Brough Diamond

Just one of those nights for Ipswich I'm afraid. Perhaps a little nervous and trying to give it everything. We could 'if and but' about what the final result would have been but ALL the Diamonds fans really felt for the Ipswich fans who made the long journey. So noticeable that the celebrations of the Diamonds fans were really muted. Get well soon to all the missing riders including Robbo and Rohan. p.s - great to See JK making a comeback after the match.

I don't agree with chopping and changing riders to be honest and Newcastle rarely do it and yet we stay successful. We even stuck with R/ R for Andy rather than sign up other riders. The biggest thing about being successful is about signing up riders who can increase their averages and I'm not sure you've had enough of those especially in the Heat leader spots. Ricky, Kozza and Alex were all coming back from torrid injuries last year and it was unreasonable to expect major improvements. Matty has done OK but is getting on to throw in massive increases especially going from Armadale to Berwick. That left a small group to you'd be looking toincrease quite a bit and it was a big ask. If you look at most of the teams in the top 6 they are peppered with improver's. I haven't gone back over the previous years but I suspect it will be the same. The diamonds had it with Pepe and co for quite a few years but we've hit a rich vein recently. The track hasn't changed, merely the type of rider. Add to that, once you get a bit of success then the young promising kids will want to come. Same in any sport. Like most Northern fans, I love my own club, but really keep my fingers crossed for success for our Rivals like the Bandits to keep the sport healthy in the North.

According to the Redcar Papers, packed his bags after blowing his motor. Fined £200 quid by the ref for buggering off whilst the meeting was still in progress. Naughty!

Why, the Swedish fixtures are tonight?

With so many teams apparently looking for new riders (Glasgow / Plymouth to name a couple), where are they going to come from and how much will they cost? Most Premier sides this year were built on limited funds and are we going to see teams once again breaking the budget to bring in new assets. It begs the question, are there enough premier league assets to go round and were the authorities right in questioning the work permits for some riders? Indeed were the WRONG riders given permits. Even the magic formula of bringing in new Danes (Bach's / Bjerre's / Iversens etc) no longer guarantees instant results as most Danes now struggle to hit 6 point averages in the first couple of years and the Polish leagues are closed to the Premier teams. Glasgow will find it especially hard as decent Scandinavian riders will already have Sunday contracts in Eastern Europe I haven't got and answer but are most of these attempts going to be half hearted in a simple effort to appease the fans?

The day Pearson and Tatum start talking anything but drivel will be a great day. I also heard them describe Kasprzak as the potential next world champion. It's called "fill in on a boring meeting with utter tosh". Anyway you can see for yourself on Thursday and make your own mind up.

Only in your head!

Oh I never realised Richie broke his leg last year just to keep his average down? You seem to forget only being allowed a replacement up to 5 points last year cost us the league.

Nice to see you say that Neil when you were miffed at keeping Christian and dumping your pal Ned.

Urgently required at Brough Park. Three down, hopefully a few more still to come. http://www.cabinets.col-uk.com/Tower%20Cabinets.htm

You've got to love Havvy's enthusiasm in the Gazette. “I’m concerned at the lack of heats we’ve won,” added Havelock. “If we’d got another two heat wins from the top three, that’s six points off them and six to us - it’s a big difference.” Now maths has never been my strong point, but 6 off and 6 on would have made err............ no bloody difference. - and that only happens if the heat leader in question finished last. Read More http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/north-east-sport/motorsport-news/redcar-bears/2013/04/08/redcar-bears-on-the-prowl-for-dilger-replacement-84229-33135943/#ixzz2Pu2ushRU

Really impressed with how Ludo has started the season. His away form last year wasn't great but he has started really well for both Newcastle and Wolves. Ritchie looks like he hasn't been away and Robbo is back on song. Get Tully fit and we will have 5 heatleaders at home and 4away. Just a shame Steve won't get paid for all the bonus points :-(

nice report http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/speedway-english-rider-shows-his-class-in-nz-debut/1733452/

Sounds very feasible doesn't it, but when you look at it more closely then it becomes much harder to achieve for any team. Stick 5 points on and it means your average score home and away is 47.5. Unless you have massive home advantage then you have to win an awful lot of away games. Then comes the REALLY hard part - knocking off the Bonus points. To get the averages your suggesting you need to add at least another 6 in bonuses. That makes your average score about 53.5. Very difficult indeed to keep up. Not saying Ipswich can't do it, only it's a huge ask for any team. Last year when Richie Worrall, Ludvig Lindgren and Claes Nedermark started banging in the points, Newcastle finished at the head of the table (before the play-offs) but our existing heatleaders averages fell significantly. It always seems like swings and roundabouts.

Put yer money on the final place is being kept for Jason but he needs to prove his arm has healed.

He is according to the BSPA http://www.speedwaygb.co/riderindex11_l.html

Basically means you get first dibs at signing those riders and can loan them out if you don't. Actual transfers don't happen much these days. The odd bit is that riders normally can leave if they insist. Both Ned and Lemmo however wished to return so the decision lies with the promotion.

It does seem a bit odd that Newcastle have got 3 Decent assets, Kenni Larsen, Mark Lemon and Ned and NONE of them are included next year? Not gonna knock George and Darryl's team selection just yet though.

Are you serious? - Richie is listed as 5 and a bit but was averaging over 8 before his injury. He was hitting 7 in the EL! Similarly Steve but to a lesser extent.

Not surprised in the slightest that Rene has headed back to Workington. If he still has designs on getting a Polish gig then Newcastle was never going to be his first choice. I wish the lad well and look forward to seeing him at Brough. It's no secret that the promoters lost money and anyone who thinks we will have a team packed with stars may be mightily disappointed. Expect more of what we had this year and if we are lucky enough to get Richie and Steve back then the rest will fall into place built around their false averages.

Not if it changed from year to year. Also most of those suppliers do other forms of motor sport - grass track, motor cross etc. If all the tracks go under they wouldn't get any business any way.

Standardised bikes are unlikely unless you get the whole FIM involved. Look at the complaints about the exhausts, but making it compulsory across the major leagues meant it finally happened. Where the BSPA do miss a trick though is bulk buying for other items. Getting methanol, shale, team leathers, race jackets, programmes etc from a single UK supplier could surely reduce the cost. Current suppliers could be asked to bid to create competition and bottom out costs.

One point to bear in mind are the losses suffered by the promoters this year (like most others). The Worrals won't come cheap being able to command top dollar. We may find Danes (and especially Swedes) a bit of a luxury when most English riders and Aussies don't travel. That being the case, Christian may be far cheaper than Ludvig or Ned and that might sway the promoters thinking. I also suspect Robbo and Lemmo may be expected to take a pay cut which may not go down too well. Don't be surprised if the Promoters conference leads to a team building points cut.

Ask Newcastle if the Groupon deal was worthwhile (I've no idea but there was a crowd increase those nights). Get the riders into local schools, youth clubs and other organisations. Get the fans to nag the hells out of BBC and Tyne Tees to show more clips interviews etc.

Be prepared for a long night. Potentially 700 people queuing up at the Speedway office or turnstile, showing proof you paid the adult admission and then getting a fiver, changing a tenner etc. is going to take a considerable time. I wish the club a long term future whatever happens.