ITEM: Scunthorpe's Gary Irving decided to call it a day this week, which leaves the Lincolnshire club with a tricky spot to fill. They're supportive of his decision, however, and you'd expect nothing less from such a well-run, family-oriented club. That Irving feels he has to quit speedway because it may interfere with his day job is unfortunate, but the reality of the modern sport.
Irving may only have averaged 4.00 in the Premier League last season but he had no small amout of promise and, while the likes of Richie Worrall and Ashley Birks were a step ahead of him, he had what it takes to make a Premier League heat leader down the line.
Losing Irving from the Premier League is a blow, but may open the door for Charles Wright, without a club despite raising his average last season, and a victim of the northern clubs shipping in untried Australians, Germans and Argentinians.
There was a small victory in this regard last week when Glasgow had their applications for Harley Horwood and Joey Ringwood turned down, although Horwood was reinstated on appeal. On what grounds is not clear, because the BSPA's own traditional method of deciding whether Australians can ride in the Premier League is that they finish in their state's top 4, which would mean only Ryan Douglas of the five newcomers qualifies. Max Fricke may have an argument, having beaten several established (although underperforming) Premier League riders to the Australian under-21 title last week, but Horwood, Ringwood, and Sheffield's Damien Koppe have nothing to recommend them to our leagues save a willingness to ride for the money on offer.
The cream rises to the top, and water seeks its own level, and Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Edinburgh & Sheffield will reap what they sow in shipping over these riders. It's just disappointing that they sought this route when there are riders keen to fill those places. Plus ça change, as they say.
ITEM: So Barker's signed for Birmingham on a full transfer, and Andersen & Iversen have gone on loan from Peterborough to Swindon & King's Lynn, respectively. Peterborough signed Bjerre, and only Batchelor is unsure of his destiny as it stands, but will probably end up at Swindon alongside Andersen, one way or another.
Thus ends a ridiculous series of events that threatened to bring down the asset system, but really probably never got anywhere near that, such was the level of self-interest in not rocking the boat amongst the members of the BSPA. It may leave the riders as indentured servants, but as long as the promoters are happy, right?
Except, without major surgery, we'll be here again next year. The asset system as it stands is illegal and increasingly unworkable. That's the one clear thing from this winter, yet - publicly, at least - there seems to be no acknowledgment of this from the powers-that-be. Indeed, in this week's Speedway Star, the Leicester promotion talk of using a Development League-level side to increase their asset-base. More slave riders, more grist for the mill.
Myself, I favour a one-year rolling contract, voided if a rider is not included in a side's 1-7 the following season. For under-21s who have been developed by a junior side or training track, a three-year deal, followed by that same one-year contract. Clubs can still decide to purchase riders, but what they are actually purchasing is first options on team-building, with the riders free to agree to ride for whoever they like.
How this would work is as follows: Johnny Smith rides for Basildon. They offer him a place in their 1-7 for the following season. He accepts and remains a Basildon rider. The following season he rejects a place and goes on loan to Felixstowe, with Basildon receiving a loan fee. If he then returns to ride for Basildon he remains a Basildon rider. If not, he becomes a free agent, and begins a rolling deal with that new club.
This gives teams control over their "assets", allowing a degree of flexibility due to points limits, but also gives some control of their own destiny to the riders. I'm sure it's not a perfect system, and I welcome other ideas. I'm sure the BSPA do, too.
ITEM: We're less than two months away from the start of the 2013 Speedway Grand Prix series, and we still have no idea whether it will be shown on Sky. Now regular readers of this blog will know that I'm not actually too bothered by it, especially now there are no Brits in the series, but I understand that many of you do like to watch them, and even enjoy it from time to time.
The last I heard, and I'm not massively in the loop on this, is that Sky had asked BSI to move the Grands Prix to Friday evenings, better to fit in with their schedule, and as an anchor show for that timeslot. Unable to make such a change at such short notice, and perhaps unwilling to do so at the whim of one broadcaster.
But that was two months ago, and there's been little to add since. The deal with BSI also covers the SWC, and while that may be good news for King's Lynn (who stage the UK round and will be grateful for the extra attendees who would ordinarily watch it on TV), it's bad news for the majority of you who want to watch the Czechs get outclassed in the final round on a shonky track in Prague.
The inclusion of the European Championship on Eurosport will soften the blow a little for speedway-hungry TV viewers, and a good number of you will find your way to illegal streaming sites on the internet, but it's a poor show from both sides to have no announcement so far.
As for league speedway, it has always garnered higher ratings on Sky than the SGPs, and still has that final year left on the contract. I'd expect a new deal to be announced later rather than sooner, and hopefully the purchase (and prudent use) of covers will negate some of the difficulties Sky have had in recent seasons with rained-off and rain-affected meetings.
Speedway doesn't need Sky but it is better off with it than without it. Sky certainly doesn't need speedway, but it does need variety and excitement in its schedules. Let's hope that somewhere there's enough common ground for a new deal to be struck.
ITEM: The new double-up rules will face a stern test on Good Friday, when all ten Elite League sides are in action, alongside ten Premier League teams. Leaving aside different staging times, which may ease the burden, the following riders will be missing from the Elite League fixtures: Craig Cook, Kauko Nieminen, Jason Doyle, Josh Auty, Ben Barker, Adam Roynon, Kozza Smith, Rohan Tungate, Nick Morris, Ashley Birks, Ty Proctor & Sam Masters. That's TWELVE riders to be replaced, and only five Premier League teams not in action. Name your price 6-8 point Premier League riders!
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
FUDGES, FOOLS, NEW TITLES & NEW KEVLARS...
ITEM: So the big day came and went, and nothing really happened. King’s Lynn were told that they could loan Niels-Kristian Iversen for a third successive season, with no announcement as to whether they’d eventually have to buy him, despite an appeal by Peterborough that the rider had, effectively, put in a transfer request.
The usual way of doing things is that, when a rider asks for a transfer, he is made available to buy – Coventry have been forced to purchase riders under this “rule” in the past – but this latest decision by the BSPA flies in the face of precedent and logic. The decisions seem to have been made on the basis of who can afford to buy – the BSPA accepted that Troy Batchelor had effectively handed in a transfer request, and thus Swindon will have to buy him if they want to use him in 2013.
The decision on Hans Andersen has been bafflingly set aside for a month, perhaps in the hope that Andersen, who has maintained a steely and professional silence, can be talked into spending a year at Belle Vue, who desperately need a number one rider. The chances of that happening – when there’s the chance he could return to 2012 champions Swindon, are slim to none.
Swindon are still adamant they will not pay a transfer fee in the current climate, and who can blame them after being stung over Miedzinski last season? Why shell out money on a system that is built on such shaky ground?
The BSPA had an opportunity to firm up their regulations, and to ensure that all promoters - and riders - were committed to the status quo. As it is all they've done is create further confusion.
ITEM: One decision missing, either way, from the BSPA meeting was the fate of Ben Barker. Faced with an impasse, and with Graham Drury clearly getting nowhere, Birmingham owner Alan Phillips has stepped in to re-open negotiations with Coventry owner Mick Horton over the Cornish rider.
With Barker's duplicity clear for all to see, Coventry were faced with a tough decision - include a rider who has made himself very unpopular with once-loyal fans, and who clearly wants the easier life of riding for the Brummies, in their side, or forego some teambuilding points and look elsewhere. They chose to do the latter, and Grzegorz Zengota was so excited to sign for the Bees that he leaked the news himself on his Facebook page.
While the Coventry fans are fond of homegrown riders, and having only two in their side will be slightly odd, a choice between a super-keen, promising Pole and Barker is no choice at all.
As for the details of the transfer, I'd like to think they would include some kind of agreement to buy, especially now the rider has made his position at his parent club untenable with a series of fantastic allegations, but you never know. It's not as if you can count on the BSPA to back you up, is it?
ITEM: A strange fixture appeared in the UK calendar last week - the UK Speedway Series.
It would seem to be a series of individual meetings, along the lines of the SGP, but restricted to UK-based riders, possibly at Premier League level only, although much of that is supposition given their official site and Twitter feed reveals little to nothing.
It's a novel idea, and one that's been floated before, and 2013, the 85th anniversary of the first speedway meeting in this country, is an ideal time to start it.
There are dozens of exciting speedway riders in all three of our senior leagues who would provide fantastic entertainment at a fraction of the cost of going to a grand prix. That should be British speedway's USP - it's here, it's affordable, you never know quite what you might get.
Let's hope that the UK Speedway Series is all that and more.
ITEM: Now an idea, and a plea for some money. Not for me, you understand, although God knows we could all do with it, right? No, I'm wondering if there's the support out there to help out a young British rider in the National League...
You all know I'm a Coventry fan. And you should all know by now that I'm fully behind the National League adventure the Coventry Storm are embarking on this season. My idea is to raise some funds to buy some kevlars in team colours for one of the Storm.
Is it workable? We're talking about £500-£600, but I've already had a promise of £50 from one dedicated reader - surely between the rest of us we can do it?
Drop me an e-mail at alan.boon@gmail.com if you'd like to help. Every little bit would go a long way...
The usual way of doing things is that, when a rider asks for a transfer, he is made available to buy – Coventry have been forced to purchase riders under this “rule” in the past – but this latest decision by the BSPA flies in the face of precedent and logic. The decisions seem to have been made on the basis of who can afford to buy – the BSPA accepted that Troy Batchelor had effectively handed in a transfer request, and thus Swindon will have to buy him if they want to use him in 2013.
