Sings4Speedway

Shame that Mildenhall have opted not to field an MDL side this season and focus on home rider development? 2nd half track time is very important to riders of all ages so whilst its a benefit that they club will still supply it i can't help thinking they are being very short sighted by not including a Jnr squad and giving them experience of racing on other tracks, as part of a team and the travelling required etc. The cynic in me thinks that they are upset about losing Taylor Hampshire as the MDL offered him exposure to other clubs but their actions are going to create riders who can only ride the west row circuit?

Whilst a rider may not officially retire if they don't ride from the end of 2014 isn't self imposed exile the same thing? (not that its hurt Rikki Mullins chances). Reece had plenty of potential but like many around his age appears to have drifted away from the sport? Would think a better bet would be a local second half rider / Nick Phillips for the final position.

Think Jacobs would be 10.72? Either way far too high. With just over 11 points to play with and hints that Buxton will be without another true heatleader it points towards a 5 & 6 point rider and Shelby starting at reserve?

No surprise but definitely a relief. Gives Kent a very solid looking 1-5 although a lot will depend how they line up. Good years for Clifton & Stoneman & its a side that will be towards the top, average years for them and its mid table mediocrity i fear.

If all riders brought the cheapest items available we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. Great point. If a rider has the cheaper to run engines then surely they need less points/attendance money as their outlays are down. equally what are the deals with cubs signing riders who are considering a new GTR? A rider competing on their current engines with setups already known is far more attractive than a rider who will require time to adapt and get the best out of the new engines.

Excuse my ignorance but can anybody explain laser leveling in simple terms? Is the track dug up and then re-laid with laser level precision? Or is it simply a laser is used to measure the dips & lumps and then the shale is raked about accordingly?

I think even the NL riders will want more than £10 a point but still certainly less of a financial drain. Hopefully it will offer some NL exposure to those who don't view it very often (either by chance or location). Might even see some P'boro fans warm to the idea of having an additional NL team for the 2018 season?

Success will always bring imitators. 'IF' GM & Jawa improve the lubrication system of their new engines it could be disastrous for the GTR project as while riders will always pursue the fastest options they are also creatures of habit. How long have a multitude of silencers been available, 5 years? and how many riders still choose King as the default pipe.

6.48 i believe so Hopwood would put the Kings about half a point under the limit. In fairness only Cradley, Mildenhall, Stoke & possibly IOW (depending on Cook's mystery average) have got close to 39 point limit. With only Buxton, Belle Vue & Kent able to fit Hopwood in i would say we are nailed on and need to be if the side is going to have a competitive look to it. Although a very poorly kept secret it does at least make sense to name the most positive signing last.

It reminds me a lot of the 2015 Kent side that had a strong top 4 and long tail and that team finished bottom.

Completely agree that both will do very well in the NL this season & both have the potential to succeed in the Championship however along with Tom Bacon they all have strong reserve partners at that level and could find themselves restricted to 3 rides per meeting and potentially swapped out of the easier heats which could have an adverse affect on their confidence.

Snapping up 2 x 4 point riders now seems like a shrewd move as most teams are searching for those that are no longer available. Bowtell or Hunter @ no 2 doesn't look so bad now that other sides are coming together however i still have the sneaky suspicion that the last place will be filled by a total rookie.

Injury free i think Kyle can put a point on his average and become an outstanding league number 1. Lynn are going to be a very strong side at home and with this line up i think they could pick up some decent results on the road too so plenty of potential to be at the sharp end as the season closes. Much will depend upon the tail though as Hampshire & Whitmore have limited season long experience and who will fill the final place given that low 4 pointers are virtually all snapped up.

Poor signing but a necessary one as Plymouth have points to use up (even if i feel they would have been better used on Shanes). The bigger negative is that it forces Walker into the 1-5 & would expect a local second halfer to be the other reserve. On the plus side we can see which of the comeback kids will last the longest Compton or Mullins?

Im not really sure what is going on with the make up of the Brum team this year? Perhaps Drury has got a little complacent and thinks he can win the league with any side he picks? I rate Bacon but he is no number 1, Ritchings i feel will slide away this year, Hume & JPB ought to improve but it leaves a lot of pressure on the tail. I think once Cupitt moves up to number 2 and Hay moves down you will have a reserve combo that wouldn't look out of place at Buxton. In preparation to be quoted all season when i am proved wrong (again) "This Brum 1-7 won't get near the play offs"

Hmmm pass & pass thanks. I suspect strudwick or maybe couzins? Either way it's plenty of bike time for Bradley Andrews

In now way relating to this particular scenario but some riders do need firm guidance and keeping their feet on the ground as much as some need continual gentle encouragement. There is a trend at present to blow smoke up the trumpet of any rider who shows a little promise on a speedway bike. Every rider is a person & every person requires different treatment & reacts to praise/criticism differently. Frustratingly its the nature of the beast that we hear about the negative relationships far more often than the positive ones.

In fairness even i have a % of the natural talent Bewley has....its just prefixed with 0.000 Hopefully its just the padded shorts worn underneath

No doubt Anders is one of the emerging talents and has been on the youth scene for what feels like forever. However from what i recall he has only successfully competed in one amateur dragons meeting with any real credit. Im all for the future of the sport but i do feel some of these kids are being thrown in way too early with a sink or swim mentality. Yes if they swim its a great find and excellent league experience but if they sink we could find ourselves in the situation with a bunch of disillusioned 15 year olds who are tagged as failing to deliver in the NL. However good luck to Rowe & even better luck trying to sign a rider to fill in for the early meetings knowing they will be dropped at the start of May.

Looks like i definitely owe you a pint when you visit Central Park now gazzac only gets half a shandy

I have to say yet again another positive release & approach to the situation regarding the Rikki Mullins signing by the IOW promotion. An honest response by Barry towards all IOW & speedway fans and full acceptance that they have made a debatable signing which is incredibly rare as far to many promoters take no responsibility regarding the riders they track. Do i personally think that the signing of a rider who has done very little competitive riding since 2014 is a good one? No Do i think that pestering a club for a team place is justification for the signing of a rider over those who have been actively racing & putting in effort via amateur / development leagues? No Do i wish IOW all the best with the signing of Rikki Mullins & the upcoming season? Unquestionably Yes. I cannot think of a team more deserving of success for the effort & enthusiasm they have bred back into the club & sincerely hope that this signing does not prove to be the undoing of their hard work.

Sorry didn't realise you were buster? A solution may/may not be needed (cough cough rev limiters) however I don't feel it's the bspa's place to invest many people's hard earned into any business venture

Why did the bspa invest £360,000 into the GTR project when there are clubs struggling for air fences and junior leagues having to fund everything themselves?

Don't get me wrong I've nothing personal against jack however far too many times he would arrive late and with a bike unprepared. His family spent a huge amount of time and money on his racing like every other family and yet his general appearance was that he didn't care. As I've said many times before these are just my opinions based upon what I have seen.

No doubt a wasted talent. Had plenty of potential but lacked effort both on and especially off the track. Has had good people around him in the past who have gone above and beyond yet he was generally ungrateful. If he applied himself properly & approached speedway as a privilege not a right then he could make a successful return by i very much doubt it will happen.