Islander15
-
Content count
3,074 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Islander15
-
-
9 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall
£15 is far too expensive for a 3rd tier, let alone whatever the BSPL want this league branded as now! Also with the number of double headers now it effectively drives the price down further and makes Kent look even more expensive.
-
2
-
-
2 hours ago, PotteringAround said:There's no squad system. And guests are only allowed for missing No.1's this year. So if Atkins was missing, he can only be replaced by R/R or a 3.00 rider, and Verge is way above being a 3.00 rider.
That is true. So to avoid Atkins being covered by R/R is there another new rule that they haven’t told us about where you can sign a squad member to cover another specific rider? It gives more credibility than using a random rider each week or being under strength. But it poses a problem for another team if they get an injury and want to sign a rider such as Verge.
-
Good to see JPB get a team place. A young and progressing rider that has personal problems but there’s absolutely a good rider in there
-
3 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:All seems very strange. Also in his role as second half mentor he will be travelling over for the CL only meetings to take part in a 4 heat (2 rides each?) event after the main meeting. That sort of event makes sense for Ablitt & Laurence but seems a heck of a travel for Verge.
And he’s outgrown that!
-
1
-
-
18 minutes ago, Richard Weston said:Eastbourne Seagulls, sponsored by Dyson
Means Verge will definitely get rides this season which is no bad thing.
I did read the NDL was cracking down on the use of guests and it looks like Eastbourne are getting ready.
Rather one of your own than a guest, I say.
How many rides will he get though? So there’s a squad system that nobody has told us about!
-
21 hours ago, teaboy279 said:Season ends in April in France by the looks of the fixtures.
It does usually, but rearranged due to Covid.
-
1
-
-
9 hours ago, iris123 said:Well I was more thinking of quarantine rules etc, which currently mean some football matches have to be played in other countries. Is it likely that all speedway riders will be vaccinated or get a vaccine passport by May ? Same for the French teams that come to the UK. As I say, at this moment in time it all looks very risky planning when measures could come in overnight which change things radically. Hard enough being certain about national sport, without the complexities of international......saying that though, in normal times I do like the idea
The fixtures could easily be run later in the summer when quarantine is no longer a problem. Even if not vaccinated, travel is likely with a negative swab but it unfortunately adds to the expenses.
-
2 hours ago, iris123 said:Think it is very suspect
As I said a couple of ex riders wanted to do a series on a few tracks a few years ago and it came to nothing, because of threats I am sure from the BSPA
I also know in Hamburg the local Ice Hockey club folded and a Russian promotion wanted to start a team there in the International Continental Ice Hockey League. The Bundesliga protested that it would be a rival promotion and have a negative effect on the national league. I'd guess the BSPA could well claim the same, with a rival league taking place on their turf. I wish it well as it is a good idea, but I doubt it will happen for a number of reasons. Covid and BSPA
If you genuinely think fans won’t attend the Premiership or Championship meetings just because the IOW are putting on an individual meeting or open event, then you are highly mistaken. It isn’t BSPL ‘turf’ when the Warriors have withdrawn from the league and association
I hope the BSPL don’t attempt to block this attempt, but in reality it will make no difference to any other club’s businesses. At the end of the day, the Warriors have a surprisingly high number of core island based fans who have bought into the Bishop & Widman plan and frequent, but ever changing, holiday makers. So they have no direct rivals.
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, iris123 said:Surely a very risky undertaking at the moment ? France heading for a third wave and stricter measures again
In terms of speedway, does that really matter though? It’s clear that no French fans would travel to IOW and from an IOW perspective it didn’t matter if their meeting in France has fans or not. It would only be the riders and management travelling to France and they’re likely to need vaccines or negative swabs anyway, the same as anyone else travelling for business or leisure this summer.
-
Barry Bishop confirms that the Isle of Wight have staged preliminary talks with the French League!
-
3
-
-
1 hour ago, Lionspride said:Tom Spencer complete’s the cubs team .
Although the strength of the league is a-lot weaker it will be good to see some up & coming rider’s race in an organised team event.
I standby my view that they are not strong enough but look forward to supporting them i just hope they don’t try to charge £13 for racing at this level.
