Missing GP stars

[Deleted]

Nov 29, 2008 18:08:52 GMT @hatcham said:

I just wonder whether the exact reverse is true and its actually the promoters who are trying to force the top riders hand to accept less money.

I think this is almost certainly the case. The number of 'top' riders doing a vanishing act is indicative of this.

They might claim it's all to do with too many racedays and too much travel etc.. etc.., but I don't see how it's different to any other season when they seemed happy to ride. It would seem pretty clear it's because their earnings are likely to be much below their expectations next season.

[Deleted]

The difference could be the Elite League used to be important and meaningful to ride in.

[Deleted]

Dec 1, 2008 12:37:52 GMT @erik said:

The difference could be the Elite League used to be important and meaningful to ride in.

And why was it important and meaningful? Largely because it used to pay the most money, but economic circumstances have now changed (partly because of the BSPA's ineptitute, and partly because of wider economic changes).

[admin]

Historically, the top division of British speedway has been the most important of the various leagues, with the Swedish league being until quite recently almost exclusively a Swedish affair and the Polish league locked behind the Iron Curtain.
British promoters have been slow to realise the implications of the new reality and that the Swedish and Polish leagues are real and genuine rivals to their former monopoly. The Swedes seem to be heading down the same route as the British, with their leagues being over-run with and reliant upon foreign talent, whereas the Poles still seem to recognise the need for a steady stream of home-grown talent. Thus, in 2009, Polish teams will be required to field three Poles in the line-up, including a Polish junior who must take at least three rides.
Now, in spite of the talk from Toogood and the BSPA, British speedway just seems to be drifting aimlessly.

[Deleted]

Dec 2, 2008 10:57:06 GMT @wibblemuis said:

Dec 1, 2008 12:37:52 GMT @erik said:

The difference could be the Elite League used to be important and meaningful to ride in.

And why was it important and meaningful? Largely because it used to pay the most money, but economic circumstances have now changed (partly because of the BSPA's ineptitute, and partly because of wider economic changes).

It quite possibly did pay the most money, but that is not what I meant though. As Subedei says, the swedish league used to be largely a swedish affair, with only one foreign rider per team at the most. I remember those days because the few foreign names sounded so interesting and exotic, Kelvin Tatum, Greg Hancock etc. The point is, it wasn't a good league. Most riders were pretty crap, with some exceptions. Crowds were small.
England was where it mattered to be.

[schumi]

Part of a newspaper article about Poole quotes Matt Ford as saying:

He said: “A couple of English riders we’ve shown interest in have signed for their parent clubs, so it’s proving to be quite tough.

Full article here:

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/3954484.Ford_keeping_within_budget_for_2009

Maybe now we're starting to realise we have to use and develop our own riders? Lakeside are supposed to have two Brits in their team for 2009, Swindon reported to have at least one.

[Deleted]

Unknown territory for Fat Maud though isn't it We have 1 already, and hopefully another 1 or possibly 2 in our team.