Ben91

http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.14793 Gjedde in wahay!

I know that. I was stating that as a choice of guest it is a strange one if Len isn't looking at signing him, logistically or not. I can't recall Kling having ridden at Plymouth in the past either so there's no proven track record that he could be a good choice. May be a way of the promotion getting a look at him.

Mear and Nilsson can't do it as has already been stated, Lakeside already have two Double Up spots filled. Gizatullin is riding on Saturdays for Eastbourne, Aspgren was a target in the winter supposedly and replacing a proven scorer with an unknown isn't a good idea. Dryml wouldn't maintain the high average he would come in on. Gjedde for Neath and Topinka for Lanham/Nelson on a short deal, if he does well then we can keep him on with room to re-accomodate Nelson for a lower order rider when Nelson finally gets into the country, if not he goes when Tyson comes back. I'd be happier with that than Boxall for sure. Ricky Kling could be a possible target, bit of a strange choice of guest to go to Plymouth with, seeing as he could barely string 4 laps of Belle Vue together whenever I saw him on Sky last season, can't see him being any better round Rye, happy to be proven wrong though.

Gjedde would take us 0.05 over the limit, shame as he'd be a top signing. Could be a re-jig on the cards though, if Lanham is recalled as is very much a possibility then Gjedde and Gathercole could fit with scope to re-introduce Nelson for a lower order rider on his arrival. Such a shame about Neathy, was in the form of his career last season, shame we won't get to see if he can carry that on.

Just take your own Heineken Keg, pick one up for about £13, gives you roughly 9 pints which works out around £1.44 each. On a P+P related note, what did Jason Garrity have on his head today? It looked like he'd been given a day off from his fruit and veg stall to ride, he's bloody exciting to watch though.

The National League may well be the third division, however it's mission statement when formed was to help develop riders as well as be a competitive division. The Development Leagues have only just been given BSPA recognition and their sole purpose is to bring through youngsters, I agree. It has been stated we will go with three riders from the training schools, whether they struggle or not to begin with, they are the future of the Rockets unless we give them a chance. No use moaning about it. Nobody knows how Strudwick would have coped after a season away from the sport anyway.

This will always be a problem with the National League, some see it as a training platform for their young riders, for others it is their bread and butter so to speak. People complain about rules etc, ways to change them for the better but once they have been made it is the promoter's job at each club to build their side within these rules. If you go top heavy then you are going to have a weak tail end, that happens at every level and gives mis-matched races, it's unavoidable, especially in the National League where each team has a different agenda. I'm personally happy to see the Raiders blood 3 new riders, hopefully they can do a good job and push on to become Rockets in the future, NL meetings can be enjoyable no matter how long the riders have been racing. Some people like a moan about NL teams containing rookies, more often than not though, they are the same people who will complain that our EL and PL sides are over-saturated with riders from abroad...

Full signing of Bunyan and the signing of Garrity seemingly being imminent are a good statement of intent from Len. If Leigh performs well then I hope Nelson slots back into the side to replace a rider who needs replacing perhaps, rather than Leigh, unless of course he doesn't perform. Been a long time admirer of Leigh Lanham, hope he does well and that it is a good move for both parties.

Jason is from Milton Keynes. Still, Rune Holta is a Pole from Norway...

#Lad

Neathy is a good role model for Jason, reckon you're just bitter he isn't a Leicester rider any more

How is giving the national champion the wildcard a joke? I'm sure if it was a Witches rider you'd be overjoyed. Jason is back on the 2nd of March and returns to NZ on the 25th, he'll be coming straight back to the UK so at the most he should only miss the one meeting for Rye.

Surely the answer is to have a Raiders meeting the night of the GP so that Jason won't miss out.

Brilliant news! Big year for Bunyan, he's been doing well in NZ over the winter, going to be a bargain at reserve. We had Eddie Kennett ride in the British GP in 2005, beat Greg Hancock too.

Potential return for the Northern Tour then, doubt I'll get it off work though but I'll try!

A lot of programmes are always subject to change on the night anyway, so you just make adjustments on the night if you print the scorecard with names on it. Even if so, surely fans are savvy enough to look at the riding orders of the teams over their last few meeting, unless the averages have just changed, then the order is likely to stay the same.

He'll always be in his brothers shadow, he's a 4 point something reserve, if that is what was expected of him then nobody would be disappointed.

