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Another good post but some clubs will never be encouraged to give extra track time and coaching to riders . I have lost count of the time's juniors have there spot at the end reduced because a senior wants to test something. He then proceeds to do a start and 20 wheelies. please don't think the current crop of riders and those just behind them lack experience in racing. These groups have been at it for year racing nearly every week at amateur meetings and British youth level . Admittedly some are better than others but that's how things work but I don't see any of the dreaded wobblers everyone is worrying about.

I'm sure you will be made very welcome. Kent folk are a friendly bunch and viewing in our big grandstand is second to none with good facilities enclosed. It is one of the reasons that, when Arena closed, I have become a Central Park regular. For me, a comfortable seat during racing is a "must" nowadays. The only thing that bothers me ( not that much) is the 6.30 start time and 8.30 curfew, but at least I get home at an acceptable time. But I do sometimes arrive very close to start time and a couple of times I have missed the 1st race. No ones fault but my own, of course. Still annoying though.

Wallinger would be good value on his low average but I don’t think he’ll ride. By the looks of the latest IOW press release they are extremely bitter with the BSPA and Mildenhall but If IOW wanted to run in a more ‘ professional ‘ division they should have considered moving up. It is a shame they’re not running but it’s they’re decision.

Belle Vue Aces 1. Brady Kurtz 7.54 2. Steve Worrall 5.53 3. Dan Bewley 6.15 4. Richie Worrall 5.09 5. Charles Wright 6.51 6. Jay Etheridge 4.35 7. Tom Brennan 4* Total: 35.17 Remaining: 00.33 Ipswich Witches 1. Jason Crump 8.00 2. Cameron Heeps 6.30 3. Jake Allen 5.56 4. Jordan Stewart 4.00 5. Danny King 6.66 6. Anders Rowe 3.00 7. Drew Kemp 3* Total: 33.52 Remaining: 01.98 King's Lynn Stars 1. Erik Riss 6.61 2. Ty Proctor 4.43 3. Lewis Kerr 5.43 4. Thomas Jorgensen 5.90 5. Richard Lawson 5.78 6. Lewis Bridger 4.02 7. Ryan Kinsley 3* Total: 32.43 Remaining: 03.07 Peterborough Panthers 1. Bjarne Pedersen 6.91 2. Scott Nicholls 5.50 3. Chris Harris 6.01 4. Hans Andersen 5.79 5. Michael Palm-Toft 6.30 6. Ulrich Ostergaard 4.00 7. Jordan Palin 1* Total: 34.51 Remaining: 00.99 Sheffield Tigers 1. Troy Batchelor 8.82 2. Justin Sedgmen 4.00 3. Adam Ellis 6.25 4. Kyle Howarth 5.58 5. Jack Holder 7.49 6. James Wright 3.00 7. Josh Bates 4* Total: 35.14 Remaining: 00.36 Wolverhampton Wolves 1. Sam Masters 7.35 2. Ryan Douglas 4.66 3. Nick Morris 5.38 4. Luke Becker 5.27 5. Rory Schlein 6.65 6. Broc Nichol 4.00 7. Tom Bacon 4* Total: 33.31 Remaining: 02.19 To be updated daily, please post confirmed signings & averages if known

Whilst i agree to some point that winning the league shouldn't be the be all and end all when running in the NL there still hasvto be aspirations of success otherwise we end with the nonsense school sports day ethos of everyone gets a prize. The cut limit still doesn't prevent the better funded clubs luring the most promising riders on board and still leaving disparity between the competing levels. Had the averages been reduced gradually and a decreasing cap on max averages like no over 8 this year no over 7 next there would have been a gradual shift of riders at the top out of the league, middle order riders moving up and probably 2/3 new riders per team per season. To encourage clubs to look at development of upcoming riders they could have started giving extra track time and coaching in readiness. What we currently have is a glut of new riders this season with experienced heat leaders in the same side, next year the current crop will be out and new inexperienced riders in with the heat leaders staying put.

Oh come on. Let's go the whole hog and get rid of the existing fans and replace them with their grandkids.

Personally I just want to see Brits fill team places in all the leagues first, then fill up spaces with foreigners, a riders age shouldn't go against him! While I have nothing against a "career NL" rider racing in the NL, I'm guessing it's not what the powers that be envisioned the league becoming! It just goes to show a low points limit doesn't guarantee riders with the most potential will get signed up, just riders on low averages will get signed up!

Fantastic post well thought out and a spot on assessment of how it should be

If it’s shown that the powers that be have got any interest in developing young riders ! Bet they couldn’t name half of them. I’ll do a whole meeting on Coffee !!

Sad that the current cronies of this once good sport have stifled one of the few bright hopes when it comes to running meetings as an entertainment. IOW have lead the way in how an evening of speedway should be presented engaging with fans etc just as it used to be in days gone by and probably this goes back in the late 60’s and 70’s and the days of leaping Len, dearly departed Dave Lanning at Eastbourne and the great JH at Canterbury. What is it the BSPL are thinking when they have/are driving clubs. out of business. Those in authority are probably taking a leaf out of dictator Boris Johnson’s book and do as I say. For those who run the sport they still expect the paying punter to turn up week in week out without question. If ever an independent enquiry was needed to investigate as to how speedway is run in this country, now is that time. I doubt that anyone of those who voted on these measures or sit on the board or are part of the committee, have the balls to be answerable for the issues by coming on this forum and deal with the questioning from those who really care about speedway in this country. The BSPL has no balls when it comes to being accountable.

