A ORLOV 8,628 Posted August 4, 2014 As I understand it ALL monies from the GPs and the SWC go directly to BSI. Initially but they pay the FIM for the rights to run them, who in turn pay nothing or very little to the federations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadster 221 Posted August 4, 2014 The first thing the BSPA need to ask themselves is whether Team GB winning the World Cup would have any benefit for the sport in this country. If the answer is 'no', which might very well be the answer, then carry on what they're doing. If the answer is 'yes' then how are they going to achieve it, because it's not going to happen without a change and that change is going to cost money. A plan might include some or all of the following; Test matches abroad, which would probably need to be funded by the BSPA. Initially we'd have to be looking to take on countries like Czechoslovakia, Germany etc as the Poles would be far too strong. Identify and stick with young talent. Garrity seems the most likely of the younger riders, Robert Lambert is obviously another. Were Morris and Vatcher consulted over this years World Cup squad? Once young riders are identified, get them working with people like Loram, Tatum etc who can give advice on organisation and may be able to open up doors to sponsorship. All the above costs money, and our impoverished state makes me doubt that much if anything will be done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moxey63 1,785 Posted August 4, 2014 Five year plan? That will be, providing we actually still have speedway in this country and make the SWC Final, not to say win it... that would make it 30 years since we last won it! As for asking Kelvin Tatum for advice... he may remember, being one of the winning team, what it was like to actually achieve something in the national side. It really is an embarrassment. We don't expect to win the WTC every year - it isn't the 70s after all - but nowt for a quarter of a century... That is simply not good enough. And, without sounding too tough on the national team, 1989 was only achieved because others lost star names in that opening race crash. You'd have thought most England, Team GB fans would be used to failure by now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The White Knight 9,039 Posted August 4, 2014 Five year plan? That will be, providing we actually still have speedway in this country and make the SWC Final, not to say win it... that would make it 30 years since we last won it! As for asking Kelvin Tatum for advice... he may remember, being one of the winning team, what it was like to actually achieve something in the national side. It really is an embarrassment. We don't expect to win the WTC every year - it isn't the 70s after all - but nowt for a quarter of a century... That is simply not good enough. And, without sounding too tough on the national team, 1989 was only achieved because others lost star names in that opening race crash. You'd have thought most England, Team GB fans would be used to failure by now. Too right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
engineman 8 Posted August 5, 2014 Having followed speedway and grass track for about 50 years, done several years in grass track racing as a young man, and seen how people progress, I totally agree thatBritish speedway needs to either become self contained, or move on to a set up similar to the European countries. Bigger tracks, out of town, rather than the compromised greyhound stadiums, may mean different investment, perhaps fewer clubs, but can be made entertaining. In fact now is a time for bringing grasstrack and speedway closer together. Neither the Bspa nor the ACU are very credible organisations, but the ACU is at least more open. I really hope they will take a lead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eduds1 48 Posted August 5, 2014 Why the fascination of having to ride abroad to improve riders, Harris seems to be going backwards ( both in ability and on the track ) despite riding abroad 2/3 times a week, others have ridden overseas and not improved a great deal. Most of our top riders in the past only rode abroad on a Sunday and that in grasstrack or longtrack . Why do we keep hearing the excuse for being behind most other nations is the fact that all these young Poles,Swedes,Danes,Australians etc come over here to complete there speedway education by riding different types of track. If this is the case does that mean our young riders are generally poor ( financially or in ability ) or are they too thick to embrace the education of riding the same tracks that are improving all these youngsters from other countries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The White Knight 9,039 Posted August 5, 2014 Why the fascination of having to ride abroad to improve riders, Harris seems to be going backwards ( both in ability and on the track ) despite riding abroad 2/3 times a week, others have ridden overseas and not improved a great deal. Most of our top riders in the past only rode abroad on a Sunday and that in grasstrack or longtrack . Why do we keep hearing the excuse for being behind most other nations is the fact that all these young Poles,Swedes,Danes,Australians