Sings4Speedway

Delighted to hear that first and foremost the racing at Central Park was good! Its a strange phenomenon that whats often needed is for the away team to be better to negate the home advantage or the 'lesser' riders to gate and let the 'better' riders chase them. Equally delighted to hear than Danyon had another good night and that Ben Morley rode so well. Both of these riders have been rattling around on the fringes for a while and seems crazy that Hume wasn't snapped up by a CL side sooner whilst Morley must be in prime spot for Kent rider of the season at present. Two hugely likeable riders and im delighted that the successes are matching their efforts.

IOW are providing different classes and competitions throughout the meetings but the Island Masters is still 500cc laydown engines. I do think that 250 speedway machines do provide good racing and better range of trackcraft to generate and maintain speed plus they don't pick grab drive as hard as their bigger counterparts. All this aside riders won't / can't just drop their existing stable of equipment if forced to use new/standardised/stock or whatever engines. The only way that will take off is running as a separate entity / class that grows in stature over the years until it becomes the dominant force in a similar way that laydown engines replaced uprights.

Have to agree with most whilst the frustration of the promotion is evident a public apology stating that riders have been told its not good enough doesn't smack of harmony within. The track was a little different to usual and the boys struggled a little but im confident they will all be suitably adjusted for our next home meeting would have sufficed IMO.

Genuinely can't believe Kents luck with the weather switching to Tuesdays was a worse decision than Kings Lynn signing Lewis Bridger. I wasn't expecting Heeps back but perhaps he is trying to make a point and not get replaced? I can't see any new mooted top level rider being added to the side without a double change?

Precisely and proving the point that getting the track right is the most important element to be successful. Its been argued time and time again which is/was better Scunny or Somerset? The answer is they are/were both great. Buxton also had all right ingredients to be successful barring a little extra capital to renovate the track surface. Frustratingly they had been calling for a lower points limit and wage caps for years and were ignored yet Berwick can get it pushed through at the first attempt. There is still a marketable option for Speedway at Buxton and should the Euromillions come up it would be my first place to call.

But why does speedway have to operate in stadiums? Internally its viewed as a sideways alternative to superbikes but externally its seen in the same light as stockcars and banger racing. So why don't / can't clubs run successfully on a lower glamourous environment? The basics to run a decent speedway event are track, parking, spectator viewing, toilets, food & drink. A Grasstrack has all of these bar the permanent track. Why not create more venues like Buxton? Lay a decent track in a field, fit fence, erect basic pit area and stick refs box on top of a shipping container? Everything else can be added at a later date, hired per meeting etc and all at far reduced costs than the thousands spent out on rent for tracks hindered by their Landlords because they feel they have the upper hand. Create an alternative and at least give the Speedway promotions some options on how they market the sport.

Sadly though that highlights the difference and value between the two clubs. £18 online advance ticket (£20 on the door) for a CL/NDL double header at Eastbourne versus £18 for just CL at Kent or £15 for just NDL. On that basis you either enjoyed the NDL match for free or paid just £3 more to watch a CL match. Different venue, same product but where's the sense?

I don't think NDL speedway is top of Jakes radar despite it being what has put his name out there. He was due to be at a grasstrack double header over the weekend, it turned into a single meeting with decent notice but still didn't fancy the return journeys to switch bikes. There is no doubting his talents at reserve but i fear the bonds between club and rider are becoming frayed.

Jake Mulford must be delighted missing the Eastbourne fixture and rocking the boat further. 1 race at a soaking wet grasstrack and didnt even get away from the start line.....definitely worth jeopardising his Speedway place.

Are the wheels / commitment starting to fall off this Kent team? Mulford can ride when he wants and chosing a grasstrack meeting tomorrow over speedway tonight, Dugard opted to pit at Eastbourne rather than previous meeting at Mildenhall. Kent made hard work of beating a 4 man Seagulls team tonight. Slip up like that could have meant no chance towards the end of season run in and no hopes of being top will do nothing but harm Kents crowds on already tricky September evenings

Any notes on how the crowd numbers were? Understrength Mildenhall side scared the leaders who still look to have a few passengers reliant on others scoring big. No way should Ryan Mac get beat my Muff twice anywhere but especially at home. Phillips did a decent job as a guest but you would fancy Jenkins to get more than the 7 RR brought for him. Would think the Bandits got away with it tonight.

