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mikebv

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Posts posted by mikebv

  3. Posted

    Brum look like a team where riders 1, 3, and 5 are all  "one up" from where they should be in the team if it is to not finish last..

    Steve Worrall does "ok" at 2_or 4, but struggles as a HL..

    Milik would be "ok" as a three...

    And Pawlicki at "5" would be a solid back up to a "proper" No1...

    Given the HL's usually ride 14 times out of the 30 times that teams come to the tapes, them winning races keeps teams at least in the meeting, even if no heat advantage...

    Not sure that there will be enough heat wins from those three, given the level of their direct competition at 1, 3 and 5 in pretty much all of the teams..

    Which will put pressure on the rest of the side...

     

     

     

     

  5. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    As most of us will know, the latest ruling is still a long, long way from Cov coming back, but surely it does offer some leverage which could see then back in the sport? 

    As the council are 100% supportive, as seen by their actions so far, and the company obviously need the land to build their houses on, could it now be the time to get a compromise of another site, funded by the company, and allowed to be used by the council? 

    Surely there must be some suitably sized brown field site somewhere within the locale, which could be initially developed along the Somerset, Workington lines just to get Speedway back? 

  6. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    5 hours ago, enotian said:

    Wasn't he on First Dates as well???

    I look forward to Alan's business partners examining his proposed investment into BSPL :D

    So you don't own any stadiums, haven't got enough riders and the average age of your customers is 88.....      .....you don't need £250k mate you need a miracle.

    Nice pies though.

    And you will only open your doors when your best employees tell you they can get into work, as they all have other jobs, rather than when your customers would like you to open...

    Resulting in inconsistent, sporadic, opening hours, which can sometimes see you close your doors for up to a month...

    And these best employees will also be given your blessing to go and work for your competition, as and when your competition are short staffed, helping your competitors to actually do better than you in your chosen field of business..

    And for that, as you can probably imagine, 

    I am out....

    • Like 1

  7. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    2 hours ago, Fromafar said:

    Does anyone know why the last 2 signings are 7.5 when that is not their true average.

    Is it so an 8.25 averaged rider can be used as guest at home?

    Edit or is it 7.87? 

    Either way, especially for Milik, a good improvement...

    • Like 3

  8. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    6 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

    It actually suits Birmingham for their riders to be on these averages rather than Pawlicki (7.32), Milk (5.67) & Lampart (5.00) as it means if anyone is missing they'll be able to use stronger guests or r/r. Plus Z.Cook at reserve could be a real trump card.

    However I don't understand how they can increase the averages of Pawlicki & Milik, but decrease Janowski's, while Pedersen, Kasprzak & Woffinden returned on their old averages. Should rules not be consistent for all?

    Come on now...

    How long have you been following UK Speedway?

    You know better than to ask questions like that.. ;):D

    • Like 1

  9. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    10 minutes ago, Pauldoveyspeedway said:

    It seems people are just not interested in Speedway in that area ...N.T is giving it a go .fair play to him...

    For me. They have to go full on in trying to attract those from the previous "hot beds" of Speedway, Cradley, Wolverhampton and Coventry..

    They probably only need 600 or so in total from these "speedway starved" areas and they should be somewhere near its affordable level..

    But, as we know, speedway clubs getting an extra 600 of their OWN fans to attend "regularly" is a huge challenge, so Brum will have to use some very aggressive, fit for purpose, marketing...

    And probably need it to be done by a proper marketing company rather than the usual speedway in house, "well meaning" amateurs, which, again, will mean another cost...

  10. Posted

    10 hours ago, bloom89 said:

    In fairness Tolley may have pumped hundreds and thousands into Birmingham speedway but all he has achieved so far is putting two seasons of poor sides out in the championship while admitting crowds were poor during those two seasons. So yes applaud him by all means but to move up to a higher league higher rider wages and better riders with no guarantee of increased crowds is a major gamble. There is only so much money one person can continue to lose until they get sick and that’s a fact unless you’re a billionaire who has money to throw away which I don’t think Tolley is. You can understand fans being frustrated, Oxford have brought magic back, Sheffield have woffy and the holders, Ipswich have doyle and Emil but realistically who are brum going to get? I hope it works out but I’m fearful for them if I’m honest.

