T.N.T.

So when are Swindon going to name RIcky Wells as the replacement ? Seriously though he is a vastly underated rider and like Dakota he has a 5.91 average and rode most of those meetings as a heat leader for Wolverhampton. Maybe his away form isn't what it should be but he is still a young man despite his experience and is more than capable of holding down an Elite League berth. Vaclav Milik or Mikkel Michelsen could be good singings but RIcky is based here

To stand a chance of winning you have to have key strong points and this is where I think teams are strong. BELLE VUE have a strong top three that are as strong as any other team. COVENTRY have a good top two and will have a good second string in King or Garrity. KINGS LYNN will have at least one very strong second string LAKESIDE are good at home and Jonsson should be better than last year. Swiderski on a low average. LEICESTER at least have a decent reserve POOLE have it all. Three very good heat leaders, two excellent second strings and possibly the best two reserves. SWINDON have the number one rider and potential behind him. WOLVERHAMPTON have Lindgren and Bech on modest averages. They will have a very good reserve starting with Howarth but could have Masters or Thorssell dropping to number six at some point.

OPTION ONE Two matches on a Monday night and a further two meetings on a Wednesday night. This keeps the Sky Sports deal for live matches. OPTION TWO Wednesday nights with one meeting switching to the Monday for Sky Sports when required. Next year there is also likley to be a squad system incorporating the top riders where two riders share the same position like Tai Woffinden and Piotr Pawlicki at Wolverhampton or Maciej Janowski and Chris Holder at Poole as examples.

I have said for possibly a decade that changes needed to be made to the sport and this past close season was the perfect opportunity to adapt these ideas. This could have been done a number of ways but the one thing that needs doing for the good of the sport is the Elite and Premier Leagues working together and trying to get more riders in rather than sharing riders apart from fast track reserves. The Elite League needs to go to one fixed race night. The only night feasable is Wednesday really but each week one match would have to be on the Monday for Sky. The Premier League would not be able to ride on these two nights as fast track reserves would be riding in both leagues along with a few others. The Premier Leagues a smaller league than it is now with two groups of seven giving them just 12 meetings before the play offs. This is because the main league would be the British League where 8 Elite League teams and 14 Premier League teams would compete in two groups of 11. Every team would be built to an agreed limit in the British League using assessed or real PL averages. The 8 tracks also competing in the Elite League would use their main five riders and the number six reserve along with two squad riders from a group of four which would mainly be the top riders like Woffinden, Petersen, Hampel etc who would agree to ride in a number of the 14 EL meetings mainly done on a Wednesday. Of the four squad riders, one would have to be rated lower than at least one of the British League riders which would enable him to be used in case of injuries or fim meetings. SO using my team of Wolverhampton for example their four squad riders could be Tai Woffinden, Piotr Pawlicki and Emil Sayfutdinov (rides with Tai in Sweden on a Tuesday) plus RIcky Wells who is riding with Workington in the PL. Their British League team could be something like Freddie Lindgren, Jacob Thorssell, Nicolai Klindt, Ty Proctor, Ashley Morris, Max Clegg and Matt Williamson. The British League would run on a North and South divide with four Elite League tracks in each group. Belle Vue, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Leicester in the North and Kings Lynn,Poole, Swindon and Lakeside in the South. Therefore each Elite League track would run 7 Elite League meetings and 10 British League meetings let alone the play offs and cup matches. Premier League tracks run 6 Premier League meetings and 10 British League meetings. Riders like RIcky Wells could be riding for Workington but also as a squad rider to cover for Lindgren or Thorssell while a rider like Ben Barker could ride for Glasgow in the Premier League and Swindon in the British and Elite League giving him more meetings. Big changes but much needed to attract the big names who may be missing from Britain at the moment but so are the fans as crowds are getting lower and lower.

I am registered on it but we have little to cheer about in recent years and internet issues over the last year or so has meant little and few visits to other sites but still been on Facebook and the BSPA site. I think a few people in speedway are not keem on the social media sites and like to go their own way and dislike people giving opinions on things different to their own views. However it can be a helping hand in some cases but can also be a minefield.

