Sings4Speedway

In terms of weakening the product i am 100% in agreeance with you. I was highly against the reduced limit from the start as it was clear that lesser riders would appear, averages would be inflated and the product would ultimately become poorer (which of course is what the powers that be wanted as the NDL was a serious threat to the viability of the CL). What would be nice to see though is some actual consistency, if the limit was cut due a long term (poorly thought out) plan then at least stick with it and take accountability when it fails or admit that it was gotten very much wrong and back track. The constant yo-yoing on team building points limits does nothing for anyone except leave a few riders lumbered with inflated averages.

I fully agree. I don't really know why Kyle hasn't been able to kick on like others around him. He has been raised from a young age to be a professional speedway rider, has secured astonishing sponsorship deals over the years and yet has been unable to unlock the talent he clearly possesses at a consistent higher level. I fear that unless he starts to burn bright soon he might burn out of love for the sport.

I see Kyle very much as a confidence rider and think he really needs to nail down a good CL season before thinking about PL places and winning week in week out in the NDL should help that.

The fact that Poland have stolen the jump on the UK has to be a huge concern for the British promotions (but it won't be). The majority of the rising stars and emerging talents like Brennan, Palin, Flint, Rowe etc have already had Polish exposure and are highly likely to feature in a development league with links to big clubs. Any following riders Thompsons, Hagon etc will likely do the same and the cycle will continue. British speedway will be scalped of any decent riders at an early age and rely upon the foreign exports that either don't make it those leagues or the riders who graduate from the U23 league and haven't made the required standard to secure team places on the continent. The Uks approach will be to bemoan the lack of available riders and that the emerging talents are not loyal to the UK when ultimately British Speedway has hardly been loyal to them.

Problem is that Brum haven't yet finalised the takeover so won't be in any position to start negotiating deals with any riders for a respectable amount of time. As most of the rules are known and team buildings are well under way its likely that if Brum do come to the tapes it will be with a team of scraps to start with. That isn't a problem in itself if the consortium are open and honest about the situation, price admission accordingly and don't insult the fans with the "i genuinely believe we have built a league winning side" spiel. There is every chance that the Brum team whoever features within it will finish near the bottom of the table but if they get to the tapes and complete the season it should be considered a success by many. (yes i know Oxford thread but the people above started it )

Sounds like the Poles have taken a good look at what British speedway is doing and then done the opposite. They are determined to maintain the standard and know that to do so the bar must be set and riders achieve this level (or their will be others to take their place). The UK is blighted by the inclusion for all mentality and lowering the bar until the numbers add up for the season ahead only.

British Speedway simply can't afford the kind of figures required to compete. Poland & Sweden means one set of bikes that can be driven between the two, Poland and UK means two sets of bikes and thats without all the other odds and ends. It would take Belle Vue approx £40-50k at the start of the season just to be on level terms with Sweden and thats before points money, sponsorship, opposition, travelling etc. No clubs should be breaking the bank to keep riders, the UK has to accept that its a training ground now for the other continental leagues and retirement home for the sports aging stars.

You are quite correct but i would like to see the limit held and reap whats been sown. It was clear that the issue would present itself and if its raised back to 39/40 it would almost be an admission of wrongdoing. Riders are now sat on inflated averages so if "progression is the key" then it should remain low and force riders through.

Massive chunk of the points building (if the rules stay the same as last year) and assume most of the decisions just need to be rubber stamped as someone could table a no over 8 point rider rule and the Bullets get screwed. Im pleased to see the commitment to the league but fear the gulf in rider abilities could be bigger than ever this season.

Why out of interest? Personally i hope he goes somewhere bigger to progress his career

Slightly unfair but i do stand by that Rob Grant was naïve with the takeover and being ushered by the board to keep the existing company against his better instincts. We could be here all day and night listing the multiple reasons why the listed clubs closed. There will always be over arching issues and also all could have had more help to remain active. The current mafia board are not bad people they are just making decisions based upon the short term benefits to their own businesses rather than the sport as a whole (and if replaced with a whole bunch of new promotions things could still be much the same). What the board could do a lot better is be more open and transparent about the decision process rather than the cloak and dagger (lies) approach that is currently in play and they would find themselves far greater respected for it.

Certainly. Rye - fixed race nights plus a green promotor Worky - over achieving team and questionable budgeting Lakeside - track sold Swindon - liar developer/greyhound promotion Somerset - track worth more for development Eastbourne - feals done by man not paying the actual money and charlatan promoter. Birmingham - costs more to run than Masons realised (not helped by arc) Newcastle - misjudgement between income vs outgoings from green promotion. How many of those clubs could have been helped, guided or given more time to put things right? All bar Lakeside, Swindon and Somerset.

