shippy22

The problem at the moment, is that the gap between the Premier League & Championship is too small, and the gap between the Championship & National League is too large. With Premier heat leaders riding in the championship, only the very talented riders stepping up from the National League stand a chance. The Championship standard should be more like the Newcastle team this year, which would give riders similar to those above, a chance to score some points and progress. Also, doubling up needs to be gradually reduced, initially only allowing riders who do not ride in any overseas leagues to double up. Imagine in the 1970's allowing top first division riders to ride in the second division !!

I just cannot see the point of this extra "super heat ". What is wrong with a draw in a League match? It has been fine since League Speedway started. Usually both teams supporters go home happy. It will just drag the match out, as most if not all the riders in the super heat, will have ridden in heat 15. So another long delay !!! The supporters dont seem keen on this, and it will cost the promoters more wages, as the riders wont be racing for nothing in this race. So why bring it in?

Are Belle Vue not planning to run a team in NDL?. Have Scunthorpe announced they will enter the NDL?. Hopefully they will. Could IOW be tempted back if the points limit was higher and they had a say in how the league was run?

Brian Foote also rode for Rayleigh, Rye House & Leicester. I think he was related to the Leicester promoter, Ron Wilson. As a Rockets supporter, Brian Foote was always a villain when he rode for our rivals at Romford, but became a hero when he signed for the Rockets !!. Kevin Holden was sadly killed in an accident at Poole.

It does seem strange that a couple of poor crowds has resulted in such a financial mess. Eastbourne had 7 English riders, several of them were local, so the travel expenses must have been around the lowest in the league. The stadium is owned by a family with a lot of speedway history, so would not imagine that the rent would be more than other tracks. Were the promoters being too optimistic budgeting for a crowd of at least 1000?.

Danny Gappmaier has been with Berwick since 2016, and never ridden for anyone else. There used to be a lot of riders who only rode for one team, sadly not the case nowadays

Riders such as Aaron Summers, Edward Kennett, Matthew Wethers, Simon Lambert, Ashley Morris and others manage by riding in just one league. Riders need to realise that unless you are at the top, then speedway is not a full time living. Back in the 1960's and 1970's when crowds were much higher, only the top riders were full time.

Rayleigh Romford Hackney Long Eaton Boston

Brian Leonard, Brian Collins, Norman Storer, Harry MacLean & Tiger Beech

Alan Mogridge, 9 tracks. Wimbledon, Crayford, Canterbury, Hackney/London, Rye House, Arena Essex, Swindon, Stoke & Workington. Sadly, the first 6 are all tracks that I used to go to regularly. !

Les Collins, Michael Coles & Kenny McKinna all rode for Edinburgh in 1992. Their sons Aiden Collins, Adam McKinna and Connor Coles all rode for the monarchs at some time.

Connor Mountain would be a better option

Dean Standing increased his average from 1.21 in 1985 to 7.06 in 1986.

First ever meeting for me was Rayleigh V Plymouth on 11th May 1968 Rayleigh 1. Geoff Maloney, 2. Graeme Smith, 3. Dennis Mannion, 4. Mike Gardner, 5. Laurie Etheridge, 6. Terry Stone, 7. Colin Tucker Plymouth 1. Phil Woodcock, 2. Eric Howe, 3. Dave Whittaker, 4. Frank Payne, 5. Tony George, 6. Mike Cake, 7. Keith Marks I think all the Rayleigh team are still with us, which is quite remarkable, not sure about the Plymouth riders

What about Nathan Greaves on 4.61 and one young Australian. Nathan Greaves was one of the few riders whose away average was higher than his home average, meaning he is likely to increase his average with a more suitable home track. Surely safer than signing 2 new Australian riders.