Sings4Speedway Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago 13 hours ago, mikebv said: I suggested on another thread that the old SJL three rider teams could be used... But during the main meeting... After every four heats, two NDL level races.. Track should be therefore slickened off, not too grippy, but not bare like a second half would bring... Tractors then come out and reset the track for the main meeting.. Six heats in total, and four rides per rider, no subs allowed.. I remember the 4 team tournaments running a couple, maybe three?, reserve race(s) during the meeting that didn't count to the result but gave the No 7's in the team track time.. If EVERY meeting did this in BOTH leagues there would be plenty of track time for the developing riders.. No need for contracts as riders could ride for anyone at any meeting subject to their availability, (who just said "just like the top two tiers do"?)... Expenses only, or even "pay to play", but something desperately needs doing to increase the amount of UK riders in teams, and giving developing riders track time, and plenty of it, is the only way to do it... On YT there is coverage of some Youth finals from the last few years, and several riders now breaking through are riding, with, a good few of them, from 125 to 500cc "straight legging" into the turns and opening the throttle as they came three quarters the way around the bend, thus making the bike "broadside".. Just a few years later, these same lads now go full throttle into every turn... Which shows. Practice really does, make perfect.... Therefore, the promoters really need to create this practice time... Loads of merits here, extra track time for the riders, extra value for money for spectators (or chance to nip to the loo etc if they don't want to watch) cost reductions for entry riders, reduced travel the list goes on..... Negatives and probably the biggest is the risk of delay/abandonment to the main meeting due to an accident in the match races. Also the standard of rider tracked needs to be looked at, there was a point when riders found their own level and progressed up accordingly but in more recent years there have been some development league riders who are incredibly wobbly and a risk to themselves and others. An "easy" fix would be an assessment of rider standard at a track post meeting. Can the rider circulate within x time of the main meeting, can they slide the bike, do they look in control? If not then its back to practice days until they can meet the level. Setting the bar lower continually for the benefit of inclusion isn't doing the sport any good. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago 15 hours ago, Fortythirtyeight said: Redcar…..you heard wrong. When they did actually ride on the proper race night they got a very good crowd but running at different times ( 6pm, 3pm , 12 noon ! ) on different days did affect the crowd, but it was still decent for NDL. Great to hear, i clearly got the wrong end of the stick. Still yet to make a trip to Redcar but all reports are usually positive so sounds like things are definitely being done right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago (edited) 14 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said: Loads of merits here, extra track time for the riders, extra value for money for spectators (or chance to nip to the loo etc if they don't want to watch) cost reductions for entry riders, reduced travel the list goes on..... Negatives and probably the biggest is the risk of delay/abandonment to the main meeting due to an accident in the match races. Also the standard of rider tracked needs to be looked at, there was a point when riders found their own level and progressed up accordingly but in more recent years there have been some development league riders who are incredibly wobbly and a risk to themselves and others. An "easy" fix would be an assessment of rider standard at a track post meeting. Can the rider circulate within x time of the main meeting, can they slide the bike, do they look in control? If not then its back to practice days until they can meet the level. Setting the bar lower continually for the benefit of inclusion isn't doing the sport any good. 100%... For me, it doesn't really matter if its just the top 30 or so NDL lads riding for any team, on any given day... No team kevlars, just team race jackets with numbers 1, 2 and 3, with whoever is available taking one of them... It gives those already of a "decent level of competence" more opportunity to ride... Track days under tutelage of professional riders should be also part of the BSP plans whereby complete novices with "some competence" can develop and improve with an eye on reaching, initially, NDL level... And if the odd Dan Bewley is found then fasttrack them through... The NSS is lying empty for many weekends with no Colts, so a perfect opportunity to have weekly training sessions.. Edited 8 hours ago by mikebv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago 4 minutes ago, mikebv said: 100%... For me, it doesn't really matter if its just the top 30 or so NDL lads riding for any any team, on any given day... It gives those already of a "decent level of competence" more opportunity to ride... Track days under tutelage of professional riders should be also part of the BSP plans whereby complete novices with "some competence" can develop and improve with an eye on reaching, initially, NDL level... And if the odd Dan Bewley is found then fasttrack them through... The NSS is lying empty for many weekends with no Colts, so a perfect opportunity to have weekly training sessions.. There were/are some excellent amateur meetings and coaching days run by genuinely enthusiastic people who cared about rider development and did produce many good level riders via these routes). Ride n Slide used to have a literal lorry load of equipment available to hire for try out days, Wayne Carter still offers similar i believe? Amateur fixtures were common around the UK with with Southern Track Riders, Dragons and others i forget. Riders placed into their respective ability levels which kept competition interesting and safety up whilst offering a