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Just over seven weeks to go until Klindt’s testimonial for the season curtain raiser. Still have no (active) owner, Manager, team, sponsorship? Track man? So much to be done in such a short space of time. That’s without the bigger picture of fixtures to be sorted for all clubs as well as admission prices and season tickets etc etc. It’s been an absolute sh!tshow this winter let’s be honest.

No help was given to Mildenhall who moved heaven and earth to make their fence safe. They covered all of the metal posts with very high density foam AND have an air fence in front of that, yet it was deemed not acceptable because they didn't get the foam from the one and only recommended supplier. They ran two highly successful meetings under the NORA banner last year with no problems and had big crowds. I appreciate that rider safety is the number one priority, but when I stand at Kings Lynn where just behind the wooden fence that isn't protected by the air fence, I see a huge concrete armco barrier, I wonder how that can be safe yet Mildenhall's fence is regarded as unsafe?

Currently no decision is made on Luke doing the league, my personal feeling is he shouldn't do it as with the current pay scales even scoring 15 every meeting means you run at a loss and even more so when you factor in the loss of a days working wage for us both as well. But on the flip side of that with only a championship spot and the limited amount of racing that it will provide he may have to do it for bike time and to justify the huge outlay on equipment during the winter. From doing 70 plus meetings last year to probably less 35 this year is there any wonder why young riders give up.

All it takes is for tracks to start 15 minutes earlier and put some races on during the interval and stop hanging about with riders going out on track as soon as the previous heat is finished. All could find a way to make sure the races take place but many tracks/promoters simply treat the youngsters with contempt. Back in the day with 13 heat meetings and a second half, the first race of the second half always use to be the new talent on the block. Now those in charge bemoan no new talent coming through in abundance but they do not want to do anything to change this and blame everyone but themselves. No wonder the sport is going down the plug hole and soon any rider who makes a serious living out of the sport will desert the UK and it will be left with amateur meetings which might not be such a bad thing.

Personally I hope it's all on BSN. I think they do a much better job than Discovery tbh.

Credit to BSN for wanting to keep their customers informed. If the BSPL had any credibility, I’d say the lack of transparency and information was disappointing, but they’re not, so it isn’t.

A long stay sponsor has confirmed they're sponsoring again this season and been told all the plans etc but just can't release that info until they have made it public once the sale fully goes through. Even though it's painful and seems so long to hear any news some will be coming soon

Doesn’t Phil Morris answer to Godfrey ?

I totally agree. It is just the apathy by those who promote/run meetings who pay scant regard for the up and coming riders. I really have never fathomed out why they ignore the novices who have invested in machinery and equipment only to be told to get lost because it does not suit those who run meetings. Over the years I have seen far too many riders turn up for a second half outing only to be told they cannot race and that is a disgrace. Why anyone would want to continue attend meetings when those in charge treat supporters and these novices with such contempt.

🖕🏻 😉

Only 6 teams confirmed is a travesty, but the bigger issue is only 1 home / 1 away per team, a total of 10 meetings per team. This is absolutely nowhere near enough meetings for the youngsters to develop. Why not 2 home and 2 away?! I know this was a very long time ago but in my short stint in the mavericks we rode 24 meetings in one season.

Just goes to prove the BSPL don't fully know how many clubs are coming to tapes in the top league.

Agree with you Glasgow in the losers category was a strange one, its a pity they didnt get it over the line in the last heat but when you consider the racing/entertainment factor between the two legs they were easily the winners, nothing about that club puts them in a losers category, yes its nice to win trophies but for me its great racing i pay to see winning is a bonus. Not a mention of Scunny well cant upset Rob

Decent side with continuity in the key spots - reserves could be a weakness but overall i reckon they will be fine top 5 spot awaits 😉

https://www.speedwaystar.net Gonna give this a read tonight, see if anything is mentioned about a possible UK return. I can’t see it personally but we’ll see. Also an interview with the legend that is Siggy in this weeks edition! My childhood idol 😁

That’ll be Luke Becker nailed on then! I heard Olly Allen mentioned yesterday so who knows. Least the rumour mill is cranking up to generate a bit of interest..

It’s not just a case of track time. In this country the sport is a team sport and team craft is just as important as track craft. 2nd halves have increasingly become a problem because you could turn up at a track and the 2nd half gets cancelled time off work, get the bikes ready travelling to find the 2nd half is treated with complete contempt like the poor relation.

Have you asked Phil Morris to come on to explain what is going on?

Why not both? The teams no participating in the NDL should be forced to host 3-5 2nd half races really.

I'd do away with it personally and make every team run a junior team as a 2nd half on the same night as the seniors.

Do you really expect to make a profit in a training league? The riders should be doing it for the experience.