Well this thread is dying a death isn't it? Speaking of Nelson, he scored 8 in a 4tt in Oz the other night with Jason Crump also featuring in the meeting, good to see he is keeping race sharp and performing well back home. Also saw a couple of photographs of Jason Bunyan from the NZ GP media announcement, could be a potential ride there for him as a multi time New Zealand champion whilst I've also heard there could be interest from a few EL sides in Jason, would make sense with the average conversion the way it is. Perhaps he'll be lined up for a doubling up spot at Coventry with Adam Roynon? If it does happen it's all good for keeping Jason race sharp and good publicity for the club with one of our riders making reasonably regular sky TV appearances. http://snpa.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Auckland-Inaugural-FIM-New-Zealand-Speedway-Grand-Prix-Announcement/G00001WBZd61eBZc/I0000HJJ90ESbQ.A

Does it look like I've quoted him? I do agree though, just like the PL team the NL team is too expensive to watch, there's no two ways about it. It looks like Nick Lee and Jed Collins are two names being mooted from the promotion looking at this press release http://speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.13798.6 with Collins being the name better of the two if this is to be believed. Perhaps something along the lines of this would be feasible: 1. Mason 2. Owen 3. Sarjeant 4. Hazelden 5. Morley 6. Collins 7. Freemantle 8. Lee

You've misquoted me, there was a comma in there. Is it that important that you need to go grammar police on it? I know what I meant, there was nothing wrong with it and if you've read it wrong it's not my problem. Back on topic: Whilst it is good to win things and keep the fans coming back, who are the riders we are going to sign who will win us meetings and be decent signings who could move up to the Rockets side in the future? Most are assets of other clubs, we need to make our own assets, to do that we need to blood new talent and not just one rider here and there, 2 or 3 because the chances are out of each 2 or 3 we put into the side only one will be good enough in future. Until they are given their chance then who will know and they won't get the track time to improve with competitive action. At the end of the day, the purpose of the Raiders is to develop riders not to win the league, that is what the Rockets should be aiming to do each year.

Where did I say Freemantle was untried? I said I'd be happy to see two untried reserves but my preference would be Freemantle and Greenwood. Scunthorpe's team last year was the result of 2/3 years worth of NL experience for most of their side, Rye will be starting some riders off from scratch with their breakthrough seasons being expected to be 2013 or 2014. As I've said before, we are not a win at all costs stand alone side, so to try build a win at all costs team would not be beneficial for anyone, bringing through young riders for the future of the rockets would be. Mason is the experienced rider, Morley and Sarjeant are looking to break through during the season, the other 4 spots should be for youngsters who can make a name for themselves. Running double headers and charging less for the stand alone meetings will keep crowd interest up, the double headers aren't everyone's cup of tea but if they were moved along a little quicker then there would be no issues.

This is where the NL teams have a conflict of interests, the stand alone sides want to build winning sides, whilst by the nature of the league they have to do so with young Brits in their side in the main. I'm happy for the Raiders to go to tapes with two untried youngsters at reserve in 2012, my personal preference would be Dan Greenwood and Brandon Freemantle as they have the potential to do well in the sport, although any of the lads who have impressed at the training schools will do. If we can't sign decent youngsters with potential in the ilk of Sarjeant and Morley for the rest of the main body of the side then I'd be happy to see more youngsters given a chance to get some experience under their belts in the same way Scunthorpe have done the last few years, it hasn't done them any harm has it?

Big point there, admission prices, if they are any higher than they are now then I think a lot of fans stay away, no matter what seven riders we track. Keep them as they are or even move them back in line with other PL clubs, just don't increase them for Gawds sake.

If we were a stand alone NL side then I'd agree we would need a strong reserve. However the purpose of the Raiders is to bring through future Rockets, with Morley and Sarjeant we are certainly doing that. I'd expect to see Hazelden and Owen line up in Lakeside's NL venture, so the rest of the top 5 is a mystery. Ben Hopwood, whilst he is now an asset of Rye is looking for a new club and I think with One experienced rider in David Mason it would be a mistake to bring Barrie Evans back. It'd be good to see Brandon Freemantle back to continue his development, whilst I'd also consider Dan Greenwood.

That team is barely better than some of the sides the Devils used to line up with in the NL! Wells will have to have a blinding season to back up Barker and that still leaves you with a team of 5 reserves.