chun 175 Posted August 28, 2023 turgid. how did masters get another go there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truthsayer 234 Posted August 28, 2023 Just now, truthsayer said: It's been so boring not a single rider has been coming on strong. To be fair, I wrote that 30 seconds before that 'speedway out of the top drawer' Proper speedway. Very entertaining. Indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
homer 165 Posted August 28, 2023 Wow cracking race in heat 10 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eric i 617 Posted August 28, 2023 wow excellent stuff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Clemens 646 Posted August 28, 2023 Heat 10 they must have been listening Problem is waiting till race 10 for a decent race 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk127 1,359 Posted August 28, 2023 11 minutes ago, mikebv said: You would need to promote it with big prize money... Bottom line though will be that plenty of riders will need to earn, so they will be available. The current team sport model has driven thousands away due its completely contrived operating plan, which engenders zero emotional attachment, so, what really is the point of doing the same old, same old, every year..? All the tracks closing over the past 10 years shows it clearly doesn't work... Unfortunately those that run the sport do not keep up with the changing circumstances and for speedway to survive many clubs need to look at the likes of a Workington set up. Tracks close to major conurbations are not going to work with planning authorities siding with developers on the benefits of alternative uses for the land that many tracks occupy and local authorities are under pressure to increase revenue which sports venues like a Wolverhampton or a Peterborough are not going to offer. Build several thousand houses or major commercial units and the local council are going to see and uplift in revenue compared to the rateable income of a dirt racing track. Sadly the decline will continue and league racing will fade into history. No one party is to blame but collectively the way speedway is managed as a sport and its failure to adapt to changes, its masters who have allowed their self interests to override the well being of the sport and the riders who believe someone owes them a living are all major factors as to why the sport Is in decline and why it will take a super human sacrifice to recover. Can it do it, I doubt that those involved see the issues let alone rally enough collective support to save the day. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,278 Posted August 28, 2023 Just now, Noelinho said: OK, I’ll put it another way. Get rid of the leagues tomorrow and the sport dies tomorrow - not in five years. Not a chance... The riders need to earn money... A way forward would be found to keep the sport going.. Akin to the IOW maybe? Team Speedway in the UK has delivered what we have today... With the glaring fact when you look at the stadiums, that not enough punters, (many of whom follow the sport closely), buy into it and take it seriously enough to warrent spending their income on it.. A dead horse that they need to stop flogging, and, instead, try to find a new one to ride... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truthsayer 234 Posted August 28, 2023 2 minutes ago, mikebv said: Not a chance... The riders need to earn money... A way forward would be found to keep the sport going.. Akin to the IOW maybe? Team Speedway in the UK has delivered what we have today... With the glaring fact when you look at the stadiums, that not enough punters, (many of whom follow the sport closely), buy into it and take it seriously enough to warrent spending their income on it.. A dead horse that they need to stop flogging, and, instead, try to find a new one to ride... At some stage there needs to be a transition, where speedway promotors don't just rely on team racing and where there is a mix of professional team racing, pay to play amateur racing and individual meetings. Promotors need to be able to have more freedom in what they run, and when they run. Looking at darts, for example, pro tours and legends tours could fill a gap in the inevitable calendar caused by the lack of team events. A meaningful multi-round British championship for individual riders is another potential series, but ultimately it needs to be part of a transition and a long term plan to get more local competitors, more venues, more practice facilities and sustainable business models. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfsbane 12,944 Posted August 28, 2023 (edited) The days of tracks spread far and wide are, unfortunately, over. The future, if there is to be one, will revolve around a few 'hubs' based on geography. Edited August 28, 2023 by Wolfsbane 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Clemens 646 Posted August 28, 2023 I wouldn't mind these presenters getting a bit giddy here and there, if there was something to get giddy about Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topsoil 2,498 Posted August 28, 2023 52 minutes ago, mikebv said: Not a chance... The riders need to earn money... A way forward would be found to keep the sport going.. Akin to the IOW maybe? Team Speedway in the UK has delivered what we have today... With the glaring fact when you look at the stadiums, that not enough punters, (many of whom follow the sport closely), buy into it and take it seriously enough to warrent spending their income on it.. A dead horse that they need to stop flogging, and, instead, try to find a new one to ride... Amateur riders, grasstrack bikes on shale, upright bikes? That's bound to develop the next generation of riders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
truthsayer 234 Posted August 28, 2023 1 minute ago, topsoil said: Amateur riders, grasstrack bikes on shale, upright bikes? That's bound to develop the next generation of riders. Here's part of the problem, all speedway riders are 'professional' - no one wants to be amateur. If you are starting out then you are an amateur. What's your point caller? Speedway needs new riders, whatever they are riding, wherever they are riding, they need to develop a pool of new riders. The cream will rise, but frankly the pool is so small they just need riders. Quite a few road racers start out on classic bikes. If the next top British star starts out riding his granda's old Jawa in an amateur upright meeting I would say that's certainly developing the next generation of rider. The obsession with the current team structure is offputting for newcomers - spectators and competitors. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeW436 595 Posted August 28, 2023 9 minutes ago, truthsayer said: Here's part of the problem, all speedway riders are 'professional' - no one wants to be amateur. If you are starting out then you are an amateur. What's your point caller? Speedway needs new riders, whatever they are riding, wherever they are riding, they need to develop a pool of new riders. The cream will rise, but frankly the pool is so small they just need riders. Quite a few road racers start out on classic bikes. If the next top British star starts out riding his granda's old Jawa in an amateur upright meeting I would say that's certainly developing the next generation of rider. The obsession with the current team structure is offputting for newcomers - spectators and competitors. I find it strange that the meeting at Peterborough was all done by 21.15 yet there wasn’t an opportunity for youngsters to get out and have a go, especially with a 10pm curfew? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maneacat 473 Posted August 29, 2023 9 hours ago, JoeW436 said: I find it strange that the meeting at Peterborough was all done by 21.15 yet there wasn’t an opportunity for youngsters to get out and have a go, especially with a 10pm curfew? It was a fantastic meeting too - that’s where the TV cameras should have been! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