Surely the best move is for clubs to operate on the race night that gives them the greatest chance of sustainable success? I wouldn't be opposed to the CL being run mostly or even solely on Friday nights. Guests or RR could still operate, maybe even utilise unattached guests as there will be plenty of NDL riders out of work. Forcing clubs to run on non-optimal days and then questioning why they are closing at an alarming rate is a hallamark of the current mafia board.

Refused in the interests of Scunthorpe Speedway of course

"only to discover that the delay in receiving a written agreement was such that we were unable to plan for 2022 and we were forced to release all our riders." Its not the clearest statement in the world and there are clearly multiple factors at play (including the non completion of fixture fine) but reading the above sounds like Len couldn't get hold of the required paperwork in time to submit his intent to run the 2022 season to the Board. If that is the case then fair enough from Len to not attempt to commit riders when he might not be granted a place in the league, he certainly doesn't tow the line as the mafia bosses would like and it certainly doesn't sound like there has been any attempts to keep him or the club active. Its also pretty telling that there has been no statement from the Board or Controllers wishing a legend of the sport a happy and well earnt retirement.

If there was a single reason for Uncle Lens decision then it would be easy to argue against but its a perfect storm of multiple things against vs very few positives that have clearly strained the patience of the most stubborn of men. Kent have been afforded the luxury of a very supportive landlord previously and some hefty sponsorships, Len has said that Kent made a profit each year, if that is no longer the case he isn't going to continue throwing good money after bad. Rent increases, track access, an expensive CL team that failed to make the play offs, rider retirements, rider grumblings, an under performing NDL team, a set of rules imposed upon the NDL making it a lesser attractive product (Len was the NDL spokesman and wasn't even consulted), throw a fine in at the end and you can see why there are plenty of reasons to walk away. The gesture to donate the air fence and some track equipment to Iwade though is an act of pure gold. To enable and benefit a local training track rather than seek a few personal pounds back speaks volumes about the man and how he has been a life long benefit to the sport of speedway.

So with Kent out (unless a fruit loop is found), Eastbourne delayed until 2023 and no guarantee of NL. At present 5 teams remain, the champs Mildenhall as a standalone side and 4 second teams (although Belle Vue do run as individual meetings and not 2nd halves). The question remains is a 5 team league visble in any way? Will the 4 man PJL re-surface and the NDL be dropped altogether? Whatever the outcome its going to be a hard winter for riders and fans alike.

Len might be a stubborn old goat but i doubt any promotor had done more for the sport than he has. The levels of drive and enthusiasm would be worth a fortune if bottled and crazy as it sounds at 89 still had plenty of vision for the future. Enjoy your well earned retirement Len. The sport you are leaving may be far worse than when you left it but its definitely not a reflection on your efforts or actions.

Just a made up system to suit personal opinion. Flint stepped out of the league so surely should have also be ineligible?

Great idea and do think it would be to the benefit of the Ben Fund but the mafias view on 'ghost' teams has been made quite clear. That said the standard protocol is to flip flop as and when it suits so almost certainly see Heathens, Hawks and Vikings doing battle soon

Great to look through the youth list and see so many established family names competing showing that the sport is still shining through the generations.

Im pretty sure the rules this year is that it has to be unattached guests rather than guests from another team or largely pushed that way. From memory i can only really recall Morley coming in for Kent and Coles guesting for Mildenhall. I do think the idea is a positive one....however its largely been made possible by the number of teams withdrawing. RTD must have ridden for most of the NDL clubs this season but if Newcastle didn't chuck it all in would he have been able to do so.

Don't be mean......seriously though first year in would they really want to mess about with Visas etc and all the associated hoops that need jumping through

Sadly Leicester's season was over once Lawlor lost interest. The Colts on paper have riders who should be setting the league alight and whilst final averages might change Smith and Coles especially should be better than the sub 7 averages they are posting. Belle Vue signed two of the biggest improving reserves which is often key and got let down by the old guard. Wooley seems to be improving now he is settled into a team and against others who have been given chances this year he looks alright.

If the promotion at Oxford are considering a return straight into the top flight then the authorities need to be alerted as there is a lunatic on the loose. I certainly hope they are not being coerced by the mafia into a league on which they will have no say on the rules just so the "established" teams have some more numbers for their elitist league.