Keleher for Newman, RR for Brennan TBA for Ellis

I hope not. Kent might be short a heat leader but they also don't want to break the bank on first season up a level.

Sadly Edwards and Jenkins missing spoils it a bit as a contest as i think a full strength Mildenhall side could have pushed the Bullets. I hope that those who said they would back NDL as a standalone do turn out and generate a good crowd. Will certainly be a decent indication if it sustainable or if double headers are here to stay.

If true that must fall under with holding services rather than prior commitment? That said any reason seems acceptable in the NL? No problem with that as long as its the same rules for all.

Given the tie has gone its certainly encouraging that Kent have booked a strong guest for this one and could end up paying out for a good few points this week. No meeting against Eastbourne is ever a dead rubber and there will always be a little bit of contention on the night. That said Lawson won't be arriving to make up the numbers and if Kennett can start doing a bit along with lively Brennan the heat leaders could be in for a battle. Sadly Edwards form has really suffered with the time off and Hurry must be eyeing the chance for a point should they meet and as the NDL at Eastbourne proved at the weekend even staying upright can bring points on the right day. Fingers crossed Len doesn't ruin the track with water and there is good racing on show tonight.

Jesus H Christ....is he coming in for Heeps or Wells?

Strong result for Kent against one of the leagues better sides who suffered for not having Edwards but 3 riders who all excel at West Row did the damage and the 5+1 return from Clouting tipped the balance. Still waiting for Spooner to get going (although if he had been included from the start?) but Kent go on getting big away wins and if they can get all the fixtures in look a real threat to top the table (although i also though Eastbourne would win despite the poor team put out so what do i know).

Ablitt withdrawn from U21s and believe he is not riding either meeting tomorrow.

I try and be patient especially as people appear to mostly put up with me but i fear that another could be headed for the ignore list soon and even Lewy hasn't been put on that.....yet

Who in their right mind would turn up and watch a match that featured Kent without Scott Nicholls right now? It certainly would have been cheaper for Len to agree to the date, book an average guest and have to pay out 30ish (being optimistic) points worth of monies. I can't see the draw for the Lions either and only the happy clappers would have turned up with those who have an interest in contested speedway staying away until actual opposition arrives. By September Kent may have strengthened up or the play off run in might add to the interest, either way its naive to think a poorly supported big home win is in the best interests of Leicester.

Prior to last night Shanes had scored equal or above his average in league matches, Paco the same. Morris is struggling a touch but its pretty early yet. All of the riders you have it in for a 5-5.5 averaged riders and you are in cuckoo land if you think they will all be getting 10+ every week. They don't ride Prem because they are not at that level, the don't ride NL because they are too good for it (or not British), if only there was a tier in between the two....oh wait. Your suggestions to bring in an unproven NL reserve (no disrespect to Harry but he has only just started out), a rider who was so poor at his supposed best track he got dropped by the team he has been at for a decade and an expensive continental rider who has opted out of the UK due to a little thing called the pandemic nicely confirms that whilst this is an open discussion forum some comments are certainly more valid than others.

Eastbourne are certainly getting the PR right at the moment and looks like two good match ups with strong visitors vs home advantage. Have to say its probably one of the weakest NDL Eastbourne teams i have ever seen and yet i still expect them to win, no pressure on Foord but competitive rides on his home track will be a massive experience for him.

Crowds have never been particularly good whenever i have been to Saddlebow. i accept that there is in excess of 2000 people who attend over a season but i once you break them down into Lynn fans vs general speedway fans vs away fans and the numbers start to dwindle. Id question if any UK club has a team fan base that runs into the deep thousands anymore.

Glad to see Starke bring his PL form finally and obviously Scotty on it again. Plaudits too for Morley who keeps chipping in with solid returns and is doing his job under the radar. The whole mess at 2,3,4 for Kent is a disaster zone with Heeps and Hurry trying to see who can score fewest yet still wont get dropped. Redcar were possibly below par in a couple of places tonight and still claim a comfy away win. Play offs are certainly not out of reach of the bears.....wooden spoon is ever closer for the Kings.