Sometimes I watch the Speedway Grand Prix whether I want to fall asleep or not

Riders and some pundits have rightly complained that the Speedway Grand Prix series organisers (“BSI – an IMG Company”) wish to stage the various meetings on sub standard tracks that sometimes verge on the dangerous. There have been some real shockers, so thank goodness last night that round four of the Speedway Grand Prix was staged on the ‘best’ track so far. Actually, thinking about it, it’s been so dull entertainmentwise (again) this year that the random, unpredictability that a track like a rutty ploughed field at least creates some much needed drama and spectacle. Admittedly, last night, Nicki Pedersen – who increasingly becomes a Kevin Phillips look-a-like - was again unlucky when the track was the primary cause of his exclusion (it wasn’t exactly clear from the pictures and Polish commentary but was Emil Sayfutdinov spitting at him or merely giving helpful suggestions?). It makes a change from Nicki’s ‘victimisation’ by those naughty referees but effectively concluded his defence of his title (according to him, anyway, when interviewed immediately afterwards), unless injuries intervene above him in the table.

It’s impossible to deny that the meeting presentation in pictures for the telly/interweb is slick and professional but, sadly, the racing ‘product’ served up really is – bumps induced drama aside - relentlessly as dull as ditchwater. No amount of provocatively blown kisses from the start girls can disguise (or Kenneth Bjerre dressed in his bright yellow nuclear decontamination kevlars) that the racing mostly bores and that this series concept looks in terminal decline. Almost every fortnight, we get treated to the same riders (except for Emil S) manfully labouring through yet another thrill-less qualification process to then finally grind their way through the knock out stage to completion. Nicki’s exclusion aside, there was possibly one thrilling race, little or no passing in an ongoing series of follow my leader processional races. Even when we got to the semi finals, the extent of the drama was a tapes exclusion and a modicum of on track aggression. Even the notional excitement of the rise of the young challenger – and my doesn’t he make a compellingly charismatic interviewee - effectively ended as a possible narrative for this series, if the SGP press office and assorted boosters are honest. Injury notwithstanding, the 2009 series appears destined to be Jason’s (and good luck to him) after what the Speedway Grand Prix – Official Website calls his “majestic” victory.

Even the SGP Official Website reflects the dullness of the series but, magnificently, takes it to a whole new level of torpor! If Ole Olsen’s supervision of the track preparation suggests that he’s a fifth columnist sent by parties unknown to sabotage the ‘credibility’ of the event and the ‘reputation’ of the organisers, then he definitely has his counterpart as webmaster for the ‘revamped’ BSI/IMG site. They say don’t put lipstick on a pig but whoever is in charge of their interweb ‘presence’ quickly demonstrates that they can’t even manage that! Doubtless they do have one hand tied behind their back because as series organisers, they really only exist to sell television rights (find sponsors and sell commercial breaks etc) so can’t give away the Crown Jewels of the racing action for free to casual punters. However, while the dullness of the graphics and design is an artistic crime that deserves punishment but whoever came up the various content ideas should order a taxi. It’s so bad and there are so many mis-steps, it’s actually really compulsive viewing with almost car crash levels of dullness that completely fails to engage or thrill the casual surfer. I can’t help drinking in the full glory of the thing but who would voluntarily linger when life is so short? We do get to see a series of rather wonderful videos:

We have the thrill of the live (yes, live) draw. At least, the square building blocks used are an innovation but apart from that it’s dull with a capital D. The format stays roughly the same for each round – some notable buffer Bank manager type figure with no real connection to speedway makes the draw while one of the start girls has been dragged in a day early to dress skimpily and simper alongside said important middle aged person. Round 1 was, I think, drawn by HRG from Heroes (it’s a shame Sylar doesn’t get to go to the BSI/IMG management meetings), the second was drawn by someone impersonating a mad professor dressed for a court appearance (actually the Mayor of Leszno) and Friday’s featured some bloke with unexplained managerial connections to the latest modern staging stadium. He adopted a quizzical glazed throughout that suggested he’d been sedated in preparation for an unpleasant minor cosmetic operation. The draw did open with a modicum of drama when he shakily placed the first building block drawn in the wrong position. Unbelievably, we also get a running commentary and so thrill to news like, “it’s the first time that Grzegorz Walasek hasn’t been at number 16 this year!”

The really condescending thing about this live draw is that it’s supposed to counter grumbles and allegations (who felt these were important enough to actually make?) that draws previously weren’t transparently done. But also, more laughably, the fanfare round this new found openness supposedly illustrates the integrity and probity of the organisers. Remember, these are the very people who have yet to publish their own 2008 attendance figures (never mind ever have them independently audited) or still have yet to reveal the results of their investigations into a speedway meeting not held eight months ago! Another function of this live draw is that anyone who actually attends the meetings in person, this season can buy a glossy, overpriced programme that fails to include the race card for the event! Admittedly, the organisers selflessly provide all purchasers with an insert but why bother when you can have the fun of filling it in yourself (after you’ve downloaded said document template for free here)?

After the live draw, later in the day we can further excite ourselves with videos of some rider interviews where they give their reactions to practice or the news of their gate positions. There’s a Zen Groundhog Day quality to the repetition of the question, ‘ so XXX, how was your practice today?” With such investigative reporting on display, it’s hardly a surprise that all the riders confess the track is heaven on earth. Luckily the gate position questions can be a tad more exciting, “Jason Crump you start in heat 4 with the red helmet colour – what do you think of that?” Sensibly Jason masks his ecstasy and instead sounds like he’s reading from a ransom note while held at gunpoint, “with the draw I’ve been given, I’m starting inside and moving out!”

