*JJ

They were discouraged, I suspect. All of the MDL teams which I saw - some years ago now - were run by fans and enthusiasts, not by the promoters of the EL or PL teams. And when the BSPL got rid of the 'ghost' teams, that discouraged them even more. As I said before, the promoters weren't interested; when a fan asked a promoter if the Long Eaton team could ride at Perry Barr, he lied and said that the planning permission only allowed for 20 heats. This is not true, it is 21, so the present promotion is able to run MDL teams.

Bowtell in Birmingham.

Nice to know; I wish that the rest of them would do something!

At least somebody is doing something, unlike most promoters.

A couple of times we went to Stoke, to discover that the only rain in the Midlands was centred on Loomer Road ... Another which didn't affect me, but I was sorry for the away fans. Edinburgh riders missed the gate in a quagmire of a track and came last, then the match was called off. I believe that Edinburgh's previous match had been rained off as well, so the travelling fans had a very long journey for nothing!

They must have offered it directly to the rider, who never mentioned it. You have to remember that our transport was an old age pensioner's car, the diesel paid for mostly from my pension.

Eh? Which track was that? We travelled all over the country - he rode for Weymouth a few times - and I never turned down any rides.

'Provide a list'? This is just a cheap meaningless debating trick. Of course I can't provide a list! My experience was several years ago now, so as I said, I have lost touch whith the scene. And it was bitter: most MDL teams were run by fans and enthusiasts; the promoters were not bothered.

Yes, it is true; bitter experience.

There would be plenty of riders if promoters could be bothered to help them. Some years ago, I was involved in helping a rider (see avatar left) who progressed to the MDL when there were quite a few teams, complete with all of the necessary riders. He rode for Wolverhampton Wolf Cubs, Stoke Spitfires, Scunthorpe Stags, Weymouth Wildcats, Buxton Juniors, Mildenhall and others all of which have disappeared. If the effort was made by those supposedly in charge, the riders would be there. As for your question, I am now out of touch with it all, but someone could probably answer it.

And it's a damned disgrace that no other teams are putting out an MDL team! Where are new riders expected to learn their trade? Very few can go directly into the National League, 'Development' or not.

Despite the opinions of the usual knowalls in this forum, this isn't too bad a team. Bad luck with injuries etc. aside, we may have a good season ... here's hoping!

Must have been in the first two years af the NL era, 2015 - 16. They also did well in the following couple of years but it all fell apart when the Masons took too long to decide to go Championship, and missed out on the best riders. Then Covid, sales etc.

'Slain' ... I always enjoyed a good massacre, just once in a while!

They buy two for each rider. When I helped buy a (cheap) race suit some years ago, it cost £500. A fully professional suit costs more than that now, I suspect.

Well, if they pay for them? (You're talking about £15,000).

Modern brushless electric motors are controlled by a computerised control unit; there is plenty of speed control.

The problem is that the riders have to cooperate with the rules, or have to be forced to cooperate.A few years ago, I saw the start marshal try to make a rider (who was desperate to make the start, his team were losing badly) come up to the tapes; the rider eventually took a swing at the marshal. Then again, many years ago they tried to put a thick rope behind the back wheel of the bike to stop rolling back. The riders fought and struggled to get back over the rope to try to jump the start or at least do more gardening. What is really needed is, simply, that referees clamp down on any tricks and disqualify any rider who won't behave.

What great news is that?

Er ... what is not nice about 'Why is that'? The real reason is I suspect that he had no answer to give.

Notice that there has been no reply to this or Deano's question from SSL84?

Why is that?

Shawn McConnell?

Last year, Birmingham rode against a Coventry Select and a Cradley Select; I presume that there were no problems as they are going to do the same this season also.

'Ackney Orcs