mikebv

That for me would be where the SCB would need to be strong.. And maybe all salaries paid from a central fund that they control? In the absence of the so obviously required independent body to administer the sport, (that all 'proper sports' have), it is time that the SCB actually started to help sort the mess out and this could be a way of doing so? Any sponsorship should of course still be allowed to top up any riders income, however if no 'superstars' exist there wouldnt be the temptation to do 'anything dodgy' to attract certain riders because there would be no real on track benefit as (hopefully) the spread from Number One to Number Five isnt as wide as currently exists from One to Seven in a seven rider structure.. Super League has proven a salary cap can work with clear consequence already used against any team trying to get round it. The success of which now brings promotion and relegation again as the gap between both leagues (once enormous) has now been closed to close to parity. The Poles lets face it are not targeting the 'second, third and fourth tier' riders anyway when they have made their new rule, as there are loads of Polish riders already at that level with more coming through. So let them have the 'superstars' and over here, no longer run a seasons worth of ever changing fixture lists full of select teams, (which inevitably encourage accusations of being 'Mickey Mouse' with a lack of integrity) to accommodate their participation.. Give the 'non superstars' the chance to earn good money over here by DU'ing and then let them ride in wherever else they can. (But their GB contract must be met 100%) 10 riders per match with possibly not much more than a 2 point difference in average from 'best to worst', all of whom have a chance to earn good money by priortising GB? Worth a punt surely?

Is it time for radical solutions..? Is it time for teams of five riders as per Denmark? Is it time for a salary cap of say 5k a team per meeting? Number One gets 1500, (eg Cook, Anderson, Hougaard, Nilsson King), Numbers two and three (PL number ones and EL heat leaders) get 1000, Numbers four and five (PL heat leaders and EL second strings get 750 each. No GP or world class riders, instead use their would be salary for two home and away matches as a £5k winner takes all prize fund (1k each to the winning teams riders). That would mean something is riding on every meeting. Unlike now where many meetings are dead rubbers with the season over for many by August and even those who will qualify for the PO's still often have little to ride for if qualification is assured.. We know Speedway can still generate a crowd if there is something riding on the outcome so make it happen.. To make it pay you would need to clear after all non riding costs, £15k per home match for both home and away meetings and the prize money. (Team sponsor and Sky cash could also maybe help cover it?) Basically top and tail most EL teams this year by removing the Number One and the Number Seven and you have roughly the team strength level.. No guests from the same league, a RR system that is fit for purpose and could you get 10 evenly matched teams coming to the tapes next season..? If you could it would mean 36 matches, (18 at home). Maybe top eight for the play offs which would deliver a quarter, semi and Final for the two teams. (First v Eight, Second v Seventh etc would be the plan). Win all your home matches and the Number One would earn £72k a season without any sponsorship. Let all riders DU and that would take them to circa £100k+ just for riding over here. And if their team got to the play offs even more... Could we get 50 riders of the criteria to deliver 10 teams? Is it doable and would it be viable..? Maybe it is time to get on the front foot re Poland's plans re riders restrictions and be self sufficient? Weekly Speedway on nights that generate the best crowds. No meetings arranged when it is known programmed riders will be missing and a bit of added spice where riders can more than double their pay through bonus payments if they help their team win the match and could it help get Speedway back on its feet?

I think it's more about meaningful fixtures rather than simply quantity of fixtures.. Without coming across as FF, DOC, (whoever else he comes on as) etc etc.. The 'POKO Cup' does effect attendances at the back end of the season for teams that are 'virtually there' in the Play Offs.. These meetings for the home team become effectively 'dead rubbers'... Won't ever bring a crowd in when nothing rides on the outcome, as 'challenge matches' and 'low prize money' individual meetings over the years have shown. Hence they have been removed from the calendar.. Definitely need an EL Winners Shield (with some decent prize money) akin to RL to maintain interest to the end of the season...

