Islander15

Any suggestions as to who those might be?

Coventry confirmed last month that they will definitely be running NL in 2014. I'm just hoping the Islanders state likewise! I don't think it's clear cut that Dudley will be back either as they could go PL with the 14H/14A league fixtures allowing themselves, Peterborough and one other to join. I'm sure it would be beneficial for EL teams to run a NL team to give their reserves home track time, and for the likes of KL who have done this for several years already that's why I think they deserve to have Lambert & Kerr at reserve despite it being easily the strongest pair in the league... Sticking with NL, BV ran the Colts a couple of years ago, Poole ran Bournemouth, Birmingham ran the Bulls in challenge meetings and I'm sure Leicester could sustain NL racing, so even though I don't think we'll see mre than 8 teams at the tapes I think it would be worthwhile for some EL teams (other than Coventry & KL) to invest! Anyone heard anything about a return for Scunthorpe Saints?

1. Nick Morris 8.84 2. Lewis Blackbird 4.93 3. Leigh Lanham 7.16 4. Cameron Heeps 6.74 5. Rohan Tungate 7.05 6. Josh Bates 3.00 7. Adam Ellis 4.25 Several other options at #1: Worrall, Grajczonek, Lawson... Thoughts?

And what will happen with regards to averages as Stoke's are obscured by having ridden 2 less home meetings therefore making their riders more attractive propositions. The same can be said to KL to a lesser extent and Dudley, Kent & Mildenhall all have slightly higher figures.

Maybe 1. Richie Worrall 8.64 2. Jan Graversen 5.25 3. Josh Auty 7.24 4. Tero Aarnio 6.86 5. Sam Masters 7.43 6. 3.00 7. Ryan Douglas 5.03 It does seem harsh on Jorgy, Howe & Blackbird though! I hope I'm wrong because that doesn't look league winning, but I noticed Richie tweeted that he's sorted a British team for 2014.

Couldn't agree more! Also I'd like to see both reserves, at the start of the season, need to be 3.00 riders.

Thanks. I hope he can! The only one that ending the season and wouldn't have a stupidly high average is Kosciuch on 8.43 but then you may as well sign Worrall or Morris. Has Rob said he's building to put him at reserve because 5.03 is a massive figure and I agree that it'd be hard to have him and Blackbird at reserve but I can see Blackbird pushing past 6.00 next year. 1. Sam Masters 7.43 2. Thomas Jorgensen 6.15 3. Ashley Birks 7.30 4. David Howe 6.34 5. Josh Auty 7.24 6. Oliver Greenwood 3.00 7. Ryan Douglas 5.03 Total: 42.49 There's a couple of 3.00 riders around with Scunny connections: Josh Bates, Max Clegg, Steve Worrall... On another note. Is Howe fit to ride next year as well?

Is Birks going to be fit for next season?

I agree that the silence is deafening and hopefully we'll hear confirmation that Stoke will ride in 2014 soon. So here's my shot at 7 fairly cheap riders (I assume Worrall will be in demand): 1. Ben Reade 7.70 2. Lee Payne 4.90 3. Lee Smart 5.76 4. Benji Compton 6.37 5. James Sarjeant 7.38 6. 3.14 7. Luke Priest 4.75 Personally I'd like to see a rule brought in where both reserves have to start on a 3.00 average, so... 1. Paul Starke 9.93 2. Lee Payne 4.90 3. Luke Priest 4.75 4. Benji Compton 6.37 5. Ben Reade 7.70 6. 3.00 7. 3.00

He rode NL and is eligible to ride for Team GB if he so chooses. He attempted to ride NL this year (for IOW) but was then told he couldn't as he had participated in the Aussie champs this year. Again, he's eligible to ride for Team GB if he wants... I don't want another Heeps debate but I think it's his grandparents that are British.

