Sings4Speedway

Kennett vs Lambert @ Rye awesome! I would give the edge in the engine room to Newc but the Rockets reserves will have a big say in this match as i think the edge the Diamonds pairing and much will rest upon what RR brings vs Palovaara. Its got last heat decider written all over it !?!

I reckon Georgie Wood will get score more than Ellis Perks and its a definite advantage for Kent to be able to track a guest as Danny is on PL duty. Burton might find life tough at number 4 but seems like Pipe has written off his little project before the match has started? As is often the case at the DP raceway whoever has the least fallers will have the upper hand.

Rutherford is taking a break to sort his dodgy equipment out and Saul has quit as he didn't realise how much time off was involved (serve an apprenticeship in the MDL then!). The available riders are limited at the moment so Cradley need to look at snapping up Richard Andrews before its too late.

Signed off with concussion until the 13th

Couldn't agree more although i want the bspa nowhere near the MDL as they will screw it up. Instead give the MDL sides what they want, perhaps a little financial assistance, reduced rates for the organisers and ensure they are welcomed wherever they go. The refs are just as bad as they won't allow double headers to take place as it exceeds the amounts of heats and want paying double! Sadly promoters will always think they can bypass the MDL and sign a grasstracker (now in fashion) or complete newbie with little racing experience and then seem surprised when the riders struggle for money, time off and travelling. he MDL riders do everything for free as they are desperate for the chances to learn and eventually step up. If the grass roots of the sport was better maintained the future of the sport as a whole would look a little brighter.

Hats off for him being honest but perhaps that is something that should have been considered before accepting a team place.........

Sadly its an attitude that comes from the higher realms of the sport but doesn't mean there is any excuse for it. Sadly some riders forget it is a privilege to ride for a team and one that plenty would be extremely grateful of. How is any rider suppose to improve or work out a set up if the just poodle round at the back? Whilst all fans are hoping a riders score points the only thing the expect is a bit of effort.

Buxton need Greenwood & Blacklock on song for this one plus a good guest for Mudgway who can return the day after. With Burton in the 1-5 & and a debut for Hay it looks like the tail end could cost the Hitmen although it would be nice to see Geary get a run in the number 7 jacket. As for the Kings im not sure if Mason has ever been that far North? Can't see Verge or Thomas enjoying themselves but Bowen & Shanes will go well. I think the meeting will swing on who gets the most out of the R/R rides and could be closer than some think but Kent should sneak the away points from this but not by much.

When you build a top heavy team like Cradley you must have a start reserve or it will always be a struggle. Probably luck ythat Chessell is really on song to be fair. In other news ex Eastbourne Eagle Nick Phillips signs for IOW as Matt Saul has got bored. Will be interesting to see how Nick fares on a bigger home track?

Also depends who the ref is that night? If its Babs it could require a second mortgage

Mildenhall is just one of those tracks where there is little margin for error. Claimed several injury victims over the past couple of seasons Richard being just one of the unlucky ones.

Certainly looks pretty bleak. I think Swindon will be up and running but Coventry are in trouble, Leicester have been dragged in to the mire and if memory serves nothing is concrete for Lakeside next year. Obviously there are ambitious clubs that might be offered incentives to step up? Rye House, Kent and Ipswich?

Can't of helped not attending the hearing though? Principles aside if he had turned up, apologised and offered some remorse i suspect he would have got a lesser fine & suspended sentence? Instead his stubborn actions have affected many others including all riders and British speedway as a whole.

From the times i have seen him his pace isnt too bad but he cant gate for toffee so has much to do before hitting the first corner. That said if he can sort that he could be a useful acquisition.

This could be the signing to really help Cradley kick on is its Andrews or Purchase released / rested. Layne has plenty of potential and the best possible advice for the Monmore track. In fairness he needed to get away from Lynn before he got the push so i call it a positive move all round.

Whilst obviously riders need somewhere to live am i the only one that thinks it stinks that an overseas rider is required to have accommodation supplied for them whilst British riders have to pay their own rent/mortgage and are not paid significantly different?