A fixture list, or two, might help.....😄

By next season they will probably have a reduction depending on what type of injury riders have.Its all back of a fag packet stuff making up rules.👎

A 42 point limit isn't actually a particularly strong league imo. Every year then limit is below 42 then the league is weaker than previously, so technically last season was the weakest ever development league. Even when clubs sign a 3 pointer who doubles or triples their average, the league should average out at 42. All a 42 point limit does is stop improving riders missing out in team spots, which is a good thing. It's a shame there's only 6 teams, but at least there's still a development league running. If clubs lose money on the NL, perhaps every Prem & Champ team who don't enter should pay a nominal "training fee" to be shared amongst the clubs that do? After all in future years they'll want to use riders other clubs spent money on training (Cairns / Rushen etc). 😉

That’s the team we all wanted. Fair play to Bates for sorting it we all owe him a big thanks another year of speedway at Sheffield is good news and that team is as good as any. Jack, Chris and Picko will be a great trio of headleaders again im hoping Chris can lift his form back to 2024 standard. Leon and Anders in the main body of the team will have to find another gear again mainly away from home. Jye and Killeen for me are good signings at this level and will stay at reserve. Killeen hopefully with the right people around him will find his feet in the premiership

That'll give us a clearer picture for sure.

Assuming the Wolves Trio rumour is correct then it'll be a spearhead of Woffinden, Brennan and Becker. Throw in Jenkins and Edwards too.

Brennan has to be nailed on now also.

Picko has just been confirmed as Sheffield's final signing so that adds fuel to the Wolves Trio Rumour.

I’m not sure our stridghtaways are good enough for sam

There is still a possibility of a 6th team running. I know I get shot down in flames every time I say this and don’t mention the team name, but I respect people when I’m told something in strictest confidence. Still lots of work going on in the background to make this happen and the clubs won’t release their fixtures until this is a yes or a no.

Fast Freddie would be good one of the few who's is on a par with Emil for excitement.

Same rumour I heard (Pete Adams)

Agree with Triple H. To get the riders more track time, every track in the country should run at least one meeting for what could an individual NDL championship. Each track to put some of the races on during an interval and the remainder after the main league match has finished. It would take someone better than me to sit down and work out the number of rounds needed based on riders prepared to take part. All the points scored in the qualifying rounds count towards identifying the top sixteen who then take part in a final in late August and preferably on the bank holiday. All riders score revert to zero for the final so everyone has a chance. Just an idea. Without doing something how on earth are the next generation of riders going to get the experience needed and the ability to hone their craft. Alternatively the bullies at the BSPL/BSPA should cease threatening tracks who would be happy to rent the tracks to NORA registered clubs and let riders participate without fear of threats from the aforementioned bullies. These two organisations cannot have both ways and if they don’t want to be accused of killing off the sport in this country then get off your respective arses and do something positive for the benefit of the sport.

British Speedway needs to be developing riders now more than ever. This flies in the face of that. I appreciate there are issues surrounding costs for riders, costs for teams in running this level of meeting but that is something the people in charge are and always have been aware of. They should be investing in the future and finding a solution. Investing time and money. A short time ago there was an announcement that all clubs would have to do something to help develop riders. To my mind that then didn't happen at all and it was such a wishy washy rule that it was no more than lip service anyway. If you want to run a professional club then it should be mandatory to do something to help develop British youth. If you don't there has to be consequences. There could even be a league set up of nomadic teams. Supplementing not instead of the National League. Each professional club has to stage 2/3 meetings in this league throughout the season, a condition of being a Championship/Premiership club. These meetings aren't about making money, or drawing fans in, or promoting defunct clubs. They're about developing youth. For the tracks they don't have the cost of running a full third division schedule at a loss, for the riders they are getting lots of competitive track time at a variety of tracks. Everyone should do their bit.

Don't be so negative. All parties want the 'i's dotted and the 't's crossed before any announcement, as is the way with most business transactions. Patience.

You need to watch much more of the coverage then. Far from ropey across the season.

No not at all but if a rider on a 10 point average is losing money riding and a days wage on top of it then it becomes massively unviable can you imagine the losses a 3 pointer is incurring

I think you are giving the BSPL too much credit Dean. They wouldn’t think of that !!! imo the 6th team is just a pipe dream. If they had acted sooner it could have been achieved but Godfreys head was too deep in the sand.

There you go - answered your own question

Rather looks to me as if iwade track is sticking point. Just a hunch.

If so some of the crowd may protest by stopping going 🤔

I would delete that, it's bloomin hard work to watch, the interviewer just rambles rather than asking a question

And if they cannot double up they may retire... Of course they will.... How did the sport continue for probably 90 years of its 100 without D/Uing being so prevelant, why didn't riders with "only" one team to ride for, retire for the first 90 years of the sport? It is quoted that one "big" league couldn't happen as there simply isn't enough riders, yet, there is also a stated desire to bring back those tracks that have been lost over the past decade, and also to open up new ones... Hello!!! I think I have spotted a flaw in the cunning plan!!!....

Yeah, but there’s not enough riders to go around 🙈, so the bosses say

Enjoy your trip.

NOT THE SAME WITHOUT THE RUSSIANS..