mikebv

It was a six wheeled skateboard...

And without being too harsh, the standard of the leagues that the Aussies of 20 years ago and more arrived on these shores to take part in were of a much higher level than today as the UK top league was 'THE' league to race in globally.. Which meant the second tier was of a high level also with loads of experienced, mainly British, heat leader riders who would be akin to a third heat leader level in the top tier today, Aussies who were learning their trade and lots of Danes in particular (later to develop to World Class) who rode second tier over here and saw that league as more important to their development than their own in Denmark which wasn't of the same standard. The highest level in the sport though I would suggest is still of an extremely high standard and as good as it's ever been, so if the young Brits like Jordan are to make it to that stratosphere then by 20/21 years old they should be pushing for heat leader status in the top division I would say. That would be the natural progression glide path for success that modern era riders like Woffinden, Lambert, Bewley have taken/are taking.. Meaning that at 16/17 nowadays comfortably holding down a reserve position in the second tier is an absolute minimum I would say if you have ambitions of reaching the very top. And then at 18/19 easily riding at second string standard in tier two pushing heat leader status would be your minimum benchmark.. Sometimes I think not having to leave the creature comforts of home does hold the British lads back somewhat, unlike those who pack up everything and learn their trade in a foreign land. The huge drive, ambition and self belief that burns so brightly within those who follow their dream, by literally leaving everything dear to them 1000's of miles behind, must give them an advantage against those who give up relatively nothing of the sort in such a hard unforgiving environment as Speedway..

Spot in with that I would say.. And especially as Doyle was somewhat of a 'late developer', I am sure he will try to maximise his earnings over the next few years even more.. The likes of Tai will, at a relatively early age, have made a fair few quid and if the Poland deals dry up will still have plenty of years ahead of him, and be very much still in demand, to go back to doing 'lots of leagues' if he so wishes...

Works in Stock Cars having the best behind the lesser lights... Obviously in Speedway the top riders wouldn't be so positive about it I would think given the potential hit on earnings but it certainly would give some interest and maybe pay rates could still be agreed as per a normal race to ensure no loss to them? Maybe even go with two riders from each team at each starting gate? 8 man races? Like the 16 lapper used to do at Ipswich.. It couldn't be every heat obviously but maybe every fourth or so it could be included? Reserves v Second Strings, Second Strings v Heat Leaders then maybe a finale of the Top 4 from each team in the last heat of the night? Third and fourth scorers in front of the first and second. Run the races over five or six laps to give the four behind more of a chance to catch up to the four in front.. Something different to keep a crowd interested, and it would also mean a team well behind could make a huge turn round in fortune if they could deliver the first four riders in the race. Score it seven for first down to one for seventh.. Obviously you won't pay out points money quite the same given seven points for a No1 three or four times a night would possibly bankrupt the club.. Just pay out points money as if it was two separate normal races, eg you might come fourth overall but first in your race, so get four points for the team but three points worth of pay.. Eight bikes on the track would make even the most mundane meeting come alive I would suggest and as it's been done before (regularly at Ipswich) hardly a leap into the unknown if achievable or not..

Good try... But to be honest, I think my press release is better..

Was very tempted...

After yet another season full of high quality close and exciting racing, from all around the UK, British Speedway is in the best position it has been in for many years. Highlighted and endorsed by the new TV deal which reflects the confidence major global media partners have in the UK Speedway brand. 2020 will see many more evenings of exciting, edge of the seat entertainment, being beamed into tens of thousands of not just British homes, but European ones too. Giving many more of Speedway's millions of followers around the globe the chance to enjoy what Speedway in the UK uniquely has to offer.. There can be no doubt that the sport in the UK has made tremendous progess over the past few years and now presses on at pace with its exciting long term vision of continued growth and success.. The feedback, from an ever growing fan base, clearly shows the postive reaction to the course that UK Speedway is following, and we all together, fans and owners alike, look forward to yet another season full of adrenaline fuelled entertainment, being provided, once again, by some of the World's finest riders.. Will that do as the press release?