Even more likely to kill off the interest of the casual server is the highlights package served up afterwards by “BSI – an IMG Company” to showcase the thrills of the speedway events they organise. Quite what the thinking is behind the random fast moving selection of arty images (without recognisable narrative) overlaid with a horrid soundtrack that probably intones some key subliminal motivational messages but also informs us endlessly something along the lines of speedway’s version of “I have a dream’. Actually, it’s some guff about, “sometimes it’s hard to be a man/world champion/customer service representative” [delete as appropriate]. It’s hard to navigate in this sea of awful tosh, let alone determine whether the sound track or the montage of evocative images is the most brilliantly surreal. Still, as they say, all this coverage and publicity means speedway is the winner!

Elite League Reverse Ferret?

It’s not that long ago that the tablets came down from the 2007 BSPA Annual Conference mountain. We then learnt that the Elite League promoters were to self administer some tough tasting medicine to address both team strength inequality but also build a more viable long term future for the upper tier of British speedway! There was natty talk of a Three Year Plan and dramatic news came in the form of a reduced points limit that would force teams to discard some of their ‘star’ higher paid riders. Jason Crump was axed by Poole to reduce their strength and the Speedway Star gushed, “Matt Ford is hoping he has set an example for others to follow by throwing his weight behind the revamped structure of the sport…he believes it’s a sacrifice which had to be made for the future benefit of British Speedway after freely admitting the top flight had lost its way last season [2007]”. Fans might have cavilled at the watering down effect on the quality of riders on display prompted in part by these decisions but Dr. Ford only had medical metaphors and the strategic interests of the sport at heart, “I’m looking at the bigger picture which is the sport in general and major surgery was needed to bring the Elite League back into a more competitive structure. It’s a case of short term pain for long term gain.”

The credit crunching economic climate and the ongoing deleterious imbalance of revenues to costs in the Elite League (and elsewhere) prompted the 2008 BSPA Annual Conference to endorse the validity of the Three Year Plan while it glanced 80 years into the future and looked at the future legacy for as yet unborn generations. Its website quoted an excited person or persons unknown (probably Peter Toogood or publicly gung ho anonymous Working Party member), “Our wonderful and exciting sport has built 80 years of heritage in the hearts of our nation, and we are pleased to be at the pinnacle point of re-building its foundations to make for another 80 years and beyond of action where our aim is to capture the hearts of a new generation.” Known for his business acumen and careful husbandry, Chris Van Straaten endorsed the financial maturity of the collective wisdom of the trade association, “Our decision and faith to start the three year plan last season was endorsed by all the Promoters during a conference where one of our main concerns was to protect our fans and the sport from the effects of the current economic climate.”

Ever loyal, the safely ‘protected’ fans only vaguely murmured at the further dilution of the EL product for 2009. There would definitely be no AJ, Greg or Jason. Most teams would only have two ‘real’ heat leaders occupying the three heat leader positions but the future was in the process of being safely brightened. The narrative helpfully suggested by many promoters (as though reading from a pre-prepared script) was that there would be less disruption from GP riders, closer racing and (just add water) a new generation of stars would arise. All this was hopefully true and would also have the added benefit – along with other equalisation measures like the innovative league points structure – that it engineered closer meetings between more evenly matched, mutually competitive teams. Anecdotally some closer early season EL meetings have been proclaimed as evidence of the perspicacity of this vision. However, the comparatively greater absence of so-called “GP stars” only served to further highlight the changed nature and built to tighter budgets conception of the EL. If you closed one eye, it was possible to pretend that there was consensus and a limited egalitarianism with measured forward planning had triumphed over narrower, individual commercial interests that have tended to force the sport lurch from one bodged solution to compensate for yet another set of unintended consequences.

In even plainer terms, the monopoly position enjoyed in the EL by the Top Three successful clubs like Poole, Swindon and Coventry could notionally be threatened by the middle tier and even the ‘smaller’ clubs like Belle Vue, Eastbourne, Lakeside and Ipswich who’d in recent years occasionally find themselves condemned to the general vicinity of the basement. With the Three Year Plan in place, the upper echelons could now (theoretically) be reached by any club without busting the bank, while measured upward progression was possible if not fully back on the menu. The vicious circle of increased costs, on track struggle reflected by reduced numbers through the turnstiles looked like it might be partially broken and replaced by a more virtuous circle of co-operation and support among the EL promoters and clubs. Sadly, team changes news during the last week has seen the Three Year Plan unofficially declared dead on arrival before it’s even reached half way stage, let alone fruitition. The latest round of the speedway arms race has replaced the recent phoney armistice. In a superb example of the reverse ferret, Dr. Ford has suddenly changed his suggested cure and this revised diagnosis has seen Hans Andersen sign for Poole (now that he’s able to fit within their points limit) and, frequent points purge victims [with their unenviable forced selection choices between Hancock/Hamill & Nicholls/Harris] Coventry, have temporarily re-signed their own asset Scott Nicholls. Commitment phobic Matej Zagar has ventured to Blunsdon and more surprise returns to British speedway (“I love the fans but there are too many meetings”) are forecast to follow.


