Sings4Speedway

Genuine question(s) and not wishing to stir just know. Did the Comets go into administration or just opt out of running due to finances and stadium issues? The reason i ask is that its not always a straight forward to bring teams back that have folded otherwise half of the promotions would be trying the same trick and starting up under another name. I guess there is absolutely no reason why the Northside Comets couldn't operate out of a new venue.

Without the nomad teams i feel its highly unlikely to run at anywhere near the levels it once did. In less than 10 years it has gone from a league of 10+ to 2. As for the PJL it just reeks of a demo for the new national league, 1 & 2 star grade riders getting 3 rides after a higher tier meeting. The board have seen the NL as a threat and are closing it down piece by piece just like they have with the MSDL.

Certainly sounds like a way of bolstering the shortfall in rides for the lower starred NL riders who have very few meetings already. That said i can't see even those turning up and racing in a second half for nothing. Nothing says closed shop like offering rides to riders who already have team places but it will at least give the chance to trial the new NL formats.

Its cost cutting pure and simple driven because CL clubs "cannot afford" the wage demands of riders wanting to move up but they are very happy to chuck silly money at PL double downers and end of career former world level riders. Imposing a sensible and workable wage cap on the NL is fair enough but the same should be put in place for the top of the CL too. The promotions only want cannon fodder on the cheap at the bottom end to free up more cash for the high rollers. Thus the introduction of the cheap rising star scheme.

I quite agree the issue being the level of improvement required to be quantified a successful. Should the mentioned Mulford or Clouting beat all the other reserves and second strings consistently this season then yes i would say that is a solid and achievable improvement. However there is still likely to be a big jump from that level to competing with the heat leaders who are also riding in the CL. Clouting has a great style but now needs some additional speed to go with it and Mulford although talented still has a way to go to join the ranks of successful grasstrack crossovers and is only just cutting his teeth in the 500cc class of that discipline. Time will tell for both riders.

I would think (but im sure details will be released as things progress) that speedway meetings can be held as IOW will remain members of the ACU & SCB and only withdrew from the BSPL mafia but as stated there have been several other events held under different banners/names (dirt track spins to mind) but i would be surprised if isn't the header used as the BSPL don't own the rights to that name. Again there might be a petty attempt to prevent any riders who are under the jurisdiction of the BSPL from competing but i would hope that a public rejection of this will suffice as there is no legal cases to be brought and they would do the sport no favours anyway. "in the best interests of the sport" the more opportunities for bikes to be on tracks the better whatever banner it may operate under. One thing for certain is that the IOW team know how to put on a show and now they have a blank canvas to work with may the speedway circus begin.

Definitely feel like Ash Morris has missed out once again. Wright could easily be the signing of the season, he still looks darn quick on two wheels, the only real question mark is how he will mix it in a tough first corner but if he can pick himself up from the dirt a couple of times with no major aches then he should do fine.

BWD is a nice enough lad but he has only changed his mind because of the dollary-doos. Demands for equipment will either be high or he will arrive with sub-standard gear. Guarantees are dangerous deals as many have taken clubs to the cleaners with minimal effort. I hope im wildly wrong but i would hate to see Brum in trouble again out of desperation to get a decent number 1 to bolster a very average side.

The mantra used to be that if you were in because you were good enough, if you didn't get a team place then you had to go out and beat all the riders in the pecking order ahead of you to secure that place. Thats how the standard of riders was maintained sadly now the ethos has shifted onto if you are young enough we will give you a go, some of you will likely make it (partially because you will be beating riders who are not ready) and then the mafia can pat themselves on the back because we have 'unearthed' a rider with a little promise and brand heap them with pressure about becoming the next world champion.......

Sadly the difference in standard has occurred in two ways. One is that the gulf between heat leaders and the rest is getting very wide and it will take special riders like Gilkes to bridge that gap but for the most part there will be a stark difference in ability on track at the same time. Two is that building a decent team to the limit can be done if known about but only by a couple of teams. Kent had a much better team before the rule change than after it and the points difference is only 0.26. Easbourne have been able to pick up the pieces of the IOW and Plymouth sides along with a local number 1 and build a side thats easier to pay to watch but it will still be a hard sell if the opposition isn't putting up much of a fight. Oh and no major disrespect to the lads but this top 5 isn't a patch on the class of 2016.