The decision on Hans Andersen has been bafflingly set aside for a month, perhaps in the hope that Andersen, who has maintained a steely and professional silence, can be talked into spending a year at Belle Vue, who desperately need a number one rider. The chances of that happening – when there’s the chance he could return to 2012 champions Swindon, are slim to none.
Swindon are still adamant they will not pay a transfer fee in the current climate, and who can blame them after being stung over Miedzinski last season? Why shell out money on a system that is built on such shaky ground?
The BSPA had an opportunity to firm up their regulations, and to ensure that all promoters - and riders - were committed to the status quo. As it is all they've done is create further confusion.
ITEM: One decision missing, either way, from the BSPA meeting was the fate of Ben Barker. Faced with an impasse, and with Graham Drury clearly getting nowhere, Birmingham owner Alan Phillips has stepped in to re-open negotiations with Coventry owner Mick Horton over the Cornish rider.
With Barker's duplicity clear for all to see, Coventry were faced with a tough decision - include a rider who has made himself very unpopular with once-loyal fans, and who clearly wants the easier life of riding for the Brummies, in their side, or forego some teambuilding points and look elsewhere. They chose to do the latter, and Grzegorz Zengota was so excited to sign for the Bees that he leaked the news himself on his Facebook page.
While the Coventry fans are fond of homegrown riders, and having only two in their side will be slightly odd, a choice between a super-keen, promising Pole and Barker is no choice at all.
As for the details of the transfer, I'd like to think they would include some kind of agreement to buy, especially now the rider has made his position at his parent club untenable with a series of fantastic allegations, but you never know. It's not as if you can count on the BSPA to back you up, is it?
ITEM: A strange fixture appeared in the UK calendar last week - the UK Speedway Series.
It would seem to be a series of individual meetings, along the lines of the SGP, but restricted to UK-based riders, possibly at Premier League level only, although much of that is supposition given their official site and Twitter feed reveals little to nothing.
It's a novel idea, and one that's been floated before, and 2013, the 85th anniversary of the first speedway meeting in this country, is an ideal time to start it.
There are dozens of exciting speedway riders in all three of our senior leagues who would provide fantastic entertainment at a fraction of the cost of going to a grand prix. That should be British speedway's USP - it's here, it's affordable, you never know quite what you might get.
Let's hope that the UK Speedway Series is all that and more.
ITEM: Now an idea, and a plea for some money. Not for me, you understand, although God knows we could all do with it, right? No, I'm wondering if there's the support out there to help out a young British rider in the National League...
You all know I'm a Coventry fan. And you should all know by now that I'm fully behind the National League adventure the Coventry Storm are embarking on this season. My idea is to raise some funds to buy some kevlars in team colours for one of the Storm.
Is it workable? We're talking about £500-£600, but I've already had a promise of £50 from one dedicated reader - surely between the rest of us we can do it?
Drop me an e-mail at alan.boon@gmail.com if you'd like to help. Every little bit would go a long way...
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Contenders, Champions, Also Rans & Decision Makers
ITEM: The new National League adventure for Coventry took a step nearer its realisation this week with the announcement of the opening fixtures for the Storm, a home and away challenge series with Dudley Heathens.
The Heathens - auld enemies of the Bees from their Cradley Heath days - will be making their first appearance on Brandon shale since their reformation in 2010, and will provide a tough test for the Coventry youngsters. In a perfect world, the spoils would be shared, with two home wins and some great racing. The world is so often far from perfect - particularly in speedway - but you would hope that both teams would have enough to secure home wins in front of eager fans, and give the Storm fans a great start to the NL campaign.
It's a tester of a season for the Storm. Although Mick Horton has admitted that the primary reason for running a team in the National League is to create young, British assets, with the aim of an all-British Bees' teams within five years, the venture still has to pay for itself. With a breakeven fo (I imagine) somewhere around 400-500 fans - and with the Bees getting 1000-1500 regularly - it shouldn't be too difficult, but the previous third tier team at Brandon - the Cougars - did struggle for fans.
That was a different time, however, and there were mitigating circumstances. They often ran on a Tuesday and didn't enter the Conference League proper, so you'd hope that the Storm, running on the Bees' regular Friday night and in the thick of the action from the off, will do a little better.
I hope the Coventry fans get behind the Storm in enough numbers that it's a success. It's the best of all worlds - young, British talent wearing the fighting Bee, and speedway (just about) every Friday night from March to October. Let's get things off to good start on March 22nd, eh?
ITEM: Troy Batchelor didn't win many friends by arrogantly proclaiming himself "the real Aussie champion", especially when his contemporaries included former world champion Jason Crump, soon-to-be world champion Chris Holder, and world champion in waiting Darcy Ward. But today, at the Kurri Kurri track in New South Wales, he became the actual Aussie champion, winning the title, held over three rounds, by some distance from Dakota North in second.
Batchelor is one of speedway's marmite (vegemite, I guess) riders - you either love him or hate him, with most falling firmly in the latter camp, even fans of his own team - but he's had a strong six months to win the Elite League with Swindon, come close to qualifying for the Grand Prix series, and now win his first Australian title.
His critics will point out that neither Holder or Ward (or Rory Schlein) took part in the national championships this time around, but Batchelor still beat a strong field, with every rider having British league experience, and as the old adage goes, "you can only beat what's put in front of you."
Success won't change my opinion of Batchelor - he's one of the riders I most love to hate - but it's good to see any young sportsman making the most of their talent, even if they are an arrogant piece of work. Well done, Troy, enjoy being the real Aussie champion at last.
ITEM: While we're on the subject on Australians, regular readers will know that one of my bugbears is the lack of opportunities given to young British riders. In recent years this is largely because (particularly) Premier League sides are signing young Australians in their place, with the excuse that they've come halfway around the world and thus are more dedicated to succeeding.
While you can point to recent massive success stories, like Chris Holder and Darcy Ward (and to a lesser extent Sam Masters and Dakota North), there have also been some absolute disasters, proving that it's far from an exact science.
This season there are a brand new clutch of young Aussies winging their way over, assessed on 5-point averages, and occupying slots in (mostly) northern sides. Glasgow have gone with Harley Horwood & Joey Ringwood, Edinburgh with Max Fricke, Sheffield with Damien Koppe, and Scunthorpe with Ryan Douglas. Five new Australians who may either become valuable assets to their clubs, or join the long list of those taking away spots from young Brits.
Last season Glasgow brought over Mason Campton (who failed to make his assessed average and has been sent out on loan to Workington this year) and Jayden O'Malley (who averaged under 2 points a meeting). Rohan Tungate was a success story at Ipswich, and has secured an Elite League berth at Poole this season on the back of that, but Tom Armstrong only scored a point from 10 riders before injury cut short his stay at Scunthorpe. Meanwhile, James Holder, Todd Kurtz, Robert Ksieszak, Jake Anderson, Jade Mudgway, Robert Branford, Mark Jones, Cameron Heeps, and Micky Dyer all averaged below the 5.00 average that new Australians (at least those without British connections) are assessed at.
The attractions are obvious: these boys become assets of the club as soon as they complete the requisite number of meetings, and you may - may - unearth the new Chris Holder. But the law of averages is against it, and young British riders are being denied the opportunity to find out if they have what it takes because of it.
Clearly something has to change, but while those who stand to benefit from the lax entry requirements recently placed on Australian riders are making the rules, it's not likely that it will. Sad.
ITEM: Tuesday January 15th seems to becoming an increasingly important day in the recent history of British speedway. Not only is it the National League AGM, where Coventry and Kent should be ratified as bona fide members of the league, it's also a full meeting of the BSPA which should thrash out some of the issues that have blighted the off-season, particularly the asset system.
I'm not expecting a quick fix from the powers-that-be over the Iversen, Andersen, Batchelor & Barker situations, more a fudge that solves nothing but leaves the parties involved feeling a glimmer of satisfaction. The real battle is to come, and the asset system has to be overhauled or abandoned, otherwise we'll be in the same situation, year-on-year.
As far as the National League is concerned, there's a slight chance the league may swell its numbers further, and the third tier is badly crying out for a track north of Buxton. It's hard to see where that could come from, however, with most of the northern tracks sharing facilities with other sports and finding race nights restricted. This, again, is something the BSPA as a whole have to look at - the geographical picture of British speedway is very uneven.
Presuming things go according to plan, the next week should be full of news for speedway fans starved of serious developments for a few weeks now. It can't come fast enough - there's only so far gossip and rumour can take us, and a fuzzy picture can be inaccurately interpreted far too easily by those who just don't have the first idea about the situation (myself included, on occasion).
Or it could all carry on, with no side willing to give ground and we'll end up in the courts. Sound familiar?
The Heathens - auld enemies of the Bees from their Cradley Heath days - will be making their first appearance on Brandon shale since their reformation in 2010, and will provide a tough test for the Coventry youngsters. In a perfect world, the spoils would be shared, with two home wins and some great racing. The world is so often far from perfect - particularly in speedway - but you would hope that both teams would have enough to secure home wins in front of eager fans, and give the Storm fans a great start to the NL campaign.
It's a tester of a season for the Storm. Although Mick Horton has admitted that the primary reason for running a team in the National League is to create young, British assets, with the aim of an all-British Bees' teams within five years, the venture still has to pay for itself. With a breakeven fo (I imagine) somewhere around 400-500 fans - and with the Bees getting 1000-1500 regularly - it shouldn't be too difficult, but the previous third tier team at Brandon - the Cougars - did struggle for fans.
