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I think you miss the point. This was a friendly match between a few Australians and a bunch of young Brits (all under 21 I think) wintering in Australia (plus Tai Woffinden). It was not a representative test match and neither country would put up teams like that if it had been. What should be taken out of it is, after so many years in the doldrums, how positive the future looks for GB with Bewley, Edwards, Flint, Kemp and a whole load of others all coming through.

Another rider who shouldnt be anywhere near the NL

Not a problem. I know you’re now a tv fan but, if that and this forum are your main sources of information, it’s easy to get the wrong idea. The former is full of hype and fake enthusiasm, the latter, doom and gloom. As with much in life, the truth lies somewhere in between. For all it’s ills, British Speedway is producing far more good young riders than Sweden, Denmark and the USA combined. I’d also contend that we’ve got far more promising riders than Australia. Although I would concede that, if you had a full GB vs Australia test match this month, the Aussies with their top end power of Doyle, Fricke, Batchelor and the Holders would be the likely winners, give it a couple of years and I think GB would win, simply because there are far fewer Australian riders following on behind them, than there are up and coming Brits. It’s taken ages to get anything going in this country, mostly because promoters adopted a “what’s in it for us?” approach, but a great start has been made in recent years by Neil Vatcher with the British Youth Championship, and this is now supported by others. You should try to get to one of the 2020 Championship rounds and see for yourself the raw talent and enthusiasm on display. There are already 34 riders registered across the three classes and no doubt more will follow.

Also, with some proactivity to at least have some kind of proper competitive action for them as they develop.

So sorry to read about your wife. Fingers crossed for the new chemo. Try and remain as positive as you possibly can in the circumstances, there’s always hope!

Removal of the concession isn’t a surprise, and brings speedway in line with other events on the Showground. What is needed is for the promotion to lay on a reliable buggy/shuttle service from the car-park, recognising the multiple barriers of rough ground, darkness and distance that blue-badge holders face. Whether they have the vision to do that remains to be seen.It is also important that a similar clampdown is placed on all in-stadium parking, reducing it to the absolute minimum - a disabled person struggling towards the track being passed in a car by a member of track-staff who has no need to be driving in will cause a good deal of discontent.

This was a great opportunity for our young Brits to get experience riding in Australia. I agree that it was a friendly and not fully representative of a true test match... that does not matter Even more pleasing is that Tai is encouraging them to make this an annual event All adds to the development of out young guns

Sorry but Why should they? No one owes Poole Speedway anything

'.....insuring......'

Can't see a strong top three in that side!

Sounds discriminatory to me...

Why don't we all agree to disagree & enjoy the 2020 season on both levels aswell as the Njl because if it wasn't for ROB GRANT what would we be discussing now eh

Confirmed. First signing Archie Freeman: http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=101074

Great team, but somehow finished runners up to Reading, even though we beat them at home

I think this winter has benefited Dan Bewley hugely. No “proper” test matches but plenty of competitive action. I expect there to be a fight for the number one race jacket at BV between him and Jaimon Lidsey

Was great for us in his only season, averaged about 6 and a half I think. Provided us with much needed stability with Michanek and Bernie both being shown the door mid-season.

The tales we are hearing shows the crass stupidity and insensitivity of showground management and it would seem how little Speedway management have done to help Blue Badge holders. To anybody with half a brain it is obvious that for Blue Badge holders it is not the parking space but the distance between turnstiles and track that is the problem.

I just can see Ledwith and Gilkes getting injured on the grippier tracks in the championship you give an inch in that league and you’re getting nudged

Not only on track experience but also a good life lesson being away from home and taking care of themselves and their equipment No doubt there has also been plenty of 'holiday' time too but valuable none the less

How many accidents have there been?

Kemp and Flint looking really sharp, good experience for young Edwards as well both Kemp and Flint should be looking to put at least two points on there Championship average this year.

Collecting progs from the first season of British League, have every club but just Newcastle difficult to get hold of. Anyone have one I can purchase? Boocock Coventry, Briggs Swindon, MacKinlay West Am, Broadbanks Swindon, Harrfeldt Ammers. top 5, even though Robins finished fourth bottom. Ammers Champions / Cup Winners, Long Eaton stone bottom in 18 team league. Remember visiting the 3 London tracks this year. Wolves 64 Newport 14! And 31 home fixtures April -October. Fights in the pits, on the track and terraces, Halifax v Coventry! Sadly 10 clubs West Am, Wimbledon, Ackney, Oxford, Newport, Coventry, Exeter, Halifax, Cradley Heath, Long Eaton no more. Swindon, Belle Vue, Wolves, Sheffield still in top league, Poole, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle second tier.

Really enjoyed the Michanek profile. I never thought that he was at his best around the old Hyde Road, but undoubtably a classy rider (and seemingly a really classy guy too).

