Sings4Speedway

Thought he had just signed for Workington

Moral of the story is i should not post tired. No rider that i have ever spoken to has been charged to ride on IOW, they do need a Nora licence and then are rewarded per point at a fair (lower then NDL) rate.

Basic sense says that proving a decent product generates a decent crowd and helps make the league sustainable. Giving riders team spots because of links to the club rather than ability is flawed. The IOW dont charge riders to ride, they generate a product where rider levels are closer and have a track which produces good racing. The NDL could easily do the same but teams are still being built with heavy heat leaders and new 3 point rookies so the same mistakes are made over and over again.

Im wondering if the achieved over 4 rule has forced a change around? I can see Killeen & Kinsley as a spearhead, Scott in then either Clouting or Garrad (probably the latter). Another 3 pointer alongside Senna would still leave room for a rider up to 4.5ish like Simpson or Alcock. Still feels improbable and looking around it feels like something unexpected will happen with the Chargers side this year.

Im assuming that Dicken is doing a lot of laps in the Northern amateur meetings and looking impressive as otherwise i just don't get where his name has appeared in so many potential line ups? The last i heard is that Alcock had fallen out of love with the sport and was finished with it.....but things often quickly change. Only in speedway can riders like H.McGurk & Crang have appalling seasons and then become sought after signings the following year.

Have to admit i thought Alfie would have been in demand on his average and may have been lured away by 'bigger' clubs. Hope the rest of the team looks as ambitious.

I get numbers and connections but Simpson apart there is nothing about that side that backs the 'ethos' of the development leagues that the top brass have been harping on about.

I would be astounded if Kean was in the side, didn't cut it back in 2018/19 when he was actually interested in the sport but then little surprises me with speedway anymore.

Thought id seen that Vale had retired? Scott, Clouting and Killeen look highly likely along with Vale and would be staggered if Garrad doesn't get a place. I would be highly tempted to grab Butcher and Warren from Mildenhall too and go strength in depth but all with good records at Home. Killeen 7.73 Scott 5.31 Clouting 5.05 Garrad 4.77 Butcher 4.69 Warren 4.93 Vale 3.00 Total 35.48

Even in a diluted league it looks a poor side, 4ish points for the final rider hardly bolsters confidence either. Whilst it is about development it is also about attracting some level of spectatorship, if the product is poor numbers will fall further and then will be declared not financially viable ending the NDL once and for all. As for development every rider has had multiple NDL seasons with only Trigger showing any likelihood of progressing in higher leagues and no new blood isn't exactly carrying the mantra that was promised by the mafia.

Spencer and King are a bit stagnant in thier progression, Foord is a pretty slow burner too. Congreve still shouldn't have a NDL place at the expense of a brit.

Poor form that Joe gets a team place but Perry misses out, one rider who has outgrown the league vs one who could use a few confidence boosting meetings. Of the 2023 Cubs side the easiest to argue returns for are the two Max's (with Boughen already ruling himself out)

Kent had a great opportunity to run extra meetings and make extra cash....look how that turned out.

Im all for encouragement but im also a realist. % points from 5 rides is a decent return and he did beat Senna Summers which is very credible. The other points were gifts or against a returning from injury Freeman (who couldn't beat an egg that night). Either way it rules Ed out of the Redcar side as he is destined to be at Belle Vue in '24.

With respect to Luke he's been around long enough to have sorted engine issues before the end of the season, im not saying he wanted them but his issues were a big factor in Workington finishing lower than many predicted. A combo of any of the above all looks likely except for Davidson, you don't get the nickname Ed F'ell without being a wobbler (well meaning yes but still a wobbler)

Warren a shoe in and bargain on that average in a weakened league, not sure Mulford would want to lower himself to NDL but might get told to. Crang on 3.61 is an embarrassment and should accept that its time to step away from Speedway, he's clearly better than that so the issues/effort runs deeper.

That must be the case as J Thompson is quoted as being Leicester NDL captain. Easy money for a season i guess, also looks like riding in all 3 leagues is allowed (or is it 2 leagues as the NDL really doesn't count to those in charge)

NL pass looks great value and setting the pricing bar for the product there. If i was local id be tempted by the 10 match pass also, pick the best/most evenly matched visitors across both leagues.

Magic is a big signing and will gate wherever he goes, the rest are prone to good and bad days as covered above. Boughen is a huge gamble at RS, yes plenty of potential/ability and could be a master stroke or could be a banana skin. Will he take kindly to 3 rides a meeting? is it a season too early? Will Atkins be cheesed off about the decision? Only time will tell.

Outrageous, next you will be saying that at the end of the year the Chairman (along with anther powerful table member) will be saying that NDL is unviable at the end of season due to poor crowds.....just wait to the teams are announced and see how many NL graduates feature in each, a fact that is forgotten by many.

Half and half race jacket? Or as there will be an odd number of home fixtures who gets the larger slice? In reality one club is going to host two NDL fixtures which isn't really enough to generate much interest so i suspect the crowds will be woefully small.

Re-reading a point of interest will be the achieved 4.00 or above, riders like Hook, Pearson etc were assessed a 4.00 CL average but didn't achieve it, if commonwealth riders can get a place at the expense of a Brit then it is very questionable logic.

Quick scan of this years riders who have achieved over 4 at some point in the CL in the past couple of seasons and therefore not eligible (in my interpretation of the ruling) ...... Clegg Bowtell Morley D Thompson J Thompson Bailey Atkins Jenkins Complin Roynon

Interesting wording in the NDL announcement. "no rider who has achieved a CL average of 4.00 or above will be eligible to take part". That reads as in ever achieved over 4 in the CL....wil try and compose a list later but means a lot of 'big' names pushed out of the NDL....and in reality a decision long overdue.

and definitely not telling them what they want to hear whilst he gets track time for his boy? The Thompson twins were nailed on to sign for Brum according to many, even when they arrived in Leicester suits people were still convinced because they did so many laps there. Riders will take whatever they can get.