Sings4Speedway

Employment and speedway contracts can draw very few parallels and indeed speedway contracts are seldom worth the cigarette packets they are written on. Literally financial data no targets, or average thresholds for acceptable performance. Even then there are often riders who are over performing but get dropped as part of the numbers game. My major issue has always been visa'd riders, Australasians in particular receive guaranteed wages and accommodation as part of the visa requirements whereas a British passport holder receives non of that and therefore potentially has to juggle work and the sport actually putting them at a disadvantage.

I don't know the ins and outs of visa sponsored riders but recall hearing that even if released the club would still be responsible for accommodations and basic wage for the remainder of the season.......which does beg the question why clubs are so ready to take gambles on riders in the first place

But where are the riders coming from? The prem is struggling to track 7 similar standard rising stars, the champ clubs are scratching for 2 pointers and whats left of the NL is tracking riders that are realistically second half level. Numbers in youth rounds are hardly encouraging and the amateur scene has been hammered into the ground. The dilution of the sport started 10+ years ago and now the price is being paid. For every Cairns or Rushen you need another half a dozen "lesser but competent" riders coming through, the sports journeymen that keep the places filled and they are what are very much lacking at present.

Did you used to be Steve Boxalls mechanic......🤣

Night and day from Speedway. Loads of willing participants who pay to ride and are ready to race ahead of time. Might not be quite as entertaining but certainly a stronger operating model. To be fair there used to be a good amount of amateur speedway meetings that would take place up and down the country but they have been weaseled down one by one.

What is the threshold for fielding an understrength side? Brum will be 20% down on the team building limit. Whilst it might be Birmingham's last season the teams they put out affect the attendances of other clubs.

Re-injured his shoulder during the Kent meeting. Looks a while on the side lines but RR for a 3 pointer in the top 5 is probably beneficial

Certainly odd as Plymouth are at Brum tonight in the NDT.....maybe promising to not score too many?

Ritchings and Scott missing turn this from a decent challenge for the Steelers to a decent payday all round. If Oxford get to 40 it will be result.

All the makings of an absolute barn stormer. Masters vs Palovaara (arguably the leagues 2 form riders), home advantage but a stronger (on paper) away 1-5. Sticking my neck out i will say just a home win 46-44 just hope the track helps produce a classic.

The difference between Tai and Littler/Humphries is the rise in the profile of the game. The sheer number of people taking up darts over the past 18 months has been phenomenal, the viewing tickets and TV demand has seen a massive upsurge thanks to "the Littler effect". If any rider, Tai or otherwise could manage even a quarter of that they would be carried upon shoulders to the Palace. We have seen a home rider win a home GP and it barely registered a murmur across media channels.

Kent very dominant at home against any side and Charlie Wood almost fit i believe could be the final piece in the puzzle. Plymouth commended for tracking a side but this could be one of their better results.

Not really something id personally want in my browser history.....

While bonus points are being briefly discussed its always bothered me that a rider finishing 3rd in a 3-3 gets a bonus point. Yes on a 5-1 where both opposition riders have been beaten but why award a point for a 3-3 when a rider could finish 3rd in a 4-2 heat and not be awarded a bonus point? Ultimately both situations an opposition rider has finished ahead but its beneficial for the 3rd placed rider if his team doesn't win the heat/get a heat advantage. Any stat people out there know how many bonus points had to be paid out last season?

To be fair Ritchings, Spencer and Butcher are too old, Max James and Sam McGurk struggled at CL level (although James will come good), Summers its too early and i still struggle that there is a team place even at NL level for Meadows so hardly surprising that they looked elsewhere.

Without a decent level of statistics to confirm or deny that is a bold claim. What could easier be argued is that the level of competition within Polish matches is closer and therefore the likelihood of contact occurring is higher

What are Berwick? speedways halfway house? Surely lessons were learnt after Boxall. Banned riders should return with +3 on their average. At the time everyone is appalled and cannot wait to see the back of said rider, a year or so passes, the sport is desperate for heat leaders and all is forgiven.

To be fair if the 2 point brit didn't think they were ready for the step up.....its not like there are many available options and Edinburgh are certainly on a limb geographically for several. Spencer is the highest NL averaged rider potentially available but hasn't set the season alight thus far, Ritchings could be a good option once he is released from Poole (although it won't be his only phone call) so there could be a bit of a merry go round. Senna Summers has been filling his boots points wise this season (although against very average opposition) but still bettered Parker every time they met.

Taken from what is titled this years regulations "A team may include 1 rider who has previously achieved an MA above 4.00 to a maximum of 6.00 (inclusive) in the Championship League (prior to the 2024 season) who is not declared in a Championship or Premiership Team Declaration. If that rider is then declared in a Championship or Premiership Team Declaration the NDL/NDT club will have 28 days to replace that rider from the date of the Championship/Premiership declaration"

Problem is Vuolas has been the most consistent comet (in a good way). Tate and batch have been the let downs but with a lack of available heatleaders would either get dropped? Bowes is still settling in whilst Hook and Foord are riding to their level. Sadly this year Workington is not a particularly well assembled team that relied upon Tate and Etheridge having a great year and thus far neither is.

Its also just clever PR. Obviously the original line up was competitive but also set so that Cairns would likely win or at least feature strongly. Now including Starke is an opportunity for him to prove he is better than anyone who might be after his place......

Could be an open and interesting meeting. Hopefully the final 3 don't irritate too much.

Lasted a bit longer than i expected. There is a huge difference between riders who have had to graft for places, positions and those who have it handed to them. Until the tail end of last season it was a constant upwards trajectory then the first blip and its all gone pear shaped. Right back to the NL match at Workington i suspected it would be a short career. Riders who want it enough find a way even through indifferent form, those who don't disappear.

The fact that yours is the first post in the NL section for 4 weeks tells you what speedway is becoming

Terrible rule change, negates the benefits of new Brits being on a 2.00 and any real incentive of signing home nation riders. Not surprising but none the less stupid.