Leaderboard

If memory serves me correctly, the entrance to Derwent Park was no better. Nor, for that matter, are the car parking facilities at places like Edinburgh, Scunthorpe or Ipswich. Buxton was like a minefield, trying to avoid potholes and chunks of concrete. I do take your point, though. If the speedway club own the road - or at least have responsibility for it - then they could be liable. Isolated is a better word than remote, but I'd say the track is the best part of two miles from the centre of town along main roads or unlit paths. I really can't see many walking it, especially early or late season. I thought the track was, in no uncertain terms, superb. If people do have expectations higher than the basics to start with then they are being entirely unreasonable. Building a stadium from scratch in this manner takes years, as can be seen at Plymouth, Redcar and Scunthorpe.

I have no idea. But if allowing a young Commonwealth rider to ride in an NDL team affiliated to his parent CL club will mean an extra team in the NDL -- and therefore places for half a dozen aspiring British riders who wouldn't otherwise get a chance -- then bring it on!

To be fair to Arthur and his ilk . It's tough for them to understand how things are in the Championship . There are two types of rider in our league . Those who ride for Glasgow Tigers and those who wish they rode for Glasgow Tigers . Now the pressure of having such an accolade placed upon them has proved too heavy a burden on some of them in the past . But this septet assembled for 2023 look a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league . And you can only see the pride of Scotland steamrollering their way through the season .

Brilliant news that Armadale & Mildenhall are both running this season.

Armadale Devils will once again take their place in the NDL

Yes Lisa we were there drenched and ready to go home, and then the incredible comeback started, never seen anything like that to this day, means one thing, never right the pirates off

I suppose if that's what you've got to do .......

Just checked out the line ups for the new season. Your right Edinburgh don't look too bad.

Good to see a return of a home bank holiday fixture! May 1st against Lynn, 2.30pm start.

Having gone through several seasons regulations, if Ipswich are genuine regarding Emil his average could be very interesting. At Coventry 2011 he never achieved an average & was assessed an 8.00. Previous rules have said that the previous season GP, Ekstraliga, Elitserien rider's are assessed 8.00. The interesting part is (& I'm sure Ipswich will be arguing) that rider's that have no British established average & have international league experience but didn’t compete the previous season should be assessed 5.00. Can you imagine the meltdown if Ipswich pull off Emil on a 5.00 average

Looks like money isn't an issue this year,,, so it's gonna be a gp rider or ex. Cheque book speedway is back.

I said the pride of Scotland , not the noisy neighbours

Just to finish this football talk on a high.. Right back to speedway..

So you do support one dreadful team then Lisa .

Someone's probably trying to get him in on a 5 or a 6 point average

These are the exact riders that SHOULD be riding in the NDL... So many unused British riders who could pass on so much knowledge to younger riders... It's ridiculous they're frozen out for being too good and too experienced

I see it different to you mate even though I'm not opposed to this in principle if every club had a commonwealth rider that would be 8 British riders without a place . Should only be allowed after all British riders of a competitive level have a spot

Premiership only has 2 nights to arrange fixtures on whereas the Championship has 4, Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat with multiple teams racing on same night, also, taking into account the other European leagues on similar nights.

Emil is no longer a GP rider, didn't compete in European top leagues & doesn't have a British League established average in 2022. Thus, by the rules should qualify him for an average between 5.00-6.00. Obviously, all rules are at the discretion of the board so it's unlikely, but like Belle Vue, a lawyer can help the situation move along smoothly

May be it's just a case of the Team Manager's ethos.... Winning ruthlessly at all times...or winning with development in mind, as and when. I suppose it could be argued that the manager was more keen to develop Cook, as this would be more beneficial to the team when matches were closely run? As I said...it's just an observation and you can't knock Middlo's success ! I get frustrated with B'ham's manager when he 'doesnt' tactically use the reserves to B'ham's benefit. (but that's a whole different story...)

Probably not a horse,, so I'm gonna guess a plane and then a Mercedes sprinter

Everyone is entitled to opinions but as a Director and minority shareholder in Birmingham Speedway I'd just like to clear a few things up: Not a single season ticket was sold after Adam Ellis was signed!! The season tickets holders from 2022 have remained very loyal with a renewal rate of over 85% already. I don't recall anyone from the club saying that James Pearson was the new Darcy Ward! James is an emerging talent and was recommended by Leigh Adams, Craig Watson and Phil Morris amongst others, hopefully, he will build on his first season and prove a real asset in 2023. I don't think James is a Darcy Ward pretender, he's just a 17 year old lad with decent ability looking to develop a career in the sport! As all fans know, due to the new promotion having access to the rider market later than all other Championship teams, it was extremely tough to sign heat leader standard riders. Adam Ellis' signing was always a risk with his other commitments, when it became apparent he would miss matches and risk having a ban in the UK it made sense for him to be released with Justin Sedgman being available proving a solid replacement. As for Claus Vissing, he disappointed on and off track, trying to move goal posts several times on an agreed deal! In an ideal world he wouldn't have been first choice, but as other teams found out there weren't riders queuing up to ride in the UK on a midweek evening! Broken promises? Is that Nigel Tolley saying our aspirations were to get into the play-off's? The two main shareholders Nigel and Tracey Smith worked their butts off to keep Birmingham Speedway going in 2022 and are continuing to do that alongside a band of willing volunteers so that 2023 will be more successful. Finally, this is all coming from someone who closely associated himself with the Phillips promotion at Birmingham, whose legacy was to break more promises than the current ever will!

