HGould

Picture on SGB website speaks louder than words. Track flooded, further heavy rain until Thursday, no way of preparing track when so wet even if rain stopped. No complaints and prospects elsewhere must be grim until Friday (possibly) and Saturday.

Only a supreme optimist would hold out much hope for almost any meeting over the next 3-4 days if forecasts are to be believed. Some seem to think that if it's not raining at "tapes up time" all we be OK and you can just ignore 24-48-72 hours of rain and that track staff can just prepare a track at the click of a finger. I'd rather when weather is as bad as it seems in a lot of places, commonsense prevail and decisions be made the day before if the track is clearly not usable and no later than 10am on the morning as that stops all unnecessary travel and expectation. One thing you an't control is extreme unseasonal weather.

I wish UO all the best at Redcar, smashing guy and not his fault he was asked to be no 1 in a Team poorly assembled initially, like Kyle Newman I suspect he will do better at his new Club in a more suitable role/position in Team. Hope Zak is not away too long, too good a talent to be missing for long.

I don't know what it's like round Sussex on a Friday night; but Leicester do tend to have a decent away following; and surely travel is a lot easier on a Sunday afternoon (home and away) than Friday night or late on a Sunday night home if night match with school and work to come. I'm used to be pretty knackered by Friday night after a week at work too. No dust at all down there at weekend track was very good. Some dirt and no dust.

Two Saturday tracks with no free fixtures before the Cut Off Date so Eastbourne go to default back up day and Leicester who have added problem of running 2 sides go to a very strange Friday night?

I didn't read it that way at all. Its pretty obvious CL costs a lot more than NL and the explanation was very transparent. I read it that they are doing very well thank you but were not prepared to throw it away by staging a meeting that they knew would lose them a fortune. I'm not sure how losing 2 matches at home and only winning 1 away stacks with you theory as away points are paid at just the same rate as home and most clubs work on the basis of having to pay 100 points in a home and away completion?

That was a very enjoyable meeting especially as I got to see speedway with my brother who is no longer the regular he used to be. He'd not been to Arlington since the Elite days there and was very impressed as was I with the whole show. Some decent racing on a well prepared track, plenty of passing with Kennett and Lawson especially impressive. Bukhave deserved more points for Diamonds and looks worth persevering with. The announcer and meeting presentation there is top notch and I was told by locals the Cardiff GP guy Kevin Coombes. Parade at 7.25 sharp and first race at 7.30, some over fussy referring and a few falls delayed things but no tractor races and they go on with it pretty well. A big crowd by modern standards it looked like as big if not bigger than their Elite days my brother reckoned; and on a par with crowds there when I've been with brummies this season especially after the rain and it was cold. Decent grub and the only minor quibble is the 1950's toilets but you can't have everything. The best thing there though is their Community work, looked like 100 + kids there tonight being shown round and then having pictures taken before the meeting, mascots. which I had not seen in earlier visits and the impression this is a Club that is grasping the Championship and trying to make speedway popular and accessible to new fans. Well done to the promotion there and lessons others could learn. "We'll be back"

It's pouring still about 30 miles away from Leicester and as i have relatives in Kent have decided to venture down to Eastbourne instead as their website says meeting is in no danger (credit them for regular updates). If you are in South Midlands or further South and were considering one or the other tonight I'd definitely head further South to Sussex.

I think there are enough Australians already in CL in particular and some Clubs seem unable or unwilling to give British talent a chance. May be we should get all capable British riders a ride first and then seek Australian permits and then EU riders. Some clubs are bringing very young Australian riders over who have very little 500cc experience in Oz whilst some good NL lads would be far better options.

considering they are like for like swaps then likely amount guest gets will be similar to what injured rider got.

