Sings4Speedway

Jack Thomas signs for Glasgow. Great for him and his progression tough on the Kings as they will have first call on fixture clashes

JPB replaced by both teams on the same day he walks.........don't let the door hit you on the @rse on your way out

Managed alright on one league last year and its not like he is going to be short of points with Rye as a home track........providing he saves his pennies for the away days

If the conversion is 1.3 it can only be for Barker or Robson ? Unless multiple changes are afoot.........

Looks like a swift and excellent resolution to the issue from Coventry. From what i have seen Connor is far more professionally setup than JPB was and i feel will provide more consistent results from the number 1 jacket. Add in that he is familiar with riding alongside Armstrong & Ruddick from his Mildenhall days and i feel that this move will actually make Coventry stronger in the long term.

Very limited options unless a double change? Team needs a boxall but could end up with a hurry?

For the P&P im purely guessing that Central Park is unavailable on Sundays? For the SDL i guess it makes a little more sense to use a weekend track and is possibly cheaper to run as Kent had to charge for the SDL double headers they hosted last season although as there are still medical requirements, officials and referees to be paid for i suspect there might be a similar arrangement at Iwade?

Its certainly not help by the jumps between the leagues and that the Brum third tier number 1 for example is also riding in the top division. There is certainly the argument that both the lower 2 tier of speedway are development leagues as surely the aim is to reach the top level and therefore develop as a rider in each? It could also be said that the majority of riders new to league racing enter through the National League so should it be named the National Entry League? The league serves many purposes as entry & early career development for riders along with being a standalone entertainment business for many clubs also. The true juggling act is ensuring both sides prosper as focusing solely on either will see the venture fail.

It was more a statement of the gambles promoters are prepared to take without being held responsible in any way for the consequences. There is a constant scamble at present to unearth (or claim to) the next big thing. If a rider owns a bike and can slide around each corner providing they have just gone through puberty they are tagged as "promising" and thrown into a side often long before they are ready. Very occasionally a natural with be uncovered but more often they flop and are never to be seen again.

10 hours ago, ProudtobeaBrummie said: The D doesnt exist anymore only in the minds of people unable to move with the times. If the points limit was correct at 42.5 like gazzac says we wouldn't need to do look at fudging a foreign rider in but with just 3.00 left the promotion know there is not a british rider left out there that is ready to be anywhere near competitive . The league is made up of stand alone teams now apart from b.vue and I want to see good competitive racing not processions i don't even mind losing if it's been good close racing . ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The promotion opted to build in this way and thought they would get away with bringing in a decent but not spectacular non british rider. They were not forced to leave themselves with 3.00 left they chose to with the other signings. If the points limit was higher do you think teams would not use them elsewhere not track new 3 pointers? Of course they would creating a greater gulf between the levels of ability on track.

Whilst the constraints are obvious as listed above the current promotion are attempting to run a development league side this season offering track time to those who are the level below NL racing and giving them the opportunity to put themselves in the window for next season perhaps? The previous promotion did not entertain the option of it, maybe with the curfew it will be a step too far BUT at least the Masons/Rogers can say they are being slightly proactive which is more than most.

Very different for riders who have a full season though / are included from the start to those who get one or two meetings when the season is in full swing. I will be the first to admit there are several riders who i didnt think were good enough and went on to do well and likewise several i tipped to succeed who flopped. Speedway is a funny old game and sometimes random gambles pay off.

Twice i believe over separate seasons. I think the late announcement (had the paperwork been completed in time) is a sign that Birmingham knew it would be contentious at best. Ultimately if he can secure a British passport he can ride according to the rules however given the number of years he has not held one it doesn't appear to be quite so straight forward.

I do find it hard to understand at higher levels why suits are not a certainty. 99% of riders are going to start the year with a new suit anyway whether that is a club suit or their own. If the total costs are too much for clubs to afford why not just make a contribution? Im certain if Somerset for example said to any rider we will give you £400 providing you have the club crest on the chest, black body and red arms the rest is up to you riders are going to take that deal then source their race suits wherever they choose.

Early learning curve for the new Birmingham promotion but not the first time that a team has been forced into a late change / P&P auditions for the final reserve berth. Scrabble Man may yet appear IF the paperwork can finally be sorted. Would guess a selection from Roberts, O'Keefe, Whitehead, Whitehouse, Naylor & Chattin to be in contention although Connor King would be a wise additional invite.

Its beautifully ironic. Stand together in Sun and Rain.........of we Stand together in the Sun (waiting for it to set) and Rain (getting cold and wet while the shower passes until the riders wander out the pit gate, kick a bit of shale around then abandon the meeting). Biggest alarm bell should be Always the same.........not sure Lynn fans can take much more of the same after recent years.

A lot of the dstar (other brands are available) fee includes the initial designs & setting up so barring logos/sponsors for individual riders the costs should decrease for additional suits rather than ordering a one off.

Hoping to see a couple of NL meetings at Leicester this year. The team Coventry has set up should deliver plenty of entertainment and i think there will be some nicely balanced matches there. Its almost a shame that the Prem team is so strong this season as in previous years there may have been a few more spectator converts from the higher tier.

At 30 you would think that length of ban would practically retire him? Certainly a sad way to bow out after an illustrious career but if you move if iffy circles............ I remember seeing him for the first time at Collier Street as a 19 year old. Had never even heard of him at that point and he flew round finishing 2nd in the final i think? From that point on i could see he would go on to big things. 1 x Longtrack Champ & 3 x runner up. 3 x Euro titles. 2 x Team titles & 8 x national champion is massive by any standards and yet i still feel like he has under achieved? Looked a strong favourite for another Longtrack championship before his suspension and who knows what would have happened over the coming years.

There are obviously a few positives. He will have his old man in the pits with him this season so will have more assistance/guidance. Unfortunately from what i have seen so far i agree that its too early for him and he is another example of a kid with a bit of promise being thrown in too early. Obviously some of these riders swim and progress quickly others sink and have their name tarnished by the results and struggle to land another team place again. Obviously the shrinking of the development leagues doesn't help as the pool of riders is smaller and the amount of competitive track time is limited. I hope Kean does well & Belle Vue do strike me as a very loyal club so he should get time to learn. Im not expecting great things from him this year but it would be nice to be pleasantly surprised.

ah just re-read and have to agree with you. Number 4 looks weak compared to most other sides also. There is going to be huge reliance from the top 3 all getting 10+ every meeting and hoping a couple of the others can chip in a bit

Feel for Buxton. There are only a few riders who would fit and get near the points limit. With Mellish & Priest still returning from injury, geography ruling out Hunter & wages probably ruling out Hall its going to take quite the rabbit out of the hat to complete what was looking like a promising side.

Think the reserve pairings are split this year between very strong & quite poor. Belle Vues combo fall into the second category but are not at the bottom of the heap. There should be a strong home track advantage which will help them and a very good top 5 will keep them well clear of the bottom but i see this team as mid table contenders.

Theres just too much of a gulf between the standard of the riders to tempt me to this one. Might finally make it to Lakeside this year but will need a more balanced competition than this lineup.

Hats off to Birmingham for admitting that the process for signing the 7th rider is taking far longer than expected and that selected 3 pointers have been invited to P&P in case there is a requirement to declare them in the initial side for challenge / Trophy meetings. Although that is a little kick in the plums for Kyle Roberts its important to do what is best for Birmingham Speedway.