World title changes likely

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 17

World title changes likely

(Specially written for ‘ The Press" by the former world speedway champion, BARRY BRIGGS.)

It seems I am no nearer gaining a place in the 1974 World championship than I was a few weeks ago, in spite of the recent F.I.M. congress in Spain. I had hoped that a ruling would be made there that would help my case but I must still get approval from the British promoters before 1 can ride.

Unless they change their policy of 1973, and let me enter even if I don’t ride for a British League side, I will have to seriously consider taking out a foreign licence. I am not sure at present whether I want to ride anyway—that’s a decision I shall leave until after I visit New Zealand—but it would .be nice to know that the opportunity is there. More than one British promoter has suggested that I sign for a league team here and pull out after a few meetings. What do they think I am? I have no intention of doing

that. One thing I do know. Because of certain proposals regarding the World championship put forward at the F.I.M. congress, it will be easier for me to get in to the competition in

, 1975 than next year. 1 ■ understand that a completely new formula for the championship has been suggested and, if accepted at the Spring meeting of the F.I.M. in March, will come into effect in 1975. In brief, the new formula is this: 128 riders will contest eight preliminary rounds to be held in Great Britain, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Jugoslavia. The riders will be drawn from: Britain (15), Sweden (15), Poland (15), U.S.S.R. (15), Czechoslovakia (11), Germany (8), New Zealand (6), Australia (5), Norway (5), Denmark (5), Hungary (5), Finland (4), Netherlands ()3, Italy (3), Bulgaria (3), Jugoslavia (3), Rumania (3). There is no mention in this provisional list for riders from America. However, I feel sure that if ever this new championship gets off the ground, riders from the U.S.A, will be included. Anyway, the top eight scorers from each of the preliminary rounds will go through to four quarter finals, in England, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland. The top eight from each go into two semifinals in Germany and the U.S.S.R. with the’top seven from each going on to the final in England, where they would be joined by two riders seeded direct by the host country. The advantages for New Zealand

are obvious. We would no longer be dependant on the British league for qualification to the championship. The New Zealand A.C.U. could determine what sort of qualifying tournament would be required, but it could be run in conjunction with a New Zealand I championship. Even the British would gain. The B.S.P.A. are worried about the decreasing number of places open to British (and at present that includes riders from Australia and New Zealand)

riders in the world final each year. The number will only be five when the final is next staged at Wembley, in 1975. It would be possible for a much greater number of British, Australian, and New Zealand riders to reach the final under the new system. Many would still like to see ’more than one final, with the champion being the rider with the highest number of points over three or four meetings. But there is no reason why this could not be done under the aforementioned proposals. I had hoped that the F.I.M. Congress would make some changes in the World Team Cup. The British promoters opted for an English team last September, excluding Ivan Mauger and John Boulger, and seemed to pave the way for a new set-up. Britain can include riders from Australia and New Zealand if she wants, but if the official line is that they want English riders only, then Australia, New Zealand and Scotland must be given a chance of qualifying. This would mean staging a mini-tournament, and not necessarily in England, either. I believe New Zealand would have a good chance of defeating England, especially in a tournament that requires four-man teams. But it seems that it is up to the British A.C.U. to say whether it wants separate teams or a British one. What is to stop them from keeping the British tag but choosing only English riders? Nothing really. Mauger and Boulger both warranted a place this year. England’s victory at Wembley shouldn’t be allowed to hide that fact. The picture shows Briggs leg trailing on a vintage Douglas during a recent speedway meeting at Canterbury, England, held to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the sport.