SteveEvans

Monday and Wednesday make sense given the main issue we have is double up riders missing inflicted from our own rules - no PL on these nights! It therefore defies logic that two teams moved from guest free home nights to Thursday and friday this year! The biggest issue in British speedway now is teams with missing riders. A team without identity is the result! There is an issue with the Danish League on wednesdays but we are not talking a lot of riders there. If you look back to the league 10 years ago, how different it is! 2006 - 11 teams, 20 league fixtures plus play offs cup and Craven Shield, plus opening challenges 2016 - 8 teams, 14 league fixtures plus play offs and teams that frankly would struggle to get 30 points in 2006. If fixed race nights raise the quality of riders and mean less are missing, its a positive step. Otherwise I would say a 21 team Premier League (at current PL level) sounds the next best bet at least with quantity of meetings and diversity.

Haven't read all of this but a few bullet points; 1. The current league structure was created in 1997, so in its 20th season. 2. Since that time top line speedway in the UK is unrecognizble 3. Both leagues have less teams and less variety than back then, EL being more drastic 4. Long term supporters generally know full well its not what is was 5. It's still a thrilling spectacle on track an any level when done right. 6. The situation of continually missing riders, more created within the PL / EL double up than overseas leagues, is the biggest departure from ideal within the sport There is often talk of a independent body to run the sport. Not sure that' s what needed, more I would suggest the league hires a consultant who is paid a fee from all teams for his pay and expenses. His job is to grow the sport, work on media, PR, giving clubs suggestions to increase attendance. If older fans have diminished through drifting away or passing away, perhaps the emphasis needs to be new fans? New fans wouldn't have the better times to compare to but could be sold the product as is. These days there is more competition for your entertainment $ but speedway is definately unique and sellable. I think promoters are often too spread thin to really work the main thing they need to concentrate on - bums on seats (not trophies) As far as 20/20 cricket and darts go with all their extra frills, oddly enough, speedway had such first - 2nd half races, match races, test matches and big individual contests to name but a few.

This subject covers what's wrong with speedway. The article is well written by a great journalist and good friend. You have to be a fan of the sport to understand it fully though. Any outsider is going to be bemused by this, like "WTF is this?" It's a bit fawlty towers really - every episode Basil creates his own problems and complications. This is the heatleader list described. The emphasis needs to be long term vision and an increased fan base. Any rule which counters that has no place.

A rider like Max Ruml would be a great long term investment. He's at the top of the American domestic scene. He hasnt had as much UK experience ahead as some who came before (as the Dream Team is in mothballs right now) but he has aquitted himself well in SWC events all considered (a last to first blast at Vojens saw the race stopped with a fallen Russian). He's need patience to begin with but has such talent, scope to improve and showmanship, not to mention the grooming he;s had for over 5 years from Billy Hamill. Whenever he decides he is ready the club who signs him will be very lucky as its going to be show time!

I've not read this whole thread but wanted to make the following comment. The need for a heatleader list is another symptom of speedway rules over complicating themselves. Of course in 2014, given the standard of reserves, the race format had to be changed. Last year the reserves were better and this year likely better still. The need to protect the reserves became obsolete and perhaps inhibit the progress of the better riders who had earned their right to scalp top dogs. In my mind there is no reason to keep a race format that effectively gives three tiers of racing in one, unless its to keep payroll down (seeing that the riders on higher points money are meeting each other more and thus reducing their points and averages). This point is my own supposition and could be well off the mark and I'd happily be corrected if wrong. The previous race format (still used in PL and NL) did have the top riders having harder rides but is way less extreme than what we have now. The sport has to look at keeping what is a very simple concept of 4 rider and 4 laps as simple as possible within its rules. A heatleader list is an added complexity that hopefully isnt a permanent fixture.

I see your point and commend your enthusiasm. If you are more than a point under the limit though its going to an uphill struggle.

I would agree with you on these points, but I think that's more like the Premier League. The combination of different leagues, double up, and random race nights makes the EL very dispersed.

Maybe the track work is to add a shortcut to turns 3 and 4 for the Leicester riders only so as to keep things more even!

Based on 2015 we effectively have three third heatleaders. However, if Freddie can regain his form combined with the general lack of stars we can be alright. KK would have have been a poor signing for 2015 league. Given the weakness in 2016 he may be a good steal. Question to the likes of Stevebrum who have resisted the idea of one big PL - given the likely standard of 2016 EL (around 3 world class riders) surely the long term future is better with 1 big league of 20 versus the fortnightly In between EL and PL league?