Indeed, if just for commercial reason of regular Sky appearances, more EL teams will have to ape the trail that the market leaders blaze. If any EL team is now to seriously compete for end of season ‘glory’, then “star” riders and what we’ve so often been told are their ‘inflated’ running costs are once again firmly back on the agenda. How long before we see AJ, Jason, Nicki, Greg or, even, (and wouldn’t it be wonderful) Tomasz back riding here on short term contracts only too happy to metaphorically kiss the badge and give their ‘all’ for ‘their clubs’? While it might look good stuff from the terraces, at a stroke it wrecks the oft heralded back to basics EL cost structure, condemns all clubs on a tight budgets to large unsustainable overdrafts and shifts the sport back as the plaything of those with deep pockets or the most vaunting ambition.

This might be the logic of the market – look where this has got the English football Premier League and banking – but ill behoves the trade association that is the often-factional BSPA. Even if it weren’t a recession, toothless governance and an ‘I’m alright Jack’ approach surely shouldn’t be the approach advocated by the collective in the cold economic and sporting light of day? Though Wolverhampton presently appear to buck the trend with a more considered approach to their 2009 rider selections, will they or teams like Belle Vue, Eastbourne, Lakeside, Ipswich (let alone any team brave enough to accept promotion from the Premier League) realistically become EL Champions while this approach to long term strategy and team building exists?

Even Cheesy Costs Too Much in 2009 for BSI Speedway's Showpiece Event in Cardiff

A snippet about entertainment at Cardiff that appeared in the lengthy coverage of the Prague Grand Prix (the first of the 2009 series) in this week’s Speedway Star inadvertently yet again reveals the desperation of the cost-cutting measures that BSI Speedway appear keen to undertake. Arguably, it also signals they have already planned for 2009 Cardiff revenues and/or attendances to decline from previous levels.

Since the inaugural Cardiff Grand Prix, the organisers have dictated that our pre and mid meeting entertainment should be of the cheesy faded, fallen star variety they apparently deem appropriate to the collective emotional and cognitive outlook of the average speedway fan. Though they might not be everyone’s fifth choice of musical artiste, the performers we’ve seen have enjoyed some element of name recognition and, often, a reasonable sized back catalogue of their own previously successful material.

To name but a few, some of the artists we’ve seen at Cardiff have included: Bonnie Tyler, the late great Edwin Starr, Belinda Carlisle, Chas & Dave, Tony Hadley (without Spandau Ballet) and Tony Christie. (We'll ignore X Factor losers like the McDonald Brothers or Ray Quinn) Obviously, there have been equipment problems (and some pitiful spiders with legs on stilts) but the veneer of genuinely wanting to put on a show at the Millenium Stadium has remained intact. You also have to think that all of these haven’t come (too) cheap. John Postlethwaite and his esteemed management team have hummed their cheesy, retro tune and we’ve dutifully sung along. This year - along with the traditional poor track surface, predictable format and field of participants - we’re informed that we’re now going to be treated to the pre-meeting entertainment sounds of a Queen tribute band!

Next year the ongoing logic of further BSI Speedway cost cutting at the SGP would dictate that the entertainment offered will probably decline even further to become karaoke with some extra coloured flashing lights. *

Why would anyone even think to bother to book a Queen tribute band? Hold on, actually, companies founded by John Postlethwaite have some previous here (and probably thinks “We are the Champions!” is the ideal signature tune to accompany BSI Speedway PowerPoint presentations of the SGP financials to IMG). Indeed, it’s less than three years since BSI Reading (during their ill starred attempt to ‘revolutionise’ the Elite League via their rebranded ‘investment vehicle’ of the Reading Bulldogs) tried and completely failed to entice/entertain the 2006 EL Play Off Final (first leg) crowd with – a Queen tribute band! If it’s good enough for Smallmead, I say it’s good enough for Cardiff. Obviously, I have no idea of the band booked then will be the one we get to witness at Cardiff. There are so many tribute bands, after all.

To give a flavour of what’s in store here’s a snippet – that also features dedicated Oxford Speedway trackman Nobby Hall - from my book on the 2006 speedway season Shifting Shale (now available for a bargain £10) that captures something of how the band at the Cardiff GP might sound:

“Far from seeking to innovate when it comes to the choice of music played to the punters at the premium speedway meetings they stage, the BSI as an organisation appears to pride itself to only offer music stuck in a time warp for a certain bygone era of mass entertainment. At Cardiff they at least have the decency to make ironic or slightly fey choices – though I must admit that the 2006 combination of Bonny Tyler and Tony Christie did appeal in a kind of kitsch-cum-retro type way – but tonight at Smallmead as a crowd we appear to have become trapped at speedway’s equivalent of Guantanamo Bay. We’re definitively a captive audience as we wait for the action to start and BSI Reading appear keen to infantilise us as well as beat us into psychological submission with some loud, garish and atonal music we haven’t actually chosen or can’t turn down. In fact, we have no choice but to sit passively and listen since it drowns almost all conversation. Judged by his coat, maybe a Queen tribute band is in fact John Postlethwaite’s favoured choice of music to relax to, though, much more likely, they’re somehow related. If none of these explanations apply, they’re probably just a rather condescending reasonably priced choice of what they think speedway fans would like to listen to. Whatever the reason, the lead singer greets us with a cheery “Hello Reading!” as though he’s mistaken this gig – so strongly redolent of an end-of-the-career booking - for the headline slot at the Reading Festival rather than its reality of the centre green at Smallmead. It must be a nightmare engagement - the chance to play to the older demographic in the form of an audience of uninterested speedway fans who really just can’t wait for you to stop. The volume is set at deafening so we’re all along for the ride, except for those with adjustable volume on their hearing aids. Sadly the singer affects to persuade himself, if no one else, that we’re actually all here to specifically see him and the band. He frequently implores us to rise above our default setting of catatonia throughout the ’gig’. “If you want to boogie feel free!”, “Show your hands” and “sing it” are uttered/screeched with apparent sincerity and great regularity, though without any appreciable impact. Apart from a touching lack of awareness, another factor that disrupts the performance is an apparent unfamiliarity with the basic lyrics and mechanics of the Queen oeuvre. “I’m going to sing something – sing it back to me” requests the lead singer before he noisily murders the rather appropriate choice of Another One Bites The Dust. Nobby isn’t impressed, “I can’t hear myself think, let alone speak”. With a few more failed imprecations to action or reaction from the stunned captive crowd, the band launch into the most famous Queen song of all which tonight, I think we can call, Bulldogian Rhapsody. Nobby shouts above the cacophony approvingly, “They’re all out of key now!” When the singer fails to simultaneously hit the high notes and introduces some unusual quavers into “mama, I just killed a man” you really hope that his mum isn’t here or, worse still for long-term future embarrassment of the whole family, isn’t a Smallmead regular as she’d never live down the horror and the shame of this execrable, almost post-modern performance that unintentionally verges on so-bad-it’s-good levels of irony.

