Stars Vs Brummies - PL 4th July 2008

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Almost a complete whitewash this one.

Details here: speedwayupdates.proboards103.com/index.cgi?board=Kings&action=display&thread=2785

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Classic meeting for those that think r/r should never, ever be an option.

Birmingham turned up with 2 CL riders at reserve and once Watson withdrew after his first ride it was always going to be a question of how big the margin would be. Brundle rode well but isnt a PL heatleader, Legault did far more than could be expected of a rider returning from long term injury and Lee Smart rode much better than many no2 riders round Saddlebow

Yet more evidence to support the case for PL1 / PL2 as realistically it was men against boys for the majority of heats and you can only feel sorry for Birmingham and their luck on the injury front

[admin]

What do you mean PL 1 and PL 2?
It is worth remembering that Birmingham won at King's Lynn earlier in the season, so they'd surely have been in a PL 1 and it really wouldn't be credible to shunt them into a PL 2 midway through the season.

[schumi]

Jul 4, 2008 22:17:38 GMT @tonym said:

Yet more evidence to support the case for PL1 / PL2 as realistically it was men against boys for the majority of heats and you can only feel sorry for Birmingham and their luck on the injury front

So would you propose three leagues (plus conference), or don't you think the PL heatleaders could compete with the EL lads? Where does it end?

[Deleted]

Jul 4, 2008 22:32:39 GMT admin said:

What do you mean PL 1 and PL 2?
It is worth remembering that Birmingham won at King's Lynn earlier in the season, so they'd surely have been in a PL 1 and it really wouldn't be credible to shunt them into a PL 2 midway through the season.

Sorry, didnt explain myself (joys of forum life)

Those on the BSF who are saying the PL is the bees knees and can take any expansion by just adding a few CL lads at the bottom should have been their this evening. Darren Mallet is undoubtably a decent CL rider and had he had a bit more luck could have made the grade at PL but tonight he was only just on the pace, Adam Lowe was not even close

The point about PL1 and PL2 is not where Birmingham would have been placed (PL1 in my book for what its worth) but by having such a large PL the riders are spread thinly and every team has a fairly wide talent spread within in it, this then poses problems when one top rider (or more in some cases) is out as they leave a disproportionate 'gap' in the team, also getting replacements this season is proving harder than ever

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Jul 4, 2008 22:39:24 GMT @schumi said:

Jul 4, 2008 22:17:38 GMT @tonym said:

Yet more evidence to support the case for PL1 / PL2 as realistically it was men against boys for the majority of heats and you can only feel sorry for Birmingham and their luck on the injury front

So would you propose three leagues (plus conference), or don't you think the PL heatleaders could compete with the EL lads? Where does it end?

I have long advocated 3 leagues (plus CL), in an effort to try and condense the ability range within a division (close heats make exiting speedway IMO not close scores - and close heats come from equally matched riders not teams built to the same limit)

On the second point I most certainly do think that PL heatleaders could (and should) compete with the EL lads, hence why I have always supported doubling up/down (and not just for British riders). I think one possible way forward could be for clubs (in whichever league) to contract their top 5 (or 4 if six man teams) with the reserves being doubling up riders from the league below.

Beneifits - riders wouldnt have the 'gamble' factor when moving up and could still earn in their 'base' league, clubs would benefit by contracting less riders and being able to take a look at riders stepping up as well as picking in form riders to fill their lower order.

Downside - more organisation re fixtures and better co-operation between clubs (not strong points of British speedway as it currently stands) and the potential for riders being injured when riding for someone other than their 'base' team (personally this would be lessened over the years as closer links between clubs were established which allowed more consistent team building year on year and a structured progression of riders ie Rye riders always moved up to Eastbourne so Rye fans would look out for Eastbourne's results and underperforming Eastbourne riders may drop down a division for a season with the natural place for them to go being Rye)

Sorry for going a bit off topic but with the news from Redcar this week someone needs to be thinking of an alternative to the status quo and it really ought to be more than just 'what should the points limit drop to for 2009'

[Deleted]

Only a few weeks ago I read an article about "one night a week" speedway to counteract the unavailability of riders doing Continental trips being away when their teams need them here. With doubling up and down like this they would still need to be in two places at once.

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Jul 5, 2008 15:45:34 GMT @starghost said:

Only a few weeks ago I read an article about "one night a week" speedway to counteract the unavailability of riders doing Continental trips being away when their teams need them here. With doubling up and down like this they would still need to be in two places at once.

Alternatively it could be argued that speedway going to once a week means riders dont need to be in two places at once - the chaos that is currently the UK fixture list needs to be seriously looked at as I cant see how it benefits fans, riders or promoters to have fixtures all over the place

I think moving to less meetings per season is inevitable as we cant keep relying on promoters to put their hands in their pockets just because some fans want to go every week, doubling up would give riders committed to the UK more fixtures (in the league above)

The main idea of doubling up/down is to get a better balance in teams so that we dont have the nonsense that is Brundle has an EL place but Doolan doesnt - who does that benefit?