Didn't Rybnik pay for Dan's treatment and rehab? If so, I would think they are somewhat justified in being a little peed off... Did any of his British teams chip in to share the cost?

Several sports in the US over the past few years have started to see teams deliberately end their seasons the worst team in the league... 'Tanking' is the latest buzzword to describe what the teams are doing.... This then gives them one of the first draft picks for the next season, or the chance to pass up this opportunity and take several team improving players from a competitor and give them the pick instead, hence they write off one season to potentially improve the next.. Some even have written off several seasons to allow them to build up several of the better drafted players over a few years to help with longer term success.. However, the governing bodies of these sports are now discussing how best to deal legally with these teams suspected of 'tanking' as they feel that the integrity and credibility of their respective sports could be threatened by such antics, and are also acutely aware of possible impact to crowd numbers because of it.. British Speedway wouldn't take such action I would suggest as it's allowed to be a fundamental part of the sport..

But that's the issue Vince, the 'normal league meetings', dont deliver those less regular fans who know about the sport, therefore dont deliver big crowds, hence no atmosphere, hence no increase in crowds. A perfect vicious circle.. The 'play off qualifiers' don't seem to engage people regularly enough, and the play off themselves almost become then a 'loss reducer' for the season as 'lapsed fans' come back. . However I bet at most tracks the increased attendance doesn't cover the overall short fall in attendance through the season to watch 'the qualifiers', by some distance... You might as well give away free tickets to as many people of a certain demographic as you can... I would suggest anyone 15 to 25 should just be targeted and offered free tickets as that is the glaring demographic missing from most Speedway meetings.. 15 year olds now hunt in packs so 10 or so would attend together, and even though there has been free admission for 'kids' for a long time at some tracks, not many get to 16+, leave school, and pay to attend, therefore the system doesn't garner any return.. And hardly anyone under 25 is seen at Speedway these days. And plenty of them will have jobs and disposable income due to more of them now still living with parents, before the (inevitable for many), 'family and mortgage' kicks in around 27-30 years old, and that disposable income becomes an oh, so distant memory.. Target these demographics and, if between 19 to 25, offer one free ticket and maybe three more meetings at say a tenner to try and get them hooked? Anyone 15 to 18, just throw free tickets at them.. They are not there now so no loss, and the more that attend (paying or not), the more atmosphere naturally gets created. Which may encourage more to attend more regularly in future. And a virtuous circle begins.. And if nothing else, should you reach the play offs there would be a good few hundred more in the local area who, (by definition of attending for free during the season), now know about the team and sport and might therefore, go along to watch on those nights and pay full price?

Been mentioned a few times over the years as a possible mechanic to keep things more equal, however, the threat is that you can still manipulate the figures through extra sponsorship for riders outside of a salary cap... Meaning you will still get some teams being able to afford more of the better riders than others can. But still officially pay out the salary cap. If you could have clear regulated control then it definitely could work. Rugby in both codes are strong in punishing breaches of the cap so it does have merit... Super League, in particular, have flexed their muscles a few times over the years to those who have breached the cap and the cap has shared the Grand Final trophy around a fair few teams, with a decent spread of others reaching the Final too.. And Union this week have reacted very severely to Saracens dominance over the past few years through allegedly exceeding what was agreed by all teams.. Looking at most clubs I would think £7k a match for Premiership and £5k for Championship would be nearer the affordability mark as £10k per match would need nearly a £30k income from each home match to pay for the two meetings, home and away, that it covers.. You would like to think that as winning a domestic Speedway title carries such little reward that Promoters might adhere to such a plan given it would help keep then solvent and keep clubs relatively equal.. As, unlike Sports that get major media coverage and financial rewards through success, Speedway doesn't have that temptation to get around any restrictions.. And anything that prevents a Promoter having to manipulate an average to build a team, or riders to improve their chances of a team place the following year, has to benefit the sport and it's fans..

