Sings4Speedway

I certainly hope that Plymouth are competitive as stars aside it will do neither the home fans or the league any good to be whipping boys most weeks. Im yet to be convinced that this team has many hallmarks of success about it BUT i would be delighted to be proved wrong.

Great news that the Colts are in. What the team looks like will be interesting with Flint, Bickley & Rathbone moving on, Palin allegedly not allowed to treble up? I can see Bailey, Woodhull, Bowen & McGurk returning with Brennan for the extra laps still leaving 8.92 for the final two riders (verge + 3 pointer?)

Frustratingly once the first set of averages are out and if the side is struggling a little its likely to be Bowtell in the firing line, Cook & Ruml have had a fair amount of investment into them if they ride or don't so unless one or other is a complete dud they will keep their places leaving Bowtell or maybe Goret as the likely changed riders. I hope im wrong and the 3-7 all perform well and bang in the points to keep their places but it looks a big ask for the top two to consistently score 25+ points between them and still find the other 20 points needed to get something out of a match, so much so that i can see the outcome of heat 2 deciding if Plymouth win or lose.

Eastbourne looks better value at both levels. Less rushing for time on a weekend too so more likely to view more in Sussex this year.

Someone bringing me a full glass But in speedway can probably add two decent teams slogging it out in a well balanced match, riders who work hard and get thier rewards and a bit of value for money. If Len announces £10NL and £15 CL i might raise a smile.

Appreciated. Will certainly be interesting to see how the pricing structure and hear the estimated attendances throughout the season compare to the others who are running alone meetings and those running double headers

I guess that depends if you are on the track at the same time as them or not....

Genuine question are Berwick running the matches as double headers or will the NL have their own race nights?

Bit surprised Jamie didn't get a place at Eastbourne as he was quite chummy with Brennan, Laurence and crew. Definitely a great chance for him to kick on this year in a weaker league, that said there is no comfort blanket of reserve to start with. Time will tell but im not sure he turns the bike hard enough to really master Central Park?

So the irony of a league switch towards using young inexperienced riders may completely switch to which veterans fancy another go

Ledwith and Clifton came back on 3.5 and both achieved better in tougher leagues. Certainly plenty of unknowns about the whole team but fortunately the ethos is all about winning

Josh Warren is son of RJ Warren who is Danny Kings sponsor hence the help and suggestion (i believe they call it protégé) . Nice enough lad but very green in racing experience, should have decent kit but its probably a jump to early for him, that said its down to the promotion as they included him in the team.

If the new format works this year and next and beyond i will happily state that my misgivings were unfounded and that the powers that be did indeed make the right choices for British speedway. If of course in a year or two the league is a shambolic unworkable shell i hope that the powers that be will be gracious enough to admit that they were in the wrong also.

I didnt say he was over the hill i said he hadn't progressed so far not helped by injuries but equally injuries brought on by his riding approach. As for Vasey i stand by what i said and stopped short of a full opinion of him.

Whilst i agree that would partly then be for the higher leagues to accommodate them and would mean the genuine riders get chances and those that progress to 7+ in NL but cant go further dont remain in it for too long blocking up spaces.

The NL has always been a hidden gem of ability and entertainment. Yes its got its faults but far less than the higher divisions which is why is a huge shame that it is being torn down to reduce the threat to higher divisions and only serve them rather than serve the riders and existing fans. There is a minimum standard people are prepared to pay for regularly and especially at current rates. I fear this year or next it will be tough to get £13-15 for a lesser product at stand-alone meetings especially with so few meetings to generate any bond/interest. Not sure genuinely how many clubs could accommodate double headers for two levels and would get support with price increases to fund it. I remember Peterborough recently asked opinion of would and extra £5 be ok for a NL 2nd fixture and was met with a resounding no.

All part of the BSPL master plan. Stadiums full of kids hanging with thier mates, all in caps and holding skateboards tweeting how "cool" speedway and the awesome influencers who run it are.....

Agreed that the effort from clubs to develop the next crop can be found lacking which is why it should be incentivised in some way. Ive only seen one or two true wobblers named but how many of the current signings would have been in contention at the old points limit? From an amateur level riders would need to be in the top half of the open grade to be capable. Fine for this year? but next year the standard available will be even lower with available 3 pointers the bottom half of the open class, those who haven't increased thier averages this season and a few graduating juniors who will probably get to number 1 at the first set of averages.

British patronage. The passport rule for the NL was brought in because of examples like BWD

Clueless Vasey fully supports the BSPL initive for new young british riders by re-signing riders with league experience. Bebee hasn't developed and if he had he wouldn't constantly be on the injury list, Butchet is a perennial reserve although Kelly could be the bright light in this team.

Whilst i agree to some point that winning the league shouldn't be the be all and end all when running in the NL there still hasvto be aspirations of success otherwise we end with the nonsense school sports day ethos of everyone gets a prize. The cut limit still doesn't prevent the better funded clubs luring the most promising riders on board and still leaving disparity between the competing levels. Had the averages been reduced gradually and a decreasing cap on max averages like no over 8 this year no over 7 next there would have been a gradual shift of riders at the top out of the league, middle order riders moving up and probably 2/3 new riders per team per season. To encourage clubs to look at development of upcoming riders they could have started giving extra track time and coaching in readiness. What we currently have is a glut of new riders this season with experienced heat leaders in the same side, next year the current crop will be out and new inexperienced riders in with the heat leaders staying put.

Appreciated was definitely a rush of emotions although you may regret it Eastbourne are certainly moving in the right direction and do take care of their riders and reap the rewards of the development. They are also a side that does look at ability over anything else and the track at Arlington certainly sorts out those with the skill sets from those that don't. I hope that there is some level of MSDL for the Lakeside Seagulls to take part in but with ghost teams gone it only leaves Birmingham & Eastbourne?

Even exceptional riders can only get so far without huge funding. Tai admits that the early days his kit was rubbish but he then landed some mega sponsors and didn't look back. Young riders now need multiple good bikes and engines to even break into the sport for a normal season, the levels of presentation and PR required of them are huge to attact clubs and sponsors along with keeping fans on side and thats without the pressures of scoring points and maintaining any run of form. These are pressures that are not being applied to adults but children, kids are being raised in this manner from a very young age that they will succeed in speedway. Sadly the lack of depth in the UK means that these youngsters with big early funding can rise quite quickly and then stagnate once a level is found, its the ability to break through that barrier and achieve even higher that separate the good from the great.

On reflection it probably was a fair swap based upon performances at Leicester and was just a clumsy way of releasing the rider rather than being open and honest.

With respect to James and many similar in his position in 2018 he got 11 meetings and 2019 he got 10 meetings all as a guest so whilst there were chances to impress its not fair to judge solely on his average as that is often inflated by home form for most riders and he didn't really have any meaningful home run of fixtures. That said his record at Leicester isn't great although against a strong side last year so whilst i still believe he deserved a chance somewhere perhaps Leicester wasn't the best fit. If he was released because a better option became available that's fair enough but to be told that we are opting for someone younger isn't on.