Aries

So the second under 21 rider also has to be at reserve?

Is this on the back of what “Floppy” has said on Facebook? I don’t agree with him. Clubs have to be self sufficient. If and when Eastbourne and others return, they’ll also have to be self sufficient. It’s one thing helping clubs get back up and running, it’s another to keeping financing them. If the BSPL put the money in to Plymouth instead of whatever they are currently trying to do, then that opens a huge can of worms. In 12 months time, as if by magic you’ll suddenly see two or three others clubs suddenly need financial help for their air fence. I’m sorry but this is all on Plymouth. They should have known their air fence needed replacing and should have been fundraising earlier than the end of the season.

King has already signed so that “cheat code” for Brennan just levels that out IF he re-signs for Ipswich which I hope he does.

He knows that all too well the bloke is an absolute knobhead.

The U21 thing I found a bit confusing also. He said we’re already “half way there” because we already have a rising star scheme. Those rising stars now have to be under 21 riders. He goes on to explain about the 25% rule which will still be active. Cooper Rushen won’t get it because he chose to opt out of the scheme this year and ride at 6, but the likes of Edwards and Joe Thompson will do. The confusing part was William Cairns. “Will Cairns also gets 25% off his average, as he comes out of the rising star scheme” Why is Cairns out of the R/S scheme? He obviously fits the U21 criteria, and he has a GSA of 3.77. The only thing that makes any sense is that Morris knows like Rushen this year, he’s now opted out and is lining up as someone’s other U21 rider at number 6 on a 3.00 average 🤷🏼‍♂️ He goes on to say new riders are added to the list including Ace Pijper and Vinnie Foord. Theres going to be such a huge disparity in ability between the top end of teams and the bottom unfortunately. Some clubs are going to have to pick up a rising star that’s going to be out of their depth. Not sure on this to be honest.

Having just read Phil Morris’ interview in the Speedway Star, has he accidentally given away that we’ll have a 7 team League next season rather than 6? Morris admits Britain needs two race days. He said: "The reason Britain has two slot days is because we do a hell of a lot more fixtures per team than Sweden, Denmark and Poland. They all do 14 meetings. We do 24 per team. There's the difference straight away. "We also have progression in a cup competition and league play-offs. Riders could do six extra meetings across both, so it rises to a possible 30. In Poland, the most they could have is 18 if they made the play-off final." He’s used 24 meetings as the base minimum presumably for League meetings, we had 20 this year. 24 League meetings is obviously home and away twice in a 7 team league. Who’s team number 7? Is it Eastbourne, or have they got someone to move up..

Witches target new number one IPSWICH chairman Richard Coleman has his sights set on bringing a stellar No. 1 to Foxhall for 2027. The Tru7 Group Witches only confirmed their entry into this year's ROWE Motor Oil Premiership on March 1, meaning their team-building options were limited, with riders signing elsewhere or committing to other European leagues by this point. The 2025 champions opted for a strength-in-depth side, which saw British racers Tom Brennan and later Richard Lawson take on the No. 1 position. While both gave their all in a testing role, Coleman is keen to bring an international big-hitter to Suffolk for 2027 as Witches bid to regain the Premiership trophy. He said: "I think it's super-important. If you look at any side, you need to try and win all your home meetings and pick up what you can on the road. That's where a No. 1 can make a big difference. They can get those big scores when you are away. "Tom came back from an injury. Asking him to be a No. 1 was probably a little unfair on him. He planned to be doing a lot more riding than he did in Poland and Sweden. When you are out of nick, you need to be on your bike and Tom didn't get enough seat time when he needed it. "We didn't have the luxury of choice regarding a No. 1 rider last winter. But for 2027, we have no excuses." Coleman is unable to reveal any names of his targets at this stage but hopes to have some news in a few weeks. He said: "I can't say too much at the moment. We have two riders confirmed and we have contracts out with three others. Then we have dialogue ongoing over the other positions. "At the moment, I'm confident we can put out a good side. Nothing is done until it is done. We have had a mixture of conversations that will come to light after the AGM and the end-of-season dinner on November 6."