Sadly Alex shutting off still makes the bike goes straight so its a no win situation. Sounds like a racing incident that happens up and down the country over the course of a season. The nature of the sport means that time to time people will end up in the fence. So a few toys have been thrown around & i doubt Christmas cards will be exchanged but its not exactly Hancock / Pedersen is it.

I would say that 2 seconds between NL & PL is excellent pace whatever the track conditions. Ive seen he blue groove appear at places like Rye, Kent and on hot days at Mildenhall within 5 heats in the NL as riders can attack the corners hard and attempt to scrub the speed at the last minute before hooking round and powering up the following straight. At Eastbourne due to the shape of the corners a different style is used to enter the corners and therefore the blue groove is not so evident. Add in the differing shale types used as some are more prone than others and the likelihood that most NL riders will be geared higher than PL riders creating more wheel spin there is an argument to say that the track could be in a worse state if the NL meetings went first.........

The NL riders are more than good enough to ride slick / bald tracks, blue groove or not. As you say there is often one at Rye, Mildenhall & Kent for that matter quite early on but the riders don't struggle. 2nd halves take place regularly at Mildenhall on a track as slick as Fonz's hair and nobody complains about it. Obviously watering a blue groove is stupid but the PL will always get the tracks with grip & dirt on and the NL will get what is left when it comes to double headers and that will never change.

Nail on the head there. If Leicester plan to continue running Saturday nights they need to start thinking about targets for next season now. Ignore the so called big names / has beens that ride in Poland and look at a more home grown side. 2 x decent EDR's like this year. 2 double uppers who ride the track well e.g Garrity, Summers, Masters then look for EL only riders like Nicholls or Morris then add a Swede/Dane if required? Build strength in depth rather than being obsessed with a "big name" and start to build the relationships between riders and fans so they have a team to back rather than ask "who?" or "where is.....?"

Its always going to be swings and roundabouts at Rye. Last year when the Rockets were pants the Raiders were flavour of the month as they were having a decent season. This year as the Rockets are showing some good results the attendances and enthusiasm for the Raiders will fade (especially with an iffy team).

Whilst 2nd halves are a mixed bag in terms of quality i personally find it satisfying to watch the riders progressing and keeping an eye on those for the future. It may not add loads to the attendances but does offer better value to those who do attend and you could see the next star in the making? Im sure those who used to stay behind and watch the Rye House MDL team have enjoyed the progress of Danny Ayres from constant faller to PL rider. Its also worth remembering that many of the Brum team learnt their trade in the 2nd halves & those teams who have long tails this year should look at themselves and what they are doing about it? Rye House, Stoke etc have both dropped the MDL in recent seasons and now struggle to find any usable reserves. The 2nd halves may not always be entertaining today but they are there to help provide the entertainment of tomorrow.....

Not a classic in terms of quality but very entertaining meeting none the less. Mildenhalls top 3 were excellent value, Armstrong the evergreen looked superb, Mountain looked like a true number 1 and Halsey was quick and brave. The rest of the fen tigers blew hot and cold though. Widman should be much stringer at reserve than he currently is, Bowtell had a patchy afternoon and Coles is having a shocker this season and looked was slow. For the Kings it was a case of better late than never but lacking in heat winners early on was a big worry at home. The Clifton/Mason partnership at 3/4 didnt seem to work with Mason always gating but Clifton faster but stuck behind. Shanes got shown up on occasions by riders who use the conventional line quickly. Then Bowen 747 who threw the bike everywhere in ht15 to try and pass the fast gating Halsey, i personally didnt think it was going to happen and then off the final turn the home crowd erupted. Hard on Mildenhall who i felt deserved the draw for their efforts but reminded everyone that on their day they are a potent force.

I believe there is an amateur dragons at Kings Lynn on 5th June. Free entry, a quid for a program (i think) and 40-50 races to enjoy. No prima donnas just riders of all ages out to enjoy themselves and run by a club who rarely make a profit but run because the genuinely want to give something to the sport and long may they prosper. If you want to visit one new venue / meeting this season an Amateur Dragons would be a very good investment of your time.

Sadly your tail would be average in the MDL this season. Locke & Bowdrey with little / no speedway experience & Banks with little / no commitment. The buck stops with the promotion though as they picked the riders and chose to let them learn in the NL.