British reduction (2.5%) scrapped

[Genghis]

At a time, when we should be encouraging British riders (who are few and far between), instead we have the abandonment of the the one rule that helped them.

Apparently because it's not legal. Although I can't quite see that, as both the Poles and Swedes have rules that favour their own riders.

So what should we do? I guess one ride around it, would have higher averages for riders coming from the Polish and Swedish league into ours, and a lower average for those coming from the National League, or moving from Premier League to Elite League (ironically the latter was raised last year ).

[Deleted]

Nov 28, 2011 8:22:06 GMT Genghis said:

Apparently because it's not legal. Although I can't quite see that, as both the Poles and Swedes have rules that favour their own riders.

I'm not sure they do in actuality, although the intention is clear.

The 2.5% reduction was pretty pointless anyway - not enough to really incentivise teams to sign British riders. Just give riders coming up through the lower leagues a 3.00 average for a certain number of years, combined with a variable points limit to encourage teams to keep middle and lower order riders rather than because their average fits.

Abolishing the transfer system might also help, as teams might be more likely to sign British riders if they weren't expected to pay fees for them. Teams losing riders they've developed should be compensated from Sky money.

[admin]

I see a lot of these BSPA AGM decisions as being to keep on the right side of the FIM and BSI. They can hardly go to war with the Ekstraliga (and it is the Ekstraliga, nothing to do with the PZM or GKSZ ... people blame the PZM for all sorts of things that they're not responsible for) while ignoring a British quota on one rider over 8.00. All this talk of keeping on the right side of EU law and yet no movement on the asset system? The asset system is no threat to the hegemony of BSI ... the new Ekstraliga rule is.
Personally, I welcome the new Ekstraliga rule ... about time someone stood up to BSI and about time the GPs started to contribute something to the sport.

[Deleted]

Nov 30, 2011 4:57:04 GMT admin said:

All this talk of keeping on the right side of EU law and yet no movement on the asset system?

The FIM's sudden concern about domestic affairs is undoubtedly because their cash cow is threatened. They and their BSI cohorts have leeched off the back of the national leagues for years, but now riders are having to choose between earning a living or subsidising a chase for individual glory, and they're voting with their feet.

[admin]

And look at how late in the day the FIM actually showed an interest in events in Poland. They arrogantly assumed that the Polish rules would have no impact ... truthfully, the FIM and BSI have been deluding themselves. They only showed an interest in this new Polish rule, which has been known about for over a year now, when Darcy Ward started rumbling on about not accepting a "wild card". The lack of appreciation of the state of the sport in the corridors of power at the FIM is astonishing.