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mikebv

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Posts posted by mikebv

  3. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    57 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

    And look how well guests have worked out in British speedway, once the door is unlocked it’s kicked open by cheats 

    No chance will Poland go down the route of UK with regards to guests..

    Too much of a tribal emotional following to accept any of their riders representing any other team on an ad hoc basis..

    Such is the depth of feeling, a few years ago, ZG fans were initially not happy to accept Darcy Ward as their own rider after coming from Torun, they even had very 'unfriendly' banners to 'welcome him', such was their dislike for him when he represented Torun..

    Sponsors too wouldn't allow it. Imagine Woffy top scoring for another team and costing Betard their chance to be a sponsor of a play off team because Wroclaw didn't make it? They wouldn't touch the sport again with a barge pole..

    The media also wouldnt allow it, far too much detailed coverage of the sport to try and pass off something as Mickey Mouse as Woffy, for example, being shared around the league..

    And finally the governing body wouldn't allow it as it completely devalues their (currently) very important, and financially rewarding sporting competition. 

    And no doubt at the same time blowing their own sponsorship of the leagues themselves by national companies, who wouldnt want to align themselves with something so contrived..

    • Like 3

  4. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    30 minutes ago, severnsider said:

    Isn’t it the case the teams get quite a lot of their budgets from the local councils though seems some reports of a few cutting back on the contributions 

    Counciils do support their local teams but its TV where the money comes in big..

    The TV companies have to put in tenders over there to win the rights to show the sport..

    Similar to the way the TV companies do over here to win the football contracts...

    Some very big money is offered, such is the armchair audience potential for the meetings they show..

    And with the big audience comes the advertising revenue that fills the TV companies coffers..

    The TV companies even run 'magazine' type programmes on the sport on Sunday evenings, during the week, and in the lead up to the weekends action, such is the demand for the sport...

    Add in a  major national company to sponsor the league, and you see how it's a world away from the UK's version of the same sport..

     

    • Like 1

  5. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    14 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

     

    Don’t know where Trees watches his Speedway,but he is very hard to please.Didnt find much wrong with that action.:rolleyes:

    Think "Trees" is a she (if we can still use gender pro nouns):D, and follows Kings Lynn, so watches the gate and go fest in the clay at Saddlebow Road's stock car track.. ;)

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

  10. Posted

    14 minutes ago, iainb said:

    I find it great entertainment... I suggest you make yourself a bingo card and sit down with your dobber in your hand and mark off all the different ways to mangle up Woryna's name... Verona, Veroyni, Veroni :rofl:

    I always wonder how he introduces himself... probably just Sam, to be safe :t:

    Kaspers name has always been problematic to him..:D

    At least this year Vaculik isn't in it..

    As when he rides with Milik we get..

    Milich, Millichich, Vaculich, and Vacooolik....

    • Haha 1

  11. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    7 hours ago, East End Fan said:

    During the 70's, England had a particularly successful international team, winning the World Team Cup several times as I remember. We also used to have

    test match series against Australia and Sweden for example which I seem to recall we always won ( or at least mostly).  What I don't remember is any huge

    rise in interest from newspapers or TV. In fact our Speedway success was largely ignored. This might just be my memory not being too good, but there must be

    others out there who were fans at the time. What do they remember ?  The point is that international success for Brits does not necessarily translate into more

    fans on the terraces...sadly.

    ITV showed every major event for years when England were having success and I dont think it was coincidence that this was a boom time for the sport.

    Virtually every fortnight there was a meeting beamed into literally millions of homes.

    Riders were household names, standing alongside the most famous sportsmen of the day...

    As a kid growing up in the 70"s, weekly magazines like 'Tiger' and their annuals, had full pages dedicated to the likes of Peter Collins, with posters and interviews..

    When PC won the World Title in 76, the Sunday Mirror (for one) ran the story on their back page sharing the lead headlines with the football.. 

