Team Speedway v Individual Events

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It's team speedway for me every time too. I watch the GP's with great interest and enjoy them, but 7 v 7 can't be beaten for me.

As others have said, Testimonial Meetings leave me cold - they are a great way of say 'thank you' to a rider for his loyalty, but on rack they're a bore fest.

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In theory i prefer team meetings.I am in the unfortunate position of not being able to see too many.The Bundesliga is a 4tt thing and they were always "fillers" in my book.And a lot of the Danish Speedway league has been a bit of a let down.So in the last few years my highlights have been the Danish Final meetings,plus the YGT(80cc World Final)competition

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madamhooch said:

I always watch the World Cup as well - bit of a shame that the gap between the top and bottom teams is so wide (even in the final last year...).

Which is why a World Cup based on test matches would be a disaster.

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kevh said:

As others have said, Testimonial Meetings leave me cold - they are a great way of say 'thank you' to a rider for his loyalty, but on rack they're a bore fest.

I don't honestly know why we have to have them. In what other professions outside of sport do people get testimonials?

Testimonials were originally to compensate sportspersons who had stayed at the same team and had therefore foregone a percentage of the transfer fees they would otherwise have been entitled to. In these days of riders more-or-less moving where they want though, plus being allowed to ride in other countries, I think there's much less justification for them.

No problem with benefit meetings for those riders who meet with career-ending injuries though.

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wibblemuis said:

madamhooch said:

I always watch the World Cup as well - bit of a shame that the gap between the top and bottom teams is so wide (even in the final last year...).

Which is why a World Cup based on test matches would be a disaster.

I dont really get where you're coming from here . Surely the super powers i.e England , Australia , Poland , Sweden and Denmark are capable of mustering 7 or 8 riders for a test match .
The division 2 countries like Germany , Czech Republic , USA , Russia etc could have a seperate series with the winner earning the right to compete with the big boys .

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kevh said:

It's team speedway for me every time too. I watch the GP's with great interest and enjoy them, but 7 v 7 can't be beaten for me.

As others have said, Testimonial Meetings leave me cold - they are a great way of say 'thank you' to a rider for his loyalty, but on rack they're a bore fest.

Agree with that.

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paulco said:

I dont really get where you're coming from here . Surely the super powers i.e England , Australia , Poland , Sweden and Denmark are capable of mustering 7 or 8 riders for a test match .

I'm sure they could (although I'm not sure whether Australia would be so competitive with 7/8-rider sides), but a World Cup really needs to involve more than 5 sides.

I take the point about having a qualification competition for other sides, but then there would be big divisions between the likes of Russia and (say) Italy. It would also be difficult to fit in all the fixtures for a season-long competition, not to mention the impracticalities of Australia and the USA staging home fixtures.

I think the SWC should remain an inclusive competition and therefore stick with the seasonal 4TT format. However, taking a leaf out of cricket's book, there could also be a test championship between the major countries. Each country could race against the other countries on a rolling basis over 2 or 3 seasons, which would also avoid undermining the prestige of the SWC.

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wibblemuis said:

I'm sure they could (although I'm not sure whether Australia would be so competitive with 7/8-rider sides), but a World Cup really needs to involve more than 5 sides.

I take the point about having a qualification competition for other sides, but then there would be big divisions between the likes of Russia and (say) Italy. It would also be difficult to fit in all the fixtures for a season-long competition, not to mention the impracticalities of Australia and the USA staging home fixtures.

I think the SWC should remain an inclusive competition and therefore stick with the seasonal 4TT format. However, taking a leaf out of cricket's book, there could also be a test championship between the major countries. Each country could race against the other countries on a rolling basis over 2 or 3 seasons, which would also avoid undermining the prestige of the SWC.

I think a side comprising of Jason Crump , Leigh Adams , Ryan Sullivan , Davy Watt , Rory Schlien , Chris Holder , Travis McGowan and Adam Shields could more than hold it's own .
But i agree that logistically it would be difficult .
I just think the SWC as it is now , is not the best we can come up with . This year for example Denmark must be virtual certainties with the final being at Voyens . They will have won a meeting on a slick track doctored to suit them - nothing more .
And of course there is the " It's a knockout " style jokers destroying the credibility of the tournament .

[admin]

kevh said:

As others have said, Testimonial Meetings leave me cold - they are a great way of say 'thank you' to a rider for his loyalty, but on rack they're a bore fest.

Not sure we want to see riders on the rack, to be honest.
Testimonials are just devalued now - they're handed out willy nilly.

[up4it]

a spell on the rack my do some riders the world of good,look at
Peter Waite he,s been on it for years and still carries on.

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Team Speedway wins very time. I love the GP's but I think thats because last year, both Scott and Bomber were Coventry riders....( although I still feel the same for Scott even if he's not with us year)and I'll be screaming at the tv on a Saturday evening willing him on.. If you look at both , I think you'll find I've little or nothing to complain about either way...

[up4it]

a spell on the rack may do some riders the world of good,look at
Peter Waite he,s been on it for years and still carries on.

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jacques said:

Team Speedway wins very time. I love the GP's but I think thats because last year, both Scott and Bomber were Coventry riders....( although I still feel the same for Scott even if he's not with us year)and I'll be screaming at the tv on a Saturday evening willing him on.. If you look at both , I think you'll find I've little or nothing to complain about either way...

You'll jag your arse on that fence you're sitting on wee yin . ;D

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paulco said:

jacques said:

Team Speedway wins very time. I love the GP's but I think thats because last year, both Scott and Bomber were Coventry riders....( although I still feel the same for Scott even if he's not with us year)and I'll be screaming at the tv on a Saturday evening willing him on.. If you look at both , I think you'll find I've little or nothing to complain about either way...

You'll jag your arse on that fence you're sitting on wee yin . ;D

No ,I said Team Speedway wins everytime, have you been on the beer again

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jacques said:

No ,I said Team Speedway wins everytime, have you been on the beer again

No not today . Recovered from the disco