Wolverhampton 2015

[Wolfsbane 12,944]

BSPA Press Release 13/09/14 :

 

Following a successful trial in the last 2 months of the 2014 season it has been decided that the way in which Elite League teams are selected will change for 2015. Every week during the interval in the Monday Sky match there will be a Champions League style draw for the following week's matches. This will consist of there being 7 pots. Each pot will contain all the available riders graded according to average. IE All the number 1s will be in pot 1, number 2s in pot 2 etc. Each team, in alphabetical order, will then be drawn a rider from each pot and at the end of the draw the 7 riders selected for each club will make up that team's side for the matches in the relevant week

 

A BSPA spokesperson said 'This is an excellent new innovation. As august and September this year demonstrated fans get extremely upset when teams are made up ad hoc with guests and rider replacement and the BSPA have been asked on many occasions why supporters can't have more variety, this new system delivers on both and should ensure bumper crowds'.

 

The new system has already run into difficulties. In order to take advantage of the order in which the teams will be drawn, Matt Ford has named a new team sponsor and in 2015 his club will be known as the AA Poole Pirates. Wolverhampton are taking legal action.

Edited September 13, 2014 by Wolfsbane

[Tommy Sweetman 480]

Anyone got news from last nights talk-in.

 

There might have been plenty of sensible questions,but not sure there would have been many sensible answers.

[dabbsjoe 149]

Anyone got news from last nights talk-in.

 

There might have been plenty of sensible questions,but not sure there would have been many sensible answers.

 

 

from what I've been told by someone who was there last night.

 

• TW wasn't going to ride, only rode because he wanted Pete Adams with him in GP's
• TW was going to be dropped and replaced by FL but by the time it almost happened FL was almost a point higher in the averages
• TW will not be loaned out to any other club in UK, if he rides it's at Wolves nowhere else
• TW will only ride if it's squad/number 1 share
• TW described as not a proper number 1
• PK was a let down to management
• they are keen on LB for next year but have to discuss with parent club
• JT has a ride for next year if he wants it
• apparently Berntzen (spelling ?) approached club and wanted/wants to ride but club went with LB instead, possible for next year however.
• Garrity has apparently told them he wants to ride for them but reservations over his attitude.
• New silencer to be used next year but british league won't be guinea pigs for it again
• no TW or JT this Friday
• no TW in the ELRC
• TW told he was taking on too much
• no squads or shared number 1's next year
• they want PP back and the fans do also
• they won't however have a pole with under 21 commitments again
• RW was released because they couldn't replace TW
• potentially an issue with RW and TP for next year that they won't be able to double up (not sure if this is a club thing ot SCB thing however)
• TW wasn't interested in UK, was only interested in Sweden apparently.

that's about all I was told by someone who was there. underlying theme is that they seem very angry with TW and I don't expect to see him ride here for a while now

[Wolfsbane 12,944]

 

 

from what I've been told by someone who was there last night.

 

• TW wasn't going to ride, only rode because he wanted Pete Adams with him in GP's More fool him.
• TW was going to be dropped and replaced by FL but by the time it almost happened FL was almost a point higher in the averages He who dithers is lost
• TW will not be loaned out to any other club in UK, if he rides it's at Wolves nowhere else And how do they plan to enforce that if Woffy doesn't agree?
• TW will only ride if it's squad/number 1 share The answer to ^!
• TW described as not a proper number 1 Proper Charlie morelike in Wolves colours
• PK was a let down to management Unlike Woffinden
• they are keen on LB for next year but have to discuss with parent club Cheque book needs a dust off Chris
• JT has a ride for next year if he wants it I should bloody hope so
• apparently Berntzen (spelling ?) approached club and wanted/wants to ride but club went with LB instead, possible for next year however. If the lad doesn't sign CVS might as well retire now
• Garrity has apparently told them he wants to ride for them but reservations over his attitude.Sod attitude we'll take the points but in the team proper? Jury's out
• New silencer to be used next year but british league won't be guinea pigs for it again
• no TW or JT this Friday
• no TW in the ELRC
• TW told he was taking on too much As Cilla would say 'surprise, surprise'
• no squads or shared number 1's next year Turkeys lining up for Xmas
• they want PP back and the fans do also
• they won't however have a pole with under 21 commitments again Too bloody right
• RW was released because they couldn't replace TW Because he couldn't deliver away morelike
• potentially an issue with RW and TP for next year that they won't be able to double up (not sure if this is a club thing ot SCB thing however)
• TW wasn't interested in UK, was only interested in Sweden apparently. A lot of us had worked that out come the end of april. Pity the ones that matter weren't so quick

that's about all I was told by someone who was there. underlying theme is that they seem very angry with TW and I don't expect to see him ride here for a while now

Cheers Joe.

