mikebv

Agreed,... It truly must be a nightmare trying to run a Speedway track with the Operating Model that the Sport (over here) uses.. An Operating Model, that fundamentally by its very content, surely cannot hope to help ANY track be successful... Yet year on year seems to be blindly followed (and agreed to) by the very people who invariably struggle by its usage... I really do find it quite staggering that 'successful business people' slavishly follow an 'obviously unfit for purpose' Operating Model without making any radical changes to it to help improve their position.. Couldn't make it up sometimes could you?

But in the SWC, 'good' riders couldn't just coast around, settling for third behind a team mate, by beating one of their out of their depth opponents as every point counted.. Invariably you would have, at least, three similar level riders in most SWC races all throwing bikes at each other to gain that extra point... It will be interesting to see how the Final unravels when all the 'weak links' are out... I can see some real issues with riders slowing up to help a team mate, as instead of one rider twenty five yards back having to anticipate it and react, there may well be three riders all within fifteen yards taking evasive action... Could be 'interesting'...

Correct... You don't have to include an 'over 21' in theirs, so why the need to bring an U21 rider into THE Premier World 'Team' Championship? It should simply be the best three riders from each country regardless of age.. As can be seen, many cannot even muster two 'decent' riders so whatever system you have will be largely ineffective, however it will at least bring three riders per 'pair' to each event... Thinking out loud though, it has finally dawned on me where they got the the 'Three riders per Pair' idea from... It must be based on the British Speedway system whereby 'a pair of fixed race nights' actually add up to three...

For Slovenia to win, Matej will need to get in front and whilst the Danes team ride 150 yards behind, holding the other Slovenian in fourth, he stops, takes out a piece of elastic and tie it across the track... Then wait for the Danes to eventually come by and try and take one of them out at head high level.. It could work...

And remember its all about team riding...

It's just been said that some countries don't have U21 riders of a sufficient capability level.. So why make that the rule?

Was Greg slowing the race up there?

So as long as Slovenia both finish, Greg, even if he wins, cannot win... Great ..

Lots of track grading for one race.. Presume two more now between the last two races...? It would appear that to team ride, some riders need to get off their bikes, have a brew and maybe something to eat, and wait for their team mate to catch up before remounting...

What this format is missing is some kind of mechanic that allows you to play say a Joker to score double points if you are so many behind...

What a load of crap... You can now team ride with your team mate 100 yards behind. Just by slowing down and putting the rider behind you at risk as these bikes don't have brake lights.. Won't see a penny of my money on Tuesday...

Too many races with a huge ability difference between the riders.. No point changing to make team riding the key to success when there is such a massive difference in some of the teams' pairs... At least when there is only one from a Country you may have two, three or even four riders of similar ability (even if not great) to make a race.. Also, settling for second and third as it gives you an advantage will never facilitate great racing.. Every point should be hard fought (not coasted around) for..

You put your British Champ in... You take your British Champ out... In, Out, In, Out... You shake him all about... You do the Hokey Cooky and 'u-turn' around... That's what it's all about... Ohhhhhhh, the Hokey Cooky, Cooky... Ohhhhhhh, the Hokey Cooky Cooky... Ohhhhhhh, the Hokey Cooky, Cooky... Send text... Backtrack.... Ra Ra Ra....... (Or should that end Farce Farce Farce?)

Fact is that Berwick would more than likely have had the meeting on using their covers... Seems barmy to spend hundreds and thousands of pounds each year on riders whose names don't attract thousands, but nothing on a system that may help to do so over many, many years...

Damn, beat me to it....

Presume the tide was in...?

Dear British Speedway, As we agreed at our meeting. Here is the list of confirmed nights for Poland, Sweden and Denmark... Tuesday - Sweden Wednesday - Denmark Friday - Poland Saturday - Poland Sunday - Poland That leaves Monday and Thursday clear as your nights for racing... Can we say how great it's been to see such fanstastic collaboration amongst everyone in delivering a plan which brings credibility to every League in Europe.. Thank you for your help and vision in delivering this momentous outcome.. Signed -: The Rest of European Speedway.... PS Now don't go changing it to Monday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's as soon as you get back!!! (Ha Ha! Apologies. Just a little bit of Eastern European/Scandinavian humour there!) (As if you would do something like that)...

