ITEM: Let me get one thing straight from the off - Brady Kurtz is an Australian, and as far as I'm aware, will represent Australia at the earliest opportunity. Given that, the decision to overrule his patriality, whether on the solid ground of his competing in the Danish professional leagues or the shakier grounds of his participation in the Australian under-21 championship (which some declare an "open" championship), is the correct one.
However, as with so many things in our glorious sport, there's more to the story than it first appears, like an iceberg in the Atlantic, and this bears reporting, although it should not affect the final outcome of his assessment.
Somerset first made moves to bring Kurtz into their side last season. At that point he would have come in on a 5.00 average, as all Australians do in the second division. However, keen to make use of the patriality granted to his by dint of Scottish ancestors (and taken advantage of by his brother, Todd), which did not kick in until his seventeenth birthday in September, it was decided by the Kurtz family that Brady should sit out the 2013 season. Keen, though, to not see it as a wasted year, plans were made for him to ride in the Danish second division, where he competed in every meeting for Holsted, as well as two meetings in the DanskLiga, the Danes' top league.
According to those close to the rider - and those with an interest in signing him - none of this was decided without first referring to the BSPA for approval that this would not affect his patriality gift of a 3.00 average in both the Premier and National Leagues, where he was lined up for 2014 spots with Somerset and Cradley Heath. Indeed, Poole even made moves to substitute him into one of their reserve spots for the upcoming season, before relenting when the rider would not agree to sign the 5-year guarantee that he would represent Great Britain in international speedway (a guarantee Robert Branford happily signed to enable him to take part in - and win - the British Under-21 Final).
Cradley announced last week that Kurtz had been disallowed from riding in the National League and have gone a different way in their team-building plans, although Somerset have kept tight-lipped on the affair, subject to appeal, I believe. Nothing has been concretely reported, but it is thought that Kurtz will be given a 5.00 average in the PL, even though his Danish adventures should see him on a 7.00.
And it is that last concession that probably confirms that the Kurtz family were given a bum steer by somebody at ACU House. Otherwise, young Brady is a stone-cold 7.00, and anything else is a compromise. I'm informed that the complaint against his initial 3.00 came from a rival PL, and presumably a 5.00 average is agreeable enough to them.
Kurtz is a thrilling young prospect. Unlike his brother, he may just have the talent to go on to the higher echelons of the sport, and it is occasionally nice to bear witness to such rises. However, we have to protect our own, and also the integrity of our competition, which comes under threat from so many shenanigans (and probably always has). I wouldn't even be against Kurtz riding in the NL, but on a more sensible 8- or 9-point average, rather than the gift of a 3 he doesn't deserve.
Whatever the final decision, it's unlikely that we'll see such a mess again. There aren't too many more riders on the horizon who are able to take advantage of patriality, and even if there were I'd imagine that they'd double-check, and get ironclad assurances, what would and would not affect its status. The whole affair seems to have been badly handled, but the correct result, perhaps by luck more than judgment, seems to have been arrived at. And how often do we get to say that?
ITEM: The National League AGM was held last week and, as feared, we lost the Isle of Wight. All hope is not lost, though, and they have a deadline of January 31st to re-apply (a formality, should they be able to confirm their ability to run). Stepping up into the Islanders' place are Plymouth, returning to third tier action for the first time since 2010, and this time in addition to competing in the Premier League. Thus the league stays at a neat 8 teams, although it could probably benefit from a few more.
The National League is perhaps more easily defined by using its long-form title - the National Development League. The addition of some "big", standalone clubs (who would probably find their natural home in the PL or even higher) has led to a certain part of that development criteria being eroded. This is not necessarily a bad thing - young, developing riders often improve more quickly if they are racing against more accomplished opponents, and the presence of some old-stagers can often be beneficial if they are prepared to act as mentors or coaches to the young lads.
This year will be a transformative year of sorts, because seven of the league's top riders will have been "promoted" into the EL and PL. With only Simon Lambert looking like replacing them, and with Rob Branford also doubtful to return from Australia due to monetary reasons, the top of the league has been sliced off, which should restore a little of the original purpose of the competition to most sides. There is a steady stream of promising youngsters ready to take their place as reserves in NL sides, thanks to the efforts of those hardy souls involved in the MDL and NJL, and this can only be a good thing in the long term.
