The Sprint Race Debate

[False dawn]

I must admit that I'm not convinced about the awarding of WC points as part of qualifying.
However, when I read in the Speedway Star this week that it is mathematically possible for the championship to be decided in the afternoon at Torun in front of a few hundred fans, it did give me pause for thought. It might not even be on TV. At the very least I think there should not be a sprint race at the final round.

What's the general consensus?

[TINYS]

11 minutes ago, False dawn said:

I must admit that I'm not convinced about the awarding of WC points as part of qualifying.
However, when I read in the Speedway Star this week that it is mathematically possible for the championship to be decided in the afternoon at Torun in front of a few hundred fans, it did give me pause for thought. It might not even be on TV. At the very least I think there should not be a sprint race at the final round.

What's the general consensus?

Should not be a sprint race at all.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, False dawn said:

I must admit that I'm not convinced about the awarding of WC points as part of qualifying.
However, when I read in the Speedway Star this week that it is mathematically possible for the championship to be decided in the afternoon at Torun in front of a few hundred fans, it did give me pause for thought. It might not even be on TV. At the very least I think there should not be a sprint race at the final round.

What's the general consensus?

To take a positive on that at least we'd all know the situation with the easy to understand, simple 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 scoring, rather than sorting around with our calculators potentially waiting for @racers and royals to tell us all who the World Champion is!

But on the whole, to run these events in almost empty stadiums with coverage tucked away on red button channels is and has been a bit of a farce. 

[arnieg]

For there to be a debate it requires both sides to be argued. Is there anyone out there to argue in favour of sprint races?

Anyone?

[IainB]

49 minutes ago, arnieg said:

For there to be a debate it requires both sides to be argued. Is there anyone out there to argue in favour of sprint races?

Anyone?

I'm not totally against the idea just the way in which they've decided to organise it currently. It's all a bit too slap dash to me, timing doesn't start until the pit gate closes, no timer Countdown shown on screen, lap times take about 10 seconds to appear, if they appear at all. I like the head to head aspect of it, it being almost held behind closed doors is not good. It could be so much more with a bit of thought and effort. 

Maybe a serious of 1 lap head to head dashes from the gate, culminating in a 4 rider 1 lap dash to finish?

At the moment there's nothing "sprint" about it. 

Edited 22 hours ago by IainB

[TINYS]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

I'm not totally against the idea just the way in which they've decided to organise it currently. It's all a bit too slap dash to me, timing doesn't start until the pit gate closes, no timer Countdown shown on screen, lap times take about 10 seconds to appear, if they appear at all. I like the head to head aspect of it, it being almost held behind closed doors is not good. It could be so much more with a bit of thought and effort. 

Maybe a serious of 1 lap head to head dashes from the gate, culminating in a 4 rider 1 lap dash to finish?

At the moment there's nothing "sprint" about it. 

It's just unnecessary.

[Fromafar]

3 hours ago, arnieg said:

For there to be a debate it requires both sides to be argued. Is there anyone out there to argue in favour of sprint races?

Anyone?

 

3 hours ago, arnieg said:

For there to be a debate it requires both sides to be argued. Is there anyone out there to argue in favour of sprint races?

Anyone?

Not many takers by the looks of it.Farcical IM0. so Mickey Mouse 1min from when the pit gate shuts,luck of the draw,track conditions different for every pairing and awarding points towards being World Champ.You couldn’t make  it up.👎!!!! .Finally watched by couple of hundred a fans.FFS.

Edited 20 hours ago by Fromafar

[PersonalResponsibility]

20 hours ago, IainB said:

I'm not totally against the idea just the way in which they've decided to organise it currently. It's all a bit too slap dash to me, timing doesn't start until the pit gate closes, no timer Countdown shown on screen, lap times take about 10 seconds to appear, if they appear at all. I like the head to head aspect of it, it being almost held behind closed doors is not good. It could be so much more with a bit of thought and effort. 

Maybe a serious of 1 lap head to head dashes from the gate, culminating in a 4 rider 1 lap dash to finish?

At the moment there's nothing "sprint" about it. 

Agreed. They've tried to make it an 'event' but not bothered to actually do anything that makes it interesting. We watched one last year at Wroclaw, and while it was OK, it just felt like a glorified practice followed by a race.

I'm not completely against the concept, but at least make it something worthwhile, if you're going to do it at all.

It's also too early in the day, so it's not like you can keep yourself entertained around the stadium until the GP starts. Not really worth a tram/taxi/walk there and back for 60 seconds of action.

Edited 2 hours ago by PersonalResponsibility