Leaderboard

Think it will be a huge benefit to both Wolves and Luke Becker that he will be doubling up with Somerset.Can't think of a better track than than the Oak Tree Arena where he can hone his skills and push on with his development.

You should try staying until the end it works for me.

Don't think it will be easy , Berwick should put up a better fight than that .

Confirmation of Armando's continuing mission to make Speedway sh!ttier. It is 4-3-2-0.

How do you know that Robbo didn't go straight to Redcar to ask them if he could hold it there. It's up to him after all. It's likely, from speaking with Robbo at his last meeting at Workington, that HE didn't want the meeting run last season, if at all at the time. It's also highly probable that he will make more out of having it at Redcar. The rent, if he's paying any. will be a lot less than what it would be at Newcastle. He'll possibly get a bigger crowd on a Saturday at Redcar than any other night and a saturday could be the best option for him. Too many dogs at Newcastle on a saturday for that to be an option.

Or they null and void the league just when they're on the brink

He had to apply for a second visa. The one he had (like Jack Holder’s) only allowed him to race in one league

Top averages at #1 Bottom 2 averages at #6 & #7 The rest of the positions are free.

I tried to find the full line on the Ben fund official website and found its not been updated for over a year. It’s next meeting is at Peterborough 2019 apparently I then went to the BSPA site and used their link and it took me to the same site. I know it’s run by volunteers who do a fantastic job and raise huge amounts but the website really should be up to date. It’s only one meeting a year after all

I was anticipating that we'd make 2 changes because I couldn't see who we could sign to make the most of the points available. I get some of the comments about Luke Becker not having experience of the Championship tracks and the possibility that he may struggle to maintain his average through the season, but overall I think this is an excellent signing and congratulations to the Somerset promoters for pulling it off. Perhaps the firm of solicitors had to work overtime to get the work permit and visa sorted out. Once again I'm looking forward to what should be an exciting season ahead and I can't wait for it to start.

This is what I don't get. Just because it's billed as a team event doesn't mean we should reward second and third mire than first and fourth. League speedway is definitely a team event but 3-2-1 seems to work well there?

Sorry misread your post

Starting to sound a bit like a firm of Solicitors with the newcomers though! Barker, Becker, Bates and Cook

At least Smoli does his best to Promote the sport in a positive way and seems to able to attract Sponsors and comes across in aProfessional manner.Good luck to him.

I don't think he got shafted by Redcar did he? I thought after one meeting he asked to step down from the team then subsequently changed his mind but by this time it was too late Redcar had already found someone to replace him.

Yep i was there on Saturday, there was something happening on track all day, apart from track grades. During track grade time there was a motorcycle stunt team performing on the centre concrete or drift cars. There was a fair in the main car park together with a monster truck that the public could ride on. Around the perimeter of the track inside and outside the stadium there was trade stands mainly geared towards speedway and grasstrack. The event was very well organised and I would like to think the organisers would have been pleased with Saturdays attendance.

With my wife having cancer in both lungs and me having a lung disease, I won't be travelling far to watch speedway or anywhere else outside my Norfolk base.

He wanted to run it at Newcastle this season but with the doubt about continuing in 2020 he had to opt for another track not his fault.. but the Newcastle promotion are doing a lot to help his day be a success...

If Carlsberg made Premier Leagues..

Be "devastating" if Liverpool win their first title in 30 years in front of 'nobody'. I will be gutted for them.... In reality of course there will be thousands who attend the occasion outside the stadium to celebrate, so not really sure what the point would be?

Yes I believe that is correct. I don't think Birmingham, have a sponsors licence, to enable them to obtain visa's and work permits.

The important thing there is the bit about Premier League think they might have to play in an empty stadium within 2 weeks o so depending on the situation. Sure they can get away with it as can F1 and some other sports. I doubt speedway could though

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/51777154

According to some Facebook posts it would seem that Paco is in the UK preparing for the season and has been here for a few days at least. Who knows what is going to happen by the start of the season, whenever that may be regarding rider movements .

Does anyone know the situation regarding Paco Castagna, bearing in mind all that's going on in Italy with Coronavirus? is he "locked down"? Are the Brummies going to risk flying him to the UK in and out of a Coronavirus hotspot? Will the Brummies get "a facility" if he can't fulfil his obligations?