    Oxford have had 2000 fans paying to watch..

    Brum do well to get 700....

    The TV money will subsidise any "big names" I would think..

    Personally, cannot see it all adding up given the complete and utter lack of interest in Speedway from the vast majority of people in Birmingham, (regardless of "success" or not over the years), but fair play to NT for giving it a go...

    • Like 2

  11. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    3 hours ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

    You need to keep up with the times. The GTR engine fiasco died years ago and only 16 were ever brought into the UK so you’ll be lucky if there’s two or three still in a running condition.

    A shame..

    Entry level Speedway, which the NDL is, should have lots of opportunities for riders to give the sport a go without the need for many thousands of outlay...

    Especially given the sport over here require lots of UK lads to take up team spaces..

    I always find it truly baffling that promoters expect riders to come with the best (meaning expensive), kit they can, meaning the promoters then need to pay the riders the money to not only afford that kit, but also have enough to live on, and tbey do this to try and win competitions that the very same promoters then completely devalue by their own incredible operating model..

    It is a strange business plan isn't it? 

    • Like 1

  12. Posted

    17 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

    How many clubs demand 2 or more bikes and a van. Any rider with a respectable fixture list (even just CL only) would need a minimum of 2 bikes and realistically 3+ along with additional engines to cover for damage that can happen at any point during the seaon with fixtures often packed together. Doesn't present a good image stating i have no bikes / engines ready.

    Those engines that got bought, (was it a GRS?), would surely be ideal for the NDL?...

    Let the lads hire them for a season, and maintain them...

    Then pay them a salary based on not having to fork out a solid five figures for 3 bikes...

    Would get a few "giving it a go" and seeing if they have the aptitude to ride a speedway bike to a decent level, I would think..

     

  13. Posted

    2 hours ago, iainb said:

    Only due to a straight jacket the sport has put in itself! Crazy!

    Absolutely, without a doubt...

    Not many cards left to play you would think, given the almost knee jerk changes to its very existence that it demonstrates each season...

    A very (self inflicted to be fair in so many ways) thin ice on which to keep skating on, having to build a sport season after season..

    Five year plan anyone? :D

     

  14. Posted

    25 minutes ago, Marky_Mark said:

    As it’s a slow work day, I decided to sit and do the maths on this.

    So a third of that is about £650 a point, let’s just say Artem scores 10 points then £6500 plus extras (flights, mechanics etc) comes to £7500 a meeting 

    £7500 divided by £25 entry fee = 300 people through the gate just to pay for Artem and that’s before all other costs, the other 6 riders plus stadium hire etc.

    But that then got me thinking there is no entry fees when riding away so that’s another £7500 on the above assumptions so you’d need 600 people per home meeting to cover home and away costs for a number 1.

    Now I have no idea how accurate the above figure is, nor am I saying anything against the riders as they have big expenses but it just made me realise how difficult it really is for these promoters. 

     

     

    Which is why winning at home is ultra important...

    And "top riders" are often the ones missing when teams ride away...

    Agreeing to a meeting date knowing your big earner will be elsewhere, and planning to bring in a cheaper track specialist, is all part of the rich tapestry of UK speedway..

    And another of those many reasons you shouldn't take it too seriously..

    • Like 2

  15. Posted

    39 minutes ago, TTT said:

    Brum should never have moved up to begin with, It's already evident that they cant compete at this level by struggling to put together a competitive side, 5 riders signed and 0 Heat Leaders.

    They had no choice if they wanted to continue..

    And, maybe, the TV deal could also have been in jeapordy if they didnt move up? 

