Najjer

I think you're asking why are Somerset having race bibs like Poole? If so, I can't answer that as it well and truly baffles me. Somerset has always been a professionally run club and I see this move as a complete oversight, missed opportunity and just simply unprofessional. We've got the World Champion turning up at the Oak Tree Arena racing in a mix and match. Imagine the selling point to sponsors that the sports world champion could carry your logo under the Somerset Speedway umbrella on all marketing, advertising, promotions, on BT sports, within the local community, social media and websites to name just a few. If you can't sell that you're in the wrong trade!

Even better! I don't think you understand how business and marketing works. Forget the cost, as that will be recouped and more. With a professional image the chance for investment is massive - therefore out weighing the cost! I've seen it posted elsewhere that Swindon have a main title sponsor on the front of their suit and then 9 other team sponsors elsewhere on the suit. I wonder how many of those 10 would of invested if they had been told they would the size of a 50 pence piece to fit on a race jacket? None I expect. With an amateurish image the marketing oppertunities and chance for investment is a lot less.

Obviously not looking or asking in the right places. Somerset is thriving with the Hinckley developments, new businesses everywhere, I don't believe for one minute there isn't someone with an interest who wouldn't of taken a punt on it.

Look on the Dstar website, they have all sorts of options ranging from £575 upwards to £750 or so. In this day and age it is really not difficult to find a sponsor(s) who wants to get their brand 'out there' to cover that.

Maybe he's still bitter about being at Poole and not at his preferred choice of Somerset?

I'm not sure what's worse... Owing someone £5,000 from 18 months ago, or not knowing anything about it!

All about as positive as the new Leeds United logo did. At a quick glance it's been criticised by Rossiter, Ward and Brady Kurtz to name a few.... plus a lot more fans on twitter are critical than positive reaction. Without the sponsors mentioned or any pictures, there is no way any of the PR can be good for anybody connected and is actually just damaging to Poole's reputation as a professional outfit.

Just a classic case of Speedway being lazy and not efficient enough. Things nowadays can be turned around in a matter of days if they are efficient enough. Even having overshirts would be a damn sight lot better than a race jacket so at least the top half is all the same for the riders in the team and more importantly than anything, the sponsors!

Why?

It might be in his club contract, that club matches always take priority... and rightly so!

To be fair, friendly or not, I would be pretty peeved if a rider for my team was missing a friendly meeting to be riding in an individual event somewhere at the start of the season.

I'm not sure on the ins and outs of what material does what in terms of race suits currently. But if I was a promoter, I'd have done my research and say to my riders "this is what we are prepared to provide you with, costing X amount. If you wish to have a greater product or brand then that is fine and you can cover the difference in price."

Another one who can't look past the cost of race suits, as oppose to the extra marketing opportunities and creation of extra income it could bring if done properly....

The old WTC... that says all you need to know, that some people see the way forward for British Speedway is reverting back to 15 years to the year 2003!

I'm not saying it's easy, matter of fact far from it, but there is a good 6 months in the off season so I'd have to question how much of a priority it has been. Especially in Somerset where there is so many businesses that are booming right now especially with the developments of Hinckley Point power station nearby. I don't mean this as a dig but I'm amazed there aren't businesses willing to part with a thousand pound here and there, which is small money to some of them but a difference in the current Speedway world. I've been a graphic designer for 8 years and have worked within existing brand guidelines for some big companies and created plenty others too so I know the importance of brands and identities. Everybody just keeps looking at the cost of racesuits but they forget that the images of the riders will be in the paper each week, they'll be used on advertisements hoardings, posters, social media etc you name it. Parading Jason Doyle's or whoever individual race colours will look terrific instead of Somerset colours!! I just find it absolute mind boggling. It is such a massive oversight. It probably won't put people off going who already go, but it certainly won't help newcomers go as there is then no association to the team... just a bunch of randomers turning up for an amatuar outting. Like I said, a massive oversight.

I'm led to believe they are not - a decision I'm strongly against.

I couldn't agree more.

They can - they can also be a lot more.... however they can also be purchased for around £650. So to start throwing figures around that Poole spent £2,000 on suits for certain riders last year is idiotic.

You've probably just answered your own question.

It's not even the non professional look that worries me as a complete oversight by teams, it's the fact they've failed to see the massive marketing opportunities in front of them. Instead of seeing it as a waste of money, they should be viewing it as a massive way of MAKING money - that's the biggest concern!

Sugarray knows what he is talking about.

Some of your post makes sense. The deal with a supplier would make sense to reduce the costs, although they aren't massive costs anyway. Teams should start being tougher with riders and provide them with 1 suit and that is it, especially when they are being used once or twice a week. More fool the teams that have coughed up money for more than 1 suit per riders! That makes perfect sense, especially when the clubs sponsors are not only on the chest but on the thighs like Somerset's were last year.

So why has Matt Ford said he's paid out a lot of money for them then if the riders paid for them themselves? I believe they cost in the region of about £650 - £700 but it's still hardly ground breaking money.

We are told it's a professional league yes. However, there is very little about it that is professional right now.

Guests should now be a lot less with the fixture list being sorted and anybody missing should be replaced with R/R. The idea of black bottoms a few years ago was much better and team shirts are used to keep them in keeping if guests are used. How hard can it be??