Nobby shouts, “They’re better on Stars in their Eyes than here”. A short while later he points out a celebrity a row and few seats away, “that’s the dog that was on TV at Peterborough last week”. Boy, it is a cutely distracting dog and it sits throughout with its paws on the handrail to apparently follow each race with an intensity that is almost as absorbing as the on-track action. Before we get all the blessed relief of the loud roar of the bike engines rather than the loud violence of the ‘music’, we endure a final fruitless appeal from the lead singer, “come on Reading – big finish” before they grunkily segue into an atonal unintentionally post punk version of the Queen standard Radio GaGa. Nobby shouts wittily, “It’s all been GaGa!” At a different volume there might be a career for this band on the chicken-in-the-basket pub and club circuit but based on this display, to paraphrase Alan Partridge, their music would be better suited to the less discerning “spinal cord in bap” crowd.

When they finally mercifully kill the set, the silence is golden……”



* This might not be such a bad idea since I’m sure the always enthusiastic, good value and professional Cardiff presenter Kevin Coombes would definitely draw a considerable crowd into the stadium early to hear him croon a few choice numbers. If we could sponsor him and the monies raised were given to the Speedway Riders Benevolence Fund then things might really take off! And, indeed, also vaguely give something back to speedway rather than line BSI Speedway’s pockets.

Unanswered questions & secrecy mar launch of 2009 Speedway Grand Prix series

The new series of the Speedway Grand Prix is about to get underway but, arguably, finds the glamour of its start marred by cost-cutting, secrecy and prevarication. Sadly, the fanfare over the arrival of a new website for the Speedway Grand Prix fails to paper over the vexatious issues and unanswered questions that still beset this ‘competition’ run by “BSI Speedway – An IMG Company”. Weirdly, the look and feel of this new all singing and dancing website mixes a kind of corporate German 70s porn aesthetic with something altogether more funereal. Perhaps, unconsciously, BSI Speedway want to acknowledge the great impending unsaid of its terminal decline?

Whatever message BSI Speedway tried to send to the world via cyberspace this lunchtime, we were allowed to witness the live draw (be still my beating heart) for the Prague Grand Prix tomorrow night. Well, actually I couldn’t as the flow player refused to load on two different browsers but, afterwards, I was able to thrill at written version of the keenly awaited gate position and helmet colour news. All this activity indicates that the 2009 series is again about to start to widespread UK media disinterest. This is fortunate for the organisers since serious questions remain unanswered about the ‘success’ of the series or even the quality of information provided by BSI Speedway.

The astonishing achievement of a cancellation of an indoor meeting because of the impact of the weather remains a reminder of the management expertise and ability the organisation can call upon. Only a few months back, Paul Bellamy blithely told the Speedway Star that the news from the Gelsenkirchen post mortem remained shrouded in mystery because of unspecified “legal issues to be resolved”. This still remains firmly swept under the carpet and, despite the ongoing public relations disaster of Gelsenkirchen debacle, no member of the management team has yet provided the promised update or done the decent thing and resigned.

The derisory offer of free tickets to 2009 SGP events for severely out of pocket fans has inadvertently revealed that BSI Speedway will only actually stage three meetings in the series themselves during 2009 (Copenhagen, Gothenburg and Cardiff, I believe). We must assume the rest remain franchised out under the SGP brand umbrella to locally based promotions or stadium owners. BSI used to stage four meetings but the addition of Gelsenkirchen to their roster proved way beyond them and now is no longer part of the series calendar. The oft-heralded strategic success of the indoor stadia revolution lauded by BSI now looks to be hype or a possible misstep.

If the series is really the success that BSI Speedway imply and/or claim, you would imagine that the attendance figures for the 2008 series would have already been published by the F.I.M. by now? They certainly have been published by the F.I.M. in the past but, mysteriously, this information remains absent from the public domain for the 2008 series and, obviously enough, notable by its absence on the newly revamped BSI Speedway website! Though, at least this is consistent since this revealing detail remained unacknowledged on the previous iteration of their website. How the series can think it might be taken seriously in the wider media when suddenly attendance figures stop being produced is a public relations question we can all guess the answer to quite easily. To be fair, we have heard that Cardiff attracted 42,187 (a wonderful 920 or 2.22% up on 2007 but only 0.45 % or 187 up on 2002). Suspicions remain that this is probably the biggest success story of 2008 SGP series for BSI Speedway but, without the figures for the other events, we have no context to judge this either way. Under the management of “BSI Speedway – An IMG Company”, the jewel in the crown of world speedway did achieve a real first. Namely, it exhibited early but severe recessionary characteristics way before the credit crunch had really hit elsewhere and long before it had begun to decimate other industries and/or entertainment businesses. This is quite an achievement when you, effectively, run a monopoly business without any serious transnational rivals!