One comment on the website made me think
Did the messiah & NDL guru Dave Howard build the team or was he given the team by the promotion ?
“ I’m sure they will all improve over the season, and now it’s up to Dave Howard (manager) as to how he arranges the team “
Surely if Dave built the team he would build it knowing who he wants in which riding number ? I just found it to be a very strange comment .
I think it’s actually a very strong team. You honestly have to bear in mind how weak the league is this year! Lots of teams have 3 or 4 3pt riders but the Cubs only have 2 and they’re both at reserve. The second strings should beat all the other 3pt riders and hold their own in general at home, especially Halder who must’ve done hundreds of laps around Beaumont Park by now. Then there’s a proper heat leader trio. Lawlor looks as good as most in the league, maybe not upto a Clegg or Greaves standard, but he will regularly win races home and away. Then the Thompson twins are riders who should definitely put good points on their average. I imagine they’ll ride like genuine heat leaders at home and do pretty well away. Also remember they’re two of the few riders who can argue that they had a near normal season last year, so that should put them ahead in terms of development. If the play-offs existed, I’d have this team in my top 4.
-
1
-
-
Title favourites already!
-
1
-
-
10 hours ago, enotian said:I don't know if the points limit would have affected other entrants because that's counter to the facts. We'd have to ask those promoters. I'd theorise that all teams would have wanted to be competitive and had a view on the riders they wanted to utilise. On that basis the points limit might have been a deciding factor.
I don't think that the National Development League is the core product is it? From a BSPL perspective. It's effectively the R&D department. Obviously at odds with your own opinion and as I say it sounds like you made the right decision.
Shame the facility is lost to the sport.
People keep mentioning what other teams would’ve come to the tapes with a higher points limit. But it’s been documented elsewhere that Mildenhall, Kent, Belle Vue, Plymouth (if they remained) and Eastbourne were all were happy with the usual points limit. I am not aware of Armadale or Newcastle’s opinion but they were both in the division for 2020. Only Leicester and Berwick definitely wanted it lowered who are actually racing. All the other teams who wanted it peered aren’t even NL clubs!
-
2
-
-
12 hours ago, the outsider said:Think its looking increasingly likely our three heat leaders are Auty; Tommy Aarnio and we wont get close to covering for Jakes absence ! ? Robs determined to honour the deals he did for 2020.
Seems to me we will be gambling on a lower average rider coming up "Crumps" ? So it could be one of the Aussie Tiggers on loan ? Josh McDonald who lost his loan spot at Poole or Zaine Kennedy ? Could mean we line up ?
1.Jorgensen; 2. Lambert 3.Auty 4. Pijper 5. Arnio 6. Palin 7. McDonald (Kennedy)
Theres certainly scope for adding to the averages but it will be all about how quickly riders dial back in to some kind of regular racing again ? I reckon if it was one of the Aussie boys they would not be here to hang around at reserve and we could actually come up "Crumps' ! pun excused ?
.
I don’t know who to suggest to sign but surely Rob can’t track that team! It’s hopeless. It’s miles below the limit and will struggle at home and get thrashed away. There’s no number 1 and barely a heat leader compared to some of the top heavy sides. The suggestion of Kennedy, McDonald etc disrupts the balance of the team too as one of the plus points was Lambert at reserve. But then he’s stuck at second string along with Pijper, who I personally think is a woeful signing anyway and will average around 4-4.5 even when he drops to number 7. Rob’s tried strength in depth before with Auty at number 1 and it just doesn’t work. The Scunny faithful respect that they have an entertaining track but they still want to see their team win and when they aren’t doing that regularly they vote with their feet.
-
2
-
-
37 minutes ago, barrybishop said:Hi,
We have posted on our FB page a response to the most recent interviews with the NL Coordinator and BSPL Chairman in this weeks Speedway Star.
All the best and stay safe friends,
Barry
Hi all,
Take your time reading this as it’s a long one and please read the article too.
I feel we must respond to the article below in this week’s Speedway Star, not to cause confrontation but it is very clear that the BSPL and National League Co-ordinator still do not understand why Martin and I took the decision to leave the NL and BSPL. So here goes.
