money is spent hiring any marketing companies...

100%, however what we have is pretty much all there will be.. Some tracks are "playthings" of the promoters who choose to spend big amounts on it.. This means that winning or losing doesnt make much difference to them as they will keep subsidising their "hobby".. Some tracks are the actual business of the promoter so they need to make money.. Meaning getting a "winning team" is paramount regardless of what entertainment value is on offer, or what integrity impacting rules some may need to try and circumnavigate to get that winning team.. The bottom line issue is very much a chicken and egg situation in that the sport needs big outside money to come into it, either via league or club sponsorship, or via a bigger TV deal... However, given the often "Mickey Mouse" way the sport is ran, you haven't a hope in hell of any major nationally well known businesses wanting to tie their brand to it... Hence, those well meaning, but ultimately bereft of the required skill set, "amateurs" will continue to try and run a professional sport... Doing "their best" i am sure, but with the inevitable outcome...

The reality is that there is no clear direction, hence teams can pick and choose what level to race in, as and when it suits them.. Those in the top flight deserve the TV money as they are the ones that get covered.. Unfortunately, more teams in the top league would dilute that money, therefore it isn't viable for many teams to even consider it.. What we have is hanging on by a thread if you use the last ten years worth of track closures and defections as a barometer of the next decade to come... Maybe now Phil Morris has a full season (and pre season), he can make a fundamental difference.. Without a clear generic growth plan for the sport as a whole though, it will not work.. Sheffield and Glasgow won their respective leagues but it has hardly raised a ripple of publicity nationally... But, next year, if nothing changes, every track will no doubt, once again, try and ensure they can manipulate success by using some ill conceived, ambiguously written regulation that let's them have some success.. Whilst, all the while, diluting any kudos in winning, and preventing wider mainstream coverage, by their very insular focused actions.. UK Speedway sadly thinks small time, insular, and short term, and that isn't ever going to grow it organically, generically and nationally... Putting an extra 200 on one tracks gate due to their "success" really isn't progress.. Putting 200 on every track, however small that still may be, is... And may start some momentum for further growth..

I attended the NSS last year specifically to watch Laguta, and Sayfutdinov... And attended the PCMM to watch Lambert and Tai... Wouldn't have been the only ones either...

When meetings are rearranged, like both are, I am pretty sure that the rules say that the "senior league" of the two takes priority... Just a shame the rearranged Cup Final was arranged on a day that everyone knew that the NDL flagship meeting was taking place... No surprise though as it is in keeping with the usual genric national marketing and planning strategy that they demonstrate so vividly each season...

NDL+ is the most affordable level for the majority... Has been that way for many years but has been avoided, hence teams have been able to pick and choose which league to race in regardless of size and income.. Just like you had stand alone teams in the NDL with a "different agenda" you had Poole and Glasgow (and now Oxford), with a "different level" in the Championship.... For the majority of Championship teams they won't ever compete with the "bigger clubs" who have much larger fan bases and/or sponsors... And, given the issues facing the likes of Kent and Mildenhall, maybe a less expensive product to put out will help them join in? (The IOW too possibly?).. Or at least mean tracks don't move over to NORA, which would be "game over" for the BSPL.. Clear demarcation between the leagues was mentioned last year as one of the aims going forwards, which, given the NDL probably won't exist, only means a clear difference between Divs 1 and 2.. Those "bigger clubs", with Div 1 level attendance's, may have a decision to make...

Bomber would be delighted with that... He could be eligible for winners AND losers medals most seasons whether he actually rides in the final or not....

Yes Minister!!!!

Has Tarasenko ridden enough meetings to get an average considering the Play Offs don't count...? He could start the season at reserve next year if so.... Imagine the meltdown.....

They make Dorset w(h)ine from them...

That will be some size of order.....

Maybe the TV money only going six ways will help subsidise the move? Wasn't it said at the Brandon hearing that each team got "six figures"... If so, dividing up the seventh teams' money would deliver another £15k to £20k per team... Pays for a GP rider and some change...

Poole have won something tonight.. Their fans have just become the "World Hide and Seek Champions"... Looks like a bit longer before they get found too...

Not defeatist, just realistic... My thoughts on why we are where we are? The bandwidth of the forum wouldnt take it.... FWIW, there are two watershed moments for me... The first, the Sky tens of millions being used to basically pay top GP riders rather using it to invest in the sports' future, (both stadia and UK rider development).... (GP riders who pretty much all 'Foxtrot Oscared' when the money stopped).. And the second being post Covid. A HUGE opportunity to do something radical which would have been a "free hit" given the fans' craving to get back to watching speedway again.. Instead we had "same old, same old", which clearly hadn't been working pre Covid.. For those that still "take it seriously" and "believe it is real" similar to all other sports, I would never criticise their choice, and hope whoever wins any of the cups or titles enjoy the experience.. However, when something is allowed to take place as happened with Bomber in the semi and the final of the Premiership this year, you are asking a lot if you expect your sports' fanbase to regard it as a bona fide sporting championship.. Ultimately the Promoters do their best, but unfortunately many don't have the correct skill set to market and administer it, and, to be fair to them, probably don't need to as their track is often their personal hobby as a fan, so "big global picture" thinking doesn't form part of their overall remit... Unfortunately, that lack of "big global picture" thinking is probably its ultimate downfall... But, on the positive side, it is also its largest opportunity for generic growth should it ever be tried and delivered...

A pipe dream... You cannot run the level that the promoters want without ensuring many riders have to be full time pros.. 2nd Div Promoters want to use Div 1 level HL's, so that Div1 HL needs to be spending plenty and therefore expects a decent return... When £30k (and often well, well above) is the outlay on kit then riders need to ride as much as is possible.. In a perfect world, there would be clear demarcation within the leagues, and organic aspirational growth, with no rider sharing.. That ship sailed many, many years ago (if it had even ever been contemplated that is)... Speedway in the UK is in "survival mode" rather than "growth mode", and has been for a good many years, with promoters doing their level best in their own way to keep it going... If they could "run it properly like other sports" then I am 100% sure they would.. What we have is pretty much all there is, so no point in hoping for any magic wand to come along and change things.. Enjoy the racing, but dont get too bothered about the results, is the best way to look at UK Speedway... It still has the ability to provide huge excitement and a good night out when done well, as a fair few tracks do...

"Enough meetings for riders" is the starting point, and the major objective that must be delivered.. Seconded by "What level of rider can my club afford to have"... The structure chosen then has to reflect those two objectives..