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Tsunami

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Posts posted by Tsunami


  1. Its official that Speedway is Sky's second biggest sport and they have the figures to prove it. All soccer matches, compilations, and magazine programmes are tops followed by Speedway programmes. We are ahead of cricket, rugby, athletics, horse and dog racing,etc.

    Sky will want Speedway for some considerable time unless of course we seriously shoot ourselves in the foot over something.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  2. It was Ivor Brown

     

    Ivor took badly to Ivan's fame as he had been top dog. One Saturday Ivor fenced Ivan badly. In the return on Monday at Newcastle, Ivan returned the compliment but unfortunately injured Bill Andrew in the process. Mind you Ivor had a quiet night after that, being both injured and having a bent bike. Ivor must have had the cleanest bikes in the league in those days, they were a real credit to him.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  3. Lioness

     

    It certainly was good PR and I though it was all grant aided. Thanks for the info.

     

    I assume you were referring to the Bjarne crash beside the start gate at Jesper's testimonial. It really was horrific and I think everyone feared the worst, just a ripped off nail and small cuts to the hand if I remember right. Did you also see Stu Robson's crash with David Ruud on video on Newcastle's site. If an air fence had been in situ its possible that both bikes and riders would have stayed trackside with worse consequences. I agree, it may not be only one solution to solve the problem.

     

    :blink: Why do I want to call this smilie Kelvin ?


  4. Much as we all can support the idea of compulsory air fences on the bends, the sport, as already stated, cannot afford them. The majority of clubs would have to close down because nobody can absorb a £20000 bill at one go and I dont suppose fans are prepared to pay extra to cover the cost. Its morally right to protect the riders but not at the cost of the sport. A few years ago Newcastle Speedway featured in the business section of our local morning paper and asked if any business's would be interested to sponsor or advertise on it and there was no replies.

    Perhaps some grant could be obtained from the Sports Council or a similar body. Normally these sort of bodies do not assist professional sport undertakings but if you remember after the Bradford Fire Disaster, all clubs with wooden stands were given grants to replace them. The other option is of course of pooling between clubs whereby a Sunday club shares with nearby Tuesday and Thursday clubs to share the costs.

    Another alternative is the idea that Geoffrey Spargo, ex Trelawny Promoter, was investigating. Because of the high initial cost and high maintenance cost of air fences, he was investigating the possibility of using a fence containing polystyrene balls which did not need inflation. A bit like a beanbag but probably not so comfortable. The fence would remain intact after the hit but would just need knocking back into shape or replaced. Its worth a thought, as I can see in the near future the sport will be compelled to protect the riders.

     

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  5. MYLOR

     

    Your analysis is spot on although I dont think the promoters have tried to hide their reasons. In a full market, any employee can ask for the earth and get it. In a supply exceeds the demand situation, the employee has to extract the highest pay and still get employed. In the last couple of seasons. and in one case this coming season, some big names were not hired because they ignored this. Unfortunately in speedway the Promoter gets chastised for not doing enough to retain the rider, whilst the rider does not get blamed for being greedy. Ah well, thats life.

    I hope the EGM does not destroy anything but has been called to rectify minor problems. With riders signed by most teams, its a bit late to change again now.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  6. Lupus and Scunny Stag

     

    Can I just add my support to the common sense that is quoted in the two postings above. Everyone can't always have there own way but, as they have pointed out, there is the possibilies of good coming out of all of this. Time will tell.

    You have to remember the views that internet fans have do not represent the majority of stadium fans. On this forum there seems to be a rejection of AGM rules by about 9 to 1 but in the Speedy Star their vote was about 50/50. In the stadium who says they are not in favour with a wish to suck it and see ?

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  7. RacerX

     

    I dont think there will be any fixing of averages. There will need to be flexible grades as the number of riders in each band have got to just exceed the requirement. At the end of the season riders will not know what the band is so only the normal dropping of average will be evident !!!!

     

    The other point is that it does not necessarily mean that teams will always go with the highest average in each band to maximise their 'points total'. Up and coming riders to the bottom of the band could still be a better bet than a rider in decline who is top of the band. At the end of the day now. it is not a case of getting the highest averages but getting the best improving riders.

     

    :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes::rolleyes:


  8. Lioness

     

    I think that there will be more effort to replace the second rider who is hurt for the period of the injury. This, of course, is done every season but I think it will have to be used more. In terms of a squad sytem, all the riders riding in Europe but not in the EL are really the squad.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  9. I have heared that the GDTS is chosen for a rider that is already in that race. He receives the same fee as last year but his double points are not paid. This would mean that he will be racing against other riders he was already programmed to ride against and nobody looses a ride.

    On another tac, a rider must lose a ride if the TM replaces them with a reserve. Therefor all riders don't have 4 rides. Yes/No.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  10. Kevin Meynell

     

    I totally agree with you about minimising the number of rules changes each year. Obviously some rules need to change to close loopholes or to add something to the sport but it would be nice if the basic structure rules could be in place as foundation stones. I think we will always be regarded as a Mickey Mouse sport until we reach that fixed structure.

     

    :blink::blink::blink::blink:


  11. I don't know why everyone likens our sport to say football. It doesn't have to be the same as the sport is different. A loan rider belongs to the team he has been loaned to for the speedway season and his owning club have no rights over the rider. In the case you mention, Mark Loram, he could not be pulled back to Exeter and also his average would not allow him to ride in the PL anyway. Its not like loan agreements in Football, doesnt have to be and works for both sides.


  12. Interesting to see that the early kneejerkers are now showing a bit more reserve and even thinking that some of the things might work. Contributors such as Rabbit, Steve Shovlar, Martin Palmer and Kevin Hammond have come in later and can see some merit in what has been agreed. I am strongly with them as they have expressed their views despite being hit with undeserved critisism. Pity everyone cant think and then print. I personally dont agree with the Golden double starting from 15m and double points but you are never going to get everything that you want. I cannot see the total objection to guest for only No1. I appreciate there is problems aheat in terms of multiple injuries but remember the general gist of the forum was that the guest were a joke and could not be explained to a newcomer. BSPA cut there use to one and everbody is up in arms and saying that the BSPA does not listen to them. What would have happened if they had banned all guests, there would have been outrage that BSPA were destroying the sport. All in all, I dont think the decisions are bad. We had to deal with many stupid decisions last year and got throught it, this year will be simpler.

     

    As a sport, I think speedway fans know more about their sport than any other sport but unfortunately they turn on their own sport at every opportunity. Lets look for something good in the sport to talk about, a potential fan looking at some of these comments would be put off for life.

     

    Smile if you like speedway. :D:D:D:D


  13. SCB

     

    Yes I agree. Grades are just a very blunt version of the points system. With the points system you know 45.01 is over. So all riders who are at the top of the grade will be wanted but riders at the bottom will not. Say a grade starts at 6.00 a rider on 6.01 is not good business but a rider on 5.99 is most wanted. Is this not worse than what we have got.

     

    :?: :?: :?: :?:

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