seasons worth of weekend racing to those interested in progression or not. 8-9 tracks from memory hosted these kind of events, i struggle to think of more than 1-2 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortythirtyeight Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago Things are now that desperate that Vatcher is ringing recently ‘retired’ riders ( one’s that have simply given up through lack of opportunities and rising costs ) to see if they would make a comeback ! When will they realise that they need to start at the basics by having open days with free ‘ Try it ‘ experiences to try and entice kids to come and have a go. The pool of riders is fast running out so where is the future plan ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 19 minutes ago, Fortythirtyeight said: Things are now that desperate that Vatcher is ringing recently ‘retired’ riders ( one’s that have simply given up through lack of opportunities and rising costs ) to see if they would make a comeback ! When will they realise that they need to start at the basics by having open days with free ‘ Try it ‘ experiences to try and entice kids to come and have a go. The pool of riders is fast running out so where is the future plan ? The future plan certainly wont be any longer to pluck another foreign journeyman to fill spaces that should have been given to UK lads, if Poland has its way... Most riders in Poland will be riding in their own league as their "plus one", so the number available will have dwindled.. Interesting interview with Matt Ford in the Speedway Star re Denmark now paying more than Sweden, presumably to be the number two choice for those Polish contracted lads next year? Those in charge over here have certainly buried their collective heads deep into the big hole they have dug for themselves over the last couple of decades.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 27 minutes ago, Fortythirtyeight said: Things are now that desperate that Vatcher is ringing recently ‘retired’ riders ( one’s that have simply given up through lack of opportunities and rising costs ) to see if they would make a comeback ! When will they realise that they need to start at the basics by having open days with free ‘ Try it ‘ experiences to try and entice kids to come and have a go. The pool of riders is fast running out so where is the future plan ? Ironic given how many opportunities the BSPL have gone out of their way to shut down with the weasel leading the charge. A better investment of time would be asking why the recently retired riders gave up.....but they wouldn't like the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secsy1 Posted 6 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 1 hour ago, mikebv said: 100%... For me, it doesn't really matter if its just the top 30 or so NDL lads riding for any team, on any given day... No team kevlars, just team race jackets with numbers 1, 2 and 3, with whoever is available taking one of them... It gives those already of a "decent level of competence" more opportunity to ride... Track days under tutelage of professional riders should be also part of the BSP plans whereby complete novices with "some competence" can develop and improve with an eye on reaching, initially, NDL level... And if the odd Dan Bewley is found then fasttrack them through... The NSS is lying empty for many weekends with no Colts, so a perfect opportunity to have weekly training sessions.. From parents and competitors competing in the BYC it is the only venue that charges the competitors to ride, unlike other venues. Is this correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Eck Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago Is speedway the only motorsport in Britain, two, three or four wheeled, that pays riders as soon as they make even the lowest rung of the NDL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago (edited) 40 minutes ago, Wee Eck said: Is speedway the only motorsport in Britain, two, three or four wheeled, that pays riders as soon as they make even the lowest rung of the NDL? Yes and ultimately it has led to a culture of entitlement, where you get mum and dads crowing that’s it’s costing them a fortune to set their kids up in the sport, yet if they chose motox or enduro or road racing then it would cost them 5x as much and unless that kid is something special and wins things they won’t get a penny back Edited 2 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago 4 hours ago, secsy1 said: From parents and competitors competing in the BYC it is the only venue that charges the competitors to ride, unlike other venues. Is this correct? No idea, however... I would think it is perfectly fair to charge a hire fee for the track, and facilities, that the riders are using... You take up MX, Autograss, Club Motorsports, and even Grass track and you basically "pay to play".. Speedway shouldn't be any different at entry level.. And, of course, if you are any good, you actually get paid to race, something which many in other motorsports never get to experience... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Eck Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 30 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said: Yes and ultimately it has led to a culture of entitlement, where you get mum and dads crowing that’s it’s costing them a fortune to set their kids up in the sport, yet if they chose motox or enduro or road racing then it would cost them 5x as much and unless that kid is something special and wins things they won’t get a penny back Thank you. I don’t always agree with your views but this time I do. The NDL used to work much better but the arrival of one team who looked on it as a cash cow spoiled it for everyone. Riders who were happy at £10 a point and 10p a mile discovered a team paying £25 a point and 20p a mile and everyone wanted parity. The stand alone teams, like the Moss’s at Buxton, were driven out. And now, with Poland taking the best riders and, from next year, imposing a restriction on where they can ride, why should promoters invest in a future that won’t benefit them? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.