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mikebv

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Posts posted by mikebv

  1. Posted

    Great call...

    A "decent rider" from what I have read of her scores and performances, but, far more importantly, what a story to tell...

    Plenty of column inches locally I would suggest in the local media and maybe even local TV interest....

    Outstanding work from the Comets leadership team...

    • Like 2

  2. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    58 minutes ago, Petecc said:

    Parking isn't the responsibility of the club. Most sporting venues have some Parking which is usually limited,  (perry barr is no different ) however once that is full, its up to you, the car driver to park your car. Ring a major football club and ask, where to park, and they may wet themselves laughing at you. At least some speedway clubs try to make an effort. 

    Spot on...

    If you want to go badly enough, you will find somewhere to park...

    Park in a side street..

    Park in a public car park and get an Uber from there..

    The "event" will deliver the crowd it deserves, just like all events do..

    Events that are well ran, well marketed and promoted, have credibility, and offer excellent value for money, will usually generate plenty of punters...

    Regardless of whether car parking is on their "doorstep" or not..

  5. Posted

    On 12/19/2023 at 1:20 PM, iainb said:

    The difference is Oxford had the crowds due to the feel good factor of a club returning from the ashes. Birmingham have been on a downward trend for the last few years. No doubt their fans will be grateful to have some speedway to watch but there just isn't enough of them, there wasn't enough of them at CL level they'll no doubt get some Wolves punters but will that be enough?

    They've only gone PL due to the self administered straight jacket that British Speedway has put in itself in with race nights. Surely some kind of special dispensation could have been allowed to enable Birmingham to compete in the CL. No, instead we've got the unbelievable situation of Oxford having (?) to run in 3 leagues, I presume, to act as an insurance to keep the PL at 6 teams, should Birmingham go under midway through the season, to fulfil the TV contract obligations... I can think of no other reason for Oxford to be running 3 leagues?!?

    And, as has been mentioned on the Glasgow thread by their owners..

    The "big names" won't bring in enough crowds on a "different night" than their usual one, to justify the move up..

    Speedway in Birmingham in recent history, doesnt appear to resonate with too many people, so to have "Dan, Tai, Emil" et al, appearing in their city, wont have too many of the local populace suddenly sitting up and taking notice I fear..

    Lets hope this is the start of a renaissance of the sport in Brum, but it will be a huge challenge..

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    5 hours ago, Marksman said:

    No surprise here but the Pawlicki bros are 100% the last 2 riders

    If that is the case, it looks like a team who will benefit from a very low team average during the season so could, if anyone decent available, be able to redeclare and bring some better riders in...

    Looking at that suggested septet there could be large scope for changes..

  7. Posted

    13 hours ago, A.N.Other said:

    Supersteady84....we werent given the OPTION of staying in the NDL !!    At the time we were approached to ride in the Championship, the BSPA or powers to be, told the club that the NDL as such, is being ABANDONED !   So we had the "choice" of not running a team at all, or joining the championship, with all its additional costs. Some choice !

    Then "AMAZINGLY"....after we had agreed to join the championship, the powers that be suddenly reinstated the NDL !   Now isnt that just more than a little bit "odd" ???

     

    Then why not just drop out of the Championship and go NDL?

     

  9. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    44 minutes ago, DJC said:

    So cook and mountain in for wright and Brennan? 
    They look weaker to me 

    They have to start the season on a lower team average than they ended last year with, so they were bound to be weaker..

    Unless they could have got a "four point superstar" on an obviously false assessed average..

    Personally I would have gone for a weaker No6 and replaced Blodorn with Charles Wright, as "the tail" looks too long if the Aces want to be title contenders...

    Thy don't look like they have that "4th Heat Leader" that they had with Wright, and, instead have two clear Second Strings and two clear reserves..

    • Like 2

  15. Posted

    3 minutes ago, Phil The Ace said:

    Can’t disagree with everything you have said there. Your changes are better than ours for sure. 
     

    we are clearly hoping our top 5 can all improve. Especially Bewley. He’s the key to me 

    Agreed, but Lidsey also can go onto that "No1" level...

    As he has shown in the UK, Poland and for Aussie, he has developed into that class of rider just below the very top level..

    He does run too many lasts for a 7 point rider though, so by just getting even more thirds he will naturally improve his average in the UK...

    If he can improve another level this year, then the Aces could have three "No1's"...

    Which, as they have swapped Wright and Brennan, for Cook and Mountain, you think they would need to have...

    That alone is a four point reduction, (minimum) per match for me, and you also have to factor in how many % of races they both won, meaning no loss of points to the opposition in those heats..

    eg Charles in heat 14 was often a " banker" when they needed him..

    Also then you add in Blodorn's scoring at SS v Reserve and there is another possible one to two  point drop per match too if he doesnt start to improve his SS scoring..

    And, it is also very unlikely the Aces will have a "top reserve" every other month through the season, as averages change, like all the successful teams seem to need...

