Sings4Speedway

Not quite sure why the desire for Mark Riss? He didn't exactly set the leagues alight when he last rode here since then he has retired, restarted, retired, thought about a crack at Longtrack etc not really the type of rider i would want in any side.

Personally i don't see it. Harris average will only drop, Garrity & Shanes have reached their level. If THJ has better bikes than the MDL kit than was using last year he will be a major trump card and Morris will probably put a point on but teams need bigger improvements than that to even make top half.

Agreed. Sadly the early teams were built with limited rider knowledge so only established UK names were included and often on inflated averages and wage demands to match. The drive to be a top flight side was fine and fitted with BMR's brand image but as soon as fixed race nights came into play they should have returned to the middle tier and used the Saturday nights to build a solid business. I still believe that can be done and returning to the 3rd tier would be a good start. The track has always been a bit of a dump, its part of its charm but providing the track is sound, some fairly level hard standing with some bogs & a food wagon its already on par with half of the UK's tracks anyway. Fingers crossed someone with the vision to build a product and not a venue steps in and brings the old lady back to life.

Makes the destruction of the original mini track seem all the more daft now its been re-instated.

Certainly a team built 'on trend' with a powerhouse top 5 and then best reserves available with points left over. Not sure Covatti was first pick but with Ledwith's terrible value average i guess it was a good plan B? I think there will be value and entertainment at Central Park with this side in equal measure to frustration and disappointment. The Kent fans are very used to being successful a home and i can see this side having its home colours lowered once or twice but equally picking up pieces on the road. If top 6 is the aim i see that being achievable but don't see a lot more with the current lineup.

Im guessing you weren't going regularly when Kings Lynn ran a NL side (in fairness not many people went regularly and that was the problem) however the comments from those who did attend and the visits i had was that the entertainment was far higher at NL level than the top flight gate and go. Shame it didn't prove to be sustainable in the end.

Always difficult, the 2 point rule promotes opportunities for riders to prove themselves at CL level which is always a plus however because it exists the majority of the top fives are a higher standard so the gap is greater than ever before. An obvious option would be to reduce the points limit for team building but that just leads to natural inflation of averages rather than improvement from improved results. Riders stepping up need to do so because they are at the required level and not just because their averages fit.

Nailed it. The sport needs to decide what it wants as a long term. If it is to have a higher standard at top domestic and world level then it needs to be a higher standard throughout, expecting a reduced level NL to be a viable stepping stone to s strong CL & PL is just madness. There already riders in the NL that should be dev leagues only and likewise dev league riders that should be amateur scene only. If the demand is for an inclusive sport that is open to all abilities then fine but i don't here many fans calling for that.

It is only based upon comments made by CVS. That said because the public have been left in the dark again it is largely speculation. Thrown in that many of the higher league snobs look down badly on the NL and development leagues, see one poor rider and tar every other rider with the same brush.

The problem with the program format is that a number 6 rarely races against another 2 point reserve and still its just creating 2 meetings in one. Potentially there could be 12 x championship clubs looking for 2 pointers from the NL. Based upon last years 8 teams that would be 3 heat leaders from each side however with some NL riders already having averages above 2.00 the list drops further and without bashing names is the future and progression of British speedway going to work when 5 point NL riders can get a place in the higher leagues? Its very difficult because it is important to stop the loss of talents like Mountain, Greaves etc but at the same time the best riders make it without a safety net and the others don't thats just the way sport as a whole works.

Spot on, however the incentives for British riders to move up must still be for those that are a suitable calibre. The introduction of 2 pointers does promote the progression but also offers chances for clubs to use just 4 points on reserves and build a strong top 5 increasing the gulf in class. Reductions for all Brit riders or a higher minimum average for overseas riders may be a better solution?

CVS isn't wrong although the difference i standard is splattered across the sport, the CL has 10 & 2 pointers in the same meetings, likewise the NL which is why there is a disparity in standard. Unfortunately the development leagues below have seen a rise in sub standard riders who are happy to use the meetings as practice laps. There are no gradings in these meetings so unfortunately there will be riders close to NL standard racing alongside riders who are barely sliding a bike. Its run and maintained by very helpful and friendly volunteers (who are probably too nice in several instances). I suspect a NDL will be in place but with limited meetings and possibly a strong cap on either team or rider averages.

Now if it was rockin' Rob Hollingsworth.......

I would be surprised if Kelly gets a NL place this season and staggered if he ends up in the Champs unless he pays to ride.

Ability wise Rob will be in the mix with other reserves but can he kick on and do any more than that? He is a really nice bloke and my other main fear is that he will get beaten up at CL level and his track record for recovering from injuries isn't good. I wish him well but think he would probably be better suited sticking to NL and helping other riders develop.

On his current average he can pick any team he chooses. Whoever has landed his signature (if anyone is lucky) although the lure of Denmark may be too strong?

Announced. All signed a long time ago. Decent options are rapidly running out for Kent. Ellis widely tipped to be back at Brum, Bacon Poole bound and with Danish league also running on weds options are fewer still. Len has never been keen on the visa paperwork so its likely to be a European only side. Always have mixed feelings as should be a team who can gate but for entertainment it would be better with a team of crazy racers even if the track doesn't always lend to it.

I believe he largely gobs off, slates the lower leagues and ultimately drags down the name of the club and the hard work put in by others.

I was mucking around a little although from the little i know he has an eye on a return to grasstrack once his ban has expired so who knows.

Certainly not knocking Dan's achievements as they were excellent however 2016 wasn't a vintage year for quality reserves in the NL and Edinburgh held open auditions for reserves as they were desperate....he did grab the opportunity with both hands though.

Longtracker on the up but think he missed out on a spot in the series this year. Going places but big gamble as there are as many failures as success stories if heading down that route.

To be fair the list of riders above have all very different reasons for not hitting the heights in the CL and for several there is still plenty of time to do so. Not every rider is ready at a young age. The Thompson family are grounded and do know what they can and cannot achieve, Leicester have been behind these two for a good while so should stand by them through good and bad. Even if they don't make the grade this season they are getting good experience for the following year.

Thompsons confirmed and its a bold bold move from both parties. Certainly won't be the worst reserves in the league but could fall victim to strength in depth squads. A lot rides on these two young riders and as they progress and age they need to start being viewed as individuals and judged on their own merits accordingly.

Potentially it could stack up as a genuine business move especially if the rider is friends of the club and attracts more supporters than he takes away in points monies....i did say could.

In terms of viability it would only concern he home crowd as i suspect as many Plymouth fans would travel to Newcastle as vice versa. In terms of NL it depends how sensible promotions are as technically there are less potential team places for riders and therefore demands shouldn't be as high BUT there is often one side who scoops up the best available by putting together strong packages.