Sings4Speedway

I think this will be a big problem for several sides next season. The NDL just isn't a conveyor belt anymore and the few 2.00 riders that are close to stepping up are still probably a season away. Doesn't mean i don't expect to see Binns, Norman, Fletcher or Southwick thrown in somewhere but it will remain to be seen if the go the Ingram or Etherington route....

Really don't want to be negative as i really hope the venture succeeds however a big question hangs over what level of racing the new consortium are planning? NL is far from in a healthy place, few teams spread out across the country. CL is bloated as it stands with heat leaders hard to find and favoured race nights restricted PL requires a hefty budget to even be remotely competitive and with potential attendance figures unknown..... Ive attended plenty of very enjoyable and entertaining matches at Arlington over the years and really hope to see some more its just a little hard to get excited when success stories are so few and far between.

Genuinely an appealing looking line-up in its current guise. Obviously Nicholls looks unlikely to feature but IF the others all attended it could produce a strong show for anyone willing to travel on a Wednesday night however i suspect the big book of excuses will be rolled out once again and what could be a spectacular night will just turn into a shambles.

About time there was a bit of pantomime in the sport again. Absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of theatre, its great for business. Rivalries faux or real shift tickets and some good hearted banter (providing it doesn't overstep the mark) should be encouraged.

Erik has had a great career, plenty of speedway and longtrack titles to his name and been a good servant to the sport. No idea what the future holds for him but i wish him all the very best.

Can you imagine the phone conversations.... Foxes Promotion: Would you like to ride in the UK Prem next year? Speedway Rider: Maybe which team? Foxes Promotion: Northampton Speedway Rider: Who? Wheres that? Foxes Promotion: Braefield Speedway Rider: Whats a Braefield? Whats the track like? Foxes Promotion: Can't really tell you that yet.....we have got Troy Batchelor signed up Speedway Rider: hangs up phone.....

Looks lie the doubling up restrictions have been lifted so id say yes.....ballpark figure of 9.18 would be hard to wiggle into a side though

Weren't the "foam hats" one of the reasons Mildenhall failed the SCB inspection and went off down the Nora route?

Personally im happy to have a better level of rider on show and to act as a benchmark for aspiring riders. The dilution of the NL over the previous few years has led to riders being forced up into the CL without any confidence building meetings and also riders signed into the CL who are far from ready. Id rather see competent riders showing the way than hopeful riders.

From the Kings Lynn NL section but..... If a rider in the championship has missed a season or more in the NDL, but has had a NDL average within the last 5 seasons, then they go back into the NDL on their last NDL average, UNLESS when their current Championship average is doubled and it’s higher than that last NDL average, within the last 5 seasons, then that rider will return to the NDL on the higher of the 2 averages. Jake Mulford’s current championship average when doubled is lower than his last NDL average in 2024, hence why Jake is on an 8.67 average in the NDL in 2026. Would make sense if similar rules were applied between CL & PL but we all know that sense and speedway rarely go hand in hand

Its not all down to the riders though. Promotors demand riders turn up with 2 x well maintained bikes. The turnaround time of fixtures and fragility of a modern bike compared a more durable older machine dictates that a third bike/spare is a practical option. Then theres milage picking Jason Edwards out as a standard british double upper (no offence meant) Jason has a 500 mile round trip to home meetings at Redcar. Multiply that by 10-15 depending on cup runs etc, then double it for away fixtures rough estimate 30k miles a year......who would be willing to put that on their own vehicle each year for no sensible offset against the depreciation

I love IOW but they are stubborn buggers, to be fair i don't blame them. The way they were treated when they advocated change and then moved on to NORA was nothing short of diabolical. They have done a huge amount for British speedway over the years but they know the future isn't stepping in to save the current mess.

Boxall, Complin, Worrall, Barker.....what do you put in the water up there

Whilst i very much agree its hard to argue that more opportunities at a development level creates bigger competition in league speedway. Quick scan of 2015 shows 10 teams and 70ish riders. Around half of those went on to rider NL and several higher (some were already NL at the time). It certainly shouldn't be league places for all but it should be a case that those with enough ability can showcase their talents in the MDL/NJL and if they are fortunate to get opportunities from there so be it. The MDL was shrunk down to pointless numbers, those competing lost interest, for any starting out its hardly an inviting option leaving the majority of newcomers being the cream of youth rounds whilst the rest get discarded. The NJL is great with the focus on current and next generations but then fails to offer variety of racing across a night. The solution is to get a lot of kids into speedway, supply plenty of opportunities to get on track and learn how to race and hope from there BUT certainly easier sad than done.

This is why it would be mightily helpful if team building average green sheets were generated. Keeping Mulford as the example finished 2024 on 4.38 signed for 2025 on 4.27 (2.5% brit reduction) so assuming same again has happened this winter (although on that basis i make him 8.5ish)