PhilK

A points deduction from next year is totally unneccessary and a daft suggestion! It really is quite simple, if Bates was not in the declared line up then his points should be deducted and the score becomes 51-33 to Mildenhall.I would be more dissapointed if Bates is stopped from returning to the Mildenhall line up for the rest of the season as even the most biased fan cannot say that would be good for speedway, denying an exciting young 16 year old the chance to return after injury?

Wow didn't see that coming! Dudley look to have thrown lots of points away according to the updates, but if you don't finish you don't score! Certainly not over as Dudley are more than capable of winning at Stoke, but they look like they need to regroup quickly. A real pity for them that Adam Roynon wasn't fit to return. Congratulations to my old mate Malcolm Vasey and his team for keeping it to one point.

Firstly best wishes to Byron Bekker after a horrible looking fall, lets hope it is not as serious as at first seemed. Also best wishes to Lewis Blackbird, Mildenhall have certainly had more than their share of injuries this season with Stoneman, Bates (twice), Blackbird (twice), Jacobs and Baseby all suffering this season. But still we battle on, and today was a brilliant performance from the six riders. Bates back from injury hit the ground running with a superb last to first ride in heat 2, and only 1.5 seconds outside Adam Roynons track record. Reserve partner Terry-Daley stepped up on previous performances scoring in each ride and lifting the roof with his paid win in heat 14! Jacobs and Halsey consistent as ever and each one stopping a Dudley TR from Haines and Perry respectively. Nielsen who would have only dropped one point today had he not shed a chain in heat 13, how this lad keeps bouncing back is incredible, as well as skill he has the courage to go with it! And finally Jason Garrity, who is fast becoming a Mildenhall legend!! I have never seen a guest who gives so much for the side he represents both on and off the track, a true team man and one of the most exciting riders around to watch. Dudley were weakened of course by Bekkers withdrawal, this is when R/R can come back and bite you, both reserves had to take seven rides and whilst Ritchings was always in the mix, White-Williams was poor. 28 points is a big lead of course, but after last years two Play off finals I certainly won't be celebrating anything yet!

Line ups - Mildenhall 1. Jason Garrity (g) 2. R/R 3. Joe Jacobs 4. Dan Halsey © 5. Stefan Nielsen 6. Ryan Terry-Daley 7. Josh Bates Dudley 1. Joe Haines 2. R/R 3. Byron Bekker © 4. Dan Greenwood 5. Tom Perry 6. Darryl Ritchings 7. James White-Williams

Thats not good to hear, what sort of numbers are we talking about at Stoke? Went to see Mildenhall there in the Play Offs and KOC Final at the end of last season and there looked to be around 600-700 possibly a few more, but haven't bothered to go there this season yet.

Jason Garrity guests for Mildenhall in both meetings on Sunday and on the Island next Tuesday.

Mildenhall will be holding a double header meeting this coming sunday for the price of a single meeting! Starting at the earlier time of 3.30pm Mildenhall will ride the 1st leg of the PO Semi Final against the Isle of Wight. Following the completion of this fixture we will ride the National Trophy match against the same opposition. 30 heats of speedway for the price of 15, has to be a bargain!!

Fantasic post Kev, but fear it will fall on deaf ears. Sadly there is little ever posted on the NL thread of the BSF now, I wonder why?

Really If you extended as Vog has said, Stoke may not even qualify, it could be the IoW and Rye House that go through. If you are going to extend do it so all meetings are run!! Not just the ones that suit certain teams needs

Kerr put in a couple of really good rides today Baggy, heat 15 and when on a TR. On his low average I would think a number of sides will be interested in his services in 2013. It is a real shame that he has had so few meetings to date with the Young Stars as at the start of the season he looked to me one of the riders most likely to break into the PL.

Congratulations to the Fen Tigers, never in doubt tonight with Stoke needing both TR's at home!! 11 heat winners too for the Fen Tigers! If there is a faster improving rider in the NL than Stefan Nielsen I haven't seen him, Should be a cracking and close final against Dudley, bring it on.

As a long time follower of 3rd tier speedway, it is very sad to read Jaynes post, I sincerely hope something can be done to keep that important outpost of speedway Buxton continuing. Personally I would expect the other seven teams to line up, plus maybe one or two newbies hopefully. Ideally 10 to 12 teams would be excellent as it would negate the need for the likes of the National Trophy which always feels like a fixture filler to me.

He would be over the moon to see you at The Rec i'm sure, and anyone else who fancies a visit Footballs not great but good bar especially when theres a treat from the Brandon Brewery on tap

Are you sure mate :wink:

Mildenhall Press Release: Mildenhall Fen Tigers have snapped up former Stoke rider Gareth Isherwood to fill their Number Seven berth left vacant after injuries to Josh Bates and then his replacement Aaron Baseby. The 23-year-old Mancunian hasn't ridden this year after damaging his back in a fall, ironically when he was riding for Stoke at Mildenhall last season. But now fully fit, he has been practising at Loomer Road and is ready to get going again. "The main thing is Gareth is keen to race and be part of a team," said Mildenhall co-promoter Michael Lee. "His average fits, so to start with he'll ride in three meetings against Stoke in the Cup on Saturday, then at our place against Buxton in the Trophy, and also against the Isle of Wight again in the Trophy. By then we'll know if Josh is fit to ride again. Gareth knows that and has told me that he is determined to prove his worth. I can't ask for anymore than that." Hopes are now high that Bates will recover earlier than expected from his broken arm and could be ready to return in a fortnight. Lee continued, "I know rumours have started that we won't be able to re-declare Josh in the team if he is ready, but we have checked with the authorities who have assured us that we can." Number One Cameron Heeps will still be missing this weekend. He was expected to be in the line-up for the Cup semi-final at Stoke, but he has now been ruled out of any return this weekend, according to Lee: "He is now seeing a specialist next Monday and we'll have a much better idea of whether he'll be fit for the Trophy match against the Isle of Wight. But whatever happens, I am confident that Cam and Josh will be ready for the Play-Offs which is great news and means we will be at full strength." The Trophy match against the Isle of Wight has been brought forward a week and now takes place on Sunday 23rd September at West Row (4.30pm). The 30th September has now been pencilled in for the home leg of the play-off semi-final.