All of a sudden Perth seems to have become a top location for a speedway fan to be now with racing taking place at both Pinjar Park tracks AND the Kwinana Beach Motorplex.

And just in time for my cousin who has moved from the speedway desert which London has become to Perth, which now looks to provide some good entertainment on his doorstep !!!

I have just watch the 3hr re-play on the Pinjar Park Facebook page of last night's second International match between Australia and Great Britain. Even though the racign wasn't overly exciting, this was a very enjoyable speedway meeting with lots of variety, not just the 15 heat match of the international solo teams, but also the support individual 500cc and 250cc solos, the 125cc Junior speedway pairs, and the big 1000cc sidcars racing. And great video coverage, too. Western Australia seem to be one of the few places in the world were solo and sidecar speedway is currently on the up again. Great to see that it is going so well there ! Keep up with it !

Kent NL side will have some league matches on bank holidays and occasional Tuesday against other Wednesday night tracks. So no clashes for their CL/NL riders.

I do hope so Skidder. I kind of get angry that my team - based in an affluent part of the Country should be getting more support/sponsorship if so rightly deserves. There are plenty of reasonable well heeled individuals and companies in Dorset area who should be doing more to support our club. I really hope they do secure a good main team sponsor plus as many smaller sponsors as possible. In fact I am about to enter the said arena with Poole myself for the very first time in my own smallish way. I hope that many others follow as it all contributes to a successful club that also allows us fans to participate in. I live 3.5 hours away from Poole in Essex, but this team is my team of choice and I want to support in a way i can even though retired early (by my own choice). Appreciate not everyone can but there are a good few who could.

Not sure why the Championship reserves should get injured, but even if they do, there will be plenty of riders without a team place looking for spots!

If this is the case then they have to do this for any show or event within the showground area not just the speedway , which will most likely mean a fall in attendances for all the organisations who use and pay for the rent of the showground, there shooting themselves in the foot bigtime. Must be an H&S issue again!!!!

Either way it appears a ludicrous decision. Pretty sure it will lose even more supporters. Will the riders have to park at the gate and wheel their kit in.

Cook round BV though is a fair point that was brought up. Still a shame they aren't alternating the Pairs and the WC.. A WC GB Squad for a BV final would be an interesting pick: Tai Cook Wright Lambert Bewley (U21 Res)

If you look at the number of Peterborough sponsors compared to Poole's then I would be more concerned about the Panthers. But then I guess it's more about the amount of money rather than the number of sponsors. Poole are offering 4 levels of club sponsorship - a bit like Gold Silver Bronze etc each offering different levels of publicity and branding I imagine. Maybe it's just Danny getting all his 'ducks in a row' before updating the website sponsor pecking order?

I thought Jason retired because of those bad burns that he got racing a great rider and he must put a few on the gate.Since his retirement he has done some laps testing and at a guess??? i recon he has done at least six meeting's Darcy Ward's being one of them.

1 Max Clegg 10.14 2 Joe Alcock 4.36 3 David Wallinger 3.87 4 Josh Embleton 4.83 5 James Sarjeant 7.80 6 Kelsey Dugard 3.35 7 Archie Freeman 3.00 This is the winning team though...

Which? And you forgot anticipating the start.

Maybe there's an announcement on the way?!

A confusing speedway regulation - who'd have thought it!

Ooh I'm so sorry forum police..I hadn't seen it mentioned..or I couldn't be bothered to sift through all the negative crap on here to find it.

Spin King bought a round...

In 1973 Rick finished on a 6.85 average for Sheffield he finished seventh in the averages behind Paulson 6.92. Larsson 7.08 what a strong one to seven they were.

It says 6 or 7 home meetings. So are they running 3 or 4 challenge meetings to supplement the NT?

I can’t believe anyone would want to see Adam Roynon back on a Speedway Bike, After every thing he has been through injury wise, I for one would be happy if he remained retired and and we will still have the memories of what a great entertainer ha was

Really pleased for Newcastle i assume that it is a trial with a view to being in the league next year Best of luck

I kinda hope we go with locals rather than just the best of the best, which is what I think we will do tbh... I'd rather our second team lost with young locals who are gaining experience than won with all the big names in the NDL Jamie Halder, Josh Embleton, Joe Alcock, Kieran Douglas and Archie Freeman MUST be in the team imo... Then build the two heat leaders from there... I know Max Clegg isn't an option, but a big number 1 like him to guide the young'uns would be ideal... Maybe Wilko will hop back on a bike just for these meetings? As captain, and maybe he'll get some sort of management role within the side? Good experience for him for the future if that's the path he wants to take... Would James Wright be eligible?

Rather checking the viability of NL at Newcastle (hint - there isn’t any), I’drather believe this is an attempt to keep some promising youngsters in the North of England and get some sort of asset base built up.