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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.

I agree that riders should obtain their place on merit and not handed a place on a plate. But remember in 2021 we're only talking about 12 places. Between the 3* and 1* grades there are easily 12 riders of capable of being competitive in the 2021 CL. If certain promoters decide to pick an uncompetitive RS then that's their choice. The old 2.00 reserve didn't always go to a rider on merit anyway. How often did the points limit dictate that 2.00 pointer was thrown in to get under the limit while a better rider on say 2.32 was left on the side lines. At least this removes that issue. I think the idea of creating a pathway for young British riders is a good one. Unfortunately the 2.00 assessed starting average isn't enough to do that. How many times has a promising youngster upped their 2.00 average only to be replaced by an old hand on a lower average but perceived to be an improvement. Seen this at Newcastle many times, Andersson, Schramm, Mills being brought in at #7 based on past reputation. With youngsters dropped. How many times did James Burkinshaw move away from Sheffield get a low average to return to the Tigers the following season to increase his average? As I've posted previously this attempt looks over engineered to get to the position of securing a development pathway for British youngsters. All that needed to be done was to remove those old hands from obtaining team places on low averages. Easily done. Just set a minimum assessed average based on rider experience. Just like new British riders start on a 2.00 over 60 matches have a minimum average of 3.00 over 90 matches have a minimum average of 4.00 over 120 matches have a minimum average of 5.00 any non UK riders have a minimum average of 6.00 For example if a rider with over 120 matches has an actual CMA of 3.33 they can still obtain a team place but on a 5.00 average for team building. Naturally creating team places for inexperienced British riders but also incentivising them to progress their performances to achieve the minimum average. It would mean that teams could build a side with strength in depth if they couldn't afford/find top heat leaders and still have a competitive side. As it stands the 15 heat format already favours teams with strong 1st and 2nd heat leaders. This new system compounds that by levelling out heats 2, 8, 12 and 14 which teams with strong reserves would normally have had an advantage in. That balance doesn't exist anymore so if you haven't got a strong top two (or a wonder kid at #7) you're going to struggle. In summary a good strategy poorly implemented.

some riders have still to be added my son contacted them weeks ago but still not on the list so called today and girl said there’s still a few to he added and will be updated soon as there only in the office a couple of times a week

You like him then!

There was an article in Speedway Star in the early 70s about Ivan running training schools in New Zealand during the UK winter. He said the first thing the novices were taught was how to lay it down safely.

With Leon Flint and Drew Kemp in grade 3 there should be plenty of takers for those two.

Ordered it straight away but no autograph off KT in there good read tho , I enjoyed it

I’m sure Bees fans will never forget the night at Blackbird Road when John Boulger somehow managed to lay his bike down behind a stricken Nigel Boocock. Booey suffered a hairline skull fracture from his mishap, what the outcome would have been without Boulger’s reaction doesn’t bear thinking about.

Surely Panthers will go with Shanes ?

Yes, in the old days things were thrown onto the track to make a rider show he could drop the bike. I gather it went out of fashion due to the riders getting hurt and/of damaging their bike. I think nowadays new riders, trying to slide and drop it, are really practicing, unbeknown to them, ready for when they have to drop it.

Perhaps thats the bit we are all missing....its a five year plan but only applies to one match a year....

The silhouette of the rider being announced tomorrow looks like Bjarne Pedersen.

I totally agree with you the lad should have full run in a team just hope some promotion give him the chance to show his potential.

That flick was caused by a bit more throttle to point the bike down the straight, I don't see any way in which he deliberately did that to hit Lyons. He didn't know exactly where he was for starters. As for the Phil Morris incident it's been done to death but I don't see that as anything other than a racing incident either, two riders rode lines that converged on the exit. I agree totally with that, I think there are very few deliberately dirty moves in Speedway. The higher the level the harder moves can be without disastrous consequences but at the end of the day it is a very small world and riders deliberately riding dirty will soon be getting retaliation from all angles. Having said that I do think the one thing that you see, mostly at lower levels, that should always result in disqualification whether it results in an accident or not is turning right. The move can and does cause the type of accidents that will often result in serious injury and there is no sensible reason for it. Luckily it's not common but I have seen a couple of riders who have used it as a blocking move and possibly not even realised how dangerous it is.

He sounds like a lad who knows his plaice....

I can add 2009 10,652 2010 8,536 2013 9,086

Agree with this. We have to build again from a realistic base. We can't ignore three important facts. The centre of the speedway world is in Poland. Geographically we are an island off the mainland of Europe. Politically no longer being in the EU makes travelling to and working in the UK a whole lot more difficult. We should build our leagues predominantly around UK riders and those from Australia and New Zealand who might feel the UK is a better place to be based in when Europe. RE. growth; incremental growth is always more sustainable and easier to adjust to. Much more desirable than boom and bust.