*JJ

Then the local fans are wrong. I think that both Birmingham and Eastbourne fans will agree that moving to the NL was a good idea: the racing is great and the season was wholly enjoyable.

Not convinced by Cupitt: he has been around too long for the good that he is doing. How about having Adam Kirby back? and Eryk Borczuk as a 3-pointer?

This is only too true (although your last sentence isn't). It is really annoying to me that Birmingham have not taken any trouble to help new riders or to try to discover new ones (except one who is completely non-talented!).

If you can't beat them, pinch their team?

It seems that Kings Lynn are remaining in the NL.

Drury has categorically denied that he delayed the match. Obviously, if you are one of these people who assume that he is always lying, then that is your problem.

These are simply not true. Smith and JPB stayed at reserve because their averages were the lowest!

Mostly, Scunthorpe and Rye House. Most don't bother or can't get the extra dates to run speedway training.

The problem is that there are very few teams which actually try to 'develop' riders, if any at all. Training schools are usually run by individuals who are not necessarily involved with the promotion of the track, and MDL teams are usually composed of riders who volunteer themselves! This is, in my experience, done in spite of the promoters (who try to profit from the system) not because of them.

To be fair to Buxton, I had exactly the same answer from Coventry and Wolverhampton. More effort needs to be put in by all promoters to encourage new talent.

I thought that I had!

Unfortunately, Buxton do not have a plan at all. A short time ago, I asked them if an MDL rider who has been out for the season with a broken leg, could do some after-match practice at their track. The answer was that the promoter didn't like staying on after NL matches and wanted to lock up and go as soon as possible. He didn't even like staying open for MDL matches! This track is not used for anything else - no greyhounds, no stock cars etc. - it could esily be used for regular training and practice sessions, or amateur racing, in order to find riders for the future, even though it is a bit out in the sticks. It merely needs the will to do so by somebody.

Quite serious. These forum programs are American and tend to censor American obscenties, but not British ones! I can't mention what this particular slang word means in a public forum, but let's just say that, being a man, I don't have one ...

It is a very rude expression in American!

Well, I shall be there but I doubt if Buxton will get much joy unless Drury makes the same mistake as Dugard in his selection of reserves!

2nd, Scunthorpe. See Facebook, Scunthorpe Amateur Speedway, and Fb Amateur Speedway; dates are usually on them. There is a session at Peterborough on 15th also, and Rye House used to do practice on any Sunday.

In which case, lower scores will have even less effect! Or choosing a couple of incompetents for reserves?

Yes, they obviously did it to spite you and Bouchard personally. Seen Brian Buck's post in the Brummies forum?

Averages don't work like that. Whatever they do at this end of the year will have very little effect on a rider's average; certainly with rolling averages.

There was Zdenek Kudrna. Nobody could pronounce (or spell!) his name, so he was just called 'Zed'. Or, by some, 'Kermit' because of his green leathers.

No, they are named Clarke Porky didn't invent this nickname; it was the moniker of a 7 foot tall Russian boxer, now (I haven't invented this) a politician.

'Smudger' is a traditional nickname for anyone named Smith, like 'Nobby' Clarke.

That's nothing. In the amateur racing, there can be up to 110 heats! (Yes - one hundred and ten ...)

From Codsall (nr. Wolverhampton), has been doing MDL for the last two years.

Sadly, it is only too true, as Birmingham discovered in their three years in the Elite League!