Sings4Speedway

Am I the only one that is uneasy at the moment? With other teams completed / completed but not announced its all gone very quiet from Kent again. Are riders fixed up and just waiting to be announced or are we in the debacle of last year where it will be sign anyone at the last minute as Len has no idea?

Agreed so here is probably another atrocious prediction Glasgow Workington Edinburgh Sheffield Ipswich Rye House Plymouth Newcastle Peterborough Somerset Berwick Redcar

When I first saw a mention of Ellis at Eastbourne I was relieved as I was certain he wouldn't fit. Now I know its possible im potentially scared. A Top 4 of Ellis, Hopwood, Wood & Knight would be devastating and even with 3 x 3 pointers in the side would be strong contenders. Im going to cling to the hope Ellis wants to do more continental rides this year and the EL will be enough for him in the UK.

As ive only managed to predict about three signings correct this year im going to be very smug about this one.

Nothing personal against any of the riders as its their job to put themselves in the shop window and the promoters who decide who gets selected. The riders with little experience I would count as Phillips & Powell (TBC) (Eastbourne) and Saul (IOW). I must confess that looking through the riders that featured in the MDL last year it was a little tougher to pick out some who could take on the next step than I expected. There are plenty of dedicated riders who know what it takes in terms of costs & travel but may need one more year. Ignoring Hume, Hunter, Woods & Sheppard who all rode NL & MDL last year there are still a few who I thought some teams may have taken a chance on. Perhaps these riders will pop up as number 8's (is that rule in force again this year?) maybe I was being a little hasty with my initial comments given the large uptake of riders from the MDL last season & should be proud of the 4 who have been selected. Fingers crossed a couple will pop up in the final few available spaces & that the MDL & NJL continues to produce and prepare riders to take the step to the next level.

How many years has Wooley ridden now? Feels like forever and yet this was the only season he has shown slight improvement. If he had ridden anywhere but Buxton he would have been dropped many times. Not a surprise signing but hardly an exciting one either.

Somethings clanging in my brain that makes me think he retired after a drop in form during the first year of the EL fast track? Same fate that befell Lee Smart who could be in with an outside shout?

Given the superb work and effort put in by all those involved in the MDL over the past season does anybody else find it a huge shame that only 4 riders (Parker, Thomas, Govier, JPB) have graduated to the NL this season? It appears that the rise in points limit has opened the door for returning riders or those from nowhere with very little experience. I know the blame lays with the promoters but is anyone else a little saddened by this given the high uptake from the season before?

Well its bigger than Rye House. Last season Birmingham was the 4th biggest track in the NL.

Thick, biased or whatever the word used in the thread title is not acceptable. Replace it with Idiot, Joke, laughing stock then I will agree with what you say but whilst you continue to use inappropriate language you point of view will continue to be over shadowed.

No xmas bonus? I normally enjoy your posts and the plot of this thread may be relevant but the title of it is disgraceful.

Keeping away from 3 pointers as there will always be one or two that have a belter. EL Kasprzak Nicholls Andersen Batch Sedgeman All of the Lakeside team. PL Mellgren R Worrall Kerr Busk Jakobsen Lanham NL Bacon Terry-Daley Carr Ayres M.Baseby

Basford confirmed. Still think the rest of the team is solid enough providing they can bond to be there at the business end of the season.

Would be a very good signing. I feel Hume needs a larger track to prosper and with his links to Danny King & the obvious links between King and Brum seems actually quite logical.

Agreed a signing with plenty of potential providing the Dugards can supply the help to iron out his previous mechanical issues. With decent kit will be very dangerous and should be pushing for the number 1 or 5 jacket.

Agreed surely one of the charms of the asset system is that a NL club could sign an unknown, take a chance on the rider and if they are successful then the NL club can profit from the sale? Stripping all the standalone NL teams of assets seems like bullying to me.

Good sourcing from Buxton yet again and given Buxton's record with promising Aussie's could be a real star signing.

Think there are plenty of riders left. Mildenhall, Kings Lynn & Coventry are complete. Of the rest: Cradley - awaiting the announcement of Basford to complete. IOW - need one more second string. Brum - 1 x HL 1 x second string Stoke - 1 x second string 1 x reserve Kent - 1 x HL 2 x second string Belle Vue - 2 x second string 2 x reserve (1 will be Holt) Eastbourne - 1 x HL, 2 x second string, 1 x reserve Buxton - 1 x HL, 1 x Second string, 2 x reserve Rye House - 7 (but all probably signed already) Total - 4 x HL, 9 x second string 5 x reserve HL - Morley, Ritchings, Owen, Knight yet to sign SS - Could be a problem? Speight, Andrews, Dugard, Baseby, Widman still available Reserves - 5 spots that could all be filled by MDL / NJL riders if required or the other handful of riders from this year who didn't improve upon 3 points. Of the spaces available it might be Buxton who struggle to attract riders? As they seem to historically the rest including the new comers have shown they can lure big name riders with big tracks to ride on.

Hurry would probably still be a sensation at NL level. From a personal note I hope Paul stays away and enjoys a long relaxed retirement. He has had far too many injuries in the past that he has barely gotten away with and would be a crying shame if he pushes it one season too far at Eastbourne. Get him in the pits but on the spanners only and remain the legend that he is.

Really should get facebook but so far im managing to avoid it. With so little speedway about it always nice to hear any results of meetings that do happen. If somebody gets the chance to copy the results of the open & support class at some point it would be appreciated.

I would like nothing more than the Warriors to have a successful season and by that I would say mid table and decent crowds would be considered a success. If they achieve any better then superb. As for the question marks over signings all fans / enthusiasts are entitled to their opinions and most will be gracious enough to accept it when proven wrong (I was very wrong with Brum last year). The backing and promotion im certain will be excellent however of the riders signed that I know / know of I question how strong the team spirit will be as there are some fiery characters however that also goes hand in hand with passionate about what they do. Without doubt IOW has a team of triers it remains to be seen how much success that will bring them?

Just wondering if this went ahead this weekend 13/12? and if anyone has any results?

That's a shocking press release. I hope and pray now that Mildenhall stuff Brum home & away this season just for those comments alone.

Only knew Kirby was taking a break. Thought Wooley was on the tba list and nobody wanted Banks.

I think this Cradley side looks better than last years Brum side (although I did massively underestimate them). However Morris & Clegg are like for like with Ellis & Perry but the middle order looks much more solid. Chessell, Purchase & Kingston are a much better engine room than Chapman, Kirby & Banks. Yes Brum had the Waj effect but I still think Andrews & Basford will be a solid reserve pairing so for a team that started out looking top heavy has actually ended up looking very strong throughout. A lot will depend how they do on their travels but I can see this team notching 50+ most weeks at home.