gazzac

You've been around speedway long enough to know that won't be the case with the Dugards, it may be a final consequence if the stock cars go, but I think it's the unworkable structure and costs of the current leagues, all 3. NL is at such a low level now , where attendance will be so small any return will be minimal, another failure and it's definitely finished, can you imagine NL at Poole( the Man Utd of speedway who should be Premiership ), would disappear in one season.

Very sad, but could see it coming as I said before , unfortunately until the BSPL get their heads out of the sand won't be the last to go, or find a relaunch too expensive and unsustainable.

Probably not at current NL level, the worst I can remember. Make it pre 2019 level and maybe sustainable for a promotion, probably gates not far from Championship level, current NL level certainly wouldn't attract me to do the 100 mile round trip I've been doing with the family for over 20 years( up until our closure) and with my parents in the Moran/ Gordon Kennett era.

I suppose it's a sensible affordable level, needs to be Championship lite then.

I'm keeping fingers crossed, but I'm a bit fearful with the current economic climate etc etc. Main thing is to make sure a comeback that's viable, to me it needs a re think of current levels, we need a league/cost at a level of the NL when we were 'forced' to leave it back in 2019, whether that's NL plus or Championship lower than now, but.......

So pleased he's not as badly hurt as first thought, but don't come back too soon and make it worse short and long term.

Shame Workington weren't a bit further down the line with the track / organisation, would have created a lot of interest there I imagine.

fingers crossed then.

That's not good news, if the stock cars struggle, going to be hard for speedway there again. I know the Dugards are speedway/motorsport through and through, just hope it doesn't get to a point where the only viable option is planning/houses.

The No Development League is now such a poor product, if attendance is not mandatory at any meeting it needs a name change as none of the N,D or L apply now really.

I thought if the funds for a comeback were successful they were aiming for CL?

What's wrong with a sagging sausage roll, better than no sausage roll at all. Ok take your point ,not all but more often than not because they came top and had the choice, but if it was open to choice seemed to remember them choosing the last Weds in October taking a chance on the weather to get the last leg.

Poole will have the last leg, always do in any league, any competition.....

Good news if it does, if Eastie come back were always capable of losing by 20 away and winning by a similar amount at home like a lot of teams, always nice to have the second ' leg' at home, saw many an exiting outcome win or lose the bonus point back in the day.

He got banned for taking coke....

As you say couldn't see the progression coming JD made, but he was at a far higher base level than Drew in the era when heat leaders were Pedersens, Adams, Rickardsson, Loram etc in a proper Elite league, most second strings were of the current day heat leader level or above.

Definitely better than r/r and no dought if he instantly feels at home/wanted from the get go will do his usual and raise his game, at least until the end of the season.

Otherwise known as the Poole rule......

Unfortunately had the chance to embrace the NL a few seasons ago, but was becoming too successful and basically shut it down, can't see a lot of change now, still at least we have the Premiership junior league.....

It was a fantastic year, unfortunately a badly broken leg ( catapulted over the air fence onto the concrete stock car track nearly hitting the tractor ) concussion injuries , and a badly burnt arm being caught under the rear guard dragged along by Troy Batchelor if I remember ( before they had to hug the wheel) really put paid to those endeavours which was a shame.

Such a character and funny too. Need more of his like now, but he did come from a different simpler era ( like me) . We ( Eastbourne) voted him the all time ultimate Eagle a few years ago, bear in mind that included Nicki P, Martin Dugard, Gordon Kennet, Mark Loram, Kelly Moran etc etc , he was the all time highest points scorer for Eastie but shows the high regard he was held as a rider and perhaps more so a character.

Think it's ideal especially for NL, main proviso is the track, keeping dust down especially, if thats all sorted with a good track man certainly worth trying.

But overall a far cheaper option than Championship, the likes of Buxton haven't returned to the current NL cheaper option I suppose. As you say some teams will always lose out, but looking forward more teams would do a NL + or disappear like Buxton/Newcastle etc.

And we (Eastbourne) have lost them all, always envisaged Brennen and Edward's being heat leaders in a couple of years ( or sooner) bringing back the feeling we had in the Dugard /Norris era ....

Spot on, bad decisions for speedway.