NDL & NDT in 2026

[phillwhitewasmad]

3 hours ago, lucifer sam said:

The sport is enough to drive you mental at times, but kept at it - Luke is too good to quit!

there no discussion on quitting mate its just the anomaly of losing to much money when riding and not riding enough to progress 

[Hawk127]

Agree with Triple H. To get the riders more track time, every track in the country should run at least one meeting for what could an individual NDL championship. Each track to put some of the races on during an interval and the remainder after the main league match has finished. It would take someone better than me to sit down and work out the number of rounds needed based on riders prepared to take part. All the points scored in the qualifying rounds count towards identifying the top sixteen who then take part in a final in late August and preferably on the bank holiday. All riders score revert to zero for the final so everyone has a chance. Just an idea. 

Without doing something how on earth are the next generation of riders going to get the experience needed and the ability to hone their craft. 

Alternatively the bullies at the BSPL/BSPA should cease threatening tracks who would be happy to rent the tracks to NORA registered clubs and let riders participate without fear of threats from the aforementioned bullies. These two organisations cannot have both ways and if they don’t want to be accused of killing off the sport in this country then get off your respective arses and do something positive for the benefit of the sport.

[Dave_minall]

I don't see why a proper 2nd half can't be implemented at tracks that aren't involved in the NDL. 

Put together a little (and more importantly) local team of say 4 riders and have 4 races and a nominated 5th race (similar to a heat 15) - keep it fast and flowing with pushing off the next race immediately after the previous race has finished, it could all be said and done in 10-15 minutes (barring tapes issues, crashes etc)

Have an overlap of riders in the NDL to give them more experience if necessary. 

Everyone gets 2 races each + 4 riders get an extra race.

I understand that there will be a cost to the rider, which is an issue, but if the riders are local (ish) it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[Triple.H.]

21 minutes ago, Marky_Mark said:

Why would those 3 teams just want to do an away meeting? That’s all outgoings and no crowd income

I had the crazy daft idea that the home team would cover the points and travel money at whatever the base rates are supposed to be for the greater good of the sport.

I apologise for being delusional and probably won't post for a while as the padding on the cell interior blocks the signal.

[TMW]

13 minutes ago, Dave_minall said:

I don't see why a proper 2nd half can't be implemented at tracks that aren't involved in the NDL. 

Put together a little (and more importantly) local team of say 4 riders and have 4 races and a nominated 5th race (similar to a heat 15) - keep it fast and flowing with pushing off the next race immediately after the previous race has finished, it could all be said and done in 10-15 minutes (barring tapes issues, crashes etc)

Have an overlap of riders in the NDL to give them more experience if necessary. 

Everyone gets 2 races each + 4 riders get an extra race.

I understand that there will be a cost to the rider, which is an issue, but if the riders are local (ish) it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

It’s not just a case of track time. In this country the sport is a team sport and team craft is just as important as track craft. 2nd halves have increasingly become a problem because you could turn up at a track and the 2nd half gets cancelled  time off work, get the bikes ready travelling to find the 2nd half is treated with complete contempt like the poor relation. 

[Marky_Mark]

49 minutes ago, Triple.H. said:

I had the crazy daft idea that the home team would cover the points and travel money at whatever the base rates are supposed to be for the greater good of the sport.

I apologise for being delusional and probably won't post for a while as the padding on the cell interior blocks the signal.

Nah don’t be silly mate, it’s great to hear as many ideas as possible and yes I guess that would work if the home team covers all costs 👍

Like yourself I’m desperate to see as many teams and fixtures for the young riders as possible, the national league is probably my favourite out of all 3 and I’ve supported it for many years. Absolutely gutting that so many teams have pulled out for the upcoming season.

Over the years I’ve seen the likes of Tai Woffinden, Dan Bewley, Robert Lambert and Tom Brennan all come through this league, people tend to forget that sadly 

Edited yesterday at 05:31 PM by Marky_Mark

[Hawk127]

1 hour ago, TMW said:

It’s not just a case of track time. In this country the sport is a team sport and team craft is just as important as track craft. 2nd halves have increasingly become a problem because you could turn up at a track and the 2nd half gets cancelled  time off work, get the bikes ready travelling to find the 2nd half is treated with complete contempt like the poor relation. 

