Rebel1

So whistlegang you appear to tip Cradley, yes they have what appears to be a strong lineup but speedway does depend upon many things outside the remit of the magnificent seven. So they look strong but will the partnerships provide the majority heat wins? Weather, confidence, falls and regrettably injury can seriously deplete any strengths that the team may depend upon.

So true yet we must all learn to tolerate each other and our diverse thoughts, I am sure we all have speedway at heart whichever line of thought we have.

The right to reply is a right that we should enjoy without reservation. Nikko has much to say and with his background knowledge we should at least have the courtesy of listening (reading). That not all agree is as it should be. Any response, if not slanderous, should be considered as there are always two sides to the coin. There will always be mavericks as well as those who suck up to the provider. To my knowledge those backroom staff are unpaid volunteers and therefore have a great belief and interest in what they undertake. Long may they carry on and support the institution that is speedway. I always enjoyed it when they deeper tracks had the JAP motor, and characters of distinction riding them.

Nikko's knowledge of the sport is worth listening to, as such I agree with the line of those that say this is an open forum to be used for debate. Debate is healthy and as we all know everyone is entitled to an opinion. Take sides by all means, disagree by all means. Read, digest and write comments, only ensure that they are not libellous or defamatory. The truth they say hurts no one.

So we have a mini BSPA web-site, such a disappointment. Have lost all the originality of last years site. If all you want is a repeat of the main site then I suppose it does the job. Is it a cost cutting exercise?

Daniel Blake for the last spot. Bit of a an understatement to say that was a left wing shot and seems to have taken everyone by surprise. Still not too far to have to travel for home meetings.

I agree Nikko, most riders have peaks and troughs and for stability in the team it must pay to keep riders who fit the team points limit. I wish Adam well, he is a likeable lad who put a lot of time in for the club. Hope he finds a new berth.

I have no quibbles over such a move, after all, the league is about bringing on young riders which is why I have chosen to get behind this new venture. If done properly this would possibly provide a base of young Club stalwarts to go forward with Kent Kings into the Premier League. What a thought or am I chasing pink elephants, nay more like flying pigs. Ever onwards and upwards then, eh.

I tend to agree, age alone is no bar. However, in respect of experience, is it one years experience repeated 40 times or 40 years of learning and experience? I believe Len has run out of ideas, the days of 'leaping Len' have disappeared. Many old codgers still go forward and have encompassed technology, I do not see this aspect of age coming through with the Len setup.

So how honest is honest? May depend upon the particular aspect of the promotion you are looking at. Ask those who have left for their opinions!

As I did mention the logistics would be an issue, though not insurmountable.

Interesting thought, is it possible that Rye House and Central Park will be 'air fence' sharing? Surely some clubs will have considered this as a possible option. I know that there may be logistical issues but for the majority of the season it is deflated and stored between meetings.

Raiders, near Raiders or non-Raiders. The whole is greater than the parts! The sum of the parts is the whole! You do not have to support the promotion rather the riders (team Kent in this instance). Time to cheer: 2 4 6 8 who do we appreciate k-e-n-t KENT

At last some action, not such a bad top five and if we can land two strong reserves then the Kings could go a long way. Injuries may then be our only bugbear, hopefully!

All this silence is starting to make me jittery, more so as I start to see other teams being assembled. All this silence from the management during the dark months does nothing to help keep the punters' interest. Drip feeding titbits of information, however inconsequential, will and surely does hold interest in the club and give fans something to discuss. A sorry time for this emergent club who need to hold the interest of existing fans and seek to gain the interest of others. The state of the track, another question, is not insurmountable, yet bad weather in the next couple of months will leave it in a poor condition with precious little time to relay and permit settlement. Not heard if there has been any movement regarding track staff or if a recruitment drive is to take place. Assuming Nicko and Paul need replacing and how many of the unsung team from this season may have joined them in taking no further an active role. Things that management could put people's minds at rest over. Len being away in the snow is no excuse with today's technology. If Len has an excuse what of Roger?

All of this silence starts to make one feel jittery. Keeping things under wraps is fine if appropriate, though I doubt disclosing riders is Top Secret. Time this Club considered the punters, they need something to keep their interest during the dark months (no pun intended).

With a bit of luck Roger making his own way in which case it would truly become Kent Kings. Rules dictated that Roger had to have an experienced Promoter alongside of him for last season, a pity it became a bit dictatorial. I am sure that if the club was left to run without the outside influences then whatever the outcomes it will be of their own makings. At least trackside we are in need of a new clerk of the course, unless Paul has a rethink, also a team manager would have to be recruited. Any thoughts! Paul Hurry having previously been mentioned on this site, not sure if he is still linked with Lakeside, would be a great asset.

