Hunters

With 12 teams virtually certain the points limit is almost sure to be 36 and that should eliminate the 9+ point riders. If Zach is included it leaves 11.91 for three riders, something like Chapman as third heat leader and two 3.0 second strings? If I was a Brummie supporter I would say no way. I am hoping the Eagles don't bring BWD back, much as I like the guy, unless the points limit is at least 40 and that is not going to happen. Buxton have jumped the gun a bit with Greenwood they may live to regret it. Makes for an interesting AGM with probably Birmingham, Eastbourne and Cradley pressing for a high limit and the others screaming blue murder if it is not low.

I do not think Ethan or Tom come into the reckoning at least until July, The team must surely be:- 1 B Hopwood 2 G Cottham 3 G Wood 4 R Andrews 5 D Spiller 6 K Dugard 7 C Powell Comes to 37.9 My only doubt is Cottham but where else can we find somebody under 4.8? No good hoping to take somebody else's rider. It will be a competitive side with a lot of development potential. Initially quite a bit weaker than this year but apart from Mildenhall everyone else is going to have to size down possibly to the 38 mark. If the number of teams increase next year I can see 36.0 again and a new set of problems. If come July we are having problems at reserve than no doubt Tom will get a chance but Ethan not until 2017 I suspect.

BWD probably could cope with a 5.0 in the PL. Times around Arlington this year have had a lot of 60.0 to 60.3 with BWD and Ben Hopwood going into the 59's. Ben had the NL track record at 59.0 until towards the season end when Adam Ellis did 58.3 and had he not fallen in heat one when flying might well have broken into 57's. The relevance of this is that I have just come across a program from July 2014 and was surprised to see the times. Bjarne Pedersen did 58.5 twice and Niels Iversen did 59.2 and 58.4. The fastest time was 57.9 by Iversen and Woodward. I would have expected the difference between Division one and three to be much greater.It is a bit surprising that Branford and Morley did not do better in the PL this year but with all teams having a NL rider next year the averages should go up. The experience will be valuable and in 2017 who knows. Look at Josh Bates this year. The other interesting thing from that programme was that Adam Ellis guested for Lewis Blackbird and won heat 9 in 61.2 so in one season he is nearly 3.0 seconds faster in similar conditions.

Tom will not be 15 until July, difficult for his Mum to reign the young lad in thereafter and expect him to make the odd appearance when a reserve is missing. Ethan Spiller is eligible but unlikely I would think to make more than an occasional appearance next year although it would be convenient to travel with his brother. I go with Bates because after a late start to the season he looked to be establishing himself and at his average in a watered down league next year he will be good value. He is a friend of Richard Andrews and had already adopted the club culture before his accident. That team spirit and the way they all looked after each other played a major part in the success this year it is worth a point or two a match.

During the season I kept a running record of the eagles averages this year. Their may be slight variations with the official figures when out because I don't know the effect on Hopwood, Owen, Andrews & Bates of matches prior to joining the eagles. The others were all new this year and should be the same. They make interesting reading and the figures in brackets are their average including the three cups which do not count for GSA. BWD 9.83 (9.78) BH 8.07 (7.37) MO 7.25 (7.08) DS 6.63 (7.15) GW 5.90 (6.28) RA 5.07 (5.66) KD 4.49 (4.50) MB 4.86 (5.02) The four that I think are definite starters next year DS, RA, GW, & KD only managed 5 points between them yesterday. I was surprised how much this changed their averages with an overall drop of 1.51 which will have a real effect on next years team building, perhaps the conspiracy theorists are right. Individually the changes were DS 7.14 to 6.63, RA 5.56 to 5.07, GW 6.31 to 5.90, KD 4.59 to 4.49. I thought it must be wrong but then reralised that it was down to the number of matches. DS rode few league matches mostly cups whilst GW missed a lot of league matches with injuries. These four (subject to Andrews final figure) will use up 22.09 points, add in Powell on 3.0 and we have almost 13 or 15 to find two more riders at either 38 or 40 limit. I would go Hopwood and Bates at 13 or BWD and Bates at 15. Either way complete continuity with this years spirit and full of potential for another good year.

