mikebv

Of course it is, but let's be honest we know that anyway.. They have done pretty much the only thing they can.. ie deliver more meetings with 'local' rivals without increasing any costs.. Rob was 100% right when he said fans don't want "tinkering"... They want radical change!!!! Simply not going to happen though.. It is what it is, it won't change because it either can't or those who run it are not capable of making it happen... Lets be fair, if things could change then those who run the sport would have done so by now such are the glaring deficiencies... We have what we have, (again), survival and getting everyone through to the end of the season is the 'measure of success'. "Bringing everyone to the table".. Rinse and Repeat once more just like it has been for at least a decade, probably more, and will be 'ad infinitum'... Just accept it, it would make life easier.. And with the SGP, the SON, the SEC, Poland and Sweden beamed live into our living rooms for a great many weeks of the season, we can still watch a host of excellent, 'properly ran' Speedway.... And can then get the added bonus of watching the domestic offering off Eurosport for what it is... And with the NSS, Peterborough, Swindon (and Sheffield with Andrew Meridith now doing the track), showing quite a few matches, I am sure there should be some very decent racing from the UK.. Sit back in your armchair, crack open a can, and just enjoy watching the racing... Since 2000 in just 19 years, TWELVE clubs have gone (maybe THIRTEEN if Newcastle don't run) and only SIX have come in, therefore lets make the most of what's left... (While we still can looking at that closure rate trend)...

An idea thats been mentioned on here many times.. Makes perfect sense to have your more 'local' rivals visit more often given how just a few extra fans in can make such a difference these days as you say.. Also getting the supporters cup done and dusted early too rather than having all the 'finals' being ran at the end of the season is another 'no brainer' we have suggested.. And looking at letting the Champs keep the same team from 2021? Good to see we are taken notice of... Maybe we should charge a fee?

Spot on... But that's been the issue for a good many years, yet it appears that the heads are still firmly in the sand.. No doubt during the AGM much passion and time will be shown and spent on discussing how 0.1 of a point will effect each teams average. Some will argue for an increase. Some will argue just as vociferously for a decrease.. Yet the real fundamental issues that you allude to will still not be resolved...

No chance... That would never happen...

Moto X have 30 riders hitting the first bend, which narrows massively from a wide start and sometimes they crash... Superbikes and Moto GP have 20 or so riders aiming to get the pole position coming out of the start, and sometimes they crash.. Short track has many riders from a staggered start in a race and sometimes they crash. (On UK speedway tracks).. British Speedway with just four riders on track has sadly had fatalities and serious injuries.. It's the nature of Motorsport that there are crashes.. One rider by themselves can crash and suffer severe injury. Having seen 8 man races from two starting points it is very exciting with so much happening over four laps.. And as it doesn't look like any time soon that most tracks can deliver enough exciting racing from four riders to keep the punters coming back often enough, (be it down to track surfaces, or bike characteristics, rider standard etc), then we have to look at the possibility of increasing the excitement value by other means.. Given the 'tenuous' way Speedway is ran as a 'team sport' in the UK, I would suggest most who go regularly attend for 'the racing' rather than the team aspect.. Therefore, focus 1000% on improving the racing as an exciting spectacle which leaves you wanting more...

When I first attended the sport it was heavily pushed on billboards around the old Hyde Rd track, and around the country as a whole, as a sport that provided "thrills and spills" for your money. Now it provides a "family sport" for (pro rata linked to inflation) much more money than you paid then.. Whilst never wishing injury to any riders the sport needs to be more "thrills and spills" and less a "family sport" to get people in I would suggest.. As I've said before Ipswich did it and the only downside for me was it was too long so riders got very spread out over the 16 laps.. And in the US when I watched it 'lesser' riders than over here didn't crash any more times than in a four or a two man race as they became accustomed to having so many on a tiny track.. Lots of sports have incorporated what could have been construed as 'gimmicks' over the past 90 years or so of Speedway's existence, often based on the feedback of their fans through either research or simply the fact less started to attend so "something had to be done".. And many of these sports have benefited accordingly.. One thing we know however is that doing the 'same old, same old' each season, sadly, isn't cutting it.. Something 'radical' might put off a few 'die hards' (personally I doubt it as they by the very loyalty they show/prove they will attend 'anything put in front of them') and might just reignite the interest of the (literally) thousands who used to attend regularly (and not too long ago either), and also maybe will attract some interest from new fans.. One thing for certain though is that if we don't try something new then obviously we will never know..