    In fact, as an 8 year old kid, I remember being in Rhyl on a day out the day later, where outside one of the newsagents was one of those 'A frame' boards advertising certain papers and "PC lands World Title" was the message on it..(Things you remember as a kid:D)..

    But that very advertising board showed (just by being there), the awareness level of the sport in the nation at that time, and would have been replicated all over the country in front of newsagents premises that morning as it was the lead corporate advertising from that newspaper..

    However, when any domestic team won their league, hardly any coverage was given to it nationally, and I can guarantee that many of those who attended domestic speedway in those days did so because of the national team's success, and subsequent major coverage in both written and visual media.

    In fact, I know we had the race fixing scandal which would have had some impact but, for me, the stranglehold of the Danes and the Yanks in the 80's did the most damage to the sport in the UK, as no longer was there a 'success story' to be shown on TV or written about in the Newspapers, hence their coverage reduced massively..

    And when World Of Sport went, ITV obviously didnt see any mileage in keeping showing Speedway as a 'stand alone' sport nationally like they did with others..

    As I said before, the media love a national success story, (its good for viewing and readership numbers), and both rugby and cricket realised this and radically changed their focus to ensuring their national teams became successful.

    Because they realised that it didnt matter how many times the likes of Leicester or Saracens won their rugby titles, or Middelsex or Essex were County Champs in cricket, it would only deliver 'local coverage' in a major way, and that it was only by having success globally as a national team that their domestic leagues would benefit from that 'feel good' factor..

    This blueprint has subsequently been attempted to be followed by Basketball and Ice Hockey who have both tried to increase the number of 'genuine not flag of convenience' UK participants to try and improve their national teams standing, in the hope more coverage and money comes their way, which can then filter down into the domestic game..

    Speedway wont become successful again whilst promotions all do their own separate things in splendid isolation, all trying to out do each other in trying to win competitions hardly anyone cares about..

    However. Win the SWC three years on the bounce, and have three or four riders in the top 10 in the World for 10 years or so, and I can guarantee domestic Speedway would benefit..

    • Like 2

  15. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Terry said:

    Well done Lambert, finally.

    Very impressed with Lambert this year..

    Especially considering he got excluded for the Lebedevs crash which resulted in him getting injured..

    He has showed great resilience , maturity and belief to seemingly put that out of his mind, and not let it impact his racing,  which isn't easy considering it's a team mate..

    And whilst never a 'big lad' by any means, he looks like he has trimmed down a couple of kilos or so too..

    Heading towards the top level without a doubt..

     

    • Like 4

  17. Posted

    1 hour ago, Bagpuss said:

    This. You can’t blame some of the Brits for earning good money from riding in both British leagues, as frustrating as it is that they don’t / won’t try to push on in foreign leagues. Hopefully seeing what Robert and Dan are trying to do in Poland will inspire some of the youngsters coming through to strive to do the same. 

    And the Promoters over here understand that one day, regardless of how much they have 'invested' in the riders development, that they will 'lose them' to Poland, but realise that the more GB riders 'lost' to domestic UK Speedway means the more successful the GB team will inevitably become..

    Bringing far more wider media coverage, as the newspapers and TV do love a GB success story..

    No disrespect to any team in this country, but not one (however successful) can 'sell' GB Speedway nationally like a winning GB team can..

  18. Posted

    5 hours ago, Kedavra said:

    Why don't any good level British riders - with the exception of woffy and Lambert - try and get a ride out there. Bewley obviously had a crack but not really top level in the british leagues yet. Someone like charles Wright who didn't look out of place at the british GP would surely be given a go? 

    Craig Cook said a few years ago in an interview that it cost £35k to set yourself up over there...

    And I presume the British lads (effectively initially on trial), won't be getting big signing on fees and 'top money' until they prove themselves.

    Also, by doing Poland, they lose the DU potential (and money) as they will be required to ride Fri, Sat or Sun in a normal season..

    And then of course you can get replaced very quickly after just a couple of bad meetings, meaning your investment is now bringing in no money at all..

