Sings4Speedway

Fundamentally yes the competitive 2nd half action is the most important aspect. The cloak and dagger stuff is all unnecessary. If the announcement was we intend for all Prem clubs to run a 2nd half side in the MSDL (or whatever it is re-branded too) along with a maximum of 3 additional teams. Teams who run under the host clubs name/promotion will be given priority. The biggest issues is that the information drips out rather than controlled releases (sound familiar) and that all riders involved get incredibly late notice. Thousands have been spent by riders already in preparation and potentially many could see themselves left out ?

Shhh it hasn't been yet. Still need to complete the crushing of the existing league before swooping in and saving the day.

Gamble or 2nd half of the story?

Out of interest where has this been announced? If that is the case then are the prem clubs not crushing the league to start their own?

The difference is that whilst these volunteers do an amazing job of running development teams they also have their own interests in promoting the defunct teams they support. It could easily be argued that by keeping the team names on track they are still assisting the chances of a revival at their own tracks. Reading, Crayford, MK, Exeter and Weymouth are all run by supporters of those sides. Remove those and with no Camarthen it leave just IOW and Birmingham from last year hence no league. Next up IOW will be blocked from running as their riders are not actually wizards!

Hopefully those who made the decision will make themselves known soon enough. Non of the the committee, the board etc but those who have been appointed to be the guardians of British speedway and do what is in its best interests at all levels and who will offer a genuine justifiable reason why teams using nomad names cannot participate in a development league and why they are willing to destroy a development league in the process.

Not spreading rumours, two clubs that intended to run in the MSDL this season have been blocked from doing so. The information i was supplied was that it was the BSPA who had done so and Godfrey sits at the top of that tree. Should it be the SCB who blocked the clubs then i have been mis-informed. If it was Vatcher (and it wouldn't surprise me) it would be nice to hear his personal motives / reasoning behind it. If it wasn't Vatcher then i would hope the real villains name themselves and take ownership of their terrible decisions.

For reasons known or unknown Wally has ridden for or at the majority of the NL sides, is available on a "bargain" sub 4 average and yet nobody else wanted to sign him? Other major issue will be riding order who will take the number 5 jacket?

I am only purveying information that i have been told / read. This season two teams have not been allowed to run in the MSDL because they are nomad sides. The others have yet to confirm or deny but few are likely to be making more substantial efforts to locate a new venue than Reading. I do not know if Godfrey was the decision maker or not but as top of the pile it cannot be something that has passed his notice. If you want reasons it could be anything from ensuring the league in which his club operates in is secure or profiteering from the amateur meetings he hosts as they re likely to be better supported this summer.......i would point out all of those are speculation due to no genuine real reason being issued. Whilst that may/may not be the case there are certainly several nomad sides preparing to run this season and have now been denied so he message was neither clear nor made publicly known as the uproar would have started before now.

The bigger danger being "if rumours are true" that the only level clubs will be able to enter at is CL with a NL/MDL level junior side as a compulsory second team. That is a big outlay for any club looking to join the leagues and lets face it how many tracks have opened vs closed in the past 10 years. With established sides struggling to balance the books and the NL becoming a more financial viable option for many sides it has been torpedoed by the mafia to sustain their own product. The MSDL has fallen foul to the same treatment.

Its truely heartbreaking especially when so many have put so much time and effort for little reward but to now be removed of any chance to compete at all is disgusting. The BSPA should be looking at ways to assist these teams not punish them. I suspect the master plan is to set up a new league that they can control which will be wonderful when there are no riders left, no clubs willing to fund it themselves and no spectators willing to support another price hike. A few people who are trying to create a legacy for themselves are doing a good job, they will be know as the people who destroyed UK speedway.

The Halifax element must be a red herring. I know Reading have not been allowed to run and Crayford were also denied entry. It seems likely that statements form Weymouth, Exeter and MK Knights (the longest running dev league team) are likely to follow. I feel for the clubs who were all set and had made preparations, i really feel for the riders who have laid out thousands over the winter in readiness to start the season and find there isn't one to start. I cannot wait for the Godfather to stand up and state his reasons and how the destruction of a development league could ever be in the best interests of the sport .......

Some very nasty rumours starting to circulate that the nomad clubs have been denied entry into the MSDL this year effectively leaving Birmingham & IOW and therefore no league at all? Does anybody know who is responsible for the petty decisions to remove one of the most important breeding grounds for future UK talent as i am amongst a list who are waiting to here genuine reasoning behind it..... .....it currently stinks like its being pushed out the way for the new diluted NL next season. There are a lot of dedicated supporters and volunteers who have given up thousands of pounds and hours to assist riders and this feels like a brutal kick to everyone involved.

Question is what is a normal speedway rider? A full time professional who is largely funded by sponsors and a hefty points pot or a part time newcomer who may be making 900 miles round trips after scoring a single point (if they are lucky). Sounds like a brutal van ride home to me.

Great opportunities for them all. Brutal introduction with the travelling though.

Ignoring the program a season ticket for 20 CL & 6 NL meetings represents a whole £14 discount. Obviously increased should cup progression or play offs happen but its hardly breath taking (unlike the adult admission price). The deciding factor on if i make any visits will be the calibre of the opposition.

I just hope they sell tickets for that conversation......

From my knowledge of the beautiful man i think he would consider the best way to honour whichever racing number he was to be issued is for the incoming rider to give their all and entertain to the best of their abilities. That is exactly how it would be if Danny was the incoming rider.

Im going to take a deep breath and ignore that comment before i type something that lands me a ban. Encouragement is that Woodward should develop his skill set more rather than winding the throttle wide open and trying to stay aboard, it will benefit him and his physical health much more in the long term.

Sadly one of those riders i had down as waiting to happen.....fortunately didn't take anyone else with him

Whilst not troubling the top 3 but pushing hard for a place must be Paul Hurry? Multiple Grasstrack Masters Titles, a Euro Title i believe but never really made a major impact at World Longtack level. Got a few points on the shale too

Any updates if Woodward will be fit for the start of the season? Heard he had broken his leg earlier than expected.

Whilst a pain for viewing the air fence at Rye was/is a far better design than most. Far fewer posts and held by cables etc still allowing it to give to an extent (not the full roll down the bank on turns 3/4 but closer) and certainly 1000% safer than an airbag strapped to an armco barrier.

Im not against the rules to not allow an all starts team but surely Newcastle should have been informed before making any signings? The NT side will be good for riders trying to put themselves in 'the shop window' but by the same reckoning if they were offered a 'full' NL team place elsewhere they could no longer rider for the Gems? Either way rushing Wally in as a replacement (no offence to Leon he's not even close) is a crazy decision and removed any minor chances of seeing this side not get crushed all year.

At £19 and the most expensive in the land i believe even more so for concessions as there is no discount i would certainly say its too much. A business approach of hiking the prices and buckling to riders demands is not sustainable. Offer a better product to attract higher numbers, say enough is enough to riders or offer them reasons to sign that are not purely financial. Last season the NL price went up with reasons quoted as Drew Kemps kevlars cost over £1000 (they didn't JC Pro are cheaper than that unless you throw in plenty of extras). Rye House ran in team suits for years without an increase. Ultimately it boils down to "its your money, its your choice" but i feel that Kent will need to be offering something extra special year on year to keep the crowd numbers where they need to be.