I was going to go to Leicester tonight but pouring in the Midlands and no respite due until late afternoon; I need a speedway fix so a trip down to Arlington I think and an unexpected chance to spend tomorrow with my brother in Folkestone. Weather looks fine down South - should be a decent meeting.

nearly all CL riders will be paid set amount contracted for points and bonus, highly unlikely a Guest would get paid a fee plus points. so if injured rider is on £x most likely Guest will get same deal - so no saving

I'd be extremely shocked if Adam was on the kind of deal Lawson and Kennett are on as they have far longer top flight track records. In fact take Glasgow out of the reckoning and I'd think Eagles top 3 would cost as much as any other top 3 elsewhere??..if Kerr is out think his wages would pay for most likely alternatives and new promotion at Arlington don't strike me as penny pinching amount of social media and advertising they are doing???

I think Colts are team to beat in NL this season.

well done Berwick, any Promotion that promotes is to be applauded.

Looking at Kerr's average could have pick of some real talented CL Heat Leaders as get 5% increase at home, so may be stronger having Guest if he is not 100% So reverse is true as backs up logic of 3 strong top 3...as you would not have to bring in 2nd strings like Brummies have b4 Adam Ellis signed for us. In fact Adam is one of a host who would qualify as a Guest. Eagles 52 - 38

An incredibly brave interview by both Tom Brennan and his mom (isn't she Martin Dugards partner??) Big thumbs up to Eastbourne to for have "Eagles TV" and the scope to have a professional media portal like this to enable supporters to see insights that many Clubs just cannot offer. Once again a sign of a radical and professional way of doing things coming out of Arlington under the new Promotion who seem to have taken their own social media and business to a new level.

Been there for Mildenhall and BV and I reckon 600-650 is about right, not as many as before standing over close to 4th bend nor on 1st turn and noticably less cramped than it has been by starting gate. That's still a good NL crowd and better than Brummies at the moment. Programme notes are very illuminating and personally I think Mark Robinson is spot on in his well documented querying of the motives of Pearson and Patchett, who now seem to have thrown in the towel in terms of locating a new venue, yet have conveniently grabbed all the money from the Trust that was always there to help cover Planning and associated costs if they found a new track. If the "one league" scenario happens and Wolves are in it, surely the death of the Heathens as won't be any Monmore dates and once they go another time, that'll be it.

been to Kent a few times and never a massive crowd there but always decent and a shame they dont close the top tier where the 500 or so who go congregate and put them lower down as every time you see pictures it gives impression place is deserted with all those empty seats down near track, 500-600 they get is very decent for NL and some CL would love that every week (including Brummies) would be good to see Kent in CL but no chance on a Monday. Does anyone know latest re Planning and request for Saturday's? Could South East though sustain 2 x CL Teams on a Saturday ??

LOL...I used my words (and my imagination) very carefully and I am sure that comparable riders to Adam are on that type of deal...so if Mr Bordeaux needs an Agent...let me know....if he isn't on that type of deal he should be...

Considered opinion seems to be around 1200. Easy to look at some tracks where all are in one stand (like Monmore) and say its a big crowd, when you have spread out like Belle Vue harder to judge. BV also have some very big Sponsors to help cover costs.

Can I suggest we all calm down a bit... I don't think we have had a crowd over 500 yet and with big rent to pay we simply can't pay (in my opinion) the £1000 a meeting some of the PL guys will want to ride in CL. I can't imagine Adam is coming for a guarantee of less that £1000 per meeting so just impossible to have 2 like that. Better to look at riders like Stoneman who are hungry and probably on 50 quid a point tops.

I said that on the basis that I thought he would be in Denmark for the next 3 weeks. If he was I don't think he would be at Brummies in 4 weeks time!

Ford moaning he lost a five figure sum v Ipswich in the Speedway Star and admitting he has tried every marketing trick he can. Eastbourne admitting they might miss out on a five figure sum if they went toe to toe with Speedway GP and Champions League Final and actually explaining the logic behind it. I'd say one Club with it's head in the sand and clueless what to do next; and one Club with it's finger on the pulse and the balls to admit they won't run knowing they will lose money but not trying to con anyone with a stupid excuse but telling it straight.

it might just rain every Wednesday