I never went last season but this time I am going to have a great but rushed weekend away. Fly out of Birmingham to Chopin airport and land at 16.10 so drop the bag at the city centre luxury apartment booked and straight to the meeting. Staying Saturday, Sunday and Monday night in a two bedroom apartment with lounge and kitchen with three of us staying there for £380 so about £43 a day which is good considering its a highly rated place. Flights cost a bit more than last year at £82 return so it ends up around £220 each but this time I have gone for luxury rather than bargains but will be doing Prague, Gorzow and Torun this season after getting rid of the excess baggage that was the wife.

With the likes of Facebook creating a page these days a fans forum isn't really of interest these days. Any team or organisation can have their own page where discussion is open to the world rather than a select few. With speedway being a minority sport it needs as much help from the fans as possible and if the social media gives them a view or connection to each other should be a benefit to both sides.

PK wasn't down to the money and more to do with PK taking it easy and doing just Sweden and Poland. With the following Speedway gets in England and the lack of media interest it's amazing we still have some of the riders we still have riding over here.

I must admit that the new look team doesn't look like contenders when you look at the other teams lining up at the tapes next month. Having said that I can see some promise and potential in the line up.Freddie for example should be capable of much more than his average states and I fully expect him to add at least a point to his 6.11 start. Mikkel Bech however is the rider I think could be the teams top rider and if both can be 7+ riders it could be a strong spearhead and Kylmakorpi is a good back up. Jacob Thorssell has potential and as a second string he is good but as a heat leader ? It is also his away form that has to improve big time. Then you have Masters and Howarth at number two and six. Can Masters improve and will Howarth be the leagues top fast track reserve ? Either way Wolves will have a good reserve be it Masters Howarth or Thorssell !! Problem is that all of the above is a question of IF IF Bech and Lindgren improve IF Thorssell can improve away IF they don't it could be another visit to the drawing board

The only thing about trying to predict who finishes where is most teams will make changes through the season and these can turn a msdicre team into a title contender. Last season Swindon signed Darcy and were suddenly the team to beat while Coventry came from nowhere in the past to romp home. With the terrible race format we have at present the key is having riders that can still score if they are in a heat leader position and without doubt the team that has been built with all seven riders being potential match winners are POOLE who have three experienced heat leaders that have been here before and two second strings that could be big scorers every week. Add to that possibly the best fast track reserve in the league and the best 3.00 rider and its hard to see anyone coming close to them. BELLE VUE have a good top three but would Max Tricks be ready for a heat leader role if required ? At present they look to be the next best but I think COVENTRY could be very much under estimated as Bomber and KK can be prolific scorers in the league (maybe not GP's) while Garrity and King can both hold down heat leader roles. Bates could be a good reserve but I think Woryna and Sarjeant could struggle and feel this could be where Bees change the line up later in the season. After those three SWINDON with Doyle leading the team have to be contenders and Morris is getting better and better. Having an Aussie top five should give a good team spirit and that can work wonders on and off the track and at present these are the four teams I think will make the play offs. As for the rest LAKESIDE will need Jonson and Nilsson confirming and as usual will be hard to beat at home and will have two decent second strings in Lawson and Swiderski ...... But is Kennett likely to be in and AJ another giving England a miss. KINGS LYNN may be the team some think are going to be cannon fodder but why shoulld they as Bachelor, Lambert and Schlein can score points and Made will be a good second strung. The final position could be vital. Even if its Kenneth Bjerre it is another rider who is on a false average and riding as a second string to boot. That sadly leaves WOLVES who will hopefully prove me wrong and in Bach they have potential and Lindgren starting as a second string is a plus. Howarth is a good reserve but will he be moving up and Masters or Thorssell moving to reserve ? They could be a surprise team but do they have race winners to pick up points away which has been a problem in recent seasons. Then we have the Dads Army LEICESTER team who could see their fast track rider move up to number one when the averages come out. POOLE Belle Vue Coventry (with changes) Swindon Kings Lynn Lakeside Wolverhampton Leicester

