mikebv

Why all the cloak and dagger stuff when it comes to someone trying to get involved in a Speedway track? In other sports those wishing to buy/takeover a sporting organisation often make themselves known from the very beginning, holding interviews with the media explaining their plans and giving regular updates as to progress thus ensuring maximum publicity for themselves and the sporting club they are interested in, as well as, possibly most importantly of all, keeping the expectant fans aware of what's going on... Speedway seems to have its own version of 'omerta'... Which given its tiny minority sport status is quite ridiculous... Weekly updates, even when in reality you have 'nothing to report should be the aim so the local conurbation sees the clubs name in the local press regularly... There is always intrigue, concern and often controversy when it comes to sporting takeovers, therefore great publicity potential! Speedway never seems to want to use it?

A good few from the World U21 round last year seemed to take a liking to the track.. Erik Riss was another (6.85)... Fast with good equipment... Winning at home weekly/fortnightly/tri-weekly/monthly/bi-monthly* in 'The Qualifiers' goes a long way to deliver you into the top four... * (delete as applicable as per the fixture list)

Not forgetting the BSPA statement "it was nothing to do with us", that was issued so swiftly after the opening night problems at 'The National Speedway Stadium'... I wonder if the BSPA could now play some part in the control of 'The National Speedway Stadium'? which as we know, they didn't previously, (because they told us)... As George Formby may have said... "Hee, hee, turned out nice again!"....

But would all four riders still be in contention as they go into lap three most races? If so, I would suggest the punters wouldn't even notice the race time.. 20/20 cricket was thought to be a 'novelty one hit wonder', now its the most popular form of cricket worldwide.. 'Fast and Furious' is the tagline often used for Speedway, 3 lap races could do that justice.. People also often complain about no second halves due to curfews and meetings taking over two hours to complete. Less laps of racing would sort this.. And vfm perception can also be influenced massively by what happens 'off track' too, (as T20 shows so well)..

Radical/Stupid idea alert... Has three lap races ever been considered? Most races seem over well before the last lap anyway as riders have invariably become more spaced apart the longer the race has gone, so maybe it would lead to closer racing? What it would definitely do is save 25% 'wear and tear' on engines and chassis, 25% tyre usage and 25% fuel, and maybe tracks would be less slick at the end of the meeting... And surely make cost savings which could be passed on in reduced admission....? Thus maybe getting some 'newbies' to attend (who wouldn't probably know it used to be four laps anyway).. Tin hat on time.....!

Whether the story to be ran is the truth or not, those with bigger pockets can spin any litigation through the courts until those with smaller pockets (or more to lose) eventually and often with truth on their side, back down... A sensible approach is to not put your head above the parapet until you are sure no one has you in their sights.. 'The truth will out' is a phrase most would hope comes to fruition, (however long it takes)... Looks like the SS is taking the correct legal advice and correctly biding their time...

Could be a first for British Speedway.... A meeting where the average age of the two teams is actually higher than the average age of those watching.....!!! Well its one way of attracting the 'younger crowd' so many say Speedway is missing !!!

The 'Sky money' that should compensate a track for a reduced crowd due to being on TV should be used to reduce the admission... Instead it has helped cover some of the cost (but not always all of it) of the No1 riders... Wasnt it over 100k each the top league teams got per season for many years till the much reduced new deal came in? Imagine if instead of paying out a huge proportion of that in 'dead money' to a No1 who invariably didnt put any extra on the gate whether there or not, the tracks had used it to showcase their sport and themselves when on live TV, or used it to market their club locally and professionally? I would suggest British Speedway would be a lot more healthier today if the millions recieved over the past decade and more had been used more intelligently.....

Agree, but only if the teams on show have credibility and the league's they are running in have integrity... Two major and (lets face it, very basic) requirements in any team sport, but sadly requirements British Speedway finds almost impossibility in delivering through its current year on year operating model.. Thats the biggest challenge that needs sorting to move the sport forward. The level of riders on show is largely totally irrelevant when what you are watching is often nothing more than a series of heats participated in by an often random selection of riders with very little affinity or connection (if indeed any) to the actual team they represent.. Fix that first I would suggest, and then build the rest around it...

To be fair to the BSPA it must be a logistical nightmare planning in fixtures.. Poland, Sweden and Denmark use many of the same riders used over here and then you have the myriad of GP, GP qualifying, SEC, SEC qualifying, Best Pairs events and then a host of Nations running their own championships often over several rounds.. Add that to the fact that most tracks will have a large amount of their riders as Double Uppers, (and some Triple Uppers) it certainly becomes a nightmare.. The bottom line of course is their are too many teams and not enough riders, yet the BSPA still run with septets meaning D/Us are essential just to get the team assembled.. Sadly, another season of credibility sapping weekly guest replacements ahead I would imagine as Speedway does its own version of the 'Chuckle Brothers' over riders, "To you, to me, To you, to me"...

Looking at some of the suggested line ups for BV with Zagar and Nicholls being effectively replaced by two juniors, I would imagine more than circa £100k has been removed from the cost base so potentially that would make it cost effective?