It would be interesting to see if Roger were to make the decision to go it alone this coming season, then there would only be one promoter to point the finger at. The plethora of promoters last season, two named and the hangers-on, no doubt led to a lot of insider bitching, never a good thing. One known and respected promoter is all that is needed, provided he / she has a good team of backroom advisers, to gain the trust of the punters as well as the riders and other track staff.

I like your sentiments, though I doubt that the close season is the time to be offering cut price entry tickets! The thought of a promoter digging into his pocket(s) to promote via a financial incentive is something that sets the mind-a-thinking. The possible problem all round is that speedway does not really appear to attract too many of the youngsters through the turnstiles. Depending upon circumstances, travelling costs from outlying areas, the day / time of the meetings may be a possible reason. I know when I left school I had to watch the pennies (real ones back then) and make a conscious decision on what, when and where as I also followed other motorcycle events over the weekend.

Hi Nikko you may have gone fishing but I think if the opportunity arose to give you an opening to return you would do so, likewise Paul. What concerns me is who replaces the two of you and who is in a position to take things forward, because there was definitely back-pedalling during the season? A club as new as Kent Kings needs strong professionals (albeit as unpaid) to keep moving it forward, apart from facebook, where else do the punters get a chance to integrate, as there is no other social forum to my knowledge? I may be wrong, but I understand that the club approved photographers have also joined you and Paul, though I have not seen that publicly pronounced as were your departures. No doubt there will be speedway there next season but will it be controlled by Len or Roger, the big question?

Found the folowing release: RIDERS PUT FORWARD FOR ELITE LEAGUE PLACES: Adam Ellis; Ashley Morris; Ben Reade; Daniel Halsey; James Sarjeant; Joe Jacobs; Josh Bates; Kyle Newman; Robert Branford; Simon Lambert; Ben Hopwood; Ben Morley; Charles Wright; Dan Greenwood; Darryl Ritchings; Jake Knight; Jason Garrity; Kyle Hughes; Lee Smart; Lewis Blackbird; Lewis Kerr; Lewis Rose; Liam Carr; Max Clegg; Oliver Greenwood; Paul Starke; Robert Lambert; Stefan Nielsen; Steven Worrall; Tom Perry. Seems there will be two rounds to pick the riders, Coventry get first pick, with contracted riders going to their respective clubs. Second round draw commences with the team having the lowest ranked rider from draw one having first pick. The ten not drawn will be used to cover injuries or non-availability. Thats the starting point then.

I just wonder if a few rules may be re-written so as to accommodate a few of the instances being mentioned on this site, pure conjecture however, at this stage. The programme will have to be looked at deeply to fit in the proposed two(2) reserve races per meeting in the EL. I doubt that there will be any significant reports yet, but behind the scenes who knows what takes place, until the powers that be consider it appropriate to release the details. Just lets keep wondering!

I know this is the silly season, however, with the AGM yet to come and the better NL riders of the past season being positioned in EL clubs I wonder what effect it will have on rider availability. At least for heat leader positions. As for the past thoughts on grass to speedway, I remember Alfie Hagon, top rider on grass, second string standard on shale. That is my memory holds good.

Two National League riders per Elite League club. Interesting to say the least, no-one seems to have seen that coming! Now for all the bickering vis-a-vi 'you have two of the best from the NL or why have we been lumbered with him'! It will be very interesting given that they intend to have two reserve races per meeting. This is where the teams win or lose many meetings, however, it does mean that the 1-5 riders cannot become reserves so will have to stand up and be counted to maintain their place, no looking for easy pickings in the basement slots.

If it goes ahead (TV deal not done & dusted) the AGM is now here. Reality, not supposition, begins. Monday may reveal the actual turn of events then we can wonder on other details, for instance, team strengths and who goes where. The possibility of two divisions has long been mooted as have the thoughts included a third tier of the likes of Iwade, Lydd (though not I believe a SCB club) and the MDL setups. The powers that be have to consider the travel for all, and that having teams nearby (in speedway terms) leads to travelling supporters and increased gate takings. The fans win as do the promoters. Nothing better than the days of Wimbledon, Hackney and West Ham for team loyalty and good terrace banter, made the racing seem much better. Sometimes the old ways seem better and what goes around comes around so what was wrong with 13 heats and the second half scurry format? It gave the riders an extra ride and allowed youngsters to test their mettle. Hard, maybe, sink or swim, possibly. However, it did create some great racing and I know many rumours abounded over riders agreeing to results or sharing the second half monies, their business and so long as they put on a show the majority of the fans were satisfied. Much to be awaited!