In that case lets do it

With Doyle signed, NKI, Magic, KIldemand and Zagar all buggering off this leaves KK as the most pursued rider! I liked this to a New Years eve party with way more blokes than women and half a dozen chaps all trying to pull to same fat bird at a quarter to midnight!

Its very simple really. Reserves have the highest averages though we're not allowed to know them Second strings have the next highest averages Then the big names score the least points. Given who is on the highest points money its the ultimate cost cutting measure!

When the league is on permanent life support I cannot agree

Damn right mate! The league needs him more than he needs us. The most marketable rider in a decade and nothing is done to entice him to race!

As Wolves are racing home every other week, surely the bspa could see the opportunity here with Tai Woffinden? He wants 1 race night a week as main issue to ride in the UK, well this isn't impossible now. Given him being double British world champion we would no doubt feature in many sky Monday's away now a window exists? On away meetings that were not Monday's, run as many as you can before the first Gp and Swedish league starting. He'll bring in money wherever he rides so every club benefits and so do the fans, but it would need the entire league coordinated to persue the World Champion on this marvelous opportunity.

With just 11 quid in their pocket!! Difference is Cradley have never been a Monday or every Monday team at wolves. So I see your logic but more referring to someone who hasn't been in years who shows up randomly. That's the current EL format for the first three heats!

Wolves have 14 meetings to fit in before Mid September essentially. 1 March 2 April 3 May 2 June 2 July 3 Aug 1 September Leaves 14 Mondays exactly. If all NL teams stay put with IOW and Belle Vue join that's 11 NL fixtures, + 1-4 in KO Cup. Mid Sept on is open for Play Offs, a Heathens cup, play offs and Olympique. The issue will be rain offs as it seems, at a squeeze, enough Mondays just about exist. Given that Sweden runs on Tuesdays obviously Heathens would be the team to move to Tuesdays when the rain hits. Lynn and Coventry do two teams already. With Vue and Cradley joining NL that's half of the EL clubs with a B team. The Monmore situation is somewhat complicated with the awkward marriage of rival fan bases sharing a track but given the current state of the sport and apathy (or inability of promoters to sell) no league events we probably have the best possible solution right now for stadium usage. The awkward part might be when a casual fan shows up on a random Monday expecting to see Wolves and its the spoons. But this year this no doubt happened on a blank night. Given that Monday was always our race night and Cradley had Tuesdays, I think the shared race night (at the request of the landlord) does feel a bit awkward and uncomfortable.

Tai Woffinden's situation isn't hard for me to grasp. I was born in the UK in 71 I moved to USA and have lived here since 98 and am a permanent resident. I'm heavily involved in American Speedway and its SWC team If we raced in UK I would certainly have pride in the British anthem I also get goosebumps for the star spangled banner When we have won qualifying events I have also been proud of the American anthem When we race I am driven for the Stars and Stripes to do the best we can When our tournament is over I'm rooting for GB first of they are still in When it comes to football its England all the way It is possible to have loyalty and affinity to two countries I consider myself from both, my birth and adopted countries Its unfair to criticize Tai or have any reality on his circumstances unless you've experienced dual nationality. Instead be lucky he chose GB.

That would be a kick in the teeth if it makes 26 season veteran unemployable.

Costa Midlands!!!!

Its not exactly like Denmark or Poland yet but the USA production line is at its best for 2 decades right now, largely down to around 7 riders aged 16-18 from Billy Hamill's Academies graduating onto 500cc bikes within a year of each other. Having so many young guys graduate at the same time is great as they are all making each other better. When the likes of Fisher and Wells graduated to 500s they were one lone rider and didn't have peers to lift them up.

For qualifying I'd like a bit of the old and the new; 0. No GP riders in qualifiers 1. Federations run a qualifier for their own National allocated spots 2. This gives us an Overseas Final, Scandanavian Final and Continental Final 3. Top 5 from each to Intercontinental Final 4. 16th spot in Intercontintal determined by run off between 6th placed riders in above before heat 1, 2nd and 3rd become event reserves 5. Top 9 Intercontinental race off against bottom 7 in SGP in GP Challenge 6. Top 5 In Challenge are in for next year. 2 spots are kept open for nomination Regionalizing the qualifiers cuts down on travel costs. Its also way more marketable than the current somewhat bland system.

Friday nights were grim for Lakeside last year, Guests R Us due to double upping!

At the top of the queue!

Then you have truly earned your right to bitch about anyone!!!