It looked all over at 8 up with two to go and Spiller/ Andrews (2 of our best 3 on the night) up against Mogridge/Smith . A 5-1 looked probable but when they both slowed down I thought the race had been stopped. Then they fired up again but were way back and it became a 1-5. The fact they both stopped racing means there must have been a reason, possibly a red light from a camera? BWD's heat 15 ride had a touch of the Nicki Pedersen's about it albeit at a different level but if he had run into mechanical difficulties it would have been a disaster. Daniel will be back in Germany but it would be interesting to get Richards take on it.

Sanity at last, All Premier Teams to have a NL qualified rider at No 7 on a 3.00 average. Should mean there is a future for Bradley in Britain. Question now is will the points limit be enough for him to double up.

I like the 'supposedly half decent bit' In 2013 they both came to Eastbourne for the Youth championship round. Daniel was 14 and was unbeaten in the 500cc until excluded in the final whilst Ethan still only 12 was also unbeaten in the 250cc apart from a motor failure in the qualifiers. In the final he beat Zach Wajknecht. That was their only appearance in Britain although Updates show it as taking place at Scunthorpe with the Eagles Logo and texter. This was my introduction to modern Youth Speedway and why I am a big fan of the NL. In 2014 they made up the Black Forest Eagles team with Max Dilger and Robert Lambert, Daniel averaged 7.00 and Ethan 7.28. Ethan is now old enough for the NL and if it can be worked into schooling I would imagine he will come over with his brother for some meetings next year, particularly if it is Saturday night racing.

Sorry I cannot agree with a continual reduction in the points level (IF THE SAME NUMBER OF TEAMS)unless the PL can be persuaded to insist on a previous years NL regular at No 7 for all teams. Reduced points level will always drive some of the better improvers out of the league with nowhere to go. You only have to look at the scores for Morley, Branford and Greenwood in the PL to see the gulf. Do you really want to kick out the likes of Ellis, Perry, BWD and no doubt a few more from the NL and probably from the sport. The NL has been brilliant this year and no doubt will be next year but the problems arise not from keeping the NL limit at 42 but from not removing the barriers to their upwards development.

I was in the stand and missed the first few mili seconds as I filled the programme in but the wife nudged me and said look!. Georgie Wood was still on his bike having been returning to the pits on the concrete track but stopped 30 yards from the pits having just won an uneventful race from the gate. Rob Branford was aiming blows at him and Luke Chessell with a couple of mechanics managed to drag Branford away. The referee came over and spoke to them both with a subsequent announcement that they had both apologised and Branford had been fined the maximum amount permitted and Wood a lesser amount. I guess only Branford really knows why he went beserk but I don't understand the Wood fine. Can only imagine he retaliated in the melee but surely sat on his bike being attacked means he was vulnerable had to defend himself.

The Drury statement on Adam Ellis explains that.

Feel very Sorry for Coventry Storm, these are the type of rules that make Speedway a laughing stock. Due to the impossible weather leading up to the cut off date any fair minded organisation would have extended the date.

The last I saw in print Brad said he would double up at Eastbourne and PL next year. If you spoke to him then he must have told you himself that he would not be back next year which changes the whole ball game.

No one knows what the final Averages or next years points limit are going to be but based on current Green Sheet Averages and a 42 point limit we would only have to make two changes. Marc Owen and Richard Andrews out with Charley Powell and A N Other(3.70) in. With a solid top two in Brad and Ben and the continuing improvement in Daniel, Georgie, Kelsey and Charley after their first season we would be right there in the mix. Would be good for the fans to see most of their favourites back and would keep the fantastic team spirit that is so apparent after every match.

