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Everything posted by mikebv
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It appears strong because it's full of Div One heat leaders.. However, a lot of these Div One heat leaders would have been at second string level 20 or so years ago in the top division as to be a heat leader then meant either you were a GP rider or an International riding in the World Team Cup or in Test Matches..
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As I said, I truly do believe there are many, many more people who dont attend regularly (but still call themselves "Speedway Fans and remain very keen followers of the sport), than do go each week... A huge market to attract back as it clearly is out there.. You see many discussing how they can get "new followers" interested, yet it would be much easier to just get the "ex regulars" back . I would suggest at most tracks a minimum 50% rise in attendances with many tracks having over a 100% uplift if all those who have basically "given up on British Speedway" came back to it..
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Each club could have an enormous budget, and set a 50 point limit.. There will still be teams (rich teams in this scenario) that wont be able to compete due to a lack of available riders to fill all the teams.. Heaven knows what would have happened if so many tracks who have closed over the past decade hadn't done so... It would have been "best pairs" every week..
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But why should British Speedway be impacted by what the FIM do? Most riders over here dont even compete in the FIM events.. The top league in the world runs at weekend and works its own domestic programme around the FIM weekend meetings.. Seemingly without any problems whatsoever.. Sweden have Tuesday and Thursday. Denmark have Wednesday.. And Poland have Friday, Saturday and Sunday.. The UK elects to have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.. With Monday and Thursday being exclusively the 1st Div race nights.. Many clubs could race Friday, Saturday or Sunday I am sure but unfortunately as they share riders around with each other it is unworkable.. And as we know you do need guests (it's the law), so too many racing on the same night will mean no guest riders available.. And therefore less meetings for the riders.. And both leagues racing on the same day/night at weekend, would also mean dozens of riders having to be in two places at once.. A difficult skill to achieve... In short. Their very own operating model that they choose to run has a far more detrimental impact to the sport in the UK than any FIM meeting planning... By a huge margin..
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Speaks volumes about what was "on offer" doesnt it? Why pay to watch contrived septets in a competition devoid of credibility or status, when you have already paid Sky and can watch it at home? Out of 5 of us who used to attend pretty much each week, up until 10 or so years ago, only one now does so regularly, with the rest of us getting our fix by watching the TV and taking it in turns to "host the evening"... We will though all go to Cardiff and several of us will go to Poland to watch League racing and GP's, as well as attend FIM events over here.. And "if the weather is nice" we will visit a few tracks on the odd occasion.. Cant beat a bit of "live" Speedway now and again can you?.. I (and the others), would still go every week if the leagues werent ran so 'Mickey Mouse' and actually had some kudos in winning.. And there are more than a "fair few" out there like me I would suspect who just need some persuasion to attend again... (A "fair few" that is more than actually currently attend I would suggest).. And by "persuasion", I mean those in charge actually running the sport properly, either in a league system or in an individual one.. Either way, make it mean something and many who "used to go" regularly, and still keep a very keen interest in the sport, might start to attend regularly again. One thing for sure though.. To keep doing the same thing every single season isnt an option surely is it?
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A few precious riders that Promoters over the years have used to fuel their own ego's by wanting and having them in their teams... Often needing sponsors to supplement these riders' salaries due to a fanbase drop that these riders didnt actually prevent from dwindling by their presence.. And they were/still are, also happy to swap fixtures around to suit these riders, at the (often literally), expense of the fans., or run contrived septets when these lads were/are not available.. (Which became/is still, pretty often).. The majority of fans these days dont really take the competitions seriously but love watching the racing, so clubs should just run on the best night they can get their largest crowd.. And only sign riders who can be there on these nights.. Let's face it, the vast majority ride in both leagues now, and quite a few end up representing most teams in both leagues through guesting so there isnt any real credibility to what they run.. So just do it when most of their fans can get there.. Make the best of what you have...
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You wouldn't. .. It would be based on averages... Averages that invariably the more experienced and better riders (old heads), have higher than their less experienced and lesser capable counterparts.. At the moment some clubs in Div 2 have three of these riders, which is too many if you want a more equal, affordable league, and also means less places per septet for developing riders.. Interesting to note though that age is actually used at RS level as a criteria determinate...
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One way to do that is share the 'old heads' around rather than having three or four (even in the 2nd Div) per team.. Max two riders over "whatever mean figure exists", per team, for a set number of named riders.. Or even one "old head" over average "x" per team if one big league... Unfortunately the sport in the UK is simply set up for giving these "older heads" as many opportunities to race as possible and Promoters to feel good about themselves by some fans colluding with them that what they watch is "real".... So it won't happen.... So more of the same crock of 'Barry White" no doubt to be served up next year. ..
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True... But instead of adapting and being in charge of their own destiny, the UK Promoters decided to come up with some unfit for purpose half way house, half arsed system which was built around the GP riders' own individual agendas.. Even though it was evident that crowds dwindled whilst these riders rode over here, and when missing (which was regularly), meant guestfest upon guestfest... Which only then sped up the dwindling levels of punters.. And then of course the GP riders then pretty much all dropped the UK like a stone.. Yet the UK still have the same operating model?..... But nowadays just to provide around 70 riders or so with multiple team places... Not a great plan is it?
