Sings4Speedway

Sadly i don't think anyone will be able to track the 1-7 they had planned due to the points reduction but if a better option becomes available or comes of age to do league racing it could be considered justified but age based rather than ability based just isn't on. Complaints that the sport is being diluted or the NDL is full of "wobblers" just gains traction when the best available riders are not those who are being given the team places.

Perfect example of a good British rider making his way nicely in the sport with good steady progress and could potentially end up being cast aside rather than making the grade of PL heat leader i believe he could achieve.

I hope so too. Things have been worryingly quiet from the Fen Tigers and Warriors. being the standalone teams who have been most impacted by changes but least informed i fear they will be hurting a little atm. Two contrasting race tracks and promotions but two that the NDL can certainly not afford to upset/lose.

Will be plenty more changes / riders following suit i suspect. Watch out for a team building rule change before May 17th

That would wash if the foreign rider just came in on a 4.00 average and was on a comparable deal to a Brit but when they are sponsored there is accommodation supplied, workshop facilities a guaranteed wage etc. If the emerging Brits were afforded this level of luxury they could they could focus on racing, fitness and bike prep without the additional stresses of having to earn enough to keep a roof over their heads.

Because immoral is one of the grounding rules for speedway. Sadly will be very difficult to prove as i doubt anyone ahs put anything in writing but disgusting actions non the less. If it had been due to better options available or we had a few match races at a practice day and the younger rider fared better then fair enough but i suspect the Cubs tails will be pretty long and clumsy this season.

Looks a strong bet for a top 4 finish. Good heat leader duo, strong engine room and scope for improvement at reserve. Hard to split between Leicester, Glasgow, Eastbourne and Poole id say. Certainly be happy if i was a Lions fan and the good news is nobody has been dropped for being too old!

Whoever it is could be a short term sacrificial lamb who gets a few meetings to put themselves in the window before being replaced when the real averages are out. Obviously if all the youngsters get off to a flier that could spoil the 'plans'. Theres definitely a lot of money going into this team though with the visa sponsorships and the heat leaders costs / guarantee's.

The point i was making is that ditching a 22 year old for a rider who is just younger isnt on. What about signing riders because they are good enough. Many moan at falling standards and yet seem insistant that any 16 year old with a bike gets a place.

Agreed but sadly they won't. Last time the team building was cut low it lasted a season before upping it again. It still cast riders adrift because despite 2 riders averaging 8 in different seasons wont be comparable if one season had a 35 limit and the other a 40 limit.

I would have thought a 10 point average with the current building was unusable but here we are. Yes if he ends up on 12-13 then maybe but if he ends on 10ish again he could get a place again next year but an improving 3 pointer who ended on 6 could miss out.

Nasty rumour circulating that Chattin has been released as the Cubs want a younger reserve! The obsession with young riders is bordering on disturbing.

The point you make about Josh and the team building limit is quite valid. Riders need to be careful, too good a run of form in a short season could easily see averages increase by 3-4 points, now not knocking Josh just using him as an example but if he ends the season on an 8.5 average will he truly get signed up as a number 1 next year? If not and he doesn't land a CL spot he could just as quickly be frozen out of the sport as he got into it. If the team building average is set low then it needs to stay low for the next few seasons at least but riders must be prepared that success via artificially inflated averages will come at a cost to some.

I agree with the encouragement part but the lower team building limit is naturally encouraging new 3 pointers in. 2 point average rider can run two thirds, a last and been swapped out each meeting and still see their average increase. To prevent top heavy i think a max average cap should be introduced and potentially a maximum on the teams combined league experience? That would encourage new riders in rather than the NL journeymen who know how to keep their averages in the attractive signing zone.

The 2 pointer thing was dropped after a season obviously it could have been re-introduced as nobody knows despite riders being signed, team building averages being changed and no official releases at all being made to joe public. i would think given how other teams are building the sensible 3 pointer being the base remains. As it stands Clegg will need a max every week, Freeman bags quite a few (hopefully due to less fixture he will get longer at reserve) and the the other heat leader is more than the suggestions ive heard. Providing Alcock has got dialled in from the CL meeting he could be a threat if not the others will be queuing up to take his place.

I certainly can't argue with your point. Build a team that has the best chances of improving and winning you will still come up against sides that are cannon fodder and put together "in the spirit of the NL" therefore costing lots of points money and seeing your team ripped apart at the end of the year. Build a cannon fodder team and fail to attract/keep a crowd plus damage the reputation of the league. Until all teams can agree a sensible middle ground and that the best interests for all is an open and entertaining season (and i know that unlikely) the struggles will continue. I know the independent governing body route is a no go but the sport at at each league level and as a whole needs a directive of how it intends to be viewed from the outside and the direction that all clubs should be heading in there will remain the clumsy separate approach that haunts the sport now.

I would buy a track / venue but darned if i would enter a team into the league. Id host open meetings with riders graded closer to ability levels and practice days to keep the coffers full. I don't see any benefits of team speedway in the UK anymore for rider, club or fans so there's no way i would invest anything into anything that i had limited control over.

The other issue i see is how much benefit is there for Clegg to be in the NL side when its double headers. He will have already taken 4 + rides and then be facing another 5 maybe 6 with RR in play in the NL fixture. I know he will be unbeatable when running at home but its going to take a serious toll on his machinery as well as his focus. Not to mention if it all goes pear shaped in the main meeting the talisman would be missing for the second half. Without Clegg the team could have had 2 x 7-8 point riders and likely a bigger points return overall.

If its 35 then the team could be very top heavy. It currently totals 25.33 so only 9.67 left, even with a 3 pointer like Ryan Mac i have fears for the worst number 5 in league history and a point under the limit.

The problem being that home gates have to pay home and away points. Not going to get much backing for a team that only has 4 home fixtures anyway without the additional away costs.

I think a lot of clubs who are attempting to track two sides might struggle to get all the fixtures in. I hope the league doesn't get split into North / South groups as 6 fixtures wouldn't be worth it for many riders or spectators

Have to agree its the best chance for any rider to settle into higher divisions although averages aren't always a true reflection. Good home performances especially on a track that others are not as comfy with can easily inflate averages. As most of us know having too good a season can see riders frozen out as average improvement is what most clubs look at when making signings.

I hope so too. Personally another season at NL to boost his confidence qould have helped but he seems in a hurry to hit the top. His rise has been solid but a biggest test for a rider is dealing with setbacks and Jordan hasn't encountered many yet.

Its been alledged as a new track to league racing....? Odsal wont be ready and isnt new. Lydd wouldn't get a license so can likely only be northside or the other training track thats up north and i forgetvits name?

Not seen any mention of the Premiership Junior League that was going to be launched? All the ghost teams were forced out and the development leagues put in jeopardy ready for the BSPL to swoop in and save the day but all gone very quiet since......