*JJ

True ... and he is aged 72!

Well, I walked out on to the track on Saturday, and was horrified at its state: like a concrete roadway which had been carpet-bombed. The two best Stoke riders lost the match by falling off when in the lead, but they can't be blamed for that ... the track is to blame, and whoever doesn't get it fixed.

Who is talking rubbish now? These teams should not be composed of NL riders: are there no beginners in the south?

O'Keefe riegularly riding for Buxton. Neither of these teams is really playing the game?

Don't hold your breath ...

Or Kyle Roberts.

Riders who show up well, or even seem likely to, are soon snapped up by EL or PL teams, as we have found out at Birmingham.

Birmingham lost all their assets because the previous EL promotion went bust. The present promotion started from scratch and so has no assets. Eastbourne & Coventry (and Cradley) still have assets.

Zach Wajknecht did it in 2015.

I know you don't like R/R, Brian, but in the case of Roberts, he was signed in a hurry after Hay retired, so you can't blame Birmingham for not forseeing this ocurrence?

He rode one last night: successfully too!

The NL has changed long since, in fact. It is now to a large extent, simply a Third Division.

Yes, yes and yes. He is riding in two DL teams this year, 120 and 210 miles away, which is a pain when there is a track only two miles away!

So why not allow this one, who lives just up the road?

Doesn't treat junior riders very well at all; speaking as one who has tried to get him to allow a local rider to practice at Perry Barr.

Or try Richard Hall again as a temporary signing? According to the Speedway Star he has done 6 matches in the PL with an average of 3.0.

Look red to me

The fixture list for both MDL and SDL are now on the SGB website.

The fixture list for both MDL and SDL are now on the SGB website.

Everything I have seen says 'Devon Demons'. The MDL is certainly NL riders under 4.0; SDL probably the same. Teams are only squad members, squads of six riders. Riders should not ride for other teams, but I don't know how long that will last! I know that some teams are trying to play fair, but some are using NL riders. Riders can be in both Southern and Midland DLs. Brits only.

There are Facebook pages for both MDL and SDL, and also for individual DL teams. Meanwhile, is there a fixture list for MDL yet?

Looked like it - the chain can whip the rider.

Those few who can afford £5,000 for an engine. Most buy second hand (complete) bikes for about £1,000!

It was in his workshop, with material from which he was making suits. Personally, I see no reason to disbelieve him. The 'part nylon' suits are now banned; all race suits have to have a label stating that they conform to modern ACU standards and this is checked by the machine examiner before racing.

Nonsense - riders go enormous distances, paying themselves: no expenses or sponsorship for amateurs. We will be going down to Plymouth for SDL matches this year.