A BRAND-NEW SPEEDWAY LEAGUE - the first for more than a quarter of a century - is set to launch.

And it will welcome competitive team racing back to the Isle of Wight.

Three other clubs, Plymouth, Sittingbourne and Cradley Heath will compete in the summer-long Nora Speedway League (NSL).

The Isle of Wight will welcome back team racing after they dropped out of the National Development League at the beginning of 2020. Completing the 2023 starters are Plymouth, Sittingbourne and Cradley Heath.

The Devon team will be a separate club to the Championship Gladiators and the new NSL Sittingbourne Crusaders will race at Iwade totally unrelated to Kent Royals. The Heathens, who have been without a permanent venue since their Dudley Wood Stadium home was sold for a housing development in 1995, will be a fully funded nomadic side, racing both home and away at each of the other circuits.

The Nora Speedway League has already attracted a league sponsor in the form of Nora 92 and will be known as the Nora 92 Speedway League in 2023.

The NSL is a major boost to the sport’s grass roots and organisers hope it will be a fertile nursery for Great Britain stars of the future.

Club bosses have already agreed rules and regulations and insist the priority is to combine competitive racing with entertainment from the minute fans enter the stadium to their last step out on the way home. There will be a number of ground-breaking innovations that will set the NSL aside from other competitions with the introduction of a revolutionary handicap system that was successfully trialled on the Isle of Wight last year.

Founding promoter Barry Bishop said: “The Nora 92 Speedway League will help develop riders even further with a focus on entertainment and value. In addition to this, it will be a league to encourage new riders into the sport by allowing them to be part of the meeting from an early stage while keeping a firm eye on the bigger picture of helping riders go on to great heights in the sport in the UK or abroad. What the league is not about is taking anything from the brilliant work of the BSPL’s National Development League; we are here to complement it, in a way that works for our businesses with the product that we want to put on under the guidance of Nora.

The Nora 92 Speedway League is a natural follow on from the two successful Nora speedway seasons staged on the Isle of Wight in 2021 and 22, and at other tracks around the UK.

Each team entering the league will consist of six riders who will get five rides per meeting. The league will make use of rules that have been tested over the last two seasons on the island to encourage rider development while focussing on entertainment. These rules which deviate from regular speedway will be included in matchday programs but are expected to include Team Manager selection to handicap opposing team riders and rider selection across all three of the last heats”.

Bishop added, “We’ve proven that riders who come to the Island and participate in our meetings have shown considerable improvement over the last two seasons and the Nora 92 Speedway League will help develop riders even further with a focus on entertainment and value. My partner Martin Widman and I are so excited to be able to take the style of the Nora meetings we stage from the Island to the mainland and we are extremely grateful to stadium owners allowing us to rent their venues for this exciting new venture.

The fixtures will be released as soon as possible and with most clubs, except the Warriors, running at the weekend we believe it is a brilliant opportunity for riders to get on track with the Nora 92 Speedway league for some fun time speedway. We would all like to thank Nora 92 for becoming the leagues sponsors in our fledgeling season and we are delighted they are on this journey with us. Hopefully, the fans and sponsors will welcome the teams to their hearts and get behind them all.

We’ve worked so hard to ensure that we are ready for this and websites and social media will be online soon and, of course, team announcements. Hold on to your hats, this is going to be great. Please keep up to date with everything Nora Speedway League initially via our Facebook page “Nora Speedway League”.

Lastly, we’re delighted to be finalising the 2023 agreement with Wightlink also and we will make a statement on this in due course.”

NOTE: The last new national league competition to be launched was the British Academy League (now branded the National Development League) in 1994. 

and this from the Wightlink Warriors website:

More Team Speedway For The Warriors In 2023 As Founding Members Of New League

The Wightlink Warriors promotion have been beavering away during the off season with plans for another summer season of shale track action at the Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde – and there will be an exciting addition to the weekly fayre as the Warriors are in line to be founder members of the newly formed Nora Speedway League. The league – which has attracted sponsorship from Nora 92 will be known as the Nora 92 Speedway League - will feature the Warriors, Plymouth, Sittingbourne and Cradley.