To cut the point limit to 36 or 38 next year would be a disaster. They got away with it this year because there was an extra team but it still meant no starting place for the likes of Carr, Compton, M Bates, Johnson. They had to wait for an injury and then the one they replaced was put up on the shelf. Because there are 42 points available both team and top riders averages have moved up quite considerably and all teams except Mildenhall are over 38. To meet 38 would necessitate about half of the current heat leaders to be dropped, dependent on how many teams went top heavy with two big hitters and a weak tail. Most of these are the lads who have developed well over the last year or two and the best prospects for the future. That means they have to move to the continent to try and get rides or leave the sport. This would not be a problem if the Pl were to have British youngsters only at reserve but we all know that is not going to happen. It is no good keep talking about creating space for new British youngsters to come into the NL on 3.00 when 2 years later after they start to realize their potential they are put on the scrap heap. It is even possible there will be less teams in the NL next, Having lost the legal fight will Mildenhall close?, Some Coventry fans seem to think there will be no Storm next year, Recent events at Rye House put a question mark over the Raiders, Will two teams be able to continue sharing Perry Barr? The only bright spark is the possible return of Isle Of Wight. We must have a 42 point limit to maintain some balance and if less teams then that will mean 43/44.

This is crazy, Three miles from the track and not a drop of rain and the cloud formation to the west is exactly the same as overhead. The BBC hourly weather forecast a few hours ago changed from showers between 14.00 and 15.00 then clear until 22.00 to the latest which is no rain until 24.00. There has to be another reason!

Powell for me, another Grass track convert this year and probably nailed on for no 7 next year unless they leave him out to keep his average at 3.0.

They say it's an ill wind gee jay, It would have been his 4th meeting and a 7.5 average but now he will be able to stay reserve at Brum on Wednesday. Brum will love that now watch out for the conspiracy theories.

It is not just words but the way they are put together with the attitude and manner in which they are presented. As regards your comment on track preparation there was no suggestion about the entitlement of the home team, simply a projection of what I thought would happen. Frankly this was based on what I personally would do in that position. I will not waste my time on your final comment.

Don't get carried away we don't have a Snowballs chance at Perry Barr. They out gated us last night, even the struggling bottom 4 were getting out quicker than us a lot of the time and they only picked up 1 point from a 'moving' eagle between them. After heat 4 Drury said over the mike that the track preparation at Perry Barr would be very different next week. I can understand him being upset at ten points down already, which is a new experience this season no doubt, but the track was in great condition despite earlier rain as the times proved. There was plenty of dirt and the lads were passing round the outside as well as underneath. No bumps,holes or ruts, a well prepared track. I can only assume he plans to create a slick track next week so that they can use their superior gating and make it difficult to pass. From the Updates it will be interesting to see how many 'from the gates' there are. I must say the man did not impress me.

About an hour ago it was on the official Web site, Andrews at 2 but would have a final fitness test before the meeting. Now that portion has been deleted from the Pre Match report. Strange?

This meeting could be more difficult than we thought. With Andrews, Bates and Wood still out we will have to have R/R and a guest again but 8 NL teams ride on Sunday leaving only Stoke and Kings Lynn to draw on. That probably means Scott Campos or Danny Phillips. Daniel Spiller will have to put 7 good rides with no falls or M/F. I smell danger.

Can someone tell me how they arrive at the 16 qualifiers for the NL Riders Championship? If it is top man from each team do they fill up the other 6 places based on averages? Should be a cracking meeting and averages could let Spiller in by then, he is 7.71 after 2 meetings and I suspect promotion to the top 5 wont make a lot of difference.

After the last three days the Brummies title does not look as certain as I think we all presumed. They have 3 fixtures left which includes the 2 against the Eagles. Putting these two fixtures aside,if they win their other match at Mildenhall they have 46 points. The Eagles would be 18 behind with home matches against Kent & Mildenhall and away to Coventry and Buxton to come giving them the chance of 14 points. The head to heads would then decide the title. I see no problem with the two home matches but the away two are obvious challenges. Equally the Brummies away match is not certain. Brummies must remain strong favourites but it is certainly not 'done & dusted' and it would be good for the league to go to a thrilling climax in a year which has seen some of the best racing for years.

Really looking forward to see how Danny Spiller performs, when I saw him two years ago he looked terrific. His brother Ethan is two years younger and was in the 250cc class. Apart from a retirement he was unbeaten and in the final he beat Zach Wajtknecht. I notice last year they were both in a four man team Black Forest Eagles (Yes Really) with Max Dilger and Robert Lambert. Danny averaged 7.00 but Ethan was 7.29. Will Ethan be the Eagles secret weapon next year or will he have to wait until he is 16 in 2017?