SteveEvans

What about fractions? Are they allowed?

I predict this thread will go 37 pages, or for those who don't do numbers, Chris Harris pages.

Probably neither. More people know him as Bomber than Chris. I say ditch numbers altogether and replace them with shapes.

I moved away in the late 90s to be fair!

Only the Brits think its cool, was never cool over here!

Its the Eqyptians fault http://www.ask.com/question/who-invented-the-number-system

You don't have to. Numbers are BSI's idea not mine!

We made it cool in English pubs.

Americans invented Starbucks, McDonalds and Budweiser but not sure we can claim numbers! SGP is adopting what Moto GP, the top FIM sport, has had for years, and now F1 has taken on. If it works it will stay, simple as that!

I think everyone should be number 3.

Then you are obviously saying the old system of changing your number every year was more idiocy

Greg has been #45 for over 25 years to anyone in the USA. Junior riders clamor to use this number more than any other because of the honor of it (was also Bruce Penhall's #). Granted the concept is new in Europe - give it a year or two and it'll become part of the fabric.

Footballers playing for their country change number. Heck, if the leagues really wanted to think outside the box let the rider use their GP number in the league. If Chris is not a number (and he for personal reasons has a number to be proud to wear this year), then how about having no numbers assigned to riders? The riders will have numbers for their teams based on team positions but the GP number, being the big series and the world championship number will obviously be senior. Greg has proudly been using his career long 45 in recent years and other have since followed suit. Seems the riders want this, let them roll with it and be willing for change.

If you've ever been to F1 / Moto GP you'll see how much merch is sold and worn a weekend. Same with football, most of the crowd buy a jersey. Its up to the SGP organizers and riders to market and sell it, numbers or not.

I've left messages at the NBA and Moto GP Offices to get #23 taken away from Michael Jordan and #46 from Valentino as its bad marketing and doesn't make a difference. So far no call backs, I guess a bunch of staff are out with the flu.

Its better marketing than changing numbers every single year. Both #1 merch or your regular number are sellers based on brand recognition. Any merch can go slightly out of date - riders sponsors change so pit shirts and hats reflect that, but the number, unless you won the ultimate prize, don't. You won't see speedway merch in high street stores but you will be able to sell to your fan base, both those who attend GPs and those who watch on tv with such. Its up to the riders to make this work but I can say that the rider who has been at the forefront of the number push, Greg Hancock, probably has the best merchandise sales of any rider over the past few years and coincidentally, he has already been marketing the #45 brand for a few years now. You've got to think outside the box sometimes, but your last line about Rossi effectively confirms the point that a rider with a famous career is good marketing. Better than Valentino #1, #4, #7, #2 #? for example! He's number 46!!!!!

The saving grace with Tai is that if you buys something with #1 its from when he was champ, so it has history attached to it. Who'd care to buy a Hampel #2 hat when there is no promise he will have that # again? You can't really compare US Speedway which is somewhere between PL and NL level with smallish crowds to Cardiff with close to 50,000. Valentino Rossi #46 Michael Jordan #23 Tai Woffindon - anything from 1-15 under the old system.... Get used to it, its here to stay!

Days in Florida it would take to get a suntan?

Rider numbers have been used in US domestic speedway for over 40 years and its great the GP has caught on. Whats more odd than this new system is a rider changing his number every year. Actually I have restrained from buying merchandise more than once for GP riders knowing it will be out of date by seasons end unless my rider of choice finishes in the same position again. It may take a while to get used to, but within a year or two the numbers going with names will be very familiar. A fan can now go to Cardiff and buy merch without fear it becomes outdated. Good news for riders and fans!

The FIM rulebook states otherwise.

Blackpool versus Huntington Beach....tough one that!

Having riders who are crowd pullers Greg, Emil, Gollob, AJ, Holder, etc could be a huge boost to the league. I would suggest if such names rode for realistic $ amounts it would be worth doing - the Elite League currently is going down the pan big time and with no disrespect to a guy like Danny King, who is a great club servant and heatleader, having him as a #1 rider doesn't quite excite me! You wouldn't want a system that would allow second strings to ride a part time schedule, but big names who could breathe some life into a dying league would be worth trying to work out.

It wont work day after SWC at Lynn as riders cannot race any other meeting once their SWC campaign starts per FIM rules without becoming ineligible for rest of tournament. Therefore riders like Craig Cook, Ben Barker, Edward Kennett, Ryan Fisher, Jason Doyle and Ricky Wells would not be able to do the fours unless they forego their spot in the competition. Even the third is tight if GB, Aus or USA makes the final, especially with the 3rd being the rain date for the SWC final. Last year it didn't affect matters as the fours was day before Lynn semi and riders only cannot race other meetings once the tournament starts.

I hate this new format. I prefer the current one we have with no shows, over priced admission and NL riders. Maybe if they have a couple of the men in black thrown in it will be back to its former glory.

The current format is dead in the water and an embarasment. Any change is better than what we have.