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I get my jab next week,so at least i can't catch it from the germs coming from the Foxhole

I'm just glad he didn't get his claws into Ipswich!

So season looks like it could start on 17th May with a home derby match against Ipswich.

he was over there for the winter and has done a few meetings but holds a British passport and now is announced as glasgow’s rising star

..or even the 26th May!!!! Edit: In the updated fixture list Poole now have a 'reserved' date on 19th May. All fixtures before 17th May now rescheduled.

Every venue will have a maximum capacity set by the Health & Safety exec. Clubs will know exactly what that is and plan accordingly. So pleased that Poole have not scheduled any home meetings til end May - the only question being will any of their 3 scheduled early May away meetings be able to take place?

Jordan palin will go a long way in the sport as he has fantastic backing

Another cover to cover read. My guilty pleasure during lockdown (2/3 hours locked away in my front room with a couple of cans!) Loved the piece on Zenon Plech - such a trailblazer in his day and a real entertainier.

Well hopefully.... ᴄᴀʟᴇɴᴅᴀʀ 12 June: Qualifying Round, Manchester 12 June: Qualifying Round, Riga 12 June: Qualifying Round, Güstrow 04 September: Final, Stralsund 25 September: Final, Krosno 01 October: Final, Pardubice

Taken from Newcastle Speedway Facebook Page: Max Clegg will lead the Newcastle "BTS" Gems side into the 2021 National Development League season, at the most important time in British Speedway, as it's vital for the development of young British talent with the new Rising Star scheme now in place which the top two leagues have implemented. Coming on board with Clegg is new asset, Joe Alcock, and the home town triumvirate of Josh Embleton, Archie Freeman and Danny Smith, while the club have confirmed that advanced conversations are being held to complete the side with the last two riders soon to be announced. Club owner, Rob Grant said: "Newcastle will operate double-headers on many Sundays, with Championship matches running first then followed by the National Development League, and with the earlier regular start time of 4pm at all our meetings, this will allow better value with 30 heats a-night, and highlights Newcastle's emphasis on developing British youngsters in readiness for rising into the Championship in seasons to come. "We at Newcastle are very much making a natural path to run from the Northern Junior League through to National Development League, and then hopefully to the Championship with the Diamonds, and this will also help Newcastle develop their own asset base and create a good foundation to work from in the future."

The point i was making is that ditching a 22 year old for a rider who is just younger isnt on. What about signing riders because they are good enough. Many moan at falling standards and yet seem insistant that any 16 year old with a bike gets a place.

Agreed but sadly they won't. Last time the team building was cut low it lasted a season before upping it again. It still cast riders adrift because despite 2 riders averaging 8 in different seasons wont be comparable if one season had a 35 limit and the other a 40 limit.

A few people on here hung out with Kelly in his final years. I got to know him in New York, where he rode his last meetings. He was very engaging but you could see that he'd lived a life. Here he is with Boogaloo in 2003 - Kelly was only 43 when this was taken....

Who has ever seen a published figure for the "capacity" of any UK speedway stadium ??? (NOT the Rugby Stadium in Wales)

Too many "ifs and buts" . Long way to go to May 17th Just as well Arena Essex isn't still open. Seating capacity of 3 (Ref Timekeeper and Announcer)

You are discussing the wrong part of the statement. League Speedway will be governed by the 50% or 4000, whichever is lower. Which would be fine for most except a 'bumper' bank holiday crowd Cardiff would be a different matter ... perhaps July will be under different rules ?

Seems that the Glasgow rising star is indeed Connor Bailey.

50 % or 4000 capacity.

Very good news Some events last Autumn were pilot events so we may see a bit of action before May 17.

Both realistic and manageable, but we may yet be overtaken by events. It should be relatively straight forward for most teams to simply postpone the first couple of meetings. I imagine that the 1000 or 50% limit will mean that we continue to have admission by pre-purchased ticket. Aside from unforseen setbacks the biggest unknown is how much of a relaxation there will be on international travel restrictions.

The only thing that could allow an earlier start is for Speedway to be included in some test event capacity.......

Looks like 25th May for Pooles first home meeting is looking good

17th May now earliest date for crowds at sporting events

Not had mine today, requested a replacement. Probably get two tomorrow. Got the digital version but can't take that in the bath

Great news that we are going full on in the NL full rather than just the cup competition and I appreciate we need to balance the team with the number of local untried youngsters in there but Max Clegg should not be in there. Nothing against the lad but he’s been riding as a professional for about nine years, he was in the Elite league draft system in 2014 and he is way too good for the NL. Add the fact that the pressure of doing the previous championship match and then being expected to clean up doing another 5 rides afterwards is just too much to put on him. This is supposed to be a development division , he isn’t going to learn anything that he doesn’t already know. Yes, he will be a big scoring number 1 but isn’t the point of the exercise to give new youngsters opportunities ? There are bound to be clashes of fixtures away from home so he will miss meetings anyway and there won’t be many 10-11 point averaged guests knocking about! I know we need a competitive team but there’s room there to bring in two less experienced 5-6 pointers who , with the reduced standard, will become the next generation of heat leaders.The likes of Josh Embleton will double his average based on that so let’s look around at the least experienced lads out there. Id throw in the name of the likes of Greg Blair who is on the comeback. Seen him at Redcar in 2020 and he’s already on the pace, he’s experienced enough and has been unlucky with injuries and don't think he’s actually ever had a full season under his belt . He’ll score points and be entertaining to watch and he’d be an ideal rider to step up into the diamonds side if required!

It's well worth it!

