YeOldPitGate

I think the issue will be if two teams move up somehow they/the league will need to get 4-6 top quality riders back over to the UK which won't be easy even with six teams we have the situation where Northampton are struggling, Leicester (Douggie maybe) don't have an out and out number one, Lynn look okay but never seem to click, Belle Vue have two world class riders but one has said no UK 2027, Ippo solid but same as Leicester no number 1, Sheffield we are all praying Jack Holder comes through but in worst case they don't have a number one and also financial issues. So even with the status quo we probably might need next year four number one's before you have to strengthen up two other teams moving up. And also the issue of will the Bates carry on one more season.

Were his bikes sparkling in all the sunlight ?

Ha ha stop stirring the pot.

In that case most likely a shoe in

Is there a tv deal in the offing Phil ?

No worries Bagpuss very kind of you but at the moment I have a backlog of about 20 books for various holidays all be it would be interesting to get his take on what was a time when he seemed to be spinning plates and fishing down the back of the sofa to keep the Stars afloat.

Thanks Bagpuss seems its as rare as Lee putting in an appearance in 1985 will keep an eye out for it, remember those days of a last heater decider and it would be Neilson and Wigg v Redgeling and Paul Woods

Is Jepperson carrying an injury seems to have gone off the boil a bit last few weeks ?

Second leg of the Jubilee cup still to be run.

Add John Berry to the list Mike and Russell Lanning.

Whats the title of it Bagpuss ? I am off on a cruise next week and have Simmo's book to read whilst on board I can't wait to read about his and Bill Barkers fall out, I'm pretty sure 90% of the blame would be down to Simmo but I dare say Bill will be painted as the villan.

Really that low, if true even with Rob's skills with the budget he must be heavily subsiding things have they just dropped off a cliff this year or always low ?

Christ no Bomber would mean the end of both leagues given the struggle for riders.

Yep I started going late 84 and from memory Lee made comeback 1985 the odd flashes of his brilliance seem to remember he beat peak Gunderson on his first meeting back but after that his reliability was dreadful probably not helped by us having a super weak team at the time either.

Poole had the contact with Lightcap through Hancock and Cairns so they had a result but the cupboard is so bare these days I think you can write off 99% of any poles, danes and swedes wanting to come here going forward. This means outside the UK your really trying to rake over the coals to find any unpolished Aussie or Yank gems there are the odd ones out there with the young lad Berwick signed at reserve at the start of the season. Brady Langdon looks a really good American prospect also but again due to his Hancock connection the Fords will probably get first dibs if he comes to UK next 2-3 years.

Same as some of the riders , lack of team managers also lol.

That's harsh on Lawson as a Lynn supporter back in the day Lee was truly terrible for reliability.

Baring injuries you should steam roll the league and play-offs Slater has made you even stronger, Lawson & Cook quality riders in second division , throw in two great UK youngsters and Newman & Kerr decent second strings at championship level you have zero weak links. If Lightcap can start to really get dialled in I would be surprised if you lost any matches in the run in, given problems Glasgow have got with Hagon's confidence gone and struggling to get a replacement for Howarth.

Wright is a solid UK rider given how weak the league is here now days, fifteen years ago plus he would have been a good engine room second string. He is though a rider who will give his all and I think the issue is against higher quality opposition he ends up over riding and crashes , seem to remember he had a bang early doors in Poland last year also.

Who are they going to get in though ? the cupboard of anyone wanting to come to the UK is absolutely bare.

Yep plenty of things from years gone by in the firing line I read a good article on pubs over the weekend , roughly two a day closing in the UK. The writer interviewed a fella who took over a popular pub in his area (Lake District) that had closed pre-covid he took over reigns in 2021 said when he started gas and electric £1,500 was per month he chucked keys in mid 2025 and gas and electric then £3,500 per month. Add in the plus wage going up, employer ni threshold cut , cost of living meaning more people just having a pint and no food or staying at home as the ex landlord said "covid got us all into the mindset of staying at home more". One of my richest friends owns a pub locally turns over a million a year but still loses money, luckily he can use the old trick of offsetting the losses against his other business which is an absolute cash cow.

He's to budget aware for that, it would just be nice if he could find someone who is a proper safe pair of hands to take the team on moving forward but as we all know given the shakey outlook for the sport and the need to write off 50-100k per annum those with the deep pockets and love of the sport to commit to that regular annual loss are in very short supply.

Spot on the team they have should steam roller everyone at the end of the season come what may they are so strong at this level 1-7. If the championship is weaker in 2027 and they get Beau Bailey, in my opinion the lad is the best natural racer since Darcy Ward give him a platform to show all his talent and the gates would hold up well or increase most likely.

I remember 3-4 seasons back a picture of young Ashton Boughton with something like 6-7 bikes in the background ready for the season and this was a lad starting out who was at reserve.

Great to hear and for a Monday as well probably the least attractive night of the week to run on, long may it continue.