Sings4Speedway

Cant argue with the averages though. Marmite Greaves is a bargain, Moggo if he continues his late season form is too and Mikey Neale has been overlooked as one of the most solid 3 pointers to step up this past season.

Agreed. I acknowledge the great things Len has done for the sport as a whole and the glory days of Rye House but recently he has become to stubborn and spread thin to serve the best interests of both. If this now gives him time to pay attention to the NL / junior leagues then perhaps some genuine new talent may come through the Kent doors. (If he solely relies on what someone does on a few practice laps around Iwade then perhaps not). 100% of Lens focus on Kent is a potentially scary thing! Oh and FYI Len 20 tons of shale at Central Park is a tenth of what's needed!!!!!

With all the doubling up that will be going on with various drafts etc will Monday nights actually become a beneficial race night as the number of clashes and therefore missing heat leaders would be limited? Alternatively would anyone fancy a strength in depth team of riders that didn't appear in any other league but would be available for every match?

With friends like you........

Interesting how Morley who has been discarded or not given the chances in the PL in favour of expensive foreign imports in the past has now become hot property!

All the talk prior to the draft was which if any Brit riders would get the nod in a PL side. Now im all in favour of giving a british 3 pointer the place over a foreign no hoper / journey man but let them earn the right to keep their place. Im sure a few that step up will cause quite a few surprises anyway!

Built both to 38 as I suspect that will be the limit. Id be happy to see either. 1. Shanes 7.85 2. Bacon 4.61 3. Blacklock 6.79 4. Bailey 5.88 5. Mountain 6.82 6. JPB 3.00 7. Wilson 3.00 Total 37.95 1. Greaves 7.08 2. Neale 4.85 3. Wood 6.30 4. Mogridge 4.94 5. Ayres 7.05 6. Bacon 4.61 7. Cupitt 3.00 Total 37.83

Don't see the obsession with Danny Phillips (other than he is Ged's mate) he has underachieved massively in the NL this season and will be one of the lowest rated 7's if he is included.

How would reserve swaps be handled? Or would they not be allowed unless it was the drafted 7 covering for the 6? The eternal cynic in me could see a drafted 7 asked to withdraw through injury after one ride of an important match so the "senior" reserve could cover and reap the spoils.

Very good news to have it confirmed. Had my suspicions since they retained the services of David Holt mid season rather than allow his transfer to Buxton. Should be a superb venue and racing surface. Any hints on what the NL race days/nights might be?

Looking at the final averages Alfie Bow on 4.11 will definitely need a 2/4 berth next season. Hume 3.79 & Hunter 3.60 could be lucky and get a single reserve berth alongside a 3 pointer or have to run at 2 somewhere else? Of course all that depends upon the points limit set? Not sure how Bowtell & Hunter would feel about racing for separate teams?

Fingers crossed it goes no higher than 40. I suspect it will be 38-40. The limit change was to prevent riders who are "too good" hanging around in the NL year after year & promote the inclusion of new blood. If it reverts to 42 points the whole experiment and best season in the NL for quite a while will have been wasted.

Definitely been good value provided from the Raiders this year & fingers crossed they will be back next year (but I fear they won't) Would also be nice if you can keep the core team together, Ayres is too old to double up NL/PL (stupid rule) although if a PL draft is adopted he could be ok? However will the next seasons recruits be as successful without Andrew picking the team as Len / Warren are detached from the NL loop and Mr Sampford never gets a say.

Rear Tyres are one of the many great Speedway rip offs! From memory the end seller (spares van etc) has to purchase them from an approved source at a price which is set in stone (as currently only Mitas can be used) a little mark up is added on each sale although a portion of the sale of each tyre has to be sent to the SCB so after trips to collect them etc there is no financial benefit of actually stocking them to the spares vans its just part of their expected service.

I will never oppose anything that makes the sport safer and agree that there are far too many throttle jockeys that can wind on a quick engine and get away with it rather than develop skills over time. Costs may well match up (2nd hand GM £2000 + 4 x service @ £500 = £4000) vs (new Jawa / Gerhard £4000 + 1 x service £unknown) but its the results fans, promoter's and riders want. No point being on a cost effective engine if you are constantly running last places. I agree that handing GP level bikes to 14 year olds sounds crazy but will be happening from next season. The reason that riders don't get to learn their trade is lack of time to develop the skills required.

Eastbourne only get supplied new tyres by the club for home meetings & have to supply their own for away matches. Brum get a new tyre each whether it be home or away. Both are better deals than many teams offer.

Sadly until Jawa / whoever produce an engine that is superior to the current GM's and cheaper to maintain things will stay the same.

Sorry but I fail to believe Connor "Commercial Director" Dugard is giving all his time up for free. Im not questioning the time and effort he puts in but the eternal cynic in me suspects any director will be getting a decent wage plus expenses. Hope Brum can win by 8+ on the night to set up an exciting return match at Arlington.

Im sure all the NL riders will be delighted to hear you are buying them new Jawa's / Gerhard engines for the next season or two! These engines will not take off overnight because existing riders have existing equipment they have already spent good money on. No rider at what ever level is going to be interested in a bike described as "enough for a beginner" when their counterparts will be on EL / GP level equipment as many are now.

Personally I think Wajtknecht is the one to watch. Excelled in the NL this year and has a great attitude, strong financial backing and been racing at a high level for years. JPB certainly has talent but at present is unproven and hasn't hit the 20 points a meeting mark that Zach has (so far). BWD no doubting his talent but not sure he will cut it at PL and if that fails I can see him heading home to become one of those riders in 5 years time people say "do you remember?" And yes in case any Brummie fans read this I was hugely wrong about Waj at the start of the season he has exceeded my expectations by a vast distance.

Nearly all the riders in the MDL riders final were on a 3 point NL average with a couple achieving slightly higher than that? I believe all the competitors had to complete a certain number of meetings to be eligible and each team nominated 1/2 riders (if your favoured rider didn't get in he should ask the teams he had ridden for why he wasn't put forward). As for Ryan Mac. Congratulations. Took his opportunity when given a second crack at the final and made it count.

The clubs should set their budgets and stick to them. If they say "we are paying X per point take it or leave it" there might be a few unhappy riders to start with but plenty will be chasing places as the new season approaches.

But don't forget that he is one of Len's golden boys and has had dozen's of chances from Silver when nobody else would give him one. Add in that he is a bit of a cult hero with the Kent fans and I think he could be a cert if the FTR stays? Plus don't forget that Len has no / limited imagination when it comes to picking a team hence a succession of pants teams.

Any news on the predicted Brum line up? With no Waj or Chapman the choice of guest is crucial. Given that Zachs average is so high its actually tricky to find a like for like replacement however the likes of Carr, Blacklock or Ayres would fit? Ellis, Perry & Carr in the same side looks a dangerous combination but leaves RR a little weak? Or book Mogridge for Chapman which allows everyone to take an RR ride? Also are the reserves fit again or will it be Jack Smith plus one?

There are several hurdles to overcome notably the sporadic fixtures that the current planning will force, the enhanced prices that EL will bring that may shock some established / newer Kent fans and what is the traffic like getting to Sittingbourne on a Friday? The biggest ones will be the track which lacks a decent base and any sensible amount of shale which has seen the standard of racing deteriorate over this season & Uncle Lens insistence to drown the track ahead of racing. I would love to see some big names fly round Central Park but wouldn't pay EL prices every week so will just watch the occasional match and stick with the NL (if the team looks sensible and competitive enough to follow) unlike this years dross. As for predicted team AJ & Kennett with Boxall & Ayres at reserve (Morley overlooked again).