That was a different time, however, and there were mitigating circumstances. They often ran on a Tuesday and didn't enter the Conference League proper, so you'd hope that the Storm, running on the Bees' regular Friday night and in the thick of the action from the off, will do a little better.
I hope the Coventry fans get behind the Storm in enough numbers that it's a success. It's the best of all worlds - young, British talent wearing the fighting Bee, and speedway (just about) every Friday night from March to October. Let's get things off to good start on March 22nd, eh?
ITEM: Troy Batchelor didn't win many friends by arrogantly proclaiming himself "the real Aussie champion", especially when his contemporaries included former world champion Jason Crump, soon-to-be world champion Chris Holder, and world champion in waiting Darcy Ward. But today, at the Kurri Kurri track in New South Wales, he became the actual Aussie champion, winning the title, held over three rounds, by some distance from Dakota North in second.
Batchelor is one of speedway's marmite (vegemite, I guess) riders - you either love him or hate him, with most falling firmly in the latter camp, even fans of his own team - but he's had a strong six months to win the Elite League with Swindon, come close to qualifying for the Grand Prix series, and now win his first Australian title.
His critics will point out that neither Holder or Ward (or Rory Schlein) took part in the national championships this time around, but Batchelor still beat a strong field, with every rider having British league experience, and as the old adage goes, "you can only beat what's put in front of you."
Success won't change my opinion of Batchelor - he's one of the riders I most love to hate - but it's good to see any young sportsman making the most of their talent, even if they are an arrogant piece of work. Well done, Troy, enjoy being the real Aussie champion at last.
ITEM: While we're on the subject on Australians, regular readers will know that one of my bugbears is the lack of opportunities given to young British riders. In recent years this is largely because (particularly) Premier League sides are signing young Australians in their place, with the excuse that they've come halfway around the world and thus are more dedicated to succeeding.
While you can point to recent massive success stories, like Chris Holder and Darcy Ward (and to a lesser extent Sam Masters and Dakota North), there have also been some absolute disasters, proving that it's far from an exact science.
This season there are a brand new clutch of young Aussies winging their way over, assessed on 5-point averages, and occupying slots in (mostly) northern sides. Glasgow have gone with Harley Horwood & Joey Ringwood, Edinburgh with Max Fricke, Sheffield with Damien Koppe, and Scunthorpe with Ryan Douglas. Five new Australians who may either become valuable assets to their clubs, or join the long list of those taking away spots from young Brits.
Last season Glasgow brought over Mason Campton (who failed to make his assessed average and has been sent out on loan to Workington this year) and Jayden O'Malley (who averaged under 2 points a meeting). Rohan Tungate was a success story at Ipswich, and has secured an Elite League berth at Poole this season on the back of that, but Tom Armstrong only scored a point from 10 riders before injury cut short his stay at Scunthorpe. Meanwhile, James Holder, Todd Kurtz, Robert Ksieszak, Jake Anderson, Jade Mudgway, Robert Branford, Mark Jones, Cameron Heeps, and Micky Dyer all averaged below the 5.00 average that new Australians (at least those without British connections) are assessed at.
The attractions are obvious: these boys become assets of the club as soon as they complete the requisite number of meetings, and you may - may - unearth the new Chris Holder. But the law of averages is against it, and young British riders are being denied the opportunity to find out if they have what it takes because of it.
Clearly something has to change, but while those who stand to benefit from the lax entry requirements recently placed on Australian riders are making the rules, it's not likely that it will. Sad.
ITEM: Tuesday January 15th seems to becoming an increasingly important day in the recent history of British speedway. Not only is it the National League AGM, where Coventry and Kent should be ratified as bona fide members of the league, it's also a full meeting of the BSPA which should thrash out some of the issues that have blighted the off-season, particularly the asset system.
I'm not expecting a quick fix from the powers-that-be over the Iversen, Andersen, Batchelor & Barker situations, more a fudge that solves nothing but leaves the parties involved feeling a glimmer of satisfaction. The real battle is to come, and the asset system has to be overhauled or abandoned, otherwise we'll be in the same situation, year-on-year.
As far as the National League is concerned, there's a slight chance the league may swell its numbers further, and the third tier is badly crying out for a track north of Buxton. It's hard to see where that could come from, however, with most of the northern tracks sharing facilities with other sports and finding race nights restricted. This, again, is something the BSPA as a whole have to look at - the geographical picture of British speedway is very uneven.
Presuming things go according to plan, the next week should be full of news for speedway fans starved of serious developments for a few weeks now. It can't come fast enough - there's only so far gossip and rumour can take us, and a fuzzy picture can be inaccurately interpreted far too easily by those who just don't have the first idea about the situation (myself included, on occasion).
Or it could all carry on, with no side willing to give ground and we'll end up in the courts. Sound familiar?
Monday, 7 January 2013
Monster, Magic, Mayhem & Mudmen
ITEM: Last weekend saw the biggest meeting held in the USA for many years, the Monster Energy Invitational thingimajig. It's a sign of just how far the US has fallen as a speedway power that the field - although augmented by three of Monster's team riders (the other two missing through injury and idiocy) and some Hagon-backed Brits - was probably on a par with a low-level testimonial meeting in the UK. Still, from small acorns, eh?
The invitational was won by former Coventry Bee Billy Janniro (indeed, the top six - and ninth place - riders were all assets of the Bees), who rode well throughout, and headed home an all-American final to take the... well, whatever it is they gave to the winner. If Janniro's victory proved anything it was that the Americans could once again be a world power if all meetings were held on 200 metre tracks, and their opponents had to use borrowed machinery.
The track, constructed especially for the event, rode well by all accounts, and was protected from some un-California rain by a roof, with the sides left open to the elements to allow the track to breathe and any fumes to dissipate. This is where this meeting could prove to be something more than a vanity exercise by an unhealthy drink sponsor and actually become something useful for speedway clubs in Europe to learn from.
While a fully enclosed and roofed stadium may be well beyond the budget of most tracks, a barn-style set-up like that used in Industry Hills may be practical, obviously more so for the smaller tracks rather than 400 metre giants, and would allow 365 days-a-year access to facilities for practice and events. It would take a brave promoter to make the leap, and may be more useful for new tracks rather than convert existing ones, but we've now seen the option is there and works well.
While Janniro performed well, he is unlikely to return to British action, having found it too taxing at times, and few of the younger riders in the field showed enough to change the current perception of American speedway as an expensive hobby for all but a handful of its participants. It's going to take a lot of work to get the US back to anywhere near where they used to be on the world stage - let's hope that Monster are prepared to back with the work that Steve Evans, Billy Hamill, Martin Hagon and others have already put in. It'd be a shame if they just saw it as a market to exploit.
ITEM: There was a great little interview with Dean Felton in this week's Speedway Star, covering the last twenty years of his career up to his retirement at the end of last season. Felton was never a world-beater, although he dreamed of it like every other rider starting out, but provided entertainment wherever he went, and was still capable of big scores (albeit at National League level) right up to the end.
One of the most interesting aspects of his career is that he saw the second-half - pretty much from when he was left without a Premier League place in his early-30s - as a paid hobby, riding for fun and to help out his younger teammates, which showed in his efforts on the track and in the pits. If you ask some, the National League should be no place for this kind of rider, and should be the training ground of the next generation of stars rather than a playground for thrillseekers, but I think it can be both. Indeed, I think it needs to be both - with the weekend showboaters providing value-for-money entertainment while the youngsters learn their craft.
With only one over-25 spot available in each National League team, places for the likes of Felton are few and far between, and quite often older riders who lose their place in the Premier League are driven out of the sport altogether, with only the amateur scene (where they'd surely clean up) as an option. This may change if the mooted Formula 2 Speedway gets off the ground, and let's hope it does.
For now, though, I'd like to wish Dean Felton well, and hope that he continues to be involved in the sport in some capacity. In a sport which often forgets how simple and fun it can be, we need those who never lost that feeling more than ever.
ITEM: Once a year Rugby League stages what it calls the "Magic Weekend", held at a large-capacity stadium, and with all the teams in its Super League playing a match. The idea is to have a festival atmosphere, bringing fans of all clubs together in a stadium with superb facilities, and easy to televise and package for TV. It makes me wonder if there's any mileage in this idea for speedway?
The closest we have at the moment is the British Grand Prix, held in Cardiff, which attracts gates of around 40,000, and raced on a temporary track laid especially for the event. It's expensive to stage but the gross gate receipts are somewhere around £2 million. Furthermore, the publicity it attracts dwarfs anything domestic speedway has to offer, and for most fans it is the highlight of their speedway year. The big problem with Cardiff - as I've written before - is that none of the money generated stays in British speedway, and so finding an event which can compete with it for a slice of that money is not only desirable but pretty much essential for the long-term health of the sport on these shores.
With the Elite League's already imbalanced fixture list, adding an extra meeting, raced on a neutral track, shouldn't provide too many logistical issues, with the ten Elite League teams paired off by a random draw, held live on Sky Sports. Or, taking a leaf out of cricket's T20 book, a new format, with shorter meetings and involving as many teams as possible, could be cooked up, with a banner advertiser attracted to help cover the costs.
It's pie in the sky thinking, but that's what our minds turn to in the off-season, denied our regular fix of speedway action. It's not even one of the more ridiculous ideas I've had lately, and I genuinely think it could happen, with the right minds working on it. Who's up for a magic weekend, then? First round's on me.
ITEM: In what could be the defining theme of this closed season, the asset system was once again threatened this week with Peterborough standing firm in the face of what they consider to be illegal approaches for their riders from rival clubs.
