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i get sick of this 'watering down' comment from all and sundry on here. The 'product' is the racing, not names. Well matched teams on a good racing surface is the 'product'.

It's "should HAVE been compulsory" and it shouldn't. I thing British Speedway should give opportunities to young British riders, I think this years setup looks both refreshing and exciting and a pleasant change from helping foreign riders develop.

Two riders being announced tomorrow.

Err...........Andy?.......British Champion 1993/94/95. Aces in 1982-1990, 1998-2001. Jack is his son for God's sake!!

Redcar probably offered No 1 status money to Wrighty whereas the Rebels has probably already spent big on Harris/Schlien and offered Charles far less.

Then Glasgow, Somerset and Sheffield should be racing in the Premier league and not with the poor poverty stricken teams , I'm sure they would have been accepted.

Ha ha maybe you should ask Kyle about last winter

Konopka, Dilger and Simota to finish it off nicely......

Honestly... If Glasgow went up into the Premiership and persuaded (money talks) one big rider like Emil Sayfutdinov, Artem Laguta, Patryk Dudek, Bartosz Zmarzlik, Maciej Janowski etc... to come ride in the uk... And have them love it (hopefully) it might paint a more positive picture of British speedway... Especially with the likes of Doyle still in the league... Sitting in the second tier winning every year won't be doing much... Birmingham in the NL was getting a bit bad... I'm glad they moved up... Onto bigger things as a club... If these big names like it, at least they might persuade their u-21 countrymen to come over here... Young foreign talents are always exciting to watch... Pawel Przedpelski would have been great in this country if he was persuaded to stay after his pile up... Riding difficult uk track would be a massive step in their careers and I'm surprised more don't do it...

Averages are based on number of rides and heat 15 has 4 more rides for the extra 6 points. To get what you are looking for you have to take 42 points as the average giving 4 extra points being 'doled out' . In reality if every match finished 45/45 then every teams averages would add up to 42.

Depends if his old average is used or not

Those three teams are most peoples predictions for topping the league anyway, so what,s your problem. Maybe you wanted a 45 point average where those teams could have squeezed in the likes of Hans Andersen etc with two 5 point foreigners at reserve.

More than likely one ex Panther followed by two more ex Panther's.

Good luck to our mate Jackson Andrew Smith up at Redcar in the Championship for 2019. With Redcar switching to a Friday racenight - the same night as the Colts - Jack wasn't available to us for 2019, but it's the right decision for him to push on into the higher league. We wish him well and hope to see Jack back at Belle Vue in the future, and hopefully riding for the Aces.

A lower points limit makes it not such a big gulf between the the National league and Championship ,so yeah it is about promoting British riders

I'll order them for you, and you can pay on the door. Just tell Joan they are in the name of Terrace Grumbler.

email to info@newcastlediamonds.co or if you're on Facebook message them on there.

Basically I would think he'd do ok around brough, particularly when you look at the bottom end of some other teams. Not so sure about away though. Still I'd rather be in the position we are in than Eastbourne. They have 24+ for their last three, Rumoured to be Lawson, Kennett, and Wajknecht which by my reckoning will only take them to about 36-36.5 ish Three sub 3.00 at the bottom meaning Alfie Bowtell is in the main body of the team. I'd be happy if we could get a 7.0, a 5.0, and a 3.75 ish to complete the side.

I agree Neils was poor early on in meetings this season and come on when the track became slicker. I don't know if it was his shoulder, age creeping in, confidence, desire or some of all the above. But he came to the party on many at time later in meetings. N. Morris 6.60, Kenny B 7.02, Hans 7.56 or Cookie 7.73 ( some better than others) would of covered if Neils ain't coming back.

I'm sure the majority of us would of preferred Charles as no.1 over Schlein and Harris

I'd be amazed if the last two aren't Jacob and Ashley and barring a bad summer of injuries I would be surprised if that team missed out on the play offs

And then they go and spoil it...

Connor Coles final NL average last season was 6.53. In comparison, Danny P averaged 6.75.

I don’t pretend to follow the NL closely but Coles was out of his depth when he was a Diamond. Has he improved a lot? i assume Philips will take the other reserve berth anyway. Someone mentioned he averaged 6 at home when he was with us - I have to say I don’t recall him riding to that sort of average. As to the other two team places, well, if one is Ludde then I think that might speak volumes about how the team is being put together. That said, it’s the art of the possible and the promotion will be doing their best, I’m sure of that.