In the Tier 1 draft six of the eight teams protected a rider and Coventry decided to protect Sarjeant for some reason and he became the #6. Then in the Tier 2 they had the first pick of who was left and picked Bates who will be at #7 all season. I do agree that Bates should be the #6 and is more likely to score the points than Sarjeant. Steve Boxall doesn't have a 3.00 average and is a #7

I would prefer one set night of Thursday but it wouldn't work due to the clubs in the Premier League Friday you cant do because of GP practice and PL clubs Saturday is GP night Sunday is Poland Tuesday is Sweden Wednesday is Denmark but affects only a few really. So we have to look at Mondays which riders don't want because it means Friday to Tuesday being non stop but SKY want Mondays and the sport needs their money. So why not have two set nights where you have 2 meetings on a Monday (Wolves v Coventry and Swindon v Leicester) and 2 meetings on Wednesday (Poole v Lakeside and Kings Lynn v Belle Vue) for example Then the following week on Monday (Leicester v Kings Lynn and Coventry v Poole) then on the Wednesday another 2 matches (Belle Vue v Swindon and Lakeside v Wolves) so riders only come in for one meeting each week and as no PL clubs ride on these nights it gives no fixture clashes for doubling up riders. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday are Premier League nights and National League can ride on any night and clubs can decide who gets priority on fixture clashes with NL likely to get the call as these can be replaced in other meetings by other NL riders. MON = 2 Elite League matches TUE = SWEDEN WED = 2 Elite League matches THU = Premier League FRI = Premier League & GP Practice SAT = Premier League & GP SUN = Premier League & POLAND S I M P L E S

Premier League mainly ride Thursday to Sunday so avoid clashes with them is the point so doubling up riders can do ALL matches. Also Sky want regular Monday nights so riding 2 matches on a Monday and 2 on a Wednesday involving all 8 teams would give you 14 weeks of meetings (28 if you do A and B fixtures) but to get the big names back it would have to be one meeting each week at the most and only once each so 14 meetings. Tai admitted at the evening at the Cleveland that Greg, Nicki and many more would ride here again if it was like Poland and Sweden and just 14 meetings on a set night. So making it Wednesday would suit most clubs but moving one or two to the Monday for Sky would benefit those and riders doubling up from the PL

Must admit I am a bit suprised by the signing of Grajczonek as it means only one from Zengota, Batchelor and Morris can be fitted in and was expecting two of those to be named and a low average second string but I wouldn't be suprised to see Morris getting the team place and a suprise third heat leader coming in that will make them certain contenders. Hopefully if Zengota and Batchelor do miss out they get team places at Lakeside and Leicester

It is a bit of a worry that Masters and Clegg are both riding for Edinburgh in 2016 so will likely miss the meetings at Belle Vue and Coventry while Howarth is also doubling up and Wolves don't have priority over any of them by the looks of it. So if its Edinburgh v Workington and Wolves are riding we go into the meeting with three guests !! This shows perfectly why the Elite League should be on one fixed race night (or 4 on Monday and 4 on Wednesday) and the Premier League from Thursday to Sunday to allow these riders to do all Elite and Premier League fixtures. The main point of doubling up is to gain experience in a higher level but what's the point if you have fixtures that clash and the top level has to look for replacements in most cases. If everyone rides on the correct nights, how many meetings are Max, Sam and Kyle likely to miss ? Kyle and Max - Belle Vue x2 away and Coventry x2 away = 4 matches total Kyle - Leicester x2 away = 6 matches in total Max in the National League ?

Wozniak !!

Yes I have edited my post as I thought when he joined Swindon after Coventry it was a full transfer that took him to Swindon. I would say Mikkel Bech is by far the best NEW signing we have made. This is a rider that despite being so young has already won the SWC with Denmark and along with MJJ remains the best young Dane around these days. Maybe he could or should have been a 7+ rider already but he started 2015 well and think he can add a point to his 6.16 starting average. As for the Pjiper reference ....... Wolves have been after Masters before he hit visa problems so we know it's not one good performance that has made him a target but I remain to be convinced he is anything that will be like Brady Kurtz and think he is more like a younger version of Ty Proctor. While I would love the job you don't have to be jumping around the pits or slapping riders backs to get the job done. Maybe he is more old school but I am sure if you ask the riders, Rosco or Midlo they will all tell you that PA knows exactly what he is doing and how to get results out of riders. So until he retires I will continue to look out for helmet colours, watch for incidents and drive the truck but hopefully next season it will be with the Wolves team on the back a bit more often