    It is a big risk for those who do it, and truly a world away from the 'comfort zone' of riding in the UK, where when you get to a certain level you become 'bomb proof', with absolutely zero chance of losing your place in the top division, and you also get the opportunity to pick up lots of race win money in the 2nd  Division..

    There is no doubt though that if your ambition is to reach the top, then you do have to race out there as it gives you a true barometer of what level you actually are at, and where you need to improve, as well as delivering true pressure to perform against the world best..

    You can only sink or swim, hence those who swim are the ones who move on to the highest level..

    • Like 6

  19. Posted

    6 hours ago, Fromafar said:

    Don’t waste your breathe regarding introducing something to reduce costs.

    For me, the biggest and most important step is for the UK to stand alone, away from the global sector of the sport.

    Fundin said that those who progress to the GP's should then move out of UK domestic racing to free up places for others coming through..

    The two worlds of Poland and the UK are you could say 'poles apart' so why the UK still clings on to the odd GP star or two is beyond me..

    As all it does is unbalance the league anyway, raise overall costs for those who then try and compete with teams with GP riders, create inconsistent fixture lists to accommodate them, and often mean guest replacements when fixtures cant be rearranged which impacts the whole credibility of the league.

    When the UK sees itself in it's true position, as that of a stepping stone to greater financial rewards and global fame for those who progress through it, it can then rebuild itself a framework that is fit for purpose to grow the sport in the UK..

    Not holding my breath obviously..

    Too many egos involved who refuse to accept that the UK are simply not important, or influential anymore, in the grand scheme of things globally I think to let it happen.. 

    The irony being of course is that if they had a very successful GB team their influence on the global stage would grow accordingly, with wider UK media interest also growing the same..

    The UK should be a conveyor belt for UK talent to progress through to the top level, which will then have the knock on effect of increased public interest, which can only then benefit the domestic leagues accordingly.. 

    Like the RFU and TCCB acknowledged many years ago now when their domestic sports were respectively somewhat in the doldrums, a successful National team brings in the interest, sponsorship and crowds which then permeates down to the domestic level of competition..

    A blueprint worth following I would suggest..

    • Like 5

  20. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    8 hours ago, Najjer said:

    That's after signing on fees, sponsorship and endorsements too. Speedway riders do alright for themselves that's for sure.

    Many do seem to do it 'globally' for a lot of years don't they?

    Seems a long time to do something (especially something as dangerous as speedway), if all you will do is end up with not very much..

    Especially as so many ride from being a teenager to mid to late 30's, and some even longer..

    That's a lot of years to keep not making any money..

    In another excellent Speedway Star, the current edition has an interview with true Legend, Ove Fundin, who is truly amazed in quoting an interview which appeared in a Swedish speedway magazine with a rider called Philip Hellstrom Bangs (yes THE Philip Hellstrom Bangs), a 17 year old kid making his first tentative steps into the sport..

    He has openly said he has spent the Swedish equivalent of £130,000 on "three complete bikes, six engines, a van and 'all the extras', including a full time mechanic" (ex rider Robert Fils)...

    "That's what it has to be if you want to go anywhere" was a quote..

    How much will he want per point?:D

    The problem of course is how this hyper inflates costs for others who may see that really is the only way to go. .

    All running to stand still, all paying out fortunes, and all risking their necks to take a slice of an ever diminishing pie....

    Absolute crackers...

    • Like 3

  21. Posted

    9 minutes ago, iainb said:

    Have you any idea how much a 2 minute clock costs? Maybe they could do like they did with the track covers and ferry it about between clubs... come to think of it, whatever happened to the track covers? Maybe it's with Colin Meredith's elastic band starting gate mechanism replacement kit :rofl:

    Or use two thirds of a sand egg timer?

    • Like 1

  22. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    Looks like a fantastic line up assembled...

    The British lads have got to start getting involved in this. .

    It's clearly a huge bridge to use from the level of domestic racing to the GP's given the amount of truly World Class riders who take part in it..

