mikebv

He won't be racing against Kurtz, Bewley and a Jaimon Lindsey on his Polish kit....

Especially if they can ensure he gets two extra RR rides over two legs..

And the centre green looks like it has been mown... Unless a load of goats have broke in....

And at the same time, judge the sandcastle building competition....

To cut Speedway's throat with I presume...?

For a TEAM SPORT to be successful, it requires some very basic fundamentals that need to be box ticked... They are, in no particular order of priority... To have a level of prize size that grabs the attention of the public and media... To have jeopardy and consequence in every match that takes place.. To engender a tribal following with a decent number of away fans at every match to create atmosphere... To ensure any followers of a team have a close emotional attachment to their representatives, with, ideally, affinity built up through years of loyalty from their "heroes"... To have credibility, whereby each team stands alone on their own two feet, for good, bad or indifference... To deliver matches to their fans when the fans can, or want, to attend, not when their employees tell them they can hold the events.. To organise events regularly, so the fans have continuity, and don't get out of the habit of attending.. To charge an admission fee that reflects the level of entertainment on offer, organic size and standing of the sport and current cost of living challenges, and not one that just reflects how much their employees want to be paid... To work collaboratively with each other, knowing that the league itself is only as strong as its weakest team... To have a joined up, fit for purpose in 2025, marketing plan that sells "the league(s)" as a collective, rather than each team just going it alone with varying degrees of capability, reach and cut through.. Sadly, UK Speedway currently ticks none of those basic fundamentals, and, until it does, it has zero chance of growth, and, in its current guise, quite probably even threatens its long term survival, in the UK, (as a team sport).... Something akin to moving the deckchairs on the Titanic simply won't work anymore...

Well meaning amateurs don't have a clue about how you market a product... And, instead of using the Sky money to employ a professional marketing company to move the sport as a whole organically forward... They used the money to pay some "Superstars of Speedway" a massive amount of money, who then, almost to a man, all "effed off" when the money ran out.... A level of money which then brought inflated salary expectations for everyone else.... It has been just one "make do and mend" decision after another with zero clear plan for future growth for two decades... Band Aids being applied to severed arteries.. What we have now is surely the very bottom, so, as the song said, the only way is up!... Can they do it right this time and build some clear future with growth? Historical evidence isn't on their side, but let's hope..

Some great racing.... Lots of strength in depth talent.....

The sizes of fhe sports are irrelevant.... There are fundamental basics which any sport should follow... And using your TV contract to make you look a decent popular proposition is one of the key ones... The UK promoters obviously don't give a monkeys how their product comes across when on TV given the lack of a decent crowd being accepted time and time again... People are sheep. (Look at how popular influencers are?). Make something look popular and you have a chance others might go along... Make something look like where your Grandparents go, (and dozens of other Grandparents go), and others probably won't go along... I think it is quite telling how many ex riders promote.. Which inevitably seems to end up with an operating model, and business plan, that seems more set up to suit the riders, rather than the paying public... I would be amazed if doubling up went snd one league would negate that... Meaning if one league did happen I presume home and away twice and five rides a night for those who currently DU? And plenty of guest opportunities given the six day racing structure...

Or in summary... A lineal decline in the UK since 2000 with not much at all done to even slow the decline down, let alone reverse it... Just listened to the R&A CEO talking about fan engagement and how the top stars' tee times go out to balance Europe and USA TV coverage... And that the slow play has meant the afternoon top stars finishing in front of half empty grandstands at 17 and 18 which "isn't a good look" for those non golf fans who they are trying to engage... He also said the the top stars need to be focused on because "every sport needs a shop window", and the best competitors provide that, especially to attract kids to the sport who see the best as being their aspiration... Amazing that UK Speedway believe something the complete opposite is the way forward..

And we keep getting told that "sponsors" pay for them.. So, what's the issue in keeping them? The reality is that there are various ways the top riders get money... Not all get 100% fully paid up for home and away meetings... Some part sponsor, part club payments... I presume the concern is that if "some stay" riding for just a few clubs, then the others won't have top riders as they cannot afford them., One thing is for sure though, if your business is struggling and you need to lower head count... Getting rid of your best people first is a hugely risky strategy....

Nicki P made it his MO to take contact and then slide serenely to the base of the fence... And then lie on the track for ten minutes whilst his mechanics checked his bike over in the pits...

Slough has gone very quiet.....😝

For a team that, after Sheffield lost Woffy, had, at least, a one point advantage in the averages, over the nearest team, they should walk the league.. Especially when you consider that the team building is based on 14 heats and they have Emil and Doyle in most H15's so, in reality, that one point advantage in averages is probably around three, given those two will "4-2" at worst, many H15's... All their riders were in the top two for their positions if you could cherry pick them, with several being the best for that riding number... The reduction for UK riders was used brilliantly by Chris Louis to get this septet together... Brennan was a main HL for Brum last year and rides now at the easier No3 position.. Their RS was considered the best.... Ellis and King have struggled sometimes at No3 but this year don't have that pressure... And, in Dan T, they have an excellent No6, with a great future in the sport... Add in a truly World Class spearhead and I thought no one could live with them... Still easily the team to best if all hit their straps but I would imagine there are some doubts creeping in...

Some time as a second string will help him I am sure... If his average will see that happen...? The issue is though that someone else will have to go to No 3, and they could struggle like Tom... Dan T is so key for the Witches, and that is a big responsibility for the young lad....

Other than gaining them an embarrassing result this evening... Well done KL... See. Strength in depth always works....

The engine room struggling again when Dan T isn't there to cover the shortfall...

Comparing injuries...

Does anyone know if Norick is riding for Poznan tonigjht? Has he been included iin their line up?

44-46 15 from the bottom four of the Aces... 31 from the top 3..

I see from the Polish threads that even the 2nd tier over there are now using Thursdays.... One this evening and one already planned for August... Good luck with putting "one league" together with any credibility given only Monday is the day no other country uses... PS. Good luck also to Ben this evening..😉

Next years plan will definitely be known... (You would hope)... With the play offs pretty much sorted (dont think they count average wise do they?), it would be an opportune time to prep for next season for those clubs...

My initial reaction was "one big league"... But, when you analyse how many riders will be needed I am not sure it could work... Even a 12 team league would need 60 riders, running on five per team.. And, if all the "top riders" went then that would leave around 70 required from the current set up... Is there 70 riders who want to race here, or good enough to race here if UK based? "One big league" would mean several meetings per week for some, and many overseas riders (even the journey men), wouldn't all sign up for that, thus meaning more riders required to replace them.. "One big league" seems to be the organic solution, but logistics would suggest it cannot happen..

I have always been surprised that Poland chose Friday, Saturday and Sunday for what is, after all, something part of the entertainment business.... Who would have thought that the weekend would attract the most attendees...? Same with the GP's .. Monday or Thursday for me should have been the call...

The sum of UK Speedways, fit for purpose in 2025, marketing campaign is.... "Bring a friend".....😁