Sings4Speedway

Thought Mark Riss had packed it in after his torrid time at Ipswich?

Alleged signing of Nicholls now announced at Leicester. Be interesting to see who the Eagles retain from last year but congratulations on another NL title for 2019. Edit. Begger it Weston beat me to it.

the problem is that in reality teams don't need to fill spaces with 3 pointers but they choose to gamble upon them. Brum 2018 was a prime example signed 3 big hitters and then had to pad out with 3 & 4 pointers. As it turned out the 3 point gamble paid off whilst the 4 point journeymen let you down. Stick the limit up to 42.5 and Brum 2019 will just track Bacon, Flint & Hume again with 3 pointers plugging the gaps.

You were probably cursed this year by having a strong team / a top heavy team. The top Brum riders were so dominant at home that results were largely predictable and with averages stretching between 3.00 (and actually less) up to 10+ in the same meeting sadly the racing will never be that entertaining. Im far from advocating the introduction of a 32 point limit but two teams of seven riders with averages between 3 and 6 is liable to produce closer contested racing.

Spot on. Plus lets not forget that points money isn't the only money in Speedway. Sticking local and building a good affinity with local sponsors and supporters can pay off much bigger in the long term. Bickley is a prime example as he has huge sponsorship established plus local supporters stuck by him and kept him in the side when if at another club it might not have been so forgiving and he rode out the storm and came good at the end of the season.

Think its highly likely. With Buster stating that he believes 3 tiers is best for British speedway allowing 2 teams to move up and sink the national league with others not returning to the tapes. If there are enough teams to make up a sensible NL i suspect they moves up will be granted but if not they will be confined to the lower level and be prepared for much grumbling......

The crazy bit is that now the only riders who are genuinely working full time, booking time off to race and funding it out of their own pockets just because they enjoy riding are the development league riders and yet they struggle to get track time anywhere and often when they do arrive are treated like 2nd class inconveniences. Its clear people want these riders who do it because they care and doing it because of pure desire and yet they are largely chastised as time wasting wobblers.

Its not just the engines though and in fact even if the motors stayed the same riders can find substantial savings year on year. Riders do not need new frames every season (and several young Aussies come over and compete successfully on 2nd hand kit), new bike covers are not constantly required, wheels don't need to be replaced just bearings refreshed, clutch plates don't need to be £40 a plate and replaced every meeting when others are available at £10 a plate and do a very similar job. The most light weight items don't need to be purchased at higher costs than standard. Replacing everything when it shows slight wear or shale rash has become a mindset and that needs to change.

There has to be an element of interests of the sport coming into play alongside interests of the clubs. The Championship has 10 teams confirmed at present and 12 with 2 x NL sides. The National league has 3 confident teams in Kent, IOW & Belle Vue then Stoke & Buxton likely but with constant question marks hanging over them and that's it, 5 whole teams. Without Coventry, Mildenhall & Plymouth in the league and two moving up it would create serious issues with the lower tier so maybe the move up has been put on hold until the fate of the other NL clubs is known?

Hands up who thinks they may have forgotten that small detail at the AGM?

Mega signature for Sheffield. Have to say i suspect the switch to weekends was likely a factor plus track size but certainly not afraid of some dirt on the surface. Shame the speculation didn't last a little longer though.

It would certainly be a strong benefit for both sides if a tie up could be reached BUT IOW are their own people and im certain they have riders in mind they would like next year (although Brennan, Brooks & Edwards would all flourish there). The latter two are certainly likeable riders and im certain Brennan is although he has started to show a petulant streak that would not fit well with the the Warriors ethos. However given the potential lack of clubs and therefore surplus of riders it may well be the case that doubling up/down from the NL is outlawed at the AGM this year?

Blimey bob you had talked sense and logic until now then put Powell in a championship line up

There are 3 or 4 other tyre suppliers out there but standard UK rules say MITAS only, we do like a monopoly in speedway. Allowing alternatives would create competition and bring prices down, that and the BSPA not taking a cut of every tyre sold would also help.

The problem with dropping the NL limit too low is that it will reduce riders careers to 2-3 years max. Half decent new 3 pointer signs or 3 pointer from this year with experience and betters the rest of the newcomers so ends with a 5 point average. Next season that 5 pointer moves up to an 8 point rider. Season after nobody can accommodate them in a NL side but they are not good enough to step up to the Championship so career over.

Whilst a sensible suggestion in principle it would be much harder to implement than it seems. Current tyres just dont last that long and finding used usable tyres is far harder than it has been in the past. Then there would be the squabbling over who gets the better of the used tyres and of course those who just buy new, knock the edges off and then run them. To get tyres lasting longer the compound needs to be harder but not to the point that the tread just rips out in lumps and more dirt needs to be put on tracks so the grip is there no matter the tyre tread.

Buster is clearly no mug, he has a very solid product at Kings Lynn however without a Premiership to race in it is useless. His takeovers enable his priority venture to continue in the setting he wishes. With any luck he will buy Mildenhall & Rye House ready to move them up too next sseason.

Of course that won't happen because Lynn will be 4th at the time thing to really be concerned about is when all three make the play offs....although bloody Poole would still probably win.

Looks a clever little plan Buster has put together, buy up two teams and generate plenty of local derbies, entice travelling supporters and have the basis for a breakaway league should everything else go belly up. Im guessing the completion of the Mildenhall deal hasn't gone through yet or they will be Championship this year and Prem next? Either way at Ipswich the first name on the sheet id be looking for is Kennett who must be on a bargain average?

Hasn't stopped Rye for the last 15 years lol. Ive always found the slight Stig of the dump look part of its charm, granted ive not been since they dumped a load of soil in the middle but if it has a track, pits, lights, bar, food & bogs thats all that is actually required. Things could be upgraded if required but what is really required is a promotor and a team on track.

I would think no rider can drop below 3.00? Although where that leaves riders already sub 3 im not sure. Im guessing that with the conversion rate you need to be a 4.50 or above rider in the Championship to be able to move up into the Prem which isn't the worst decision in the world.

Seems unlikely there will be a Leicester or Coventry in the NL with the main team moving to Saturdays. Can see Plymouth being the other side to move up along with Brum as i can't see Eastbournes crowd numbers being enough, Kent have switched to sat nights and are likely to take a chunk of lakeside/Rye House support anyway to make up for those who won't attend as much. Would be nice if a team (maybe Cov) could get into Peterborough at the weekends now they have been vacated ?

Are things that bad? Yes its a bit iffy that Buster owns 3 clubs but there are two excellent tracks moving into the top flight, plans to clearly define the 3 tiers with points limits and therefore overall standard making it clearer to insiders & outsiders alike that there are different levels. The clubs that have stepped down a tier have done so to protect themselves financially and return to race nights that suit them best. There are plans in place to produce a feeding system from Nl up to higher leagues and to reduce the amount of doubling up/down. Its naive to think that everything can be resolved in one season/AGM but for once there is actually a plan for the future so potentially the sport might have one.

Give Buster a chance, he may just be digging the last of his change out from the back of the sofa before buying up Rye House & Mildenhall too. Creating his own Anglian league. Seriously though its a crying shame that both venues appear to be going un-used but especially Rye which at present is under no planning threat. Fingers crossed there will be a venture this season at NL level.

to be honest sometimes a surplus of riders is good, it creates competition for places, offers up suitable replacements when the inevitable injuries hit and allow all teams to have the chance to build capable teams. However low points limits offers up falsely inflated averages and whilst the focus is to get riders moving up through the leagues its important that they do when they are ready and not when their average says they are ready.