Team Speedway v Individual Events

[Deleted]

I try to visit Rye House for the 'Ace of Herts' and have yet to be disappointed with the racing, but I have also seen some individuals that produce no excitement at all.
Team speedway also has it's upside and it's not always about winning, but about entertainment, always prefer to see a close meeting then one in which a team is outclassed.

Testimonials and Benefit meetings can be hit or miss, once again this is down to the competitors more than anything else, choose the right competitors and you will see some excellent racing.

If i had to choose then it would be any Speedway that provides VFM.

[Deleted]

Team speedway for me every time.I do enjoy the GP's despite "golem" Olsen screwing around with the tracks, some testimonials are ok but as Sube says they're handed out too often & for the wrong reasons, 10 years to the same promotion should be the only reason, as is so with Nick Simmons.
Anyway as i said nothing beats a team that works for each other.

[stuartroad]

i would have to say league racing is my preference,but i do miss the big individual meetings all tracks used to have,i also miss the second half contests.

its interesting to note in the elite that last years odds on favourites are rank outsiders this season,and last years rank outsiders are joint favourites in places.
i am not a supporter of the derisory points limit,but what other sport could witness such a drastic turn around in potential fortunes.

[Deleted]

Im just happy to see any speedway, as having no main team to support(only when the USA Dream team or the main USA team are riding of course).

I love the individual meetings, Shouting for your fave rider, and hoping for a win(just like I did in Cardiff last season) my voice had gone, screaming for Greg to win

[Deleted]

I too prefer watching team speedway (would be even better if I had my team to support). Maybe it's alligned to the other great sporting interest of my early years, football, so following a team is a natural thing to do.

I enjoy(ed) watching riders develop even though I only saw maybe Hamill and Hancock from their very early beginnings to the pinnacle of their careers in Cradley colours it was a joy, and the feeling when a 3 point reserve pulls off a victory over an opposition heatleader is one of the best in the sport. Maybe though in the 12 years since Cradley closed this has reduced somewhat with few riders willing or able to stay loyal to one team over many seasons.

The team tactics are also interesting, though less so now than when the managers had more options available to them a few years ago. The top heavy versus solid all round matches are good to watch, and you really feel part of the club when you follow them home and away.

I still enjoy individual meetings but the team element of the sport has always been my favourite.

[Deleted]

Team speedway for me every time, not really that fussed about 4TT as I dont really consider that team speedway - like my contests 2v2. Only downside is that the way the PL (and EL) are structured with wide ability gaps between the top and bottom of teams so that many heats within a meeting are either foregone conclusions or at best two heats within a heat

Lots said above about SGP killing league speedway (which may or may not be true - doesnt do a lot for me but wife and son enjoyed the whole Cardiff experience which even the most anti SGP members would have to accept is a far better 'show' for the casual fan than say a cold Saddlebow Road on a Wednesday evening) but I think if you could structure a league to give heats that were harder to predict it would certainly stem the decline - whether this be through 6 man teams, reduction of number of teams, artifical manipulation of team make up, riding order, track preparation / practice or whatever that would seem a reasonable aim

Jim writes a lot about the crossover with other motor sport disciplines but I think there is just as much of a crossover to the team sport area (football, rugby, basketball, ice hockey etc) where you have a local identity and fans have a club to associate with

[jimblanchard]

Jim writes a lot about the crossover with other motor sport disciplines but I think there is just as much of a crossover to the team sport area (football, rugby, basketball, ice hockey etc) where you have a local identity and fans have a club to associate with

Definitely agree with that Tony. Though I can remember vaguely in another forum discussion about this subject when someone suggested along the lines of 'what's motorbikes got to do with speedway'

Its just me I guess that I prefer individual meetings as they seem more exciting especially if a 'run off' was required for the decider. I am thinking of specifically Wembley and the Wimbledon Internationale's. I have always followed MotoGP and F1 until recently. I also prefer the speedway GP's even if they are not always brilliant to the Elite matches on the TV. (Apart from the race offs, but I am a neutral of course anyway..)

Though bucking the trend a bit I am very patriotic about us winning the SWC and enjoy that on SKY too.