Teromaafan

A 15 team league for me every time. The doubling up monster will prevent that from happening though. This would be a big reduction in meetings/income for current double uppers (of which there are far too many), which leaves them in a dilemma. Can’t see any of them taking a financial hit (may need to think about going part time) and some will consider quitting the sport. It will no doubt be possible to find the additional riders needed from somewhere, but your opinion that the overall standard would be above that of the current Championship appears to be over optimistic.

I think your top four is about right. Finishing top isn’t as important as it was a few seasons ago when that team had choice of semi final opponents. It is quite possible that the team finishing fourth is the in form team at the time. Why on earth did they change that rule? I thought it was one of the best rules of the sport.

Undisputed. It’s just that team speedway, by its very nature, is hugely impacted by any injury to individuals. As a British speedway supporter, I want to see the best riders that the league can attract. Because of fixed race nights, the absence of a top rider, particularly in the Witches case, will only weaken the team (any guest for Ipswich would be a downgrade, R/R even worse). The very busy schedules of the top riders, by the law of averages, will result in casualties at some point. The upcoming season is looking like one of the best for some time in view of the riders we will be watching. Having followed Leicester from a kid through thin and ridiculously thin, I think that success this year would have some kudos. (Yeah I know, outside of the speedway bubble that means sod all!).

……..and the latch for the pit gate?

Most of the comments on this thread relating to Kemp pretty much sum him up. He will be 22 this year but has been around a while. If he is going places he really needs to kick on this season and put at least a point on his average (currently just over 4). From what I’ve seen of him he is great if he traps but isn’t that keen to chase down and jostle opponents, particularly in tight situations. We all know he has potential, but that word has a sell by date! Really hope this is his year.

Averages are total points scored divided by number of rides, multiplied by four.

Stop trying to be clever. Brum’s top end are a pick from what left overs were available and could be tempted!

You will have seen Becker race far more times than me and if you think he doesn’t need the protection of riding with the No.1 then I’ll take that!

Might be tempted to put Becker at No.2 to start with. He’s the only one of the top five that has never ridden for the Lions previously and would be riding with Fricke in three of his heats.

If everyone's prediction that Brum will finish 7th turns out to be correct, It will be good news for speedway and Brum fans in particular, as it will mean that they will have seen the season out.

Harsh, but tells it like it is!

Agree that the team (top five anyway) looks pretty solid. Rather than pick up points on the road though, I think they will be more reliant on aggregate bonus points. When meetings are tight, we will struggle to provide back up for Fricke in heats 13 & 15. This is where the likes of Ipswich, Sheffield & Belle Vue will have the greater fire power.

…………..Or easily the best mascot in the league?

‘….we wouldn’t be frightened what the money would be’…. It’s not a question of if, but how soon that stupid statement comes back to bite him.

Not sure what Joe is gaining still racing at this level. Yes he’s getting laps in, but will have very little racing, especially at home.

With all this emphasis on providing opportunities for younger riders, the minute tapes go up for heat 1, the priority for a team manager is to win the meeting. How often has (and will) the objective been to get the RS’s compulsory three rides out of the way? How often does the away team’s RS take their programmed ride in heat 14? Reserve switches are a common match tactic and the stronger reserve will be used where a likely heat advantage can be gained. To compensate, this often results in the RS being thrown to a tougher heat, where nothing is expected of them, but gets them their three rides. How about making it compulsory for the RS to take a minimum of four rides?

I’ve enjoyed my recent visits to watch the Lions at Brum and I hope that they make a real go of it next season. I’m trying to see through all of the negativity on this thread but the Brum supporters aren’t stupid and are very realistic about next season based on recent history. Everyone has them down for the wooden spoon in 2024. If the club’s financial predicament is as fragile as we are led to believe, seventh position may be an achievement as it would mean that they have completed the season.

A lot has been made regarding strengths of team’s reserves. Pretty sure all teams will have advised their reserves that their over riding priority is to beat your opposite number at home and riders will have been recruited with that in mind. Anyone at 6 or 7 that can produce a score above their average away from home will be considered to have delivered above expectations. Lewis Kerr is probably the only rider most likely to do this.

1 Ipswich 2 Sheffield 3 Leicester 4 Belle Vue 5 Oxford 6 Kings Lynn 7 Birmingham

The better the track, the better the racing, which to be fair has improved since the new era commenced in 2011. The downside to a fair race track is a lesser home advantage. Since it seems that next years teams will be fielding at least one rider of GP level quality, I’m not so sure that the reliance on home form will bag bonus points. The likes of Sheffield and Ipswich will be looking for heat 13 & 15 advantages on their travels.

Probably.......if heat 1 started about 7.45 ish!

With regard to merchandise, just update the relevant section on the website to reflect what is available in the track shop. Pretty simple I would have thought.

Don’t really see the point of this thread until all 1 to 7s are confirmed.

Not sure that there is much money to be made from speedway merchandise. If the club is trying to use a new logo (still to ‘cartoony’ for me) to generate money however, they really do need to get their act together on advertising their product. To date, most of the merchandise available in the track shop has not been shown on the club website. The online shop has quite frankly been piss poor and embarrassing. Hardly a priority, but this would appear to require minimal effort to make this work.

Anyone have any strong opinions on the new logo?