Sings4Speedway

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.

Connor blows very hot and cold. Not sure how he will be setup this year but things have always been a little bit unfinished in previous years. Can see him and Trigger swapping reserve berths all year and each cleaning up in that position so maybe not so bad but a team very under the limit and bit underwhelming against other announced teams.

Just seen the world longtrack fixtures are out. 3 meetings in September could see Bomber missing at the important stage of the season.

Gilkes as stated looks the leagues top rider and will likely max out almost wherever he goes but as a home track im not sure it is really any benefit doubling up. Atkins is on a false average but has stalled for the past few seasons due to injuries etc, looked like he could have been Flint level but is getting left behind and does need a strong season this year. Andrews an obvious enough choice but uninspiring and always has question marks over his kit. Extance looks a high average to me and will offer little away. Meadows in my opinion features due to age rather than ability and will frustrate some. Trigger and the remaining rider is key. If its a strong final signing then there will always be one good reserve all year, if its poor or even a 3 pointer it looks another missed opportunity side.

Thats some good work. Yeah i make Trigger top left and Ward top centre so based on Extance's 2019 average theres a good 5 points to fill the last slot Halder would fit and so would Campos for an out there shout.... 1. Gilkes 10.30 2. Mystery 5.05 3. Atkins 5.86 4. Extance 5.67 (2019 ave possibly wrong) 5. Andrews 6.55 6. Trigger 3.57 7. Ward 3.00

If the silhouettes are accurate then they look nailed on. Only one question mark looks like Richard Andrews but he won't fit so my wild card guess is Chad Wirtzfeld with the final 3 pointer to be signed after some practice days are held....

But does a rider have to be 15 to be a new rider? That daid i think you are right as points increase will largely see a re-hash of last years lineups.

Conveniently the rule for CL averages over 4 has been dropped for the season ahead.....

In a straight race its James every time and in all fairness he has been due chances above others for the past few seasons. Surely the decisions should be whos better end of not whos younger? If its a straight fight in ability then fair enough but far too many riders get signed being young rather than good. Personally never seen anything in Meadows to think he is anywhere close to NDL standard and more MDL mid order rider.

Has Stoneman showed any interest in returning to a full league place? Seen him featured in plenty of maybe teams. Dugard has also retired again so rule him out. Trigger and Ward seem likely to feature though.

Don't know if Meadows has ever ridden Iwade, certainly not well. In fairness Mulford wasn't all that on previous outings. Don't know if James Laker would finally get a league chance but has done enough laps of the the place. To be fair the current better amateurs are all older and out of favour despite being better.

Pijper & Hummel ?

can't find the form to hand now but i think your user name is pretty accurate. The form clearly stated that it was just "fun shares" and effectively just a way of raising funds for the club, the "shareholders" were never entitled to any voting rights, details of accounts, to have the shares brought back or dividends paid out. Put simply its a nice way for people to offer a little sponsorship into the club, get their name in the program and receive a certificate for their contribution. On a personal note i think the £100 minimum was a bit steep and stopped any further interest but for several who want to do their bit its a nice enough idea (providing the money gets spent correctly etc). Anyone who thought that for £100 they would be entitled to see full company accounts, have a say on how the club is run and potentially receive dividends should really be supervised when using computers and mobile devices and have the child locks firmly turned on.

Agreed. IOW also have the luxury of an excellent large race track which makes the other disciplines more appealing. The reason IOW have been successful is because they assessed what they have and marketed the product to suit rather than forcing a one sized fits all approach that it causing so many others to suffer.

I suspect for any racing to take place there would need to be an air fence and im guessing the Buxton one is out of date / deteriorated? Throw in some higher insurance premiums etc and the probable need for more extensive track work and you can see why its less appealing. I fully respect why the Moss family have stepped away from it after years of being beaten down and any hope of a return rests solely on a new promotor who is willing to invest heavily for little return.

I think the numbers speak for themselves, looking at NDL competitors last year i would estimate over 50% raced MDL in the past, the rest are made up from MJL or youth rounds with just a couple who i can't recall doing any dev leagues and heading straight into NL (doesn't mean they didn't do it just means i can't recall it). I personally think the leagues are vital for riders of all ages to develop and hone their skill sets and see if they are prepared for the rigours of full league racing, unless it starts to get further backing from the powers that be i fear the sport in general will decline further.

That would be a cracking team.

Hugely important. Only got to look at the brits at CL to see that the vast majority came through MDL and NL. Today sought after riders like Hume, Thomas and Mountain served thier time setting up in the rough end of the pits and having countless meetings abandoned because they simply were an inconvenience to some. Todays annoying, turn up just for the laps riders may well be tomorrow's team saviours.

With respect will that even be possible next season? There were 3 teams only this year (thanks to the board) of which Eastbourne aren't competing) so leaves Brum, Wolves (who will also be PJL) and possibly Kent? A sad demise when it featured double figure entries 10 years ago

I know its "silly season" but there is a line.....

So Thompson x 2, Spencer and Simpson. Foord & Perry leave just over 6 so Coles or RTD (probably the latter would be my guess).

The potential at Buxton always was and is there but sadly the place was tired and ultimately the racing surface needed work. Budgets and food intentions kept it going longer than many expected but often a refusal to listen or accept anything was wrong ultimately led to its closure.

Suspension for 30 days and summoned to a scb hearing.....no idea if that has taken place yet?