Sings4Speedway

Agreed. I will take a narrow away win as i suspect our reserves may struggle a bit at Eastie but i predict a bigger home win. Looking forward to see Magic back on home soil.

Atrocious! Its the NL teams that give the new riders a chance and have to endure as much failure as success. However the ability to sign the riders as assets and then profit from the few that make the grade is a fundamental element that belongs to the NL and preventing teams in one league from possessing assets its discriminatory and bullying. For me the whole asset and contractual agreements with riders is floored. Ditch all assets as they are not actually worth anything and sign rolling contracts e.g 4,8,12 matches etc at the end of the contract either party can decide to part ways or remain for the length of the next rolling contract. This would even out the power balance between riders and clubs rather than solely resting with the promotions as it is at present.

Whilst we all have our own loyalties to our clubs as supporters there has to be an understanding that riders have to look after their own best interests. If Zach continues on his meteoric rise this season it would make his average too high to be considered for the NL next year anyway therefore asset or not. The PL already has first call on his services over fixture clashes so in that respect having an asset is worthless. For NL clubs the best money spinner is to sign an unknown 3 pointer, watch their stock rise then cash in. As supporters all we can do is enjoy the time they respective riders spent with our clubs, wish them well for the future and hope the next crop can emulate the same success.

Correct me if im being a little thick but isnt that the same access road that riders use to get to the track? Could be slightly embarrassing if they cant get in!

The problem in my mind is that although a poster campaign is obviously good it takes actual footage to show how exciting Speedway actually is however that is expensive. What bugs me most is the venues that host Speedway & other activities dont even advertise. Walk into Kent on a night when the dogs are running and you wouldnt even know Speedway took place there. How hard would it be for a TV to be set up with footage of previous meetings being played on loop?

If the future is "standard engines" the the future is also tiny riders who have the smallest weight vs power ratio rather than who would have the most ability. For example Matej Zagar vs Josh Bates who is the better rider? Now put them on "standard" engines, the swing of power would fall to Bates yet Zagar the currently more talented rider would be penalised solely for being heavier. Also there is a safety element that nobody has considered? Bikes need power to turn, riders need confidence in the bike to turn, how often would there be occurrences of riders heading into the first corner, attempting to turn and because the bike characteristics are different end up going straight into the fence and taking all their counterparts with them.

Im not against any of the naming conventions but they are not the most pressing MDL requirements bright now. As it stands there are very few meetings for the riders to compete in plus the squad system (if adhered to) will limit those opportunities further. Why more clubs are not prepared to host / run MDL teams amazes me? It costs no extra for the host clubs and provides a bit of extra value to the paying public. If it wasn't for greedy referees there could be far more post match entertainment.

Scunthorpe Ipswich 1. Auty 1 King 2. Klindt 2 Sarjeant 3. Douglas 3 Kerr 4. Davies 4 Risager 5. Holub 5 Covatti 6. Wilkinson 6 Castagna 7. Bailey 7 Ritchings Head to head only Klindt & Wilko look stronger than their opposite numbers. Whilst Covatti, King, Kerr & Risager should better their respective opponents. For me this match will swing on how the battles between the 3's & 4's do? But if I had to stake my 50p it would certainly be on the Witches.

Luke Harris, Adam Sheppard, Adam Portwood, Rob Watts, Jez Pestell, Cam Hoskins, Connor King and even Niall Strudwick look better options and that's just from a quick scan of the MDL riders list from last year. Im all for clubs sticking to budgets but I feel this will hurt Stoke points wise and probably hamper Millar's progress throwing him in too early?

Just been looking at the Scunthorpe amateur results. If this is your Richard Hall in the results id be a little concerned now.... http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=4867

Sorry but this doesn't look a great signing to me. He scored zero in the NL match and got a single point in a poor MDL following it. Definitely looks like a cheap signing rather than one to kick on? Feel sorry for Sam Ward who goes to Stoke every week and I think would beat Millar 9 times out of 10. There's several riders from last seasons MDL who are without a team who would do a stronger job (I think) but this smacks of signing a rider on the cheap?

Ipswich, Newcastle and Plymouth would all be strengthened by the inclusion of Stokes.