It is correct to state that we do not agree with the 35 point limit, but more importantly we do not agree with how this limit was imposed on the league without discussion or agreement of the NL members at an AGM or any other meeting. It is also true to say that during the 2019 NL AGM, the Chairman of the BSPL in heated discussion about the then attempt to reduce the points limit from 39 to 37, told NL clubs “well it’s coming, the NL will revert to like the Conference League”…. And that was it, it was a statement of change, not a method to change and how that method would be achieved.
It is not true to say that we were made aware of what was happening before 2021. At the 2019 NL AGM, yes, we were told, as detailed in the NL AGM minutes that the Chairman reiterated that the league will be tailored more to a development league but being a development league does not mean you must reduce the point limit.
Even with a year of no racing, so time to discuss plans, theorise how to implement any such changes that were in place, the next time there was any communication on how the NL will be run was in February 2021 when we received an email with the following statement in “The Board of Directors have discussed, at length, the NDL and agreed the following changes to the current regulations …… regulations listed” and finished with “if you wish to participate in the NDL with these regulations please respond so that you can participate in a zoom call to discuss who will be taking part and NL fixtures…” There was no option to ask questions, which we obviously wanted to do, just a simple statement of are you in or out. None the less, we did ask some questions.
We asked if the practice of the Board of Directors deciding the rules will continue at the end of this season. Response – could not confirm this but would look to league members to have an input going forward.
We asked if Mr. Len Silver attended any meetings in which this was discussed – no answer.
We asked if we had additional restrictions on the IOW like fewer ferry crossings and could not fulfil our fixtures that we would not be fined –Response - that could not be guaranteed.
So, you see while we do not believe in the 35 point limit, equally we were not allowed to discuss it, buy in to it, share our opinion as to why it could have a terrible effect on our business, offer advice as a club that runs NL speedway how we think it should be. If we had, and still did not agree with 35 points, we probably would be still in the BSPL with our license on hold looking forward.
Furthermore, the 35 points limit is a perceived short-term fix and yet it has clearly increased the number of mid average riders being pushed out of the league just when they need to push on with more competitive racing to step up to CL standard and when all the teams are announced, how many new riders are introduced this year who were not already named in 2020 line-ups?
The article states “the points limit was the will of every PL/CL promoter to implement these changes” – will the Chairman prove that? And if it is the case - doesn’t this mean clubs who’s second team are NL should not be included due to conflict of interest? Will he also prove that the NL representative Mr Len Silver attended, or was invited to attend these meetings during which the NL was discussed, as per the reason for creating that position, and if he was why wasn’t these messages passed on to NL members.
Let us now analyse why were we told in 2019 about the desire to change but heard nothing about the method of change until just before we had to agree to it to be involved. As we said earlier during the 2019 NL AGM, it was said that there was a requirement to bring the league to be more like the Conference League. However, at the time the reasoning for change had nothing to do with rider development and everything to do with wage costs for those riders exiting the NL and going up to the CL. Why? In the National League a rider can earn X but, in the Championship, unless that rider has a guarantee he may well earn less. Meaning NL riders looking to progress to the higher leagues (and leave the NL with no double-up) ideally need a guaranteed amount to be able to do so. This “guarantee” is not out of greed but so as to not affect their income as they turn professional and stepping away from semi-professional/amateur. The problem with this is we were told CL clubs feel this level of pay is too high for them to commit to provide a comparable income. So, in short the plan was to take semi-professional riders, make their status professional to earn less.
Our view is that any points limit change has in reality nothing to do with producing riders at all because the NL has done (and will continue to do) a great job in this regard plus natural talent will make it regardless of a NL or not. So if we now look to the view of costs, the only way to reduce cost is to have more supply than demand (more riders than jobs) and you achieve this by encouraging new clubs and teams to join with a structure of development – Speedway School, MDL, NL, CL, PL plus of course the Youth Series and amateur tracks. What you don’t do is cut off the very supply of your next riders.
Let’s also touch on Kent and Plymouth applying to go up in the Championship because of the NL changes. As far as we know, this is not true. Neither club would have known the changes to be implemented as they were only decided and communicated in February. Kent have stated for some years, depending on planning, it had been their wish to go up and Plymouth applied in 2020 only to be denied, before any changes were imposed or decided, before a successful application this year following Somersets exit.
