Rebel1

In all my years with this sport I cannot remember an Easter period with so many washed-out meetings and still continuing to rain. Looks like Kent have shut shop till the end of April with neither of the weekend meetings being re-arranged on the spare Mondays of this month. Not so good for the less experienced riders who really would benefit from these challenge matches, big shame.

Yes teaboy279 James has dipped out. My issue is whether he will push on. He is a likeable lad and held his own in the SDL last season, but looking a cut above? Hope he continues and holds our number eight spot. Alex did not feel that he wanted to be held to one club when approached last season and surely with the number of rides as an unattached rider served him well. He had a chance to ride a greater variety of tracks. Having made his decision I wish him well and look forward to seeing him in our pits this season.

To be honest to the six / seven spot riders over the seasons, Kent have been fair to them, more so than some other sides in this league. Remember it is still a training league so getting het-up over these lower order riders is rather re-miss. Not all lads can start with a lot of quality machinery, nor should they, part of the apprenticeship is learning how to make things work both off and on track.

Stoneman it is with a number seven to be selected. No mention yet of the SDL for 2018 but it may be that this lower order section + ANOther will have been chosen to favour that training league. Stoneman has been an out and out racer and some of his moves this past season were near unbelievable. Not disappointed to see him included. Should be a sound lineup.

No chance that Luke will be racing in 2018 as his bones were being very slow to knit when he last visited hospital. Would be surprised if he ever came back as a bad fall yet again would not be good.

Having watched the sport for over 50 years I much prefer to see the youngsters having a go. They have not learnt some of the requirements for holding on for 4 laps. Witness for instance the ex-moto crosser Danny Ayres. He rarely made a full 4 laps without the need for re-mounting at some stage. Now he is a heat leader in the National League. James Shanes, he had the ability to stay up yet his starting let him down so he was an all out racer. Who could say that the 2 top leagues give any better racing. I see the GP riders going for the world title but rarely see that the racing is any better. Just my perspective, but I used to trip over to Rye House in the sixties when they had the winter training sessions and watch lads of all levels have a go to improve their style or mere speed. Just the sport.

Two heat leaders and a further reserve required. Interesting days, weeks, months ahead. Will the number seven berth be an untried lad and if so can he do what Jack did this past season? Hope so. Two trustworthy point scorers home and away needed to fill the middle order then.

Difficult to foresee the nature of the team build given the AGM is not until next week (13th). Points limit etc. Luke and Jack make a good start. Given the nature of the league I always feel that every Club should bring forward at least one newcomer (3 pointer). Yet some Clubs seem to bend that issue in order to maintain a low average for the following season for a rider of ability. I like the Upper Leagues AGM requirement regarding team building beyond mid-season. I would like to see a similar requirement for National League. Might slow some of the shenanigans of some teams, having the wherewithal to bend team building during the season, in order to create strength in depth mid to late season. I strongly feel that the league should be about fostering and teaching young lads, thus the need for at least one experienced rider for that purpose. Riding lines and tactics is one element, however, a more difficult issue is bike set-up as different riders have different styles and motors.

Well said Nikko. Monday, Bank holiday, a motorcycle could clearly be heard from within the stadium from the adjacent estate during the meeting. Noise is an evocative subject and therefore I would suggest that people refer to the noise level monitoring undertaken by the stadium for the purpose of the submission for permanent running of speedway at CP. Fact not fiction goes a long way and is irrefutable given it is undertaken by a professional undertaking. The locals will have an uphill struggle to overturn the submission on the grounds of noise unless something substantial alters. Long live speedway at CP.

Shame Monday is off as it is now a couple of weeks before the team assembles again at CP.

Surely this was only the opening contest, I am sure that the Eagles bottom end will settle and improve. As for Kent, yes Danno had a confidence boosting day. Very impressed with Jack Thomas, will reserve opinion on Luke Clifton as that number two position takes its toll on the incumbent. A difficult spot to hold down and as Luke is only just returning he has a lot to hold down.

Would wish to stress teaboy279 that riding in practice terms is different to having two opposition riders and your own teammate going for the same piece of track. Friday will give us a true realization of where we may be headed. The team has room for improvement pointswise, let us hope that those improvements are achieved.

Better to have cleared the air ahead of the season rather than have it festering during the early meetings. To go forward a happy and contented pit scene is needed.

Two unknowns methinks. As you say Loyal Hammer, Luke Clifton and also Jack Thomas. Danno has to get strong enough to push four laps times four heats and the rest is as is. One proviso is that David stays the season.

Connor Locke to the Hoddesdon track then! Good luck to the lad.

Come now your being facetious. You had David Mason on the track with a suspected broken leg and the medics were not in a position to move him until an ambulance crew arrived. As I said unless something exceptional occurs!

Where do you fail to get 15 heats? It is rare that Kent fail even with the curfew. A meeting can be pushed through in 90 minutes so 2 hours should suffice unless there are unavoidable delays.

Interesting to see how people assess riders, that is life. However, promoters and managers have to try and blend rider styles to pairings and at this level an experienced rider as against an older (late starter) rider who will support another rider on track is worth possibly 2-4 points extra per meeting. 5-1's and 4-2's are required to win meetings and someone who can steer a partner home unselfishly is required. I have just finished the John Louis book which takes me back to the days when I marshaled at Eastern Centre events. A worthy read.

Shame Marc Owen failed to make the cut. I would like to have seen him in the squad. Youth and experience, what the league is all about and let us hope that pairings will blend and bring in a bit of silverware. Interesting to see that the start time, 18:30, had an influence on who could possibly be given an opportunity. Time the local authority planning brigade come to their senses, given they have any sense, and allow a later start time, else maybe Friday or Saturday have to be considered possible running days.

Jack is off the middle order list having gone to the Black Country. Can only assume Len and Chris have their quarry and not releasing details. Might be a cagey game or sound politics.

Had a troubled season just gone. Think Monday evenings were a bit difficult for him but if he were to come back the crowd would, I am sure, would be very receptive.

Everything is quiet right now and others are declaring their teams which whittles down the options. Is there to be a brave move that will stun all of us?

James knew his starting let him down as did his parents, however he is at the training school and one hopes that he will gain some knowledge reference gating. He has aspiration and knowing he has this particular weakness one hopes he will have determination in addressing it. If he masters gating and we add the fact that he gives it 110% means that with his overtaking ability he will hopefully become a formidable rider.

The one that deserves to be back. Danny and James both hoping to up their points tally and young Jack looking to do the same means four more looking to do the same are required. The unknown is Ben, could he be fitted in? All depends on the new points limit.

Sounds like a reflection on last season Whistlegang. I remember a young Kiwi who came to these shores and failed miserably, then went home to reflect and then came back and became a real class rider who gained every accolade the sport has to give. Now what was his name? Ivan Mauger I believe who sadly is now rather ill back home. Perhaps we should not write them all off and yes I agree that as long as they try get behind them. Some thoughy have met their pinnacle at development league status. Still have to admit that they have more guts than me.