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Richard Lawson : Birmingham could still have a chance of signing him up until March 2022 even if its announced hes in another team

Sorry to be the harbenger of some harsh reality; but isn't the clear message that the 2022 Team will be built to a budget and have to be cost effective. I can't see any scope for big expensive signings and with clear mistakes made by other teams in paying out way too much for heat leaders; and our own well documented problems in 2021; although they were more to do with crowd figures and loss of sponsorships due to Covid 19, I think we all have to be grateful for Speedway in 2022 and aim to build a team that can basically win at home. The investment of time and effort announced in completely renovating the track is certainly far wiser than paying extortionate sums in air fares, signing on fees and points money that cant be afforded, let alone a big rent hike they'll have to find. A massive well done to all involved lets back them in numbers and with a bit of reality to safeguard a proper future.

Better put some extra air in Robs back tyre, or he'll be going round on the rim.

This is the news for which we have waited since the end of last season, and our very grateful thanks are due to everyone who has wished us well on this forum. Sad that a few posters chose to be negative, but the great majority, I think, are genuinely pleased for us.

Who would you pick instead of Rowe? It's easy to say don't sign someone, but harder to offer a sensible alternative!

So time to close this one!

Leicester are the best looking team so far especially if Rowe comes in at 7. The management have done a good job on the recruitment front.

Newcastle Diamonds will open their doors to the new 2022 campaign on Sunday April 3rd at 4pm. https://newcastle-speedway.co.uk/2021/12/08/stoke-potters-revival-for-one-night-only-in-memory-of-the-late-dave-tattum/

At the end of the day I'm right because it's a fact of life. It just turned out to be another Buczkowski situation that's all where the rider was interested in a British return but obviously a deal didn't get done.

It's Anders Rowe

Yes .It’s not lay downs per se but each time you increase the power you normally narrow the power band more and more. I once saw Chris Louis being interviewed and he said he had ridden Tony Rickardsons bike which actually wasn’t all that fast but it was tuned to a level that he could hang on to and get the best out of the power he did have. Many other riders have their bikes tuned to a level that it becomes unpredictable. That was why Rickardson was such a great rider - he understood his bikes. How often did you see him crash with nobody else involved. Hardly ever I would say.

As long as the fixtures aren’t all over the place like they were this season. The fans and riders need some consistency to actually get into the campaign. And they should bring back the pairs, fours & NLRC to add something different and some additional meetings to what will inevitably be a short league season again.

It is, but it's a pointless exercise. Peterborough could have Hans Andersen & Chris Harris protected in heat 8, but Jordan Palin not protected in heat 9!

I'd definitely have PC ahead of Michanek in 3rd. Mike Lee - arguably the best rider in the world in '79- needs to be in there, certainly ahead of Louis. And can't see a good argument for Briggo being on the list.

No way, by any metric, was Phil Crump top 10 of the 1980s – the only seasons he would have been in the top 10 in the world were 81 and 84, so not even close to the top ten for the decade. Disagree also with Andersson, Wigg and probably Sanders. For me it’s Nielsen, Penhall, Gundersen as a clear top three; then Lee, Carter, S Moran; then four from Knudsen, Sigalos, Jan O, Ermolenko, Morton and Jessup (and maybe Sanders). Jessup is an odd one in that he was the best rider in the world in 1980, a top ten rider in 1981 (where but for ef he likely would have landed a second consecutive silver medal) – but not world class after that. Morton is the opposite, consistent throughout the decade. If I refer back to season by season rankings I did a few years back, then the top ten riders based on their best five seasons across the decade were (and noting Penhall rode only in three seasons): Nielsen, Penhall, Gundersen, Carter, S Moran, Lee, Knudsen, Sigalos, Jan O, Ermolenko. That list would have Morton (11th), Andersson (13th), Sanders (14th), Crump (17th), Wigg (19th). If you were to base the list on top three seasons (i.e. rewarding “peak performance”) the only change to the riders in the top ten is Jessup in for Ermolenko.

Same thoughts from me. Saw him on the Ca tracks in the early 90''s. Looked so fast and in control. A safe Kelly Moran was my initial thought.

That’s ok. Move the gp to NSS, sell all the tickets to Polish, Swedish, Russian fans to boost the local economy and the rest of us can watch on stream.

Its been protected in the championship for a few years, even before rising stars

Yes it's something I've just read in John Louis's book when son Chris also indicated that 'Lay Downs" have also played a significant part to the lack of team riding as they prove to be more unreliable in handling.

News on website reads that a new company has been formed who has acquired the assets of the previous promoting company. This more than likely means the old company will be wound up and unless there are adequate funds left over, unsecured creditors (which riders are) will not receive the money owed to them. That said, the BSPA could arrange for the riders to be paid out of the security fund lodged with them by the previous promotion - assuming there is anything left over.

I've always found it strange that, in a league that has team building so tightly dictated by "averages", the race format gives such wildly different standards of opposition to riders based on which number they are racing at. So many riders left with "unrealistic" (both too high and too low) averages based on them being essentially out of position in a team's line up.

Have Poole named there 1- 7 then

The roumers ( yep it's silly season ) that drew Kemp is on the Redcar radar & possibly signed

Well Tai was born in Britain, so he doesn't have to "claim" to be British! If Connor gets a 2.5% reduction, I'll consider him British!