Most four man races finish with the winner 'miles in front' of second and the rider in last 'miles behind' the rider in third. . Riders second and third are usually the two closest to each other... In short, most of the action is done and dusted by lap one end.. In an 8 man race the rider in fourth cannot tail off like so many do now knowing they can't score as they still will score points for their team, some even currently slow down to save engine wear and tear when no chance of a point which provides nothing towards the entertainment... Also the rider in fourth will now have possibly the two best riders from the opposition behind him trying to get passed to score seven points for their team for finishing fourth and fifth and maybe making their team have four of the first five finishes... A rider like Jason Doyle who wins most of his races will, in a four man race, take the lead and for the most part 'coast' around given his ability level. And for that he will score three points... Put him in an 8 man race and I am sure he will set his sights on beating the other four in front after he has seen off the other three like he usually does by the end of lap two or so and try and get the seven.. As mentioned treat an 8 man race as two separate ones for pay like they would do now, ie you beat the three you started alongside and get paid three points worth of money, and maybe run them in heat four, heat eight and twelve (with twelve being the last heat of the night which is nominated).. That would be nine 'normal races' and three 8 man races, meaning exactly the same amount of laps by the riders as a current 15 heat match. With maybe the nominated being even longer than a usual race? Speedway is down to its die hards now so if it was ever going to take a risk and trial something new then surely now is the time to do it? Maybe a Cup competiton could be set up to test the water and get fans' feedback. ?

A six point rider would be a DU rider I would think at circa 9pts a meeting.. That would get them at least £13500 and more probably as that is at £50 a point and they would get more being a No1 in League Two.. And probably riding abroad too for at least the same top League money again.. (£600 a night).. If that was the case and he only rode in one league overseas then that would deliver £49500 in total as a minimum. . Not loads, but not bad for six months work. And no one stops them from having another job when not riding Speedway.. And if crowds are much higher than the minimum then clubs can pay more accordingly. Eg if his team gets 1500 then his salary can be £27000... Over time the aspiration has to be each League pays enough money to meet the riders needs without DU'ing but the reality at present means it cannot be ruled out currently.. Bottom line though is clubs have to start paying out what comes in, and not more..

It ultimately goes back to a lack of clear demarcation between the Leagues which is driven in so many ways by the vanity of the Promoters 'playing above their level'... Poole are dropping down because they are not making the money Matt Ford wants to make, and many criticise him for it, however, it is 1000% the right decision as a business man.. He could decide to keep rubbing shoulders with the 'top riders' but has decided to cut his cloth accordingly.. Doubling up/down is a classic example of Promoters wanting better riders in their teams than their bank accounts can afford, and is only in place to provide them with these riders who, by the same, need to make ends meet by riding in two leagues.. There should be three clear Leagues based on support and income. With clear differing levels to make them aspirational, not comfort zoned.. League One = Teams who get circa 1000+ on average. £18 x 1000 punters = £18,000 (ex vat equals £14400). @£100 average per point equals £9000 for an average of 90 points home and away. Meaning £5400 to pay other meeting costs. (Not including any other income streams). League Two = Teams who get circa 600 minimum to 999 on average. £15 × 600 punters = £9,000 (ex vat equals £7200). @£50 average per point equals £4500 for 90 points home and away. Meaning £2700 to pay other meeting costs. (Not including any other income streams). League Three = Teams who get circa 300 minimum to 599 on average. £12 x 300 punters = £3600 (ex vat equals £2880). @£10 average per point equals £900 for 90 points home and away. Meaning £2700 to pay other meeting costs. (Not including any other income streams). In the top Two Leagues, individual deals are negotiated but the whole outlay is never higher than the £ per point average in total. And in League Three all get the same 'entry level Speedway' money.. Time to align the Three Leagues for aspirational advancement both for the riders and the teams themselves. As you organically grow then you move up. If you recede then you drop... Each though (riders and teams) 'play at their true level'..

