Sings4Speedway

Is there any further updates on Ryan? I thought he had a big off in a Longtrack meeting but have heard little since.

uh oh having an upbeat day today too. Was meant a little more looking at the big picture with play offs and KO cups coming up. A tiring jaunt to Buxton and a result that will make no difference either way vs additional preparation time ahead of the Eastbourne match and fresh riders.

Kent will be doing a rain dance i suspect, play offs now confirmed so no need to risk anything, i suspect the race will be on to get excuses in early. With a KO cup semi final at home the next day there will be plenty of minor injuries that need an extra days rest or broken down vans preventing key riders travelling north.

I can see why teams like those meetings early (effectively low pressure challenge matches) but if they went straight into league racing there could be a few upsets early on and surely the sport needs more shock results not less?

Based on current points & fixtures as i see it Mildenhall, Eastbourne & Kent definitely in. Brum definitely out. Plymouth MUST beat Stoke & Buxton and score 114+ points from those two meetings to dislodge Coventry which is a tall order (although exciting as hell if they stuff Stoke)

As a club i like Buxton and have no axe to grind with them however 3 planned home fixtures during June & July certainly does not help the case. Add in the three home meetings that took place in May were National Trophy matches it adds further fuel to the fire that these competitions should be placed at the tail end of the season and not at the start.

Injuries apart id be expecting Hume to rattle in a few votes.....

With the final 3 spots for the play offs anything but certain it looks like an exciting run in and fingers crossed the weather plays ball. Based upon rough current form (and we all know that means little in speedway) Kent - Current Points 34 - Buxton away +4 Total 38 Coventry - Current points 28 - Buxton away +4, Buxton Home +3, Mildenhall Home 0 Total 35 Eastbourne - Curent Points 28 - Stoke Home +3, IOW Home +3, Mildenhall H ? Total 34+? Birmingham - Current Points 30 Buxton Away + 4 Total 34 A slip up anywhere for any side and the chance has gone, Buxton & its notorious weather will play a huge part in the run in as any matches not completed will have a serious impact. Its entirely possible that 2nd place Kent could miss out if the match isn't run...... Whilst its rubbish that all matches haven't been completed and that is having an impact it certainly makes for an exciting end to the season.

Got a serious sniff of the play offs now so i guess cramming the meetings in. If they were out of the running would a Monday night have been tried?

Think the order of the meetings is all important as Clegg aside the Stoke team will get thumped but it will offer precious track time for both Clegg & Verge ahead of the second match. Stoneman is no slouch either if he can get dialled in earlier than his previous visit IOW might make it a nervy affair for the Eagles especially with the threat of running out of time in classic double header fashion reducing the threat of the Eastbourne big hitters. Also any rider who comes to grief in the first match is going to present a problem as there little pickings from the Stoke squad as guest options.

Think Rambo is getting married shortly and going through the motions, don't be surprised if he hammers in big scores throughout the play offs for P'boro

Success if you were looking for something sturdy to prop the workshop door open, damp with tears squib if you are trying to sell one.

Wasn't present as i have avoided Mildenhall for exactly these reasons although i do concede that there is also excellent racing produced at the track. However its been my opinion held for a while that any track that has armco behind the fence should be forced to use the polyfoam fences rather than just airbags. However most important is a speedy recovery to both riders who are two of the nicest guys in the sport and both deserve better luck.

At this stage of the season getting any rider to take a guest booking at Plymouth is tough. With Brennan already booked & Spiller over here and available its a logical choice. Even so i fear the Brum reserve pairing will get very little and that will swing that match. Tells a bit of a story when Adam Sheppard could be a match decider.

Impressive display by Eastbourne and Georgie Wood was very impressive & determined. The track as set with alternative lines and the home riders knew what to do whilst Kent struggled to be competitive. Edwards has equally grown in stature as a rider and impressed. Not sure what the crowds have been like recently but certainly looked well down on previous visits?

Still steps in the right direction for IOW. The merit of 2 strong heat leaders has been shown and Verge has been much more of a success than many expected. Campos has done well when he has been available but the side looks in trouble when its RR for him. The reserve & number 2 jacket need looking at. A decent reserve and a number 2 who can swap places all season and the a.n.other 3 pointer to fill the gaps and i expect the Warriors to be higher up the table again next year.

I love Bowen and certainly hope he returns to full fitness and can be accommodated back into the Kent side. Great value to watch however even with the inevitable points limit increase 9.60 is a big chunk to use up on one rider however dependable they may be.

Can certainly see it, can't see him at Eastbourne again next year BUT depends on averages as he will be the same as Morley on 1/9 and i know who most would pick out of the two.

Shocked at that. Wouldn't have picked Bomber to carry the spanners. Ellis is a prospect on that scene but would think Richard Hall & Andrew Appleton amongst others are a bit peeved.

Can see Shanes is absent for the Plymouth trip (Sheffield duty) but who else got their excuse in early to avoid Stoke on sat?

I have to agree with the above when a rider has genuinely been injured and perhaps with the proviso that the signing is for the remainder of the season & that we don't see a surge of riders leaving teams who are not in the play offs to join teams who are. Ironically if teams were allowed to strengthen and Brum had signed a rider like Greenwood for Hume again prior to Walker being injured it would have left Brum weaker as it will now be RR for Walker whatever and a choice of guests for Hume until the playoff begin when the choices are limited to riders from teams outside the play offs? I would be tempted to get Ben Wilson on standby & get him a few home laps in prior to the play offs.

Can see heats 2 & 8 being huge tonight. If Cov bang in 5-1's in each of these then Brum will be in big trouble. Harris 'should' be scoring plenty tonight and may well prove the difference maker i highly suspect he will feature in heat 8 & 14 in place of Ryan Mac. Keeping RR at 3 also limits the Brummies options as there is only one heat that Flint can go out in. Had a quick flick down the heats and think its going to take some heroics in the latter heats and a little luck for Brum to get anything from this.

Now that would be quite the coup. I think he would be daft to ride more than 3 meeting and jeopardise his chances of signing as a 3 pointer next year but if Kent could land his services for the play offs it would ruffle several feathers. Talented as he is though it would be a shame if the results of the play offs are decided by who can land the services of one single reserve.

Sadly until clubs embrace the development leagues the sport will continue to slide. There are scores of riders who started out in these leagues and prosper but they are still shunned by many promotions & the governing bodies. The costs imposed upon the volunteers who decide to run them are huge, the mileage the riders put in is vast as so few teams compete. Referees refuse to officiate over any more than an additional 6 heats and there is at least one club i know where the track staff wanted extra to stay on for the second half (which now no longer happens at that track).

Im not sure anybody has stopped anyone riding who has a "legitimate Bristish passport" and once it has been provided to the governing bodies im sure a licence will be granted.....the issue at the start of the season (and in seasons past) is that the passport resides in Laurence Rogers mythical glove box along with Flint Snr's approval to ride and a collection of hens teeth.