[Hunty 189]

A great insiught on to what is actually happening in Biritsh Speedway...Credit to

Grahame Darlington on the Wolverhampton Speedway Fan Page (Facebook)

 

TALK IN REPORT

First on the menu was the talk on PIOTR PAWLICKI and the pressures he was under being under 21 and so important to his club Leszno and the country as he chases the World U21 title. It was made clear that had he been 22 then it's highly unlikely they would have had these problems and when Pete Adams asked the floor would they like to see him back, virtually every hands was raised in the air.

As Piotr is still only 19, his birthday is in November, it would most likely rule him out of future team plans until 2016 but with his exciting riding style, fast gating and breath taking passes it would be a suprise if it's the last we saw of him.

On the issue of TAI WOFFINDEN there was a few points made through the night and PA revealed that in November last year he met up with Tai who was appearing at a show at the NEC. Tai was going through what he had planned for the defence of his title but PA stepped in and reminded him that he would only stay involved if Tai worked with him and that meant riding for Wolverhampton.

Tai was reluctant to sign not just for the club but for British Speedway as the increase of meetings to 36 meetings was going to be too much and it took a bit of persuading to get the World Champion to agree to ride for the club in 2014.

Nobody including Tai himself could pin point why he was struggling so much in Britain after scoring well in Poland and then going to Sweden and again scoring big points. When Tai returns from Poland, he comes in to Stanstead airport in the morning and heads up to Pete Adams house where he will have something to eat before getting a bit of sleep.

PA did say though that as Jacob Thorssell was also there, he would often get woken up by the young Swede wanting to play in the afternoon which put everyone with the view of a young kid wanting his mate to go skateboarding etc as he was bored.

On the issue of 2015, it is unclear what Tai will decide but with Eastbourne now closed and in a meeting last week, the EL promoters agreed with a vote of 7-2 to stick with the two home - two away meetings next season meaning 28 league matches ...... will that be acceptable for Tai who will be riding in Poland and Sweden again next season as well as the GP's and possibly the SEC too ?

FREDRIK LINDGREN was mentioned and it was said that Freddie would rather have more meetings here than less as he would not feel it worth while riding here if he didn't have enough income to support living accomodation, mechanic, bikes etc needed for a full season.

So maybe he could be back but with that there are also serious doubts about him returning as he is likely to be a top 8 finisher in the GP series meaning he will again be in the circus tour of 2015 that starts in New Zealand and finishes in Australia in late October.

Also a few years ago, Sweden completely changed the rules on when riders are available to ride here. Riders like Freddie would ride on just Tuesdays in Sweden but they can now also ride on Thursdays in the lower leagues and Sweden now insist riders ride there rather than in Britain if there is any clashes of dates which there will be.

CVS said that they had hoped to bring in OLIVER BERNTZON when they made the team changes but injuries and availability meant he couldn't come at that time and with PK already sorted, they had to look elsewhere and it just so happened that there was a rider on a 4+ average that was available

That was LASSE BJERRE and after a slow start, Lasse shone in the 4TT at Monmore and from then on was a revelation for the club home and away and has indicated that he wants to return to Wolves next season and CVS expressed his admiration for LB who was a pleasure to work with on and off the track and will be considered for next season.

There is no deal with OLIVER BERNTZON for next season but they have spoken and he is very keen to ride for Wolves next season and will be meeting up with PA in Stockholm at the next GP on Saturday. However there has to be a bit of concern if OB is signed up to a Thursday night club in Sweden as it would mean a clash when appearing at some away meetings.

JASON GARRITY is also in mind for next season as he has indicated to CVS that he loves it at Wolves and loves riding the Monmore Green track. CVS said that a few years ago, he would not have touched Garrity with a barge pole but of late he has matured and they will be talking with him in the close season and Len Silver at Rye House but that does not mean he will be signing.

JACOB THORSSELL is of course the first rider likely to be put on the team sheet in 2015 and the club and fans have seen a great improvement in JT as he has progressed from a novice that struggled to stay on the bike to a rider that is hitting big scores home and away.