Yes for some, but not all... And if nothing else more people there will at least look like the sport has a following worthy of the word.. As we always say, get a big crowd in and the whole experience changes from the entertainment perspective, which can only begin that virtuous positive circle of 'big crowds/great atmosphere/more repeat visits to sample the same.. You only have to look at the play off finals to see that.. Two pretty average meetings, however both being played out in front of good crowds meant those who were there would have a very different perspective on those meetings than if they had been completed in front of the usual Monday or Thursdsy night die hards..

Pretty much so.. Maybe if you said to 'Dave', "You can bring you, your missus and three kids for thirty quid on a Friday evening, Saturday evening or Sunday late (ish) afternoon". He might take you up on the offer..? Ask him to spend forty quid plus for him and his family to attend, on a school night during the week, and I would suggest the likelyhood is he won't..

You only have to look at Poland as to when the best time is to run Speedway.. They wouldn't dream of running at any time other than weekends.. Play offs get decent crowds over here but I would suggest it doesn't make up in any way shape or for how many don't attend during the season due to riding Monday to Thursday.. The other glaring issue is how very few teenagers go.. Meaning free admission to Kids with a paying adult simply doesn't maintain enough interest.. Letting 18 and unders in for free, if still a student, would at least possibly deliver some return when they become 19 and have to start paying.. It would also mean they could attend in groups which teenagers so love to do... And not have to stand with Mum, Dad, Gran and Grandad.. And wouldn't be any financial loss really as they are not there now. But you may make some money at the bar and burger van!

It's not so much the bikes are too fast, for me, it's more the tracks are not designed to handle their speed.. The NSS proves time and time again that fast bikes on that track can deliver awesome entertainment... As does Poland, Sweden and the GP'S, SEC, SON etc.. High speed and great, close racing is the 'Holy Grail' for Speedway. It's just not delivered sadly over here at too many places. 100% spot on with points 2 to 6. Can't see too many of them ever getting overcome though to be honest, given how far away the Sport over here actually is from being able to correct each point you make..

I think the list of other attractions during the week impacts more than not being allowed to stay up.. Since the halcyon days of the sport there are a myriad of things for kids to do post school hours. . Thousands of kids football/rugby/cricket etc teams now operate and train during the week, my lad trained four nights a week for his several sports teams.. My daughter used to attend two dance classes that were packed mid week.. Schools now do an incredible amount of after school clubs till 8pm or so, covering drama, dance, arts, media production etc etc given so many now have state of the art facilities... And of course you then have gaming which keeps the little cherubs up to all hours on a school night.. Bottom line is Speedway doesn't maintain the interest of enough kids, many of whom "save the world" each evening on their PS4, narrowly avoiding 'death' each evening to do so.. Hence 'death defying Speedway' leaves them much less impressed than the way earlier generations used to be.. They simply get their adrenaline rush elsewhere these days.. And let's face it, anywhere your Dad and Grandad go to (and most of the crowd are 40 something and above), cannot be cool can it?

I would imagine even 'amateur' racing would have 'fixed costs' eg insurance and medical cover.. Would the ref cost more too? "Pay to ride" like so many other Motorsports do at entry level would work I would think and maybe persuade more clubs to run such events?

You are correct. Only downside though would be the cost nowadays of 16 heats as well as the expenses to be paid of the second match. Some struggle to pay out for 15 heats now with no second match.. Maybe a six man team/12 heat match would be cost effective? All pairs race against each other for the first nine heats, then do a lowest scorers to the top for the last three heats? No1 pairs up with No6, 5 with 2, 4 with 3 in the first nine races... Then throw in a four man a side six heat 'junior match'? Both pairs race against each other then lowest and highest scorers in the last two races? Three races per rider.. 18 heats in total, meaning all the 'senior' riders get four rides each, the 'junior' riders get track time, and the fans get 3 more races than they currently get now. And overall it may also be cheaper for the promotion paying out six less races at 'senior rates' over the two meetings the home income covers..?