Warriors’ co-owner Barry Bishop said, “We are delighted to participate in the Nora 92 Speedway League which focuses on entertainment and value while looking to develop riders’ futures. It would seem that track time in the UK is becoming a precious commodity and we are only too pleased to allow our riders the maximum track experience that we can. Martin and I are just so excited about this, and we know the league will draw on our experience from the last two seasons to offer a new style of Speedway. We cannot wait to get going.

The Nora 92 Speedway League will be complemented by a Knock-Out Cup too, and as well as the cup we hope that other innovative meetings including a Nora Riders Championship will also be possible.

2023 looks to be a bumper year for riders, fans and sponsors as we plan our full programme of action at Smallbrook Stadium including the Island Masters, Uprights, Ladies, MSDL, Flat-Track, Pairs, Handicap and more. This is an important year for us as we take the Warriors team off the Island again and we will soon be announcing team members, managers, fixtures and more.”

Tapes up on the 2023 Speedway Season is expected in June. 

I’ve looked on the official site to find out my answers but cannot find anything doesn’t seem to be very transparent.

Wouldn’t it be an idea to have a current championship standing report so all riders could see how they stand and what they need to aim for.

From a new to speedway fan.

The club will be staging the JR Ashworth & Sons Colts Academy Individual featuring several rising stars of the current National Development League, as well as 500cc and 250cc sections of the British Youth Championship.

Whilst Belle Vue are not competing in the NDL this season their commitment to rider development remains strong, and several recent Colts riders will return for the event.

2025 team members Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Jack Shimelt and Billy Budd are all included in the line-up.

Colts joint manager Graham Goodwin said: “We've always had a loyal following for the Belle Vue Colts, and we're looking forward to welcoming back those 2025 Colts team members for this NDL standard meeting, so we hope fans will respond and come along to welcome them back.

“They're going to face tough competition from a number of Championship riders, with Ace Pijper (Redcar), Jordy Loftus (Edinburgh), Ryan Ingram (Scunthorpe), and Jamie Etherington (formerly Workington) all gaining second division experience along with Freddy who is progressing well at Glasgow.

“Mickie Simpson, Senna Summers and Stene Pijper are all solid NDL performers, and at the bottom of the age range we have 15-year-old Ollie Binns, who is quite local to us in Cheshire, and is just starting out on his NDL career with King's Lynn.”

The JR Ashworth & Sons Colts Academy Individual will be a 14-heat individual event, made up of 12 heats plus semi-final and Final. All of the riders are aged 21 and under, with an average age of 19.

In addition, the meeting features the 500cc and 250cc sections of the British Youth Championship, run over a total of 19 heats and two Finals, meaning a packed schedule of 35 races in all.

Turnstiles will open at midday with the parade at 12.55 ahead of the opening race. Admission prices will be set at regular Colts levels – Adults £15, Concessions £13, Junior (12-17) £6, Children (11 and under) Free, Family £36, Programme £2.

JR ASHWORTH & SONS COLTS ACADEMY INDIVIDUAL: Billy Budd, Freddy Hodder, Harry Fletcher, Stene Pijper, Mickie Simpson, Ollie Binns, Ryan Ingram, Jack Shimelt, Ace Pijper, Jamie Etherington, Jordy Loftus, Senna Summers.

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (500cc): Charlie Luckman, Kayden Mundy, Rocco Webb, Jayden Bailey, Oli Bovingdon, Dylan Huthwaite, Casper Kluczniak, Liam Morris, Stene Pijper, Emerson Betty, Ollie Binns, Charlie Southwick, Seth Norman, Harry Fletcher.

BRITISH YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (250cc): Kane Newby, Finley Theobald, Archie Rolph, Demi Blu Harris, Charlie Fletcher.

Maybe Ashfield can become the true National Speedway Stadium

The 2025 Midland Development League came to a close for 2025 at Birmingham with the Alan Grahame Memorial individual with 12 riders contesting it over 9 heats and a final.