As far as I'm aware, if the rules are the same as they were in 2020, the lower limit in the NL is 3.00, which is kinda stupid if they are wanting to bring new kids in to race, they look way more attractive to teams on a 2.00 than a 3.00. Things might change for this season though? And I hope they do

The 2 pointer thing was dropped after a season obviously it could have been re-introduced as nobody knows despite riders being signed, team building averages being changed and no official releases at all being made to joe public. i would think given how other teams are building the sensible 3 pointer being the base remains. As it stands Clegg will need a max every week, Freeman bags quite a few (hopefully due to less fixture he will get longer at reserve) and the the other heat leader is more than the suggestions ive heard. Providing Alcock has got dialled in from the CL meeting he could be a threat if not the others will be queuing up to take his place.

Suggest you buy a new calculator (presume you mean the limit will be 38.00 exactly?)

Available on kindle if you can'tfind a hard copy. Thoroughly recommend it.

I certainly can't argue with your point. Build a team that has the best chances of improving and winning you will still come up against sides that are cannon fodder and put together "in the spirit of the NL" therefore costing lots of points money and seeing your team ripped apart at the end of the year. Build a cannon fodder team and fail to attract/keep a crowd plus damage the reputation of the league. Until all teams can agree a sensible middle ground and that the best interests for all is an open and entertaining season (and i know that unlikely) the struggles will continue. I know the independent governing body route is a no go but the sport at at each league level and as a whole needs a directive of how it intends to be viewed from the outside and the direction that all clubs should be heading in there will remain the clumsy separate approach that haunts the sport now.

its a development team the way it should be local teams giving local lads a chance and long may it continue

Also what I'm saying its easy for us to knock the promotion saying this should be done ect, but I think in these times would we do any better with the set up as it is just being honest.

Very well done Newcastle, hopefully more clubs will follow this example.

I would buy a track / venue but darned if i would enter a team into the league. Id host open meetings with riders graded closer to ability levels and practice days to keep the coffers full. I don't see any benefits of team speedway in the UK anymore for rider, club or fans so there's no way i would invest anything into anything that i had limited control over.

About five years ago, I commented that Clegg was too good for the NL: he certainly is now. He should have moved on a long time ago.

Have you ever seen a promoter reduce the admission cost?

One book I must get my hands on!

BRILLIANT NEWS!! Not only does this mean that we must be riding in the league itself rather than the trophy, it means the Max can be more involved within the club, which can only be a good thing. Nice to see Danny, Josh and Archie all getting team places, being Newcastle born and bred and good to see club asset Joe getting a team place. Wonder if Josh out performs Joe in the Gems how long Joe will last as the Diamonds' number 7? A lot of pressure and friendly rivalry in the team, which is good. 1. Max Clegg 10.14 2. Josh Embleton 4.83 3. 4. Joe Alcock 4.36 5. 6. Danny Smith 3.00 7. Archie Freeman 3.00 Total: 22.33 Left: ?.?? The main question is now. What is the points limit, and how much do we have left to play with for the final 2 riders. Personally would like to see Jamie Halder back, but not sure whether that'll happen, all will come clear soon I'm sure. P.S. THJ, you got any clues?

Gonna turn 22 before the season... Here's more info about him https://www.speedwaybikes.com/rw/udillonruml.htm

just get the home track to pay for both sets of points, it's all fixed rates at this level isn't it?

Kemp and Rowe look the two stand out youngsters to me at the moment, Palin obviously a little younger but could be on their level quickly as he is an excellent prospect. I hope there is a bit of friendly rivalry between them all and Brennan so they push each other on. In terms of Palin’s development I certainly don’t think it’s too much too soon, if anything we don’t push out youngsters soon enough, they need to get out of the NL as soon as they can and start racing regularly against senior riders. Of course not all will succeed but those early years where improvement can be rapid are vital.

No question that Kemp and Rowe are a tad better than Palin at the moment. Kemp was brilliant at the Championship meeting at Scunny last year. Ironically Palin fell and was excluded in their heat together and Kemp got the 15 max and Palin the 12. Interesting.? Rowe had a brilliant meeting Berwick for the U 19 /championship. I saw Rowe at Newcastle for Somerset and he really took to our track.

Barry Briggs was quoted once as saying the following about Hyde Road..... if you cannot RACE at Hyde road you are no Speedway rider A quote to qualify what a super track we had at Hyde Road. Now we have ridden at the NSS for a while I believe that the NSS Is better than Hyde Road. One more quote about Hyde road from Hans Nielsen this time..... it is the only track where I can be leading going into one of the bends and one rider goes under me with another taking me on the outside coming out of the bend in3rd place

Tough news for James Sarjeant, hope the lad gets fixed up with a team spot, easy to knock a guy when he is down and be his mate when all going well.

Ludicrous ideas! Without the 3rd tier, you probably wouldn't have Birmingham, Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Berwick and Eastbourne in the 2nd tier. These are clubs who either dropped down to the NL to keep going or reopened in it! Mildenhall and the IoW probably would close if the NL folded! The step from junior racing to Championship level is huge so the NL is a more than useful stepping stone!

Tbh that's pretty believeable!

Think they asked Josh Bates his plans for this season,then set the rules

Vaccine discrimination being put forward then Effectively banning the under 50s from attending If they do that then I wont attend for the rest of the season on principle even once able to

I've always believed the sport is too expensive. Its too expensive to watch, Its too expensive to promote, and too expensive to ride, and until that issue is addressed the sport will continue to die. In this modern day our stadia are old and run down , and the tracks are not suitable for the super fast machinery that the riders now use. All the individual facets think only of themselves . This pandemic created the ideal opportunity for a sport to have fresh start with new ideas that would bring in new blood, new format, new machinery, but all they have done is to continue along the same criteria that hasn't worked for years.. They haven't learnt a thing......