NDL & NDT in 2026

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

13 minutes ago, Neila said:

This league would be a good way back for Ashton, could find out if he would enjoy speedway without too much pressure, then would gain confidence, then could maybe get a guest booking in a higher league if things were going ok. The only drawback would be limited number of fixtures, and that goes for all the young kids, the likes of Lambert imo should not be in this league 

Ashton doesn’t lack confidence or talent, he has some sort of mental block around other riders and until he gets over that problem he is best away from any form of motorsport, it will end up him or someone else getting hurt, his crash with Zack Cook at Poole when for no reason he shut off going into first corner and getting hit from behind by Cook was a prime example of the issue 

Edited 1 hour ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Preston Comet]

21 minutes ago, Neila said:

This league would be a good way back for Ashton, could find out if he would enjoy speedway without too much pressure, then would gain confidence, then could maybe get a guest booking in a higher league if things were going ok. The only drawback would be limited number of fixtures, and that goes for all the young kids, the likes of Lambert imo should not be in this league 

I think my above post re. Jake Mulford also applies to Lambert, Neil

[IainB]

18 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Ashton doesn’t lack confidence or talent, he has some sort of mental block around other riders and until he gets over that problem he is best away from any form of motorsport, it will end up him or someone else getting hurt, his crash with Zack Cook at Poole when for no reason he shut off going into first corner and getting hit from behind by Cook was a prime example of the issue 

I think I'm right in saying that he's not had the speedway "education" that many of his contemporaries have had having only started Speedway at 15 years of age, many of the others have had around 10 years in the sport at that age and experienced many first bends at differing levels of the sport, Ashton had none and was fast tracked far too early for somebody with such little experience of Speedway.

Edited 1 hour ago by IainB

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

7 minutes ago, IainB said:

I think I'm right in saying that he's not had the speedway "education" that many of his contemporaries have had having only started Speedway at 15 years of age, many of the others have had around 10 years in the sport at that age and experienced many first bends at differing levels of the sport, Ashton had none and was fast tracked far too early for somebody with such little experience of Speedway.

Ashton is a natural on a speedway bike, he has that natural talent that so few have but he has a mental block around riders, a rider that lacks experience or talent will not pin it on the fence for 4 laps beating the opposite NO1 looking like a world beater and then the next race shut off for no reason, he did it do many times before he retired, a psychiatrist may be able to sort his problem out but racing with that mental block is good for nobody 

[IainB]

4 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Ashton is a natural on a speedway bike, he has that natural talent that so few have but he has a mental block around riders, a rider that lacks experience or talent will not pin it on the fence for 4 laps beating the opposite NO1 looking like a world beater and then the next race shut off for no reason, he did it do many times before he retired, a psychiatrist may be able to sort his problem out but racing with that mental block is good for nobody 

I think he still has a lot to offer and the best place for him to learn and gain this Speedway experience is an extended spell, 2 or 3 years, in the NDL imo, I don't think him seeing a shrink to talk him into how to be aggressive in a first bend will make any difference at all. 

[Bagpuss]

3 hours ago, Mr Blobby said:

Assuming former premiership rider and long track world champion isn’t enough of a spearhead. 

I accept what you're saying but with all due respect there won't be a huge amount below those two by the sound of it and it needs to be competitive, your team sounds like the one to beat and I'm sure you wouldn't want teams coming and getting steameollered.

I would much rather a team like we had last year but it is what it is.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

16 minutes ago, IainB said:

I don't think him seeing a shrink to talk him into how to be aggressive in a first bend will make any difference at all. 

Then you don’t understand how psychology works in sport, it is now massive in top level sport, especially sports like speedway that requires ridiculous mental strength 

[IainB]

4 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Then you don’t understand how psychology works in sport, it is now massive in top level sport, especially sports like speedway that requires ridiculous mental strength 

I do understand psychology but you can't just go to a psychologist and become a Speedway rider, you've got to gain experience, something Boughen just doesn't have and he was/is a king way off top level. 

Edited 48 minutes ago by IainB

[Ben91]

11 hours ago, Fortythirtyeight said:

and now we have riders like Mulford who were ruled out of NDL because of averages being allowed back in  ( not his fault by the way as he doesn’t appear to have a premiership slot anymore ). How many more championship second strings are going to be taking the place of newbies ?

I have no problem with Mulford being at this level I have to say. He's probably too good though. I'd have less of a problem with it if there were more teams. He's still a developing rider after all. He's a victim of circumstance, has spent time as a cost cutting measure, sorry I mean rising star in the Premiership and now nobody at that level wants him it would be unfair for him to be punished by being ruled out of the third tier.

Similarly if there are British riders unattached at a higher level who fit the average criteria I welcome them. That higher standard of opponent and level of professionalism they hopefully bring should help team mates and opponents. Simon Lambert is an example being mooted. If he signs for Kings Lynn then that's only acceptable if they are his one club. In a development league with such a small number of teams those sides shouldn't be having to draft in big guns to get near the points limit. It sounds as if that's why Lambert will be at Lynn so questions have to be asked about why the rules put in place have left them needing to make that move. 

Given the apathy shown by many "professional" sides to the third tier I hope that isn't the case because Lynn are one of the few who are actually proactively trying to develop young riders by putting out a NDL side. If they're then shafted by the points limit that beggars belief. 

Given what has happened over the last 10/15 years with the average conversion rate and doubling up free-for-all between the top two leagues there's a bigger gap than ever between the third and the second tiers now. The answer is probably changes at the top and the bottom of the tree with the middle then falling into a natural order. There needs to be defined quality levels and a pathway from the bottom league to the top. That suggestion of course would be popular with nobody. Self interest rules this sport even when it comes in the guise of repeatedly shooting itself in the foot. 

(Bit of a tangent there, apologies @Fortythirtyeight not aimed at you or your post. Plenty of general speculation on my part beyond the initial paragraph!)