enotian

don't disagree but think he's been given a bum steer about building an asset base, hence the signings of Roynon, Wright, Complin and Congreve. Ultimately they'll all revert to BSPL ownership when he folds.

and replace them with whom? there just aren't enough riders available and that was obvious at the point the 2022 teams building rules were put in place. Birmingham have done well but you wonder how much they're shelling out on Ellis and Vissing. Just to put 7 riders out.

not exactly true but I do agree that it's not the format to blame but maybe it requires some further team building restrictions when there's not enough no1's to go around.

nail on the head. more and more people are struggling with priorities i.e food or heating even before you get into how to spend whatever disposable income may be left, their are plenty of choices. None better than speedway IMO, when it's good. appreciate Geoff's comments but records show that his and others devotion to the Comets in the early 80's didn't end well.

As if that would ever happen.... ahem. I don't think there are enough fixtures in the NDL for the Diamonds to contemplate it unless a different deal with the landlords can be brokered even then why bother with all the other fixed costs for so few meetings, And you can't increase the NDL meetings because it's mostly 2nd teams who only have limited fixture slots available. Also I don't think the public of Newcastle would support 3rd tier speedway. The first incarnation of the Gems were a decent side (Lawson, Robertson the Branney's) but hardly anyone stayed to watch even though they'd already paid. As I've posted elsewhere the 3 tier system doesn't work anymore thats clear by virtue of their only being 2 stand alone teams and no graduates from 2021 NDL in the 2022 CL. The 2nd tier obviously needs to be reduced in standard so that it is predominantly UK based riders and a career path for young British riders to develop. There was no 3rd tier in the 60's and 70's and there was no shortage of British talent becoming world stars. It's obviously a massively different environment now but all the evidence is their that 3 tiers don't work and the CL is unsustainable for most.

subsidising the PL by providing a 2nd income for PL riders. the PL promoters are probably terrified that, like the late 70's early 80's, the 2nd tier would be a more sustainable and attractive proposition by creating their own stars by providing opportunities for young British riders on their path to super stardom. All at an affordable cost.

setting a points limit in excess of the total combined average of riders available. Meaning there are teams starting the season under the points limit. Not just the Diamonds. Although admittedly the Diamonds promoters have displayed a total lack of talent in this area.

We might win the 2nd leg and still be in the cup!!! Shocking display from Harris. Scores way more in the PL against better opposition. Taking the P and taking his fee. Still more than BWD was contributing. Cracking effort from Wright, Clegg and Starke but if the reserves as this bad at home what chance have the Diamonds got.

Looks like snakes don't have a tail anyway. Shocking from the Diamonds. Or are they trying to bankrupt all the opposition by giving their promoters massive away pay days??

well my crystal ball is at the dry cleaners right now so I'm going to struggle to answer that one.

Your predictions are never far off but the Monarchs have a longer tail than a snake, while their newcomers acclimatise. 47-43 if the Diamonds can get themselves 10 points up after heat 12.

I'd say 10 points and finishing in the top 5 in that meeting is fit enough to score points at PL level. He's not been the rider he was for a number of seasons now but could still do a job in the PL. Not a top man but on a par with the majority of PL heat leaders I'd expect. Point is he can throw his leg over a bike and score points in what appears to have been a decent standard field.

Danish SGP and SEC qualifier 14th April Kildemand seemed to do well in a decent field last Thursday. More details in the International section of this forum.

