think fast

Im not saying if it is a valid safety measure it shouldnt be brought in but i totally agree with Deano that they are actually more dangerous. Unlike road bikes that have smooth tires speedway tires have knobbles and could grip a finger or hand and rip them into the guard. with no chance of doing anything about it with the new guards. No way of getting hand or arm out of guard like i have seen done in the past as there was room in old style guards. 21st century heathen you mention the likes of Pedersen, Crump, Nicholls as much as i take your point if they were so revolutionarily safe then surely these such riders would of started using these guards straight away without having to have the new ruling come in. Dutch grasstrack yes i have seen these guards you mention but i do not believe that old covers will still fit as they will be too high up the side. They may squash down the push bar to fit making them a very bad fit and possibly cause problems. Also they will look completely wrong (unproffesional) as wont fit properly.

So with at the moment only 8 teams in the league. Only 14 proper meetings for this years NL only riders yet they will all have to have the new silencers at roughly £200 per silencer so for 2 bikes thats £400. Then theres the new style rear guard rule which isnt gonna be just a case of adjusting the old guards down. This also effects the push bar so new push bars will be needed along with the guards or the complete 1 piece gp guards at £50 odd apiece. Then because of the new guards the riders will also need new covers as the full length covers wont fit. So where are these young or even semi experienced riders suppose to get the neccessary funding for these parts. Silencers were held back a year from the other leagues because of costs but as theres very few 2nd hand ones about due to the fact alot of top riders (E.L) found themselves buying new ones half way through last year so not getting new ones this year (P.L riders dont tend to buy new equipment every year so dont sell on this stuff after 1 season). Could they maybe do this with the guards rule as NL riders need to buy he silencers this year? There is no way most of these riders will make this money back over the season when you take into account already running costs e.g. engine services, fuel, oil, tires. Unless they are being paid more than what they should be. Most of the riders in this league race because they love racing. Could they not be helped out to keep them racing instead of like many retire. Most British riders dont get the help and opportunities in the higher leagues and if they do its often only for half a season or 1 season and unlike alot of foriegners around the 3pt PL mark if a Brit hasnt suddenly become a 5pt plus rider he is thrown back in the NL as obviously not good enough and will never make it.