Great Central

Richard, The STR have now moved their Novice, Intermediate and Open Championship meeting from the 12th September to the 19th September. That means that three amateur meetings are being run on the same day, albeit in quite far flung places from each other. Martin Widman

If you email me at martin_widman@hotmail.com I should be able to send you a scanned copy of the results

Will there be any updates for this meeting ????

Dale I am sure that Buster will be ok unless he forgets that he is Team Manager, and goes off grading and watering!!! Enjoy yourself tomorrow with the big boys down in South Wales. Martin

A tremendous build up from Mimmo again, clearly trying to spread the word on how good NL racing really is if only people would come and see it. I am surprised at the times on Monday - on the television the track looked to be prepared for fast times and yet no better than a lot of the NL times. Yes there are some processional races in the NL but look the EL. No different but you pay less. The "top man" in charge for the Young Stars against a very strong Newport side in what could well be a cracking match. Hope the weather allows for a good track to be prepared.

I can only echo Choppers comments. Rain was threatening all the time and this clearly influenced how the track was prepared but it still provided some good racing. Well done to Steve Williams and everyone else who helped out to make it a success. Not that well supported by spectators but those who stayed away missed a good night. A huge thanks to all the sponsors who clearly made it possible to run the meeting. Martin Widman

Have you made contact with the SCB? I thought they held a bond just in case things like this happen.

Team was Simon Lambert, Adam Lowe, Scott Campos, Jake Knight, Chris Widman and Rhys Naylor with RR for Darren Mallett. Scott broke down on the way and then when he got going, got caught up in traffic on the M5. He definitely missed his first ride but not sure if he got his second. There was some good racing on a much improved surface as a result of blading, but not much joy if you moved off the white line. Thankfully after all his problems, Rhys came through unscathed after a steady start. Scores taken from the Plymouth Press Release Plymouth: Nicki Glanz 12 (4 rides), David Gough 2+1 (4), Seemond Stephens 10 (4), Matt Bates 8+2 (5), Mark Simmonds 10+1 (4). Reserves: Jaimie Pickard 11+2 (5), Ben Reade 6+1 (4). King’s Lynn: Simon Lambert 16 (6), rider replacement (for Darren Mallett), Jake Knight 9+2 (6), Scott Campos 4 (4), Adam Lowe 6 (5). Reserves: Rhys Naylor 0 (4), Chris Widman 1 (5).

Riding for expenses is the same as being paid for points. He was paid to ride and that is illegal and a serious offence under UK Immigration laws.

Jayne, Many thanks for the comprehensive reply. Obviously speed reading the rule book doesn't work because I missed that bit!! Martin

Jayne, Last year when the subject of Australians came up, it was stated that Australian riders could only ride in the NDL if they had a British passport like your young Aussies or if they had patriality, a word I hate, since it is so vague and really has no meaning within an English dictionary. Now you are saying something about a "youth mobility visa". For interest only, where are these rules written down - in the SCB Rulebook or does the NDL have a set of its own rules. In Tyson's case, the youth mobility visa doesn't apply due to his age, and persons holding this visa must not be employed as professional sportsmen. Having read the rules one could argue if a speedway rider is employed or self employed etc but he is under 18 and cannot have a visa. The rules also state that a rider holding a FMN licence cannot ride in the NL. Don't Australian licences fall into this category. Perhaps instead of writing on here quizzing you, a letter to the SCB is in order. Martin Widman

It looks like Christina has given you the wrong score. It should be 48-41 not 49-41 since there was a 5-0 in Heat 2. Keep up the great work of posting scores from all over the world and for keeping them so up to date. It is a fantastic website.

SCB Rules state that the British Finals which must include the Semi-Finals are run over 20 heats, not 12, 16 or anything else. There appears to be no provision for rain offs like there is in a normal league match unless this is covered inn the meeting Supplemenary Rules. Does the result stand or not? If it it does, then it is most unfair since the riders will not have ridden against each other which the 20 heat format caters for.

Not sure why there have been three amendments, but the last amendment was because some KL riders had been drawn in the Weymouth round which clashed with the American Dream Team meeting at KL.

Richard, Keep up the good work on the diary and it is good to see you planning ahead for 2010. No excuse for fixture clashes!! Looks like Rye House have changed most of their 2009 Sunday dates to Saturday now. 7/11, 14/11, 21/11, 28/11, 5/12 and 12/12. Sunday 1st November stays the same. I think that Newport are running every Sunday from the 1st November but can't find confirmation of that fact. Martin

Malcolm, You are getting too excited - not good for a man of your age!! I think that you meant to say that Kyle first rode a speedway bike in August 2008 not August 2009. Martin

The format is what it is and every rider has to ride to it. Feel sorry for Joe but that is speedway. Well done to all the riders - some fast times and good racing. Marcus - you obviously didn't get much sleep last night following Kyles progress. Time for a few beers??

Richard, I certainly don't want to get into an argument about what you are trying to do to get a full starting line up, but at least one of the riders listed was never going to ride and that was Jason Garrity who is still suffering from an injury sustained earlier in the year. How many times do we see the SCB, the rulers of our sport, nominate riders who are either injured or even no longer competing? It does seem that names are pulled out the air as an afterthought without recourse to the riders. That said, well done to you and Scunthorpe for trying to put on a credible meeting for the British U18 riders. At least the last minute organisation of the riders has fallen to somebody that will do his best to ensure that a full grid plus reserves is present. Finally best wishes to all of the riders tomorrow evening. Enjoy the occasion. Martin Widman

It reflects the state of British speedway but don't get me started again. In 2004/2005 we had up to 25 riders wanting to ride in each round and seeding/selection had to be used to get down to 16. Amateur championships are suffering as well so it isn't just the U15's. Birmingham had to cancel their Academy League fixture against Belle Vue last Wednesday due to a lack of riders. BSPA/SCB wake up to the reality please!!! Well done to those riders that did make the effort to travel to a super little track.

