Bagpuss

I don't think anyone is claiming to be an expert, merely commenting on what they see on paper. Its not personal, and you need to learn to take it on the chin when your team isn't fancied. Who knows, you may be able to stick two fingers up to everyone come October.

Sheffield.

Plus they a had four rides more often than not and the number ones only met in heat 1.

Looks the weakest on paper but who knows? If Newman, Davies, Jensen or Kalle can explode into a genuine second heat leader things may be different.

Exactly. Our third tier needs more rookies and fifteen year olds. I applaud Rob Godfrey & Sunny for what they are doing.

Its what we should be working towards though, each third tier club having one experienced rider and six rookies. Not going to happen overnight but with a 3-5 year plan and better opportunities for U15's it can happen. If clubs like Dudley & Mildenhall want to load their team with PL riders then they should be competing in that league rather than scrapping out a two horse race every year in the NL.

I hope so, this is exactly how NL teams should be built.

Don't think it matters too much, Blackbird will have another good year IMO and will be dynamite round the EoES by then.

I have to say Chris that while there are no doubt some people jealous of Poole's success, IMO there are more who simply want to see the sport run fairly and with a level playing field for all and are consequently fed up with Ford pulling stunts season in, season out. The integrity of the competition comes before my team winning and the EL hasn't had that for years unfortunately. Lots of teams work hard in an attempt to succeed but year after year they are peeing into the wind with Ford able to get away with whatever he likes time after time.

Of course whoever wins the SGP will be a worthy champ, but the fact will always remain that one of the title contenders didn't compete for whatever reason. Whatever the exact reason its such a shame and his absence will be felt.

A real shame to lose arguably the most exciting rider on the circuit.

The late Matej Ferjan rode for Hungary in the SWC a few years back, don't think he had a Hungarian passport but could be wrong. Rory has lived over here for several years and has an English fiancée so don't see a problem with him riding in the British Final and the GP qualifiers as a 'Brit' but having already represented the Aussies in SWC he shouldn't be able to ride for a second country IMO.

Let's hope your guess is incorrect.

Ah, the old Poole jealousy card, nobody likes us, blah blah blah yawn. Was inevitable eventually. Some people dislike Darcy because he keeps acting like a pillock. Wouldn't matter who he rode for. Best way to win people round is to stop p!ssing about, get his head down and do his talking on track. Two or three seasons of that and a fair few will change their minds about him.

If Darcy or any other rider who wants to be World Champion hasn't taken note of Tai and Puk's preparation last season then they want their heads looking at.

I guess its worded that way because Scunny and Poole are the ones putting the £'s into the venture. Hopefully Lord Ford's involvement will prevent decent youngsters being lured away from Scunny as they have in the past, although ironically Kyle Howarth was one of the first when he defected from the Saints to Bournemouth! If one or two can graduate from Stags to Scorpions to Pirates to Team GB then everyone's a winner

If he can grow up, start behaving and stay on his bike a bit more he can win it this year and as many times as he likes thereafter. Big if's though.

You are right but I believe a good team manager can drag an extra few per cent out of riders and help to create an even better team spirit.

Well beating Latvia and USA would be a start

HT is right, its not possible at the moment to pack an NL side with promising youngsters every year. There will be peaks and troughs. The team which reached the grand final last season contained five riders who had their first competitive rides in the UK for the Young Stars and the other two were doing laps round Lynn before they turned 16, and that's something to be very proud of. The team may not be packed with homegrown youngsters for 2014 but it may well be again next year, and let's not forget that the two reserves come March could have been NDL Lightning products had Mountain not been offered more money down the road in Suffolk.

Of course it will but at the moment all he has done is put some money in, Godfrey is the one putting in the hard work as he has done for the last ten years or so. A bit disrespectful to call it Ford's team, a man who has done very little for grass roots or British youngsters over the years.

I think you mean Rob Godfrey's team.

Bo Brhel for me. Would win a race comfortably then go back to the pits, tinker with his bike and be nowhere in his next heat. Arrrrggggghhhhhhh! Fantastic in full flight though.

Mason and Halsey?