So while Leicester are championing age discrimination why just stop at riders! Sack Stuart Dickson & sign a younger team manager, tell Rob Sensicall even though he's a great announcer he's being dropped for son Tom! Is Nigel Pearson they're press officer, cause he's no spring chicken, why not sack him for someone younger too?

I'm sure the Leicester promotion for rate Chattin & thought Trigger would be better, but to save face etc. used the "bringing on youngsters" excuse! While this may sound kinder than announcing they have no faith in Chattin's ability - they've publicly admitted to age discrimination!

This team is certainly going to put bums on seats and it has a look of one which could win handsomely or get clattered on any given day.

Looking at the teams being assembled, and what appears to be quite a long "tail" for most teams, would it have been better to run maybe 5 man teams in the NL? Or even 4 team tournaments? More actual teams maybe but less riders, with a much lower difference between standard. The difference in standard being so important when it comes to the entertainment served up. The best lads wont gain anything from beating the 'wobblers' and the lads 'wobbling' wont gain anything from getting hammered by the best lads.. You wont get a 'wobbler' to HL status in a season, but you might get a Second String there, so these "middle" riders are the ones who should be given priority places, and the most opportunity to race against their next level of rider.. Let the 2, and 3 point NL average lads race together in 'proper' second halves and see the NL place in a team as something to aspire to. Not to just be handed one so you can be a "makeweight" because your average fits.. Its great that we seem to have a joined up development path for riders, however the on track entertainment will be vital to maintain the public's interest.. Not sure seven man teams will deliver this given the difference in standard in virtually every heat..

With the year we have just had, can we not just leave the petty squabbles and attempted point scoring for now - NNH!! (No Numpties Here). Just focus on the speedway and be glad that you have a speedway team to support this year!

Exactly... "Older" riders should be allowed to ride in this league, despite what everyone argues... Put a team of teens together and it'd be carnage, and who are they gonna learn things like setups from???

G is for Geoff... As for A.H.....? Now let me think......

He has got worse since his name change- he was bad enough as Geoff 58 !!!!

Where payment of riders is concerned, each NL club picks up the tab for their riders home and away. So when Mildenhall ride at IOW, the Fen Tigers meet the wage bill for their team. If you run a challenge or an individual, you pay all 12,14 or 16 riders. Aside from the fact that challenge matches are likely to attract lower attendances, they could increase the clubs costs. i don't know the full reasons why they have withdrawn but the above might be one, and I know they were against any reduction in the points limit as it almost inevitably lowers the standard of the product at this level (something that is most important if you are a stand alone club but matters little if you are running all your NL meetings as double headers with a higher league match, as Newcastle apparently plan to). If the clubs were simply told about the points limit without any form of negotiation amongst members and the Warriors promotion believed that that would damage their business taking into account other factors - the lack of fixtures, likely difficulties with sponsors, the confidence of fans returning to stadiums following covid etc - its little wonder they withdrew. Why should they accept being dictated to without even the chance to discuss the situation by persons who don't even run an NL team ? Following the BSPL's approach to arguably the most innovative meeting held in Britain for some years - the 2019 NICE challenge - the chances of them going out of their way to accommodate the Isle of Wight promotion were non existent.

The IOW are the most forward looking club at any level, that I can remember seeing for many a long year. We're not privy to whatever the issues were to cause Messrs Bishop & Widman to withdraw from the BSPL, but whatever they were, the Board of Directors should have worked their socks off to ensure the club could continue to provide much needed entertainment for those that live on the Island, along with the holidaymakers. The sport just can't afford to keep losing clubs like this, and I just hope that sense prevails, and they can be welcomed back in 2022, because speedway is dying on its feet, at a fast rate of knots. Gutted for all you people across the Solent, along with all your sponsors.

First and foremost I'm supportive because I see the opportunities going forward not just for my lad but also every other junior riding coming through the system. Our family agenda so you are clear is to use the system to the best of our ability and progress through it. We don't want to be a team that blocks the system for other riders to be able to get a team place. If the boy don't make the standard then so be it but if he then misses out it's not the system that's failed it will be him . I do believe that no rider should have 3 spots and if a rider reaches a certain average he should be not be allowed 2 spots and definitely not one in NDL

All the more reason to increase the 4.00 starting average for new foreign riders. Not a pop at those teams that have taken advantage of this if they can as it's all within the rules. Whilst acknowledging how big a part foreign riders have to play, I think if you're serious about allowing UK riders to progress removing these low averages for foreign riders has to be considered.

Things are not looking good again https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/poland-to-announce-tougher-coronavirus-restrictions-on-wednesday-14270998

Who knows, for some reason no one provides starting GSA anymore.

Announcement yesterday that the Warriors have withdrawn from the National League and won’t run in 2021 although some training sessions might happen when Covid regulations permit. Seems that some rules being imposed by the BSPL are the stumbling point.