Then there is the comment that PL/CL clubs subsidise the NL. This has been a bone of contention at every AGM we have attended and at every NL AGM, especially requested by Mr. Len Silver an explanation of this statement was requested and never supplied. They say the NL has reduced BSPL Fees – true, but standalone clubs are not full members only Associates Members and receive no TV money (so now the only club in the sport to receive no TV money is Mildenhall). They state we have reduced referee’s fees. That is true, but these are charged by the SCB not the BSPL and it is the referee’s contribution to grassroots league speedway. They will say our insurance is cheaper – again true, but only because the benefits are much less than in the other two leagues. So, please, if as the BSPL say they subsidise the NL – tell us how so that clubs can understand the valuable contribution it makes to the sport, because the answers we have been given at the AGMs we attended stated it was because: That’s why you don’t get TV money, It pays for your fee reduction, You get it cheaper because you are Associates and don’t have full membership rights… the list of “reasons” goes on.
The new National League at 35 points will develop riders, for sure it will, but it will not develop any more than it always has. So why would Martin and I let decisions imposed upon us, that will not produce more riders moving into the Championship than previous years, risk our business, our product, our fans entertainment, and our credibility? There is no just reason, because the only benefit is the perceived view that CL will start to pay less for their reserves, which if doubling up to the National League is prevented, has a very low likelihood of being a successful strategy.
Our view is, if the BSPL truly wanted to
develop they would have invested a percentage of the TV money (and other revenue streams) into the grassroots and youth of the sport instead of spending on ever increasing wage bills. For example, if you look at the US and its new stimulus package, everyone who works in finance expects the result of this to be inflation solely because there is extra money in everyone’s pocket to spend. Now back to our sport, the BSPL announce they have a TV deal and what happens? Wage expectation goes up because clubs have cash to spend when the BSPL should investing in youth, stadia (invest in an asset and build the sport on it), promotion, advertising but our sport spends it on short term, “quick wins” and investment that has zero return for the organisation. They could also make commitments in higher leagues to have 3 riders for example under 21, or an experience restriction in the NL for example number of meetings at certain levels, or every UK club staging second halves, but restrict the travel to get there to encourage more local riders and for sure, bring back nomadic clubs in the MDL.The last thing to say on this report…. Where in the report is there any reference to you the fans, to your night out, to your club, to your investment both financially and emotionally? Do you feel like you have been taken into consideration with the new league?
All the best and Tomorrow will be a better day
Barry and Martin.-
4
-
7
-
-
4 hours ago, arnieg said:Jordan is 24 and Enzo moved from 250cc to 500cc in 2016 which suggests he's about 21
Also keep an eye out for Matias Tresarrieu, he's 17/18
2020 French League Averages:
M
Ht
Pts
BP
TP
Ave
1
Mads HANSEN
Lamothe
4
25
68
1
69
11.04
2
David BELLEGO
Lamothe
4
24
56
6
62
10.33
3
Mathieu TRESARRIEU
La Réole ^^
7
43
94
3
97
9.02
4
Adam ELLIS
Marmande
3
18
40
0
40
8.89
5
Ondrej SMETANA
La Réole ^
7
42
85
7
92
8.76
6
Jordan DUBERNARD
La Réole ^
8
47
84
14
98
8.34
7
Chris HARRIS
Morizès ^^
8
48
92
5
97
8.08
8
Steven GORET
Lamothe ^^
8
44
78
8
86
7.82
9
Dimitri BERGÉ
Marmande
3
19
37
0
37
7.79
10
Stéphane TRESARRIEU
Morizès ^
5
32
57
4
61
7.63
11
Gaétan STELLA
Morizès ^
6
35
56
7
63
7.20
12
Gabriel DUBERNARD
Marmande ^^
8
37
38
4
42
4.54
13
Julien CAYRE
Marmande ^^
8
46
44
7
51
4.43
14
Steven LABOUYRIE
Morizès
5
25
21
6
27
4.32
15
Mathias TRESARRIEU
Morizès ^
4
16
14
3
17
4.25
16
Richard DE BIASI
La Réole
5
13
11
2
13
4.00
17
Thomas VALLADON
La Réole
5
18
15
3
18
4.00
18
Maëron HERMES
Lamothe
6
25
18
3
21
3.36
19
Jérôme LESPINASSE
Lamothe ^
4
13
6
3
9
2.77
20
John BERNARD
Marmande
4
16
6
2
8
2.00
21
Xavier MURATET
Lamothe
6
22
8
2
10
1.82
22
Baptiste COMBLON
Marmande ^
5
19
7
1
8
1.68
23
Gaétan DURANT
Morizès
3
7
2
0
2
1.14
Is Matias Tresarrieu related to the older Tresarrieus?