As for RICKY WELLS and TY PROCTOR there may well be a problem for both next season in returning as both require work permits to race here and there is a call that doubling up riders should be British riders or at least European under the EU banner. So both may well be likely to be just Premier League next season.

PETER KARLSSON - They admitted that PK was pretty crap in his return and it was not the PK of old that came into the team. As for 2015 it depends on the format or strength of the teams as to how he would fit in the team but he remains a possibility but it is felt Thorssell, Bjerre, Berntzon etc are the priority riders in team building for next season along with a #1 that can dominate heat one and the final heats.

RACE FORMAT - FAST TRACK RIDERS

Overall everyone has been pleased with the way the 2014 season has gone but they admit it needs a bit of fine tuning with the heat format changed a bit and could even see a return to just one reserve race but CVS stated how having the top riders ride each other more was good and thats how it should be. However as a few top riders like Tai have now got lower averages while some second strings have inflated averages, they see Grading riders as the way forward next season.

The way Kyle Newman, Jason Garrity, Steve Worrall etc have progressed this year has been great and they will next season hopefully be moved up to second string status along with riders that missed out this season like Ashley Birks, Josh Auty etc.

CVS and PA admitted they didn't realise how much emphasis the fast track riders would have on the match results and pointed out that the top five fast track riders were at the five top clubs which isn't just a coincidence. Lewis Kerr at Kings Lynn has finished the season as the third highest averaging rider in the EL of 2014 but has hardly been tested after riding mainly against felloiw reserves.

Next season there could be a revert to just one reserve race but they will still mainly be matched to second strings in other races while the heat leaders face each other still. The overall plan is to hope each EL team features one British rider in the team and two fast traqck riders and then in 2016 that increased to two Brits meaning just three foreigners in each team.

CVS shared my view that the Premier League are wrong in not supporting the fast track plan and is angry that riders like Joe Jacobs can lose a team place in his own country to a German that has failed to do anything in the past to show he is worthy of riding here in the PL.

BRITAIN NO LONGER THE PLACE TO BE

CVS said that times have changed over the years as Sweden and Poland only tracked their own riders for years which saw them gain international status with the likes of Tomasz Gollob, Tony Rickardsson, Per Jonsson, Jarek Hampel etc who have all ridden over here.

Now both Sweden and Poland are filled with foreign riders while still having riders progress like Pawlicki, Zmarzlik, Dudek etc at reserve and getting well known on the international scene through the GP's, WTC and U21's.

These countries are now demanding more and more that riders ride when they want and too many riders have missed meetings here to ride or even practice over there and they no longer look at Britain as a power in the sport it once was, so the fast track riders are looked at as a way of Britain building for the future.

CVS said he can't see any way that job sharing for the #1 riders would work as they would be looking at the same fixtures they couldn't ride in

RACE JACKETS - These were phased out due to riders not wanting them and that is with regret. Now the FIM have issued a ruling that Nylon can no longer be used in the kevlars and that is why Jacob had the dull colour in his race suit which was done to FIM standard. Hopefully this will be looked at again as they dont want 14 dull coloured riders appearing in a night meeting when they could be bright orange or post box red.

SILENCERS - A new silencer is being looked at by the FIM and Britain are hoping that they stick with the present one for another year while tests are done on the new one. In the past Britain was forced to start the season with the new silencers which was a concern for many riders like Gollob who went on strike. By the time the Swedish and Polish leagues had started, the FIM backed down and Britain were already a month into the season when riders were allowed to revert to the old ones.

TACTICAL RULE - There is a feeling that the BSPA want to change this ruling but its unsure if they revert back to the old Tac Sub ride as in the old days or the 15 meter handicap or something different. However SKY are the main reason this is in place and in the end they will again have a big say on how this goes forward.

The problem with the old tac sub rule is that with heat leaders now up against each other more often, the tac sub would be used in the races featuring the second strings and reserves like in the past when heat 8 would often see the opposing #1 bought in for an easy race win.

It is felt that the Grading system will be reintroduced next season which would mean Tai Woffinden would be a top grade rider along with the likes of Iversen, Ward, Zagar and Holder despite having a much lower average ..... but you have to ask how many of those top grade riders will be over here next season for various reasons ?