    Personally, given Brums' historical lack of interest from their local community, I cannot see it ending well, but let's keep our collective fingers crossed for them..

    • Like 2

  16. Posted

    29 minutes ago, Deano said:

    Two guests to start the season then. Maybe we should start guessing who they will be. I'll go for Bomber to guest as one and bomber for the other.

    Could be a bit tricky that...

    Given Bomber could be guesting for the opposition too...

  17. Posted

    37 minutes ago, TMW said:

    Since when did will to win become a taboo ?? and I’d say the supporters are the ones that count not the participants  

    I think that the fans, particularly of teams who are not stand alone NDL and have a team in another division, just go along to enjoy the NDL racing and hopefully see some talent that goes on to the top level later in their career..

    There is hardly an open top bus ride around the town for the Premiership winners, so the NDL Champs won't be making too many back pages...

    If out of the lads riding this year, 10 to 15 of them all have a regular Championship team place in three to five years then the NDL then this season will have been a huge success...

    Rider progression to regularly have 2nd tier teams being full of UK riders is the real measure of success..

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

  20. Posted

    Just now, szkocjasid said:

    Regarding responses (or lack of) from promoters at clubs. I won 2 free tickets to a match via the Speedy scores game on twitter. Got a message from the official British speedway account informing me.

    On July 24th told them of the match I'd like, on August 6th reminded them I hadn't got an answer, on August 17th reminded them I still hadn't got an answer, on August 18th they replied saying they'd look into it.

    On August 21st queried again & got the information I was after on August 22nd.

    They may have been nudged into action by a friend who knew someone on the social media team speaking to them.

    Obviously I kept on at them as it was a free ticket I had won. But if this was an attempt by me to purchase a ticket etc, i would have long given up & they would have lost a sale.

    Speedway promotions can't afford to alinatate any fans, while it's struggling in this country & should want to even if it were successful - so clubs have got to gets their acts together sharpish, when dealing with emails from supporters etc.

    A perfect example of why the sport is in the self inflicted position it is..

    If they had to work out who is allowed to guest, or which assessed average should apply, then you can be sure that this would be top of the agenda..

    A professional, joined up, national marketing of the sport, with "great customer experience" of the sport, is a long long way down the list...

    It costs very little to get so much right in business...

  21. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    You would think that allt he clubs could "club together" and pay someone to answer all the clubs SS enquiries on one website/email address wouldn't you? 

    There cannot be "that many" per week in the grand scheme of things, given so few clubs and the length of time the close season has, so maybe two people tops could be needed...

    Quick responses, which gets the money into the bank account quicker, gives good PR for the tracks, and keeps their "most loyal" punters happy...

    The BSPL could do so much more collectively, rather than each "doing their best" ...

    Marketing, club merchandise, publicity etc etc, would all be cheaper and better if all done under one umbrella as a collective, with quality control in the hands of selected promoters...

    • Like 2

  22. Posted

    On 1/8/2024 at 3:48 PM, iainb said:

    In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Cotswolds underground. Today, still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them....maybe you can hire The A-Team.

    "I ain't gettin' on no plane, fool".....

    • Haha 1

  23. Posted

    15 minutes ago, mc131 said:

    Maybe not to you but the riders that are getting beat week in week out I'd probably say it does. 

    But surely they know their standard?

    Their expectations must be pretty low to begin with...

    It will be more hope than expectation for many NDL lads given many are either starting out or have been around for years at the same "bottum rung" level...

    Based on how many develop to a higher level, it will be a minority who will be seeing the NDL as an aspirational opportunity to progress, 

    Either way, whatever your expectations and ambition,  the NDL gives riders a chance to ride a bike for a living sometime in the future if they are good enough to do so in the next few years..

    Many followers dont take the top two divisions too seriously given the UK operating model, so the winners of the NDL won't resonate with too many...

    "Winning"would be getting more riders into Div 2 as a start..

    • Like 1
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