Though in the past these lamentable average attendance figures lacked any real independent verification (and ignoring the worry that so many weirdly symmetrical numbers were included that you’d have to assume that these were ‘rounded’ figures not exact ones) - there was the additional issue of whether these figures actually referred to ‘paying customers’ or might (or might not) also include discounted admissions (and/or comps) to inflated often pitiful totals. Whatever, the specifics of their tabulation, BSI Speedway’s (“An IMG Company”) continued failure to publish the 2008 attendance figures for the SGP series can only fuel rumours that the popularity of the series is in terminal decline with paying customers prepared to go to watch the action at the stadiums themselves. This waning interest would be a rational reaction given the predictably stale, same old, same old* nature of the series that’s served up nowadays. Of course, this lack of interest has been compounded by the staging doubts raised by the Gelsenkirchen fiasco, never mind the mixed message sent by the recent dramatic cost costing to the Super Prix prize money by the organisers. If a few tweaks to the website are breathlessly heralded as breaking and significant news, it’s reasonable to assume that if there had been an improvement in overall fan attendances that we’d have heard about it somewhere!**

Still, with the management team they continue to employ, you have to wonder if BSI Speedway (or, indeed, IMG) really care about in the flesh speedway fans that bother to turn up at these events beyond some standard lip service? A teaser video on the new website for the 2009 boasts “brutally fast machines”, “wheel to wheel racing” and “no brakes”. To the background sound of portentous Home Counties mansion man style classical music, great play is also made that “something is coming” That “something” is probably yet further damage to the remaining credibility of the management team at BSI Speedway, while the popularity of the once vibrant series declines further amongst the true fans who can be bothered to actually attend these meetings. Sadly, the armchair fans the sponsors can reach have become the target audience and they’re not going to care either way whether they watch monster trucks or speedway rider’s battle for supremacy.

* Obviously the Prague GP win for 19 year old Russian rider Emil Sayfutdinov shakes up the old boys network of the established order and adds a degree of unexpected excitement. The SGP remains essentially a parasitic organisation that borrows other peoples assets (or hires the self employed dependent upon your PoV)and uses them thoughtlessly. The SGP has yet to invest in or pay for the development of any speedway rider, let alone a SGP one! It continues to use the pitiful F.I.M. pay scales so if Emil's arrival onto the SGP scene does manage to boost attendances, television and/or advertising rights revenue - he (like all the other participants) definitely won't be able to retire on the prize money he earns.

** The publicly available average attendance figures we do have for SGP series (until 2007) exhibit a five year trend of decline from 2002 and, even if you accentuate the positive, the slight ‘rise’ in average attendances per GP in 2007 remains below 2002, 2003 and 2005 levels.

Savage 83% Super Prix Prize Money Cut Announced

It was only last year that the Speedway Grand Prix ‘organisers’ boasted on their website about the ludicrous concept of the Super Prix events. It was another of those new fangled revolutions that nobody had asked for or could really see the point of, despite hollow protestations that this “finale” would add to the drama of the SGP.

On the modest, self-styled “Number 1 website for League and World Speedway”, the Super Prix already has the stale whiff of the online equivalent of yesterday's chip wrappers. It boasts, “New for 2008 FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series is the introduction of four Super Prix events offering an additional prize purse of $200,000.” The prize money offered then was allocated as follows:
1st: $120,000
2nd: $40,000
3rd: $25,000
4th: $15,000

Under the headline ‘Not Super’, this week's Speedway Star reveals, “there will be no Super Prix finale with a big cash pot to conclude the 2009 SGP season”. However the lucky winners of three Super Prix rounds in 2009 – staged in Gothenburg, Copenhagen & Cardiff – will receive “double the normal prize money”. Wowy Zowy!

Let’s just remind ourselves of how pitiful the official F.I.M. Placing Prize money per meeting is for the SGP riders:
1 $11,000
2 $8,200
3 $6,900
4 $6,000
5 $5,250
6 $5,100
7 $4,650
8 $4,500
9 $3,850
10 $3,700
11 $3,650
12 $3,600
13 $3,550
14 $3,500
15 $3,450
16 $3,400
17 $2,100
18 $2,100

So, the SGP organisers have effectively announced an overall cut in prize money of 83.5% (S167,000). Strangely - as at April 2nd 2009 - the news of this savage reduction had yet to be relayed on “Number 1 website for League and World Speedway”. Now, the only way a rider can earn more prize money this season that it was possible to earn for victory in a SGP single race last season is if they win every single GP meeting of the 2009 season.

Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to read a full account of this decision on the SGP website Maybe this could be posted along with news from the long awaited allegedly sub judice investigation into the Gelsenkirchen fiasco. Quite what these savings from the prize fund will now be used for remains a mystery. However, thankfully we are informed, “the idea of a Super Prix bonanza race has not been scrapped”.

British Sports Book of the Year 2009 Award Ceremony - News Update

In a glittering awards ceremony held at the swanky Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly, the great and good of the sports and publishing worlds collided at the annual British Sports Book of the Year (2009) Awards.

Gaby Logan along with a huge variety of sportsmen and sporting men provided additional glamour. These included Bob Willis, Graham Poll, Ed Smith, Frank Maloney, Brough Scott, Mick Fitzgerald, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Owen (rugby player) and Paul Canoville and, from those great supporters and patrons of British Speedway, Sky Sports’ very own Jonathan Sim.

