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Lawson isn't number 1. The signing is already online in the local Echo. Dan Rose left yesterday and it looks like Tom Crocker - another regular speedway reporter - is now covering Pirates. Not sure why PL and EFL fixtures today and tomorrow are relevant? Cherries and Saints both played and lost yesterday and there are no EFL teams locally/regionally. Danny Ford promised a New Years announcement and delivered accordingly.

Very good point home track advantage isn’t down to always being small and technical. Open fast tracks like belle vue and Glasgow have just as much as an advantage cause if you don’t have the right set up you’ll get swallowed up by the home men who are dialled in as seen last season.

I certainly feel it was a huge mistake to reverse the decision for 2 home 2 away for league matches in 2023. Was the vote taken by the whole committee or as it should have been just Championship promoters? Certainly not the choice of the fans.

He basically disrespected you twice and you ended up saying “thanks” to him! You write what you want to write about, it’s not his own personal forum or thread.

Last year, Birmingham season ticket sales were based on promises of having a team, including "the new Darcy Ward", capable of reaching the play-off's, a team with a genuine #1, and the assumption that riders contracted to the team were available to ride at least all the home fixtures that the season ticket covered. Within days, the #1was off to pastures new, with the blessing of the club, having fulfilled his task of boosting season ticket sales, another rider became injured and ended his season / career, the Darcy Ward pretender proved to be a huge disappointment and Birmingham only had partial access to the rider whose priority lay in the Danish league. Not the kind of legacy of broken promises that inspire people to invest again.

Agree,giving up to suit NDL seems to be the excuse.Disappointing for fans. IMO.

Doesn't mean there's no advantage though. We had the highest home average total in the championship last season. And the team imo looks set up for the same this season as basso, nowak, vissing will be far better at home than away. Just because we have a good racetrack doesn't make it less of a home advantage. Otherwise how did belle Vue ever win the prem?

You have to laugh really, only Poole supporters can come up with the tripe that one of their precious little riders is better than a rider who comfortably has a better average than him. Good luck to both Wolves and Peterborough fans because their threads will now be swarmed by the Poole mafia who’ll make it all about them.

Is it always about the value or what you can get out of it? Without season ticket sales I'm sure some clubs may not be able to start the season without that income. Not everybody is looking for a freebie.

How dare you express your opinion on a forum about speedway with regards to speedway riders, you’ve been told who the team is and your not allowed to speak again until Steve says so!!!!

Impossible to predict until all line up are confirmed

Sadly so many excellent local print journalists who supported speedway in their localities have vanished in the past decade and not been replaced. Many wrote for Speedway Star before the "Jack and Jill" corporate brigade arrived. Very few good local ones remain, we are lucky to have a chap called Richard Willford and Brian Dick who do what they can for Brummies and West Midland Sport. With the exception of Peter Oakes and Paul Burbidge in the Star very few proper writers remain.

I've just got to the chapter when Peter states that England Manager John Berry decided not to select Peter during the 1985 season. Having read John's excelent book there was a different twist if I recall. Peter had made it clear at the start of the season he didn't wish to be considered for selection but changed his mind at the time of the World Best Pairs? John, however, felt it unfair and stuck with his original choice of Carter & Tatum.

Decent riders can ride any track.Most riders have been around long enough to have visited most tracks more than once.Now put a bit of dirt down and see who the decent riders are.!

Very difficult to do while not all teams have been filled. But here goes. (1) Belle Vue (2) Sheffield (3) Wolves (4) Leicester (5) Peterborough (6) Kings Lynn (7) Ipswich But that can change depending who Ipswich and Peterborough bring in.

Behave cast1m We are all good which is the important thing. Maybe I have been a bit heavy on comments regarding Tate but time will tell

I really don't get why Poole fans can't follow the progress of our assets when they are also signed up by other clubs because of their racing abilities?! Just for the record Zach's last 6 meetings - at the business end of the season - scored 13+4; 7+2; 11+3; 9+1; 10+1; and 9.

I'm with what Taps said a bit back,,, it's the inside line that's too good.

Have a happy new year everyone when it comes!

The XiiS is a series for speedway and flat track motorbike races on indoor ice arena tracks across the United States of America. https://www.xtremeiceracing.com/ Here is the 2023 schedule https://www.xtremeiceracing.com/schedule The most prominent among this year's participating speedway riders is Canada's Kyle Legault. https://www.xtremeiceracing.com/riders The promoter is the former British League rider Anthony Barlow.

And Doyle is so frequently quoted because he is the EXCEPTION to the general rule. Mentioning his name does nothing to disturb the well established fact that riders generally improve with age and so it is perfectly reasonable to assume that a 19 year old with a 7 point average is likely to be better than a 23 year old. with a lower average. Both Cook's and Flint are good prospects (but nothing like as hot as Gusts, Przeymski, Kvech or Blodorn).