The Panthers claim to be still considering their options over their number one rider, with a contract apparently having been offered to Hans Andersen, who spent last season at title winners Swindon. Andersen has turned down Peterborough's offer, and Swindon have made a bid to buy the rider, which the Panthers, too, have rejected. Meanwhile, Kenneth Bjerre, who many believe the Panthers really want to be their number one, must be feeling pretty unwanted by the Alwalton club for them to make such a fuss over his fellow Dane. The situation took an interesting turn this morning when Swindon, refused permission to speak to Andersen while Peterborough dither, asked for permission to speak to Bjerre, quite reasonably assuming that the Panthers can't employ both.
Meanwhile, Niels-Kristian Iversen, who has declared that he will not ride for Peterborough this season and will only ride for King's Lynn, has not been considered by the BSPA Management Committee to have asked for a transfer and thus will be allowed to go on loan to the Stars, against the Panthers wishes. Troy Batchelor, who has made some derogatory comments about the Panthers' management on his Twitter feed (since deleted) has been considered to have asked for a transfer, and thus if Swindon want to use him (they do) they will have to negotiate a purchase. So very tangled, so very inconsistent.
The situation has arisen because Peterborough "own" the registrations of six of the top twenty riders, and they can only use two. Common sense would dictate that the Panthers get fixed up early with so many to choose from, allowing other clubs to offer contracts to whoever is left. As it is, with the Panthers either dithering or playing games (depending how charitable you are feeling), there is uncertainty over who will be riding where or, indeed, at all.
In a sport which relies on the sale of a product to potential sponsors and season-ticket holders for much-needed operating capital, it is important for teams to be sorted and settled as early as possible. The actions of the Peterborough management, in denying this to forty percent of the Elite League (because bottom feeders Belle Vue are caught up in this, too, waiting to see what scraps fall off the table to complete their team), are dangerous to the sport as a whole, and should be dealt with by the BSPA at their meeting next week.
This cannot go on. If the asset system in its present form is to continue without legal challenge all clubs need to play ball, and stop playing silly buggers. Having a large asset base gives you options, not the right to hold the rest of the league to ransom. Agree a loan or name your price or take it to arbitration - whatever's necessary. Just do something other than use your local newspaper to score points, yeah?
The invitational was won by former Coventry Bee Billy Janniro (indeed, the top six - and ninth place - riders were all assets of the Bees), who rode well throughout, and headed home an all-American final to take the... well, whatever it is they gave to the winner. If Janniro's victory proved anything it was that the Americans could once again be a world power if all meetings were held on 200 metre tracks, and their opponents had to use borrowed machinery.
The track, constructed especially for the event, rode well by all accounts, and was protected from some un-California rain by a roof, with the sides left open to the elements to allow the track to breathe and any fumes to dissipate. This is where this meeting could prove to be something more than a vanity exercise by an unhealthy drink sponsor and actually become something useful for speedway clubs in Europe to learn from.
While a fully enclosed and roofed stadium may be well beyond the budget of most tracks, a barn-style set-up like that used in Industry Hills may be practical, obviously more so for the smaller tracks rather than 400 metre giants, and would allow 365 days-a-year access to facilities for practice and events. It would take a brave promoter to make the leap, and may be more useful for new tracks rather than convert existing ones, but we've now seen the option is there and works well.
While Janniro performed well, he is unlikely to return to British action, having found it too taxing at times, and few of the younger riders in the field showed enough to change the current perception of American speedway as an expensive hobby for all but a handful of its participants. It's going to take a lot of work to get the US back to anywhere near where they used to be on the world stage - let's hope that Monster are prepared to back with the work that Steve Evans, Billy Hamill, Martin Hagon and others have already put in. It'd be a shame if they just saw it as a market to exploit.
ITEM: There was a great little interview with Dean Felton in this week's Speedway Star, covering the last twenty years of his career up to his retirement at the end of last season. Felton was never a world-beater, although he dreamed of it like every other rider starting out, but provided entertainment wherever he went, and was still capable of big scores (albeit at National League level) right up to the end.
One of the most interesting aspects of his career is that he saw the second-half - pretty much from when he was left without a Premier League place in his early-30s - as a paid hobby, riding for fun and to help out his younger teammates, which showed in his efforts on the track and in the pits. If you ask some, the National League should be no place for this kind of rider, and should be the training ground of the next generation of stars rather than a playground for thrillseekers, but I think it can be both. Indeed, I think it needs to be both - with the weekend showboaters providing value-for-money entertainment while the youngsters learn their craft.
With only one over-25 spot available in each National League team, places for the likes of Felton are few and far between, and quite often older riders who lose their place in the Premier League are driven out of the sport altogether, with only the amateur scene (where they'd surely clean up) as an option. This may change if the mooted Formula 2 Speedway gets off the ground, and let's hope it does.
For now, though, I'd like to wish Dean Felton well, and hope that he continues to be involved in the sport in some capacity. In a sport which often forgets how simple and fun it can be, we need those who never lost that feeling more than ever.
ITEM: Once a year Rugby League stages what it calls the "Magic Weekend", held at a large-capacity stadium, and with all the teams in its Super League playing a match. The idea is to have a festival atmosphere, bringing fans of all clubs together in a stadium with superb facilities, and easy to televise and package for TV. It makes me wonder if there's any mileage in this idea for speedway?
The closest we have at the moment is the British Grand Prix, held in Cardiff, which attracts gates of around 40,000, and raced on a temporary track laid especially for the event. It's expensive to stage but the gross gate receipts are somewhere around £2 million. Furthermore, the publicity it attracts dwarfs anything domestic speedway has to offer, and for most fans it is the highlight of their speedway year. The big problem with Cardiff - as I've written before - is that none of the money generated stays in British speedway, and so finding an event which can compete with it for a slice of that money is not only desirable but pretty much essential for the long-term health of the sport on these shores.
With the Elite League's already imbalanced fixture list, adding an extra meeting, raced on a neutral track, shouldn't provide too many logistical issues, with the ten Elite League teams paired off by a random draw, held live on Sky Sports. Or, taking a leaf out of cricket's T20 book, a new format, with shorter meetings and involving as many teams as possible, could be cooked up, with a banner advertiser attracted to help cover the costs.
It's pie in the sky thinking, but that's what our minds turn to in the off-season, denied our regular fix of speedway action. It's not even one of the more ridiculous ideas I've had lately, and I genuinely think it could happen, with the right minds working on it. Who's up for a magic weekend, then? First round's on me.
ITEM: In what could be the defining theme of this closed season, the asset system was once again threatened this week with Peterborough standing firm in the face of what they consider to be illegal approaches for their riders from rival clubs.
The Panthers claim to be still considering their options over their number one rider, with a contract apparently having been offered to Hans Andersen, who spent last season at title winners Swindon. Andersen has turned down Peterborough's offer, and Swindon have made a bid to buy the rider, which the Panthers, too, have rejected. Meanwhile, Kenneth Bjerre, who many believe the Panthers really want to be their number one, must be feeling pretty unwanted by the Alwalton club for them to make such a fuss over his fellow Dane. The situation took an interesting turn this morning when Swindon, refused permission to speak to Andersen while Peterborough dither, asked for permission to speak to Bjerre, quite reasonably assuming that the Panthers can't employ both.
Meanwhile, Niels-Kristian Iversen, who has declared that he will not ride for Peterborough this season and will only ride for King's Lynn, has not been considered by the BSPA Management Committee to have asked for a transfer and thus will be allowed to go on loan to the Stars, against the Panthers wishes. Troy Batchelor, who has made some derogatory comments about the Panthers' management on his Twitter feed (since deleted) has been considered to have asked for a transfer, and thus if Swindon want to use him (they do) they will have to negotiate a purchase. So very tangled, so very inconsistent.
The situation has arisen because Peterborough "own" the registrations of six of the top twenty riders, and they can only use two. Common sense would dictate that the Panthers get fixed up early with so many to choose from, allowing other clubs to offer contracts to whoever is left. As it is, with the Panthers either dithering or playing games (depending how charitable you are feeling), there is uncertainty over who will be riding where or, indeed, at all.
In a sport which relies on the sale of a product to potential sponsors and season-ticket holders for much-needed operating capital, it is important for teams to be sorted and settled as early as possible. The actions of the Peterborough management, in denying this to forty percent of the Elite League (because bottom feeders Belle Vue are caught up in this, too, waiting to see what scraps fall off the table to complete their team), are dangerous to the sport as a whole, and should be dealt with by the BSPA at their meeting next week.
This cannot go on. If the asset system in its present form is to continue without legal challenge all clubs need to play ball, and stop playing silly buggers. Having a large asset base gives you options, not the right to hold the rest of the league to ransom. Agree a loan or name your price or take it to arbitration - whatever's necessary. Just do something other than use your local newspaper to score points, yeah?
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Do The Right Thing! (reprise)
ITEM: The Ben Barker saga took another twist shortly after I wrote last week's blog, when the BSPA Management Committee ruled that, given Barker's desire to leave Coventry for Birmingham, he was available for transfer by sale. Birmingham, as Barker's last club, have first option on the transfer, and if they decide not to take up that option, he'll be made available to other clubs.
And this is where it could get complicated. Coventry will name a price. Birmingham will decide whether they can match that price. If not - and Birmingham are the only club to declare an interest - then it will go to an arbitration panel, and a fee will be set that, presumably, Birmingham will be bound to pay. But what if another club decides they can match Coventry's valuation? Presumably then Birmingham are out of the picture, and Barker doesn't get what he wants.
