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.

Brian Leonard

With most of the team places taken for next year, the following riders appear to have been left out. Paul Hurry Luke Bowen Adam Royon All 3 have had a lot of injuries in their careers, not sure if they are fit or planning to ride again Ben Hopwood Mitchell Davey Bradley Andrews These 3 all finished the season on the injury list. Matt Marson Had a decent first season at Mildenhall Charley Powell Mark Baseby Both have been left out after Eastbourne moving to the Championship Rob Shuttleworth Walked out of a meeting and was suspended by Stoke Luke Harris Likely to fill the final place at Cradley Jon Armstrong Reported as not enjoying his speedway last season, so may not be planning to ride again Josh Embleton Showed a lot of promise last season, so surprising, he doesnt have a team place Tom Woolley Another surprise, as he has been slowly improving each season, and in a weakened league, could well be an 8 point rider. Probably a few others without a place.

Scunthorpe won 1 match that season

In 2008 Premier League, Mildenhall lost all 30 matches. I think this is the only time a team has finished the season with no points.

Doubling up was only on a small scale, and usually the riders concerned, belonged to the top division club, and were loaned out to the second division team. Nowadays the Premier League teams are more or less a "Championship Select" team, plus 1 or 2 full time Premier riders.

Perhaps a better idea would be to go back to the squad system that the league used to have. The heat leaders currently without a place could share a position with riders who are also riding in the Championship and therefore will often miss meetings. Surely much better than using guests and forcing some riders into retirement. It is ironic that promoters state that they need doubling up between the PL & CL as there is a shortage of riders, yet several riders in both CL and NL, could retire if they are unable to get a place, meaning even less riders in the sport !

I got hooked on speedway after my first match of Rayleigh V Plymouth in 1968, 50 years ago. As far as I am aware the Rayleigh team of Geoff Maloney, Laurie Etheridge, Mike Gardner, Colin Tucker, Dennis Mannion, Terry Stone & Graeme Smith are all still with us. Unfortunately, many riders from that season, have since passed away. Are there any teams from longer ago, who are all alive today ?

I think you have misunderstood my post. I was just wondering if there was any other team from 50 years ago or more , where the whole team were still alive today.

All teams should have at least a couple of riders from the amateur leagues named to cover for missing reserves. Eastbourne were the worst culprits with official number 7 Matt Saul and then Charlie Saunders, only riding 1 League match between them all season. Birmingham also rarely had a proper number 7 available. it is a farce that riders like Alex Spooner, William O'Keefe and later in the season Jason Edwards and Drew Kemp rode for most teams in the League.

If riders reckon they cannot earn enough just riding for 1 team, how did riders like Scott Nicholls, Edward Kennett, Kevin Doolan, Aaron Summers, Tyrone Proctor etc, survive riding for 1 team only ? If doubling up is to continue, then it should be restricted to riders who only race in the UK. Anyone riding for any other team overseas, should only be allowed to ride for 1 team in the UK.