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This is a good point and one I had thought of. Personally if that means better racing I’d be ok with it.

Swindon & Leicester were also allowed to pick riders of other teams upto the normal points limit. They got little criticism as they didn’t build ‘super teams’ whereas Cradley cherry picked all the best riders.

They weren't blocked. The standalone clubs understandably wanted more meetings whilst Belle Vue, Kent, Leicester and Armadale obviously have PL/CL fixtures that take priority and couldn't fit in the extra meetings. The U21 qualifiers and the Riders Championship/Fours/Pairs also went to Mildenhall, Plymouth and IOW to give them the extra meetings they wanted. I'm sure those 3 would be happy to have Newcastle included as well

The easiest prediction to make is that very few, if any teams will end the season with their starting 1-7. Also, I think many of the usual favourites will find it far harder that many think. Poole’s inability to put a team together suggests that they’ve discovered that the previous “magic” of attracting good riders isn’t working in this league. Whoever they go for as their last two are likely to struggle if they are new to UK. Who was the last new rider to this league who hit his assessed average from the start? Indeed, how many struggled to get there at the end of the season? My guess is Poole will take too long to settle and, by the time that they do (if they do) the play offs will be beyond them Glasgow look vulnerable in the middle and Ostergaard and Sedgmen are unlikely to be there at the finish. Ricky Wells needs to find what it was that he lost last year. They do, however, have two very good reserves, maybe the best two in the league. Leicester will struggle with their reserves and need the rest of the team to cover for them until they find their feet in this league. I can see a lot of heat 1 5-1s and heat 2 1-5s Redcar look strong and Eric Riss has had some great meetings in Australia Their heat leader trio must be the league's strongest but, like Leicester, their reserves will struggle For me, the team to watch will be Edinburgh. They’ve done it before and will do it again - a solid team at Fortress Armadale with enough away points to make the play offs, but which time the team will have gelled to become play off winners. Oh yes, and everyone’s whipping boys, Newcastle and Berwick will do better than predicted. Berwick have a great team spirit which means the perform ahead of expectations, and the Newcastle management won’t hesitate in making changes if faced with disastrous results. Wooden spoon team for me is Scunthorpe. Although they might have to fight Birmingham for the race to the bottom. Whatever happens, it’s going to be an interesting year.

Newcastle look weak, especially in heats 1 to 15.

So Leicester sign an novice who has never even ridden in the NDL in Danny Woodward but instead of knuckling down & trying to make a career in the sport professionally . Before he has even turned a wheel for the club he has made it clear he is more interested in drinking in the bar then racing for the club. Not a good way to introduce yourself to your 1st club & set a good impression. If you want to have a few drinks & get drunk then stay at home & go pub with your friends. We only want committed people riding for our club there are plenty of YOUNG & UPCOMING riders who would kill to have your team place which is what the NDL should be all about.

1) if a club joins after the AGM they have to follow same rules & could only pick riders not already signed up, this would not hinder any other club as they would have already signed up the best riders available! 2) If there's a large number of riders frozen out from the NL, why not allow another team!

To be honest both clubs need each other to survive and it's also good that Shielfield is used pretty much all year round

I wonder if Poole will announce the last rider/s on Wed at the REF meeting ??? The cleverly worded release from Danny Ford mentioned 2 major announcements but was somewhat evasive on any clues in relation to riders, and can't find the news released to the Echo. It may be totally unrelated to riders as we know they use the media to maximum effect if they feel they have rider news coming forth. Maybe it is in relation to the Team Management situation/Team sponsors or also perhaps this new meeting streaming idea that was being mentioned. Would be good to hear how the rider situation is going though. The Aussie champs gave no clue really with Keleher injured and nobody else who may be available impressing. The U21 champ is only one meeting later this month and besides Gilmore or maybe List can't think of any others who might be good enough & available. Hook already confirmed staying in Aussie for 2020. Wonder if Zaine Kennedy back on the radar after missing out at Sheff with their move up ??

He has posted on facebook asking about what time the bar will close after meetings & suggesting that he could maybe organise a lock in .

The only stadiums that have run speedway in the past that will continue in the years ahead, will be those that house others sports or are multi use. I can't see ten stadiums existing by the centenary of speedway in 2028. Or is it now heralded as 2023?

Doyle..............................Swindon 8.96 Andersen.......................P/Borough 5.79 King...............................Ipswich 6.65 Lawson.........................Sheffield 5.63 Cook..............................K/Lynn 7.58 Lidsey............................B/Vue 5.16 Nicol.............................Wolves 4.00

I like you, you're a funny guy.

His Dad! Michael Lee famously built a motor for him. All they had to do was adjust timings etc, as normal. His Dad decided to strip the engine down and put it back HIS way. The results told you all you needed to know.

Best news I've heard this year. Got fined once... not gone back.... a promoter with sense.... could be a break thru'.... I've Stopped shopping at Tesco and drinking Banks' beer as well... they caused this... not the speedway.... which only over ran by 20 min

Don't blame / put the pressure on Nicol... I've been raised on: Holmqvist Airey Hunter (Norman) Olsen Ermolenko Lindgren.... (Not Woffinden... yet...) #1 should draw the crowd and be paid (very) well. If CVS says it's Sam M. Then Sam... it's your choice.... - keep a lower average and ride both divisions. .. Or make 13 &Ht 15 home & away your own?? I reckon you can do it

As a 15 year old he looked a superb prospect. What went wrong ???

In true BSF a pretty good thread has gone to the dogs. Shame.

By Wimborne I assume you mean Poole?! The difference with Poole being that Osborne doesn't 'own' Poole Stadium - they lease it from Poole Council, who have stated they wish to retain the site as a sporting/leisure facility, with just a relatively small corner of the car park and an adjacent site being used for flats.

Should enter the CL team.. might have a chance

Surely it is better that fewer animals are bred than to keep breeding animals that are cruelty treated ?This isn’t specific to greyhounds, but any animal. It is like saying if you stop testing products on animals it is cruel because less beagles or monkeys will be bred . It was also the fox hunt argument that if hunts are banned then the dogs won’t be needed....

If this goes balls up from the start,there won't be many there,to see us playing catch up.As one of his main rivals,bet Rossiter can't believe his luck.

Lambert and cook along with Doyle and Brat should be head and should above the others. Riss should prove to be decent back. We will always have a decent reserve so either Haerrl or the middle improve we should get in the top four easy

from Great Britain speedway team website THESE TEST MATCHES WILL BE LIVE STREAMED ON PINJAR PARK FACEBOOK PAGE Pinjar Park. Friday 17th and Saturday 18th January. Teams: Australia - Sam Masters, Rohan Tungate, Cameron Heeps, Daniel Winchester, Kale Ballantyne, Doug Scobie. Great Britain - Tai Woffinden, Dan Bewley, Drew Kemp, Leon Flint, Jack Smith, Jason Edwards. Both senior meetings start at 7pm local which is 11am UK time( junior racing proceeds the test matches)

Developers are surely less of a threat than waning interest among what few supporters the sport still has.