Sings4Speedway

Sadly the gulf in ability of the 18 x 2.00 reserves would be massive (see fast track system of a few years ago). Couple of riders would succeed, several would get an average and then miss out the following year whilst ironically those who stayed on a 2.00 could have another chance with even lower rated riders. If the NDL had disappeared then that format of 8 man teams could be an option but otherwise it would be no more than a one season wonder/blunder.

Word ive heard is some signings already agreed for Plymouth Centurions 2023....that said that was likely prior to the extended fixture list for the champ which "could" spell the end for several NDL sides and potentially the league as a whole.

Not even a particularly astute line up. Laker & Fellows take 3 rides together so will be scrapping over a point, Woolley & Boughen take 2 rides together. At least sticking Wooley at 3 and Laker at 5 would have spread the points chances a bit and reduce it from being an embarrassment to a shambles.

To be fair Mildy had a number 8 and he got promoted to the 1-7 for the second meeting. Unfortunately its just an unforgiving venue that often sees rider withdrawals (but i won't blame the track as its never the track and just a complete coincidence)

very confused now as some of the averages are calculated including bonus points and some not? Thought averages normally were done without BP?

Have to agree on that, think that once it comes to play offs an unattached rider has to take a bookings for 1 side only and if they go out its no further bookings until the next season.

Does anyone have the line ups from the completed matches? Would be interesting to see if the intended level was achieved?

Did Morley get shale in your tea at a meeting or something? I always enjoy the jibes at NDL riders who are eligible but too good for the league whereas Bomber, Nicholls etc are valuable additions to the CL and great entertainment (and definitely not milking it). The latter point is valid and new 2/3 pointers into the CL should have achieved a certain level at NDL before they can be considered for a move up. Two pointers as a whole just encourages a sacrifical lamb anyway so minimum 3 or even 4 pointer at the tail end to create strength in depth looks to teams rather than big gulfs in teams abilities?

But you knew the score when you signed on for a NDL side. Plenty of riders did long away days the other way round and ran at big losses for the trips however they did them because signing for a NDL side means you sign up for all the meetings not just the home ones and away tracks you like.

The Belle Vue big money side any many peoples pre season favourites have fumbled and not made the play offs. Home dominance clearly isn't everything.

Entirely true, although Richards case was that he told the club way in advance he couldn't attend, the club either didn't accept that or simply didn't bother to book a suitable guest and short changed the Armadale paying support. The problem with the with holding services rule is that the club has to lodge the complaint to gain use of a cover facility but Plymouth with so few riders available didn't want to risk alienating another one.

It will depend if Belle Vue back his story or not? Precedent has been set with a few riders being no shows this year and no action being taken. Unless Poole put in a protest to get him banned and use better guests for the play offs

For a team 10+ points stronger than the Royals in the averages i thought the Colts visit to Kent was shocking. Kent tracked 5 riders with an average lower than Hodders. As covered Ablitt was decent, Freeman solid and unfortunate and Smith would have posted a better tally had the track not been swimming wet for the first couple of races. Even with both McGurks looking very disinterested they still left with an away point so seems hard to believe they cannot manage similar at Armadale (and in fairness if the Colts don't get at least a point they don't deserve the play off spot).

Sooo how hard are Belle Vue pressing to get this fixture on now? Even with the Colts poor away record they would fancy at least getting a close loss and the single point needed to secure a play off spot unless Oxford and Kent do something daft like manage a draw on Wednesday.

Indeed shambolic accross every league every year. Armadale fixture "might" not be so key now after Oxfords ridiculous call off last night. If the Colts can get a win (and even a draw is probably enough) at Kent thats the run in decided. A Kent win and they will be keen to re-visit Oxford and hope there is medical cover in place before they make the trip.

Lucky that there have been so few rain offs really, imagine a full fixture backlog now and potentially an iffy spell of weather....the cut off should be end of August with play offs in September...simple

I guess the events of this weeks key fixtures at Oxford and Kent will play out then the urgency level will be decided.....does seem daft that after a whole season that the play offs will be held in deep October.

Any idea when the league cut off actually is? Just looked and the Colts do look at risk without getting that fixture in time.

Personally i hate cups and other comps mixed up with the main season. Run the league fixtures May-July, Play Offs can then be in August with the bumper holiday crowds. Quick fire KO cups could be run in Sept with any teams that want to enter, fixtures must be completed in week 1, week 2 etc any cup fixture not completed doesn't count and 1 leg aggregate goes through. Theres no need to be stood around on a freezing night in October watching the trophy deciding fixtures with poor forecasts and miserable crowds before the season limps to an end.

Not sure its the bikes but perhaps the levels of effort/desperation that is causing more incidents? Was a time when trackcraft coupled with speed and a half decent attitude was enough to earn and keep a team place, now its solely a results based business and points matter. There was a time when team riding or switching order to make a different attack on a rider ahead counted now theres just scrapping for the finishing position between "team mates". Im sure everyone can name half a dozen riders who they think are quick but often passengers on the bike and even if these are not directly involved in crashes they are forcing others to do the same.

When the Anlas was first introduced this issue was happening a lot, certain tracks got given the benefit of allowing extra tyres to be used. The rest of the issues with the early batches were countered by running higher tyres pressures, then the compound changed (with no announcement) and everyone reverted to running lower tyre pressures again. If the storage or rotation of stock has been poor at any level of the supply chain the tyres being used could have easily been of the earlier compound. Lets not forget that the manufacturer change was brought in and mandated rather than allow choice from the hologamated brands list to "reduce cost" (the Anlas costing £7-8 per tyre more than a Mitas and requiring more tyres per meeting!). Lets not forget that those changes were also brought to you by the people who introduced and blew money on the Gerhard fiasco, who still insist on topping up Briggo's retirement pot with one brand of allowed dirt deflector......does anyone genuinely think there will be any meaningful and considered change soon?

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery? .......poor form once again from the mafia, at least make reference to the work started by IOW rather than trying to pass off as thier own idea. Embarrassing once again by those in charge.

Declared as injured again for tonight at Oxford.....perhaps Lukes run out of holiday?

Biscuits would have been useful. Few dozen packs of crackers crunched up would dryed that up in no time.

Riders hitting form for both sides, wouldn't be shocked at away wins in each fixture.