etc come over here to complete there speedway education by riding different types of track. If this is the case does that mean our young riders are generally poor ( financially or in ability ) or are they too thick to embrace the education of riding the same tracks that are improving all these youngsters from other countries. Good questions. Would that I could give you an answer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chadster 221 Posted August 5, 2014 Most tracks in World Championship events are big, sweeping tracks that require powerful equipment. Most tracks in the UK aren't. They are of a size that require a certain technique to ride effectively. Indeed, it's worth pointing out that since our glory days in the 1970s, tracks in Britain have got smaller on average, many of the big, flat out British tracks like Hyde Road, Exeter, West Ham, Bradford have closed down. A lot of British tracks also, sited in greyhound stadiums are rather odd shapes, with long straights and tight corners, a far cry from what's seen on the continent. I'd be interested to know how easily our young riders acquire sponsorship as compared to their counterparts in Poland and Denmark. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 5, 2014 (edited) Unless a rider is very lucky financially (parents or sponsors) they have to pay for it themselves. Most sports are, amateur.........All or mostly paid for by working a job, maybe the odd freebie sponsored semi pro.........Earns some start money or prize money,the odd freebie, but has to work full time pro.........Earns a living, maybe needs the odd out of season job or works part time in season (minimum wage for county cricketers 20k at age 20) top earning pro..........Earns enough or a lot!!! In the UK it must be easier to ride EL/PL and make enough money to be full time pro. Nobody will fund them! BSPA etc! J Associations are not there to fund competitors. Why should the BSPA. It does NOT happen on a long=term basis in other sports. Why sjould speedway. Posters seem to think the BSPA should churn cash into all sorts of things - like clubs when they get into financial difficulties. Agan, this does not happen in other sports. There are some bizarre thinkers in "the supporters world of speedway." Edited August 5, 2014 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ColinMills 1,728 Posted August 6, 2014 anyone read rosco 5 yr plan in todays daily star????? omg! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruiser McHuge 589 Posted August 6, 2014 anyone read rosco 5 yr plan in todays daily star????? omg! No...what's he said ?......I take it you dint agree with much of it ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ColinMills 1,728 Posted August 6, 2014 No...what's he said ?......I take it you dint agree with much of it !its not that i disagree with it, its just clutching at straws with no substance.. he intends (if report is true), to use Ryan Rhodes gym, for fitness, at start of season with get together of 10 riders plus 5 top youngsters...thats about all it says!......lovely "plan"! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer 340 Posted August 6, 2014 Watched Swedish League match last night, Chris Harris riding at reserve and failed to win either of the reserve races, think we need to try the young riders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ColinMills 1,728 Posted August 6, 2014 just judging by the past, im not sure riders like cook, worrall, barker. king riding in prem lge helps, hunger, ambition, and top flight should be their intentions. dont recall our world cup champions in 70s cosying up in the 2nd division Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,325 Posted August 6, 2014 (edited) for me, you need a plan that improves the starting techniques first and foremost.. in the SWC, to be fair to the brits, although last most times they were at least 'on the pace' and they often finished as close to the rider in third as they were when exiting bend two on lap one so didnt often 'get dropped'... quite simply giving a ten yard lead to the opposition in the first 100 yards around the first turns of the race utterly destroys the brit riders' challenge time and time again... maybe someone who can gate like tai or greg hancock could be 'employed' by the bspa to run training days alongside the u21 management team?? not for riders who have 'had their day' and could still be seen by woffinden and hancock as 'rivals' but for the likes of lambert, garrity, lawson, cook, ellis, howarth, the worrall twins etc bike set up and starting techniques could be covered at great length and must surely see an improvement in the riders? do it at somewhere like kings lynn and you can also ensure that the bike set ups are 'big track' oriented... three or four two day sessions of none stop gating, changing set ups, and racing against the likes of woffinden and hancock must be beneficial to the younger brits wouldnt you think? 27 clubs all chipping in a couple of grand each would surely get a 'few' days worth of coaching from one or two of the worlds top stars and must turn out money well invested?? Edited August 7, 2014 by mikebv Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