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Changes to 6 man teams from next year.

Piece in this weeks Star with Phil Morris on the international rule changes and how that will affect British Leagues so that’ll be an interesting read.

It’s the way it works I’m afraid and I do agree. As a fan, do you want your club to win things or not? It’s that simple. Musielak and King make poor signings because of their GSA. Brennan has had an absolute stinker of a season but should be the first name on the team sheet. The perverse way Speedway works.

Phil has said Lidsey is staying with Northampton. They’ll be the team to beat whatever anyone else puts together.

Kurtz Brennan Z Cook B Cook Bewley Don’t think that’s a million miles off

Me too bloody hell. On that average I thought he’d be certain to return to Belle Vue. Maybe he was a bit miffed at being ousted this year? Who knows but nice to see someone sticking to Northampton and showing a bit of loyalty. He’s obviously happy and enjoyed his season there.

Mafs ain’t maffing for me there Phil! Six team league once home and away is five home league fixtures. If you’re having one home meeting every fortnight then that’s one hell of a short season!

I guess so. Forget the heatleaders next year, you could find the title being won and lost at reserve. There’ll be one or two who’ll look ridiculously strong, and others who’ll be badly exposed.

Has the right name at least! 😁 Still have a hunch that Brennan could be an Ace as well.

Heard we’re in the mix for Cairns too. Coleman mentioned the financial issue of the reserves because naturally “we’ll all want the best ones”. With one having to be British, there is a very small pool of them actually good enough so the obvious four will be sought after. The sensible thing to do would be for all the promoters during their numerous meetings, agreeing a cap for the under 21 riders and nobody can go over it. Let as many clubs who want to meet that ceiling do so, and then let the riders choose where they want to go. I’ve heard some of the figures being offered to these youngsters are “eye watering” and above and beyond where they currently stand in the game but that was always going to be an issue.

I can tell you now that Woryna was the one they really wanted and were trying hard to get a deal done for him so a bit disappointed if it’s the case that they couldn’t get that over the line. Tobi less so, sorry Tobi. He’s maxed out his average as has King and I’m pretty sure that King will be in the side so it wouldn’t be good having Tobi and King as two of our three heatleaders.

Does it? From where?

Well he didn’t Phil come on mate we all read the tweet

Exactly this. We weren’t even told the date of the AGM in the first place. Ironically, that was pretty much leaked by Plymouth as well due to them publicly asking for financial help to raise funds by the 3rd of November!! This isn’t new either. We have to find snippets on here every winter of when the AGM is taking place, it’s shouldn’t be the case. As you rightly say, is it that difficult for the BSPL to name a date for the AGM, and then inform the very people who keep the sport in this country running, about delays and the reasons behind it? I’m not talking about a daily commentary here and release all details as we all understand negotiations can be delicate and confidential, but a simple “The annual AGM has been delayed to a later date whilst we negotiate a TV deal and/or attempt to bring another club in to the Premiership. More clarification will come in due course” That shouldn’t be difficult.

Exactly this. We weren’t even told the date of the AGM in the first place. Ironically, that was pretty much leaked by Plymouth as well due to them publicly asking for financial help to raise funds by the 3rd of November!! This isn’t new either. We have to find snippets on here every winter of when the AGM is taking place, it’s shouldn’t be the case. As you rightly say, is it that difficult for the BSPL to name a date for the AGM, and then inform the very people who keep the sport in this country running, about delays and the reasons behind it? I’m not talking about a daily commentary here and release all details as we all understand negotiations can be delicate and confidential, but a simple “The annual AGM has been delayed to a later date whilst we negotiate a TV deal and/or attempt to bring another club in to the Premiership. More clarification will come in due course” That shouldn’t be difficult.

Told you earlier this summer that wasn’t happening. Coleman immediately dismissed that idea and didn’t seem the least bit interested in bringing him to Ipswich. He knew full well he doesn’t ride Foxhall well. I’d be extremely wary of those Polish articles in general though. Didn’t one of them last winter also say Lambert was riding in Britain this year?