As ever it's all cloak and dagger How hard is it to be fully upfront with the Rising Star criteria and a full list of who qualifies? Similar applies to a full list of team building averages for EVERY rider. There is no reason it shouldn't be there plain as day for all to see

Because then they can't change the criteria when they feel like it.

Lawson is a great signing most consistent rider in the league hardly ever has a bad meeting, just wonder if the coming season he maybe less focused on the championship and put more attention and effort into riding in Poland. I sincerely hope so.

Danny Ford confirms 7.97

Every team has some form of home track advantage purely on familiarity, also pit bays,home support, certain referees,and start marshalls,at certain tracks especially Poole .generally feeling more at ease in familiar surroundings.

So far so good apart from Danny king going, thought after announcing Jack Thomas they would go in riding order and they have so I’d assume Kyle Newman next,great to see Lawson back a big hitter in this league capable of beating anyone.

Which is strange if you've seen Pinjar in WA where Cam cut his teeth and how Danny rides places like Plymouth.....

Happy New Year to all Pirates fans! This coming season is going to be another good one with the silverware likely staying put for another year, baring any injuries.

Most of the R S are 3.00...Leon is 3.92 but still falls into the RS category...only just ...

There aren't many small tracks in the 2023 Prem Lge, so I wouldn't lose much sleep over that, even if it was true...

In my mind, there’s a difference between home advantage and home TRACK advantage. I see home track advantage as being a circuit that visiting riders find difficult to master and therefore to pass on. Our high scoring record at home, I reckon, was due to having a team who were capable, on most occasions, of riding our very fair track better than the visitors. Obviously this is partly due to them riding the track more regularly.

Agree, a good interview and promotion for speedway. Slowly working through the book, on page 365 now which is part way through one of the longer chapters

Hey racefans, the streams for the meetings at North Brisbane/Darcy Ward Speedway promotions https://livestream-australia-pty-ltd.cleeng.com/2023-australian-speedway-championship-round-4-final/E476149533_AU https://livestream-australia-pty-ltd.cleeng.com/darcy-ward-invitational/

Absolutely spot on

It made me laugh! CVS and PA clearly see 'what the fuss is about' or they wouldn't have signed him.

What a disrespectful piece of work you are.

Excellent interview with PC

Like you I miss not having these excellent magazines dropping through my letterbox each month. As a contributor to both, I'm hoping to fill this void by putting a free online "magazine" up each month. The first "issue" can be found at https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/ Hope you like it. And a Guid New Year to you all. Best regards Doug Nicolson

Dear me. Where to start? First of all, Tony Mole didn’t sell out to David Gordon and Chris Morton. David and Chris walked away from the deal on offer, the same as I had walked away some months earlier. I then made the approach to David and Chris about putting together a consortium. Similar but different. And on the financial involvement, I repeat that George had no financial involvement in the promotion. His individual sponsorship was hugely important, but went directly to riders. Last year, I financially supported various riders, events and organisations, including speedway promotions but would never claim I had a financial involvement with any of them. The differentiation is important as I never sought nor was asked for my input to the running of the businesses, and have little or no insight into their day to day operations.

I'm four copies adrift.... has the Jubilee Final been run yet?

Here we go again,the Monmore hater has to get in his usual two penn'orth.

Personally think Luke k will do a good job if allowed time to settle in the championship. Lots of speculation of how the new riders will do on this thread from my point of view regardless of scores or averages if our rider is better at the end than the start it's been a success. The league is about development and before anyone has a fit I know everyone likes to win but for us it's not the be all and end all . If the rider succeeds so does the team .

Sorry Tony, I can't buy that. Unless we have the exact number and names between Wee Eck's 180 and your "tiny handful" it's pure conjecture. I also can't go with the notion of riders "putting their neck on the line". I have admiration for anyone who gets their head above the parapet and goes for it in life, particularly if that is something dangerous like speedway or stepping into the boxing ring. But let's not pretend they are risking their lives for some greater noble cause and sacrifice. These are not volunteers marching off to war. They are sports people in it primarily for selfish reasons, personal glory and remuneration. Without those, they wouldn't be doing it. In PC's case, often very well remunerated, squeezing out as much as he could get from BV in his latter seasons. And fair play to him too...it's a short and dangerous career. What makes me uncomfortable about this book is that it is a one sided take from someone who has had a brain injury. This has had an effect and as such, his interpretations are questionable at least. And, to be really, really honest, it's only been published because there is a few quid in it. We can't take it as some sort of historical document without the views of all other parties involved be they past and current BV management. You can't have your cake and eat it. I was a big fan of PC and I've enjoyed lots of your output over the years. But let's say this as it is.

Ill bet that Harrison at Workington adds more!!

I could see it going down

If you have a DeLorean or Tardis handy. Kasprzak has not had a day like that for 5+ years

To be honest can’t think why any British club would now go anywhere near KK he’s had his day now

Definitely would turn down Chris Holder

I think a rider that has averaged 9.21 this season at Monmore is more than qualified to give advice on how to get around there.