If we're interpreting 'NL riders' as those who have ridden in the NL but haven't had a permanent EL place then here are the top 20 (in average order): A: Cameron Heeps Lewis Kerr Jason Garrity Lewis Blackbird Stefan Nielsen Charles Wright Adam Ellis Ashley Morris Jake Anderson Paul Starke B: Joe Jacobs Lewis Rose Robert Lambert Robert Branford Ben Reade Jake Knight Josh Bates James Sarjeant Ben Morley Ben Hopwood But that doesn't take into account riders' ages and why Poole are rumoured to want to use Kyle Newman... Tbh it just seems like Vatcher & Morris are going to pick their favourite 20 riders! And under 2013 rules, 9 of those are ineligible for the NL in 2014.

SImple question here but have the BSPA looked at this properly? Currently riders with a PL average over 4.00 can't ride in the NL also so Kerr, Ellis, Nielsen, Morris, Blackbird to name a few are forced to enter the EL as riders in the main body, without giving them the security of heat 2. I mean that with no disrepect at all, as looking at my signature will show you that I'm a staunch advocate of the NL but I don't see how it is helpful by throwing these riders in at the deep end, whilst riders of lesser ability still will be up against the likes of Woffinden in the EL when they're not yet ready for the PL!

Did anyone on here attend the AGM tonight?

So in a 2 league system you'd have a 16 year old debutant in the same race as say Fricke, Bunyan, Aarnio or Sneddon for example. How is that fair?

1. Richie Worrall 8.64 2. Todd Kurtz 4.92 3. Rasmus Jensen 7.00 4. Tyson Nelson 6.16 5. Ricky Wells 7.81 6. Paul Starke 3.61 7. Jake Anderson 3.97 Thoughts?

1. Richie Worrall 8.64 2. Todd Kurtz 4.92 3. Rasmus Jensen 7.00 4. Tyson Nelson 6.16 5. Ricky Wells 7.81 6. Paul Starke 3.61 7. Jake Anderson 3.97 Thoughts?

Schramm hasn't ridden NL since averages were brought in instead of gradings so does that still apply? And Mills' average when he signed for Bournemouth in 2010 was 9.98.

1. Craig Cook 10.52 2. Max Fricke 5.80 3. Derek Sneddon 5.52 4. Joszef Tabaka 6.00 5. Sam Masters 7.32 6. Josh Bates 3.00 7. Charles Wright 4.30 Thoughts?

I've tried to send you a PM but it says that you can't receive anymore messages. I don't know if you've reached your limit, but if you could PM me an e-mail address or a way to contact you, that would be great. Many thanks.

3.00 / 0.6 = 5.00 Which is the same conversion from EL to PL I believe.

I was just wondering if there is anything actively going on to get speedway to return to Hull? Does anyone know anybody that is currently involved with Hull and how I could contact them? Many thanks

I think it's pretty obvious that Dudley were going to beat the injury hit Islanders at home, and I irrespective of how the points came the Islanders still kept it respectable. Then at Smallbrook the Islanders passed most people's expectations. To complain about the gulf between the two is disrespectful, both teams worked hard and were worthy of making the final. As it was pointed out, had Bekker, Ellis, Freemantle, Stoneman, Johnson & Ritchings not been injured it could've been completely different! I sincerely hope that I have a team to support on track next season, and as an advocate of National League speedway in general, I want more teams added not losing ones, especially my own! And until it's confirmed otherwise, I look forward to seeing the Isle of Wight on track in 2014!!

I'm not 100% sure on the subject, just I remember reading something in last years laws that if you didn't achieve (ie ride enough meetings that season to get a 'new' average) in the last 2 seasons then you used your converted PL average. I stand to be corrected... Jayne?

1. Steve Boxall 9.56 2. Jack Kingston 4.20 3. David Mason 6.38 4. Chris Schramm 5.68 5. Ben Morley 7.13 6. Adam Kirby 3.00 7. Connor Coles 3.67 If Boxall goes PL: 1. James Sarjeant 7.38 2. Shane Hazelden 4.77 3. David Mason 6.38 4. Chris Schramm 5.68 5. Ben Morley 7.13 6. Connor Coles 3.67 7. Jack Kingston 4.20 Thoughts?

But didn't ride enough meetings to get a new average.