Islander15

We’ll see lots of strung out races with this low points limit and how teams have set up. The new 3.00 riders will be nowhere near Flint & Bickley and probably Blair too. But there should be some interesting races between themselves. But at this point in time, I’m just glad that speedway is back and we’re able to watch it.

1. Max Clegg 10.14 2. Jake Mulford 3.00 3. Dan Thompson 5.50 4. Greg Blair 4.50 5. Henry Atkins 5.86 6. Nathan Ablitt 3.00 7. Sam Hagon 3.00 Total: 35.00

1. Eastbourne - They look like champions elect. They have everything: a stand out number 1, genuine second and third heat leaders, second strings who will progress and probably the best reserve in the league. 2. Mildenhall - Another solid team with genuine improvement all through the order and probably the second best reserve in the league. If either of the second strings drop down, they’ll become the league’s best reserve. They have a top 3 that maybe on paper aren’t as strong as some but all are on an upward curve at a track they know well and can beat anybody. 3. Belle Vue - Much will depend on the returns of JPB & Compton but in a weakened league they should only be troubled by other team’s top 2s. Coles is a steady improver and their second strings will beat most around the NSS. That leaves the McGurk brothers to mature at their own pace at reserve and they should feed well off each other. 4. Leicester - I could’ve put them 3rd but it depends on who replaces Halder, if it’s like for like or another 3.00 rider. The Thompson twins and Lawlor’s scoring should win them meetings at home themselves. 5. Kent - I really fancied them last season but the lower points limit hasn’t helped their team. Mulford will be one of the better reserves and if Bursill or Clouting drops down then he should be too. But a few question marks too: does Ledwith have an incentive to improve, are their top 2 good enough on the away tracks against some over powered top 2s and an unknown in Warren. 6. Berwick - If there was a pairs competition I’d have them as favourites. If Blair rides to his previous average then he should put a couple of points or so on his mystery figure too. But it remains to be seen whether MacDonald & Douglas, who have been around a while, have a break out season and whether Rathbone kicks on at a new track. 7. Armadale - Another amazing number 1. But lacking back-up. Phillips & Woolley hve been consistently at the same level for a while now and then there’s 3 newbies plus Davies. 8. Newcastle - Clegg may well end up the leagues highest average rider and would be the NLRC favourite, if it ran. But beyond that I’m struggling to find heat winners. RTD is second heat leader but he’s recently had spells at reserve. Freeman looks a tidy little rider who I think has a bright future, but he’ll soon end up in the main body. Plus Alcock has the pressure on him of a debut Championship campaign.

So both clubs are doing a stream. Hopefully they get a fair few of their own fans and the neutrals log on to watch some speedway finally.

James Chattin anyone?

He and Paul Burnett returned on 3.50. You’re probably right and that’s what he’s been given, but those 2 rode in a Conference League era without averages whereas Blair has ridden more recently and has an average!

Of course it is. But some fans only support a winning team and then complain when there is no speedway. So I hope the home fans do continue to support the team. I’ll be there regardless as it’s an exciting race track.

I can see some home losses unfortunately.

So no action this weekend but fortunately still 4 meetings on the following weekend.

Some interesting meetings in the first 2 weekends already! One question... Are Torun stuck with Miedzinski all season now?

I hate it! There’s never a reason for a meeting to take longer than 2 hours, unless there’s a serious accident. But even then, the time it takes to sort that out must be the interval and only 2 heats later

It really is dragging on now! So maybe there is hope that it’s a decent European rider who just doesn’t want to commit to the UK until everything is certain, close to the start of the season?! As if it’s Kennedy or McDonald then surely they’d already be signed up by now and sorting out their transit over here.

Fair point. I hadn’t considered that.

So what has his average been recorded to from 6.52? And how is he eligible for an average reduction when he’s not been out injured?

When is Division Two starting?

Likewise and this is what concerns me about the now mandatory ticket booking in advance.

Absolutely that is a factor! Especially as there is so much filler in speedway and sometimes complicated rules, it does make it more enjoyable when I can understand the commentary and tbf I like Dave Goddard much better than the shouty twins

Yes that will probably be a problem for those who want to watch on a Sunday. I recall having that problem in the past with Eurosport and wanting to watch minority sports so no doubt the same will happen there with speedway this season. Personally as long as they’re shown, even delayed, I’ll just watch them on Premier Player online when it is convenient for me. It’s for this reason that it’s annoying that they aren’t showing the Friday matches. But some are better than none.

Well it looks like I’m in the minority here but I will be prescribing to Premier Sports. It’s unfortunate that they’re not showing all the meetings but I’m often unavailable on a Sunday so I can watch them when I like during the week on Premier Player, which is a lot more useful than finding a dodgy stream or relying on it being uploaded to YouTube etc. Meanwhile they will show the Copa America in July that I’ll watch too.

With no viable direct replacement for Allen, isn’t it time to admit that a double change is necessary? Sign someone like Mountain, Kennedy or MacDonald to replace Pijper (which arguably strengthens the team anyway) and then get BWD at number 1 for a full season whilst he’s still got time to plan to come over here!

What are people’s predictions for the season?

Good luck Connor!

I’ve not noticed this before but all 4 French teams are within a 20 miles radius of each other! So how do they do for crowds as this is a really small catchment area for each team? Or is it basically that all fans attend every meeting and there’s not quite an intense rivalry between teams, it’s more about watching speedway?

£15 is far too expensive for a 3rd tier, let alone whatever the BSPL want this league branded as now! Also with the number of double headers now it effectively drives the price down further and makes Kent look even more expensive.

That is true. So to avoid Atkins being covered by R/R is there another new rule that they haven’t told us about where you can sign a squad member to cover another specific rider? It gives more credibility than using a random rider each week or being under strength. But it poses a problem for another team if they get an injury and want to sign a rider such as Verge.