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Leicester Piggotts

Really hate all this negativity, you will all be crying when there is no Speedway. We have no choice up here we have rockall. Gary has again put together a decent team that will compete at this level. We have a cracking set up at Somerset, don’t ruin it. People who know me know that I was and am a passionate follower of the Rebels, I really looked forward to going every time I was down there even when times were hard back in the early days. On the odd occasion I get down there now people are so nice and friendly when I pitch up, like they only saw me the other week when in reality it may have been a year maybe. Brilliant clubhouse, good racetrack (again ), and good supporters. I can’t wait for the season to start again to see how it all pans out.

Comets named team of the year tonight at Cumbria sports awards, yay! Wonder if they’ll have room for yet another trophy?

Very happy to have Claus back, determined, passionate and a hell of a nice guy.

Too far.

Nick will be at Wolves

Can see another Miedzinski situation here, bargain average rider doesn't ride for us, goes away ups average, becomes worthless to parent club.

Are Scorpion fans really bothered about the NSS? No, we are more concerned about winning at the EWR and that's what Josh, Jake ,Jason and Stefan will do. The remainder of the team can just improve their averages for me.

So a rider we dumped the world champ for and showed more passion riding for the enemy than he did for his own team last season, doesn't want to come back after dropping 2 points off his average. Good riddance I say and I never thought I would be saying that after heat 13 at Wolves in 2017.

Are you a promoter?

Gutted Morra is leaving - hoping he is going to Wolves which was the original rumour months ago. So does this mean that Batch is staying? If not, why not announce him at the same time?

Probably already been poached by Wolves.

That's the thing, the rules are there to cut doubling up but they've been ignored and just continued with using existing Championship averages. Don't understand why you'd create such a conversion rate, which increases year on year but allow rider's to maintain existing averages, it just doesn't make any sense at all.

He rode in all three leagues last season. He shouldn't have any difficulty in finding a Championship place; in any case, it is time that he left the NL behind.

Kurtz and Morris both struggled from being an out and out number one. If Morris goes back to Swindon the pressure is taken off by Doyle being there and Morris could thrive Poole need to bring in a big hitter so that Kurtz hasn’t got that pressure again. I think Jack Holder may well go there but again he isn’t that big hitter yet... he benefited from Doyle last year.

I see Jack Smith has been told he doesn't have a place at the Colts - he says (and I don't doubt him) that it is because of the points limit. A young, talented, developing rider who also happens to be an attraction denied a team place. Bloody ridiculous

I’ve noticed the Comets headline on back of Times And Star is larger than the Reds one which is above it. Nothing against the Reds but good and deserved, as is more support next season.

For a start Elphaba please ...Obviously not done your research on Witches well seen as though you had been on the Worky thread , thought I’d repay the compliment

Nice to see a couple of good young prospects getting their chance at reserve.

A poor signing for any team!

Ipswich have always been favourites in the top league - for the wooden spoon

I guess I’m just used to knowing the team nice and early and going up to the track to get my season ticket Christmas time so just a bit eager to know the team and start looking ahead to next season!!

In that case it will be " Bikey McBikeface"

Cliff it's more a reality of where Speedway is at in this country. I personally think it's absolute suicide to expect people to go from watch Premiership with Doyle, Holder, Iversen and Lambert at £17 and then expect people to rock up and watch Rowe, Atkins and co for £16. That is just madness in my eyes. People can't just keep bringing out the line of "it's better than nothing" because it isn't, I and I am sure many others will go and spend their £16 on something else. The Somerset promotion I've said many times are one of the best in the whole country and have created a great set up, but they've scored a massive own goal by dropping down a league, and then losing Wright, BWD and Allen on top of that. That's a massive own goal in my eyes.

Stoke start their team off with Tom Perry

One things for sure Steve the average Nick had last season would’ve meant him missing out on a team berth if Swindon hadn’t used him. Poole or Wolves would’ve played hard ball & made him stay on his average but Swindon roll over.

We are all 'internet warriors' mate, that's what a forum is. Exchanging views, opinions, counter opinions, suggestions, personal anecdotes, testimonies etc etc!

Great see the Comets being given the Cumbria team of the year accolade, a real tonic for speedway in general.... .....Laura mentions it is an award for the riders efforts, quite rightly.. ...but as they are all scattered worldwide none could join the ceremony....my only thought on that comment is - was Dan Bewley not still around locally?

No Clegg or Serjeant for me

Baran, Miskowiak , Suchecki, Rempala They had some great races for the Witches.... Kowalik too.... didnt he win the Witches an away meeting at Kings Lynn....