Exactly and that's not going away anytime soon. I know the Diamonds have no other option at Brough but Sunday is a prime day for leisure activity and we're the only team in the top two divisions who operate on a Sunday. Crazy. It's one of the reasons I keep banging on about the standard of the 2nd division reducing so that the majority of riders are UK based and able to race every night of the week. There'll then be the opportunity for more tracks to operate on Sunday or whatever their optimal race day might be. But that won't suit the riders who want to ride 1st and 2nd division over here and whatever league in Poland/Denmark/Sweden etc. Some of them don't even get picked every week by their polish clubs. There's more to it than just a Sunday though as I don't think many riders like the shape of the track and if you've always got the begging bowl out I guess riders will wonder if the club will last the season. Of course one simple way of making No1's available to all this season would have been to restrict each team to one rider over an 8 point average. But that wouldn't suit those more desperate to win than see the sport prosper. Even if the Newcastle promoters find someone suitable to improve the team they'll have them over a barrel when it comes to negotiating terms. Every successful sporting series/league is all about product and brand. Some like Premier League football can do without restrictions as the top teams generate most of the international interest. Most motor sports have to have restrictions in place to make sure their product is competitive and exciting to watch. Sorry Poole fans but nobody outside of Poole is interested in you winning the title. But they might be interested if it was exciting to watch them win it.

Exactly this. Even if Newcastle drop out and Eastbourne replaced them there aren't enough riders to go around. Demand for riders exceeds supply yet the promoters are figurative turkeys voting for Christmas by not creating a structure in which supply of riders exceeds demand. Saving themselves a couple of quid at the same time. Equally the current NDL product isn't of a sufficient standard to attract the required crowd levels and based on this years CL line ups hasn't produced any riders worthy of a CL place. So why would any team want to join it, unless they're genuinely youth speedway enthusiasts. The fact that there are only two stand alone teams backs this up. The conclusion is that the much heralded 3 tier structure doesn't work. The solution? Reduce the standard of the CL so that young riders have an opportunity and career path to progress by learning from more experienced riders. For the transition year the team structure could be defined by categories to ensure there are enough riders to go around and to provide a clear progression path for young riders. Top 4 made up of any combinations of any rider aged over 24 with a previous CL average over 3.50 (not allowed to double up in the PL), any British rider aged 24 and under with a CL average over 3.50 (allowed to double up in the PL) and any Foreign rider aged under 24. The 5th rider would be any British rider with a previous CL average under 3.50 or aged over 24. And the reserves would be any British rider aged 24 and under with no previous CL average. The categories would be reviewed each season so young riders could spend more than one year at reserve but not indefinitely, i.e. after 50 matches at the level you're no longer eligible for a reserve birth from the start of the following season regardless of average. Other young riders will progress through the categories based on performance. The key point is to provide a career path so each young rider has goals to progress while creating new opportunities for the next generation of young riders. Based on 2021 averages and ages Eastbourne could have tracked a team like Newman, Brennan, Kemp, Gilkes, Knight, Ablitt and Foord. Importantly it would be 2nd tier speedway with minimised doubling up so both the PL and CL could operate on their preferred race night with some co-ordination. There would be enough riders to support a 14 team CL without having rider supply exceeding demand. The barriers would be the top 2 or 3 clubs in the current CL not wanting to lower the standard but not wanting to move up to the PL either. And of course the lack of doubling up opportunities for the PL riders other than those U25 British riders. But unless the structure is changed I don't see how the CL can allow new entrants. Without them (or one or more of the existing CL clubs) fielding an under strength team. The buzz of returning to the league will only last so long if the team is constantly being hammered. Plus this should reduce costs which could, dare I say it, be passed on to the paying public in reduced admission at a time when lots of people are struggling with increased costs. There are no salient arguments for continuing as is but that is exactly what will happen.

Well there's a saving right there. Just contact them by phone or Skype. Imagine travelling all the way to Denmark only to find out that Bjarne Pedersen has retired The only hope is that one of the few PL riders who don't double up aren't getting in rides in Poland. Blodorn (doubt he'd be a heat leader), Jorgensen (been there) or Becker (imagine he's active in Poland). Peter Kildemand might be interesting if he returns to Kings Lynn. Presuming he's not riding in Poland as he's got a PL place.

It most likely means there's someone in Glasgow who looks a bit like him.

Having slated the Diamonds elsewhere I think they'll win this one unless Kye Thomson has improved to heat leader level after a good first season. The Monarchs look like a developmental team this season. Even with Harris the Diamonds will probably concede the now traditional 8 points at the back end but Thomson aside the Diamonds top six should have enough to see off the rest of the Monarchs.