Sad thing is that I think the below would have been a playoff team especially with either Pedersen, Bridger or the KenSon combo occupying one of the second string berths every match. It doesn't have the same feel with Nilsson in for me. Its also clear that Bjarne/Bridger were/are on similar deals that must be substantially more than Nilsson if costs were the issue (and assuming that Kim was the man to make way). Normally im all for being sensible with the spiralling costs but as its potentially the last year at Lakeside it would have been nice for the team to go out with a bang! AJ Bjarne Bridger Kennett/Lawson Swidders Kerr Mear

As a bit of fun and i do like my "predictions" i am going 1st Southampton 2nd The Warriors 3rd Exeter 4th Weymouth

In brutal reality the sport isnt cheap and the days where talent could outweigh top equipment are behind us. Whilst im not saying that riders who run on lower budgets can't make it the truth is that to be able to stay in the sport long enough to earn a full team place you need dedicated and selfless parents to start out with and then deep pockets yourself to stick with it. Its a sad fact that there are plenty of riders of varying ages that are lost to the sport each season due to either disillusionment or the costs.

Right you are.....who will be after additional funds first Andrews, Purchase or Kingston? Which team mate will Chessell fall out with first? (I betting Kingston). Will they remain loyal to Basford if he continues with his impressive NL scores? Discuss

Elite Fricke Swiderski Sedgeman Lindgren Nicholls Prem Lanham Hall Aario Kerr Tungate (All Pboro team)

1. Carr 7.73 (Cov) 2. Coles 5.61 (Mild) 3. M.Baseby 5.88 (IOW) 4. Smart 5.76 (IOW) 5. Greaves 7.08 (K.Lynn) 6. Bacon 4.42 (Brum) 7. Clifton 3.50 (Kent) Total = 39.98

We both agree that changes are required if the sport is to progress / survive just differing opinions on how it could/should be done. It should be a £10 sport and the riders wages even at NL level are getting out of control. "but its not the riders fault if they need more money to maintain equipment". Its the riders choice how much they spend and where they spend it. Just as it is with supporters and those turning their backs on the sport year after year. The bubble has burst and riders who are trying to make the sport pay for itself or even a profit at NL level are dragging it down. If they were paid less then some would have to consider more durable engines? Faster engine = more points but more bills vs reliable engine = less points but cheaper to maintain? As for pre owned engines they are just the same as 2nd hand cars. There is no such thing as a bargain its all a gamble to be taken. Ive always felt they are sold incorrectly anyway....Why would a rider pay for a thorough service then sell the engine? They have the bare minimum done to maximise profit. Second hand engines should be run until service is due then sold and let the new buyer get it checked & maintained for themselves.

I see the logic you are applying to this however most riders have engines in place already so the initial purchase price is negated. The Gerhard/Tatum engine is only alleged to be able to complete a season with no services / power loss but has yet to be verified & as above Sam's engine is over bore and ineligible. Based on your logic To run engine 1 for a season and a purchase is £6500 Tatums Engine is £5500 Pre owned engine & service (£0 purchase, £2000 services) = £2000 Whilst I completely agree that gate prices need to drop even at NL level I feel that would be more easily achieved by set points limit brackets rather than imposing further restrictions upon riders with more expensive regulation changes.

If they enforce standardising and other ridiculous expenses upon riders it will be the end of the sport for me and maybe in general. Whilst a level playing filed sounds like an ideal the facts are that continually enforcing expensive silencers and potentially entirely new engines will drive many riders from the sport, force the riders that do remain to request more money and therefore require increased prices at the gate. By all means make the engines available to riders as if they are competitive enough they will use them but the continuation of enforced regulation changes will be the death of the sport. (rant over?)

Takes team bonding to a whole new level!

Quite & the racing has been dull & indecent free....... On a serious note i agree with a neutral venue just not the rationale for the move

Im in the not that fussed group at the moment. Incomplete teams & the weather at present doesn't help matters. Plus usually during the opening month the teams/riders I have tipped get hammered by teams/riders that I don't rate so big helpings of humble pie usually come my way.

Interesting inclusion of Boxall? If a couple of averages drop after the first round could you squeeze him in instead of Simota?