If practice is more appealing in Poland due to, I presume, not wanting to upset the 'geese that are laying their golden eggs', then surely it now makes even more sense for British Speedway to now "go it alone"? Let's be honest of the GP riders who are willing to ride over here, the only top 10 rider in the world is Doyle and if he wasn't an Aussie, over here for so many years, and as WC able to pick up good money without too much competition, then I would suspect he may have given Britain a miss too.. Ride on nights when you can generate the biggest crowds rather than when your employees tell you when they are available, only pay out what you can afford and let those wanting more carry on earning more overseas if they so wish, and fill your teams with riders 100% committed to British Speedway, meaning they are always available when your business can bring in the most income... Sometimes I do feel that some Promoters enjoy having their ego massaged by dealing with (and becoming friendly with) World Class talent... I would suggest that the income their sport generates is often a lot smaller than their egos in some instances.. Time to face reality for some I reckon....

Not really sure why there is ever a debate re which league is better... The vast majority of riders ride in both so surely they are pretty much the same? The Premiership 'should' be the pinnacle of the Sport, the one that becomes the aspirational top level for those climbing the ladder (Clubs and Riders). And the one that brings in the most publicity for the Sport by having the 'biggest teams', which then feeds down the natural levels.... That it isn't all of the above, doesnt do the sport any favours..

Run the sport at a level to what is affordable through the income it generates. Delivered by a price point that reflects its current position within its Sporting peer group, (rather than a price point agreed upon just to try and desperately cover unsustainable running costs).. On nights/afternoons you can attract most locals to visit you.. The World Champion, Jason Doyle, could walk through the centre of Manchester today and 10,000 people will walk past him without the slightest inkling of who is his.. Therefore trying to sell a Speedway meeting in Manchester (for a minimum £18), with the main thrust of your advertising that Doyle is there isn't going to encourage many takers.. Time for the Sport (in Britain) to go back to year zero, unravel all the myriad of reasons told to those who run the sport by the many who no longer attend, and start again... Seven man teams? Six man teams? Five man teams? One League? Two Leagues? Three Leagues? Four Leagues? National or Regional? Maybe even No Leagues?! Agree a structure that provides clear aspirational movement between levels for riders and teams, and bring in clear unambiguous rules and regulations that all supporters get to see and have explained to them.. In short. Bring credibility and integrity. Deliver a price point that perceives value for money but covers costs, and a level of racing that delivers four riders per race of fairly similar capabilty, that are 100% committed to British Speedway... If that doesn't work then give up... But we are a long, long way short of that vision at the moment..

Spot on... And to a huge amount of people, (but incredibly not all!), glaringly obvious.. The only way the Sport over here can move forwards is to accept the current operating model and business plan is bollocks and radically and fundamentally change it... Pay what you can afford to a level of rider willing to commit 100% to British Speedway.. Don't even try and compete with Poland and Sweden as all you will create is, naturally, riders who will give it their best shot but inevitably, save their best for where the real money is.. Whilst at the same time you wil be raising salary expectations from the other six in the team as the No1 salary will set the benchmark.. At the moment we have a race to the bottom.. And nobody wins that...

Kim Jong Un-placed... Kim Jong Un-derperforming.. Kim Jong Un-der pressure for his place Kim Jong Un-available, (R Schlein is to Guest)

I actually think bringing 'ex fans' back is a lot easier than generating new ones.. And let's face it, there are a big number of 'ex fans' on EVERY clubs' doorstep... There are many, many social media outlets to browse, not to mention the Speedway Stars letter pages over the past ten years or so if Promoters still need a clue... If each track could get just 500 of these 'ex fans' back it would make a huge difference to the Sport. (An incredible 'small' number in the grand scheme of things but that just shows how far the sport has regressed).. Listen to why they stopped going, lose the egotistical attitude of "we are right, they are wrong, and if it wasnt for us there would be no Speedway" and put fixes in place to correct what is wrong... As a starting point... Credibilty, integrity, with an evening of entertainment at a price point commensurate with what's actually on offer...

Presume his passport/visa issues are also why he isn't in the SON team?

I think those lads four words are very pertinent... In the BV Select v KL match it was unusual for the HOME team to run a fixture with missing riders. . Usually it's the AWAY team who will turn up with a 'select' team... I can only presume the away teams agree to the fixture, knowing they have riders missing, because it won't actually effect their business directly through the turnstiles that evening.... As well as, depending on the technical nature of the track, allow them to hire some ringers for the night. Which ironically may get them a victory which could actually encourage an improved crowd number attends their next home meeting!... (And maybe if a No1 is missing for them it may actually save them money too!?)... Maybe I am being too cynical and none of the above is correct and it is just an oversight, incompetence or simply a 'fait accompli' that sees so many meetings ran with guest riders... Not a great way collectively to run a business that relies on crowd numbers to be successful though is it?