However, the only club that could track Barker in their side, as it currently stands, is Belle Vue, who are not exactly reported to be swimming in riches. Perhaps another club could buy Barker and make him available for loan, which Birmingham could then take advantage of, but it's hard to imagine who might see him as an investment for the future in such a manner.
No, it seems that Birmingham, if they are still keen on Barker, will have to pay what the arbitration panel decides he is worth, Barker will get to ride for the club he likes, and Coventry will get some recompense for their asset. What a shame this all couldn't have been avoided.
ITEM: The Barker decision would also seem to affect the other ongoing transfer disputes, all involving Peterborough, who are fast becoming the Elite League's Least Wanted, an awkward carbuncle on an already ugly hide. Peterborough have denied 2013 team places to Niels-Kristian Iversen. Hans Andersen, Troy Batchelor, and Kenneth Bjerre under the auspices of keeping their options open.
It's an open secret that Peterborough want to use Bjerre as their number one for next season, but they are wary of how well he will recover from his broken leg. At least this is the story they are peddling to the public - you'll forgive me if I don't accept it as the gospel truth. Iversen wants to ride for King's Lynn, who have built their side around him as number one, and Andersen and Batchelor seem keen to return to Swindon, where they won the league last season. The Panthers have put the blockers on the moves, yet the riders claim they have had no contact from their parent club, and would appreciate knowing, one way or another, which way their destiny lies. Even Bjerre seems to be in the dark, the most innocent victim of this gamesmanship.
Iversen, like Barker, has spent the past two years on loan at another club - the same club who want to use him for a third season. If Barker can be considered to have asked for a transfer - which triggered the MC decision - Iversen's declaration that he will ride only for the Stars should also be taken as a transfer request, and the process outlined above initiated.
The cases of Andersen and Batchelor are not so straightforward, with them having ridden for the Panthers in 2011, before spending 2012 on loan at Swindon. Batchelor has been quite vocal about his feelings - predominantly negative - for the Panthers, whilst Andersen, ever the politician, is keeping his options open. Swindon, for their part, seem to have built their side with both men in it, and see the Panthers' gambit as nothing more than a silly game.
If the BSPA want to protect the asset system they have to take action. At present, too few clubs hold too many aces, and the smaller clubs are at their mercy. As long as these smaller clubs acquiesce, everything is fine. But, as we've seen, they're starting to get uppity, and demand things they don't have, or the bigger clubs are holding them to ransom. This cannot allowed to continue. A redistribution of riders' registrations is not only desirable, it's essential if these issues aren't going to destroy what value clubs currently place on their assets. Moving on Iversen, Andersen, and Batchelor - as well as Barker - would be a good start.
* Of the Top 20 riders on the BSPA's list, SIX are owned by Peterborough. The rest of the list is as follows: Poole 5, Wolves 3, Coventry 2, and Swindon, King's Lynn, Birmingham and Eastbourne have 1 each. Belle Vue's highest asset is #22, Charlie Gjedde, while Lakeside's Adam Shields is only #31 on the list.
ITEM: The UEM - the European Motorcycle Union (soon to re-branded FIM-Europe) - are, to use a football analogy, speedway's UEFA to the FIM's FIFA. Primarily tasked with running European competitions in the various disciplines, their track sport arm has organised a European Speedway Championship since 1978, and a junior equivalent since 1998. Whilst obviously not at the level of FIM competition, the championships attract a good quality field, and past winners of the senior title include Tommy Knudsen, Krzystzof Kasprzak, and Matej Zagar.
British speedway riders have rarely troubled the trophy makers, although Marvyn Cox and gary Havelock both won the title in the 1980s, and the ACU/SCB have lately turned away from UEM competitions, to the point where - in 2013 - there will be no British representation at all. This is both understandable, with the cost of competing across Europe prohibitive to all but our top riders who already find their schedules jam-packed, and puzzling, because at the slightly lower level of competition British riders may make the impact they seem unable to make on the Grand Prix series.
Our lack of serious participation in UEM competitions will be markedly more apparent in 2013 than in previous years because the UEM have signed a deal with Eurosport to carry their four speedway competitions - they also run a pairs' and junior team championship - live across Europe, hopefully including Eurosport UK. With the SGP series struggling to find a broadcaster in the UK, the UEM series could replace it as the premier competition on our screens, and to have no British participants seems unwise.
Last year's title was won by Ales Dryml, who proved that it is possible to combine racing in the Elite League, and his native Czech Republic, with a tilt at the title, so perhaps in 2014 we may see the likes of King, Kennet, and Bridger on our screens, mixing it with the nearlymen of continental Europe.
ITEM: In what must seem like a very Ben Barker-heavy issue of Speeding Motorcycles, he was also the first name to be announced for the 2013 Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund benefit meeting at Berwick in March. Barker won the 2012 meeting, at Birmingham's Perry Barr raceway, and is the only man to have ridden in every edition of the charity event, so it's fitting that he should be the first name on the racecard come March.
The Ben Fund meeting has been granted to Berwick because of their sterling work in raising funds for the cause - to provide assistance to injured and retired ex-speedway riders, and hopefully a big crowd will make their way to Shielfield Park on Saturday March 9th.
I attended the Birmingham meeting and had a great time, with some dedicated riders giving their all for nothing more than a pat on the back. Usually, I'm not a believer in the school of thought that says these riders are doing it for our entertainment - they get paid (quite well, some of them) after all, but this is one of the rare occasions when they do. Also, the turnstiles are manned by referees, so if you delay handing over your money you may get the chance to ask Dan Holt just what he was thinking not excluding Dave North at Ipswich in July, or trade sartorial tips with Christina Turnbull.
If you can't make the long haul to England's furthest outpost (take that, Scots!), then please make sure you give a hefty donation next time the buckets are passed round at your track, or send a cheque to SRBF, c/o ACU House, Wood Street, Rugby, CV21 2YX. You know it makes sense.
And this is where it could get complicated. Coventry will name a price. Birmingham will decide whether they can match that price. If not - and Birmingham are the only club to declare an interest - then it will go to an arbitration panel, and a fee will be set that, presumably, Birmingham will be bound to pay. But what if another club decides they can match Coventry's valuation? Presumably then Birmingham are out of the picture, and Barker doesn't get what he wants.
However, the only club that could track Barker in their side, as it currently stands, is Belle Vue, who are not exactly reported to be swimming in riches. Perhaps another club could buy Barker and make him available for loan, which Birmingham could then take advantage of, but it's hard to imagine who might see him as an investment for the future in such a manner.
No, it seems that Birmingham, if they are still keen on Barker, will have to pay what the arbitration panel decides he is worth, Barker will get to ride for the club he likes, and Coventry will get some recompense for their asset. What a shame this all couldn't have been avoided.
ITEM: The Barker decision would also seem to affect the other ongoing transfer disputes, all involving Peterborough, who are fast becoming the Elite League's Least Wanted, an awkward carbuncle on an already ugly hide. Peterborough have denied 2013 team places to Niels-Kristian Iversen. Hans Andersen, Troy Batchelor, and Kenneth Bjerre under the auspices of keeping their options open.
It's an open secret that Peterborough want to use Bjerre as their number one for next season, but they are wary of how well he will recover from his broken leg. At least this is the story they are peddling to the public - you'll forgive me if I don't accept it as the gospel truth. Iversen wants to ride for King's Lynn, who have built their side around him as number one, and Andersen and Batchelor seem keen to return to Swindon, where they won the league last season. The Panthers have put the blockers on the moves, yet the riders claim they have had no contact from their parent club, and would appreciate knowing, one way or another, which way their destiny lies. Even Bjerre seems to be in the dark, the most innocent victim of this gamesmanship.
Iversen, like Barker, has spent the past two years on loan at another club - the same club who want to use him for a third season. If Barker can be considered to have asked for a transfer - which triggered the MC decision - Iversen's declaration that he will ride only for the Stars should also be taken as a transfer request, and the process outlined above initiated.
The cases of Andersen and Batchelor are not so straightforward, with them having ridden for the Panthers in 2011, before spending 2012 on loan at Swindon. Batchelor has been quite vocal about his feelings - predominantly negative - for the Panthers, whilst Andersen, ever the politician, is keeping his options open. Swindon, for their part, seem to have built their side with both men in it, and see the Panthers' gambit as nothing more than a silly game.
If the BSPA want to protect the asset system they have to take action. At present, too few clubs hold too many aces, and the smaller clubs are at their mercy. As long as these smaller clubs acquiesce, everything is fine. But, as we've seen, they're starting to get uppity, and demand things they don't have, or the bigger clubs are holding them to ransom. This cannot allowed to continue. A redistribution of riders' registrations is not only desirable, it's essential if these issues aren't going to destroy what value clubs currently place on their assets. Moving on Iversen, Andersen, and Batchelor - as well as Barker - would be a good start.
* Of the Top 20 riders on the BSPA's list, SIX are owned by Peterborough. The rest of the list is as follows: Poole 5, Wolves 3, Coventry 2, and Swindon, King's Lynn, Birmingham and Eastbourne have 1 each. Belle Vue's highest asset is #22, Charlie Gjedde, while Lakeside's Adam Shields is only #31 on the list.
ITEM: The UEM - the European Motorcycle Union (soon to re-branded FIM-Europe) - are, to use a football analogy, speedway's UEFA to the FIM's FIFA. Primarily tasked with running European competitions in the various disciplines, their track sport arm has organised a European Speedway Championship since 1978, and a junior equivalent since 1998. Whilst obviously not at the level of FIM competition, the championships attract a good quality field, and past winners of the senior title include Tommy Knudsen, Krzystzof Kasprzak, and Matej Zagar.