Is he even still riding!? i’m hopeful Chris’s “European trip” is looking forward not back

Looking at your team you have a lot more to worry about than rasmus Jensen. Particularly sarjent, starke an them two reserves. It is what it is, I don't agree with how Glasgow went about the way they did to get Jensen, but he's there now an has 10k in his back pocket. One with about rasser is he won't take any crap or pressure from the Glasgow promotion when things ain't going there way. Could of been worse for workington with Glasgow trying the same dirty tricks with Bickley, luckily young Kyle was a lot more loyal than rasmus, and stuck to the agreement wich had been shaken on.

i think Berwick in 2019 are going to be playing with the big knobs and will certainly shock a good few teams , home and away .. its a good side .

You have to take into account what the rider thinks is best for him,his little fallout with May might be in the back of his mind.I don’t believe for a minute that Harris is cheaper than Wright.

This what Jack tweeted on Nov 30th Really enjoyed my 2 years with the Bellevue Colts! It’s gunna be hard to not be involved with Bellevue next season, me and the club are on good terms, just the new rules with the NL has lot me my job, all the best to them next season!

First of all, very sad to see the epitomy of NL racing Buxton pull out. Understand the reasons, but sad that more couldn't have been done to keep the Hitmen in League racing from the BSPA cause afterall the place has much more scope for practice opportunities than most other tracks in the Country. I hope the lack of League racing there doesn't have a negative effect on its practice activities? As for lowering the points limit, its not natural for a League reducing in numbers to have a lower points limit. Indeed a smaller League should have a higher points to account for the riders left on the shelf by the reduction of teams. While one of the National Leagues main objectives is as a development League, you still need a certain standard to make it viable for teams to attract a paying crowd in. Yes there are journeymen, but these riders can help young riders and like I was touching on above, a team full of wobblers won't attract a crowd. The junior Leagues below the National League serve the purpose of "blooding" novice riders of whom the better ones will progress higher. Without the 3rd tier Birmingham, Eastbourne, Mildenhall, Stoke, Cradley and others in the past would of closed, and others wouldn't of contemplated opening up. So this aspect of an affordable League for tracks to come down to in hard times/new tracks to start up in shouldn't be overlooked.

i suppose that's why Joe Lawlor hasn't signed for the Colts too with Glasgow racing on Fridays.

umm, I can only think of 2 teams that change rules on a whim, strangely enough they were both in the P/Off final.

Flint will be 16 at the start of the season and is one of British Speedway's best prospects, averaging 8.5 in his first year. Given also he is based in Berwick (and hence the other nearest NLtrack would be almost 100 miles away) it is pretty much a no brainer for both him and Belle Vue to sign for the Colts and I suspect many (if not most) Belle Vue supporters would prefer him to Smith. 2019 will be Phillips' 8th season of NL racing, his average last year was 6.75 and under 2.00 for Scunthorpe. He'll be 23 during the season. It will be Smith's 4th season, his average was 8.41 and 2.88 for Sheffield. He'll be 20. No question about whom is more deserving of a place in the NL and it is ridiculous that a rider of that age and potential is forced out of the NL by the points limit (and it is most unlikely that he will be the only one). While there can be an argument made that due to the reduction for new riders from 3.00 to 2.00 means that the limit remains the same, that is dependent upon all teams finding two such riders - or 16 altogether. Are there 16 ?

NBJ just announced he has 2 teams in UK. So maybe him and Allen at Reserve.

But we’ve already been told we’ve signed riders. Just because none have been announced doesn’t mean riders haven’t signed on. Louis likes to reveal the full 7 in one go.

Funny how he pipes up as soon as Eastie leave the league mate lol

Quote from the Bears promoter... Whether you agree with the 38 points limit or not, it will do exactly what it was intended to do and that is to reset the balance between all 3 leagues and give the younger British riders a ladder on which to climb in the sport. Contrary to what some may tell you, my main motivation to support this limit at he AGM wasnt financial, but to develop new British talent. When all teams have been declared, take a look at the reserve berths in the Championship and you will see lots of young riders being given a shot as a direct result. British speedway will benefit in the long run from this new crop of riders getting their chance.Read more: http://bears-talk.proboards.com/thread/3403/2019?page=10#ixzz5ZlUfN5Og

While you need a Bit of luck in this sport,judging what I saw of him at Ashfield last season he looks a real talent.

