Sings4Speedway

Given the "potential" lineups being mooted Kent would want to face Eastbourne every week as there is a strong chance of turning them over both home & away this season........unless the reserve picks are poor.......which they often are

Well Brennan, Jenkins & Lawlor are confirmed. Bickley is committed to Belle Vuentry & i would be staggered if Atkins isn't at Plymouth.

Luke has served his speedway apprenticeship and has the ability but unfortunately even in a part time league the excuse of below par equipment doesn't cut it anymore. Charley was learning speedway last season and at times it showed as he can look awkward on the bike, performed some poor moves and looked hilarious laying on the Kent track attempting to get an all 4 back when falling on his own. However he also had some good showings and seems to have better confidence/fitness than Luke. Im sure both will make decent signings for any team but they both come with baggage.

Such as? Think that most of the top talent has been signed but not announced.

It rings a bell but with the changes in rules / my memory fading i can no longer be sure about many things. Although a sensible rule being in place and then taken out does sound about right

Its the most probably side but i can't see the Dugards being almost a point under the limit Lucky you. I keep trying but it just doesn't happen.

Stoneman was excellent on his return last year. Raced unselfishly for IOW and upped his average considerably. Im yet to be convinced about Harris, he strikes me more of a gate and hold a line type of rider. Its a pity about the fine margins as for 0.01 more Dwyer or Powell could have been options. What about last years number 8?

13.54 left Dugard 4.28 + Cottam 4.70 + R.Andrews 4.26 = 13.24 ? Would mean one constantly at reserve which could prove powerful? Cough cough Brum

It was done a few years ago when Leicester ran a NL team in the trophy. Picked the best available/in form riders but still didn't top the group. Fingers crossed Swindon do get the support and NL comes to the tapes in 2018. As a side note who would be happy with this team this year? It was the Leicester line up for the first National Trophy Meeting James Sarjeant Dan Greenwood Tom Perry Max Clegg Oli Greenwood James Shanes Tom Woolley

Greaves is a very good signing but i didn't expect the Govier signing to be repeated. Looks like no room for Dugard or Stoneman and the latter may struggle on a higher average? Cupitt would make a decent reserve signing but Harris would have to go into the side at number 4 which could make life difficult.

Its a bit of a cop out? Either go 40 or 38. 39 seems a touch pointless (point-less geddit)

Surely a simple answer is all British riders get either the reduction (where applicable) or a point reduction from their averages at the end of each season making them a more attractive proposition than foreign imports.

Useful signings with plenty of options open to build the rest of the team. Bowtell i suspect was quite in demand so can be considered a positive gaining his signature. I believe both are mates off track as well which can be considered a bonus. Both also appear to have good equipment/backing which is a major bonus especially at NL level. Only downside is that they are both the rider you want for the same position number 2 / strong reserve. If a team can be built that way with them both switching then Lakeside are in a strong position but if they have to run at 2 & 4 then the reliance on the heatleaders will be pretty heavy.

In regards to season ticket prices and the savings made / ability for clubs to get a lump sum early what if clubs sold tickets in smaller batches? E.g £50 for 5 entry tickets up front? Some people are put off season tickets as it's a large up front amount / that might not be able to attend all matches but by selling in smaller denominations it gets cash in the coffers and passes savings on to repeat visitors

Ditto if any of those 3 i would be ecstatic. Add in starting meetings on time & treatment as a proper league rather than the poor lower league relation and we shall be in business.

Would certainly benefit from riding a small track regularly but distance might become an issue as even fuel money can add up in the NL? Luke Harris might also be a reasonable shout.

Its expected that Lawlor will add quite a bit to his starting average whether that is 3.00, 3.??, 4.?? providing he starts at reserve. However there is always one or two riders who start the season tipped to be the next big thing and only a handful ever deliver. The spread of new riders with potential is good this year with several teams able to track a "star" reserve. If Lawlor out performs Brennan, Bickley, Jenkins, Hampshire, Atkins etc then yes he was the top reserve however it doesn't guarantee success. Belle Vue had Bewley last season and still didn't make the play offs.

Definitely agree that admission prices have become a major issue and has been debated many times previously. I personally would love to see Speedway as a set day sport, 1 league per day over a Fri,Sat & Sunday however UK speedway does not have the unlimited use of Stadiums and therefore the single day approach is simply not feasible. I do feel that there does need to be greater value for money and there are loads of possibilities for after meeting entertainment. Bigger 2nd halves, sidecar racing the list could go on and these competitors would race for very little/free just for the additional track time.

I suspect Rob would come in on a higher average than Ben? His Elite ave was 3.65 x 1.4 for a PL ave = 5.11 x 2 for NL average puts him at 10.22 if i understand the rules (and im not sure anyone really does). For me i can't see Mear representing great value on a 10+ average as its no secret he favours top flight or nothing. Also can't see Morley, Waj & Mear fitting into the same side and i would expect the first 2 to be nailed on. I think the Kingston boat has sailed for him. There is a lot more required to become a successful speedway rider than some raw natural talent.

Would be great to see Morley & Verge get team places at Lakeside ditto Hazelden providing his leg is healing nicely. Think any promotion would be mad to sign Kingston though given his approach to this season.

Sadly for Danny until he has his required shoulder op its a big risk signing him at any level if there are doubts over his readiness for the start of the season. Id have 50p Verge is Lakeside bound. If Clifton & Mason both re-sign it starts to look like a dubious top 5 as it would point to a Mason being at 3 and Jack Thomas at 4 which doesn't look the strongest engine room. With Hopwood on a 5.83 average i suspect he must have had offers from every team (except Stoke) and whoever gets him will have a major trump card.

The App idea is a solid one for all ages perhaps something along the lines of predict the race result and the individual closest to the correct results throughout the match gets xxxx. It would need to be developed by an outsider though and then sold to individual clubs / the bspa? Transport has been mentioned? How about a trial coach from the local town centre to the stadium? If you could pick up 40 extra attendees it would definitely be worth it. Merchandise is definitely something that needs addressing. It needs to be updated across the board, be far more relevant, fashionable and far better quality. Other sports have identities through merchandising and the added advertising that comes with it. Speedway has bespoke clipboards and a few old caps that seem to be worn for the lifetime of the owner. How about replica shirts that reflect the teams kevlars / race bibs for that season? Names & numbers could be printed on the back if requested? Shirts updated each season as the designs/riders change. This helps generate the identity that would be taken away from the stadiums. Finally its all down to advertising. Pure and simple advertising. The location, the time/date & a brief explanation of what to expect (ideally via video format as this better shows the aspects of the sport). How many stadiums are dual use and yet how many of the other customers even know what speedway is? How hard would it be to have a video playing at entrances on the nights when greyhounds or stox are running? Discount entry to those who attend the other events might tempt some first timers in.

Well reminded. Season has only been over a couple of months and seems my brain has turned to jelly!

Agreed. Plus given the way Mildenhall have built their team so far theres no way the limit can drop below 38 unless they release a rider. I suspect Mr Pipe may have been fed porkies from other sources if he believes the limit will be 35 points and if that is the case is a big risk using nearly 10 of his 35 on one rider so i wouldn't hold out much hope for the rest of the signings. That said Matt Williamson will be a top rider for 2017 in the NL but 18-21 points a meeting (5 ride max with tactical, 6 if team is running RR for 2nd heatleader) is still useless unless he can get some decent support.

According to the excellent speedway stats his average for 2016 was 3.27 http://www.speedway-stats.co.uk/Rider/665