British speedway riders have rarely troubled the trophy makers, although Marvyn Cox and gary Havelock both won the title in the 1980s, and the ACU/SCB have lately turned away from UEM competitions, to the point where - in 2013 - there will be no British representation at all. This is both understandable, with the cost of competing across Europe prohibitive to all but our top riders who already find their schedules jam-packed, and puzzling, because at the slightly lower level of competition British riders may make the impact they seem unable to make on the Grand Prix series.
Our lack of serious participation in UEM competitions will be markedly more apparent in 2013 than in previous years because the UEM have signed a deal with Eurosport to carry their four speedway competitions - they also run a pairs' and junior team championship - live across Europe, hopefully including Eurosport UK. With the SGP series struggling to find a broadcaster in the UK, the UEM series could replace it as the premier competition on our screens, and to have no British participants seems unwise.
Last year's title was won by Ales Dryml, who proved that it is possible to combine racing in the Elite League, and his native Czech Republic, with a tilt at the title, so perhaps in 2014 we may see the likes of King, Kennet, and Bridger on our screens, mixing it with the nearlymen of continental Europe.
ITEM: In what must seem like a very Ben Barker-heavy issue of Speeding Motorcycles, he was also the first name to be announced for the 2013 Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund benefit meeting at Berwick in March. Barker won the 2012 meeting, at Birmingham's Perry Barr raceway, and is the only man to have ridden in every edition of the charity event, so it's fitting that he should be the first name on the racecard come March.
The Ben Fund meeting has been granted to Berwick because of their sterling work in raising funds for the cause - to provide assistance to injured and retired ex-speedway riders, and hopefully a big crowd will make their way to Shielfield Park on Saturday March 9th.
I attended the Birmingham meeting and had a great time, with some dedicated riders giving their all for nothing more than a pat on the back. Usually, I'm not a believer in the school of thought that says these riders are doing it for our entertainment - they get paid (quite well, some of them) after all, but this is one of the rare occasions when they do. Also, the turnstiles are manned by referees, so if you delay handing over your money you may get the chance to ask Dan Holt just what he was thinking not excluding Dave North at Ipswich in July, or trade sartorial tips with Christina Turnbull.
If you can't make the long haul to England's furthest outpost (take that, Scots!), then please make sure you give a hefty donation next time the buckets are passed round at your track, or send a cheque to SRBF, c/o ACU House, Wood Street, Rugby, CV21 2YX. You know it makes sense.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Do The Right Thing!
ITEM: So the asset system in its current form looks under threat once more, with Birmingham looking to force the transfer of Ben Barker from Coventry. Barker has ridden, on loan, for the Brummies for the past two seasons. The rules used to say that two seasons was the limit for a loan period, but I'm not sure that counts anymore. And even if it did, what are the BSPA's rules but to be ignored?
Anyway, the Brummies want Barker again, and Coventry want Barker, and Coventry - as the club who own his registration - should have the upper hand. Except that Ben Barker, after seemingly agreeing terms with Mick Horton to ride for Coventry in 2013, decided that he now wants to ride for Birmingham. This is a blow to Coventry's team plans, but not unsurmountable, and Barker's off-track activities have left him with few fans at Brandon in any case.
Coventry have refused Birmingham permission to talk to Barker. This may have been the case from the beginninng, or it may have been a recent development. Regardless, as it stands, Birmingham cannot offer Barker a team place for 2013. The next step should be that Barker submits a transfer request, although I would argue that writing to the BSPA and giving ill-advised interviews to the Birmingham press and Speedway Star have done that for him. In which case, the clubs have to agree a fee. If a fee cannot be agreed, the decision goes to a tribunal, a fee is set, and the transfer is completed. All very simple.
Except for one thing - the feeling coming out of Birmingham, and I will stand corrected if I am reading it wrong - is that they cannot afford a transfer fee, and want Barker for another year on the cheap, and are using the rider to get just that. But that's not how it works. If Barker does not want to ride for Coventry, then he does not ride for anyone without Coventry's permission or a transfer fee being paid. In a sport where making the play-offs is worth money, why should Coventry give their rivals an advantage they don't want to concede. It would be madness to do so.
Let's not forget that Mick Horton's bullishness has already handed Birmingham a fantastic number one in Chris Harris, and that - if they play ball - they also stand to get the use of Josh Auty for a season. But, no, the games continue, the Pravda-lite propaganda spews forth, and nothing gets sorted.
Ben Barker and Josh Auty are young British riders. I'd love them to have every opportunity to progress in the sport, even if that isn't with my club, who previously have been very good at just that sort of thing. The ball would seem to be in Birmingham's court - pay up or pipe down.
ITEM: Talking of young British riders, it's good to see that opportunities for riders who've come through the National League are up this year on last year. Joe Jacobs, Adam Ellis, Stefan Nielsen, and Jake Knight have secured places so far, with Ben Reade expected to be added to to the list at Plymouth. Add that to Lewis Blackbird and Ashley Morris, who found team spots halfway through last season, and the rest of the recent crop (the Worrals, Birks, Irving, Newman, etc) and things look to be picking up.
Clubs could do more, of course, and I'm specifically looking at Berwick, Redcar, and Edinburgh here. Plymouth would make the list, too, but their late start earns them a reprieve. Until it is mandatory to include young british riders there are always going to be holdouts, however, and it's disappointing nothing was done at the AGM, but the lambs obviously led the lions on that one.
Things are also looking better in the Elite League, with the percentage of team places going to British riders increasing on last season. Again, it's not enough, but I do get the feeling that the Elite League are keener on legislating for the use of young Brits than their Premier League counterparts. Unfortunately, though, this is one situation where it has to come from the bottom up - hopefully the academy at Lakeside, the training tracks at Northside, Scunthorpe, Iwade, and Lydd, and the various regional Development Leagues will help this come to pass.
Until then, get behind the British lads and, if you can, throw a bit of money their way in sponsorship. A little goes a long way when you're just starting out and you never know what it might achieve.
ITEM: So it's Coventry Storm, then. The name and logo for Coventry's freshman year in the National League had been a closely-guarded secret, probably because they hadn't thought of one, but last week Blayne Scroggins sprang into action and the Storm it is!
Within minutes of the name and logo being released, I found where they'd "borrowed" it from - a high school in Minnesota. This was disingenuous of me, but the reason I went looking is because it seems to be the done thing in speedway, as the following examples show:
Wests / Sheffield Tigers
This is a common theme, of course, but it ignores the realities that the sport facesi n the UK, and the fairytale world they seem to operate in in Poland, where a cavalier attitude towards paying tax and the absolute compliance of the local authorities can be taken for granted. Even so, some riders are owed huge sums - the grass may be greener on the other side, but you still have to mow it.
But you know what? I looked at their teams, and despite being envious of their dedication to using homegrown talent, I saw nothing that attracted me, or that would worry me if I were competing with them. With the possible exceptions of Torun and Gniezno, some sense of financial (and therefore team-strength) reality looks to be biting, and most teams wouldn't look out of place in the Elite League. Indeed, over two legs, I might even fancy some of our sides against theirs!
It's time we stopped knocking what we have. Yes, the people who run the sport in the UK are sometimes not what we would like, and they make stupid decisions that seem baffling to sensible outsiders. But as a product, the Elite League can be speedway at its finest. It can also be horribly dull, but show me a speedway meeting that doesn't have that potential!
It seems strange that, after six months on pointing out all the little (and some not so little!) problems we have in our sport, that I should find myself being so positive about young Brits, Coventry's NL prospects, and British speedway as a whole - I guess it really is Christmas!
Anyway, the Brummies want Barker again, and Coventry want Barker, and Coventry - as the club who own his registration - should have the upper hand. Except that Ben Barker, after seemingly agreeing terms with Mick Horton to ride for Coventry in 2013, decided that he now wants to ride for Birmingham. This is a blow to Coventry's team plans, but not unsurmountable, and Barker's off-track activities have left him with few fans at Brandon in any case.
Coventry have refused Birmingham permission to talk to Barker. This may have been the case from the beginninng, or it may have been a recent development. Regardless, as it stands, Birmingham cannot offer Barker a team place for 2013. The next step should be that Barker submits a transfer request, although I would argue that writing to the BSPA and giving ill-advised interviews to the Birmingham press and Speedway Star have done that for him. In which case, the clubs have to agree a fee. If a fee cannot be agreed, the decision goes to a tribunal, a fee is set, and the transfer is completed. All very simple.
Except for one thing - the feeling coming out of Birmingham, and I will stand corrected if I am reading it wrong - is that they cannot afford a transfer fee, and want Barker for another year on the cheap, and are using the rider to get just that. But that's not how it works. If Barker does not want to ride for Coventry, then he does not ride for anyone without Coventry's permission or a transfer fee being paid. In a sport where making the play-offs is worth money, why should Coventry give their rivals an advantage they don't want to concede. It would be madness to do so.
Let's not forget that Mick Horton's bullishness has already handed Birmingham a fantastic number one in Chris Harris, and that - if they play ball - they also stand to get the use of Josh Auty for a season. But, no, the games continue, the Pravda-lite propaganda spews forth, and nothing gets sorted.
Ben Barker and Josh Auty are young British riders. I'd love them to have every opportunity to progress in the sport, even if that isn't with my club, who previously have been very good at just that sort of thing. The ball would seem to be in Birmingham's court - pay up or pipe down.