We don't have Leagues structured for progression.. We do have Leagues structured to give riders without overseas contracts loads of races to earn money...

As we have seen from far too many British lads, not focusing on overseas racing when you reach a certain level can hold you back... Max beating lower level riders time and time again over here won't improve his riding.. Giving 100% focus to Poland and the GP's in particular will deliver further down the line in his career I would think.. Hope it works out well for him if that what he decides to do..

My kids too were the same.. The issue though is they didnt pay to get in so whether there or not BV didn't make any money... As they got older and into their teens. Of the two, my lad rather than my daughter was the one who badgered me to keep going, however when he got to 14 or so he started to take the pee somewhat as to the contrived nonsense of select teams (didn't ring true to him as legit, given he was/is an avid football fan who attends games regularly) and became quite indifferent to attending when the 'teams' were made up.. He does though still (now 16), love watching Speedway racing and watches Poland, Sweden and the UK on TV every week, and loves to attend Cardiff, and always wants to attend any FIM events that are based at the NSS. (SON, World U21 etc).. Will he still attend when he has to pay for himself? For FIM events very much probably yes. For UK League Speedway, (unless it becomes credible), quite definitely no... In summary. Focusing on the 40/50/60 something ex fans, and try and to get them back, would be easier than engaging 16 year old kids, and will return more income..

And the great news is that there are tens of thousands of 40/50/60 somethings out there who will either have used to go, or know somebody who still does.. It is a bit "staytin' the bleedin' obvious" isn't it to try and target a market who already know about you, rather than one which has little interest and won't pay full price for a very long, long time. (Should they keep interested that is, which is very much unlikely looking at how few 16-25 year olds attend).. But maybe it isn't so obvious to some?

Ford should be thinking about himself.. He is a business man.. He has made it clear the club is up for sale if the right offer comes in, and has been for a long time, however no one has come in and bought it.. Maybe 'the fans' who want to stay in the Premiership should buy it? Too many 'Promoters' run their clubs as an expensive hobby and it shows in the way they run the sport... "Sustainable losses", supported by other parts of their business, seems to be an accepted year end performance for too many.. As you say, he has been good for Poole and hopefully made money, therefore as a business man if the model you are using suddenly stops working then you need to change it and see if something new does.. Fair play to the guy for doing it as far too many run with the same plan every year with the inevitable same results..

To be fair, the same can be said in many ways for Football, Cricket, Tennis, F1, Moto GP, Superbikes etc etc etc. The admission costs particularly have ensured a much older demographic are their main followers.. 20/20 Cricket in particular though do a great job in attracting families though cheap tickets. And they do this to create the atmosphere that any sporting occasion needs to be memorable and addictive.. The truth is many teenage kids don't want to go anywhere near where their parents frequent as it's all 'a bit sad'.. Mobile phones, Play station, X box, catch up TV, and Social Media give them all the entertainment they need without ever leaving their rooms... Getting the many, many thousands of 40/50/60 somethings who have left the sport over the past ten years or so to return would be far easier than getting a younger demographic through the door... But if those who run the sport don't see any issues to resolve, and can't see why so many have left, then that simply won't happen. ..

Maybe they all start "equal" then after ''x' matches home and away whoever has the highest average becomes the benchmark for the rest to work too? Too often, and too early in the season, there is far too great a gap from top to bottom, and given the restrictive rules around allowed replacements all that seems to happen is the bottom teams do nothing but 'move around the deck chairs on the Titanic', and don't move forwards enough to improve a failing season.. It would also mean that by the end of the season teams should all be closer to each other with their final average meaning that maybe they could start to use the Champions figure as the starting point the year after? Whatever system followed using averages will be inherently flawed due to all the variables within its delivery, and its subjective nature, however ending each season with teams miles apart suggests it needs some improving to deliver what it's supposed to..