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To be fair to the Peterborough promoters it isn't a bad idea... It means that their team will be the first one in the country whereby all their riders have received the vaccine...

Am a big fan of Tom Bacon. Very professional and immaculate in the way he presents himself, his setup , and how he talks to people - definitely a CVS type of rider. That said, I would say his chance of kicking on to a higher level has probably passed now.

So it's obvious Bates will get a place over a real rising star.Bates is at his level imo and it looks like a rider who may have bigger ambitions than Bates may miss out.I thought the rising star position was meant to be there to give our youngsters the experience of riding at a higher level and learning from better riders. Edit: Wouldn't be surprised to see Bacon at Peterborough also taking a place of a talented youngster.He's 28

Josh Bates as a 4* rising star is an absolute steel for Sheffield. I would have thought it would have been restricted to riders with limited experience.... seems promoters are still looking after themselves once more instead of looking after the Sport as a whole.

From what I am hearing you are correct... Next season a max of 6 star points for PL team so a 4 + 2 or 3 + 3 rider as Rising Star Reserves and for the CL its 4 Star points per team so a 3 + 1 or a 2 + 2... Personally I don't like it whatsoever and I don't know many who do... but according to the press release everyone thinks its great? My preference would be you can't go PL until you have a 6 average or more in the CL so with a conversion rate of 1.5 that gives gives a reserve starting average of 4 points and up the team build level to 45 points in the PL and for the CL you need at least an average of 6 in the NL with a conversion rate of 3 gives a 2 point average in the CL and let the CL clubs build to 35 points.... Finally let the NL build to 25 points to force them to put kids (or novices) in and not high averaged riders who race in three leagues and finally a conversion rate of 3 between these two leagues (NL to CL). no one racing in the PL should be engaged in the NL. The "Fast Track" system didn't work and this won't as it is doing the one thing everyone in every league is against and that's diluting the product; The other thing is; the elephant in the room; (and no one wants it to happen); but just wait until we get injuries and not serious ones to boot; the list isn't endless is it; quality will go right out of the window; also many promotions wont be as patient as others will be when these kids have a crisis of confidence and want to be dropped because they find scoring tough or because they aren't scoring they then get cut because scoring is tough... Guarantee or not... Nobody is sorrier than me that the BSPL had to spend there valuable time writing out and implementing this process. Though from my personal standpoint I know for a certainty that the process is set up to fail from the off and like many other great ideas in the past it will slide down the valley of regret with near a mention again, please accept my expression of deep regret at this unfortunate episode and don't hold your breath for any regret; remorse or an apology from the BSPL on this matter… Did anyone ever explain why the "Fast Track" system was dumped? So I am sorry if anyone feels offended with my view of the proposal but it does come from first hand experience... Regards THJ

Decent signing in Bjarne. Whilst he will never reach the heights that he did during his career, he will no doubt still be lightning from the starts and he was always immaculately turned up with fantastic kit. Not only all that, regardless of his age it’s a huge marque signing at this level I think. Now if they sign Crump too, I’ll be massively envious that Somerset aren’t running and making these signings too!

I think you're missing the point - the rising stars arent necessarily meant to be at EL (sic) level as yet where as Bates certainly in the scheme of the 2021 set up is He should have a place in the top league on merit but not as a rising star

so with the 'Rising Stars' list, I assume Tom Bacon (aged 28) will be the rising star for the Panthers. How apt really, the oldest 'Rising Star' signing for 'Dads Army'.

Because they would be having rides against each other and also against the likes of Josh who should be in the 2 or 6 positions as well as getting a go at those at the next level up again

I would like to congratulate Plymouth 'Gladiators' on the great signing of Bjarne Petersen. I hope the 'Gladiators do really well in the coming Season. I loved the City of Plymouth as a boy, I will follow their progress from afar, with interest. I met a few folks from Plymouth at Brough Park, Newcastle some years ago, we had great craic. Very best of luck to you all in the coming Season. You deserve it.

Whilst slightly off the topic i think the above also illustrates the tremendous reactions shown by some in avoiding accidents and laying the bike down, over the years i have seen some tremendous feats of this underrated skill and big injuries prevented. Sadly in contrast i have seen riders travel significant distances and still collide with a fallen rider. It still slightly baffles me that we operate in a sport where big throttle use is often the only requirement for entry and safety/ability is not always the over riding requirement.

It doesn’t matter if it’s 9 years or 4! He shouldn’t be on it full stop.

Bates is 25/6 and has 9 years experience - if he is on the rising star list then it's a disgrace.....

