Teromaafan

Where has the one rider over 8 points come from? It can’t be introduced at this stage of a (admittedly ridiculous) pre-season. Now if there was a sudden ‘one ginger’ per team rule introduced, that would be more in line with British speedway credibility and explain why Kurtz hasn’t been named by the Aces.

More negativity towards Saville. He once kindly arranged for a friend of mine to milk a cow blindfolded when he was a kid!

I recently upset someone and they sent me a one word email response. I was surprised that they couldn’t spell ‘can’t’!

The BSPL are clinging on to two tiers due to the excessive number of riders reliant on doubling up for their earnings. The riders are calling the shots. I don’t see how this sport can move on until the doubling up monster is tackled.

Exactly, why is there this obsession with the ‘top’ flight? The sport in this country has no credibility. The shrinking numbers that still follow the sport aren’t that bothered about which league their team compete in. Less than a handful of GP level riders is the only difference between the Premiership and Championship. The top tier is so attractive that it has got to the point where they literally are begging clubs to take part! This is not something you would include in your sales pitch when trying to attract new spectators/sponsors to the sport.

Did you mean ‘wink’ or is that a typo!😂😂

Based on predicted attendances…….Northampton Nomates!

Dickson should impose a small fine on Kemp for not completing 4 laps (excluding genuine engine failures/falls/exclusions). That would change his attitude immediately.

Wish I was as confident as you! I'm hoping than Dan T will continue on the same trajectory and maybe push for that third heat leader spot. I see him as the one that could put the most on his average in this team.

So everything hinges on the pit gate then! 😀

It looks like we will have an RS that can offer something this season (the No.7 position cost us the league last year) but losing the league’s best rider makes the team weaker over all. Can’t see any team giving the Lions a hiding, but when scores are close they will come up short in the all important heats 13 & 15.

Thanks for that Fromafar!

I’d probably give Sedgmen another go.

With all the rumours of the strained relationship between Dickson and Kemp I would have thought that Dickson would have considered Sedgmen. Going back a couple of seasons to the Premiership pairs competition, for their home leg, Dickson selected Fricke and Sedgmen based on the number of heat one 5-1s they’d racked up in the league up to that point. The tactic died on its arse though as Sedgmen hardly trapped all night!

Reading this thread you wouldn’t think it was the same individual that rode for Leicester and Berwick. Out of interest, how often did Kemp complete four laps and finish last for the Bandits?

Whilst I had a pop at someone who now has a criminal record for violent crime I did not say that he shouldn’t be given a second chance. People will have different views as to whether Garrity should be given another shot at speedway. The only opinion that really matters to him is that of any potential speedway promoter willing to take a punt on him. The onus is on Garrity. Let’s see how keen he is to impress any employer. Who knows, he might be driven by the achievements of Havelock and Lee and go on to be a world champion! (yeah…..right 🤣).

Yes, he does, just. Interesting that he won't be starting the season with a Championship team place despite averaging over 8.0 at that level.

The fact that Cookie has been given yet another opportunity to ride is a reflection on the short fall of riders willing to race in this country. Whilst I hope he can ‘find himself’ next season for the benefit of Worky and UK speedway, the Comet’s promotion should already be looking at eligible replacements on his average in readiness for the inevitable.

Speedway is dangerous as we all know. The ageing spectator demograph however might feel even more vulnerable knowing that only a mesh fence a few feet high separates them from Garrity. So long as they do not have anything valuable in their possession though, things should be fine. In defence of Garrity, he’s probably looking at Craig Cook and thinking he’s repeatedly let so many people down and continues to get offers to ride.

They won’t be at Ipswich, but don’t rule them out lining up for ‘the 6th team’🫤

Not if there was only 5.32 to play with he wouldn’t.

Don't know what figures you're working to, but my maths indicate that Holder, Pickering & Etheridge (or another 3 pointer) will just fit in under the 37 points limit.

The problem with long term planning is the continuing closure of tracks. It is getting to the stage where the shrinking number of tracks could lead to team speedway being unsustainable. Whilst we all like watching the GPs, almost everyone on this forum will have initially been drawn to the sport by watching the 7 v 7 team format. Supporting your team is a tribal thing, like football. Can’t speak for others, but this is why I love speedway and have zero interest in any other motor sport.

The problem with long term planning is the continuing closure of tracks. It is getting to the stage where the shrinking number of tracks could lead to team speedway being unsustainable. Whilst we all like watching the GPs, almost everyone on this forum will have initially been drawn to the sport by watching the 7 v 7 team format. Supporting your team is a tribal thing, like football. Can’t speak for others, but this is why I love speedway and have zero interest in any other motor sport.

Everyone seems to think that Howarth will be back with the Lions, so that leaves 4.84 for the final rider. The likelihood is it will be Kemp (sorry IainB!), but Sedgmen would also fit. I know Sheffield dumped him but he rode Leicester well when he was here previously, provided that he trapped (and frequently did).