gazzac

Also agree, he was a main contributor to us winning 3 trophies in our first season in the NL.

Do you mean it's nice and warm this time of year so the damp doesn't affect the old boy!

It does seem odd it's been so quiet on the website, no rescheduled dates for the Kent and Mildenhall fixtures, even now will we get them all in? Loads of league fixtures and the ko cup still to fit in. Just hope we're not heading for another Rye House type statement.

How about the NL Promotors Purple Helmet maybe

I wonder whether we were riders down at the weekend perhaps with grass track and believe Wood had food poisoning during the week so may have been a dought or not 100%. Think it would have affected the crowd by a small amount, but may have been a means of rearranging the match.Still can see the usual rush to get fixtures in again though.

Would that be Donald Trump on Twitter, sure he must know, the p***k seems to think he has knowledge of everything in the world.

I see we have a slot reserved in the fixture list on 28th July for the KO cup, not sure if the semi final draw is done before all the current ties are finished, but if that is the case not even a date in the fixtures for the Stoke vs Kent one, let alone the following round against Plymouth! Even now can see the last minute panic coming in October to get everything in as usual. Just wondered if it would make sense to slot the tba league match against Kent into the 28th slot, we even play at Kent away on the following Monday in the league so would tie in nicely and not leave a long gap between home fixtures.

Easy home win with our trick track and smooth surface which the Brummies won't be able to cope with, Bacon, Shanes and Hume have never riden well here and probably the only track the wonder kid won't get to grips with. That's what the Brummie fans will tell you as usual . Seriously though should be a pretty close meeting, but think the deciding factor will probably be Dugard at reserve, with a home win, but Birmingham could quite easily grab a point.

Goes well with all the other daft rules we have in speedway I suppose

You're right, need to draw a line under the other issues here, hopefully it can be fixed!

There's so many good valid points here about the machinery, and Sings point about the silencers has definitely made the current bikes seem less controllable actually narrowing the power band. But at the end of the day the prime cause must be track preparation in whatever conditions are thrown up ,especially with set weather. I can only answer for Eastbourne, our track looked destroyed over the winter by the stock cars, but we always seem to prepare a track that's a bit slick on the inside with plenty of dirt and grippy around the outside and don't remember seeing any dangerous ruts. Although some opposing riders find our tight track a bit ' demanding' it's not normally dangerous. I suppose throttle control comes into play rather than just winding it on. The opposing riders who can master it don't normally complain about the track surface, expect Kemp found it ok last Saturday. So track prep is key, what you can do about machine regs for the NL I don't know, only way to instigate something would probably be no doubling up which I can't see happening.

You'd have thought the power's that be would have learnt over the last 20 year's that a low points limit has never been good for any league. There will always be stronger and weaker teams whatever the limit, but as you say a higher starting figure always gives the weaker teams chance to improve, and the likes of Jake Knight and until recently Bowtell wouldn't be without a ride.

Yes did have a quick look, I think against Plymouth away in August, hopefully doesn't affect us nearer the sharp end.

Agree,the most satisfying meetings are a 49/41 win having got a 5/1in heat 15 to take all 3 points and restricting the away team, although if it's a cracking match, 46/44 is great and gives the away team something for their efforts in making a great meeting.

Just hope there's not too many fixture clashes as it's always the NL team who loses out.

Yes, please can both Birmingham and Mildenhall hurry up and get your 4 league meetings done to help the rest of us!

Unfortunately I think you're right.

I've enjoyed the NL whilst we've been in it, but although I don't think it'll happen, really hope we go up to the championship next year otherwise we'll probably lose the likes of Wood and Brennen. Would we get much bigger crowd's, not sure, but no dought the call and probably need for lower costs in the NL and more than likely a lower points limit next year would probably reduce crowd's, not sure I could justify the 100 mile round trip with 4 of us to watch 2nd half quality racing having done the journey for 20 years.

It'll become an mdl/sdl league, they won't learn what they can in this league with the current competition, but as I said it does need restructuring, with the likes of Buxton running in an mdl type league , with the top league being slightly above championship level, followed by a league somewhere between championship and nl for the likes of Eastbourne and Birmingham.

That's known for sure then? I've kept away from this discussion, but taking Eastbourne, we started with Baseby at no 1, who I can't believe is anywhere near the same cost as say somebody like Clegg or Roynon, think we had some luck with Edwards with Lakeside going up, but believe we enquired about Kemp first but we're out bid, Powell, Brooks and Woods were scouted from grass track , would we be paying them championship rates, I dought it leaving Brennan and Dugard who came through the youth system, in fact I remember Mark Baseby riding the second halves years ago. There will always be teams with a slightly bigger budget, ours due to no part of aquirering a fantastic headline sponsor, which not all clubs seem to do, I do think because of the Dugard heritage they are in a position to provide more help with machinery etc but we've also a good record with bringing in new untried talent. I suppose we're lucky to have a well run club, I don't think it's down to the amount riders are paid, although I agree 2 leagues is really the amount our sport needs, but that's not likely to change I imagine.

Spot on, Birmingham and Mildenhall look far stronger than anyone else. I said exactly the same about Eastie when the team was announced, no out and out number 1 will never work away, probably still go unbeaten at home , although close calls against Birmingham and Mildenhall, but will get hammered away at both.

It will be r/r for Powell but also Brooks had a high speed crash into the air fence on Saturday so may not be 100% hence a No 8. Unfortunately as you say with the average changes coming in for Eastie and not yet Birmingham, think it'll be a comfortable home win, although Wood and Brennen are flying at the moment, so hopefully be some good races.

Well apparently Charley's going to have the shoulder plated and hopes to be riding by mid June. Underestimated the toughness of speedway riders again, although hope he doesn't rush back too soon.

Couldn't agree more, long term r/r never really works. Be okay until the first green sheet changes, but not beyond.

Have just seen the x ray of Charley Powells shoulder, looks a bad break so assume he'll be out for quite a while. Any thoughts on what we're likely to do? The dreaded r/r until he can return? Is George Hunter still wanting to ride speedway, or is he giving it a miss this year? Maybe a decent replacement, and seem to remember he was marrying into the Dugard family?