The mid-term future of the league is uncertain, but not in any way that should raise too much concern. Rather there may be more attention paid by the top league to what's going on at NL level because, if the Fast Track Draft is to stand (and it certainly has to, and even expand into the PL), those top clubs will want to be sure of a decent pick come draft time. The only sure way to do this is to tie up the talent at a young age, and I'm a firm believer that the regulations should be altered to prevent young riders being made assets without first riding for a club. This would encourage the EL and PL clubs that don't currently support NL racing to get involved, either directly (as with Coventry and King's Lynn) or by partnering with an existing NL club. You can easily imagine Poole supporting racing on the Isle of Wight, and Wolverhampton backing Buxton, to imagine just two such deals.
There should also be a concern that the NL isn't reaching as far north as it perhaps could (and should). Despite the stellar efforts of the Branneys at Northside, this season will most likely see a Glasgow side with no British riders and a Berwick team with just 1. Add Edinburgh and Workington, with 3 apiece, and it's a bleak picture for talent emerging north of and around the border. I've suggested before that the clubs involved team up to back third-tier racing, and reap the benefits, but it may also be something that could be considered by an EL side, given the importance of the reserves in this and future seasons.
As a fan of the National League - and it certainly saved my 2013 - I'm not unduly worried about its future. It is doing its job well and, while it could be supported a little more by everyone involved in the sport, should be around to do it for some time yet. If you value your speedway this can only be a very good thing, so if you haven't checked out your local NL side yet, try and do so in 2014. You will be pleasantly surprised.
ITEM: So Chris Harris is back in the Grand Prix series and my happiness upon hearing the news was only equalled by my delight at the wailing and gnashing of teeth of his critics as they heard it, too. Hating Chris Harris seems to be the sport of choice amongst many an SGP diehard, and his continued appearances must be the mosquito-like bane of their existence.
Harris, on his day, is worthy of a place in the series. He is capable of beating the best, and in doing so often performing the most exciting of manoeuvres on a motorbike. However, especially in recent years, his form hasn't been consistent enough to score big points in that company, and the too slick tracks too often served up do not aid a rider with - let's put it politely - issues with gating.
What Harris has, though, is a bankability that few others amongst his peers have. Although Tai Woffinden's efforts have just about won the majority of British fans around, I believe he would still be very much number two in a straight popularity contest between the two. Harris has an indefineable quality that makes you want to like him, and maybe the fact that he isn't always successful despite trying to damnedest makes him the most British hero of all...
ITEM: So I bang on all the time about Brits. You know that. And the fact you keep coming back (and thank you for that!) means you don't mind it too much. Maybe you even share my concerns and enthusiasm for our British youngsters, which may make what I'm going to say next a bit confusing.
I don't have a problem with the likes of Gino Manzares and Aaron Fox riding in our second division.
That's right, I said it. I also don't have too much of an issue with the likes of Joszef Tabaka, Facundo Albin and David Bellego, and wouldn't with Loktaev, Manev, or Bjerk. These riders are the best in their countries, speedway scenes in nations which are either down on their speedway luck, emerging from a recent start (or re-start), or just never able to grab too much attention/financing/support in a country that has other interests.
Over the years there have been many famous American riders, most of which graced our top flight with their personalities and points-scoring. The Hungarians and Norwegians, too, played their part, with Sandor Levai and Reidar Eide legends of the game. I don't think, if we're going to give places in our leagues away to foreign riders, that supporting the establishment/continuation/revival of speedway in these places is too much of a bad thing.
What undoubtedly is a bad thing is giving places to the 54th ranked Dane, or the 37th best Australian, because that helps no-one. Argentinean Champion? Yes, please! US SWC star? Brilliant? Journeyman Czech? No, thank you but no.
Foreign riders can enrich the flavour of our speedway, and the more exotic the better. The announcement of Nike Lunna, a young Finn, for the Christmas Cracker at Coventry was made so much more exciting by the fact that he won the Estonian Championships last season! Rareity is to be treasured, mundaneity not so much...
No comments:
Post a Comment