Isn't it rumoured that each track in the Premiership is getting £50k a season? With a five year deal? Thats £250k 'guaranteed'.. You could do quite a bit of track reshaping with that I would think.. Instead, I fear it will be used to pay more in salaries to riders who won't in five years have progressed the entertainment level of the sport forward in any way that better tracks more conducive to passing would do...

No2 in particular would be a massive move forward when planning in fixtures.. Let's be honest, doubling up is there for the riders to justify their outlay on kit and to make money, rather than a 'necessary evil' . Teams could simply reduce how many riders were in a team if it was simply down to there not being enough to go round, and at the same time putting clear demarcation between the league standards for progession purposes.. Therefore, it looks like it's here to stay and with FRN in situ both leagues should be able to run a regular and consistent fixture list if they only allowed DU'ing to those not riding in leagues outside of the UK.. In short. DU'ing means riders can earn more money and that's fine. However it shouldn't impact fixture planning by the teams as this impacts attendances.

Dave Norris was another who after ten years or so became an 'overnight sensation'... Like a light bulb had been switched on and he suddenly knuckled down and realised how good he could be.. It will be interesting to see if Max Fricke does give the UK a miss to concentrate on Poland as has been rumoured, as that is similar I would suggest as all the Aussies used to do by coming over here when the UK was the global 'place to be'... Sink or Swim does focus the mind somewhat and in the long term it could pay huge benefits..

Imagine!!! Be great to watch.... I watched 8 man racing in the US on 110m circuits, it was fantastic.. And if it's carnage then they need to reshape the track or the riders need to use their heads more. (Lesser riders in the US seemed to handle it).. Same old, same old simply doesn't cut it... Use the TV money to improve the entertainment value that you offer.. Not to pay more money out to either the same riders or riders that now decide to honour us with their presence now they can get a few more quid.. Riders that short term will bring a few more in but by the end of the season will be bringing the same old die hards in only.. Riders who when they decide not to ride here any more will leave the sport in no better situation than they found it.. The sports fanbase can be split into three.. One - The 'die hards'. Who will attend anything put out in front of them regularly. Two - The 'ex regulars' who follow the sport and attend now and again and will attend every play off or KO Cup Final And Three - The 'goneaways', those who know about the sport, and still follow the sport closely on social media and TV but won't part with any money to watch domestic British Speedway. Two and Three are the ones that you need things to change for so as to get them to become regulars again.. Doing the same thing won't deliver this. .

Spot on... Often we bemoan the racing as "bikes are too fast", or "tracks are not prepared well enough to meet the demands of the modern bike"... Therefore.. As races are often 'strung out' at many tracks with four riders, then put out races with more bikes on the track. Meaning there has to be more closer racing especially in the middle of the pack.. When eventually TV struggles to decide which part of the race to show, as so much potentially is happening, then Speedway will be on a winner, both from those in the stadiums to those in their armchairs.. Speedway started in 1928. Yet the sport is still using the same base structure over 90 years later even though all the infrastructure within the sport, bikes, tracks etc has moved on.. And just as importantly, what used to pass for entertainment 90 years ago is still being served up in the same way to a modern day populous, with far more to keep them occupied than was the case all those decades ago.. When you look at the evidence of the ever dwindling crowd numbers around the country its a simple conclusion to make.. And that is that the current structure of racing simply isn't delivering... So change it.. In the last 90 years since Speedway has ran with 'four riders per race, four laps per race, 3 points for a win etc' the following has happened... Rugby brought in more points for a try to encourage less kicking and more ball handling which the diminishing crowds were wanting to see more of.. Cricket brought in one day cricket, then 40 over cricket, then 20 over cricket and now 100 ball cricket to attract new followers and freshen the game up. Football brought in 3 points for a win to encourage teams to stop settling for draws, tried golden goals in extra time to encourage teams to score a winner as games were stagnating as teams settled for penalties and allows away goals to count more in Europe to encourage teams to attack away from home and not just defend.. Basketball introduced a 3 point line. Hockey changed its offside laws to be more attack biased, and F1 has tried god knows how many things to make their sport more competitive and deliver closer racing which deliver the key TV audience numbers globally that keeps the sponsors happy.. And I am sure loads of other sports have done similar 'fan focused' changes to their sports to meet the demands of their fan base and try to attract more fans in to grow their sports.. In lots of cases, the sport cannot fix what's 'off track' as it doesn't own the premises, however it can fix what's 'on track' with a little innovation. And fans won't bother anywhere near as much about facilities if what they are watching is top drawer entertainment. . Four laps, four riders per race simply doesn't cut it anymore.. So try something different...

