Islander15

Tickets for SON 2 & SON final purchased

A speedy recovery to Joe Thompson, Ablitt and Barker. 2 very nasty looking crashes and a predictably east win. The track rode fine, but it would be much better viewing if there wasn’t so much dust.

No disrespect to Rowe, but he clearly isn’t a number 1. Can only see a heavy home win to make the second leg redundant.

The link they’ve tweeted etc isn’t working but this is it https://www.bellevue-speedway.com/speedway-of-nations-admission It’s only the 4 day package on sale now. The individual tickets go on sale on Tuesday .

Is there anymore entrants?

It’s back! So build a team upto 36.25 points and the highest end of the season average wins! Only 2 riders from each club are allowed in your team. Averages can be found on the 2024 teams thread on here or hopefully soon on the BSPL site.  Previous results were: 2023: 1st Islander15, 2nd Adz_mft & 3rd Hawks1975. 2022: 1st Diamonds85, 2nd Sings4Speedway & 3rd PotteringAround. 2021: 1st Hawks1975, 2nd Islander15 & 3rd Iron Scorpion. 2019: 1st Iand, 2nd Flipper11 & 3rd DJC.  2018: 1st Hunters, 2nd SKJ & 3rd CUFC_Brummie.   2017: 1st Eagles69, 2nd Islander15 & 3rd SKJ. 2016: 1st Halifax Tiger, 2nd John Leslie, 3rd Turn Two. Good luck everyone

Ridiculous really. The track staff were straight on it when it stopped raining at 5:30pm and worked hard, but by 6pm it was obvious it wasn’t going to go ahead and needed a decision making. Whilst the dark clouds were getting nearer, everyone was just stood around waiting for the inevitable. Then It felt like the final decision got made for them when fans started walking out!

In years gone by Scunny struggled without an out and out number 1 until Douglas dramatically upped his game. Howarth is familiar with wearing number 1 on his back but after a sub par season at Plymouth, comes on a relatively low average to allow a stronger middle order. I’m not necessarily saying he will replace Douglas’ scoring but at home at a track he knows well I think he will score as a genuine number 1 and add a point to his average.

This should be an easy home win. If Howarth wants to fill the big shoes of Douglas then he needs to be looking at scoring a near maximum.

1. Luke Killeen 7.73 2. Luke Crang 3.61 3. Ace Pijper 5.81 4. Max James 5.70 5. Luke Harrison 6.86 6. Senna Summers 3.00 7. Harry McGurk 3.00 Total: 35.71

Yep that is against the rules, so I’ll go with your actual team.

It’s back! I with the first meeting today there is no better time to open this. So build a team upto 42.00 points and the highest end of the season average wins! Only 2 riders from each club are allowed in your team. Averages can be found on the 2023 teams thread or BSPL site. Previous results were: 2022: 1st Diamonds85, 2nd Sings4Speedway & 3rd PotteringAround 2021: 1st Hawks1975, 2nd Islander15 & 3rd Iron Scorpion 2019: 1st Iand, 2nd Flipper11 & 3rd DJC.  2018: 1st Hunters, 2nd SKJ & 3rd CUFC_Brummie.   2017: 1st Eagles69, 2nd Islander15 & 3rd SKJ. 2016: 1st Halifax Tiger, 2nd John Leslie, 3rd Turn Two. Good luck

Where has this been confirmed?

Belle Vue Colts 1. Sam Hagon 8.24 2. Chad Wirtzfeld 3.81 3. Matt Marson 5.86 4. Luke Muff 4.83 5. Freddy Hodder 6.44 6. Jack Shimelt 3.00 7. Harry McGurk 3.00 Total: 35.18 Remaining: 1.07 Edinburgh Monarchs Academy 1. Connor Coles 7.79 2. Mason Watson 3.93 3. Sam McGurk 6.08 4. Dayle Wood 4.50 5. Max Perry 7.75 6. Mark Parker 3.00 7. Kyran Lyden 3.00 Total: 36.05 Remaining: 0.20 Leicester Lion Cubs 1. Joe Thompson 9.08 2. Vinnie Foord 3.81 3. Tom Spencer 5.78 4. Arran Butcher 4.69 5. Max James 5.70 6. Sonny Springer 3.00 7. Luke Crang 3.61 Total: 35.67 Remaining: 0.58 Middlesbrough Tigers 1. Danny Phillips 6.91 2. Jamie Halder 4.58 3. Archie Freeman 5.29 4. Elliot Kelly 4.41 5. Ben Trigger 6.34 6. William Hocaniuk 3.00 7. Ben Rathbone 4.07 8. Katie Gordon Total: 34.60 Remaining: 1.65 Oxford Chargers 1. Luke Killeen 7.73 2. Jason Garrad 4.77 3. Jody Scott 5.31 4. Jacob Clouting 5.05 5. Alex Spooner 5.07 6. Ashton Vale 3.00 7. Senna Summers 3.00 Total: 33.93 Remaining: 2.32 Scunthorpe/Sheffield Stags/Prowlers 1. Nathan Ablitt 8.49 2. Sheldon Davies 3.00 3. Ace Pijper 5.81 4. Mickie Simpson 4.23 5. Luke Harrison 6.86 6. Kean Dicken 3.00 7. Stene Pijper 3.00 Total: 34.39 Remaining: 1.86