    Personally, I would have found a way to keep Wright...

    His injuries may impact, but for will to win and sheer entertainment at the NSS, not many match him...

  16. Posted

    On 12/1/2023 at 1:39 PM, Chrisdonnelly said:

    That’s a weak team imo compared to the other teams I’ve seen built for 2024. Need Dan to be fully committed to the UK this year & big improvements needed from norick who will be in the main team?

    At first glance, I thought the same, however, Bewley was at least one average point below what should be expected of him as a genuine World Class rider, and Lidsey is one of the most improved riders over the last few years globally, and next year over here I can see him also putting a point on his average...

    The concern is that the Aces don't seem to have that "fourth heat leader" like they had the last two seasons with Wright at four...

    They also don't have that reserve/second string rider, and that is important as this rider effectively means the No6 will always be of a high standard when averages change...

    Blodorn, Wright and Brennan swapped last season..

    They look a "top second string" short and a "strong No 6" short too, to compete for the title, for me..

    • Like 1

  18. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

    Think Tom is a good prospect and has some great meetings but tend to agree his schedule seems quite hectic.Takes its toll unless you have great set up.

    Tom, for me, is a rider that will have a career similar to Steve Worrall..

    A 3rd HL/Best Second string, depending on the top 3's level based on the team ponts average strength..

    A good solid rider rather than a "world beater", (as they tend to be those who can pass opponents often as well as gate), and there is nothing wrong with that...

    Wish him the best for next season, its been good to watch his progression at the NSS..

    • Like 2

  19. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    8 hours ago, Fromafar said:

    It is harsh,they are still young guys and doing Ok .IMO.

    We do seem to measure the young Brits far too critically...

    They don't need to all be a "Robert Lambert", just being a "Simon Lambert" will be more than enough to help the sport going forward in the UK...

    Starke, Complin, S Lambert, Barker, (and probably many more), all fill team places over here each season, and all have been quite a way from the "top level", yet all ensure teams come to the tapes each season..

    It's the same with the "rising stars" and, "professional juniors", who, now after three to four seasons of riding, are now very close to their level that they will continue to ride at, naturally replacing the older Championship Second String level riders mentioned above..

    Just let the lads ride and see where they get to..

    The sport needs UK riders taking up plenty of the team places so let's just hope they reach that standard first...

    • Like 7

  22. Posted

    1 minute ago, Bald Bloke said:

    His 2022 average was 7.20. So i would expect him to come in on that. 

    He would struggle at No1 to keep that..

    Up to five races a night involving the two big hitters from the likes of Sheffield, Ipswich and Belle Vue (with several heats having both of them in), would take a fair old toll on that figure I would suggest..

  23. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    15 hours ago, Phil The Ace said:

    Nope. Janowski at Oxford. 
     

    Zagar signed for brummies

    In a league with riders such as Holder x 2, Tai, Fricke, Bewley, Emil, Doyle, Kurtz, Tarasenko, Lidsey, Tobi,  (Janowski?) et al, Matej would find it difficult as a No1..

    Similar to when the Aces went with Simon Stead in that position I would suggest..

    And that didnt end well...

  24. Posted · Edited by mikebv

    17 hours ago, Ben91 said:

    No doubt each club’s biggest happy clapper will be appointed to these roles. 

    "We have had our first meeting and it was brilliant. It was great to hear from every tracks' delegates that the sport is superbly led, and that each meeting they attend is truly an amazing event that simply couldn't be improved, and provides incredible value for money"...

    "It was noted though that all the delegates clearly felt that more guests were needed to add more credibility to the league, so that is something we can definitely look at improving"..

     

    • Haha 3

  25. Posted

    On 11/21/2023 at 6:27 AM, Ben91 said:

    I think the ever dwindling attendances across the sport show fans are less willing to turn up every week. The reality is there are many reasons people don’t attend weekly. 

    The patchy fixture lists (and uncompleted fixtures) have been an embarrassment to the sport. Especially when there have been blank weeks during the height of summer and then a mad rush to finish the season come October when the weather turns. 

    Of course any business wants to make a profit and a weekly one at that. But they also have to be realistic about how their product is consumed. It’s better to make a profit from two meetings a month than a loss from four. 

    And 4 meetings out of one months disposable income is a lot different now than in the halcyon days of the sport..

    Satellite TV, Mobile Phones, Internet, Gas, Electric, Water, Car and Home insurance, Modern Car ownership, fuel prices, house prices/mortgages, home mod cons such as fridge freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers etc etc etc all have a much larger impact to the disposable spend left after all has been paid for..

    Add in inflation running ahead of wage increases and you have a serious challenge on your hands to get fans attending weekly, regularly through the seaaon..

    And throw in the fair few "Mickey Mouse" meetings, which get ran, and which can reduce attendances, as well as the cost for so many hiring tracks, and weekly Speedway would be a big risk... 

     

    • Like 2
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