They said it will be a double delight the Thursday before Christmas so think it may be him then. My money is on super Simon lambert !

Add in Sundstrom and THJ and you have a string of under achieving Swedes.

Oxford is Wednesday's.

Plymouth is Tuesdays.

Never thought or seen these words mentioned ever in terms of Ryan Fisher:- World Champion & safe. People used to go in on Nicki Pedersen for the way he rode but Fisher was far worse imo. Only 3 name come to mind as rider's who could have & should have been World Champion are:- Leigh Adams Emil Sayfutdinov Darcy Ward I'd give an outside shout out to Fredrick Lindgren too but he's cost himself a few time just by being reckless

Never was Kenny a more natural rider than Mike Lee. Mike Lee was, along with Darcy Ward, the best natural talent of the last 50 years imo. Don't get me wrong, Kenny was the best visting rider I saw around Hyde Rd, and there are few who would compare for speed or determination, but there are plenty of riders I'd argue had more natural talent than him - Kelly Moran, PC, Emil, etc.

Ryan Fisher was fantastic as an under 16 rider, got a special dispensation to ride with the big boys at 15. Everyone on the California speedway circuit was talking about him as the next American superstar. I saw him when he was 14 and remember chatting to his mother about the difficulty in getting opposition that would challenge him to ride against

Saw Ryan Fisher at Victorville in 1992 when he was about 10 I think... Started every race in the "juniors" from 50 yards back and hammered lads five years his senior.... Made a note of his name in the programme I bought given how good he looked and presumed he must go in to great things... Did pretty well over here initially too I seem to remember then dropped off....

So just keep responding to this one 2022 and let the other one just fade away... problem solved Regards THJ

Sounds incredible and shame that meeting didn't go ahead at the time. There's a seriously top rider in Dan.

Think your right there. Can't see us losing many at home . Dan broke the national League track record at leciester not long back at 61 seconds. Quicker than most heats. Joe rides the track well along with mountain. All heat leaders are seriously strong at leciester but away from home the kids struggled. Let's hope they've learned some lessons from riding away and will kick on again

I was lucky enough to see both Gote Nordin & Tobjorn Harrysson most weeks at Somerton Park and Gote Nordin winning the Internationale in 66. They would be my picks obviously 2 different styles

might not suit a young brit who wants opportunities in Polish Squads (Kemp would fit) Dillon Ruml or Zane Kelleher surplus to requirements at Plymouth may fit. especially if track shop got a surplus of Z's for the merchandise

No idea who could be at reserve . I expect someone from abroad to be fair just cause I don't know many who will cut it at Leicester .

Given that second strings can ride from numbers 2-5 I'm not sure how number 4 is risky for Ben Cook but number 2 isn't? If a team manager was trying to be "tactical" he could have moved Schlein to number 4 to counter Brennan / Pickering in the finals last season, but no change was made! Likewise when Plymouth put their weakest top 5 rider Bowtell at number 3, Poole (if they raced them) could've countered by putting Cook at 3! However very few managers, if any, swap riders depending on the opposition. Very little "tinkering" is done!

Always assuming your club will not decide to have a sabbatical halfway through the season due to a new variant.

I would have to say you are spot on , both the Cook brothers have real potential but they are no better than Hume in a top five.They could be ? Kennedy another Aussie gets chances yet he has not shown up to yet he is a championship 1/5 rider.Your point about Kemp is right to he needs to push on for me Hume should of got a Prem spot before Kemp and Rowe and i like Rowe followed him since his mini track days at Swindon.

Probably dodgy scap dealers, proper ones now only seem to pay into a bank account and not in cash.

As much as I have high regard for Jason, he is way off the rider I want to remember. He was totally fantastic when he rode for us at the greyhound track… I would much prefer for him to retire gracefully

No way should Jan Anderson be in the top 10 in the 80’s……Kenny Carter was excellent but not better than Michael Lee for me but it’s all about opinions I suppose

I thought so too. I was shocked when you came at me the way that you did, and I honestly don't think I have said anything crappy...

I know first hand that my friends that visited, thorough enjoyed themselves, and openly said that a straight 15-heats of speedway were very much second best to what was served up on the Isle of Wight.

Will Gary May carry on as team manager in 2022? if so can we PLEASE can stop him & other team managers switching the reserve riders rides, which is only to the detriment of your weakest reserve! Sorry can’t agree with this view. This is what a team manager should be doing working his team to get the best result.

Cheers! It's good work...but I'm still not clear on the criteria? Are British Finals and Swedish Finals given equal "ranking points"? Are Swedish League and British League given equal ranking points? Even to my admittedly biased eyes, this still looks like Mort had a notably better record in the 80s? Also how is Phil Crump no8 in the 80s with just one World Final? Also, if a rider isn't competing at the top level anymore, can other riders catch them up in the latter part of the decade? On the latter for example, I would say at their absolute best Carter and Lee were a better rider than Morton. But over the course of the decade, there are years were he was better than them and other years (for differing reasons) where they were out of the picture with Mort was still at world class level. It's all good knockabout stuff of course. But it's also quite arbitrary. We humans like to think of things in decades, be in sport, music, culture...but it can skew the picture. Again, sticking with Mike Lee and add PC in there too...if you were looking at the 10 years from 1975-84, they would both - I suspect - rank higher.

Yet, Plymouth didn't want him back? The only track he is good at!

I reckon McKinlay was better than Nordin in the sixties!