Sings4Speedway

From my first visit of the year i would say track looks infinitely better, plenty of banking and gives a variety of racing lines and the ability to use the whole track. Did look like it had been packed quite hard and there wasn't much shale as always. Presentation was also improved, bit of roaming mic action and the truck with constant flat tyre has gone too. Also a great touch with riders walking a lap of honour at the end giving a much more personal feel. Fish was good beer still in cans but that doesn't worry me. Car park still pretty rough, the craters now seem to be on the access road and a bit of a free for all with regards to spaces but ultimately i enjoyed my trip and will be looking to make more this year.

A very dominant performance by the Kings against what was sadly a 2 man Raiders team. Waj was unlucky with his heavy fall when it looked like his throttle stuck, Morley & Priest were excellent but a day to forget for the others. Woods mechanical gremlins would be a concern and the two reserves had a disaster, off the pace, off the bike and Locke struggling to push the bike half a lap for a point. By contrast the Kent reserves were in excellent form, Shanes has sorted his gating and looked very quick as did Clifton so i was a little surprised he didn't take his last ride? Mason got the win he deserved and Bowen was outstanding. All in all a great result for Kent but i fear for Rye as i think it will be along hard season for this team and with the number of PL fans there to try and engage i worry that NL crowds are going to really suffer this year.

Thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Rye since the revamp. The improved stands are a huge improvement and the track produces many more racing lines and credit to those using every inch of the track. Kennett was awesome, Robson delivered again and i could watch Heeps every week trying everything possible to get past those in front. Morley also is worthy of credit and was harshly excluded when the ref failed to even see a BWD dive bomb. For the visitors Wright, Starke & BWD aside the rest had off days which Rye can consider themselves lucky but brilliant effort to turn the match around. Like several have said before Karger does seem out of his depth and i can see a change coming if he doesn't improve dramatically.

Providing all goes as expected Bowen should get the better of Waj, Morley will better Shanes & Priest should better Baseby. However Mason will walk all over Woods and the reserves should have the upper hand on their respective opposites. Providing Clifton can adapt quickly i think Kent will be alright as barring points from Priest i see the Raiders getting very little from R/R which will be the deciding factor.

Something about it never rains it pours? I think its if you have achieved a PL average over 4 you can't double down unless like alex says he signed fo a NL team first like Ashley Morris?

Either way it appears Plymouth have been resurrected which for speedway is excellent news but bad news for the Eagles if Stefan was their intended target?

Im secretly hoping its Tim Webster to see what the reaction would be?!

If Ayres was riding i would have said this was a Kent certainty as he and Bowen obviously go well at Rye and the reserves have shown a liking for the place too. The guests for both sides will do a decent job i reckon plus i strongly suspect Morley will be pretty rampant. The slate is currently clean for the two Rye reserves to show what they can do but as the more experienced Eastbourne graduates have proven its certainly not easy.

Adam finished on 10.14 so you don't have enough points without culling someone else. As for Hurry a great rider in his day and i hope it stays in his day. The man is full of metalwork and i fear for his long term well being if he contemplated a return. Fingers crossed its a Boxall type rider who will enhance the NL.

Yep a good day for the Kings but certainly plenty to be cheery about as an Eagles fan. Knight looked far more comfortable at Kent than he did early at Arlington & Georgie Wood was excellent at home and smooth although a little under powered? at Kent but that was obviously fixed quickly at Cov. Of the others the luckless Hughes looked classy until finding far too much grip and will miss watching him this year as i rate his track craft highly. Andrews was out of sorts and wish him a speedy recovery & the departed Hopwood was solid. I had reservation over the Kent reserves due to lack of speed but their control has never been questioned, the opposite applies to the Eagles pair and a lack of experience and bike craft would be a major concern. Oh and Powell is going to make no friends with his shameful staying down to try and get a rerun....if you slide off on your own on the inside fella no ref (excluding Babs) is going to give an all 4 back!

On current form Robson wouldn't be a bad guest?

9.78 looks to be a whopper of a number 1 who will it be? Personally thought they would be better keeping Hopwood & using the points to bolster the reserve berths? Cottham would have fitted? Or as Murphys law dictates Dugard would have fitted and Eastie would have always had one rider running riot at reserve as he & Andrews (when fit) would have continued swapping places.

Can't argue with that at all. I was hugely impressed with the reserves. Both have always been smooth but there was a lot of speed to go with it. Don't think ive ever seen Danno make such consistently good gates and ride such hard first corners. Thomas was robbed of a point at Arlington and another couple at Home with a snapped chain but was still very impressed. Clifton was a little more raw than i was expecting but is clearly fast and once he has shaken out the rust he will be flying. What impressed me the most was the moral on the centre green at the start. All riders joking together was something that seemed non-existent last year. Opponents will come tougher than a misfiring Eastbourne but this team looks like Central Park could become a fortress and there are plenty of points to be picked up on the road.

I think this side has a very solid top 5 and one of the best 3/4 combos in the league. My concern would be the reserves and wouldn't surprise me to see Piper replace Saul sooner rather than later. The downside is that all are prone to a shocker from nowhere but i have IOW down as my dark horse team to be very near the last play off place.

IF Hopwood has gone to accommodate Perks plus a new number 1 then that is extremely had on him. Whilst a new signing is clearly required to cover the very unfortunate Hughes the Eastbourne merry-go-round is becoming a concern? How many riders will question signing for Eastbourne in the future with the high rider turnover?

Good reply from Eastbourne today but Coventry must be kicking themselves. Knight excelling on a bigger track and Woody finding more power to post a good score along with solid points from Hopwood and guest perks. Reserves still look a huge concern and I expect changes in the not to distant future.

I suspect Ben Wilson will run riot but that about it. Best vs worst reserve combos (and there are a few dodgy pairs) looks like a painful watch for Potters fans.

Agreed. I proposed a selection of names without any consideration of other meetings running. Pesky bank holidays confusing what day of the week it is. As a business decision its quite clever as there will be no travel expenses that need paying. Rye might get away with it as the Mildenhall heat leaders are solid but not spectacular but i suspect the damage will be done elsewhere. Fingers crossed for good weather as im looking forward to the double header at Rye and checking out the stadium/track improvements.

I completely agree in this instance but that is the way the Raiders team has been built this year an off night for Ben or Rob and your screwed. If R/R was limited to twice at home & twice away it would give fringe riders more track time, limit the damage teams with stand out reserves could do & get the meeting actually flowing but still provide cover for when a last minute withdrawal occurs.

A convertible in South Wales? That's as rare as a speedway promoters morals........

That was last year plus Adam shouldn't have been far off that? This year the prices are up again. Obviously those paying the higher money are expecting higher results and therefore there will be higher pressure on the riders.

Blooming R/R. When will the powers that be and who champion how the NL is a development league do something about this rule and give riders on the fringes a run out rather than those already within teams.

Looks like Edinburgh are going to go over the barrel here. Either the few remaining decent riders will turn up and demand crazy money or they get a lesser standard rider on the cheap?

For his progress i hope Ben does get extra rides as its the bigger away tracks that he needs to conquer if his career is to kick on. If Somerset isn't to Karger's liking you may have a problem.

Im guessing it will be cursed R/R again? Would enable Priest & Woods to take a ride each then cover the others with whichever reserve is doing less poorly or Banks. Not saying its right as i hate R/R and would much rather see Banks take all 4 rides and see what he does but thats the rules. Who would everyone want as a guest? I figure it will be Ollie Greenwood, Bowen or Clegg?