Bagpuss

I don't think the average speed necessarily proves anything anyway, as the track length is measured round the kerb and doesn't take into account how far round the racing line is. For example as quick as Sheffield is I can't imagine that Peterborough is any slower in real terms as its also a flat out track.

Lasse has three or four years left in the competition, plenty of time.

To be fair I can see both sides of the argument. While the races which contained passing last night were excellent, there were also several 'FTG's', but they were always interesting as seeing the likes of Lewis Kerr, Oliver Ryason and Marc Owen busting a gut to grab the odd point is so refreshing. Some people will judge what they see purely on overtaking and that is their right as paying customers. I think the score on Monday v Lakeside was to an extent irrelevant as there was an abundance of passing, although I'm sure no more or less effort than we saw from the NL lads last night. I don't think the racing necessraily matched anything that the EL meetings have produced so far but I felt entertained and that I got my money's worth. And seeing riders like Owen and Jake Knight barely recognisable from when I first saw them race less than two years ago is so satisfying. Both look ready for the PL now, its just a shame that there isn't a compulsory spot in every PL side for lads like these to graduate into. Hats off to the likes of Sheffield, Newcastle, Scunthorpe and Edinburgh fore employing young NL trained Brits. Looking forward to getting along to as many Young Stars meetings as I possibly can

Indeed best wishes to Adam, not pleasant. Quite a good meeting in the end despite being quite processional in the early stages. Stokes ride in heat 7 and Evans in the last race being the standout moments. Hawks came right back into it with a great ride from Evans in heat 13 on a TR and generally seemed happier once the track had slickened off. Jake was excellent and epitomises what the Young Stars are all about, has come on leaps and bounds in the last eighteen months. Very impressed with Owen, some Rye fans thought he should have got their number seven slot ahead of Morley and on last night's evidence I'd probably agree although Morley rode well too. Had the pleasure of meeting Halifaxtiger, nice to put a face (and a pair of legs ) to the name. And I think I should take some of the credit for his updates going by the number of times he referred to my programme

See ya there Ems

Should be there if the weather behaves, would be nice to meet one or two NL forumites. We stand on the first bend so feel free to come and say hi chaps

Have you seen Dennis Andersson on telly tonight?

Looks like Nicholls could be about to follow suit, see here.

But its not undue fuss. Would be interesting if Uncle Len came out and explained his lack of consideration for concessions. I can't understand why you don't see the importance of this point when people like yourself, Mimmo, Halifax Tiger etc often mention the generally small crowds that the third division races in front of. This pricing policy hardly helps.

So you don't think that one can compare Belle Vue/Rye NL with Man City/Leyton Orient in terms of pricing? Even taking into consideration your NL bias (and childish Man Utd issues, but thats another story) how on earth can you say that the NL prices at Rye are justified by the track's location? At a time when people are generally skint Lennie has made watching the Hawks extortionate. The proof of the pudding will be bums on seats I guess, can't see there being too many. And after using Wigan (a rugby town) as your first example, you have to delve back twenty odd years for your second one. And you accuse others of being spurious Dear me.

Wigan is a rugby town though and they struggle to get decent crowds. A comparison with Man Utd, Man City, Bolton etc would be more useful.

Why not? Its comparing EL to NL, and without getting into an argument about which is more entertaining the prices for the two should not stack up like that.

Thats a strange answer Whichever way you dress it up, NL at Rye is extortionate.

The National League does as much as it can but until we have an infrastructure for under 15's to race on bikes with smaller engines from a young age then we will always struggle to produce world class riders. We need 15 year olds to be much further in their development by the time they can race in the NL.

Does it really matter what the team is called at away matches? I think its easy to get tied up in too much protocol. What really matters is that young riders get the opportunity to race on an extra track and that the costs of running the team are spread out which surely reduces the chances of it disappearing.

Good stuff

Spot on. A couple of experienced spearheads to go with five lads making their way in speedway. The two reserves are really just starting out but the top five are all looking for and arguably capable of gaining PL spots at some point in 2011.

Well done Kozza lad :D

?

I remember that, and that at the time Mr Ribbons said that the Lynn promotion 'hadn't heard the last of it'. It would be nice to hear the BSPA's side of the Mildy situation.

Burmeister may be no better than the Brit options like Branney, T Allen, Clews etc but they have been tried and tested at PL level and have proved that they are more than likely not good enough for the EL. Burmeister may well be out of his depth too but Wolves obviously believe he is worth the risk. Before we can demand that EL and even PL teams should contain X amount of Brits we need to sort out under 15 speedway so that the standard increases in the NL and there is an eventual conveyor belt of talent. Just look how good young Scandinavians and Aussies are when they come over here, and its because they have organised and regular racing long before they get on a 500cc bike. This is not to criticise those who work hard for the under 15's currently, they can only work with what they are given. The authorities need to pull their collective finger out and give them an infrastructure to work with, and hopefully in a few years we'll have more British reserves in the EL.

Is that a new rule then? Cos Craig Cook was P'boro's number eight last year while also riding for Worky & Buxton.

Rayson belongs to Ipswich so may have other plans. Courtney gone to Leicester on a full transfer. Campos reportedly fell out with the promotion so no surprise if he doesn't return. Naylor would appear to have been ruled out with the signing of two new reserves. Injuries apart its a bit of a mystery why he hasn't kicked on over the last two seasons. McDade may not be fit for the start of the season anyway after his leg break? Widman was a bit part player last year so may be a squad member again. Of course the club may have had a good look at any these riders and decided that the potential isn't there and that its time to bring in new blood. Or some may have accepted better offers elsewhere. I would expect somebody like Lambert or Roynon to lead the team if available.

According to the Speedway Star today Tom Stokes and Lewis Blackbird will line up at reserve for the new season. Presumably Lewis Kerr, Jake Knight, Adam Lowe and Darren Mallett will also line up leaving just one spot to fill at number one?

Sorry dude wasn't aware