CRADLEY HEATH - It would be highly unlikely that they will be in the Elite League next season but along with Birmingham could well be in the Premier League and they are almost certain to still be riding at Monmore Green but it may be a different race night if they move up.

GARDENING - CVS did admit it was a joke that Tai Woffinden was allowed to use gardening tools in the British Final and that was the main topic of conversation a week later at a BSPA meeting and riders will not be allowed to do this in the future. It was however pointed out that at the British Final there were three referees doing that meeting and not one of them attempted to stop it or say anything.

 

 

[R87 476]

Sounds as if the relationship between Tai and the management is far from sweet and roses then. Interesting that they're suggesting the rider grading system could be back. I always felt it was a good idea that was discarded too quickly in 2004/2005.

[Wolfsbane 12,944]

On first reading the thing that strikes me is the reservations about Swedish riders/Thursdays/unavailability. In one sentence doubts are raised about Berntzon because of this and then Jacob 'is likely to be the first rider on the teamsheet'. Isn't he Swedish?

 

Also the job sharing #1 appears to have been put to bed but no mention of squad systems/one race night.

 

What does look certain reading between the lines is the watering down of the Elite league in the short term will be continuing. Will the admission prices be watered down to match?

 

With regard to Woffinden, I rest my case your honour.

 

Many, many thanks to TNT for the info.

[Star Lady 5,400]

That was quite illuminating.

 

Whilst I understand that Britain starts early, I'm concerned about the silencer issue as most riders/experts say they contribute to the number of incidents.Surely rider safety should be the be all and end all.

Also interesting to finally see a promoter acknowledge that Sky do have influence over the rules i.e. tac sub/dingly dangly tablecloth thingy.

As for Woffinden (and all the other GP riders who want to change British speedway to suit themselves) bye bye. If you don't want us now don't come back begging on your way back down the world rankings. Hopefully by then the fast track and other measures to help the Brits will have kicked in and there won't be any team places for you.

Yep I'm in a glass full kinda mood tonight

[fish keeper 165]

Looks like we will be after a new number 1 next season then I do hope we get Lasse back next season .

[stevebrum 6,835]

So I was correct then from Day 1 about Woffy not trying.

 

 

Where did it say Woffy wasn't trying?

[stevebrum 6,835]

Pete Adams said that he would only help Woffy out if Woffy helped Wolves out.

 

I said from Day 1 Woffy wasn't interested that's why it took Woffy so long to sign the Wolves deal.

 

Woffy hasn't scored well for Wolves at all and its because Tai wasn't interested in riding for Wolves in the first place it was only down to the Pete Adams ultimatum.

 

 

So you could say in other words Woffy didn't put in 100%.

 

Of course he was interested.

He wanted what most riders want from the EL .... less meetings.

He didn't have a gun held to his head, he made a rationale choice as all riders do.

He clearly took on too much this season that is about the only thing that is true in all you suggest.

[Tommy Sweetman 480]

If Woffy does ride in Britain next year,hope this dosent explode into another Olsen situation.The anger and bitterness it caused with him wanting the move to Coventry seemed to drag on for ever.

 

Regardless what the managment says about him only being allowed to ride for Wolves,holds no water with me.

If he is unhappy at Monmore(and theres no suggestion that he is)then he will ride where he wants to ride.

No promotion who ever they are, and what ever they offer,wants to keep an unhappy rider.It just affects the morale in the rest team,and as such, results will suffer from the consequences.

[Bagpuss 10,846]

You are right, as a self employed person he will work where he wants to at the end of the day but I can't see him over here next year with what has been said about job sharing number ones / squads.

[Woz01 3,589]

If Tai moves to another club they will be getting one hell of a bargain on that average unless of course there is some substance in what was said about grading riders.

[SPEEDY69 1,281]

 

Of course he was interested.

He wanted what most riders want from the EL .... less meetings.

He didn't have a gun held to his head, he made a rationale choice as all riders do.

He clearly took on too much this season that is about the only thing that is true in all you suggest.

 

This is completely inaccurate but I assume was just an error? There has been no survey so we form opinions - mine is that a few top EL riders, plus some who don't ride here, want less meetings for their own reasons as they ride in several countries and don't need the additional money. The majority of EL riders are happy with the number of meetings - the reduction last year was criticised by some riders for not giving them enough meetings. Small point but I don't think the EL should be held to ransom by the few - those who want to rider here then fine but it should be on terms that best suit the sport here.