What the hell are you expecting? Rome to be built in a day? The Masons are English. Neither of their first names is "Sheikh" and they don't dabble with Russian Oil Company stocks and shares. The Brummies are in a better league, on a limited budget, in just the promoters' second season in business, with commitments to aquire assets as is required by the league, having had the original assets stripped away from the club without compensation. All that means a huge outlay of cash. Not that those people who moan about admission prices care about that. Money grows on trees in their little bubbles. Finishing the season will be a success. Entertaining racing will be a success. More people on the terraces in September than in March will be a success. All you fans from other teams, don't worry, the Brummies won't be troubling the league leaders this year. But considering where the Brummies were 3 or 4 years ago, it's already a success to be where they are now. Let's be grateful that a foundation is being built and that in future years, the rewards will come.

Busters league. His rules !!!!! Like it or lump it

After romping the 2019 Championshipand showing profits of £100,000+ they will take a chance and move up to the Premiership.That should silence a few.

What a useless Bl**dy thread

That's my understanding of it. It is an indictment of the BSPA that they have forced a decision on the NL against the wishes of everyone in that league, a league in which they have no financial stake. What's worse, its entirely possible that that decision was made for their own selfish interests. I was very impressed with the Colts team last night but, as I have pointed out on that thread, had the points limit remained the same they could have had Smith rather than Phillips. A younger, less experienced, seriously Belle Vue connected rider has been dumped in favour of someone older, more experienced and with little - if any - connection to the club.

Exactly, but Ray is never too positive about the Poole team or anything to do with Poole really! Actually Gavan is prob more positive about it!!

Honestly As it is coming up to Christmas I thought I would share this little chestnut off the Scunthorpe 2019 thread (Page 21) from Gazc where in response to a question posted by "allthegearbutnaeidea" where he asked "Why does every team want Rasmus Jensen?" Glasgow Gaz responded back with... Quote "Probably appeals as his average is attractive in a watered down league , I would be disappointed if my team signed him. No dis-respect to him but I have never been impressed any time I saw him albeit he was banging some big scores in towards the end of last season". Just hope the rest of Christmas isn't such a big disappointment Gazc and signing Rasmus Jensen doesn't spoil your entertainment to much next season, although there is always Hogmanay where you can drown your sorrows, like eh!!! #teamspirit #PMSL Regards THJ

I dont think anybody other than the BSPA wants it . not the fans not the the riders not the Nl promoters ,and if you are to create a league which is purely for the purpose of development , then you have to have a system where the developed riders can go afterwards and get a decent run at it . as it is the gap between NL and championship is too big ,and if you make the step up you will most likely be replaced within weeks by an untried foreigner

It's actually a GM NX. Most tuners test with it these days.

Good point Steve.Everyone is obviously in different financial positions. Supporters will pick and choose their meetings and it's their choice but I think the team we are putting together up to now looks competitive. We all need to get behind the club as much as possible to keep speedway going at Newcastle for the long term. Some on here won't realise what they had if the sport is lost.

You can’t have it both ways, if clubs want loyalty in the manner the initial post is suggesting and first refusal a year later then riders need to be contracted and salaried, you can’t have riders being self employed and therefore if they’re injured don’t get paid etc. But then come the end of the season have absolutely no control over who they sign for and at the mercy of a club. If you want it to be this way then clubs need to sign riders onto multi year contracts with a weekly wage agreed and performance related bonuses on top of that more like in say football as an example. But there’s simply isn’t the money in the sport to do this! The original post seems to forget these guys are people trying to make a living the same as anyone else, they’re fortunate to be skilled enough at something as fun a racing motorbikes against there friends for a living but that doesn’t make them any different to anyone else and should be treated accordingly. imagine you’re subcontracted to build an extension for a bigger firm. Once the job is done you get offered to build an extension for someone else for more money than the firm you’ve done a contracted job for, would it be reasonable let alone legal for that firm to say you can’t go and build an extension for someone else because I want you to do this for less money, I’m not willing to employ you full time and pay you a salary all year round but if you don’t agree because you’ve just sub contracted on a job for me, you can’t work anywhere else in this country for 12 months!! Farcical idea isn’t it!

That's blackmail and slavery all in one.