-
4 hours ago, Najjer said:The post on the first page of this thread has been updated with the latest inclusion of “covid guest riders”. Viktor Kulakov has been picked by Toruń, Nicolai Klindt for Gorzow and Oskar Polis for Czesztochowa when they are required.
Can they only ride to cover riders out with Covid?
Also what does the Warsaw contract mean? -
17 minutes ago, geoff100 said:godfrey spouting off in the star again saying the " iow" were told what to expect for this season , pity he didnt remember that in 2018 when comets told everyone that they were going to ride friday nights, he soon changed that to suit him shame he dont want to help the "iow" now.
Even if they were ‘told’. Why should the NL suddenly accept being told what the rules were when every other year they’ve had an AGM to discuss it and the higher leagues got that privilege this season too?
-
2
-
-
Grobauer signs. It looks like a team of second strings plus Bomber so I hope they can at least find a proper second heat leader.
-
1
-
1
-
-
Good luck Chad. You should do excellent in a watered down league.
-
1
-
-
1 minute ago, mikebv said:Each to their own I presume...
Like all prices set, the customer will determine just how much £24 is regarded as VFM....
If enough pay to at least cover costs, or even make money, then the price set is the right one...
Will teams just charge on these nights for one meeting only I wonder? (If they can do so logistically)...
No disrespect but I would imagine a fair few wouldn't always be interested in staying behind to watch the NL lads so may actually get put off attending if it was £24 'all or nothing, take it or leave it'...
Any away Championship team fans for example may want to get back home as soon as the main meeting finishes...
Exactly. £24 is a lot for speedway, let alone middle and bottom tiers. For a couple that’s nearly £50 just in entrance fees before food, petrol etc. The hard core fans won’t be bothered but it will make the take it or leave it fans think twice, or attend less regularly especially when Covid has hit lots of people’s finances.
-
4
-
-
1 hour ago, gazzac said:Why would you not watch it or at least some of it for £3/£4 ? A pint or 15 more heats of speedway with no extra travel costs???
It’s not my opinion, in fact I think it’s excellent value for money. But it’s been said before by fans of clubs that they’re being forced to pay extra for a meeting they have no interest in.
-
3
-
-
6 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:No great surprise that Ablitt signs but still a very potent reserve? especially this season. Hopefully the extra time to mature and develop will have helped him as he was slightly rash and in a hurry when at Kent. Also nice to see the Thurrock hammers stepping up to be NDL sponsors rather than just the MSDL side although i fear that is largely because the writing is on the wall for the demise of the latter. The big interest will be who the other 2 x 3.00ers are? If both have less league experience than Ablitt then he will be forced into the main body of the team and the initial threat nullified.
When 2 riders were on the same average previously then the rider who’s previous average was higher was declared higher in the team. However if both riders have an assessed average (like 2 3.00 men) then the club could choose which way round to put them initially. Unless this has changed for 2021.
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:I think weekends tend to lend themselves better to earlier start times than week days but it won't be for everyone. Likewise the increased admission, for all those who bang he drum and support the new venture there will be plenty who have no interest in it and will be unhappy at paying for a product they have no intention in hanging around to see.
This is true. Weekends do facilitate an earlier start time in terms of work but what about those people desperate to spend time with their families that they haven’t done for months. The bigger issue though is there will be a section of supporters who are unhappy to pay £3-£4 more for a double header entry when they have no intention to watch the NL meeting.
-
1
-
French league 2021 fixtures
in International World of Speedway
Posted
I’ve not noticed this before but all 4 French teams are within a 20 miles radius of each other! So how do they do for crowds as this is a really small catchment area for each team? Or is it basically that all fans attend every meeting and there’s not quite an intense rivalry between teams, it’s more about watching speedway?