Problem is the NL meeting is often a loss maker for the Promotions that currently run an NL team alongside an EL one... And given the fractious nature of the EL fixture list one home meeting per fortnight is often the case already and still the stadiums are mostly empty... And to be honest, not too sure each EL meeting that runs with 'GP stars' now is always profitable hence some teams want less Speedway as it means less losses...! The one simple question that need to be addressed is this... Can you afford to collectively pay two top GP (or non GP world class riders) in your team circa £10k for both home and away meetings from a home meeting income delivered by less than a thousand punters.? I would suggest most clubs would say No! That is the stark reality facing the promoters and the sport in this country..

Every AGM is 'the most important ever for the sport' etc etc etc.. The truth is that this one will be the same as every other over the past 15 years.. ie. Akin to applying two stripping plasters onto someone whose leg has been cut off to stem the flow of blood.. Not sure about the biscuits this year but, as always, there will be plenty of fudge... Phrases like "we need to wake up and smell the coffee", or, "we need to radically change our current operating model as its simply not fit for purpose" and even, "we need to run this sport with sporting integrity if it's to be seen as 'professional' and not 'mickey mouse' to it's own fan base and the wider sporting public" will I am sure be conspicuous by their absence. (Once again)... "I've rearranged vem deckchairs Mr Captain like yer rekwestid bat ver boat iz stiww goin' darn Sir! Shall we jast jamp ferrit?"... "Oh no my lad, no need to be so radical, we don't want our customers being aware of what the situation is. We'll do as we always do and simply get the band to play their version of "The Best Of The Seventies, KTel Remix. That always keeps any restless patrons entertained"😀

The Poles will have thought this through... The aim will be to stop the 'Big Boys' (what they see as 'their riders') burning themselves out by flying around Europe three or four times a week... You can see the conversation... "Ditch Britain, dont fly in and out all week, stay fresh for Sunday"... "You will lose 100k you say for no longer riding 28 matches? No problem we have two sponsors willing to top up your 300k contract to 400k for just 14 matches over here"..... "And think of the benefits it will bring to your GP season by only riding here and Sweden? Plenty of time to get sorted, plenty of time to relax"... "Obviously the alternative is you decide to keep your 100k and release yourself from your 300k contract"... "Whats it to be?"

The second team would smash the former at Lakeside...😀 Hence averages can be misleading... However maybe the best of both worlds would be to use the mean averages per sector of ten for the first forty riders and then the mean average for the rest? Set a limit for five grades and six man teams and all work to that limit but only one rider from each sector in 1-4 allowed.. Grading will at least mean something to the public. "He's Grade One, he's Grade Two etc" And fans would have more clarity on the level of rider within that band when any incoming riders join the league later in the season. No way would Woffy or Lindback have been Grade Two level so would have had to replace Lindgren or Holder this season which would have stopped lots of conspiracy theories and the sport being poorly viewed as a 'bit Mickey Mouse'..

Grade these 66 riders into 'tens' and run with six man teams and you could get nine very evenly matched teams. Using nine out of every ten means one rider misses out per section but they can come in to replace injured or loss of form riders when the season starts. (Or covers the likelihood riders eg Woofy, not riding over here next year) One rider out of each Grade One to Four (ie 36 out of 40 riders available) and Two from Grade Five (18 riders out of 26 available) To increase each 'pool'... Add to Grade One any of next years 15 GP riders not already on the list and Sayfutdinov, G. Laguta etc (for the off chance they may want to come over at some stage a la Woffy and Lindback this year).. Add to Grade Two riders of the ilk of Ljung, MJJ, Milik etc Add to Grade Three any current PL heat leaders not already mentioned Add to Grade four any current PL second strings not mentioned.. And add to Grade Five any PL reserves/NL riders not already mentioned eg Bewley.. There may be debate about Kim Nilsson being Grade One but that's averages for you when you are a home track specialist.. Schlein and Batchelor it could be argued are lower than expected but also given their injuries maybe not? And Grade Five probably should just be Brits only? Nine teams, six riders per team. One from each pool of ten per team in Grades 1 to 4 and two from Grade 5 mean lots of 'subs on the bench' to ensure no guests. With clear transparency as to where everyone sits in a Grading system, either riding here now or not, and maybe it could work? A possible race format is everyone races against each other over the first nine heats. Then three heats of lowest scorers through to the highest and finally one nominated..? Thirteen heats, and maybe charge £15 quid as cheaper to run a six man team with a 'second string' lighter than the case this season..? Could happiness again be 40-38?😉

Work ONE day a week and earn more than double what you would earn for doing exactly the same job THREE days a week? Mmmmmm? Difficult one...🙄

Or indeed, confuse him....