ITEM: Talking of young British riders, it's good to see that opportunities for riders who've come through the National League are up this year on last year. Joe Jacobs, Adam Ellis, Stefan Nielsen, and Jake Knight have secured places so far, with Ben Reade expected to be added to to the list at Plymouth. Add that to Lewis Blackbird and Ashley Morris, who found team spots halfway through last season, and the rest of the recent crop (the Worrals, Birks, Irving, Newman, etc) and things look to be picking up.
Clubs could do more, of course, and I'm specifically looking at Berwick, Redcar, and Edinburgh here. Plymouth would make the list, too, but their late start earns them a reprieve. Until it is mandatory to include young british riders there are always going to be holdouts, however, and it's disappointing nothing was done at the AGM, but the lambs obviously led the lions on that one.
Things are also looking better in the Elite League, with the percentage of team places going to British riders increasing on last season. Again, it's not enough, but I do get the feeling that the Elite League are keener on legislating for the use of young Brits than their Premier League counterparts. Unfortunately, though, this is one situation where it has to come from the bottom up - hopefully the academy at Lakeside, the training tracks at Northside, Scunthorpe, Iwade, and Lydd, and the various regional Development Leagues will help this come to pass.
Until then, get behind the British lads and, if you can, throw a bit of money their way in sponsorship. A little goes a long way when you're just starting out and you never know what it might achieve.
ITEM: So it's Coventry Storm, then. The name and logo for Coventry's freshman year in the National League had been a closely-guarded secret, probably because they hadn't thought of one, but last week Blayne Scroggins sprang into action and the Storm it is!
Within minutes of the name and logo being released, I found where they'd "borrowed" it from - a high school in Minnesota. This was disingenuous of me, but the reason I went looking is because it seems to be the done thing in speedway, as the following examples show:
Georgia Tech University / Coventry "Bees"
Los Angeles / King's Lynn Stars
Wests / Sheffield Tigers
Still, it's a fair name, and a good logo, and at least they stayed away from using Wasps, or Hornets, or any other "almost the same but slightly different" insect name. Maybe "Swarm" would have been better, but it would have reminded people of a bad Michael Caine movie, and nobody wants that.
I'm looking forward to seeing the National League boys next season, perhaps as much as the Elite League team as it stands. I hope I won't be alone.
ITEM: The 2013 team line-ups for the Polish EkstraLiga were released this week, and were salivated over by some British fans, all too eager to point out how much better their league is than ours.
This is a common theme, of course, but it ignores the realities that the sport facesi n the UK, and the fairytale world they seem to operate in in Poland, where a cavalier attitude towards paying tax and the absolute compliance of the local authorities can be taken for granted. Even so, some riders are owed huge sums - the grass may be greener on the other side, but you still have to mow it.
But you know what? I looked at their teams, and despite being envious of their dedication to using homegrown talent, I saw nothing that attracted me, or that would worry me if I were competing with them. With the possible exceptions of Torun and Gniezno, some sense of financial (and therefore team-strength) reality looks to be biting, and most teams wouldn't look out of place in the Elite League. Indeed, over two legs, I might even fancy some of our sides against theirs!
It's time we stopped knocking what we have. Yes, the people who run the sport in the UK are sometimes not what we would like, and they make stupid decisions that seem baffling to sensible outsiders. But as a product, the Elite League can be speedway at its finest. It can also be horribly dull, but show me a speedway meeting that doesn't have that potential!
It seems strange that, after six months on pointing out all the little (and some not so little!) problems we have in our sport, that I should find myself being so positive about young Brits, Coventry's NL prospects, and British speedway as a whole - I guess it really is Christmas!
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Niels, Edward, Facundo & Nathan
ITEM: Peterborough are playing a very dangerous game. In denying
Niels-Kristian Iversen a third season at King's Lynn, they risk bringing
down the whole house of cards that is the asset system in British
speedway.
Speedway riders in this country do not have contracts in the same way other sportsmen are signed to clubs. Riders are self-employed contractors, no different to you or I employing a decorator to paint our houses. Imagine, though, that as soon as he finished painting your house, you were able to demand a fee from next door for letting him paint their house, too. And every house he painted after that. Ridiculous.
But that's how it works in speedway. For nothing other than a season's employment - and not even that in a lot of cases! - a club can control the future destiny of a rider they are no longer paying. It's a system that was struck down in football two decades ago, and only continues in speedway through the continued compliance of British clubs and their assets.
Iversen ended up at King's Lynn because he was surplus to requirements at Peterborough. He returned to the Norfolk Arena again last year, once more not needed by his parent club. And this season? I don't believe Peterborough had any intention of using him again, but he had a good season in 2012 and his "value" has rocketed.
King's Lynn are keen to continue to loan Iversen, and with loan fees tied to a rider's average, the fee would have increased for 2013. Peterborough are playing hard ball, reporting the Stars for an illegal approach - they did the same last year when Swindon, given permission by the Panthers' team manager, signed Troy Batchelor, who'd already been left out of Peterborough's 1-7.
It's not clear what the Panthers actually want. Do they want to keep Iversen for themselves for the 2013 season, in which case they're shit out of luck because he's declared it's the Stars or nothing? Or do they want a full transfer fee, which King's Lynn are unwilling to pay? Precedent was set last season, when Poole were allowed to rob Swindon of a useful asset, using Miedzinski on loan until his false average value had been destroyed, and if the decision on Iversen is any different there should be wiggle room for appeal.
It's extremely risky for all clubs, though (well, except Belle Vue, who have nothing of value), because all it takes is one disgruntled rider to cry "restraint of trade!" and the whole asset system will crumble like Wolves' title challenge in early April.
Having paid money to Coventry to make Rory Schlein an asset, King's Lynn won't be keen to rock the boat, but someone will, and soon. Who will be speedway's Bosman?
ITEM: Edward Kennett signed for Swindon this week, and there was a mixed response from both Robins' and Bees' fans.
Blunsdon regulars are trusting of their management's judgment, and rightfully so - the return of Alun Rossiter to the club having earned them their first championship in almost half a century. If Rosco and Gary Patchett think Kennett is worth signing, then who are Swindon fans to doubt them?
There are nay-sayers, though, and they mostly fall into two camps - those concerned at Kennett's alarming lack of form last season, and those who still see him as a cheat, having been caught using a modified silencer in the middle of the 2011 season.
The former group can be justifiably concerned - Kennett's average dropped severely last term, although mitigating circumstances can be argued throughout. The latter are ridiculous - Kennett's major crime was getting caught, stitched-up by someone he considered a friend, and he was by far and away not the only one running on a dodgy silencer. In fact, several of those who still call him a cheat eulogise another of the rule-breakers. Double standards abound in speedway, as in life.
Coventry fans, too, are divided, with some glad to see the back of a rider who clearly didn't give his all on some occasions last season, and others frustrated that the Bees are giving away an asset on a artificially low average.
It's no secret that I had my issues with Kennett last season, coming to a head when rumours of him deliberately dropping his average surfaced at the same time as a bizarre performance at Wolverhampton, a track he loves, when to the untrained eye it looked for all the world like he was dropping points from scoring positions when under no threat.
I half-jokingly put him on "#KennettWatch", setting him a target of 7 points per meeting, and but for a shocking display at Peterborough where he recorded four zeroes, he scored much better from that point, eventually averaging 6.60 (7.30 with bonus points) after the Wolves debacle - as opposed to 5.93 before it - and probably would have made his target if Belle Vue weren't a shambles of a club.
I'm pretty sure Edward Kennett couldn't give a flying fig what I think of him, or any targets I set him, but I was pleased with what I saw after Monmore Green, a rider who, while perhaps not happy with his work, seemed to knuckle down and get on with it. I'm sure the rumours of average-dropping were just that, maybe blown out of proportion from half-heard intentions to double-up in 2013.
If you'd have said to me back in September that I'd be sad Kennett isn't returning to Brandon next year I'd have laughed at you. And then laughed again. But there are three riders from last year's Bees' side who are bound to increase their averages by some way in 2013, and Kennett is one of them. On a little over six points he's a steal, and Swindon have robbed us.
So good luck Eddy, I hope you're happier next year, that a rider you grew up admiring doesn't die, and that the man who brought you to Swindon isn't sacked by text message halfway through the season. Without those distractions, it'll be a 7-point plus year, at least. With or without #KennettWatch.
ITEM: They must like Argentineans up in Sheffield. The city's oldest league club, United, once almost signed a teenaged Diego Maradona, and Emiliano Sanchez has been a fixture of the Tigers side for the last few seasons. Now they've added to their Patagonian compliment by signing hotly-tipped youngster Facundo Albin for the 2013 season.
Albin, who has been a top scorer in his native land since he was old enough to ride with the big boys, was all set to sign for Berwick until Sebastian Alden ruled himself out of Premier League speedway next season, necessitating a re-shuffle in their planned 1-7, with Albin the odd man out.
Dick Barrie, who winters in South America, didn't hesitate to get Albin fixed up at Sheffield, where he'll come in on a 5.00 average.
I'm not sure how I feel about the move. On the one hand, Albin is taking a spot that could be filled by a British youngster, a fact made worse by the Tigers also tracking 24-yr old Australian novice Damian Koppe, also on a 5.00 average. There again, the Owlerton outfit have already signed three British riders, giving a first Premier League chance to Jake Knight, and may make it four with the returning Richard Hall.
What Sheffield do have is marketing gold. A young Argentinean, untested on European tracks, embarking on a big adventure, his tyre tracks following in the footsteps of Leo Messi... It's all there for Neil Machin and Dave Hoggart to sell to the press and the public. With local boy made good Simon Stead returning home, the Tigers should have little trouble attracting the media and new fans along on Thursday evenings.