A great thread... For me, a one make, sealed engine series is the way for Speedway in this country, (and many years late in its implementation).. For elsewhere, there can be a 'free for all' if they so wish... What the international riders need at Cardiif in the British GP is a million miles away from what the domestic riders need at Buxton the next week... Let's get British Speedway right and if a one make series (as so many motorsports do) helps sort out Speedway in this country then it has to be the way forward.

I wish..! School of hard knocks me, never did me any harm, etc etc etc.....😁

Oh to be a fan of Speedway, Whose teams future is uncertain and stark, You get to feel like a mushroom, Sxxt on and left in the dark.... As you look at your stadium in tatters, The terracing now covered in brambles, You reflect for a moment the reason, And decide it's that Speedway's a shambles..... Let's hope for some good news to come soon, That the equipment will all be put back, And that Coventry take up their position, In the Premiership as well as on track... Oh to be a fan of Speedway, It brings excitement greater than any other, Which makes it even more frustrating then, When you often ask, "why do I bother"?

To the majority of 'promoters' its a sport, hence they spend hours arranging fixture dates to be able to bring the best guests in, hours more suggesting rules that they have worked out will being them an advantage as they have already spotted the loopholes, and even more time doctoring their tracks to ensure as big a home advantage is achieved as is possible... All to win a Championship akin in status and kudos to the local Pub Darts Leagues dotted around the country... Fans, in the main, want to see entertaining Speedway on a track prepared specifically for that task alone, the League ran with integrity and a Championship that carries credibility... A huge dichotomy that somehow needs bridging I would suggest...

Yes it was great viewing from that bespoke slightly inclined shingles/dirt/weeds section on the first turns.... Alternatively you could have watched it from behind that glass fronted thing and not heard the bikes... Or maybe used the bar under the rickety old Grandstand (where you can sit on your very own wooden slab) and get your shoes dirtier in the bar than outside it! Aye, BV not a patch on Poole...!! We also dont have someone going around selling the Speedway Star either. Although from what I hear that may not be too bad a thing to miss out on.... Son.....

I did attend it was great.... Parked the car in the car park, straight in to the track due to many turnstiles, plenty of catering facilities and toilets and a great view of the racing... Which Speedway Stadium in Britain (not including Cardiff) could have handled a 7000 crowd better?

Salford isnt in Manchester Col..... You will start a riot with that....!! Largest City in Britian without a professional Football team although Salford City are starting to move through the Leagues with investment from Paul Scholes, The Nevilles and Nicky Butt... Spot on about Mcr and sporting arenas, truly a 'World Class' City when it comes to hosting events, Swimming, Cycling and Boxing all hold World Events there. Lets hope Speedway will keep using the NSS for World level competition. What a racetrack and facility...

There definitely was testing going on the day before as I watched it when picking up my tickets... Thought that was common knowledge...? Hence the frustration I would have thought from the Promotion, re the opening night itself... As previously alluded to, maybe the different weather conditions from an early afternoon (I was there around 1pm) to the evening conditions the next day, effected the moisture below the surface of the track..? Obviously this impacted the Promotions finances, as did paying for the South Stand Terrace each month, which should have been part of the handover and paid for by the Council.. Maybe that also consequently then meant no money to promote or market locally either the venue or the team...? It did appear that 'build it and they will come' was the only strategy but I would be surprised if that was the Promotions original plan to entice fans to the place and that funds would have been set aside for promotion and marketing but sadly ended up in refunds and hire costs.. Would be interesting to find out the truth but probably we will never know, as even settled claims out of court often have confidentiality clauses...

In the main, I don't there is a huge amount of conjecture on what the majority of fans want... "A league ran and organised with integrity and credibilty, with meetings taking place on the same nights regularly and consistently, with an off track entertainment package to augment the on track action, with all teams' riders being available every time a match is scheduled not 'somewhere else', and an admission fee that is actually reflective of the sports standing and the actual value for money entertainment level on show, rather than a random inflation busting number generated to help fend off spiralling out of control rider salary costs due to their financial outlay around the globe"... Would I suggest be a good starting point for promoters to address...? And not too difficult to deliver I would say if the promoters were mindful to achieve it..

The NL for me is probably the best ran League, unfortunately beholding to its bigger brothers who decimate it throughout the season by taking riders as their needs must... Admission prices are about right, minimal amount of guests, teams of similar standards due to a less disparate difference between the 14 riders on show who are, in the main, semi pro if not even amateur... Similar to how the second tier was ran years ago, young often local British lads dreaming of stardom mixed with old experienced heads earning a few extra quid alongside their day jobs, whilst others in the team (often the journeymen) used it as a paid hobby, they covered costs and even if they didnt quite do that it was worth it as they loved what they did.. Keep enjoying the NL, a good competitive League and probably Team Speedways true level from an economic perspective in this country...

