Hunters

The Web site says March 31st for the second leg of the Easter Chase which is Easter Saturday instead of the normal home and away on Good Friday the 30th. Is this certain or a typing error ? I need to know in order to fit another engagement in and Speedway comes first. Perhaps anyone attending the Staff meeting Sunday could ask the question in case it is a typo.

Are you real ?? It was about comparing two individuals, one of the observations was that one had to compete against a team with better riders than his own team whilst the other competed against the weaker of the two sets of riders which must give him an advantage when it comes to individual points tally. Could you not understand this, or are you suggesting that Knight, Bailey, Wood and Powell are as good as Bewley, Smith, Shuttleworth and Mellish who were all eligible for a r/r for Payne, because that is not what everyone else thinks or the individual records show. Now I know why I don't usually involve myself in these arguments. Too many blinkers around.

TOUCHE

Much as I hate to get into an argument that is a real politicians manipulation of statistics. As Bickley was riding against the weaker losing team he should get more than Brennan against the much stronger winners. To be more precise the main difference was Bickley got 14 at B Vue aided by retirements from Bewlay and Bailey whilst Brennan got 6 having to take six rides including heat 15 against Bewlay and Smith. Not a level playing field but as I said, this year the averages should give a real comparison.

Not a lover of Bonus Points other than for teamwork and payment. All 3 had a substantial advantage at home and nothing much between them over the season. This year it looks as though they will all be at No 3 so a good guide to their respective abilities but it will be tougher for all 3 to actually win races. Just pleased that we have these youngsters to give us promise for Team GB in the future.

If this is true and I cannot confirm it, then the visitors ( in plain English) are Jake Knight Matt Bates Alfie Bowtell Luke Harris Ben Hopwood Matt Saul Dan Gilkes An interesting side with a lot of 'racers' but since when were Bowtell and Gilkes former eagles? Will be a really good work out for this years team with no real home track advantage and a lot to see with Brooks and Gilkes the rookies and Edwards who we know well over the last 6 or 7 years to compare them with. I wanted Jake at No1 this year although I agree Mark will be a better captain and counsellor so there should be three interesting races between them.

Cherry picking the best bargains of all the southern section teams does make it a farce. As B Vue are not in the Trophy they should have used the colts team. When a rider is unavailable how do they determine an eligible guest ? On the average the missing rider started the season on or latest much higher average? With Kemp and Edwards likely to be in the 5 to 7 point bracket they can now borrow the two next best 3 pointers leaving them 27 points for 3 heat leaders and an unbeatable team. 1 Roynan 2 Edwards 3 Wood 4 Kemp 5 Morley 6 TBA 3.0 7 TBA 3.0

Strange reaction to Walker. Have only seen him at Arlington but was impressed how he attacked the track. Better than Atkins. Birmingham perhaps not the best team but will be one of at least five challengers in what looks like a competitive league so far.

I am afraid you missed the point. To get a 21 point max at PB requires 7 rides which can only be had by a reserve, Thank you I will have a nice Christmas. You too.

Does that mean you think he will drop down to reserve?

But how do you get a good 3 and 5 with only 12.51 points? Three Mid 4 pointers is an unusual way to build a starting team unless you have a Drew Kemp type on 3.0. Be interesting to see how they complete the team but it looks like it may be another struggle this year as it was last year before they had Roynan on a false average.

Do you really think that they would include him again if they did not think they had changed his attitude. They have proven that they will do whatever is necessary in the team interest. Make or break for Kelsey.

So you think Brennan is not likely to match Jenkins, that is a very bold statement, so far they have been an exact match although Brennan was a very small .02 ahead on average. Be an interesting competition between Dugard and Kemp at No 2 as well and Brooks v Marson is anyones guess. I agree Midenhall look stronger but certainly not man to man in 6 out of seven positions.

Any idea's why Midenhall are not defending the National Trophy? with one less League team I would have thought they would welcome the fixtures. Having all teams except the Colts would give much needed status to the event.

Well the die is cast. Interesting that 5 of the 7 are the same as last years first declaration with only the two 3.0 pointers coming in.

Suspense until the last minute. 9.06 left so it looks certain to be Baseby or Mountain at No 1. Fingers crossed it's Mountain

Very attractive looking 5 so far, all sure to put points on their averages. The big issue now is how they spend the last 14.68 on two riders. Not very keen on the Baseby/Powell combination. I know Mark Baseby surprised us last year but there is not a lot of room for more and some tough No 1's to contend with, heats 13 and 15 are often crucial. Charley Powell improved last year and looked a lot better toward the end of the season but difficult to see much further. I really like the Clegg/Hunter suggestion which would give them a fighting chance against Mildenhall but I cannot see Clegg coming back to the NL. However Friday night Lakeside stay over for Saturday Eastbourne might be attractive? They could even fit in JPB for Baseby wouldn't that be something?

I hate to criticise the NL Promoters who have done so much to keep the sport alive for many or us but I think this is a disaster. When the final teams are declared there will be a load of promising riders without any ride at all. If they were going to do this they might have at least have stipulated no doubling up. As it is we already have Hulme and Morley in two leagues and probably Ayres, Smith and JPB. In will come a dozen 3.0 pointers many of whom are not yet ready. Five have been signed already. With one less team it is double disaster and should mean about 15 to 20 riders left out including the likes of Bacon and Bowtell. This could have been covered to some extent by no double up and an age limit for this league. You cannot take this sort of action without excluding the likes of Atkin, Armstrong,Bowen Hurry, Boxall and Roynan.

Where did that come from? his average is about mid way in the top dozen NL riders so not too high unless they are going to do without a top no 1.

Got to be a bit of Connor hype. After their performance of the last three years we cannot ask for anything more. Shake up's come when you are in trouble not when you have won the KO Cup three times on the trot with three runner up pendants in the League. It was just unfortunate that the time they won the play off it did not count and when they topped the table they lost the play off. In reality they have done everything. Please no shake up just more of the same.

Well it comes to 43.46 points so would need a surprising change in limits. At 43 a whole new opportunity would open up.

That was good news. Two of my wanted five confirmed. Now with Knight, Wood and Brennan there will be 8.85 to 11.85 available for two second strings. Another competitive team although Mildenhall look like favourites.

Lot of speculation there. I cannot see them replacing Wood with Baseby who is a point higher and the fans would not like it at all. Georgie is an icon. Knight, Wood and Brennan must be certainties.

Don't see them going overboard with the money in the first season. They need to discover just what they have let themselves in for first. This is the NL and all teams have to run a tight budget so JPB may be disappointed, having put himself in the shop window.

Now that Lakeside are moving up I would think there is a very strong chance of Jason Edwards joining. He was a regular programmed rider in the second half in the Elite days and I cannot see Lakeside running two teams, after all they could not find enough dates for one team last year.