GWC

He seems to want the Elite to grow but doesn't mention the impending loss of Coventry and probably Swindon Lakeside and likely Leicester at some stage. Not much of a league left unless it will be 4 clubs riding against each other 10 times! The only way change will happen is if large sums of money come into the sport and Sky won't pay for it.

The NP issue suggests that GP riders shouldn't be employed in the EL . At Rye House the involvement of a professional racing team albeit cars and go karts will given time be interesting as to how they run the Speedway and maybe a template for the future.

Luke's machinery issues must lie at Cradleys door irrespective that he was riding for different teams when the problems arose. Cradley should accept this and promote a rider from within the club - it's what used to happen on all occasions in the past when we had sensible rules and juniors got a chance when situations arose. Aren't Cradley still using r/r for a rider who retired ??

They need more track time and to experience different types of track surfaces as they struggled to turn the bike on a heavy track. Some second half racing would help as it did for previous Raiders.

A heavy track that reduced most of the races to follow the leader and proved difficult to turn unless the turns were attacked. Fair result that could have gone Rye's way but for falls especially Hunter when leading heat 3. No doubt Eastbourne will say Greenwoods return was at least 7 less than Ellis would have scored.

With riders being in short supply I would have thought logic should prevail and let these guys ride somewhere. The whole system of riders and birth place is flawed and has no doubt been caused by our friends at immigration where EU can walk in but our Commonwealth friends cannot - another reason to exit!

Rye don't have the fire power of Newcastle so needed to avoid last places hence poor return from their reserves. I didn't expect Rye to get near Newcastle let alone win and whilst the meeting didn't quite have the drama of last week congratulations are due for a very gutsy performance - will need Karger to stay out a bit longer too!

Goodness the league really has sunk low - I would say that if you had Crump Adams Petersen Hancock in your list then that would qualify as 'Top riders' but the list looks very thin now and of those I can only see 3 who would produce consistent double figure scores as a Number one and that is where the EL has a problem.

I recall discussing this topic with another 10 years ago and we both agreed that unless we saw more home based riders coming through the leagues then the Elite had a difficult future. We now have a similar situation in the Premier principally brought about by riders earning good money and then doubling up in the Elite,when in the past Craig Cook as an example would be Elite only. Swindon using half their team from the premier not their fault it's again down to riders wanting the dosh from 2 leagues. The loser will be the UK as it will get tougher to get into the Premier and ask any National league rider - unless the PL adops the EL race format of course!

I bet Scunthorpe wished they had him - stupid headline!

And a few days later Lyager would have proper average!

Enjoy it while it lasts as once the Aussie and Danish wells run dry (Aussies now find it increasingly harder to come to the UK)the Premier will have to make the choice of reducing the standards to bring National league riders up. It's currently too strong for the majority to transcend between the leagues.

No doubt this and a lot of other stupid rules will be sorted out by 'Buster' and his cronies next season. I doubt Peterborough will win this as MPT can only score decent points at Rye House these days!

Not always the case Chris as against Redcar I recall he made sure he rode out wide to stop Bellego but I guess not all the time now.I think it was machine issues as his gating was terrible and had no speed - anyway Peter Karlsson can give him and Lanham about 8 years as he's 46!

It's clearly a wind up as he gives himself away with the comment 'processional racing' - who misses that!!

Knew this would be a tight match as Berwick had riders who perform well at Rye plus Luke of course. Disappointed in Ed that he got heats 13 and 15 so wrong - up till then he was really the only rider you could say would win when not off gate 4. We have waiting for a strong performance from Kasper and he was sensational - well done. Ther was something wrong with Robbo as he was slow from the gate and had little speed so I'm afraid It goes down as a poor night after some good performances recently. R/R benefited Rye big time as well!

Totally wrong I'm afraid the lay down bikes of today produce far too much power for inexperienced riders to safely control. A deep and grippy track is DANGEROUS therefore a slick track is much safer for NL riders.

The atmosphere is totally different much more positive and with stadia alterations going as well. We are not a club that sacks riders for glory so I hope that continues as this year should be about building home form. Let's hope Kargers first heat win wasn't a fluke !

Barker to Berwick then?

Yes of course they will need a whole new team but with the stadia crowd and promotion should be aiming for the PL before The days of EL racing have been forgotten. Punters will only put up with NL for so long...

M'am having witnessed the Eastbourne Cradley match I would say the track was way too grippy for some riders to turn their bikes - and I'm referring to the inexperienced and not Ellis of course. I thought the Eastbourne riders rode much better at Rye and again a slick track might have had something to do with that. There is comment on the official match report that Locke had been given advice and direction on his riding and nothing to do with a lack of team spirit!

The team plans for the Raiders were clearly upset losing Hume and Bowtell. I thought Conner Locke had a much better meeting and if he could improve asap then heats 2 8 and 14 would be a bit more encouraging! The management need to bring back the second half racing after Pl matches that helped the likes of Bowen, Mear Boxall and others I can't remember to improve away from the NL matches. As for Eastbourne they should be aiming for the PL and soon!

I would use much stronger words ........

Karger is out as well with wrist injury so guess it will be R/R and Rob Branford. And looks like Lykke moves to reserve for June.

Don't the new rules this season say you cannot replace a rider signed on an assessed ave unless injured or retired?