TMW 533 Posted January 15, 2012 Has anyone attended the training schools to run an eye over the proposed trainees that will supposedly be lining up as the reserves in the Raiders team,,, if so in your opinion are they on the pace for this considerable step up ,as some of the other teams have far more experienced riders in these positions....Len has put together 5 riders all with potential heat leader qualities,,Mason,,Morley,, Strudwick,,Hazelden and Sargeant,, it would be a shame if the reserves are not on the pace...... this would not be good for those riders who actually want to be successfull and win something,,The fans too need this season to have a team with exciting possibilitys to maintain their interest,,which is vital in my opinion....To attendences....... Isn't that how it should be?. The main body doing the work while the reserves learn. I doubt they will be on the pace but give them time. Too much pressure is put on the reserves to win meetings with 7 rides. This as I say puts the reserves under undue pressure. Mildenhall held their own way before Heeps joined them although he did give them a boost. Brandon Freemantle was off the pace most of the season as was Ryan Blacklock but started winning races towards and this season can only build on that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rockets 61 Posted March 2, 2012 Now that the new season is nearly upon us does anyone know who the two reserves will be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waco 1,026 Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) Rockets have not heard anything yet there are several weeks to go before their first meeting so it may be left to the last minute ,alternatively there may be an announcement at press and practise day,,Who knows ? this is speedway after all !! Edited March 3, 2012 by waco Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parsloes 1928 nearly 495 Posted March 3, 2012 Does it look like I've quoted him? I do agree though, just like the PL team the NL team is too expensive to watch, there's no two ways about it. It looks like Nick Lee and Jed Collins are two names being mooted from the promotion looking at this press release http://speedwaygb.co...?extend.13798.6 with Collins being the name better of the two if this is to be believed. Perhaps something along the lines of this would be feasible: 1. Mason 2. Owen 3. Sarjeant 4. Hazelden 5. Morley 6. Collins 7. Freemantle 8. Lee Collins and Lee: thatr's two great names to stir the memories of the glory days of English Speedway!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waco 1,026 Posted March 3, 2012 Owen and Freemantle have signed for the I,O.W..Lee Strudwick returns to make up the team with others listed by Parsloes..The reserves may well be as suggested,,but as yet no confirmation on those two.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parsloes 1928 nearly 495 Posted March 3, 2012 Owen and Freemantle have signed for the I,O.W..Lee Strudwick returns to make up the team with others listed by Parsloes..The reserves may well be as suggested,,but as yet no confirmation on those two.. tbf it was RocketBen who listed 'em, I just quoted him... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waco 1,026 Posted March 4, 2012 (edited) Sorry Parsloes on reflection i make you right i just saw the list within your post.... ... Edited March 4, 2012 by waco Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parsloes 1928 nearly 495 Posted March 4, 2012 No Barrie Evans, I note... I hear he may have retired... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Speedy fan 0 Posted March 4, 2012 When is press and practice? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waco 1,026 Posted March 4, 2012 Press and Practice is on friday 9th march approx 11am...other practice days are thurs 8th and sat 10th....In the past the public have been welcome and the Burger bar open ,i imagine it will be the same this year...The riders in the main of both teams are likely to attend all or most of these practices... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
under16watcher 3 Posted March 5, 2012 bring in the under 16's 500cc british champion. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedyguy 20 Posted March 6, 2012 (edited) it would be a mistake to bring Barrie Evans back. That's the overall problem with speedway these days - the averages. It forces out riders of known ability like Barrie Evans and lets in riders of lesser talent so that a side can comply with averages. This in my opinion is a major reason why speedway declines season-on-season. Teams should be in a free market and sign the best available. It must be the only "major' (?) sport where this does not happen. Edited March 6, 2012 by speedyguy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan_Jones 1,005 Posted March 6, 2012 Lee Strudwick now unable to afford his comeback having been made redundant, so they're going with three training school graduates instead of two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldy 69 Posted March 6, 2012 That's the overall problem with speedway these days - the averages. It forces out riders of known ability like Barrie Evans and lets in riders of lesser talent so that a side can comply with averages. This in my opinion is a major reason why speedway declines season-on-season. Teams should be in a free market and sign the best available. It must be the only "major' (?) sport where this does not happen. Surprised nobody has commented on your comments yet. It is true that riders are forced to sit out at best and retire at the extreme by the way that averages are arrived at. I loved the year at Stoke last year watching the riders improving but some races were a complete mismatch. Stoke like most teams has had to be broken up due to "fitting" riders in to a points system with averages that in some cases are not a true reflection on the riders ability. Most have untried riders at reserve (I know the lads need to race, but race against similar standard riders), which means that you get some tailed off at the back which is not entertaining at all. In all sports people find their level, in ours the teams are forced together with most on a merry-go-round every year to scramble for a team place. Sounds like I'm against young lads racing, not at all put race against similar standard and move up to race against the better riders as you get better. Not enough teams I know and some will get left out but let the better racers race. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben91 1,743 Posted March 6, 2012 This will always be a problem with the National League, some see it as a training platform for their young riders, for others it is their bread and butter so to speak. People complain about rules etc, ways to change them for the better but once they have been made it is the promoter's job at each club to build their side within these rules. If you go top heavy then you are going to have a weak tail end, that happens at every level and gives mis-matched races, it's unavoidable, especially in the National League where each team has a different agenda. I'm personally happy to see the Raiders blood 3 new riders, hopefully they can do a good job and push on to become Rockets in the future, NL meetings can be enjoyable no matter how long the riders have been racing. Some people like a moan about NL teams containing rookies, more often than not though, they are the same people who will complain that our EL and PL sides are over-saturated with riders from abroad... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