Still got Hawkins as TM though,,,

Whoever it ends up being, Doyle will have a quality rider as back up, unlike last year.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03308648/officers Definitely the same guy, that company in the article is in administration... and guess who is the director.

Dates have been given for the play offs finishing before the end of September. Perhaps the penny has finally dropped?

They do tend to even each other out!

Is Adam Ellis available (7.13)?

I remember some Poole fans did leave after heat 8, and got ridiculed at the dinner dance. What a night that was.

I can't work it out tbh unless as mentioned panthers and Ipswich are trying to bring in riders with shall we say a bit of baggage to sort

I expect he's signed for a Danish side because he's only getting half the Championship fixtures that was mooted.

Frankly if Nick Morris can't give full focus to Birmingham he should do one. I can't see Lawson and Worrall, Masters and Kerr etc letting their respective Wednesday teams down in this manner. IF he only rides in Denmark when not required for Brummies then fair enough, but it would leave a very sad taste in every Brummies fans mouth if we are going to be shafted by Danish commitments once again.

Even more interesting is Plymouth have 4.21 left and Birmingham 4 22. (Or is it the other way round!). They could be after the same rider!

And the best reserve in the league.

Rather then developing riders for other Countries (Team GB would see no benefit in helping them). I'd rather see British riders who only have the 1 team (Or 0 at all) who aren't part of the Fast Track system ride as a teams Number 1 and be Captain of that side and pass on the knowledge they've been given (From Team Mates in the higher league), Actually help the British riders get more racing instead of other Countries benefitting from it. Danyon Hume (If he doesn't get a top flight ride) Connor Mountain (If he doesn't get a top flight ride) Simon Lambert Adam Roynon Ashley Morris Stefan Nielsen James Shanes Lee Complin Alfie Bowtell Etc (Yes most have been riding years but most of them have never had any backing from The GB Set-up that the Youngsters do now)

I would assume Morris only riding in Denmark on weeks when there is no Brum home fixture or away ones at Oxford or Poole.

I think there’s one, possibly two riders that interest both our clubs and that could well be part of the hold up from your side. From an Ipswich point of view, you don’t sign a 6th rider if the 7th isn’t also sorted because that obviously reduces your options for the 7th rider massively. This Emil saga could well be the reason it’s holding things up from your end as well as ours, riders may be playing the waiting game before committing.

Yes I remember it well, best comeback in our history. Awful night weather wise but amazing meeting.

I was flicking through Youtube the other day and the 2003 (i think) KO Cup Final vs Coventry was on there!! Poole had Adams, Rickardson and Loram as there 1,3 and 5 whilst Cov's was Richardson, Hamill (Though he was injured) and AJ!!

Very good post...very good points made. The only 'complaint/discretion' I would have, is the fact that the Ellis signing wasn't transparent! Bottom line though....I feel that the Birmingham promotion are a giving set-up....predictions/opinions pushed aside, I'm happy to pay £20 to support them.

The app is being discontinued

Errmmmm,, well,,, well actually yes,,, it's the Bald head ya see,,,

Oh I like what you did there,,, ruff but subtle

Did the sat nav not pick up the postcode correctly lol

In terms of number 1’s in the league as an Ipswich fan I’d only take Doyle and bewley ahead of masters at Ipswich

No it will be the gate in at present to the race track until the site is further developed and the folk who know the site will know what I am on about... nothing is as straightforward as it seems... Regards THJ

What - bunch of Clowns who've never won a serious competition?

If John Downer is behind this (and I stand to be corrected) he seems to be local to Coventry, based in Solihull - according to public record at Companies House. If it is the same John Downer, here is an article about him https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Risk+taking+is+necessary+for+anyone+hoping+to+be+successful+in...-a076840456

Why does UK Martin seem to get so much pleasure from knocking everything that Birmingham try to do? His latest post is no more than his jaundiced personal opinions which he tries to present as established facts. No one, for example has ever suggested that James Pearson was "The next Darcy Ward" when most accept that he was just a young lad with a lot of promise. It's disappointing to read these posts from someone who worked so hard to get a planning consent for Birmingham - but if youv'e really gone sour on speedway Martin, why not find another pastime and lay off the negativity? There are good people trying to make a go of speedway in Birmingham and who don't deserve all this.