What’s the chances that it doesn’t get staged if neither side can win the league?

As well as from the riders view point that others have discussed before me, there’s also the fans point. We’ve seen time and time again that sides that lose aren’t supported. We might want to watch development generally but if you are an avid supporter of a team then you want some success and a clear route to your Championship side. Teams have to be competitive, and win at home, to bring the punters in and bring the money in. I just look at the rumoured Edinburgh side and if I was a Monarchs fan, there’s only Sam McGurk that excites me to part with my money again.

He’s local and still young. He’s worth another chance.

Looking like a side that will finish bottom.

Good to see Wirtzfeld back in the sport. He’ll do well at NSS and Colts fans will enjoy watching him.

It looks like a familiar Scunthorpe team again! Tbf knowing Douglas was leaving it was a massive hole for Scunny to fill. I think by signing Howarth they have actually found a very good replacement. He knows the track and the set up and has shown at Sheffield that he’s not phased by having the number 1 on his back. Which before Dougie, it always felt like Auty rode worse at number 1 than number 5. The reserves obviously look weaker than last year, but so do nearly every other team’s. Ablitt is always a trier at EWR and was pretty good to watch so after most of the season there he should hopefully be fine with an entire season as the more senior reserve. Especially getting more EWR races in the NL. Then Harrison is a cracking prospect. Hopefully no pressure on him and he’s guaranteed a place for the whole season, knowing that he’s got the ability to pick up some points every now and again.

A very strong heat leader trio! But none of them have been dominant enough yet to say they’ve outgrown the NL. Especially Harrison and Pijper who this league is made for. Develop the youngsters and even if they are winning races regularly at this level, they’re not ready to be only in the CL yet, so hopefully if they do hit a bad patch of CL form they’ll get a NL meeting to get some good points and increase their confidence.

We can’t really compare to last year at all given that all teams will look incredibly weak due to the points limit. But if that is the 7 then Oxford have remained loyal to their squad and picked riders who can genuinely progress to their CL and PL teams.

It looks a very strong side at home that should go through the season unbeaten. Thompson will score a maximum every week as this is clearly below his level and will be nigh on I beat able at most away tracks too. What is he really gaining? Crang looked a good prospect when he arrived on the scene as a late starter. I expected him to be more of a Starke type rider who was unlikely to ever hit the headlines but should’ve been a steady second tier rider. He’ll put points on his average this season but he’ll never make the Leicester PL team. Foord, Butcher and Spencer are reliable riders in their own rights. In a weaker league they’ll all probably put upto a point on their own averages, but again unlikely to ever make the Leicester PL team. Bizarrely that only leaves James as the one on a genuine constant upward trajectory. Plus Springer who deserves his first chance at this level and now he’s signed I hope he gets the full season. I still can’t believe they didn’t include Perry. They gave him a NL chance first and he very well could soon be a Leicester PL rider. Even in 2025 as a Rising Star assuming both Thompsons outgrow that role. But they haven’t given him this year in the NL?! I’m really confused by this Leicester team! In previous years they’ve got it more than most and put out a team truly for development! Yet this year we have a weaker league and it feels like they’ve done the opposite.

McGurk has shown enough in the past to be the best 3.00 rider this coming season. Hopefully he can get his confidence back and being at a track he knows will only help that.

Joe is tripling up yet they’ve massively dumbed down the NL! He’s going to score maximums every week and learn nothing at this level. A class above the rest b