Sings4Speedway

Personally i think that cost reductions can and should be driven by the promotions. These guys are driving themselves out of business by paying riders over the top money. If they all stuck to their guns and paid reasonable figures riders would need to look at how to either generate more income via actively seeking their own sponsorship and/or reduce the amounts spent on bike parts and focus on maintenance rather than replace every part that becomes slightly scuffed. However vans are just part of modern culture, the number of cars on lease or PCP is rising and the average age of vehicles on the road is shrinking. Add in the vast distances covered by even the lowest level riders and the need to arrive safely, reliably both at the track and back home into the early hours then money spent on a van is the best money spent for any speedway rider.

Whoever chose the opposition its quite a gamble going up against a strong Bears side, that said there is a fair tactical element to it as i would fancy Somerset to have a stronger chance of taking out Glasgow and then i would back either Lions or Bears to beat Rebels in the final.

Surely it sums up UK speedway for the worse if he is forced to ride for Eastbourne in a dead rubber match and force a play off fixture which is likely to be televised and feature a guest. I see very little point in holding the fixtures that occur after the play off cut off dates.....that said i personally feel all fixtures should be completed before the KO cups etc are started, if you haven't got your home fixtures down you don't get to enter....simple

Cost reductions yes but is there any sustainability of rider production in a model like that? If the MDL is to remain in it current format you would lose the vast majority of sub 6 point riders from the sport along with anyone competing now as the current target is NL 2.00 position not championship reserve at 6.00 level. How would anyone be able to get near that level or be measured without sensible levels of competition and track time. I feel if there is no NL next season there will be no point having an MDL either any many will just walk away from the sport. Propping up the top leagues by sacrificing the grassroots of any sport just doesn't work.

Im all for promotion of emerging riders (be that youthful or otherwise) however ive always been in favour of being good enough rather than young enough. Protecting riders has done no favours in the past whilst the Aussies have no comfort blanket at all and it is a pure case of sink or swim. There will obviously be riders lost by the wayside who are either no strong enough on or off the track but those that are left will ultimately have made the grade.

Is that not going to create greater divides between the abilities of riders? Its tough enough when PL heat leaders line up against NL second strings in the CL this season. Are you implying that Jason Doyle & Luke Harris in the same race is good for the sport or the entertainment factor? A smaller league with a higher minimum rider average for the top league is required so that the gulf in class is reduced. Closer matched riders on the right tracks will produce far better racing and entertainment than one or two superstars disappearing half a lap into the distance.

Very much appreciated as ever. Quick question though do IOW not go ahead of Exeter due to superior points difference?

I too think that Belle Vue will edge that semi final but Spooner at reserve for Kent is a huge trump card that said i think the title will depend upon RTD and ultimately end up with Cubs hands on the trophy.

With great respect that is largely what we had this season and what is likely next year. The only reason this year looks a little stronger is the batch of youth riders progressing up in one go but the amounts cannot be sustained every year. The likes of King & Butcher will need to be 2nd strings next year if they want a place and quite frankly if just natural progression. Likewise the top riders will be pushed up into the CL (providing their is one) as that was the 'vision' when the averages were reduced. If you look at the green sheets the most sides have a top two on 8+ of very close if all of these moved up (top 3 from Belle Vue & Clegg from Cradley) then introduced two x 2.00 as reserves that is likely what will be served up next season. There are riders that will obviously fall by the wayside a usual but thats just how the sport moves on.

Similar i suspect. There is a large contingent of speedway & grasstrack riders who have been competing in a pitbike series on the Iwade mini track for the past couple of winters. Maybe Eastbourne are looking to capitalise on this growing interest and inexpensive form of motorsport.

Whilst i get what you are saying in reality the MDL style leagues should not contain riders that are learning to ride (although sadly in places it does) it should be riders who are bike competent and are honing their racing skills and techniques in preparation for the step up to the next level. The competent riders along with lower level NL riders would produce good racing as all you need for good entertainment is a raceable surface and competition that is of similar abilities.