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Sheffield vs Belle Vue 2/9/21
mikebv replied to LisaColette's topic in SGB Premiership Speedway League
And One has to be under 30 years of age.. -
Sheffield vs Belle Vue 2/9/21
mikebv replied to LisaColette's topic in SGB Premiership Speedway League
I think that Sheffield have been unfairly treated by fans of other clubs re the inclusion of Bates as an RS.. I bet no one was more surprised than them to find out that within virtually every one of the criteria needed, Josh got in by the skin if his teeth... Wasnt their doing that this was the criteria used I am sure.. A complete coincidence, and, in keeping with so much of British Speedway, beyond reproach integrity and credibility wise... I wonder (for next year), as the riders will be a year older, and will have actual averages, if the age levels change alongside the qualifying average needed to be an RS..? And if so.... More 'coincidences' maybe to look forward to? -
Baddumm Tish....
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Two Swindon riders were going to swap sides at "Half Time" of the Div One Play Off Final a few seasons ago.. Swindon hadn't qualified for the final either.....
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Scott, Bomber and Rory are the most successful riders in the history of the sport... They have won leagues for the past 20 years on the run.. But also lost them too at the same time..
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"Ladies and Gentlemen. Give it up for the 2021 Division Two Play Off Champions!".... "The Glasgow"... "Tigers/Monarchs/Bandits/Bears/Diamonds/Scorpions/Lions/Eagles/Gladiators/Kings/Brummies/Pirates" (Pause for a deep breath)... "And now let's hear it for your fantastic 2021 Division Two Runners up who pushed them all the way"... "The Poole".... (Another deep breath)... "Pirates/Monarchs/Bandits/Bears/Diamonds/Scorpions/Lions/Eagles/Gladiators/Kings/Brummies/Tigers"... You would need a couple of big old winners and runners up trophies to fit that on the roll of honour of them wouldn't you? And also need around 50 of each of the winners and losers medals.... With plenty of lads being awarded both... !!
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Plymouth v Newcastle Tuesday 31st August
mikebv replied to bigcatdiary's topic in SGB Championship League Speedway
To be honest I never saw any problem with that when there were simply too many clubs... Instead, at that time, this natural evolutionary process that strengthens any species or entity, was completely ignored and everything was done to keep everyone going, no matter the impact to entertainment level, and league credibility. .. Now it's very much a different time and clubs are being removed from the UK map at an alarming rate, therefore all Promoters need to work together and support their "weakest links"... As without them all inevitably will end up disappearing too.. -
Plymouth v Newcastle Tuesday 31st August
mikebv replied to bigcatdiary's topic in SGB Championship League Speedway
Has to be the only logical conclusion doesn't it? The "have nots" riding in a 2nd Div akin to the NDL level that previously existed, seemed to flourish, and provided value for money for the fans. . So obviously not going to happen then..... -
Looks like a perfect club to start in the NDL (not the current version but the previous one).. Get that "fan bounce", desperate to see Oxford back, without the costs of Pro Heat Leaders, meaning they can charge an admission fee that isnt knocking around the twenty quid mark.. I would suggest looking at the disparity in Div 2 between the teams, circa half of Div 2, (and maybe Mildenhall and the IOW?), would see the "old NDL" as something worth trying...? The league pre Covid seemed to be the most viable, and delivered the best value for money..
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I think the way BV have signed NBJ is the way forward.. Have a rider out through injury then sign a lower averaged rider to replace him for 'x' weeks.. Say 21 days minimum, and even if the injured rider is back fit he has to sit out 21 days so as to ensure no manipulation of any injury situation takes place. Using a rider either not in this country currently or from a lower league.. Or sort out a fit for purpose RR facility that doesnt mean your No1 for example has to be replaced by riders third and fourth in the averages.. Ultimately though, if a meeting becomes a bit 'Mickey Mouse' if ran, then dont run it...
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As long as just about enough punters keep colluding with the promoters that it's a proper sporting competition they run, and turn up to watch it.. There are though thousands more who could possibly go back to it regularly if they stopped the nonsense.. But I suppose we shall never know for certain if that is the case, as stopping the nonsense will never happen.. Because they are too good at it now after so many years of experience..
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The US Conference system doesn't have everyone playing each other.. Maybe Speedway could do something like that? Eg 4 times v the teams in your North Conference and 2 times v the teams in the South?
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As long as I can still watch Poland, Sweden and Denmark..
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Indeed .... And those fans from other teams that appear to be gloating need to realise that their team cannot eventually end up riding against themselves.. Bottom line is any club going to the wall wont mean too much emotionally to too many people locally near any track.. In most 2nd Divs case maybe 1000 or so max (?) who regularly go... In Div 1, maybe 1500? Or 2000 max...? In real terms hardly anyone... Those doing "well" should thank their lucky stars, as the operating model and business plan they all share is clearly inherently unfit for purpose, and their time, if it doesn't radically change, will invariably come...