Sings4Speedway

Good point. I had it my head that it was the other way round for some reason but greensheets don't lie (often). The Courtney calculator is working overtime again.

If memory serves the Hopwood did get injured in 2018 but can't remember what and if it forced him out of 2019 or he sat out, Stoneman rode the early meetings on the IOW before hurting himself so would think he doesn't qualify? Either way its great they are both back Nathan is great entertainment to watch and if Hopwood is on a 6ish average and got fit whilst away he could add to that most weeks.

More shock comebacks in the team but Stoneman and Jenkins is a powerful top 2 and strong middle order with Hopwood and Hagon. Clouting will benefit from a change of track. Will run the numbers un a minute and see how close or far out it actually is? So the latest i can find are Jenkins 9.56 Hagon 5.75 Clouting 4.30 Stoneman 8.22 (2019) Hopwood 7.16 (2018) Total 34.99 So looks like just needs a point reduction on Hopwood and a pair of 3 pointers will fit?

If bikes could be located/sponsored the both Kingston and /or Ledwith would make attractive recruits on their average and around Iwade. Bit of inside knowledge and home advantage could prove crucial.

Does look a lot like there are strong IOW links with Bowtell, Morley and Verge all former Warriors. If they could get Powell it would be a powerful top end. Then just needs Widman and Sealey to complete the bottom end

Massive clown moment there! Completely forgot that (probably because i didn't expect it) good signing for any team this year and weekend track is always a lure. He would shine at Iwade and will be a very dangerous visitor.

With Armadale probably lining up close to last year it just leaves the remaining riders to split between Oxford and Kent. With Kent having 2 named and Spooner widely believed at Oxford that only leaves 3 heat leader riders to find, couple of 2nd strings and the reserves. Active riders like RTD, Harris, Powell, Stoneman could fill those voids with other comebacks potentially happening also. Biggest questions will be over the reserves positions and if there is any new/ready riders or if they will use older / previous experience ones?

But that was how the RS system was billed, as a non stop conveyor belt. It was obvious too many that it wouldn't happen/work and that it was just capitalising on a particular year with a stronger crop of riders than usual. If a system for succession is put in place then stick to it and do something to actually help it succeed. As ever the great 5 year masterplans get dropped after a year or two because they are flawed, ill conceived and poorly regarded by the idiots who introduced them in the first place.

Depends if he travels or is already going to be there anyways? Personally I think he is more likely to end up in a strong Oxford side but theres still an outside chance.

Obviously the "plan" to create positions in CL teams so riders were forced to move up and out of the NDL has been scrapped rather than expanded (because it was poorly thought out once again) but there still could have been dare i say it "sensible restrictions" placed upon team building in both NDL and CL. Its been seen time and time again when a 2/3 point reserve takes to the track with a 10+ heatleader and surprise surprise the racing is processional. If the Upper cap of averages was limited it would force the level of riders to be closer together and just might create better racing and development of riders. If the cap was a 10 point average then only two riders would have been ineligible from the NL (Gilkes & Thompson) if it was 9 those two plus Kinsley and Jenkins would be forced to move on. Hardly dramatic but would keep rider ability levels closer together.

I think a lot of people are overlooking how low Nicol's average is. He is currently 4th in the team below Brennan and if he can and likely will put 2 points on it this Glasgow team is very dangerous indeed.

Out of interest has that actually been documented anywhere? All i recall reading is that the number 8 would be involved with the club and if opportunities arise they might be included. Nothing about they must use the number 8 if the RS is missing or even any requirement for the number 8 to be at the track when a team is running RR (despite this being its original use)

Im expecting the top 5 to be similar in most predictions with only any real debate over the final play off spot. As usual a key injury can throw it all into chaos but for once lets hope not 1. Poole 2. Glasgow 3. Oxford 4. Berwick (assuming get strong 7th rider) 5. Leicester 6. Redcar 7. Plymouth 8. Edinburgh 9. Scunthorpe 10. Newcastle 11. Birmingham

I can see the Armadale side lining up exactly how it finished last season. It would be a team 2.5 points under the limit and means that Danny Phillips starts at number 1. I can only see RTD replacing Lewis Millar as any possible team strengthening and that would rock the boat a little.

I just can't see Crang missing out on a place so looks likely to be Rathbone or Watson or Both to not feature unless Berwick are happy to be under the liit and with a longer tail but i doubt it. Perhaps the resurrection of another ex rider on a 6ish average?

Thanks as ever Islander. Did much better than usual last year (even if 4th-8th is covered by less than a point so maybe im just luckier)

Given Ace has plenty of home laps under his belt and a few handy setup tips on hand he should do alright this year. Rated around Max Perry level seems to be what im told and if thats the case he is already ahead of several other reserves signed up for the forth coming season. Depending on the team make up he might spend his time moving in and out of the 1-5 but thats no bad thing for long term progress.

Easy play off team and looked it prior to the last two signings who should both do alright at reserve.

I think you misunderstand i am far from knocking what riders earn and was more stating the high costs involved just to take part. As for sense thats an entirely different matter as if any rider had any sense they simply wouldn't bother. The risk vs reward is vastly out and its more paid enjoyment that motivates most riders.

because its a troll...or in this case a troll now on ignore

I have to agree with many of the recent posts. Often a garbage home side but with the home advantage against a decent visiting team will often produce the best meetings. Dominant home wins do little for me as a neutral. The point that is slightly sliding away from this thread is where are the heat wins going to come from? A team with no last places would sneak plenty of draws but there are enough lasts in this Brum side. So to balance that out there will need to be the regular heat winners and as yet they haven't been signed.

Unfortunately for Foord all tracks have bends which doesn't suit his style he could have been "snapped up" by Leicester before others opened talks or closer Kent / Oxford weren't interested? Im yet to be convinced he has the skill set required to make a successful and safe rider but i hope to be proven wrong.

First up the 50 meetings was just a number plucked out by geoff100 that i used as part of the rough figures. Second the £500 per meeting was a figure that Richard himself quoted: He said: “I’m owed just under £8,000. I hope Ian Jordan is never allowed back into speedway. I’m out of pocket. It’s not just the money he owes. The way I race it costs me £500 to ride every meeting. You’re putting your bike and body on the line and it’s not on. In fact im far from suggesting he is is greedy, im simply justifying the figure quoted and highlighting the costs involved with higher level speedway in th UK at present and the impact on riders when they go unpaid.

So rough numbers using the 50 meetings quoted so 50 x £500 = 25k 50 meetings ave 5 races a meeting = 250 races. Engine service every 35 races = 7 services a year £500 per service = £3500 2 x Bikes to start the season less engines 5k each so current running total £13,500. Then throw in kit like boots, helmets, undersuits if all fresh another 2k so around £15,000 thus far. Then its running costs a set of clutch plates will be £100-160 (depends what he uses) and is likely changed every 1-2 meetings so anything from £2500-8000 Then of course there is all the other running costs, items that get bent, broken along the way, engine blow ups etc that need to be accounted for. If Lawson sources his own van that will have costs attached also so its not overly hard to see how the costs can rapidly add up for a better end UK based rider. Oh and of course there is around 6k on hairbands, shampoo and conditioner after ever meeting

Lawson has already said himself that how he races costs £500 a meeting (far from unrealistic) so he is clearly on a touch more than that, plus fuel money and a tenner for a big mac on the way home.