I guess much depends on the stipulation of what is required as a training league and if silly age restrictions are brought in? Higher end MSDL riders mixed with lower end NL riders would still be a saleable product (although make the jump to the next tier tougher). It may also force the lower end MSDL riders back to the amateur scene until they develop further but that may be no bad thing?

Not the first time this season his injuries have flared up around the time he was having a holiday. He must be so unlucky having all his breaks away hampered by being injured.

Neale showed a fair amount of ability during his time with Cradley although i think costs pushed him out of the sport. I also recall Danny Ayres being signed up and sent away to get extra practice in shortly before he signed for Kent.....whoops.

For once its a strong looking line up and could go one of many different directions. Personally i can see Clegg and Rowe on the podium somewhere.

Can't really see it with any tbh. Perks too high? Wood retired, Stoneman & Coles to inconsistent although the latter has had a great end to the year. Although i suspect he might look elsewhere i could quite easily see Gilkes starting in the number 1 jacket if the team building averages dont drop stupidly low.

Given the mooted reduction once again it could be that Ledwith is the starting Number 1 next season, Spooner is likely to be back as he gets a good deal at Kent and i can't really see many other sides queuing up for him? Rowe has mastered Kent now and i think he will move on and upwards throughout the leagues and potentially miss out NL all together next season.

Im pretty certain Nicol will be at Eastbourne personally. Kemp could be a bargain for someone but has found things heavy going this year and once again Newman frustrates and looks like a rider on a bargain average but ends up in on a similar number, he is a rider who has really stagnated over recent years even with some respectable home performances for the Eagles.

Unless the limit is 30 i would be trying to get Adam Ellis signed up now. 7.50 is a bargain number and less than the likes of Covatti or Kerr and his converted PL average would be well over 10. Properly applied and without Danish distractions Adam should be pushing on close to 9.5 next season.

If Ellis chooses to ride in the CL next season he will have plenty of offers on his current average, likewise Aarnio so if Brum can land them it would show serious intent. Given the averages i can see only one of Ash Morris, Shanes or Paco featuring and whilst i think the smart choice is Morris i suspect Brum will go for Shanes. I suspect there will be a riot if either Agertoft or Thomsen are signed. Garrity is a strange one as he is a handful in multiple ways and normally Rogers prefers riders who are easier to deal with but he clearly has a soft spot for Jason. Either way with the full winter to plan there will be no excuses for a poorly built team in 2020.

Yes its tragic really so if Eastbourne are finally looking at re-instating then all the better. I guess the change in modern times though is that the youth rounds are raced upon the regular circuits so riders are looking to practice upon the same. That said i believe Iwade & Scunthorpe operate the policy of getting laps in on the smaller tracks and learning techniques before progressing to the main tracks.

Its not always happiness or lack of that causes riders to move on. That said Kemp hasn't looked the force many expected, Jenkins hasn't really taken to the track and briefly cost him his love for the sport, likewise Ablitt. Gilkes committed to the team despite initially thinking it was going to be a weekend race night. Rowe & Spooner have been in the team for a few years now and need to move on to progress further so if i was to hazard a guess id only expect to see Ledwith & Mulford back next season possibly Clouting dependant on team building numbers.

The removal of the junior track was one of the most harmful things to happen to British speedway in the last 15 years. How many riders have missed out on vital track time or even missed out on becoming speedway riders since its demise we will never know. What i do know is that the destruction of training tracks is a huge crime towards the sport.

get it ###### created i can't ###### wait to use a ###### forum where i dont have to watch my ###### mouth when dealing with all the #### wits.

Maybe so but with the BSPA's insistence that the homeless satellite teams from the MSDL either find permanent homes soon or show they are actively seeking tracks there will likely be no future. Its pretty clear to all how rare and difficult it is to open a new track (simple comparisons of new tracks opened vs venues closed) so without help the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep defunct team names going whilst offering valuable track time to rising riders at great personal cost to themselves will be lost to the sport and its game over. If the grassroots leagues dont exist the sport will be dead in under 5 years.