So while Albin's signing may be no good for British speedway riders, it could be good for British speedway as a whole, which in the long run should be good for British speedway riders! The opportunity is there - let's hope Sheffield make the most of it.
ITEM: I enjoyed watching Nathan Greaves ride at Brandon last season, watching him learn to negotiate the bends ever faster and with more style the more laps he put in. He became "our" Nathan, sure to be a Bee one day, and when Mick Horton announced that Coventry were running in the National League in 2013, it was surely only a matter of time before he signed.
So it was some surprise that I got a text telling me he'd signed for Dudley, "stolen" from under our noses, the dirty rotters!
Greaves will not become an asset of the Heathens because he is under-16. Even if he wanted to, the rules simply do not allow it. The Coventry side is being built from assets of the club (or with riders acquired as assets), with a view to them riding for the senior side down the line.
Could it be that Nathan and his advisors were faced with a choice between Dudley offering a team place with no strings attached and a Coventry side eager to get him on board, perhaps even trying some kind of pre-contract agreement? Or did Dudley, wealthy by NL standards, and with good sponsors, offer a better financial package than Coventry were willing to match?
We'll probably never know. If Coventry are determined to make their investment pay off, it makes sense to get everyone signed and sealed, even if the rules frown on it. However, it may put pressure on a lad looking to the future - Greaves has the best of both worlds at present: a good season in the NL and he can name his price come his 16th birthday.
And if Dudley can offer a good package isn't that a reward for their hard work and professionalism, even if it does put their rivals at a disadvantage?
My only hope is that Nathan Greaves gets on with the racing, and doesn't let the politics of speedway, and bad advice from "adults" (because there's enough of that at that level) spoil what should be a good career in speedway.
We have precious few precocious talents coming through, let's not ruin this one, eh?
Speedway riders in this country do not have contracts in the same way other sportsmen are signed to clubs. Riders are self-employed contractors, no different to you or I employing a decorator to paint our houses. Imagine, though, that as soon as he finished painting your house, you were able to demand a fee from next door for letting him paint their house, too. And every house he painted after that. Ridiculous.
But that's how it works in speedway. For nothing other than a season's employment - and not even that in a lot of cases! - a club can control the future destiny of a rider they are no longer paying. It's a system that was struck down in football two decades ago, and only continues in speedway through the continued compliance of British clubs and their assets.
Iversen ended up at King's Lynn because he was surplus to requirements at Peterborough. He returned to the Norfolk Arena again last year, once more not needed by his parent club. And this season? I don't believe Peterborough had any intention of using him again, but he had a good season in 2012 and his "value" has rocketed.
King's Lynn are keen to continue to loan Iversen, and with loan fees tied to a rider's average, the fee would have increased for 2013. Peterborough are playing hard ball, reporting the Stars for an illegal approach - they did the same last year when Swindon, given permission by the Panthers' team manager, signed Troy Batchelor, who'd already been left out of Peterborough's 1-7.
It's not clear what the Panthers actually want. Do they want to keep Iversen for themselves for the 2013 season, in which case they're shit out of luck because he's declared it's the Stars or nothing? Or do they want a full transfer fee, which King's Lynn are unwilling to pay? Precedent was set last season, when Poole were allowed to rob Swindon of a useful asset, using Miedzinski on loan until his false average value had been destroyed, and if the decision on Iversen is any different there should be wiggle room for appeal.
It's extremely risky for all clubs, though (well, except Belle Vue, who have nothing of value), because all it takes is one disgruntled rider to cry "restraint of trade!" and the whole asset system will crumble like Wolves' title challenge in early April.
Having paid money to Coventry to make Rory Schlein an asset, King's Lynn won't be keen to rock the boat, but someone will, and soon. Who will be speedway's Bosman?
ITEM: Edward Kennett signed for Swindon this week, and there was a mixed response from both Robins' and Bees' fans.
Blunsdon regulars are trusting of their management's judgment, and rightfully so - the return of Alun Rossiter to the club having earned them their first championship in almost half a century. If Rosco and Gary Patchett think Kennett is worth signing, then who are Swindon fans to doubt them?
There are nay-sayers, though, and they mostly fall into two camps - those concerned at Kennett's alarming lack of form last season, and those who still see him as a cheat, having been caught using a modified silencer in the middle of the 2011 season.
The former group can be justifiably concerned - Kennett's average dropped severely last term, although mitigating circumstances can be argued throughout. The latter are ridiculous - Kennett's major crime was getting caught, stitched-up by someone he considered a friend, and he was by far and away not the only one running on a dodgy silencer. In fact, several of those who still call him a cheat eulogise another of the rule-breakers. Double standards abound in speedway, as in life.
Coventry fans, too, are divided, with some glad to see the back of a rider who clearly didn't give his all on some occasions last season, and others frustrated that the Bees are giving away an asset on a artificially low average.
It's no secret that I had my issues with Kennett last season, coming to a head when rumours of him deliberately dropping his average surfaced at the same time as a bizarre performance at Wolverhampton, a track he loves, when to the untrained eye it looked for all the world like he was dropping points from scoring positions when under no threat.
I half-jokingly put him on "#KennettWatch", setting him a target of 7 points per meeting, and but for a shocking display at Peterborough where he recorded four zeroes, he scored much better from that point, eventually averaging 6.60 (7.30 with bonus points) after the Wolves debacle - as opposed to 5.93 before it - and probably would have made his target if Belle Vue weren't a shambles of a club.
I'm pretty sure Edward Kennett couldn't give a flying fig what I think of him, or any targets I set him, but I was pleased with what I saw after Monmore Green, a rider who, while perhaps not happy with his work, seemed to knuckle down and get on with it. I'm sure the rumours of average-dropping were just that, maybe blown out of proportion from half-heard intentions to double-up in 2013.
If you'd have said to me back in September that I'd be sad Kennett isn't returning to Brandon next year I'd have laughed at you. And then laughed again. But there are three riders from last year's Bees' side who are bound to increase their averages by some way in 2013, and Kennett is one of them. On a little over six points he's a steal, and Swindon have robbed us.
So good luck Eddy, I hope you're happier next year, that a rider you grew up admiring doesn't die, and that the man who brought you to Swindon isn't sacked by text message halfway through the season. Without those distractions, it'll be a 7-point plus year, at least. With or without #KennettWatch.
ITEM: They must like Argentineans up in Sheffield. The city's oldest league club, United, once almost signed a teenaged Diego Maradona, and Emiliano Sanchez has been a fixture of the Tigers side for the last few seasons. Now they've added to their Patagonian compliment by signing hotly-tipped youngster Facundo Albin for the 2013 season.
Albin, who has been a top scorer in his native land since he was old enough to ride with the big boys, was all set to sign for Berwick until Sebastian Alden ruled himself out of Premier League speedway next season, necessitating a re-shuffle in their planned 1-7, with Albin the odd man out.
Dick Barrie, who winters in South America, didn't hesitate to get Albin fixed up at Sheffield, where he'll come in on a 5.00 average.
I'm not sure how I feel about the move. On the one hand, Albin is taking a spot that could be filled by a British youngster, a fact made worse by the Tigers also tracking 24-yr old Australian novice Damian Koppe, also on a 5.00 average. There again, the Owlerton outfit have already signed three British riders, giving a first Premier League chance to Jake Knight, and may make it four with the returning Richard Hall.
What Sheffield do have is marketing gold. A young Argentinean, untested on European tracks, embarking on a big adventure, his tyre tracks following in the footsteps of Leo Messi... It's all there for Neil Machin and Dave Hoggart to sell to the press and the public. With local boy made good Simon Stead returning home, the Tigers should have little trouble attracting the media and new fans along on Thursday evenings.
So while Albin's signing may be no good for British speedway riders, it could be good for British speedway as a whole, which in the long run should be good for British speedway riders! The opportunity is there - let's hope Sheffield make the most of it.
ITEM: I enjoyed watching Nathan Greaves ride at Brandon last season, watching him learn to negotiate the bends ever faster and with more style the more laps he put in. He became "our" Nathan, sure to be a Bee one day, and when Mick Horton announced that Coventry were running in the National League in 2013, it was surely only a matter of time before he signed.
So it was some surprise that I got a text telling me he'd signed for Dudley, "stolen" from under our noses, the dirty rotters!
Greaves will not become an asset of the Heathens because he is under-16. Even if he wanted to, the rules simply do not allow it. The Coventry side is being built from assets of the club (or with riders acquired as assets), with a view to them riding for the senior side down the line.
Could it be that Nathan and his advisors were faced with a choice between Dudley offering a team place with no strings attached and a Coventry side eager to get him on board, perhaps even trying some kind of pre-contract agreement? Or did Dudley, wealthy by NL standards, and with good sponsors, offer a better financial package than Coventry were willing to match?
We'll probably never know. If Coventry are determined to make their investment pay off, it makes sense to get everyone signed and sealed, even if the rules frown on it. However, it may put pressure on a lad looking to the future - Greaves has the best of both worlds at present: a good season in the NL and he can name his price come his 16th birthday.
And if Dudley can offer a good package isn't that a reward for their hard work and professionalism, even if it does put their rivals at a disadvantage?
My only hope is that Nathan Greaves gets on with the racing, and doesn't let the politics of speedway, and bad advice from "adults" (because there's enough of that at that level) spoil what should be a good career in speedway.
We have precious few precocious talents coming through, let's not ruin this one, eh?
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