Islander15

Thanks Lorna. Just reading the link you gave (here ) it says Resch & Brendan at reserve, so will that mean Tom Hill is number 8, or is there a mistake ?

Thanks for your reply Malcolm ^^^ The Islanders have signed 2 more: John Resch & Tom Hill. See here . Hill's a good signing, especially at home, on a low average. But I'm not so sure about Resch. So who's the other 4? Starke, Smethills and Warwick equal 21.70 and with only 24.28 left 1 of them will definitely miss out. I hear that Dan Blake won't be fit for the start of the season, but does anyone know if Hopwood will be?

Just off the BSPA site, Mildenhall will race in the 2011 NL. Brilliant news for them and British Speedway as a whole. The new promotion is led by Chris Louis. Full article here

Please tell me theres yet another mistake on the BSPA site. It says Simmo's average is 8.90 (here) yet he ended last year on 8.05 (here) (according to their site, though that was October's average so really it should be slightly different but not 0.85). I checked the average's of the others from last year and Morris. Atkin, White-Williams, Young, Bates and Andrews will all start on last year's average with Lambert's increasing by 0.01 and Herne's 0.51. Even Herne's average seems a massive increase from what, 2 meeting maybe for Bournmeouth during October, yet Hornets rode then, and I don't think they were all injured! Is there something I've missed here, or is it a mistake? If it's a mistake we'll soon know.

Confirmation that Hackney will replace Rye House Cobras. With the likes of Ben Morley, Shane Hazelden & Marc Owen in the team. Also The National League Riders Championship is to be held at Rye on Sat 3rd Sept @ 7pm. Full article here

Nick Simmons has now officially signed and will be captain click here

Buxton won't neccessarily lose Branford, as any Aussies with a British passport will still be able to race in the NL regardless of whether they change the rules to stop Aussies/Kiwis riding or not. Hence the reason he, Morris & McBain all started on a 3.00 average for the Hitmen last season. But Morris can't ride NL as hehas a PL team and an PL average over 4.00.

Yeah, and the most ridiculous part of that, Roynon has an EL place (No 8 yes, but he'll still ride) and Wright doesn't even have a PL side! I thought he would have been a nailed-on for Worky, but I read in the speedway star that they've been looking at upto 6 riders for that spot

I don't want to sound against you or anything here, but assuming the rules don't change Andre's average would be too high for him to do both leagues, as you can only ride NL if you're average with a PL team is below 4.00 at the start of the season. Think of Charles Wright at Buxton last year. He could start the season for the Hitmen because he didn't have a PL side, but then when he signed for Redcar he did have a PL team and an average over 4.00 (4.75 as it happened), so he had to be replaced in the Buxton side. So unless he only does NL, he can't ride in that league and to be perfectly honest he's a lot better than that league anyway. Admittedly he wouldn't keep his 12, but should be above 9.5 if not 10. Its his decision at the end of the day, but even if he struggles at the start of the season in the PL (assuming that's what he wants and/or is signed), he would be some force at reserve

I read in this weeks speedway star that Dave Tattum says he has a three-year-plan to move the Potters back into the Premier, surely some juniors could move upo in that time scale. Plus look at last year's Scunny Saints: Ashley Birks is now with Sheffield after 1 NL season, Steve Worrall is with the Scorpions (and he rode for them at the back end of last year) and Richie Worrall is with Newcastle despite only making his debut June time. I'm just saying it's not impossible for first timers to go NL in their 2nd year, or even 1st(Craig Cook)) Btw in the last couple of comments between you and 21stCH you mention Compton on a 12. Well if you mean Benji (surely Andre's average is too high) then 2 things: 1. I tought he announced his retirement last year and 2. if he rides he'll have a 6.28 average (well that's what he had for 2010 Scunny Saints)

Yes, it does sound very narrow minded! IOW originally stepped down for 1 year, 2 at most and now they enter their 3rd year in the NL and it seems unlikely that thye finances will let them step up for another 2-3 years at least. Any anyway even if Stoke do return next year, you might possibly find one guy this year to move up with you next year, but more than likely 5 or 6 of them, if not all 7 will be or have ridden Premier some time (whether it be for Stoke or not). And who knows, there may even be an unkown junior start at No. 7 next year who in several years time (alright, qquite a long time) rides at No. 1 for a Stoke EL title-winning side