    You can see without any doubt how Robert Lambert has benefited from doing this series...

    Rubbing shoulders in the pits, and observing some of the very best, must help you along massively, as only then can you realise what it has taken for them to get to the top..

    And what you must do to achieve the same..

    No point beating 2nd Division riders in the UK, week in week out, if you have any serious ambitions to become a global star. .

     

    • Like 3

  23. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    1 hour ago, iainb said:

    I've been watching the "rewind" meetings on the British Speedway YouTube channel... I thought it was quite comical watching last night's Coventry vs King's Lynn match from 2011 with riders seemingly attached with invisible elastic to the tapes as they kept rolling backwards and forwards to and from the tapes... And the week before Danny King quite clearly exceeded the 2 minutes time allowance before the first running of the final... Like in society at the moment once you let these little things go anarchy soon prevails

    It was also mentioned on this thread how it clearly helps to reduce first bend incidents too, by having all riders leaving the tapes in an arrow straight line...

    Rather than the all four firing off in different directions like we can get over here..

    It sometimes resembles the start of Wacky Races...:D

    The ref and marshall are linked up too, so should a rider roll back when the marshall's back is turned when he moves on to another rider, or even if he goes straight into 'under starters orders' mode, the ref will let him know if anyone has moved and he goes back and sorts them out again...

    With some conviction and authority..

    Be ready to race when the 2 mins clock expires following the marshall's instructions..

    Or you are out...

    So simple and yet so effective...

    And so professional....

     

     

    • Like 3

  24. Posted

    2 hours ago, Bagpuss said:

    The Madsen / Chugunov race has been put on Facebook in a couple of places and you’ve got people moaning about the track and saying they’ve seen better racing at Lakeside :rolleyes:

    I honestly think some British fans just aren’t prepared to enjoy Polish speedway which is a pity for them. It’s not been brilliant but there has been the odd superb race and enough good ones to make it worth watching. 

    100%.

    And as a watcher of Polish Speedway over the past few years,  it gets even better when the crowds are filling the stadiums to capacity.. 

    The racing seems to take on even more of an edge when tens of thousands of fans are either screaming out in adulation, or disgust at their riders..

    This year there has been some cracking racing, and I think some fans just equate passing in races as a benchmark to their standard..

    In Poland you seldom get one rider miles in front of everyone else given there is usually two decent world level heat leaders in most races, and many of the races have two seperate battles for 1st and 2nd and then 3rd and 4th, given the close nature of the standards of the riders..

    You can have some great racing with no passing at all, eg cant remember which race the other day, but it ended 5-1 to Czestowocha but it looked like synchronised speedway with the Wroclaw riders riding five yards behind for virtually the whole of the race, trying to find a way through.. (Might have been Woffy and Chugunov?)

    The whole experience from the mechanics in club colours, the fans in club colour T shirts, through to the 2 mins use and start marshall/ref communication to align the riders straight and right up to the tapes, and then the racing itself, is truly light years ahead of what we have over here..

    And that's no disrespect to British Speedway as that it the way it should be with the millions of PLN it attracts..

    But to think what we see in the UK is better, I do have to say is pushing the boundaries of reality a little bit far..

     

     

    • Like 7

  25. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    6 hours ago, Fromafar said:

    10years ago! He wasn’t the only one in these days with silencers.

    And from what I saw yesterday Drabik and Janowski had as much straight line speed as Madsen.

    There does appear to be a 'Karlsson corridor' at Czestowocha, coming out of the second turn and he seems to use it better than anyone..

    Down, it seems to me, to the way he can ride the whole bend tighter than other riders, at a speed similar to his opponents who are using the wider arc nearer the fence...

    He then manages to get his wheels in line without locking up, and scrubbing speed off, even on such a tight line..

    And he does this at most tracks..

    He isn't going faster (sideways) than his opponents I would suggest, but he is just taking the shortest route, and gets the rewards exiting the bends,  which at World level racing pace takes some doing..

     

    • Like 2
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