All Mildenhall have in fact done is replace Josh Bates who is injured with a rider on a lower average in Aaron Baseby. He is a club asset and the obvious choice. I doubt this has been done to ensure victory at Buxton, more likely to maintain our hopes in the KOC and League Play Offs.

From the Official Mildenhall website - Baseby Returns To Fen Tigers Tuesday, 04 September 2012 20:13 | Fans' favourite Aaron Baseby is returning to the Mildenhall Fen Tigers on a full time basis. The club asset, who was left out of this year's starting line-up as his average was too high, has been riding for the Isle of Wight. He returns to West Row to replace Josh Bates, who has been ruled out for at least a month after breaking his arm. A delighted co-promoter Michael Lee said. "I made no secret of the fact I was gutted when we couldn't fit Aaron in at the start of the season. We agreed he could join the Isle of Wight on condition that if we needed to recall him we could. I think everyone was aware that, as we were getting into the business end of the season, because of injuries we needed to strengthen our lower order. "Aaron was over the moon at the thought of coming back full-time and I can't praise the Islanders management highly enough for letting him return with their blessing." Baseby, who has already guested for his parent club this year, will make his full return in Saturday's league match at Stoke, forming a new reserve pairing with Ryan Terry-Daley. Joe Graver will revert to Number 8, in Mildenhall's re-declared line-up. Although Number 1 Cameron Heeps will still be missing this weekend, he is expected to return when the Fen Tigers revisit Loomer Road for their second leg of their Knock-Out Cup semi-final on Saturday week (15th September). Lee continued, "Cam is having some x-rays later this week and we are confident that he will be given the all clear to ride again in time for the semi-final, which is obviously a vital match for us, where we need to be as strong as possible. We'll use a guest for him at Stoke and the rider replacement at Buxton on Sunday. "It's difficult to tell when Josh might be fit again. He has done brilliantly this year but has had some big knocks too, so we are determined to make sure he gets fully fit and doesn't rush back." Meanwhile it's been confirmed that Cameron Heeps, Stefan Nielsen, and Joe Jacobs are in the line-up for the National League Riders Championship at Rye House at the end of the month (29th September). Lee added, "It's great that we have three riders taking part and any one of them has a great chance of winning."

Lovely turn of phrase Kev Good win and win for Scunthorpe, and certainly adds spice to the Stoke v Mildenhall fixture this coming Saturday

The original line up was given in error Neil. The correct one is in fact Mildenhall 1. Aaron Baseby 2. R/R 3. Joe Jacobs 4. Daniel Halsey 5. Stefan Nielsen 6. Ryan Terry Daley 7. TBC As you say R/R at 2 is a better option than at 5.

Bates has broken his arm unfortunately, whilst Blackbird will miss this weekends meetings

Final league meeting at home for the Fen Tigers. Play Off place long secured - line ups as follows Mildenhall 1. Aaron Baseby 2. Joe Jacobs 3. Stefan Nielsen 4. Daniel Halsey 5. R/R 6. Ryan Terry Daley 7. TBC Kings Lynn 1. Lewis Kerr 2. R/R 3. Scott Campos 4. Tom Stokes 5. Brendan Johnson 6. Lewis Rose 7. Jake Knight Could be a closer meeting than many would expect, Mildenhall by 8-10 i'd say.

Line ups Isle of Wight 1. Danny Warwick 2. Ben Hopwood 3. Steven Jones 4. Aaron Baseby 5. R / R 6. Dan Stoneman 7. Paul Starke Mildenhall 1. Ben Morley (G) 2. Joe Jacobs 3. Stefan Nielsen 4. Dan Halsey 5. R / R 6. Ryan Terry-Daley 7. Ross Walter (G) Looks a difficult one for the Fen Tigers.

Maybe I am HT? If it does end up a Dudley v Mildenhall final in the League and Cup, and I say if as Stoke and whoever finish fourth in the league will have plenty to say about that, they will certainly be cracking meetings. If Nathan Stoneman hadn't been injured I would have said we are the best side in the League. Nathan looked on his way to becoming the best new rider in 2012 before sadly injury curtailed what was turning out to be an excellent first season. Bates too is a fine prospect but I stand by what I say about the reserves but will be happy to be proved wrong. As a top five contest it is very close - Roynon, Morris, Perry, Bekker and Ritchings versus Heeps, Nielsen, Blackbird, Jacobs and Halsey!! Not alot between them but you may be right there. Whatever lets hope all the riders mentioned stay fit and injury free and we have a conclusion to the 2012 season as good as the end of the 2011 one!

D Agree with that Neil, would add Dudley look stronger at reserve at the moment as well imho

Wright will prove a good guest for sure Neil, has been impressive on his two visits to West Row this season. Just hope Blackbird is ok following the afternoon meeting, wouldn't want him needing to have seven rides for Leicester then have to race up to West Row for another possible six rides! Even worse if he has a crash or bike problems! Personally would have looked for a guest . That said as shown in our four victories at the end of last season and the 4's victory last night we have riders who go really well at Stoke, so I'd think a lead of 10-12 will be plenty .