It was a six wheeled skateboard...

And without being too harsh, the standard of the leagues that the Aussies of 20 years ago and more arrived on these shores to take part in were of a much higher level than today as the UK top league was 'THE' league to race in globally.. Which meant the second tier was of a high level also with loads of experienced, mainly British, heat leader riders who would be akin to a third heat leader level in the top tier today, Aussies who were learning their trade and lots of Danes in particular (later to develop to World Class) who rode second tier over here and saw that league as more important to their development than their own in Denmark which wasn't of the same standard. The highest level in the sport though I would suggest is still of an extremely high standard and as good as it's ever been, so if the young Brits like Jordan are to make it to that stratosphere then by 20/21 years old they should be pushing for heat leader status in the top division I would say. That would be the natural progression glide path for success that modern era riders like Woffinden, Lambert, Bewley have taken/are taking.. Meaning that at 16/17 nowadays comfortably holding down a reserve position in the second tier is an absolute minimum I would say if you have ambitions of reaching the very top. And then at 18/19 easily riding at second string standard in tier two pushing heat leader status would be your minimum benchmark.. Sometimes I think not having to leave the creature comforts of home does hold the British lads back somewhat, unlike those who pack up everything and learn their trade in a foreign land. The huge drive, ambition and self belief that burns so brightly within those who follow their dream, by literally leaving everything dear to them 1000's of miles behind, must give them an advantage against those who give up relatively nothing of the sort in such a hard unforgiving environment as Speedway..

Spot in with that I would say.. And especially as Doyle was somewhat of a 'late developer', I am sure he will try to maximise his earnings over the next few years even more.. The likes of Tai will, at a relatively early age, have made a fair few quid and if the Poland deals dry up will still have plenty of years ahead of him, and be very much still in demand, to go back to doing 'lots of leagues' if he so wishes...

Works in Stock Cars having the best behind the lesser lights... Obviously in Speedway the top riders wouldn't be so positive about it I would think given the potential hit on earnings but it certainly would give some interest and maybe pay rates could still be agreed as per a normal race to ensure no loss to them? Maybe even go with two riders from each team at each starting gate? 8 man races? Like the 16 lapper used to do at Ipswich.. It couldn't be every heat obviously but maybe every fourth or so it could be included? Reserves v Second Strings, Second Strings v Heat Leaders then maybe a finale of the Top 4 from each team in the last heat of the night? Third and fourth scorers in front of the first and second. Run the races over five or six laps to give the four behind more of a chance to catch up to the four in front.. Something different to keep a crowd interested, and it would also mean a team well behind could make a huge turn round in fortune if they could deliver the first four riders in the race. Score it seven for first down to one for seventh.. Obviously you won't pay out points money quite the same given seven points for a No1 three or four times a night would possibly bankrupt the club.. Just pay out points money as if it was two separate normal races, eg you might come fourth overall but first in your race, so get four points for the team but three points worth of pay.. Eight bikes on the track would make even the most mundane meeting come alive I would suggest and as it's been done before (regularly at Ipswich) hardly a leap into the unknown if achievable or not..

Good try... But to be honest, I think my press release is better..

Was very tempted...

After yet another season full of high quality close and exciting racing, from all around the UK, British Speedway is in the best position it has been in for many years. Highlighted and endorsed by the new TV deal which reflects the confidence major global media partners have in the UK Speedway brand. 2020 will see many more evenings of exciting, edge of the seat entertainment, being beamed into tens of thousands of not just British homes, but European ones too. Giving many more of Speedway's millions of followers around the globe the chance to enjoy what Speedway in the UK uniquely has to offer.. There can be no doubt that the sport in the UK has made tremendous progess over the past few years and now presses on at pace with its exciting long term vision of continued growth and success.. The feedback, from an ever growing fan base, clearly shows the postive reaction to the course that UK Speedway is following, and we all together, fans and owners alike, look forward to yet another season full of adrenaline fuelled entertainment, being provided, once again, by some of the World's finest riders.. Will that do as the press release?