All it takes is for tracks to start 15 minutes earlier and put some races on during the interval and stop hanging about with riders going out on track as soon as the previous heat is finished. All could find a way to make sure the races take place but many tracks/promoters simply treat the youngsters with contempt. Back in the day with 13 heat meetings and a second half, the first race of the second half always use to be the new talent on the block. Now those in charge bemoan no new talent coming through in abundance but they do not want to do anything to change this and blame everyone but themselves. No wonder the sport is going down the plug hole and soon any rider who makes a serious living out of the sport will desert the UK and it will be left with amateur meetings which might not be such a bad thing.

[IainB]

18 minutes ago, Hawk127 said:

All it takes is for tracks to start 15 minutes earlier and put some races on during the interval and stop hanging about with riders going out on track as soon as the previous heat is finished. All could find a way to make sure the races take place but many tracks/promoters simply treat the youngsters with contempt. Back in the day with 13 heat meetings and a second half, the first race of the second half always use to be the new talent on the block. Now those in charge bemoan no new talent coming through in abundance but they do not want to do anything to change this and blame everyone but themselves. No wonder the sport is going down the plug hole and soon any rider who makes a serious living out of the sport will desert the UK and it will be left with amateur meetings which might not be such a bad thing.

In all my years of attending Speedway prior to the abandonment of the old 2nd half's with rider of the night races etc. I can't recall one ever being abandoned due to lack of time, curfew etc. (No doubt somebody will provide an example) and that was with an interval. So why In 2026 is it suddenly beyond the wit of man to stage 20 heats of Speedway in a 2 and a half hour window?

[TMW]

1 minute ago, IainB said:

In all my years of attending Speedway prior to the abandonment of the old 2nd half's with rider of the night races etc. I can't recall one ever being abandoned due to lack of time, curfew etc. (No doubt somebody will provide an example) and that was with an interval. So why In 2026 is it suddenly beyond the wit of man to stage 20 heats of Speedway in a 2 and a half hour window?

I’m reliably informed meetings used to be run a lot quicker smoother etc.

there weren’t all the stoppages 

[Binman]

4 hours ago, Ben91 said:

British Speedway needs to be developing riders now more than ever. This flies in the face of that. 

I appreciate there are issues surrounding costs for riders, costs for teams in running this level of meeting but that is something the people in charge are and always have been aware of. They should be investing in the future and finding a solution. Investing time and money. 

A short time ago there was an announcement that all clubs would have to do something to help develop riders. To my mind that then didn't happen at all and it was such a wishy washy rule that it was no more than lip service anyway. 

If you want to run a professional club then it should be mandatory to do something to help develop British youth. If you don't there has to be consequences. 

There could even be a league set up of nomadic teams. Supplementing not instead of the National League. Each professional club has to stage 2/3 meetings in this league throughout the season, a condition of being a Championship/Premiership club. These meetings aren't about making money, or drawing fans in, or promoting defunct clubs. They're about developing youth. For the tracks they don't have the cost of running a full third division schedule at a loss, for the riders they are getting lots of competitive track time at a variety of tracks. Everyone should do their bit. 

There was a league of nomadic teams they scrapped it Reading to name one

[Hawk127]

1 hour ago, IainB said:

In all my years of attending Speedway prior to the abandonment of the old 2nd half's with rider of the night races etc. I can't recall one ever being abandoned due to lack of time, curfew etc. (No doubt somebody will provide an example) and that was with an interval. So why In 2026 is it suddenly beyond the wit of man to stage 20 heats of Speedway in a 2 and a half hour window?

I totally agree. It is just the apathy by those who promote/run meetings who pay scant regard for the up and coming riders. I really have never fathomed out why they ignore the novices who have invested in machinery and equipment only to be told to get lost because it does not suit those who run meetings. Over the years I have seen far too many riders turn up for a second half outing only to be told they cannot race and that is a disgrace. Why anyone would want to continue attend meetings when those in charge treat supporters and these novices with such contempt.

[*JJ]

9 hours ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

No not at all but if a rider on a 10 point average is losing money riding and a days wage on top of it then it becomes massively unviable can you imagine the losses a 3 pointer is incurring

Yes: I used to buy tyres, and other items, for a rider starting out in speedway, and drive him about using my own diesel. They have got to serve their appenticeship first.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

12 hours ago, Marky_Mark said:

So many complain about not enough British riders coming through but then expect the youngsters to get into the sport making huge losses for the privilege?