There were six categories announced at the event and, sadly, my nomination with Concrete for Breakfast in the Best Biography section didn’t win through! Though this accolade deservedly went Christopher Hilton’s Regga - his book on Clay Regazzoni.

Many books were praised but there can only ever be a limited number of winners. Some of those spoken about highly deserve a place on any bookshelf and these include:
When Friday Comes/James Montague (Mainstream)
The Accies:Cradle of Scottish Rugby/David Barnes (Birlinn)
Bob Woolmer’s Art & Science of Cricket (New Holland)*
Don’t Mention the Score/Simon Briggs (Quercus)
Black & Blue/Paul Canoville (Headline)

*There’s something in it for everyone since it, apparently, ranges from forward driving technique to sex and the test cricketer

Many of the speeches and comments were often both touching and witty, particularly those by Christopher Hilton and Paul Canoville!

I was delighted to receive my nomination and believe that I was the only self-published author to attend. This is quite something in itself but I was even more honoured to tacitly represent and showcase British Speedway at such a high profile sports occasion. Hopefully, the members of the press in attendance will give speedway more thought and coverage in future!

Everyone puts a brave face on afterwards if they’ve not scooped the top prize. As the author I’m delighted but, as the publisher, I’m gutted! And vice versa.

None of my books would ever have happened without the help, encouragement and support of so many people involved in British Speedway. Thank you!

With sincere apologies to everyone I’ve missed (sorry), I would like to reiterate the acknowledgements section of Concrete for Breakfast:

“I mentioned earlier that I have been overwhelmed with help and kindness. I hesitate to name everyone as, inevitably, I will make a mistake and miss someone I’m extremely grateful to, so, with sincere apologies to those who I do manage to miss out I would like to thank the following people: Peter Adams, Rachael Adams, Graham Arnold, Stephanie Babb, Mike Bacon, Paul Bailey, Graeme Bailey, Andrew Baker, Robert Bamford, Nick, Johnny, Bev, Molly and Colin Barber, George and Linda Barclay, Derek Barclay, Dick Barrie, Phil Bartlett, Norman Beeney, John Berry, Mike Berry, Alun Biggart, Ray and Mark Blackwell, Joyce and Malcolm Blythe, Richard Bott, Bob and Greg Brimson, Jim and Steven Brykajlo, Brian Burford, John Campbell, Alison Chalmers, Karen Chappell, Steve Chilton, Jon Cook, Graham Cooke, Kevin Coombes, Dougie Copland, David Crane, Lucy Cross, Dave Croucher, Jonathan Chapman, Keith and Cheryl Chapman, Martin Dadswell, Andrew Dalby, Paddy Davitt, Gordie Day, Nigel Dean, Anita Dennington, Alan Dick, Chris Durno, Tim Durrans, Graham and Denise Drury, Steve and Debbie Dixon, Neil Dyson, Svend Elkjaer, George and Joan English, Dave Fairbrother, Ben Findon, Richard Frost, Cory Gathercole, Chris Gay, Chris Geer, Trevor Geer, Arnie Gibbons, Bill Gimbeth, Darcia Gingell, Rob Godfrey, Mike and Anita Golding, Mick Gregory, George Grant, Rob Griffin, Andy Griggs, Nobby Hall, Keith Hamblin, Tim Hamblin, Steve Hilliard, Liz Hunt, John Hyam, John, Jordan, Karen, Mark and Judy Hazelden, Jim Henry, Andy Higgs, Mike Hinves, Richard Hollingsworth, Dave Hoggart, Charles Howgego, Paul Hunsdon, Lynn Hunt, Mike Hunter, Tony Jackson, Sue Jackson-Scott, Wendy Jedrzejakski, Adam Jennison, Edward Kennett, Elvin King, Tim Lang, Jo Lawson, Mark Lawton, Sheila Le-Sage, Kevin Ling, Gary Lough, John Louis, Roger Love, Joanna Lunde, Michael Max, Tony and Susie MacDonald, Ella MacDonald, Phil Mackie, Ian and Jean Maclean, Neil Machin, Lee Maclaughlin, Julie Martin, Martin Mauger, Iain McBride, Dennis McCleary, Charles McKay, Allan Melville, Steve and Sarah Miles, Howard Milton, Jayne Moss, Martin Neal, Bill Norris, Peter Oakes, Paul Oughton, Brian Owen, Gordon Pairman, Shane and Anji Parker, Dave Pavitt, Michael Payne, Nigel Pearson, Rob Peasley, Di Phillips, Mark Poulton, Andy and Win Povey, Colin Pratt, Dave Rattenberry, Julie Reading, Dave and Margaret Rice, John Rich, Gareth Rogers, Laurence Rogers, Wayne Russell, Craig Saul, Mark Sawbridge, Sid Shine, Len and Hazel Silver, Andrew Skeels, Derek Smith, Phil Spence, the late Tim Stone, Tony Steele, Trevor Swales, Shaun Tacey, Dave Tattum, Caroline Tattum, Peter Toogood, Stuart Towner, Ian Thomas, Tony (Grandad) Thompson, Stefan Usansky, Dave Valentine, Chris Van Stratton, Peter Waite, Barry Wallace, Nick Ward, Paul Watson, Alf Weedon, The Reverend Michael Whawell, Bryn Williams, Scott Wilson, Cameron Woodward, Ashley and Jane Wooller, Dave Wright and Malcolm Wright.




