Northampton 2026

[GeneralMelchett]

45 minutes ago, kevin bass said:

It just proves the point that the aint enough out and out Number 1's  available who want to ride over here no more for a full season, its no different to last season with what Birmingham put out as a team, there's enough Number 1's/ Heat Leaders for 4 or 5 teams but not for 6 teams and for them all to be competitive wk in wk out.

Agreed and the one that was signed be the No1 isn’t maintaining the expectation! 

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, GeneralMelchett said:

Agreed and the one that was signed be the No1 isn’t maintaining the expectation! 

To be fair General as we all know he's really a number 3 ranked heat leader , they have done the best they could with the scraps but having three riders in a team who may or may not fancy it you are on a hiding to nothing , plus they have Zagar looking a shadow of his former self. Credit to Niels , Harrison and especially Thomsen who has exceeded all expectations.

They will never get him but as I've banged on someone like Anders Thompson a rider who will put in a shift week in week out would be enough to enable them to win at home most weeks and a better reserve to replace Batch, you might then just be able to carry Klindt and Lidsey.

[GeneralMelchett]

1 hour ago, YeOldPitGate said:

To be fair General as we all know he's really a number 3 ranked heat leader , they have done the best they could with the scraps but having three riders in a team who may or may not fancy it you are on a hiding to nothing , plus they have Zagar looking a shadow of his former self. Credit to Niels , Harrison and especially Thomsen who has exceeded all expectations.

They will never get him but as I've banged on someone like Anders Thompson a rider who will put in a shift week in week out would be enough to enable them to win at home most weeks and a better reserve to replace Batch, you might then just be able to carry Klindt and Lidsey.

Completely fair and no disagreement from me - Lidsey is a bit like Brennan at Ipswich you felt they had the chance to step up and so far they haven't made it! Hopefully both will. You would likely keep Lidsey on potential tho as you feel he will get back to where we think he can get / be. I did expect more than 4 from him however.

 

Edited Wednesday at 08:51 PM by GeneralMelchett

[Triple.H.]

On 7/3/2026 at 5:50 AM, CTRSports said:

Anyone got any idea what average Batch is on in both championship and premiership?

If only there was something, it could be called something like the Internet, where you could ask questions while using the Internet instead of looking them up yourself.

Edited Thursday at 06:52 AM by Triple.H.

[the hobbit]

4.59 in the prem, down from starting average of 4.73 

7.32 in the championship , up from starting average of 7.1

Edited Wednesday at 11:03 PM by the hobbit

[paulnolan]

21 hours ago, GeneralMelchett said:

That in reality is all part of the ebb and flow of a season - most riders drop a bit of form at some point sometimes people lose patience quickly - as the saying goes change for changes sake isn't usually worth it - lack of form usually corrects.

 

Yes and no. Riders losing form is part of normal business but 1 win and 2 draws from 16 meetings certainly isn't. It's double frustrating because everything else seems to be done well but the team has been allowed to drag. It's not too late - a late season signing can at least make the table look respectable and give fans something to cheer but I'm guessing they're happy to limp and cry "first season!"

[Whitelinehugger]

Just now, paulnolan said:

Yes and no. Riders losing form is part of normal business but 1 win and 2 draws from 16 meetings certainly isn't. It's double frustrating because everything else seems to be done well but the team has been allowed to drag. It's not too late - a late season signing can at least make the table look respectable and give fans something to cheer but I'm guessing they're happy to limp and cry "first season!"

Apart from Belle Vue away. The team has had close respectable results they are so near to winning it’s been frustrating at times.

[GeneralMelchett]

1 hour ago, paulnolan said:

Yes and no. Riders losing form is part of normal business but 1 win and 2 draws from 16 meetings certainly isn't. It's double frustrating because everything else seems to be done well but the team has been allowed to drag. It's not too late - a late season signing can at least make the table look respectable and give fans something to cheer but I'm guessing they're happy to limp and cry "first season!"

Who would be a promoter eh? Afterall we all know what we think we might or should do - but of course most plans don’t survive first contact or in a speedway sense everything works until the tapes go up! 
 

 

 

[Grumpyloser]

A few weeks ago, i gave Batch some clog on here.

So to be fair, giving credit where credit is due, he had a good meeting Monday & seemed to be making a real effort. No more issues with bike?

BUT! Dispite beating Holder & running Rowe all the way to the line, i feel he let the winning point slip in Ht14.

Letting Flint (not a bad rider, but not scored a bean until then) catch him on the line was, in my view, poor riding.

However, NKI coming in 3rd was also poor.

Giving Batch & NKI benefit of the doubt in Ht15. Pickering seemed to be riding better lines & had more mph in his engine.

Disappointing the scoring from Klindt, Lidsey & Zagar. That's 2 home meetings on the trot that NK hasn't stepped up!!

Lastly, have to say that was the best RACING so far, the passing & re-passing was very entertaining. Long may it continue.

[mikebv]

9 hours ago, paulnolan said:

Yes and no. Riders losing form is part of normal business but 1 win and 2 draws from 16 meetings certainly isn't. It's double frustrating because everything else seems to be done well but the team has been allowed to drag. It's not too late - a late season signing can at least make the table look respectable and give fans something to cheer but I'm guessing they're happy to limp and cry "first season!"

In the Richard Coleman YT interview he mentioned how difficult it had been for Mark Lemon to put a team together...

Quite an incredible scenario in reality isn't it?...😁

Sometimes, the lack of outside media interest, and therefore scrutiny, isn't the worst thing in the world...😁

[paulnolan]

I'm sure Lemon tried really hard 😀

[YeOldPitGate]

18 hours ago, Grumpyloser said:

A few weeks ago, i gave Batch some clog on here.

So to be fair, giving credit where credit is due, he had a good meeting Monday & seemed to be making a real effort. No more issues with bike?

BUT! Dispite beating Holder & running Rowe all the way to the line, i feel he let the winning point slip in Ht14.

Letting Flint (not a bad rider, but not scored a bean until then) catch him on the line was, in my view, poor riding.

However, NKI coming in 3rd was also poor.

Giving Batch & NKI benefit of the doubt in Ht15. Pickering seemed to be riding better lines & had more mph in his engine.

Disappointing the scoring from Klindt, Lidsey & Zagar. That's 2 home meetings on the trot that NK hasn't stepped up!!

Lastly, have to say that was the best RACING so far, the passing & re-passing was very entertaining. Long may it continue.

Lets hope some money is found to get a half decent top liner as it does seem support is there and by all counts with a bit more work the track could be really good maybe the legendary extra support that was promised for them will turn up.

Maybe Harry will announce the long awaited  seven figure sponsorship deal with Linda in tow waving the used McDonalds bag around with all the teams names in it.

[ouch]

2 hours ago, paulnolan said:

I'm sure Lemon tried really hard 😀

Whoever does it next has an even harder task as the team Mark assembled is currently almost a point over the limit (3rd best actually) and no other team has ridden less home meetings than the foxes so I can only see that total going up.