Seemingly, you don't know how this works. Somerset (who are holders of a sponsors licence) must have agreed terms, with Luke Becker and now applied for and received a work permit for him to ride in the championship. He needs a separate work permit, for each league (Premier and Championship), which well done Somerset, they have secured.

I guess the theory that Becker work permit doesn't allow him to ride the Championship was total *%$£ then! I think he'll be a great signing for the Rebels, might be a little hit & miss away from home as he will not have seen most of the tracks before but give him a little time.

No but Gem is nearly correct. 1986 Long Eaton won 65-0 in the circumstances she describes, against Mi........... . . . . . .....ldenhall

Don't think it's like that anymore, position 2 - 5 I believe.

I thought they were running after every league meeting?

You are probably right but only two of their twenty four league matches will be at the NSS next year. Even if they got nothing from those two meetings (and I’m not convinced they won’t) P’boro have more than enough about them to get into the top four. Can’t see any of their riders improving dramatically but they could all put a little bit on their starting figures which would give them a good chance come the business end of the season. In my opinion of course.

On a positive note, when are the Premiership Junior League fixtures out. Some people need to plan.

I think Hans can certainly improve Geoff , Harris will as usual entertain us along the way and will be alot better at home.But personally i prefer youth and improvement over experience i.e.) the likes of Bewley, Lidsey, Ellis, over Andersen, Nicholls, Harris.

They have already shot themselves in the foot, made EOES a no go area for a number of BB holders. Another case of "we are management and can do what we want and do not need to explain ourselves to the hoi polloi "

I think he is more than capable of averaging over eight he was impressive last year at the Abbey.

But this virus in the UK is now twice as lethal as Michael Barrymore's pool

The next of the ‘lethal’ viruses to hit the UK which everybody is worrying about. Thanks to the scare mongering media. No doubt we will still be having this discussion when the next ‘killer’ virus hits our shores in the next few years. Meanwhile the common flu will still kill more vulnerable people this year.

Just read about the Premier League considering a ban on over 70's at matches - https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-sports-bosses-and-broadcasters-summoned-to-discuss-contingency-plans-11951225 Couldn't possibly do the same in Speedway, tracks would be closing down within a month

Rohan was/is definitely a racer at the NSS. It was his away performances that were the problem.

Certainly is, some Aces fans would probably confirm that ...

This guys calls himself a expert on speedway betting only Mick could put the team who are favs as the outsiders in his book Thou putting Sheff at 4-1 2nd favs was just as bad .

I believe all true speedway followers should support the Bonanza. In the years l couldn't attend personally l always gave the BenFund a donation.

No, not so much last year due to a new promoter who's now gone, plus I have been very ill for most of it. Getting back to it now and back playing squash, and looking forward the new season under Rob. It was nice to see my Gems win the NJL league and of course the rapid progress that Archie and Danny are making on their 500's and of course see Josh making such a great start in the NL.

Heard the Diamonds advert on Metro Radio this morning, and it was very good, to the point, all the info and likely I would say to make the possibility of people coming to our 90th anniversary meeting on the 29th real. Metro Radio are our Media partner, and they approached us given what was going on when Rob came in to save the speedway. The radio station is the biggest commercial station in the North East, so it's great to be partnered with them and good for the sport in the area.

As a long contributing and informed poster in my opinion Islander has added a heck of a lot more than yourself.

PoBandzie publish some excellent articles and interviews. It's much less tabloid'y which is great in the era of a complete decline of SportoweFakty's journalism quality.

Auty hasn't had a regular gig in the top league for quite a while now, clearly the promoters/managers dont see him as good enough, even on an attractive average. Decent rider at Championship level where he has found his level IMO.

Thoroughly enjoyed the evening with Nicki Pedersen comes across as a nice bloke off track. I think everybody there can’t wait for the season to start now. Told some good stories and said he can’t wait to get started. Well done Nicki and thanks for giving your time up to come across from Denmark to meet the fans.

Its probably a good thing then, since it is a team and not an individual event .

Can’t blame any rider not wanting to ride at Poole as there have been many times that we’ve been told the track is better when it clearly wasn’t. Also surely a good crowd will turn up regardless of the lack of more top riders & that will mean more money in the pocket of Middlo. That isn’t a pop before I get accused of it.