Didn't Rybnik pay for Dan's treatment and rehab? If so, I would think they are somewhat justified in being a little peed off... Did any of his British teams chip in to share the cost?

Several sports in the US over the past few years have started to see teams deliberately end their seasons the worst team in the league... 'Tanking' is the latest buzzword to describe what the teams are doing.... This then gives them one of the first draft picks for the next season, or the chance to pass up this opportunity and take several team improving players from a competitor and give them the pick instead, hence they write off one season to potentially improve the next.. Some even have written off several seasons to allow them to build up several of the better drafted players over a few years to help with longer term success.. However, the governing bodies of these sports are now discussing how best to deal legally with these teams suspected of 'tanking' as they feel that the integrity and credibility of their respective sports could be threatened by such antics, and are also acutely aware of possible impact to crowd numbers because of it.. British Speedway wouldn't take such action I would suggest as it's allowed to be a fundamental part of the sport..

But that's the issue Vince, the 'normal league meetings', dont deliver those less regular fans who know about the sport, therefore dont deliver big crowds, hence no atmosphere, hence no increase in crowds. A perfect vicious circle.. The 'play off qualifiers' don't seem to engage people regularly enough, and the play off themselves almost become then a 'loss reducer' for the season as 'lapsed fans' come back. . However I bet at most tracks the increased attendance doesn't cover the overall short fall in attendance through the season to watch 'the qualifiers', by some distance... You might as well give away free tickets to as many people of a certain demographic as you can... I would suggest anyone 15 to 25 should just be targeted and offered free tickets as that is the glaring demographic missing from most Speedway meetings.. 15 year olds now hunt in packs so 10 or so would attend together, and even though there has been free admission for 'kids' for a long time at some tracks, not many get to 16+, leave school, and pay to attend, therefore the system doesn't garner any return.. And hardly anyone under 25 is seen at Speedway these days. And plenty of them will have jobs and disposable income due to more of them now still living with parents, before the (inevitable for many), 'family and mortgage' kicks in around 27-30 years old, and that disposable income becomes an oh, so distant memory.. Target these demographics and, if between 19 to 25, offer one free ticket and maybe three more meetings at say a tenner to try and get them hooked? Anyone 15 to 18, just throw free tickets at them.. They are not there now so no loss, and the more that attend (paying or not), the more atmosphere naturally gets created. Which may encourage more to attend more regularly in future. And a virtuous circle begins.. And if nothing else, should you reach the play offs there would be a good few hundred more in the local area who, (by definition of attending for free during the season), now know about the team and sport and might therefore, go along to watch on those nights and pay full price?

Been mentioned a few times over the years as a possible mechanic to keep things more equal, however, the threat is that you can still manipulate the figures through extra sponsorship for riders outside of a salary cap... Meaning you will still get some teams being able to afford more of the better riders than others can. But still officially pay out the salary cap. If you could have clear regulated control then it definitely could work. Rugby in both codes are strong in punishing breaches of the cap so it does have merit... Super League, in particular, have flexed their muscles a few times over the years to those who have breached the cap and the cap has shared the Grand Final trophy around a fair few teams, with a decent spread of others reaching the Final too.. And Union this week have reacted very severely to Saracens dominance over the past few years through allegedly exceeding what was agreed by all teams.. Looking at most clubs I would think £7k a match for Premiership and £5k for Championship would be nearer the affordability mark as £10k per match would need nearly a £30k income from each home match to pay for the two meetings, home and away, that it covers.. You would like to think that as winning a domestic Speedway title carries such little reward that Promoters might adhere to such a plan given it would help keep then solvent and keep clubs relatively equal.. As, unlike Sports that get major media coverage and financial rewards through success, Speedway doesn't have that temptation to get around any restrictions.. And anything that prevents a Promoter having to manipulate an average to build a team, or riders to improve their chances of a team place the following year, has to benefit the sport and it's fans..