Bagpuss

Think I saw on Facebook somewhere the last two riders are being announced on the 3rd and 10th January.

Looks like his only league racing outside of Germany was for Krakow in Poland, presumably third division.

Looks like he rode in eight matches in 2018 scoring 31 points from 37 rides which is an average of 3.35, all as a second string. No idea what he achieved in 2019 in whatever leagues he rode in, maybe somebody could shed some light.

Lambert should clean up but we know what he can be like. He’s as likely to score eighteen as he is two.

Agreed, it did for Kasper Andersen and Lebedevs as well as a few others over the years. It’s been said that the track will be slicker this year, I really hope they stick to that.

Of course but generally your top men go at one and five.

Tommy Stange.

I guess it’s because clubs want to unearth a diamond who will increase their starting average, that’s how you win things. The surprise signing is going to be the number seven after all, so is required to have a low average anyway. Not many experienced riders with improvement in them around on those kinds of figures.

When Buster came to Lynn in 1992 we had a few problems with the track with stocks and speedway cohabiting but once he acquired the right equipment they were ironed out quite quickly. It’s all about having the right tools to smooth it off again although with the NSS having such sweeping bends you wouldn’t imagine the cars would damage the base of the track too much anyway, the tightness of Kirky Lane was much of the problem there. As others have said it’s unlikely to happen due to the 4G pitch but if stocks had to be introduced to secure the future of the stadium there is no reason speedway should suffer.

I understand and to an extent agree with your frustration but to add a bit of balance four of the riders signed so far were part of the 2018 team which was comfortably the best that year and should have won the league but for injuries. Going by the rumoured side this year the other three from that season were Iversen, MPT and Andersen/Lambert who will effectively be replaced by Cook, Kerr and Hartel. Doesn’t look that different to me assuming Lambert, Proctor and Jorgensen can get back to something like that form in 2020. While like you there are two or three riders I probably wouldn’t have invited back from 2019 I understand why they have been signed as they will keep the majority of the home punters happy as they are popular. However as we keep saying away results have to be better and ultimately that is what this team will be judged on.

I’m a fool then, just don’t see them finishing top six. The thread is just a bit of fun though, it happens every year but no offence should be taken.

I think the idea that we would be signing a world beater (such as?) was a fantasy TBH.

Or a Lynx Africa gift set.

Quite possibly and I hope they do, we want a competitive league where anyone can beat anyone at the end of the day.

Not necessarily, while I think Swindon and Belle Vue stand out as the best two sides I’d say the other two Play Off spots are up for grabs. Big question marks over Sheffield and Wolves and I expect our two East Anglian rivals to look 6th and 7th on paper (not that it necessarily means an awful lot). Lynn’s team will have three strong heat leaders and initially at least a good reserve and while the other three riders are a little underwhelming they should ensure lots of home wins. The key as always is points on the road.

Maybe your expectations were too high.

Just don’t let starman catch you

I don’t think Morley will ever get any better but would have been a better option than Ledwith at Kent, who I assume has been signed at a sponsors request.

I would imagine he will be a second string on that figure and if he has an injury free season he is likely to be a bloody good one.

He’s not going to be anybody’s 1 or 5 on 5.79.

Indeed, entirely new levels of pettiness. Best filed under ‘who gives a toss’.

It remains to be seen what the seven line ups look like, we may be whittling about nothing but there is definitely a case for spreading what decent riders we have left across the seven clubs. Such a small league is a bit of a nonsense anyway but if you are going to have four strong sides and three also rans those bottom sides may as well run in the Championship and the remaining teams can have six months of challenge matches and all qualify for the Play Offs.

Would Hans, Scott, Tungate and Iversen fit?

It was the thing to do on a Saturday (or whenever) night when there was only three TV channels and no Netflix, no games consoles, fewer gastropubs and nightclubs etc etc. Every top rider in the world rode here and the sport had household names through terrestrial TV and newspaper coverage.

I’m sure speedway seemed better back in the day because the crowds were bigger and the atmosphere better.