Get five independent people with knowledge of the sport and let them grade riders 1 - 5. Most riders will slip into one of the five grades easily and for any that don't a vote is taken. It would prevent anomolies, eg Woffy being considered a 'lesser rider' that Kylmakorpi and also mean no PL/EL conversion nonsense.. Six man teams. (2 fives, and one each from the one to four). Teams could have the option of missing out a 'one to four' level rider and have another from the grade below, eg no grade 1 but two grade 2's etc There are too many variables in how averages are delivered to be regarded as fit for purpose when team building eg large home track advantage, ringer guests racing in meetings diluting averages of the other riders, falls, engine failures, riders missing (miraculously) meetings at tracks they race poorly on so their average doesn't change, riders doing more meetings than others around the globe which must effect performance and the obvious protected heats distorting the riders true capability.. Go to grading or have a 'free for all' with no limit to team strengths. No team could afford a team of superstars anyway and even if they could, after four or five weeks of watching home teams hammering the opposition crowds would drop through sheer tedium making them definitely not viable.. We on here could plot 90% of the World's riders into five levels with no problem. Leaving the 10% of 'maybe's' to be discussed in more detail.. Don't use something that is so open to manipulation that it's incredible to think it is still used...

Spot on... The conundrum for the BSPA is how they get 'that' on track every week. By 'that' I mean two teams with their own riders riding in a competition that had some meaning.. Must be honest even as a BV fan I wasn't too bothered who won the overall Championship as sadly it is so devalued throughout the year by its qualification meetings consistently seeing various 'select teams' race against each other. In Speedway (The British version) the two finalists are invariably delivered by all the other competitors 'helping out' which cannot help crowd levels on a week by week basis, as no one can really take the Competition that seriously. Or, more sadly, give the 'Champions' tag the accolade and respect it deserves.. Super League have a League Winners Shield so Speedway should too. At least it would mean that the last three or four meetings, pre the play offs, still have some relevance for teams already a 'shoe in' for the play offs.. As has been shown, make the EVENT have some true relevance with regards to its outcome, and ensure it has the clear sporting integrity that a 'professional sports' competition should have, and you can deliver more than decent crowds in British Speedway.. Doing it every week at every track surely isn't beyond the wit of man? (Or woman obviously)...

And missed out on increasing their costs by tens of thousands whilst at the very best marginally increasing their turnover... And if getting beat at home regularly, certainly decreasing their turnover.. Don't know what their issues are!!😁 "Roll up! Roll up! Cam an get yer Elite League place 'ere! Ooo wants wan? Lavverly Jabbly"...

Certainly has a bit of an 'old fashioned' attitude does Cook... ie winning for your team is very important to him and its not just all about turn up, put in an individual performance, earn as much as you can and then off to your next pay cheque... A few more Cookies wouldn't go amiss in British Speedway..

Getting crap all night, panto villain... Nothing like a bit of atmosphere at Speedway... If people can't take it back then don't give it out.. Well done Woffy and Wolves... And Woffy's engines...😁 A good year for the Aces. Just not quite good enough in the end.. Some great racing at a great race track and facility...

