Sings4Speedway

I thought the rarity factor added to its value begs the question what is rarer a Loomer season ticket or a smile from the woman on the gate?

Gotcha so the Birmingham Speedway Supporters that attend pay £2 which will go to the Birmingham Speedway Supporters Club of which many attending will already be members of..........makes as much sense as your potential number 7's passport application form

Always tricky on these kind of evenings as most of the questions fans want to know won't be directly answered. When will the number 7 finally get their paperwork sorted? Has anyone sponsored the race suits yet? Is Callum Walker contracted to go everywhere Rogers does? Rather than can this team win the league etc etc

I suspect they have gone back 3 times and checked with Birmingham if the spelling is right

Agreed. Youth with a bike = talented youngster Rider under 25 = rising hot shot Rider over 25 = experienced professional Any rider who has any success at any point will constantly be referenced e.g former 3 legged race runner up

Not sure how happy Worky would be if Newcastle signed Klindt . Don't think Bellego can double down? Porsing not doing the UK so best bet would be Sedgeman which is alarming in itself. Lahti would be an excellent signing but too expensive i suspect.

Drodz, Allen & Davey who i think will surprise plenty this year

Could have been a worse injury going by his Twitter antics

I'd tell you but I fear people will think I'm just trying to get a high scrabble score

IF it is who i believe then no chance of that situation happening. Quite likely to do alright but also likely to get some shale rash during the season. Will have done well to finish on a 5 point ave. Flint on the other hand has true pedigree and for him the skies the limit.

Possibly giving those who prepare their own race cards time to brace themselves..........

IF it is the rumoured rider he has been tracked twice by Rodgers before when ineligible. Once is a mistake, twice is careless

Or no passport if Rodgers is involved

Not seen Chattin ride loads but he does he does seem very hit & miss but has looked very impressive at times. Its very difficult for any riders coming in mid season and to make an impact in just one or two matches when all the opposition they are up against is already match sharp. I still feel the last rider for Brum will be a talking point (either good or bad) due to the very late announcement.

Phillips is head and shoulders above the other two on pedigree and if Scunny don't snap him up he will get picked up during the season elsewhere. The other two offer very little in terms of supporting cases other than looking ok at practice sessions

Woofers has a very valid point. How many of the Eastbourne faithful are even aware of the colour scheme change? Id imagine there will be some die hard supporters who will be quite upset about a neon green eagle

Similar tactic has been used by Eastbourne for several seasons and its a clever one. Get sponsors to cover the costs of the race suits and sponsor gets them at the end of the year. Designs will always split opinions but ive never been that keen on the plain yellow with red B so matching suits will always look better IMO plus its another way of attracting the signature of potential riders to be signed.

Wasn't convinced when the new colour scheme was announced (and still not sure if i am) but early looks at the new merchandise looks excellent, a real selection of visually appealing products, currently in style and marketed at sensible prices. Its these kind of initiatives that speedway clubs have been desperately lacking IMO.

I guess the question most will have to ask themselves is what is most important entertainment or winning? If every home match was a thriller but meant the Panthers lost in heat 15 for example would people still attend? Obviously the danger is home drummings with gate and go speedway which could affect crowds although ironically a season of massive home wins doesn't have the same effect yet is equally as tedious to watch.

Whilst i love the NL it is also a divisive league. Riders like Clegg & Davey are either hanging around for the easy money or keeping sharp to aid their development in higher leagues? Bowen & Roynon dropping down because they cannot cut it in the higher leagues or increasing the standard and providing invaluable advice? Verge & Wooley no genuine progression chances to the higher leagues or just slow burners? Its very difficult to make sweeping changes as there will always be riders /clubs who suffer as the NL serves such a wide purpose.

Id say its all down to interpretation. The majority of riders left out good or not have had time in the speedway leagues to prove themselves & have found their level. Much like many companies have employees who have progressed so far and then stayed in the same role for a long time as they have limited progression left in them. Unless new riders / apprentices come in the sport/company would fail in the long run. That said i have nothing against any of the riders left out and like the majority of them. Personally there are plenty of middle averaged riders going nowhere that need clearing out rather than the top enders but until a new breed come in and up their averages to take those places we will continue to be stuck with them.

Can't argue with the facts and that was entertaining

Good spot. Although another that has a fair run at speedway over the years?

As the majority of teams are now full it looks time to reflect upon those who missed out. Of the notable riders that have no rides this year the majority of the list have had a good run in speedway / in the NL so perhaps could be considered a cleanse? Luke Priest, Lee Dicken, Steve Boxall, Danny Halsey, Paul Hurry, Dan Greenwood, Richard Hall. Obviously there are few who have retired / moved up so the biggest names left without a NL spot are Hunter, Bowtell (yes has CL but arguably needs NL) & Possibly Mountain who wanted NL but doesn't fit.

You could make that argument about plenty of riders being "too good" same as many riders "not progressing" and blocking spots of other potential riders. Im not sure anyone is "too good" for the NL as riders & the product as a whole will only get stronger riding against stronger opposition.