Marky_Mark

Why do people keep mocking the lad for this? Not all young riders have rich parents or big sponsors and I believe Nathan has to balance his riding around a full time job. When he has signed for a team he’s always been reliable and never misses meetings and gives maximum effort so maybe the offers last season just weren’t right for him financially or otherwise.

And yet none of you moaners can give a compelling argument against any of my points?

I’m sure your pint will be half full 😉

With all the doom and gloom on here over the Winter, am I the only one that can’t wait for the season to start? I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for the season to come round for many a season with the line ups in all leagues looking close and competitive. As some as the biggest fans of the sport, and therefore most likely to attract new supporters, can’t we all look at the positives rather than the negatives? Positives - Same number of tracks as last season. Yes ok so some some tracks have chosen not to run in as many leagues as last season (particularly national league) but in terms of actual tracks running, we are at exactly the same number as last year. We’ve lost Birmingham and Kent but gained the yet to be announced new prem team and Buxton - We still have a premiership Great news for Sheffield and Ipswich fans (sale almost completed) that are back at the tapes and with a high chance of a brand new team joining we are just 1 team down from last season and some top stars already back, Holder, Bewley, Douglas, Kurtz etc. - Bright young British stars I honestly think we have some of our most promising young riders coming through for years and if we don’t put too much pressure on them and they keep progressing as they have been then Cairns, Rushen and Scott could be the future Lambert, Bewley and Brennan - The fight goes on Despite all the negativity about the sport dying there are still passionate fans and businessmen out there fighting to bring back former tracks, Coventry, Peterborough, Rye House, Lakeside, Kent, Eastbourne, Swindon, Wolverhampton and no doubt more we don’t know about with rumours of 1 or 2 new locations too. I’m not wearing rose tinted glasses and pretending everything with the sport is perfect by any means but please put things into perspective and give some credit where it’s due, be grateful to the promoters and sponsors that put their hands into their pockets to keep the sport we love going and do everything we can to support it. If we give up then we’ll lose it forever. Enjoy the 2026 season everyone

So who would you all pick as your final rider? Several available that rode last season that would still fit with the points left available. Bastian Borke Alfie Bowtell Declan Kennedy Paul Starke Jason Garrity Simon Lambert

Nathan Ablitt being announced tomorrow

Well that would be ironic as he also said he can’t believe that Simon Lambert and Alfie Bowtell don’t have a team place and that all English riders should get a place before any foreign riders.

No they said on the podcast that he doesn’t currently have a team place

There is still a possibility of a 6th team running. I know I get shot down in flames every time I say this and don’t mention the team name, but I respect people when I’m told something in strictest confidence. Still lots of work going on in the background to make this happen and the clubs won’t release their fixtures until this is a yes or a no.

Nah don’t be silly mate, it’s great to hear as many ideas as possible and yes I guess that would work if the home team covers all costs 👍 Like yourself I’m desperate to see as many teams and fixtures for the young riders as possible, the national league is probably my favourite out of all 3 and I’ve supported it for many years. Absolutely gutting that so many teams have pulled out for the upcoming season. Over the years I’ve seen the likes of Tai Woffinden, Dan Bewley, Robert Lambert and Tom Brennan all come through this league, people tend to forget that sadly

Why would those 3 teams just want to do an away meeting? That’s all outgoings and no crowd income

For me the national league was always at its best when we had independent teams running in it such as Weymouth, Wimbledon, Mildenhall, Isle of Wight, Stoke etc. It was better supported then as they had their own fan base. As soon as it became lots of teams running second teams, although that’s admirable of those teams to try and develop young riders, when the crowd have a choice between watching the championship team/national team they tend to spend their money watching the higher standard. It’s a shame because often the racing is more exciting and it’s great seeing the superstars of tomorrow coming through but some families just can’t afford to attend meetings when running 2 sides.

So many complain about not enough British riders coming through but then expect the youngsters to get into the sport making huge losses for the privilege?

The 6 teams is confirmed for the national league although I don’t have a list of teams. Not sure 🤔 if there is a separate league for the National trophy but with no Plymouth, Kent or Birmingham I would guess not

Rumour is that Plymouth aren’t running the Centurions NDL team this season

Apparently it’s a 6 team national league If we’ve gained Buxton into the league then we must have lost a team that ran in the league last season

Kicked out by Iwade like the previous team?

So what were the unforeseen circumstances?

I’ve been told the Kennedy’s aren’t coming over this season. Most people seem to think it’s Nathan Ablitt

That doesn’t fit with the remaining points they have left

The last time Plymouth tried to go NORA they were threatened with consequences about not being able to run their championship team if I remember correctly. Easier for the likes of Kent, IOW and Mildenhall that don’t run any other teams under BSP

So what’s the hold up at Scunny considering that all other teams are finished barring new foreign riders at Worky and Berwick. It makes me wonder if there’s been a U turn or were they waiting for the new rules on riders averages where they have missed seasons, could they be going for Jason Garrity?

Is there anything we can do? Write letters of support to try and encourage the track owners to lease the facilities again? We’ve lost SO many tracks in the South in recent years, Exeter, Trelawny, Somerset, Weymouth, Swindon, Reading, Eastbourne, Rye House, Wimbledon, Lakeside, The other Kent team, Oxford who are thankfully back. I just think it’s so important that we do everything we can to keep this going.

How about Chris Holder at the Witches?

Why have the 2 Aussie lads not come back over this year?