Sings4Speedway

Not sure how many extra riders you would like at Gloomer Road? From what i can see there is only the Tedham sized gap to fill? Plus Sam ward at number 8 again as Stoke have stopped doing anything to unearth their own riders. Stoke Potters 1. Mitchell Davey 8.34 2. Shaun Tedham 3.93 3. Luke Priest 8.33 4. Ryan Terry-Daley 4.55 5. Tony Atkin 7.16 6. Chris Hay 3.23 7. David Wallinger 3.32 8. Sam Ward 3.00 Looks an alright team with solid heat leaders so providing the 2nd strings & reserves can do a bit it might not be so gloomy this season? How many matches Davey misses doubling up will probably decide the fate of Stokes season.

Personally i would like to see a pay structure in place and for it to be made public. As riders averages change & their team position moves the points money is amended accordingly. 1.£5 2.£2 3.£3 4.£2 5.£4 6.£1 7.£1 Not actual values obviously but at least an incentive to try and push for the higher positions rather than guaranteed fees paid and little effort given in return.

Poaching only applies when a deal has been done and then a better offer is thrown out and the rider renegades on the original deal (not that Stoke would know anything about that kind of behaviour ) Im not sure many sides would be excited about the inclusion of Chris Hay anyway? Fingers crossed Shaun Tedham is already in the team plans as he appears to be a Stoke or nowhere rider, a genuine trier & despite being as nutty as a fruit bat a very nice bloke. Scratch that 3.98 remaining and Tedham on 3.93 looks a nailed on signing.

I have no doubt that this Eastbourne side could go out and conquer all but it could wobble a bit? Baseby - Capable of beating the best riders in the league when applied but can go missing & will go down at the slightest touch Dugard - Potential has been evident for years but progress has been slower than expected Coles - Super quick when in the mood but machinery is often a problem (Dugards ma be the answer) will he have one eye on PL meetings the following day though? Extance - Bargain average if he returns to anywhere near his potential. Could be first out the door if he doesn't set the ground running. Wood - A natural motorcyling talent from a young age. Could well have the number 1 jacket by season end but temprement a concern. Powell - Still awkward on a bike. Lacks speedway basics but has plenty of speed. A potent threat but also a potent hazard. Brennan - Similar build up as Kelsey. Ability is evident, will be monitored and restrained by the Dugard family which is a plus. May lack size to cope with grippy tracks? All of the above are opinions not fact.

Bacon? Hard to believe that he doesn't get on with anyone. As for the signing it strikes me as one made because his average is a little over 3 and fills a gap rather than based upon pedigree however Brum have helped develop riders before so time will tell.

As things have gone a little quiet on here i thought i would start a little friendly debate (stir up) The Eastbourne side this year has been built around a strength in depth basis and if all riders are firing i think it will inflict some heavy defeats on some teams however........it also includes Baseby, Dugard, Coles & Powell who can all go missing from meetings / suffer huge drops in form out of nowhere so are any fans concerned that this could be the worst season since dropping into the NL?

Should have clarified strength in depth 1-5. Four 7+ riders & one 3 pointer i personally feel is more in depth than three 8 pointers & two 3ish riders like Mildenhall have lined up with. As pointed out by Waco above often the key to a successful season is who can sign the top reserves / big improvers and can either keep them in the 6 & 7 jackets or replace them with an equally potent rider.

Certainly tricky to judge which teams will prosper this year and who will falter. Most teams have built around a strong heatleader trio like Mildenhall, Cradley & IOW whereas Eastbourne & Brum are looking down the strength in depth route. It could be argued that the Kent side looks like an in depth side but with a out and out number one which is a different approach to many but will it be successful? I guess the major question to be answered is what combination would score most points Stoneman & Clifton or Shanes & Andrews / 3 pointer?

Certainly a tough decision. Id agree that Hopwood is far more experienced as a higher heat leader and will make a mockery of his starting average even starting at 5. However there is part of me that wants to see him in the number 3 jacket as i think he would be excellent for Jack Thomas' progression and would make a very effective middle order pairing.

I think most sides would be pleased with the signing of Stoneman but there are obviously some concerns. His equipment clearly needs upgrading so hopefully the above is true & he will be starting at no.5 and featuring in some tough races which could ultimately make or break the Kings season. Fingers crossed he does deliver what he is capable of and supply some good back up to Bowen otherwise there will be huge weight on Thomas & Hopwood's shoulders.

