Sings4Speedway

In reality no but equally theres not really any money to be made at NDL level. Grasstrack doesn't quite demand the level of kit to be upgraded as regularly and engines are not quite so one track focussed. Plus as covered no time off in the week needed for rider plus drivers/mechanics. Theres also the knowledge that he is in the top 16-20 grasstrack riders in the UK whereas he he much lower than that in Speedway terms.

Is there any stipulation on what riders form the pair? Is it the top two fit riders by average or can a team send track specialists or just riders in form who may currently be 3rd or lower in the team averages?

Anyone know if there is a CL lower limit? I know the NL used to have one (after the Scunthorpe Stags) and sure i remember teams getting fined for tracking understrength teams? Must be a minimum team average that has to be achieved?

Quite likely. Maybe Mulfords dalliance with speedway is over? Unless a midweek gap opens up during the year i can see him drifting away. Maybe he achieved as much as he was going to anyway.

Likewise im expecting almost the same team as last year. Number 1 between Lawson or Mulford and potentially RTD for the final place?

Almost as many resurrections.....still behind Jake Knight and Lewis Bridger though....

I think Batch will be fine, if the reserves Heeps and Newman struggle they will be in bother but if they all get running they could be very very strong. Redcar could have some off days and Plymouth if they don't gel will have issues but it looks the strongest/most balanced league ive seen for years which is why Brums woes are exacerbated.

Scunthorpe will be decent enough at home and have some genuine heat leaders. Newcastle have dropped a couple of clangers and the new Kiwi using up 4 points in place of a genuine 2nd/3rd heat leader looks madness as does the return of Complin. Its not all doom and gloom for Brum and both a full season and not finishing bottom are possibilities i just fear both are going to be equally difficult tasks.

The problem being that it looks like the "best" team Brum can realistically hope for and its still pretty poor. I wouldn't change my prediction from last place. What i would say is that IF the track had varied racing lines it could be entertaining as there is barely a gater in the side but there are a few who will work throughout. Still 7 riders is better than 5...

He ended on 7.78 which is high enough but he was riding around heat leader level so i did expect him to be fixed up somewhere. I think his commitment to grasstrack probably made him unpopular with weekend tracks and left few options. Still thought he was a better bet than Hopwood at Oxford for example but maybe a deal suiting both sides couldn't be done.

I feel like Tungate and BWD could be a likely combo. One already racing in the UK the other knows his was around. Might be a point under but both decent at home and wouldn't break the bank like others listed.

Same could easily be said about British Speedway as a whole. Whilst IOW don't claim to have all the answers they are at least posing a few questions and getting people talking. The meeting types and formats clearly won't work a lot of places as they simply don't have the track to accommodate it but to successfully run an alternative to league speedway has to be applauded even if it doesn't directly appeal to you.

Haertel is dangerous, Covatti would be great but settled, Rew would more likely want a PL to go with it but Blodorn is a possibility given he will have UK racing this season already. The best chances are riders already comitted to racing in the UK this year which are few and far between. Brum have positioned themselves as desperate by going to work late so even the Sedgeman level riders can start naming thier price rather than being grateful of a team place anywhere.

Oxford NL are already reliant on Hopwood/Stoneman getting reductions to fit 2 x 3.00 riders in. Only NL option left open is Armadale. Would be surprised if he didn't get some offers but obviously couldn't agree terms. Wondered if someone might gamble at CL level but clearly out of favour.....

More likely IOW or one of the others in thier 3TT challenges. Love Danno but he knows CL is a step beyond him.

makes sense that he is the number 8 but surprised that Kings Lynn haven't been able to place him somewhere in either NL or CL for extra laps.

Great spectator venue lost but the move away has probably helped sustain a venue that has been operating in the South East for 50 years and hopefully many more to come.

I know the whole number 8 thing is a bit of a sham/PR stunt but Kings Lynn have signed Jake Mulford who has no team place in any other league and might be reliant on the Prem Jnr League (if it happens) for competitive laps and even then he might be deemed too strong for that.

Looking at the list of Number 8's have Kings Lynn managed to sign the a rider who has no team place in any other league (unless he drops in at Armadale which feels unlikely)

Match fixing inquiries will start . Seriously though i genuinely hope that the delays are all because actual closely guarded secrets are in place and some big hitters are willing to ride at Brum for sensible rates. Heart says one thing but head definitely can't shift the gloom.

Given how team building is going for Birmingham i think the year break (forced or otherwise) is going to be the best thing for Eastbourne longer term. Having everything in place in plenty of time will allow for both on and off track success.

Whilst the big fan draws do come early its also some strong opposition, Brum will have faced Leicester, Poole, Berwick and Oxford at home before the end of May if each of those is a hefty drumming how many will be turning up to watch in June?

As it happens the NDL is shaping up to be fairly well balanced and could be one of the better seasons for a little while. That said the diversity that IOW offer as a weekly spectator is pretty special and something that most clubs would undoubtedly be envious of.....a fixture list drawing a good home crowd without the curse of away expenses. Once again IOW lead the way.

and if he isn't interested in riding in the UK in any shape or form? nad if he was interested would he not be lining up a PL place also/instead? If the pockets are that deep the money would be better thrown at Kildemand or Musielak who would at least have some level of UK base in place. I feel for Brum i really do, i feel the spread of heatleaders could be better enforced but the reality is that Birmingham are in deep deep trouble and a wheel is yet to be turned.

Not insulted at all because the rider in question had worked thier way through the Scunthorpe winter series quite successfully following plenty of laps on Steve Lawsons private track. There are always exceptions to the rule and naturals on a bike but how frequently is even that happening?