I equally don’t doubt that it’s because of the points limit but surely someone seemingly as important to Belle Vue’s long-term future as Smith can still be fitted in regardless? Plan the team around Smith, Bickley, both Woodhull’s if they want it and potentially Lawlor and see what’s left. These are the riders who genuinely might ride for the Aces and are all young and improving so will make a decent side anyway!

So Morris is also gone for the year. Just been announced as an update to Bellego.

Does anyone know what average the likes of Leek, Sealey, Alcock, O'Keefe and Dicken start on for 2019. As far as I know all started 2018 on a 3 average and ended on 3 but completed quite a few meetings. Surely someone in authority can work out a proper average for them . For example Leek probably averaged over 2 last year, if he did and achieved 2.4, why not start him on that average. Seems the fairest way IMO.

Jeez this looks a strong team. Suppose a lot will rest on King's fitness after his bad injury.

He can ride a bike, just a bit of a box of frogs between his ears

glad Claus has signed for Glasgow for 19 . great news for comets fans . phew ! sides coming together . thats one off the list .

Great work with the film Ultra professional and someting other clubs should look to imitate if the sport is to drag itself forward

I have a slightly different view on the team that has been assembled. Schlein and Harris are two of the best modern day team riders and both have room for improvement. Moreover, they are team men through and through. Rowe and Atkins are a risk at reserve, but there won’t be too many other teams that will be strong in that department either. I’m hoping Rory and Bomber will be an integral part in bringing these youngsters on. I certainly don’t buy into the “last season payout” syndrome where Schlein is concerned He is a fierce competitor and a real winner, as is Harris. Berge is an excellent signing and always looks good around the OTA. plenty of point scoring room for manoeuvre with him Kurtz knows his way around Somerset and will seamlessly slot back into the team. You know what you’re going to get with Todd. 100% effort wherever he rides. I can see him riding in the difficult number 2 position and at least maintaining his average. Nico Covatti I predict will be the star of the season, and will continue his superb performances for the Rebels fear not, this is a playoff side, so don’t be surprised if there is more silverware this coming season.

until he gets a better offer to ride against us he also tends to spend a fair bit of time on injured list

Glasgow say 2019 could be the last year they could take £100,000 losses. We need to see which riders they have signed but my guess will be new riders all on top money again with massive bonus payments again all cherry picked from other clubs by dangling massive signing fees again. That's the only reason why I don't want Glasgow to win anything at all. They are great fans but I'm not into this fantasy speedway team building.

Maybe he fancies a 2019 Premiership winners medal

Will probably lend my support to Leicester NL side next season. They'd do well to include a couple of the Bees side from 2018.

The only thing which will prevent the Robins coming to the tapes in 2019 is if the stadium closes. The fact that there are greyhounds now being arranged well into next season is a positive. Forget the stadium re-development, that'll never happen.

I dont really understand this lowering points to let talent through it seems a load of nonsense to me as long as the points limit is not ridiculously high.If the points limit was say 42.5in the NL do you think kent would not of signed dan gilkes or the thompson twins going to leicester ??? Do me a favour talent will always find its way through.. the low ponits limit just means we have to watch the likes of ryan mcdonald,jamie laker,aaron butcher ,kiearon douglas and joe alcock trail round half a lap behind everybody else ...all a low point limit does is cut out a young decent rider who has done well and make you select a rider who is useless but for some reason the future utter joke.

Perhaps its like being kicked in the balls You certainly remember it but wont be looking forward to the next effort

Completely agree Personally, I can understand why any league would reduce its points limits if clubs were making substantial financial losses or there was an increase in the number of teams. Here, though, to my knowledge only one of the existing teams might be losing money badly and the league is now smaller than before. Given that last season there was a strong movement to increase the points limit (with 10 teams competing) it is most difficult to appreciate why they have chosen to use 36 for 2019. The 36 only becomes 38 for all clubs if 16 2.00point riders are available. They're not, and this only gives more of an advantage to those who are able to pick up one of the more talented youngsters available on that average. People won't be fooled into paying last years prices for a weakened league without many of its top stars, forced up because they cannot be accommodated. In 2018, the NL managed to combine the successful development of some of most capable young riders with accommodating some of the league's crowd pullers - the Roynon's, Morley's and Ayres'. For me, it worked extremely well and I just can't see why that has been changed.

No chance Peter Wyngarde died on the 15th January 2018 Unless you are on about the re-runs then you need to watch Department S first to get the Jason King back story..., Regards THJ

Probably add Brennen and Wood to the tally shortly.

Atkins and Rowe Bailey and Kinsley Great to see Brits been given a chance this is what reserves should be all about

Good luck for the season young man. Stay safe.