Birmingham Buffaloes Max Broadhurst took the honours winning all his three qualifying races then remaining unbeaten with success in the final ahead of Ryan Ashcroft and Dylan Huthwaite whilst Eli Meadows took a tumble to end his hopes of remaining unbeaten on the night.

With 16 heats in total with 6 junior 125cc demos and a short delay after one of them Cody Smith crashed just before the finish line in his first ride , the pits staff did a first class and efficient job of completing this in 52 minutes !! Cody ended up at hospital with two black eyes, sore wrist  and concussion unfortunately.

It was a fitting tribute to Alan Grahame who always had time to help the young riders.

Heat scorers :

Max Broadhurst  9, Eli Meadows 9, Ryan Ashcroft 7, Dylan Huthwaite 6, Harrison Rogers 6, Joe Crewe 5, Jacob Fellows 5, Jack Crewe 3, Bailey Fellows 1, Will Boraston 1, Austin Riches 1, Jake Breeze 1.

Final :  Max Broadhurst , Ryan Ashcroft, Dylan Huthwaite, Eli Meadows (fell)

The 2025 MIDLAND DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE will have three teams vying for the title . There were high hopes that three more clubs would be lining up in the league but unfortunately each of them have been unable to.

The three teams in the 2025 competition will all run out of Birmingham’s Perry Barr circuit . The Bulls, the Buffaloes and the Wolves will race each other “home and away” twice giving each side eight fixtures.

Utilising the four National Development trophy meeting for the DUCTAIR Bulls , eight further Monday night Premiership fixtures will have MDL clashes, whilst most meetings will have second half action.

The third side will carry the Wolves name with the permission of Chris Van Straaten which Birmingham thank him for.

MDL co-ordinator Laurence Rogers is pleased that the youngsters will have the opportunity to race under league conditions in teams. He commented, “  I have tried to keep this competition going to give some of the youngsters valuable track time. When the three possible tracks were unable to confirm being able to join in I looked at keeping things going by running three sides out of Perry Barr. We have a close connection with the Formula Grass Track Association and a lot of the young lads have progressed in to riding speedway as well . I knew we had sufficient riders to run the three teams so it was all steam ahead. CVS has kindly let me use the Wolves name for the third side and it’s good to keep the name alive as he searches for a new venue for the club.”

Most of the youngsters who rode in 2024 will be back with some now also securing National League team spots whilst a few newcomers reaching 15 will now come into contention for rides in the MDL.

FIXTURES :
 

E=

What a brilliant meeting it was.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and only £5 to watch 31 heats of speedway (which, by the way took under 2.5 hours).

Despite the weather, the meeting still went ahead.

A big thank you to all those involved in the running of the event, but more importantly the young competitors and their families for providing a brilliant spectacle.

I would encourage everyone who enjoys speedway to go and watch the youth championships and I hope it comes to Iwade (my nearest track) again next year. 

The MDL 2024 will be contested by three clubs .. Birmingham DUCTAIR Bulls, Birmingham SUPPORTERS CLUB Buffaloes and the Leicester Cubs.

It was hoped that a few other clubs would contest the league but unfortunately they are not committing to it despite interest from them. Some may be offering some challenge second halves later in the season so the three teams in the MDL should get additional fixtures.

Last year the two Birmingham sides dominated the MDL finishing joint top but a planned play off was lost to the weather and the two sides are having a decider early season at Perry Barr to claim bragging rights for the new campaign!

Birmingham will run MDL strength second halves all season with individuals and challenges for their expanding squads with several newcomers joining the ranks at Perry Barr with recruits from the local grass track scene where the club have a tie up with the Formula Grass Association . Additionally the club have a new recruit from moto cross joining their ranks having been tempted to give speedway a try.

The teams will meet home and away twice. Under a change to the rules clubs can use a National League rider up to a 5 point average but will give chances to young riders aiming to put themselves in the shop window for the NL.

