Sings4Speedway

Sounds like a cracker, two teams well matched via various circumstances scrapping it out to a last heat decider. Wasn't there but wish i was, great advert for speedway at any level.

The only thing that annoys me about this post is i can only like it once. Ive been harping on for years about my loathing of RR and how there are so many opportunities to give riders experience being wasted. I think RR should be used as an emergency only in the case of very late sickness / breakdowns etc but limited to twice home & twice away per team. The rest has to be covered by number 8's. Im bored of teams abusing RR to their advantage and the long drawn out meetings as every manager seems to insist on riders having back to back rides.

Im sure you can steward the 250 imaginary people that also don't attend

Sadly true. The introduction of the SDL has been a positive in some lights but still with 5 teams in each its very light on fixtures. 4 H & 4 A is certainly not going to see many riders develop at a substantial rate. Add in that even tracks/track staff that host teams don't always offer much support which is sadly mud in the eye to the few amazing individuals who run the sides and the riders who travel huge distances in an attempt to better themselves.

Tough one to call. Think Marson could be the difference maker as Mildenhall look stronger at reserve along with the struggle to cover for Hume's absence. Flint can't take his RR until heat 12, Bacon isn't eligible so think RR is likely to return 6 at best rather than double figures and that swing in points in a tight meeting may be the undoing of the unlucky Brummies tonight.

Just had the U21 semi final over here. Lindsey & Kennedy both gave good performances as did Kvech for the czech republic. Any of those could have slotted in for Jeppesen and then a NL rider for Hume like Ruddick, Brennan, Stoneman etc leaving Mountain who has done no wrong alone and give the side a fresh young look that supporters could really get behind.

Flint too young, Kinsley nowhere near ready yet.

Think Heeps can consider himself very fortunate he wasn't shown the door

Really rough on Hume and again unfortunate for Birmingham. The cruel twists that Dany on 8.80 whilst Knight & Carr would come in on 8.83.....im not 100% but suspect Greaves (8.36) is not eligible? although saying that he would probably come in on his championship average doubled anyway. Wouldn't go anywhere near Hall personally and think he would be more harmful for moral than good.....id say its either Hunter or someone from the depths of time

Just daft all round, Riss has been trading off his brothers stock his whole career, Kemp risking getting an average (although manipulation should take care of that with little to race for) but Wally-inger Wal the Funk. No talent, no show National League reject. There are plenty of NL riders that would have loved the opportunity to ride at this level and put themselves in the window, there are development league riders likewise and all are more deserving of a team spot than Wallinger begger me the person who runs the tea bar must be more deserving of a place.....

Certainly average manipulation is becoming a far greater factor in the NL. 3 pointers would be crazy to sign at this point of the season unless they have a concrete offer for next year (and there is no such thing in speedway) with 4 meetings to attain an average there is huge potential for somebody to have a few decent scores (lucky or otherwise), pick up an injury and then are saddled with a high average freezing them out forever.

Is there any further updates on Sam Bebee anywhere? Scratch that just seen he has a broken arm. Sad times. Wasn't there but was he another victim of the armco behind the air fence?

Good early fight from IOW and they must be heartened by that against the visit of one of the leagues top two sides this year. Final hurrah for Flint at reserve but the Brum reserve headache has been coming for a while and as yet there has been no sniff of a new recruit. With development league racing at Perry Barr and the chance to run 2nd halves when these do not take place the chance to find another reserve was there. Could have even chucked Butcher & Cupitt out with them as i think there would have been several challengers who were keen to ride for Birmingham. Im not sure that waiting for Gilkes is the right answer for the team or him as averages are awarded much earlier this year and with him likely to increase his it would make his prospects of a team place next season more difficult.

Don't worry you might sign Saul Bulley and turn things around

Im not going to claim abuse is widespread or that there are persistent abusers or that things haven't gotten a little more sophisticated but there is more than enough funny smelling smoke to say there's a fire.

There are rules in place that are not currently enforced. Its common knowledge that you can take a standard engine up to 600cc plus or that a 350cc motor could be taken to 420cc which would actually help on some tracks as putting down less power would be an advantage. Throw in the number of very dodgy carbs / nitro / fuel abuse which goes undetected every season and you can see why there is little hope of any meaningful restrictions being imposed.

There is no debating that engines are part of the problem but these are driven by promotions and the riders they are willing to sign. There are plenty of technically gifted riders about who have been overlooked over the years in favour of those who will wind the throttle fully open and hang on. Taking a moral stance in speedway won't get a rider anywhere and when riders either side of you are using top tier / GP level engines the only option to remain competitive is to follow suit. Sure plenty of riders are far from getting the best out of the engines but there are clubs who wouldn't even look at a rider using a longstroke jawa despite them being far more predictable. Id also like to add that whilst engines are an issue the new silencers are still having a huge effect on producing a safe controllable bike.

Sounds like common sense has finally prevailed although shame it has come this far. Fingers crossed Stoke get everything sorted quickly and can move passed this.

Big tracks are less tiring than small ones where the bike is turned more rapidly / more frequently, straights afford 1-2 seconds extra to catch breath. 350cc machines don't hang around, didn't attend so don't know what the level of opposition was but a National Title is still a National title.

Come on Stoke. This is your biggest night of the year ahead. Perfect week of weather in the lead up so forget the result and just serve up a consistent track surface with limited dust, get the meeting run within a respectable 2 hours and allow the 2nd half meeting to actually be completed. If you can achieve this it will be considered a great success if Stoke fail to deliver on these basic items i fear their whole existence will be in great jeopardy.

Based upon Lawlor being fit for this one i can see him being the difference maker in this one with Woodhull also amongst the points. Smith & Bickley know their way round although Perry's form has been far from sparkling this year. The big 4 for Brum will fare well and it should be Walkers kind of track so if Cupitt can find a few and Butcher betters Dicken (in fairness id expect any Butcher, Baker etc to better Dicken) then the points will head to the Midlands. Either way fingers crossed for a good crowd and a close exciting meeting.

Surely with the Poultec academy based from Kings Lynn and the extra track time afforded to those riders one must be worth a look? In terms of Brits who would hold their own at least against the opposite numbers Morley, Mountain, Bacon, Hume or Shanes all have to be a more positive signing than sticking with Andersen.

Id also heard that rumour although as i feel Wood was the one rider least likely to be happy about it im not surprised he has found a higher tier club. I also suspect if such rulings are to remain in place at Arlington it will be Woods last season with the Eagles

Hampshire or Cupitt........ that's like the choice between getting kicked in the knackers by a wellington or football boot...

Think to shake things up in the short term a change of riding order may help? Thomas at 5, switch Hampshire & Rowe but these are short term items. Im not Stonemans greatest fan as he falls too often but can score big and is a Len type of rider. The fact that Birmingham opted against Hampshire says a lot over the winter and has proved a wise decision for them however i don't see many options for Kent at the moment, Nick Laurence or Jamie Couzins who performed well in the recent SDL match may be an option for Clouting who has been thrown into the league to early and is very uncomfortable to watch on the bike. The fact is that Kent have neither the best heatleader trio, best engine room or best reserves in the league but hopefully one meeting aside they can continue to provide some entertainment this season but forget about any silverware.