Islander15

Glad you enjoyed NL racing Jef. I obviously wasn't there myself but hopefully we can challenge for honours this year. As to your 2 questions I don't know the second but I think heat 15 is for the top 3 average riders & top 3 scorers on the night. So for us the top 3 averages were Webster, Warwick & Hopwood, top 3 scorers Warwick, Webster & Starke. I can only assume that Owen was allowed in simply because it was a challenge fixture

Thanks for the reply Malcolm. That's fair enough, I was working on the basis that if Stoke weren't riding on uhe Saturday then the stadium wasn't being used. I just looked on the BSPA site which obviously doesn't mention stock cars. Have we got a new date then?

I understand why the under-21s should take precedence over a challenge, but why should a challenge take precedence over a league meeting? So if the u21s have been put back a week, then why not put Dudley & IOW back a week too? I see Stoke have no meeting on the 28th, it would make sense, or is that just it, far too simple!

As Sue says, we still need a texter people...

The National League's knock-out cup starts this Friday with the Islanders off to Hoddesden. So the teams are: Raiders 1. David Mason 2. Shane Hazelden 3. Ben Morley 4. Luke Chessell 5. James Sarjeant 6. Tom Braddock 7. Nick Lee Islanders 1. Tim Webster (G) 2. Marc Owen 3. Danny Warwick 4. Paul Starke 5. Ben Hopwood 6. Danny Stoneman 7. Gary Cottham Hopefully the Islanders can keep up last weeks form that saw them only lose by 2 points away to Stoke. If anybody is able to text results to the updates site could you please PM me here or on the updates site. Thankyou.

Texter sorted, updates will be available tonight

Another kick in the teeth for Danny must be that Rhys Naylor isn't even fit. Anyway here's to an injury free meeting on saturday

Max Clegg for me, and he's not completely new but near enough: Oliver Greenwood

Nice post devil, some good valid points. I'll take your main one that I totally agree with: whoever comes in has pretty much got to accept that Nick will return & if his average is that of a #1 then he knows he's going to lose his place, not much of an incentive to score.

Even considering Stoneman crashed in his opener i'm surprised he didn't win his next 3 from the line-up that was in the speedway star. Btw Ross Walter has NL experience with plymouth from 2 years ago, sharing a spot with Bob Charles (i think!). He rarely scored. Whilst Dan Berwick rode for Sittingbourne averaging 3.69 then moved to the island 3 year ago but suffered a serious injury which he basically never recovered from, for us.

I agree slimonce, there aren't a lot of options. Lee though is a good call, I assume his 2010 NL average would be used. Todd though is just too high, a shame because imo only him & Cameroon Heeps consistently matched Nick at smallbrook last year. Anyone go to the press & practice today? Any thoughts?

For me King's Lynn & Dudley look the 2 stand out teams in the league, both solid throughout

Without us turning a wheel yet this season we've suffered a second injury Nick is out for apparently 6 weeks with a broken wrist, get better soon mate! Whether anyone from the club reads this page or not, most on here seem to agree that Baseby or Bates would outscore Cottham, but if Gary can stay in front then he could be a trump card for us (the jury is certainly still out). However I think one thing is for certain, for a team that averages say has 3 third heat leaders I don't think we could cope without a guy at #1, that truly is a #1. If the club has the money people like Kyle Newman, Joe Haines, Kyle Hughes & Jay Herne are available otherwise I'd say 6 weeks with guests is the upper-most time limit (bearing in mind that includes challenges). Edit: slimonce- Simon Walker is an interesting one. As to not being able to use a guest for a rider whose yet to ride, I honestly don't know. I was just going by the press release.

*ahem* Starkey is ex-Rye too. While we're at it good luck to Chessell at Hoddesden, could have been at no. 6 for us...

As expected then. Gary Cottham completes the final 7. Press & practice starts at 1:30 at Smallbrook stadium on Saturday week with our first meeting away to Stoke exactly a week later

Unlucky on Rob, he did improve as the season went on last year which you would expect with him having a year out. However if you're right about Resch not being fit yet (I didnt go to the forum) it leaves us with 5.12 to play with so please, please let that rider be Aaron Baseby. As regards to Rob I hope it's not too serious & welcome back Ben Slimonce, who'd you like to see at #7? And anyone else??

Unfortunately not, his average is 4.63, 0.03 too high

Someone to talk to Are you an Islanders fan slimonce? My guess would be John Resch, i guess the delay is to make sure he's fit. But there's not many riders with an average below 4.60 if he isn't. Hope he is though, we need a positive season

Ben is 5.89, which is slightly too high for you. It may have taken King's Lynn a bit longer than scunny but it looks like they've nurtured a team capable of taking on anyone in this league. I can't fail to mention Brendan, good luck mate, KL must want you to get used to the track for when you reach the EL

As most people seem to be I'm also against riding against some teams twice, it simply doesn't make the league fair. If we assume, for the time being at least, that it will be an 8 team league then that is ideal for the KOC, but that would mean 'forcing' scunny & KL to enter. Though as others have mentioned, the best idea would be to create a trophy competition for the stand-alone sides because it allows us a varied, increased fixture list whilst not creating a head-ache for the PL's second teams. Personally I think this should happen regardless of the number of teams competing but this year it's even more important. Btw I'd probably go with Vog's idea of a 2 legged final. As to the fours, NLRC & pairs, they could be run over 2 legs each meaning each of the 5 stand-alone teams get a major event whilst Rye can still hold the NLRC. More meaningful meetings for the riders whilst only setting back each club 1 nights racing.

Your final rider is confirmed & it is Dan Greenwood (BSPA press release). Got to be favorites for the title atm

The 40 point limit was only agreed in principle, a sort of 'gentlemen's agreement'. It can't actually be confirmed until the AGM which is probably why no-one has a full 1-7 yet. Anyone know if the idea of a 2.50 average for newbie u-18s is going to resurface? Not a bad idea imo... oh and one commonwealth rider per team please

I'll be disappointed if Darren doesn't make the start of the year, i've always thought he was good value. I assumed he'd be at KL with Tom Stokes We did sell Ben last year, as part of the deal that took Rob Smith to Smallbrook, but in all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if he did return. His 5.96 is more appealing than his 6.83 (?) last winter. Though I must admit that I was glad he went, he at least knew what consistency meant & last year only Nick achieved that! Btw Greg I assume you mean Luke Priest? Too bad

A bit delayed but welcome back Danny. If I assume we are going for a 3.00 rider then it leaves 11.08 for the last pair, who could be: Rob Smith & John Resch 10.77 Ben Hopwood & Aaron Baseby 10.84 Luke Priest & Aaron Baseby 10.67 (that would actually allow for Tom Hill to sign on 3.38) Darren Mallett & Luke Chessell 10.99 Luke Priest & Scott Campos 11.06 Any of the top 3 will do for me

Certainly is! Read the full interview http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.14124.6 I was reading a very interesting inerview with John Resch in the speedway star this week where John himself admits that he doesn't know whether he'll be fit for the start of the season or not. It sounds like a similar situation as to Jason Lyons at Redcar and they've plumped for Ulrich Ostergaard. I'd certainly like him in the team but it's up to the club as to whether they take the gamble or not.