With a number of teams still nowhere near completed it is hard to predict but I will give it a go with a bit of guess work. POOLE - Solid top four of riders who could all be classed as heat leaders and in Brady Kurtz a rider that could be a heat leader in a few years and will benefit from being with the experienced Holder, Andersen, Buczkowski and Watt. Kyle Newman is one of the top reserves and if he moves up look at who moves down while Adam Ellis is possibly the top #7 so far. SWINDON - Jason Doyle as the clear #1 rider in the league backed up by probably Nick Morris and Zengota or Batchelor will be a strong top three. It would mean weaker second strings but they are capable of getting thirds and the heat leaders winning races. BELLE VUE - Good top three in Zagar, Cook and Nicholls and Fricke will have benefitted from a year behind him. The Worrall brothers will probably swap places a few times and Boxall a decent final piece but not sure if they have enough to match the two above. COVENTRY - Don't write off KK and with Bomber forms a good top two. King a decent third heat leader and should have Garrity challenging for the role and if Woryna can get settled they could shock a few. Reserves not that strong but Bates is a great #7 and at reserve he should be capable of 5 points most meetings. Look better than the four teams below anyway WOLVES; - They need Fredrik Lindgren to get back to the form he was in three or four years ago and be dominant at home once again. Also Mikkel Bech could be a key signing and could be a solid heat leader. Kylmakorpi and Thorssell will need to improve his away scores having both averaged under 5 points a match away in 2015. Masters is doubling up and it depends how many meetings he will miss and the same with Howarth due to Premier League meetings. Not sure if they can be play off contenders ? KINGS LYNN - How do you replace a rider like Iversen and track a heat leader with an average under six points a match. They need a good signing which could be Troy Batchelor and hope Bjerre can get back to big scores and starting at #4 like Lindgren at Wolves could help him. Lambert is the rider everyone wishes they had and if they get Rory Schlein back and in form they have riders that can improve. Not too sure about the reserves though. LAKESIDE - AJ is fine and Nilsson is under rated while Kennett does a decent job doubling up. What is it with Blackbird and Mears at reserve after both retiring ? ...... They still have over 12 points to sign two more riders and these could be key to how they will do. Could they get PK back as a second string on 5.51 and a seven point heat leader ? .... if they can they would he higher but away form has always been a problem. LEICESTER - Can't see who they are going to sign to make them an Elite line up. Not many top riders want to or can ride Saturdays ? ....... so until they shock everyone with a few big signings they look like certain wooden spoon winners.......

When you look at the statistics it makes it a weird choice to keep Jacob on 6.18 instead of Ricky 5.91 HOME AVGE; Jacob 6.62 (7.15) = Ricky 7.53 (8.20) AWAY AVGE: Jacob 4.63 (4.83) = Ricky 4.76 (5.14) 2015 AVGE: Jacob 5.61 (5.97) = Ricky 6.11 (6.63) I like Jacob but think a year away from Monmore Green would have suited him more than Ricky especially when you consider that his 20 match rolling average of 5.91 included 13 matches riding as a heat leader while Jacob who finished the season well (as a second string) will have those higher scores on his rolling average for a while making his average look better than it actually is. Have to say that I am not sure about Sam Masters being signed for a number of reasons. Frstly I am not that keen on having doubling up riders, especially when they could miss meetings unlike Ricky Wells (club asset) or Kyle Howarth (Swindon asset) and secondly I don't think he is anything special or likely to improve much. We signed Theo Pjiper on the back of a good performance in the Olympique and while we tried to sign him before, I hope he hasn't been signed on the back of a few good appearances. While I agree that I think it is time to let PK wind down his career and amount of fixtures, I think PK would have been as good as Masters is likely to be but personally I would have liked to have seen who else was available and the last two places I would have liked to have seen Ricky Wells and ? Would Joel Andersson have been such a risk ? ...... but I would have liked to have seen maybe Dakota North 5.91 who has been left out of the Poole line up or Josh Grajczonek 6.00 who has been left out of the Belle Vue line up and as both are assets of Poole they would not miss meetings if they were doubling up in 2016. Both have been impressive at Monmore Green and both done very good jobs as second strings and had meetings as heat leaders. After some good performances for Kings Lynn last year and some very good appearances as a guest at Monmore Green, I would have liked to have seen Ashley Morris given another spell in the team as the number seven and as a club asset I presume he wouldn't miss any meetings had he secured a PL berth but at present is only looking at possibly riding alongside Clegg as the Heathans heat leaders at Monmore Green. 1 - Fredrik Lindgren 6.11 2 - Wells or North 5.91 3 - Mikkel Bech 6.16 4 - North or Grajczonek 5.91 / 6.00 5 - Jonas Kylmakorpi 6.80 6 - Kyle Howarth 5.53 7 - Ashley Morris 3.00 Just my opinion but whoever signed and dons the Old Gold n Black will be supported and hope this year they have a better line up than recent years when the play offs were just dreams and meant a few weeks off at Monmore