 

 

Imagine if the sport was motox not speedway, how much do you get paid for that ?I more than most in this sport know all about costs, time and everything else that goes with riding in the national league, I’ve ridden more meetings in the national/anatuer/conference league than any other rider ever,over the years I posted on here and numerous platforms how the league should be run, what riders should be in it, the maximum they should earn, how riders can actually make money at this level or at least break even and just about every other aspect of the 3rd tier but it always fell on deaf ears 

Edited 19 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Richspeedway]

It is depressing to see only six teams now at this level in the league. Like said in previous posts this league is to nurture the next generation and talent. There are not enough riders in the UK and there are many reasons for this but with the NDL and the Midlands/North leagues that have ran in the past it is giving youngsters that opportunity to get into the sport

Like other posts have said I cannot see why all teams cannot at least run a second half type meeting after the main meeting if they do not want to run a full time team at this level as again it will give youngsters a chance and most teams would be able to run a short meet after the main if they cut out all the time wasted 

[secsy1]

As per statement on British Speedway website:-

All NDL regulations are subject to SCB approval.

As part of the British Development regulations, all clubs not competing in the National Development League must participate in at least one of the following alternatives during the season: National League Riders Development Individual, Midland Development League, Northern Junior League, Second Half Open Invitation or a standalone British Youth Championship Round.

Now I wonder when such previous like statements have been made and not adhered to?

 

 

[TMW]

43 minutes ago, secsy1 said:

As per statement on British Speedway website:-

All NDL regulations are subject to SCB approval.

As part of the British Development regulations, all clubs not competing in the National Development League must participate in at least one of the following alternatives during the season: National League Riders Development Individual, Midland Development League, Northern Junior League, Second Half Open Invitation or a standalone British Youth Championship Round.

Now I wonder when such previous like statements have been made and not adhered to?

 

 

Yes ! That was my thought to. They should do a 2025 Development report /review of what each club did to meet their obligations 

Edited 8 hours ago by TMW

[Sings4Speedway]

Lets face it filling 6 teams competitively is going to be a struggle. There were development leagues (below NL) flourishing and full of riders driving all round the country to ride 2nd halves for at best a drop of fuel. Competition was fierce and it was a breeding ground for NL reserves and many many big names have passed through. All this despite being treated with contempt by many clubs and countless fixtures cancelled due to curfew or other daft reasons.

However more and more blocks were put in the way of the volunteers running these sides that eventually one by one the either gave up or were pushed out. Then the assault on the amateur meetings started, then Nora and it will continue until there is nothing left.

The horse has bolted, the numbers in the youth rounds reflect that, the opportunities to have a reset have been fumbled with terrible silencers, Gerhard engines and rev limiters. Enjoy whats left because its not coming back.

[Dave_minall]

18 hours ago, TMW said:

It’s not just a case of track time. In this country the sport is a team sport and team craft is just as important as track craft. 2nd halves have increasingly become a problem because you could turn up at a track and the 2nd half gets cancelled  time off work, get the bikes ready travelling to find the 2nd half is treated with complete contempt like the poor relation. 

You're bang on with this I'll say that.

I rode myself in the early 2000s and would often be in the pits at Wolverhampton for the 2nd half racing - it was 50/50 whether Derek Bodley would allow us to race after the meeting. Me and my dad now have an in joke whenever we watch speedway and quote Derek on the regular when a meeting is dragging on - "no 2nd half tonight lads" would be his phrase of choice.

It wasn't so bad for us as we lived 20 minutes away, but my dad would have to knock off work an hour early to get us there on time so I do understand it's not easy.

[Fortythirtyeight]

On 1/21/2026 at 8:46 AM, Sings4Speedway said:

Steelers were generated purely to boost the numbers, Sheffield lost interest quickly and more so with new ownership. Scunthorpe won't want to take on the project to run at a continual loss. 

Redcar was a more optimistic venture given there were plenty of club links and breeding ground for potential CL reserves but from all ive heard its been poorly received by fans and attendances have been challenging.

I would be delighted to see both sides take their place in the NL next season but even one would be a bonus.

Redcar…..you heard wrong. When they did actually ride on the proper race night they got a very good crowd but running at different times ( 6pm, 3pm , 12 noon ! ) on different days did affect the crowd, but it was still decent for NDL.

Edited 23 minutes ago by Fortythirtyeight