There are two things that are constantly overlooked when considering so-called dirty riding. The first is speedway and thinking distance . Even on the slowest part of a small track the riders are exiting the bends at around 30 mph which has a thinking distance of around 9 metres per second. In other words a rider will travel something like 5-6 metres between thinking of something and starting to do it. If a rider wants to execute a dirty move he somehow has to work out where both he and the opponent will be on the track some distance ahead. Frankly I don’t think many so called instances of dirty riding really are. They are more often stupid, wild or over enthusiastic, often with Adrenalin taking over. It is after all , a very tough sport. The other thing is who decides where the border line is between hard riding and dirty riding. I remember Lee Richardson telling me years ago that at the top level, all of them , even Mr Nice Guy Greg Hancock are very, very hard men, and if they weren’t they wouldn’t be at the top. So once again we come back to the fact that it is a very tough sport, and at times the border between hard and dirty can easily and inadvertently be crossed.

With the amount of fixtures in the Premiership, he isn’t going to be riding Monday and Thursday every week for starters!

Hey you Makem clown do you not fully read the other posts on here and if these kids don't respond to the BSPL email by default they opt out FFS what a half witted clown you are... keep modelling those cherry lips you dickwad... Phil posted on the 2nd of Feb and I trust his information before owt you might say... if ya said it was raining I would go outside to check you buffoon... Regards THJ

I think Jason Crump in the CL would be wishful thinking. He is only riding in Britain while his son is road-racing at weekends - - Premiership racing on Mondays and Thursdays will suit him fine.

Eastbourne are breaking no rules they have one rising star in the team . I would suggest Jason has declined the offer to join the scheme as his previously agreed deal is substantially more than the capped pay rates that the scheme insists on. He can join the scheme at a later stage if he wants to or is invited to. He will ride at reserve and his position in the team is not protected like the other reserve. Also remember the position is protected not the rider so they can be dropped.

I accept there is an argument that there are riders in the list who would struggle in the Premiership but personally I would rather the spots were for under 21’s who might find it tough initially but could improve quickly if given the chance. We pretty much know that the older riders on the list won’t reach international standard but we don’t know that of the younger ones and this idea might push them on along with experience abroad. The Poles employ two juniors at the bottom end of their teams and while some sink many swim and become good enough to mix it with the best, we need to be doing the same because what we have been doing for many years hasn’t worked.

But when he looks round the pits at his team mates, he will feel like a teenager...

In days gone by riders learnt on 2nd hand bike and in 2nd hand kit, now many juniors turn up on new gear with personalised covers, guards and kevlars. Try telling them or their parents that they need to chuck it up the track a few times as part of the learning exercise.

It must have been exciting watching those Pilgrims sail off Ian!

With the greatest of respect its just a tombola of names ranging from those not old enough to retired riders and just about everything in between. My only hope is that PL is restricted to 3&4 star graded riders and once it kicks properly next season CL sides have to add up to 4 stars in total ( so 2+2 or 3+1) otherwise the gap in standard is going to be huge. Not knocking but some riders haven't even completed a decent season in the NDL yet (and some have had several seasons at trying to) so the fact that there is even a chance of them heading into the "professional" leagues is more than a bit concerning.

To be fair I’m not opposed to Josh Bates being on the list. I only said the other day that I believe the ‘rising star’ list shouldn’t have grades/averages and should purely be capped to a maximum age (which I suggested at 25) and a maximum average - both of which would make Josh eligible. The difference between me and the BSPL is I wouldn’t of hid my criteria, simple, straight forward and not just produced a list that suits some and doesn’t suit others.

Agreed..... only in Speedway, can come up with potentially a good idea then absolutely ruin it by allowing that.

That's Sheffield then..... Wonder if him being on the list is a sweetener for having to lose Pedersen? As mentioned on another thread. Only in speedway can a rider with 9 years of experience that can get his testimonial next year be classed as a rising star

Josh Bates ..... Rising Star whoever signs him will have an advantage from the off.

Bjarne Pedersen... Ooooooaaaaarrrggggghhhhh!!! Bah!!! Definitely feel like "The Green-Eyed Goblin" after that one... Well done Plymouth... if that's the starter for 7 cant wait to see who the other 6 are for sure... Cant wait to see him back at Newcastle either... just for the nostalgia factor if nothing else... Regards THJ

First signing for Plymouth has been announced as Bjarne Pedersen

Most definitely. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Buenos Aires, Bradford. It has a ring to it

Plymouths rising stars at 6 and 7 could be Mark Simmonds and Seemond Stevens

What a joke,,, typical speedway,, do something decent, then ruin it

Take no notice Steve odsalboy talkes so much crap

Bacon and Bates? IMO the scheme should be concentrating on our U21 riders, with all due respect to those two they are never going to be anywhere near international standard.