If its Halder or Purchase then both Hopwood + Stoneman would fit and the Kent side would be pretty near the points limit.

Plenty of time for speculation then. Personally im hoping for Jamie Halder or James Purchase to slot in nicely at reserve.

Phew! Right so how can cost effectively air fences be improved / secured. Also who should be ensuring they are correctly tethered before a meeting? Its clearly not someone who puts themselves in jeopardy racing on the limit with the belief that the air fence will offer some safety elements rather than lifting and allowing the horrific injuries that the solid barriers located behind present them.

I think most supporters would appreciate the start time to actually be adhered to. Rider presentation doesn't have to include bikes? Perhaps the SCB/BSPA could offer a reduced league entry cost if any club has junior league racing? Obviously those with unworkable curfews cannot accommodate it but i think most would agree that more effort by current promoters needs to be invested in the future.

As far as im aware the only requirements of a club hosting an MDL side is the provision of drinking water (in fact i believe a plastic cup and tap suffices). The team manager needs to be a BSPA member (plenty of those about) and possibly a nominal entry fee (certainly shouldn't be much if anything at all). The riders receive nothing in terms of financial payment or travelling expenses although i believe some teams may supply methanol. All the junior league riders generally want is the chance to get some competitive laps in, be treated with a little respect by clubs and the occasional compliment from the spectators who choose to remain and watch. Doesn't sound like a lot to ask to me.

The curfew could well cause a problem although im certain Ipswich have hosted MDL matches in the past even as a guest venue? What time do meetings usually conclude? If its a case that its not physically possible then so be it but i can assure you that 6 MDL heats would be concluded quicker than the first 6 of most league meetings.

Fingers crossed Ged can get a couple of NL challenge matches on this season to see if it can drum up more support. A quick look at the 2017 championship sides shows 9 ex MDL riders who have progressed through the ranks including both Ipswich reserves so it shows the value of the work done by the few who actually bother.

It also has to be said that David Mason was/is the most viable rider available on a sub 6.98 average which is what was required for the 3rd heatleader role. There are only 3 suitable alternatives (Jack Smith, Rob Shuttleworth & Nathan Stoneman) all of these are likely signed elsewhere, have other clubs with fixture clashes or priced themselves out of the market. Surely it must be better to get a rider with some of the best equipment in the league and be near the points limit.

That sounds like a logical approach if things were to progress with a mandatory introduction meaning NL riders could utilise the outgoing engines and replace with GTRs when they can afford them. My concern is that if there is no difference between one GTR to another the 2nd hand market will largely not exist barring retiring riders as why would a rider sell one for say £2000 and replace with an identical engine at a cost of £5000+? It would make life a lot harder for new riders entering the sport at an introductory budget level.

So 2018 for Prem/Champ and 2019 for NL. Out of interest Dean if you were still riding today and that was imposed what would you do? Buy 2+ new GTR engines, wait/hope that some become available 2nd hand (although if they are all the same why would you sell them?) or pack up as its a huge expense you cannot justify?

I think most of the predictions above are accurate except for those who are expecting an average increase from both reserves. That may be possible in the stronger teams if the main body riders are taking the pressure off but most sides will be swapping the reserves about all night to favour the stronger rider and most likely one will take 5 rides and the other get 3. Interestingly/irritatingly the three that might be affected most are the three who were in most demand Smith, JPB & Bacon.

Sadly i suspect you are right. Very disappointing really as far too few clubs take responsibility for developing new riders (not a dig solely at Ipswich there are far too many guilty parties).

I believe the NJL & MDL will stay in tact but a new Southern league is being created? However rumours are that this will include teams based around the Plymouth, Somerset, Swindon areas so might be a lot of travelling for a Lakeside team? The AGM for this isn't until the end of the month but it would be good for Lakeside to look to attend with the intention of competing in some capacity.

What are the chances of Ipswich entering a MDL side this year? With teams based at K.Lynn,P'Boro & Mildenhall it would create plenty of local rivalry and offer the chance to unearth future assets/2 point reserves plus additional value for money that all fans are craving these days.

I for one am looking forward to the additional option of watching NL at Lakeside & fingers crossed get to make a few visits this year. With the entry into NL, the academy already in place what are the chances of Lakeside running a MDL side to help bridge the gap and obviously develop riders to fill the reserve berths either this season or next?