I seem to remember it also agitated the crowd which led to plenty of loud "comments" directed at the individuals concerned It certainly built up the tension and anticipation of the race and probably most important the atmosphere... When a rider like Mauger 'got away with one' he would be booed again as he came to the tapes in his next ride, and if he broke the tapes (which he sometimes did) it was the biggest cheer of the night... Makes Panto villians out of the riders which is no bad thing when you are trying to deliver excitement and atmosphere... And, as we saw, the best riders generally won anyway because simply they were better than the rest regardless of gating first or not.... Lest face it, this year we are going to see two point riders up against GP stars so why not allow them the one chance they have of getting a flyer? It will at least make the race more interesting.. Refs could make it clear that they will put the tapes up regardless of whether riders are 'moving back' after trying to anticipate a start, so those who gamble know the risk... Anything that can bring some fan participation and engagement, as well as the 'tribal' atmosphere you would expect in a team event of a professional sport cannot be a bad thing surely? Obviously there would have to be a part of the programme devoted to instructions to fans not to shout anything 'nasty' to the riders who try anticipating the start as.... A. There may be kids who hear it and it will warp their fragile minds, and.. B. All riders only ride for our entertainment obviously so don't deserve any adverse comments.. In fact we could call the track fence the 'respect barrier' going forward, like we have in kids football for parents to stand behind?.... Thats the 'elf and safety' covered, damn you Brussels.....😉

Spot on, but.... Santa Pod don't pay salaries twice a week to seven people from one meetings income... Speedway does, it cannot afford to do it, but it ignores that small fact and still does it anyway... Speedways business model is totally wrong with regards to it being a team sport in Britain, ie too much paid out and not enough coming in, no credibility in the competition's that are ran, no integrity in its rule making and administration etc. etc.. Basic economic reality is that it doesn't work but very little is done to change it, no radical ideas or plans.. The frustration is that the Sport can be great to watch, (mostly at GP and SEC level), it's sadly the capability in bringing that level of 'greatness' to the masses that is lacking.. Watch a great GP from the comfort of your armchair, cans chilling nicely in the fridge, take away curry leaflet sat next to the TV remote, ready to ring up during an interval in the racing to arrive at the optimum time when your lager is chilled to perfection, and you will have a 'great night'.... Decide that you will attend a local meeting that week inspired by what you have seen and hearing that two of the riders you have watched will be there... Attend the track, baulk a wee bit and raise an eyebrow at the admission cost, (almost double what you paid for your lager and curry) stand there in the cold with no one within five metres of you, desperately trying to hear a muffled announcement over the tannoy, hear enough of it to realise that the two GP riders you watched on Saturday night are actually 'somewhere else' so the teams have 'borrowed' riders from elsewhere. Between races instead of expert punditry to pass the five to ten minutes, you get to watch tractors going round and round and round, whilst listening to a muffled Brotherhood of Man belting out their 1976 hit Save your Kisses for Me followed by some Jethro Tull.. Two and a half hours later you have seen fifteen minutes of action, some good but most not so, watching some riders wobble around at the back a full straight behind the leader, your fingers and feet have gone numb, you have tasted coffee like you have never tasted before (but at least it kept your hands warm for a while) and you go home thinking.. "Is that really the same sport? Think I will stick to the TV in future"... Speedway (in this country) will, for me, evolve into 'stand alone' events, similar to other motor sports, all day events with different ages, ability levels and even disciplines, (flat track, sidecars, quads etc all at the same event) and have to dispense with twenty odd meetings a week raced on random nights, just to fit fixtures in, crammed with any level of rider just to make up 'select teams'.. Still can be a great sport to watch when done right, so there is always hope it can rise again. If a pub game like darts can attract huge audiences to the venue and to watch on TV, and make household names out of its competitors, then Speedway must have a chance if it can organise enough meaningful, well marketed, professionally presented and promoted meetings surely? Less may actually be more going forward...

You cannot run any professional team sport successfully, and hope to get a great following, when the crowd themselves have very little 'emotional' attachment to the teams involved, or even the outcome of any event that they take part in... The way teams are put together in British Speedway delivers exactly the situation it currently finds itself in... No surprises as, quite simply, it couldn't be any other way....

For me, the decline started when ITV no longer showed Speedway nationally on a Saturday. The sport getting beamed into literally tens of millions of homes regularly must have had a positive knock on effect for crowd numbers.. PC, Mauger, Olsen and Penhall were 'Box Office' and even non speedway fans had heard of them (and recognised them).. Having one of them at your stadium was a definite head start in generating a crowd... At the same time the national team became second (or even third/fourth rate) which was double the problem as no one wants to watch a consistently losing national team. The Danes took over which was never going to move the sport forward in this country.. The rest fell into place as teams started to fill themselves with overseas riders of dubious ability levels alienating fans who had an affinity with the British ones they often replaced.. The nonsense rules havent helped down the years in anyway of course and have done much to erode away virtually all the credibility and integrity in the relevant Championships which means hardly any kudos is acheived by winning the title. Not a great way to kick start your business when your ultimate aim is so diluted and sadly, irrelevant...