Sings4Speedway

Whilst Sundays and Poland is a nightmare i still think its a more positive race day for Mildenhall than a mid week race night, that would a sizeable shift in routine of regular spectators. As a surprising optimist it would be lovely to see all NDL & CL level meetings taking place on Fri/Sat/Sundays and then the Prem can continue with the midweek set days. Yes short term it is likely to cause a rider availability problem but a considered longer approach might actually attract a few more riders into the sport. Either way its great to see positive news coming out of Mildenhall.

When the best prospects for the sport are converts from other disciplines with deep pockets (Boughen and Killeen) and Hagon who has almost been raised to be a Speedway rider (in the same way Bickley was) its worrying times. As products of the youth system Harrison, James and Cairns are the biggest arguments there but subsidised by a colossal amount of continental miles too. The sport simply isn't sustainable without new riders but at present the sport is doing very little to encourage it. Charging admission for youth rounds is poor form, over charging for practice days and simply the fact that those with the deepest pockets are the most competitive. 125cc category is a great breeding ground for skills and talents but moving up to 250cc its purely who can afford to move to the top, a 250cc GM from a top tuner will cost £8000+ and put simply if you don't have good engines, plural, those next to you on the line will.

The point will be proven in a year or two. From the current crop of U19's there are those that are already riding at CL standard or close to it (CL standard also being lower this year due to team build reductions) those riders are the product of previous seasons NDL. If the new breed Summers, Vale, Springer etc progress to CL standard then the league is continuing to work, if they don't the the inferior product is letting them and the sport down.

I think there are a few spares vans hoping he gets signed sooner rather than later and eagerly await his arrival at track......

On a personal level my own interest is very low due mostly to the league structure and team make up. I used to follow the sport around the country and almost every match on updates but now just scan the results. Didn't even do the excellent fantasy team this year simply because i take no fun from the National league and will likely take my hard earned funds elsewhere

and the best joy of all is that the BSPL investment ultimately comes from.....yep the paying public who hand over their money every week for it to be continually mis-managed.

No going to disagree with you there. Unfortunately those who run the sport and ultimately run teams in higher leagues cannot see that a higher level in the NDL will generate a higher level across the sport. Instead the NDL was viewed as a competitive viable product and therefore a threat to higher divisions and was dumbed down rather than focussing on developing the product higher up.

But surely if a rider coming through the junior ranks isn't good enough to displace a poor established rider.....With the low numbers competing an U21 league would virtually guarantee anyone with a bike a team spot and thats no good for making the standard better.

Not true, i asked if he had the tactics all sorted prior to the match.....he smiled and shook his little tin of mints at me....

Garrity was on a borrowed bike and in borrowed kit so fairly safe to say he isn't set up for full time racing. That said i wouldn't have leant him a fiver so more fool those who are assisting him.

The NDL product today is much poorer than it has been for as many years as i care to remember and the admission price is the highest....its simply not a sustainable business model for standalone clubs and relies on top ups from clubs running multiple sides which can't last forever. The writings been on the wall since IOW left

it will only get worse as the lower limit is going to falsely inflate averages so the leagues "better" riders won't be as good as they were 10 years ago and the competition at the bottom will become poorer for it. British Speedway needs strengthening from the bottom up not top down if its to have any chance of surviving.

It will but surely thats the wrong way round? Once he is proficient in the NJL then he graduates to the NDL. Im not picking on Parker, thers plenty of riders who have been dropped into the league far too early, i can't even blame the riders for grabbing the opportunity its the promotions who go with the sink or swim mentality.

I saw Parker in the flesh a couple of times last year and its safe to say he is technically challenged. Thats not to say he doesn't have potential but to put any rider straight into a league side after riding for a year is a huge gamble (yes Dan Bewley blah blah) but he was a generational exception rather than the norm. Im not saying Parker won't make it but i feel like he should have served more of an apprenticeship first

Parker wasn't ready last year and isn't ready this year. He just has connections in the club and is getting laps ahead of others who are more deserving. Its been happening for years and will continue in the future. Sometimes it clicks for a rider and often it doesn't.....

Maybe they will up the points limit...all in the best interests of the sport of course. I hope a rabbit comes out the hat because even Morley & Clegg can name their price atm. Would be a real shame if having landed Zischke and Vuolas on bargain averages Worky weren't able to deliver a decent season.

Easily dealt with, the powers that be just need to not issue him a licence.....

It is/was a level down from NDL a few seasons ago with regular riders all around the fringes of reserve places but as ever when the MDL was watered down the competition just isn't there and the standard falls away. Also the drive with British speedway atm is to constantly promote from the youth ranks rather than slightly more seasoned development league riders. Also throw in that there are so few team places available could anyone honestly say they would recommend speedway as a path to youth rider in the same way they would have 10 years ago?

But where does the issue lay? Friends, family, sponsors etc are fully allowed to travel with a rider and ought to be fully prepared to pay on arrival if the numbers exceed the permitted mechanic/guest allowance. Surely the issue rests with the club rather than those who travel with additional well wishers?

Had a brief look at the sparse NDL fixtures for 2024 and was disappointed to see there is a fixture scheduled for the 11th October! Obviously there are likely to be rain offs etc but just two fixtures currently in September and the rest knocked out by the end of August makes sense. I can understand why any side would want to delay hosting Edinburgh for a s long as possible but October feels extreme...

allegedly not put into the tank but small piece of foam dipped/sprayed and attached to the air filter. max effect off the startline and nothing in the tank to show if it was checked.....allegedly

The whole league is being undermined by the inclusion of riders on low averages after shocking seasons, riders from across the globe who offer little to enhance british speedway. Yes Perry should have had a team place and anyone was free to signing him instead of thier current choices. Edinburgh stamped thier feet again and got thier own way. Doesn't bother me, im done with speedway. Nothing to interest me in the farcical NDL this season and higher leagues are just as comical. Was fun while it lasted.

Beware the distance could increase by slightly if it suits Edinburgh.....

Edinburgh joining the NDL have been the absolute worst, how do they have so much influence? We won't run if we can't have Hook, our teams garbage but if you up the limit a little we can squeeze in a half decent rider. Perry has been available all winter they could have just opted against Watson or Wood. Might not be the ones driving them into the NDL coffin but they have been providing plenty of nails.

Rules change every 5 minutes but there was nothing to stop riders fitting a tyre at home (same manufacturer etc) getting it marked then taking the new tyre from the meeting and repeating the process. Most do fit tyres at track but not all like to scrabble around on top of a bin in the dirt etc. The whole fiasco with tyres is laughable enough anyways, there are enough available manufacturers worldwide, allow a bit of competition and finally drive the prices down not up.