Just as a foot note to that mac my boy contacted them because on the original list he was a 2* and after talking to a chap he is now a 1* so the list must still be being developed... Regards THJ

Thought this was a reasonable post till you mentioned Gavin Parr

Indeed, but my brain hurts now!!

Funny but when I went to one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools at King's Lynn many, many years ago it was never discussed...and we certainly never laid any bikes down intentionally I recall.

Whoa there chaps... No slight on Eastie... I ain't got one problem with their team whatsoever... Just pointing out on the comment made by mmmethanol that Jason has been missed off the list and that the process as far as we are aware is supposed to have your Rising Star at 7, also what Scunny Phil has stated is that if riders opt out of the System they may not get picked as RS riders will get preference; stupid I know but it will be interesting to see what happens in this instance if it was just a typo omission of Jason Edwards not being on the list or if he has opted out and if so will Eastie be forced to put in a 2* rider off the list to complete their team... So whose to blame? well its the system stupid; because in most organisations the buck stops with the boss; but not the BSPL; so who is the boss? is that the Chairman Rob Godfrey and will he take the buck for this clock-up? well he's never seen the buck; in fact he wont know that there is a buck; in fact we will be informed no doubt that it was to his profound regret that no one alerted him to the existence of any buck. During the period under discussion, you see, it was not standard BSPL procedure to monitor the buck... With hindsight he will accept that there was a buck and that if he had known at that time that there was a buck he would have certainly acted upon it and dealt with it and that the buck could have been prevented. But tragically his attention was never drawn to the buck hence the buck does not stop with him, The problem he will advise is with the system; which he had nothing to do with; neither its construct or formulation only its delivery so there is no one to blame other than the system and as such there is nothing to see here so just move on... Next years BSPL press release... Regards THJ

I cannot echo and agree with the above statements enough. Ive always felt the best approach is to get places dependant on merit rather than x criteria, ultimately if you are good enough you are in. If you cannot achieve the required level at a lower league why should you deserve a chance to move up. Like many i can see so many flaws in the new system not least that better riders could and likely will miss out on places due to complex team building restrictions all the while lesser riders will have the confidence beaten out of them being the whipping boys. When was the last time you saw a rider with no mechanical issues or falls lapped.....

Many thanks! The link wouldn't initially open on my computer but I've now got there!

Recall that Len Silver wouldn't allow someone to take to the track during his Training Schools until they had satisfied him that they were able to lay the bike down...I did read that he used to jump in front of a rider forcing them to drop the bike but I'm not sure if I actually believe that? Just read in the latest "Backtrack" magazine that it was also a requirement insisting upon by Ken Marshall who used to run Training Schools at Felton under the instruction of John Robson "...if they couldn't lay a bike down, they couldn't go out on the track."

Are Birmingham fans still banging on about this one? I remember at the time they wanted Tomicek thrown out the meeting.... probably would of done Somerset a favour if he was but that’s another story for another day! Tomicek used to have a near heart attack every time he got near anybody on track so I am 100% certain there is no way that is intentional. You could actually even argue he passed Lyons into the turn, he doesn’t have to leave room and Lyons should actually back off. Nothing more than a racing incident!

I’m hoping the days of loan fees have gone - especially in the current world.

Wow.... that would look good on the side of a yellow Reliant Van to promote ticket sales!!!

Bloody hell, he would cause carnage on a track that small !!

Danyon is one of the loveliest kindest fellas you could ever wish to meet. Salt of the earth.

I've had my first vaccine a few weeks ago and no ill effects. Second one due late March just had letter. By mid April everyone Over 50 and all vulnerable people will have had one vaccine and most over 70's will have had 2 vaccines. One vaccine gives more immunity than any Flu jab. There will be a tipping point when there will be more vaccinated and with some level of immunity through having had it than not vaccinated or not immune. The mid April point should see over 85% of the age / groups who have died with vaccine cover We won't ever get full immunity, this is like the flu in that respect, new strains and new vaccines to keep up. If Sport, not just Speedway doesn't start by mid / end Spring it never will. Of course we'll get a season , it will be different. Some Clubs will make the best of it, some wont. If anyone claims to be a speedway fan and wants to see it survive, it will be time to go and support or for ever stop moaning in my opinion.

Only Anders rode in Poland in 2020, Kemp has signed for Gdansk, but will he get a ride as its very tough league to go straight into Polish first division

Next Episode will be out this week with Rory Schlein