Sings4Speedway

Great to see Thomas & Rowe back and both look like they will continue improving. Hampshire has potential but is very raw and will need some financial backing if he is to progress. I fear its a year too early for Clouting and whilst his equipment is good his speed is lacking despite a nice smooth style and much the same could be said about James Laker if/when he is announced. With the proposed points left it looks very likely that Stoneman will return and as he cannot team ride for toffee him and Hampshire as a 3&4 pairing looks a potential disaster. No unbeaten home run at Kent this year.

Odsal is just cruel and unnecessary. As for the final team place i have a suspicion that a rider is already lined up. The club will certainly know who they want roughly. The show us what you can do is a way of boosting winter school numbers with others entering the market.

Sadly its looking that way and it was a bright looking start to the Warriors team building. With Widman an almost certainty to feature and 5.18 to play with a rider like Luke Harris seems set to complete the side. Whilst ironically Widman & Harris would be the ones with most scope for average improvement it does leave the engine room of the team a little light weight

Charlie Brooks is more than ready. Ive seen him on the shale a couple of times and he was very impressive. He has good support around him and good equipment so don't be surprised if he doesn't out perform Edwards, it certainly creates the strongest reserve pairing in the league thus far. As for including Powell in the team i just don't see that happening, Eastbourne aren't loyal for the sake of it and i see Hunter in the team far more likely and if using up the points so important Jack Smith would be a useful shout over Georgie Wood.

Laurence Rodgers has left Plymouth......seems unlikely that he is heading anywhere else but back to Coventry?

Would be surprised if Hunter was included in the Kent side and be staggered if Andrews was included, he was the only rider last season the fans & management didn't really warm too plus on 4.68 doesn't look great value. Bowen, Thomas & Rowe must be certainties with others plugging the gaps. I think Clifton would be a mistake for both club and rider but that certainly doesn't mean anything with stubborn Silver

Think this is as much to do with off track as on it. With the new management team i feel they are looking to work with riders who are easy to deal with in the maiden season and they dont come much easier to deal with than Tom Bacon.

Problem with Lee is he packed in every 2 laps. Bit surprised Sealey is back? Although he is a 3 pointer with league experience now and has time to prepare this year. That said he really needs to improve his equipment and cut out the falls when in decent positions.

Decent side no arguing with that but i feel starting at number 4 will be a bit much for Kinsley. The other danger is that once Kemp is in the main body of the team his threat is nullified slightly by taking 4 rides rather than 7. The whole season for Mildenhall largely depends upon how Marson rides and how Bebee's return after injury goes which is quite a risk

Very true but an absolute tragedy if he isnt at Worky. Local club, local sponsors helped put him in his current position and even had Workington Kevlars made and posed in them last year. If he was to up sticks and chase the money so early on it would upset a lot of people i suspect.

Whilst its sad that some names will be missing out on places there has been a huge shortfall in available riders to cover injuries over the past couple of years so those without places are likely to feature at some point. How teams are made up all depends upon the promotions and i suspect that a team filled largely with improving 4, 5 & 6 pointers will do well if as you state there are not enough new 3 pointers to go around? Personally id like to see new blood given time & a chance to develop rather than the current glut of 3 pointers with league experience but haven't improved their averages for several seasons.

Cant knock Dans talents or progress. Were plenty who questioned his inclusion in a Championship side who to be fair had to have a Brit 2 pointer & picked from one open practice session. But it would be a fair assessment to say that Bewley on many levels is the exception rather than the rule.

Hope so. There was certainly positive vibes around it previously and with the Saturday night race night now available it could certainly make sense?

There have been numerous attempted new approaches to marketing over the years by numerous clubs and most have failed. However i do believe Eastbourne will have some successes as they are astute people at the helm but in order for marketing to be a success it requires nationwide cooperation of all clubs not a single approach. As for the colour / rebrand im afraid that Eastbourne will lose their easily recognised identity and fall into the neon fad brigade.

With the greatest of respect as nobody has heard of him from either NL or development leagues id fancy it won't be this mystery Searsby or any of the wind up names Odsal is chucking about in a cruel way. Suggesting names just so others can immediately dismiss them is not productive in any way. As for the possibility of a moto cross convert getting a team place straight into the Championship is both laughable and dangerous. Whatever natural ability / balls they may have they will have nowhere near the skill set to compete safely at that level.

Well that was a lot of huff and puff about a colour change and a possibly short sighted one at that? Obviously its great that it is nothing negative towards the running of the club but i feel the PR machine is misfiring slightly here

Without doubt that is another nail in the development coffin but sadly it has been money driven for years. Eastbourne to their credit do run regular 2nd halves and host an SDL team which is more than most although still a long way to go to make up for the destruction of the training track that helped nurture so many youngsters.

Same could be said of most seasons. Plenty signed up this year who weren't ready. Teams don't have to track rookie 3 pointers though its just the choice of team make up. The bigger issue is what are NL teams doing to help generate the next batch of 3 pointers.......naff all is the answer

Riders can ask for whatever they want. Its the promoters that pay the money that are bringing the sport down. I want more money from work, if my boss says no i have the opportunity to look elsewhere for more, if i cannot find more money elsewhere i have to stick with what i have or risk not earning any money at all.

6 from 7 i reckon with Hunter in place of Powell

Now that is a very interesting proposal. A National Pool open to any riders who wish to put their name forward? Teams limited to using each rider once home & once away perhaps? Maybe a limit on how often a rider can be used at a certain track? Can't argue that its a perfect suggestion but it is radical and the sport as a whole needs a radical shake up. Far to many inner circles at present.

Worst case is Kelsey at reserve and his confidence takes a nose dive? Easbourne have done well historically when a strong 2,6,7 combo is in place. Limited bargain 4 pointers about although Callum Walker looks good value?

Predictable but top signing. Providing Eastbourne can sign a good rider at number 2 there should always be a strong reserve pairing when riders move up/down. Strong business as usual for the Eagles

Agreed it would be good if teams showed an interest in developing riders for future seasons. I like the 8&9 idea. Teams have to use one of these riders if a reserve is missing (possibly even extend it to when RR is being used). This would mean teams would need to show an interest in fringe riders sooner rather than later and help develop them in case they are called upon. Although i can't see that many being keen to turn up and take part i a single match race at the end of the night.

Nice to see that the majority are all on the same page (except the ageist idea, riders can compete whatever age if they are good enough). Sounds like Kings Lynn's participation is unlikely but im hoping for 11 teams with Coventreicester included. Fixed weeks for KOC are definitely a good idea & if you wish to run the Nat Trophy move it until after all league fixtures have been completed. Once the cut off date has been reached no more meaningless league matches full of guests & average manipulation as they are insulting to fans. Limit the number/length of time RR can be used per team per season.