To pick out anyone in particular would be invidious. However, I owe so many ‘thank you’s’. The book wouldn’t look as lovely as it does without Vicky Holtham’s design and artistic skills, along with her stubborn persistence. There would be many more errors than there are without the diligent proofreading of Caroline Tidmarsh and Vy Shepherd along with speedway fanatic Billy Jenkins who has kindly encouraged and advised in so many thoughtful ways. Graham Russel has shown tremendous pedantry and knowledge to wrangle with my words to convert them into some sort of sense. My true friend Sue Young has encouraged me often in so many things and really saved me when I needed that most – for which she has my eternal gratitude. Of course, without the love and guidance of my parents – Mary and Alan – none of this book or so many other things would have been possible. Finally, you can never have too many teachers and I was lucky enough to have been inspired to write my speedway books by a truly great teacher, poet, musician and wit – Michael Donaghy. He remains greatly missed.”

With additional special thank you’s for Ian McMillan, Richard Whitehead and David Willis.

Selected Highlights from the 2009 British Speedway Regulations

They say speedway is a simple sport. Basically, four riders on four bikes racing four laps around an oval track. The dense type and complexity of the 64 page speedway rulebook says otherwise and, though it laudably aims to outlaw cunning and manipulation, each year yet further amendments arrive.

Nowadays this rulebook often confuses the officials and the promoters, so new or novice fans will most likely struggle. You can find the new regulations for British Speedway here and they’re well worth detailed consideration in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Below are some of those that just jumped off the page.


SR 3.4.1.2
“No protest can be lodged against a Statement of Fact (see Nomenclature) pronounced by the Referee or SCB Officer or any other executive official”

Definition of Statement of Fact = “A Referees Heat decision, a technical ruling, an MC decision regarding a Team Line-Up or eligibility of a Rider in a Meeting”

So there is no appeal against a ref’s decision on heat finish. Or, even, any grounds for appeal MC [Management Committee] decision: for example, team line-up or eligibility of a rider in a meeting. Known, unofficially, as the ‘Phone a Friend’ amendment, this regulation merely formalises current practice.

The regulations also confirm that the SCB Consultant Administrator can make binding “on the day” decisions.

SR 4.2.7
Riders can now also obtain written rulings about whether medication is permissible via Internet.

There’s no longer any excuse for accidentally using Night Nurse.

SR 6.5.2 & App A
“Each Competitor must supply and use an Environmental Mat, (one for each motorcycle taken into the Pits) which measures a minimum of 1.80 metres x 0.75 metres”


So, this year, speedway has notionally gone ‘greener’ with its specification of the size of environmental maps. Mandatory fines have been introduced – these are £100 in the EL, £50 in the PL and £25 in the NL

SR 7.4.6
“Applications for a Testimonial, Farewell or Benefit Meeting on behalf of a Rider must be made to and approved at the BSPA AGM or GC”

Same as it always was really but still fraught for some riders who’re due or deserve a testimonial.

SR 8.1.2
“Riders returning from injury involving any form of concussion (or having been diagnosed by a Track CMO as being concussed during a previous Meeting) must have clearance from the SCB Medical Advisor”

We all applaud the bravery and resilience of the riders but common sense should, sometimes, prevail.

SR 8.2.1
All meetings must have a “2nd Medical Treatment facility”

SR 8.3.1
All medical staff can have no other responsibilities during a meeting

SR 8.5.h
Medical staff must have familiarity with “ALL varieties of clothing and equipment worn by competitors” and be trained in their safe removal

Riders will still have to dress themselves prior to a meeting and, if they [fingers crossed] remain uninjured, undress themselves afterwards (unless willing volunteer help is on hand)


SR 9.2.1.1
All new tracks constructed after 1st January 2009 must have an air fence.

SR 9.2.4.1
“A line 4-metres from the Inner edge of the track must be marked to signify the area inside which all Personnel on the Infield must stay during track maintenance (Track Staff carrying out their duties, e.g. track grading are exempt)”

This will be difficult to police unless every track ensures the centre green is marked with clearly drawn four (and ten) metre exclusion zones. I’m not sure what the penalty will be for the inevitable infractions or who will levy the punishments. This would imply that anyone who breaks this regulation is, by their actions, uninsured!

SR 9.2.4.2
“Essential personnel must also stay inside this 4-metre line during racing whilst non-essential personnel, e.g. Presenters, Start Girls etc. must remain at least 10 metres inside the Inner edge of the Track during racing”

A second exclusion zone will need to be marked on all centre greens (are all of them big enough?). Again what the situation with infractions is remains unclear. Sounds like sponsorship from Spirograph is just round the corner, never mind that the only way for mascots or excitable presenters to get close to the riders as they cross the finish line will be to stand on the terraces.

SR 10.43.1
Rear chain guards must be without holes or slots cut into it

SR 13.2
The National League requires a Development licence which, at £70, costs £23 more than the Amateur licence required for last year’s CL.

Given we’re crying out for up and coming British speedway riders, increasing the cost of participation doesn’t quite seem the way to find or encourage the young stars of the future.

SR 14.1
“The ANNOUNCER/PRESENTER's role is to provide Spectators in a strictly impartial manner with information they need to reasonably understand and enjoy a Meeting. Referee’s racing decisions, instructions and statements must be announced as given by the Referee. Under no circumstances should s/he make comments that gives the impression that a protest has been/is being made against a Referee's decision, that incites any section of the crowd, or comment on any matter that is sub judice and is responsible for the comments of any person being interviewed that does not hold an SCB Licence / Registration.”