Sadly I think you are right but can't see that team being good enough to challenge for the title and while there are less big names in the Elite League this team lacks heat winners away from home on a consistant basis. Yes Freddie should be much better than 6.11 and Mikkel Bech should also do better than 6.16 but can they beat the likes of Kasprzak/Harris or Holder/Andersen/Buszckowski or Cook/Nicholls at their home tracks ? Hopefully on Tuesday night we will get to hear who is on or off the heat leader list and also answers to many more questions like 40.5 limit but not the riders around to get close. ...... Heat leaders on sub 6 averages so how do you get decent second strings ? ..... Why not one big league with 20 home meetings ? It would be nice to get back to the old days of a rider having an average from the previous season regardless of being 18 or 28 meetings and a limit everyone could reach which led to fans having calculators for Christmas to work out who could be signing !!

So how many riders over 6 are classed as a second string apart from Aaron Summers NOTE; New riders on 6.50 come in as heat leaders

How can a former GP winner and GP regular, World Team Cup rider, SEC rider and a heat leader in Poland, Sweden and Denmark NOT be a second string in the ultra strong British Elite League ....... surely he is close to being a Fast Track rider

Coventry have in my opinion and according to many others got their three heat leaders in Kasprzak, Harris and King. If any team brings in a new rider like Shame Pawlicki 6.75 for example, the lowest on the list (#24) then becomes a second string and the only way King would be classed as a second string is if he was #25 on the list which is not going to happen so even if Coventry had 8.66 or 6.32 left, they can only sign a second string which will most likely be a 5+ rider like Kacper Gomolski 5.51 or Sam Masters 5.60. However I think Aaron Summers 6.82 is going to be classed as a second string as all of his average is from a second string role and therefore false and nowhere near his converted PL average which is probably more realistic. As I make it Coventry are Kasprzak 7.97, Harris 7.34, King 6.48, Garrity 5.29, Bates 3.45 and Sarjeant 3.12 is 33.65 which leaves 6.85 which is just enough for Summers 6.82

It should be more like the old format but I believe there is still two reserve races and the #7 comes out with and against second strings in his other two rides where as the #6 can be alongside or against a heat leader.

KK returns has made the rider at 23 become 25 technically as Buczkowski returning made 24 become 25 and now KK has made him 26 It only applies to new riders coming in like for example Buczkowski or if only Patryk Dudek on a 6.50 or more. Kings Lynn for example keeping Iversen would have meant Bjerre was further down the list and technically if it's right they could have had Bjerre and Lambert as second strings but would still have to be under the 40.5 limit. Swindon could be going for a strong top three of Doyle, Zengota and Morris which is fine but leaves them little when you add Wright and Nielsen at reserve it leaves just just over nine points for the last two which could mean another 3.00 starting at #2 with Wright eventually moving up However they hold the cards as they have the outright number one and one of the best of the rest in Zengota.