YeOldPitGate

I should really know this as was my peak interest years but flip side 41 years ago now jeez, Hans Nielson on the bike, Wiggy far right, Mel Taylor next to Wiggy, Nigel DeAth, Mervyn Cox, Alastair Stevens not sure on the final rider and can't remember the team manager although think it was Bernard Crapper who was promoter.

I can't see the logic in running a prem team at an existing club under a different name, it just strikes me as more desperation to get the numbers up in the top league, I just hope whoever is taking this on has uber deep pockets as sadly I fear they are going to need bucket loads of cash to burn, would love to be proved wrong and its a success.

Credit to Louis but it equally helps that he has a wealthy sponsor who's a massive speedway fan.

I was trying to hold out a slim bit of hope White Knight.

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the chances of any deal getting over the line Flagrag ? 1 being near zero

Its difficult isn't it Mike I do feel bad putting the boot into promoters when you have the likes of Tolley doing six figures plus, but running on Mon,Tues or Wed you are on a hiding to nothing before you begin in my opinion, I keep harping on about it but Plymouth are showing what can be done when you run on a night that the public not the riders want. Appreciate the flip side is if you took this approach in the prem currently you might as well close down as half the riders wouldn't ride here but longer term I do think stripping back to riders committed to UK starting at Championship standard and trying to build back up is the way to go. At the current rate I can't see the top league lasting more than another 2-3 years particularly if no tv deals means weaker teams and higher prices , meeting same team 3-4 times at home per season rinse and repeat.

Sadly I think your right Ian credit to the fellas who are running the clubs to keep going as they must mostly be losing fortunes, but I fear its more of the same coming, a lower points limit, some top men leaving and prices going up.

Can you imagine explaining that to a newcomer

My god no wonder nobody makes any money running the sport if you have 5-6 point riders on 3k per match, it did seem at times that the Oxford team were going through the motions with 3k guarantees for mid ability riders its not surprising.

Hopefully your wrong on number four, only other worry is Bailey starting at number two with what I have seen of him the lad has it all and should be the next long term Aussie big thing but hard to start at two even when a massive talent.

Ideally you want Cairns at reserve.

Who's the builder who cleaned up ?

Agreed Bagpuss if the big relaunch ends up being no tv deal, 5 team league and 36 point overall limit then they might as well shut up shop.

So Courtney pulling out and new promotion going prem not championship ?

Is this a wind up or is someone actually going to take the huge risk on ?

Apologies just caught up so no Emil for 2026 and I'm pretty sure I read somewhere no Woffy either so two big names gone.

Who's officially left ?

Agreed the year dads army one the league the overall quality was dire, the Peterborough seven were all great riders in their day but for all of them that was five to ten years ago but as the rest of the league was uber weak their experience was enough to see them over the line.

Spot on re Plymouth I knew the number one's had a good go but didn't realise they demolished the whole of the trough.

Its not far off that now to be honest but not in the constructive way you mean you have teams going nigh on 3 weeks without a meeting in summer then 2 in a week and double headers running into late October.

As much as that Mike, I know Terry had his dues and the number one's had a good go at the trough but where did all the rest go ?

Your more in the know than me Dean with your contacts, but if it is two leagues and say 5-6 in the top league I can't really see what the massive promised changes are other than if they have got a huge sponsor and can go with say a 50 point limit and get more top boys back or if theres only 3-4 in top league could they be applying to join the top polish division. Other than that i can't see what else they could do.

To be fair it might take a while as there's no one to measure him against in the US I always take Dillon Ruml as any example struggled when he first came to the UK but at the back end of his second season was developing into a tidy rider, shame he got injured and never came back to the UK.

The only drawback if they get Cairns, Rushden and Bailey is one of them will have to start in the main body of the team and whilst I see all three having massive careers ideally you want to start at reserve to build confidence and not struggle in the main body from the get go and lose confidence.

That would be one hell of a side four really exciting youngsters.