Here we see the good and the bad with forums. I don't know what happened on the day, and I am really not bothered as long as lessons are learned from it, but here we have Adam's Mum trying her best for her son, involved in an incident and trying to publically thank all of the people who helped Adam in this important meeting when she and Mark were not there. And then we have the other objectionable side with people who seem to think it is good to poke fun at a young lad and his mother. Please believe me, whatever is written on here is read by a lot of people, and can be very upsetting to those on whom these jibes are targetted. This is the time for moderators to step in when it gets so personal. Hope that all those who were involved in incidents are ok, and ready for the next round. Keep up the good work. Martin Widman

Malcolm, You have indeed made me feel quite honoured that my concern about my lack of British youngsters even warrants a comment from the great man himself. Only joking Malcolm. You know my views fully, and you and I do share that passion to see youngsters develop, with you actually being able to do more about it than me. This latest initiative has to be welcomed but it really is only half the story. There has to be a concerted effort by all promoters to run an organised programmed second half which runs every week with the exception of accidents/bad weather. I can only speak from experience, so apologies to any promoters that I don't mention due to lack of knowledege only, but Boston/Kings Lynn, Rye House and Scunthorpe fall into the category of running a full session come what may. Scunthorpe have shown that you can run 30 heats in under 3 hours so there is no excuse for any promoter not to run a second half even with curfews. That will generate more interest from youngsters and the latest initiatives about free admission for children is most welcome. Now get them to stop behind and see their mates, older kids riding and we may pull in a few more potential riders. I note that Neil 777 commented that Dan Greenwood retired for personal reasons and he may know more of his circumstances than me but I know one of the complaints that his Dad had was driving to second halfs only to be told that they had run out of time, or just running one race. Malcolm, you were and still are appreciative of the time and money spent by parents, friends etc driving for second halfs and the least you could offer was proper racing. If only more thought like you. I'm rambling and people will think I am a member of your fan club, but going back to the initiative from the BSPA, it has to be followed up by on going support. It is not easy for a rider to get organised for two or three meetings per week, and even more so if they have a job or are at school, but what about the parents, helpers friends juggling this with a full time job. What do the riders need to do to get fit, keep fit, keep the machinery up to scratch and keep motivated on the long drives between meetings. How do they get their form back when the going gets tough - who is there to help them? How many meetings should they do to avoid being burnt out at 15 or sixteen. This is the type of help that is needed to halt the drop out rate that has existed but let's not knock the latest offering from the BSPA. Finally, to anyone wishing to read this, please do not take any comments I make about the lack of British youngsters as criticism of the riders on display at the U15, STR, Dragons meetings or second halfs since they all deserve praise and support. There are some good riders coming through but my point is that there should be more than there are. Martin Widman

What a wake up call for the BSPA/SCB or whoever owns the development of riders in the UK? This isn't a dig at any of the young riders that are taking place in the series but if anyone wished to assess the prospects for British speedway in the future, the lack of riders competing in the premier event for U15 riders tells the tale and has to spur on a development programme to bring on more riders. We have some good riders coming through but judging by past history, a 50 to 60% drop out rate at this level is not unusual and will mean that teams in the future will be struggling for BRITISH riders. We can't allow the likes of Dan Greenwood to drop out after he became U15 champion without putting up a fight to keep him going. I am actually sick of reading about yet another Australian prospect landing on our shores, and everyone raving about his performance. Let's start raving about British riders but don't kick them in the teeth when they suddenly start to slow on development eg Josh Auty last year. Lets give them the support they need through coaching and general support on how to manage the business of becoming a top class professional speedway rider. Come on BSPA put in the development programme which gives continued support to the youngsters and don't just leave it up to the likes of Scunthorpe and one or two others to do your work for you. Do it now before it is too late.

I was feeling quite depressed about the state of British youth speedway when I saw the line up for this round, and no, that wasn't because of who was riding, but the numbers of riders who had entered. Having seen the results, the lads did really well, and there were clearly some stunning performances. British speedway now needs to build on this base to increase both the numbers of riders riding in this championship, but also to give guidance, tuition, where needed, and generally to put them in a programme of support for the next few years. Who could do that? I'm not sure who that would be, but it needs to happen, both for all of the 500c riders but equally for the 250 cc riders who are our longer term future riders. A system has to be devised to look after them so that they become the riders who will get us a World Champion and World Team Championship, and this is where the BSPA now has to step up to the mark to allocate the resources. Well done to all the riders for putting on a good show, and to all the tracks who are supporting this series.

I note that the BSPA have announced the line ups for the two U21 Semi Finals, and the seeded riders for the final. In the second round, Gary Irving is shown in the line up yet on the 14th February, the BSPA on the same website, posted that Gary would not be riding this year because of his surgery. LH/RH?? Rounds are at Plymouth on the 10th April and IOW on the 14th April for info.

Just for the record, last years semis were held at Plymouth, Weymouth and Kings Lynn. Not much in the north there either!!!