I think the bank holiday fixtures will probably sustain the season and should bring bumper crowds as usual but a fixture list with one home match a month for the Royals will struggle to gain any momentum before packing 3 fixtures into 4 weeks in September. If things have gone well for either side the numbers could be ok but if there is little to play for on the final matches it could be futurama level crowds.

Whilst you are entirely right that costs shouldn't be covered there has to be a level of subsidising to make a NDL place worth it. The current proposed differences between amateur events and the NDL is that at amateur events its pay to ride but with the option to choose when and where you ride (within reason of operating tracks) vs small points monies, fuel contribution but told when and where you must ride. With the midweek matches, loss of earning etc i can see that some will be viewing a crack at league racing just not worth it.

Thats sadly where the sport at this level is going to see an even greater divide and even more natural ability will be lost. We already face a time where there is GP level equipment available and used in the NL for thos with deep pockets whilst others will struggle to pay for the tyre, a reserve who gets all 4 rides and pockets a point a time would be having a decent emerging season and yet won't even cover the rubber burnt

I think this Lions team is one of two that could trouble Eastbourne for both the league and at Arlington. As stated Lawlor may not be the hottest number 1 in the league but when applied he can mix it with many of them. The Thompsons re on false averages and are going to be getting loads of track time at a higher level which will only bring them on. The weakness is that neither reserve is proven at this level and with a few teams built to always have at least one strong rider at 7 unless one really kicks on i think that is where the difference between 1st and more likely 3rd occurs.

Prize money rates may have been cut but i strongly suspect that there will be deals for some to top up earnings whilst others should be quite grateful of the opportunity at £10 a point. The sport and pay levels haven't been fair for a long time and i don't see that changing any time soon. The tyre enforcement is poor though and it would be far better if the league was allowed to run any legal tyres, winding down the stocks of Mitas whilst offering the chance for Anlas to be experimented with. Tyres have long been sponsored by initiatives outside of just the pay scheme so i don't see why that should stop and why clubs won't find a way around it.

I thought that was the recipe for a hilarious night out.......

Wight in fairness has been quick on the grasstracks during his time off from the shale plus signing for Newcastle also should half guarantee a decent amount of track time for sharpness. Still an out there signing but could prove to be a beauty but still a shame that he has been given a spot over a rider like Mountain.

Perhaps for once the chairman could make a good example of himself by showing that nobody is outside the rules rather than the current view that the godfather and other mafia members are above the law but happy to impose the rules onto others.

a female being awkward and pedantic.....thats a new one

Likewise. For Connor i hope he has 2-3 clubs involved in a bidding war for his services and is working out just how many new bikes he needs

Fees and assistance given by some clubs over the years would make your eyes water.....

The asset system is a farce anyway but prohibiting any clubs from acquiring assets for any reason is diabolical. With the restrictions imposed upon clubs throughout the leagues for various reasons the asset system could have helped even the field a little. Personally i think it should be abolished as the valuations are laughable and the 1st dibs on a rider no really actively applies. Riders should be offered contracts from a club with the various stipulations from both sides in place, these can range from 1-5 years. Once signed the rider is bound to that club unless the club releases the rider from the signed obligation, the contract is brought out by another club or the rider opts to retire. This way there is a benefit for clubs who invest time into riders rather than watch them jump ship as soon as a better offer comes along. Might not be perfect but the current asset system is just a joke so why not attempt something more workable.

Likewise i thought i had seen instances where a team had arrived and been forced to track several NL/dev league riders due to late withdrawals and faced a fine but has there ever been a case where a declared team is deemed too weak?

Spot on in fact i believe Kent built an initial team that was just over 35 points and still looked one of the strongest in the league as they had signed riders with potential to move on but by cutting it to fit the lowered limit now looks an average side with one or two stand out riders.

Yes "last time Scunny put a NL team". Little did people know then that it would leave scars so deep that the league was soon to be abolished. I was asking if there is a CL level lower limit and if Scunthorpe were in danger of bringing the sport into disrepute by tracking a team that is arguably too poor to compete? Yes i accept that we ae in unprecedented times but if it is hard to build a competitive team perhaps the BSPL should have imposed a lower points limit upon the league!