League co-ordinator Laurence Rogers is looking forward to giving as many young riders important track time as possible, “ It would have been good to have had a few more clubs joining our ranks but some have decided to just do their own thing. The league is a stepping stone for young riders and the more track time they get the better and thank you to Leicester for coming on board to ensure this league survived . There are lots of young riders out there and at Birmingham we do what we can to develop them and give them the opportunity to ride in a team. We will be running two teams again with separate squads and continue the friendly rivalry we have between the Bulls and the Buffaloes and look forward to the clashes with the Leicester Cubs.”

MDL FIXTURES 2024

MDL FIXTURES 2024

MON  1  APRIL   FGA INDIVIDUAL
MON 15 APRIL    BIRMINGHAM BULLS V  LEICESTER CUBS                A FIXTURE
SUN 21 APRIL    LEICESTER CUBS V BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES         A FIXTURE
SUN 12 MAY      LEICESTER CUBSV BIRMINGHAM BULLS                    A FIXTURE
MON 13 MAY      BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES V BIRMINGHAM BULLS  A FIXTURE
SUN 19 MAY      LEICESTER CUBS  V BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES         B FIXTURE
MON 27 MAY      BIRMINGHAM BULLS V BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES  A FIXTURE
MON 3 JUNE      BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES  V  LEICESTER CUBS      A FIXTURE
SUN  23 JUNE    LEICESTER CUBS  V  BIRMINGHAM BULLS                 B FIXTURE
MON 24 JUNE     BIRMINGHAM BULLS V BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES B FIXTURE
MON  8 JULY     BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES V BIRMINGHAM BULLS   B FIXTURE
MON  22  JULY   BIRMINGHAM BULLS V LEICESTER CUBS                  B FIXTURE
MON 12 AUG      BIRMINGHAM BUFFALOES V LEICESTER CUBS        B FIXTURE

Detailed plans of the way the new set-up will operate will be revealed to promoters soon and it will include a series of radical and revolutionary ideas.

British Under-21 manager Peter Oakes (pictured) said: “We have lagged behind other countries over the year in providing facilities for youngsters and I think that has been reflected in our lack of success internationally.”

http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

I founded final standings for season 2005 but after 4 rounds. I do not have idea how many rounds was there.

Unofficial Under-15 Championship Standings 2005 (4 rounds)

1. Joshua Auty 17-17-17-17 51

2. Ben Taylor 15-15-15-15 45

3. George Piper 11-13-14-13 40

4= Ben Hopwood 12-8-13-13 38

4= George Jarvis 9-12-12-14 38

6. Daniel Greenwood 6-11-11-9 31

7= Ben Thompson 9-10-7-8 27

7= Adam Wrathall 13-14-X-X 27

9. Brendan Johnson 4-10-10-6 26

10. Dan Kirkman 10-3-X-10 23

11=Joe Haines 14-4-X-3 21

11=Scott Meakins 5-6-10-3 21

13 Rickylee Beecroft 4-8-4-X 16

14=Ryan Googer 7-X-X-8 15

14=Kye Norton 4-X-X-11 15

14=Chris Widman 4-3-8-3 15

17=Jack Butler 4-X-4-1 9

17=Tom Davies X-3-X-6 9

19 Aaron Baseby X-X-7-X 7

20 Richard Franklin X-X-2-4 6

20 Ben Johnson X-6-X-X 6

22 Ben Reade X-X-5-X 5

In my early early days of trying to learn how to meet the unique challenges in the sport i took to looking for advice from others that rode online, yet there was not much to find. The information that is currently online can also sometimes be quite conflicting, particularly in the technique of sliding and being able to control the bike around the track. I read some articles telling me to shut off the throttle almost entirely before the bend and open it up at the entry to powerslide around whereas others would say to avoid shutting the throttle like the plague and to use momentum to glide around, which i felt were both hard concepts to grasp as a new rider. 

To summarise, i would like it if any past/current riders can share their experiences with riding and give any sort of advice and suggestions for newer riders or ones that are trying to perfect their technique before going to the next step in their career.