Can see the B/W helmet cover being the difference sadly.. Can see Woffy or Freddie delivering at least four points if wearing it.. Strange choice to give it Zagar who has proved time and again incapable of handling the pressure situations. (Five last night, five last year away at Poole in the Final) He also isn't great around Monmore and we had a track specialist in Cook in the same race.. Oh well.... Just need four 5-1's, two 4-2's, eight 3-3's and a 4-4 and the jobs a good 'un..😁

No complaints tonight... Cook showed true fight and leadership.. Steve and Ritchie W had their moments but sadly those three apart the rest managed just 12 between them from their 14 races.... Not really what's expected from a World Top Ten rider, the World U21 champ and a multi British Champion.. However, that's sport.... Some you win, some you lose... Wolves' top four will score at least 35 on Wednesday and probably more so I would suggest the Aces are looking at a miracle... However, that's sport.... So you never know.. Well done to Wolves tonight. If they go on to win it then it will be deserving...

Will everyone get in? 2000 or maybe more Wolves fans. Regulars, semi regulars, non regulars, used to go's etc etc.. BV will have 300 or so, as a minimum, I would say due to the relatively short travelling time. And the local midland clubs could generate 300 easily. (Cradley fans will go just to see Wolves lose😁). Add on I would suggest at least a couple of hundred 'speedway die hards' from around the country and will the capacity be enough? A nice problem to have for Speedway but could there be issues getting everyone in under the H+S rules?

Its now over a day later so a quick question... Has the result actually been allowed to stand? Its not been amended in any way since Wednesday night? Have no "unknown before Thursday morning" rules been contravened by Wolves which has subsequently seen then have 9 points deducted? Have no rules been found in some obscure sub section of another sub section of another sub section that gives teams with three Scandinavian riders missing in a meeting a nine point bonus? Has the meeting not been declared 'null and void' as the result has since to be found "not in the best interest of British Speedway"? No? Great! Roll on the Final. May the best team (with their own riders) win!...😁

Maybe the Polish League are testing the water to reduce their own costs? If top riders say 'No' then maybe they will get replaced with 'lesser/cheaper' local alternatives....? They will maybe then put a cap on team strengths? Could sell it the Polish fans as 'in the best interest of Speedway' (heard that before)😉 and not their fault that riders wouldnt accept the deal... "We won't be held to ransom by the actions of certain riders" etc, etc etc The bubble is bursting over there Speedway wise so maybe a pre-emptive strike in cost reductions?

'If true'? It might just help the sport in this country..? Yes the quality on show will be lesser but at least they will be the riders who are available every week, meaning a consistent fixture list and who knows maybe no more guests? As presumably it will be the heat leaders effected, (ie the higher earners) could clubs afford to run more of a squad system..? Get the team strengths equal and put four riders out in each race of reasonably equal ability, and even if races are three seconds slower than current, no one will notice any difference.. And if the higher earners have gone, a spin off could be that surely admission costs reduce too which may increase crowds? Let all Brits DU so they would effectively have three leagues to race in.. As I say 'if true' it could mean the sport in this country has to finally face up to its 'true level' in the grand scheme of things, and stop constantly fudging the way it is ran because it's operational model is time and time again exposed as simply not fit for purpose.. Could be a real chance to 'start again' for the sport in this country? And this time do it properly having learned all the mistakes of the past..

Has Matt cancelled them Fireworks?😁 Well done Wolves... Should be a great final... Two MASSIVE crowds...

Has Matt cancelled them Fireworks?😁 Well done Wolves... Should be a great final... Two MASSIVE crowds...

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.😁 ABP😋

I would like to see a league set up that allows any meeting to be planned in when the majority of riders will knowingly be missing, thus meaning lots of guest riders to bring 'variety' to the watching public. The very fact that there are so many riders in attendance, from so many different clubs around the country, will more than make up for any lack of integrity in the arranging of (and obviously the outcome) of the match.. Maybe also put together a 'heat leader' list whereby teams can have only two from it? However the obvious caveat to that is to ensure certain 'heat leader' calibre riders are omitted so teams can end up with effectively three 'heat leader level' riders whilst others struggle to get two decent ones.. And finally, allow the four teams who qualify for the play offs the opportunity to bring in ringers from other teams on a 'horses for courses' basis. Not only would this increase their chances of victory in the play offs but also de-value the importance of 112 qualification matches preceding them... Food for thought maybe? A bit too radical possibly? Watch this space...