Maybe. I think the Butcher and the Painter & Decorator are being taken for a ride. Got to commend these guys for putting their money where their mouth is as I sure wouldn't. But they really should have been looking for assurances that they wouldn't be left in the same situation as last season. Ironically the team they put together for 2020 had way more potential than anything that's been served up since. BSPL seem to have bent the rules for Birmingham to track Pearson maybe they could have done the same for Skorja and Smetana. That said I did put them in contact with a multi national business I work with for what appeared to be an open goal sponsorship deal and nothing came of it. Anyway I hear the catering is fantastic so I'm sure the crowd levels will hold up.

least surprising result in the history of the sport. no point in banging on about signing a number 1 or getting stronger middle order riders in. They don't exist. as I keep saying if the BSPL don't put some thought into making teams more evenly matched this is what will transpire and next season (or even this) there'll only be ten teams in the league and the season after that....maybe less. Plenty of results thus far back this up with plenty of massive home wins. Having said that some of the Diamonds press releases would lead you to think that they are either genuinely clueless or think they can fool the public by putting out a team of this nature. Remember the last signing would take the team right up to the points limit.... whisper 10 years ago.

They won it in September so it was only 3 and a bit months in the pub.

Not enough fixtures for Newcastle and I suspect Birmingham and Newcastle would struggle to attract fans for a perceived 3rd tier league. Is why they binned the Gems last season even though the Diamonds were hopeless. Plus you've reduced the CL to nine teams. It all becomes rather pointless. Realistically I don't think Scunthorpe can compete at CL level, unsure on Berwick (under the limit) . Don't think Redcar or Edinburgh or Plymouth have mega rich owners but seem to be well run clubs and would probably welcome some cost control. Especially if rising inflation means you either increase ticket prices and loose even more supporters or retain prices and loose money. All the evidence is out there. You can ignore it as the promoters seem to be doing or you can do something about it and build a structure that produces a value for money product which doesn't rely on wealthy individuals subsidising it. There's just not that many of them about. As I've posted elsewhere it's not even that big a thrill to win. Most of the remaining supporters would pop a hip out if they celebrated too much. It needs a sustainable structure with affordable pricing to attract a younger audience. Younger riders could play a massive part in that with their use of social media. The base product can still be thrilling if it's competitive and the race track is conducive to great racing but too many times it isn't.

with what teams?

Short sighted in my opinion. Especially if you're looking to attract a new (neutral) audience via streaming. That's why the product needs to be good. Would you pay to watch the Diamonds get humiliated at Glasgow on Friday night? Ultimately if you strangle the life out of the opposition they'll disappear and there'll be even fewer teams. Just look at MotoGP and F1. They place restrictions on teams because they could see the product becoming boring with only a few riders/drivers able to win due to their financial clout. Which lead to some manufacturers leaving the series. You have to look at the wider product. Sport is about jeopardy. And lets face it how much of a thrill is winning a national speedway league? I remember the Diamonds win in 2001 and it was a great night but I didn't spend the rest of the year talking about it in the pub with my mates. It barely made the local news and didn't seem to have a significant impact on crowd levels like it probably did in the 70's. It's the ultimate cheap thrill so why damage the product for the sake of winning something nobody cares about anymore?

Where are these stand alone clubs coming from? Is there Mildenhall and Kent presently. Possibly IoW if they forgive BSPL. Potentially Workington although they might have loftier ambitions. There's only enough clubs at present for two leagues of any integrity. Newcastle should clearly drop into the NL but there just aren't enough fixtures and that's with reserve teams. I agree the young riders need to face and learn from more experienced riders which is why the standard of the 2nd division should become a sustainable hybrid of the CL and NL with current CL 2nd strings become No1's. Those CL clubs who don't want to reduce the standard can join the PL. They employ many PL riders already anyway. Having a sustainable 2nd division would potentially allow more new entrant promotions and teams to allow the sport to grow. At the moment it's starving itself of oxygen by forcing promoters to spend beyond their means.