Given the stringency of the above, this still appears to be very much in the ear of the beholder and is seen more often in the breach than the observance. Though lengthy, it’s a shame that the speedway authorities haven’t chosen to ban irksome and unnecessary commentary by announcer/presenters during the race itself (particularly on the last lap)



SR 14.2
The Clerk of the Course must have “no financial involvement with the promotion”

Unofficial investment via a third party remains an option

SR 15.13
A ‘revolutionary’ league match points system has been adopted that will distinguish speedway from almost any other sport you care to name.

“Winning Team:
Home win by 7 or more points = 3 Match points
Home win by between 1 and 6 points = 2 Match points
Away win by 7 or more points = 4 Match points
Away win by between 1 and 6 points = 3 Match points
A Draw:
Home Team = 1 Match point
Away Team = 2

Match points Defeated Team:
Home Team = 0 points
Away Team losing by 6 points or less = 1 Match point”

This innovation will make the Duckworth-Lewis method in cricket appear straightforward. All this will be hard to represent in an easy to understand sound bite or represent meaningfully table. Many promoters, fans and officials will struggle, so heaven knows how Kelvin & Nigel will cope with all the permutations during their frenetic live commentaries



SR 16.4.1
There will be no money spinning Play Off between the bottom two of EL this season.

SR 17.4.7
“Should a Guest Rider be permitted (see SR 18.1.4.5)* then that Rider must be in a current NL squad**.”
* i.e. NL allows guests only for their No 1 (identified by their CMA)
** each NL team can have a squad of eight riders

SR 17.4.7
“Commonwealth Riders as permitted (see SR 17.3.2.2), subject to a maximum of 2 per club are limited to ride for a maximum of 2 consecutive seasons which must be with that same club. They cannot ride for an EL/PL Team under any circumstances, even as a Guest.”

Wonder how long before someone tries to make the case to the MC that their Commonwealth rider should be treated as an exception?


SR 18.1
“Team Line-Ups must adhere to the following, unless an exception is detailed on the BSPA approval of a Team Line-Up:
a) The Top Rider (by CMA) must ride at #1.
b) The 2nd to 5th Riders (by CMA) can ride in any position 2 – 5”

SR 18.1.1.
For the first time, Team Manager’s must provide written evidence that they have notified each other of their line-ups five days prior to the meeting

Home team nominate first and the away team then have to respond within 24 hours.

It’s rumoured that to maximise programme sales (or to ensure extra writing for everyone whose brought a blank scorecard), one customer unfriendly innovation will be the lack of accurate team line up information until just before the tapes rise. Unlike previous custom and practice, club websites will only list their riders alphabetically rather than release their actual position in the increasingly mysterious/sacred team line-ups. Under the regulations, they will have had this information for four days previously. Rather find ways to attract more fans through the turnstiles or to fight the impact of the recession on the appeal of speedway to floating fans, the media and potential sponsors, the boffins have come up with this solution to the threat of the internet and the lost programme sales it’s reputed to engender.

SR 18.1.1
These written notified line ups then cannot be changed (unless, of course, they can. But only if the moon rises in Aquarius, you know someone on the MC or other such matters. See SR 18.1.2 for more information)


SR 18.1.2
Hugely complicated list of exceptions for which a “facility” [to replace a missing rider] may be granted

Interestingly, NL allows a facility for “any absence” e.g. clearly intended for work commitments but, obviously, subject to huge and creative ‘manipulation’. Headaches, weddings, important vet appointments for sick guinea pigs, parents evenings etc will doubtless probably all figure during the course of the season.


SR 18.3
The old seven day rule to stop guests riding at the same track week in week out has now become the 180 hour rule. Genuinely cunning solution to an intractable problem though, next year, this will probably become 250 hour rule to account for promoter sophistry as well as the enforced vagaries of the fixture list caused by Sky meetings and bank holidays


SR 18.4
For RR’s, NL doesn’t restrict just to the rider directly above. E.g. No.1 can take an RR ride for missing No. 3 in NL.

SR 18.5
Tactical gate switch (after heat 4) only permitted in Knock Out Cup competition

SR 18.6
The Conference League has been renamed the National League apart from where the rules describe the play off system where it becomes the National Development League (this sounds much posher, more lustrous and like it might result in the discovery of a future British speedway World Champion)

SR 18.b.3
The top six sides will take part in the EL play offs – only the team who finish 7th or 8th will be deprived of further action - with meetings now always staged over two legs. These will additionally be operated under a handicap system where the top four teams have bonus points added to their aggregate scores in the quarter finals/semi finals (1st = 10 pts, 2nd = 6pts, 3rd = 4 pts and 4th = 2 pts). The top two teams don’t contest the quarterfinals and no handicap points adjustments apply to the Final. The highest placed team always has first choice of opponent (the highest remaining team has next choice in both quarter and semi finals) and first choice of which leg they wish to ride at home.

This adds real complexity and makes the new scoring system appear sensibly boring in comparison. In a nutshell, this has most likely been introduced to enthuse Sky, maximise revenues (remember those admissions price rises from some clubs in 2008?), never mind that the reality remains that the top two in the EL are definite to make the final unless they really, really screw up.

SR 18.b.5
This regulation covers the “Golden” Heat rules introduced to decide selected tied meetings. Hugely complex but, essentially, first team to get a heat advantage wins. Quite when this will be used I’m not exactly sure (I expect during the play offs). If done properly, this could actually be the speedway equivalent of a penalty shoot out and might well appeal to potential new fans who’ve never previously had an interest in speedway!

All rules and regulations remain Copyright (c) 2009 The Speedway Control Bureau