mikebv

Has to be the only logical conclusion doesn't it? The "have nots" riding in a 2nd Div akin to the NDL level that previously existed, seemed to flourish, and provided value for money for the fans. . So obviously not going to happen then.....

Looks like a perfect club to start in the NDL (not the current version but the previous one).. Get that "fan bounce", desperate to see Oxford back, without the costs of Pro Heat Leaders, meaning they can charge an admission fee that isnt knocking around the twenty quid mark.. I would suggest looking at the disparity in Div 2 between the teams, circa half of Div 2, (and maybe Mildenhall and the IOW?), would see the "old NDL" as something worth trying...? The league pre Covid seemed to be the most viable, and delivered the best value for money..

I think the way BV have signed NBJ is the way forward.. Have a rider out through injury then sign a lower averaged rider to replace him for 'x' weeks.. Say 21 days minimum, and even if the injured rider is back fit he has to sit out 21 days so as to ensure no manipulation of any injury situation takes place. Using a rider either not in this country currently or from a lower league.. Or sort out a fit for purpose RR facility that doesnt mean your No1 for example has to be replaced by riders third and fourth in the averages.. Ultimately though, if a meeting becomes a bit 'Mickey Mouse' if ran, then dont run it...

As long as just about enough punters keep colluding with the promoters that it's a proper sporting competition they run, and turn up to watch it.. There are though thousands more who could possibly go back to it regularly if they stopped the nonsense.. But I suppose we shall never know for certain if that is the case, as stopping the nonsense will never happen.. Because they are too good at it now after so many years of experience..

The US Conference system doesn't have everyone playing each other.. Maybe Speedway could do something like that? Eg 4 times v the teams in your North Conference and 2 times v the teams in the South?

As long as I can still watch Poland, Sweden and Denmark..

Indeed .... And those fans from other teams that appear to be gloating need to realise that their team cannot eventually end up riding against themselves.. Bottom line is any club going to the wall wont mean too much emotionally to too many people locally near any track.. In most 2nd Divs case maybe 1000 or so max (?) who regularly go... In Div 1, maybe 1500? Or 2000 max...? In real terms hardly anyone... Those doing "well" should thank their lucky stars, as the operating model and business plan they all share is clearly inherently unfit for purpose, and their time, if it doesn't radically change, will invariably come...

Two leagues for me... One "top league" and one similar to the pre Covid NDL level.. No point in making teams pay out what they cannot afford just to make up one league.. This happened this season with Div Two, hence we are where we are.. Far too many clubs whose attendance would support an NDL team successfully, were in at a level that was the strongest it had been for years... Just to ensure riders got enough rides. And you can guarantee that if one league existed, some Promoters would ensure they still got the best of the deal and let those lesser teams end up fighting for scraps.. And therefore, paying out daft money just to compete, as rider demand exceeds supply.. And we would be in a similar situation this time next year to where we are now.

Well as they are all pretty much the same riders, there cannot be much difference between the two leagues, therefore quite possibly a Div 2 team with three Div 1 Heat Leaders wont be "too far away" if they rode as Poole in Div 1. However.. Having individuals racing against themselves in the same race for both teams, might even be a bit far fetched for even UK Speedway to think up a regulation which allows it... Wouldnt surprise if they have thought about it though...

Take Dan and Jack Holder out and the league is pretty much made up of riders who ten or so years ago would have been "second string" level, with a few being "third heat leaders" at some clubs. With even Dan and Jack themselves being probably third heat leader standard at most.. Up and coming lads riding alongside two big hitters per team.. Now clear No1's... Nowadays the level from top to bottom of the team (even with RS's) is much narrower than used to be the case, hence averages are lower as a great many riders can beat each other from one night to the next... Maybe just being down to something as gate positions given they are so many so very similar in capability.. One night you beat the same rider because you had the best gate, then next he beats you for the same reason.. Last night off graveyard gate 3 Dan Bewley couldn't get near his opponents.. And given riders race so often, a poor run is now magnified as you could have six matches in just one week Thus highlighting your issues.. Whereas you may only used to have a couple of meetings a week in the past, giving you time to sort problems out..

He seems to get beaten quite a lot by opposition second strings and reserves when riding for the Aces.. Maybe its because these riders are of a higher standard than second strings and reserves in the 2nd Div? The heat leaders are pretty much the same in both leagues, but the next level down are better maybe? Thus he runs a few wins or seconds giving him confidence in the 2nd Div, whereby (usually from what I have seen), seldom wins his first race in Div 1, and more than should probably happen, doesnt even get second.. Him, his brother and Wright do seem to often be on the wrong end of a lot of heat losses in Div 1 due to their poor win ratio, and to compound it, dont always get the second place to reduce the impact, and actually run too many lasts... Hence the Aces invariably lose the meetings they do in the "engine room" of the team..

He could "guest" for Scott too..

When those two were there you had some of the best racing I have witnessed anywhere at the Wolves v Aces clashes.. Joe Screen, Bobby Ott, Shawn Moran, Kelly Moran and Jason Lyones etc were great to watch around Monmore with the outside being the main overtaking line followed.. Sadly now it's pretty much square off the corner to make a long straight, and power up the inside coming out of the turns..

Sadly the bikes now dont deliver the racing levels they used to on the tight circuits.. Too grippy and they bite too much and spit riders off.. Too slick and passing is practically impossible without rider mistakes.. Tonight was one of the better meetings I have watched at Wolves over the past few years... Not more than 6/10 though if honest..

And the inner rim of his front wheel...

Wolves playing "We are the Champions"... Have the rules changed? It is UK Speedway so since the meeting started it is quite possible..

The others are not good enough.. Bewley tonight again gets circa 30% of their points on his own.. Maybe Kurtz at a push could ride with him... A one man team...

Aces engine room poor (as always)... Team Manager tactically poor (as always)... Nothing changes at Belle Vue does it?

Which you would think is the general idea of the camera... Eurosport have a different idea...

That's because his eyesight doesnt see that far behind him...

It was a great meeting today at the NSS... I didn't go but Nigel said so.. Said there were some great races, all "out of the top drawer"... Pity they chose this as the TV meeting then.. On a track that generally doesnt deliver great racing.. Though to be fair tonight, it hasn't been as poor as usual.. But that isnt really a measure to be impressed by is it?

Can Chase The Ace ride a bike? Maybe he could swap jobs with one or two of the team?...

I presume the "helmet cam" is on his chest....

He used him as a brake...

A very poor 4 laps from him in total.. Gifted a point by his young reserve team mates riding, and then promptly lost it... Great to see Douglas up and seemingly ok...