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Can't see there is the budget for marquee signings? Some clubs it would seem are still paying well over the odds and the kind of level that some in the Championship can't sustain. I've heard that's the reason why a few won't be joining us as they have been offered silly money elsewhere. Better to have a solid 1-7 and to win some home matches on a well prepared track and to enjoy the spectacle than to take silly risks. It's vital that the budget and income match so that we transition in to 2023 and grow in small steps. Let's get the basics right, entertaining speedway on a well prepared track. Sorry if this is boring for some, but it's a lot less boring than losing speedway altogether.

David Bellego? Chris Holder? Andžejs Ļebedevs? Krzysztof Kasprzak? Offer them the money and the crowds will come in. Doyle number one and Holder at 5.

This post will be referenced time and time again to prove that you are a clueless fool.

Only Rob Grant knows the reasons for the strength of the side he has built, but I do think our team is better than the one he built last season. I’d obviously like a stronger team, but I think I’m probably a little more understanding of the Diamonds situation than a lot and I am happy that I’ve got a side to watch. My point is that you need to accept that you won’t get what you want in 2022 and that isn’t the fault of the Birmingham promotion. There is a lack of quality riders available to British Speedway (which was very apparent to all Diamonds supporters this year) and although Josh Auty may seem an uninspiring signing, the chances are that he was one of the few decent riders available to your promotion. I’d be very surprised if you manage to bring in a big name at number 1 unless you throw silly money at someone, but even that might not work and isn’t a wise thing to do anyway. Unfortunately, whilst the new Birmingham promotion establishes itself, things will inevitably take a step back as they are playing catch up and rider confidence in them needs to grow. A lot of people seem to be overlooking these points and it frustrates me to see people seemingly surprised that the names being signed are not superstars. They won’t be and expectations should be realistic. Although they haven’t been announced, it doesn’t mean riders haven’t signed elsewhere already. I only had to read other teams threads to work that out. Try not to be too disappointed in Birmingham’s signings, as I’m sure they will be doing the very best they can with the cards they are holding.

The king of Ashfield completes our 2022 lineup

Scunthorpe are much stronger next year than this year. Douglas & Allen in for Ellis & Jorgy is a big improvement because Ellis wasn't even committed. Kennedy is a better rider than MacDonald so that's another improvement imo. Newcastle's team isn't good at all imo. Congreve has no UK experience, BWD is not a No.1 and he's been off the bike for a while so might be rusty. Newcastle have also lost Connor Mountain which is a big blow.

Have to say I’m not Cook fan,but he is sensational at times to watch round Ashfield.Unfortunately for me is just about untouchable round Shielfield too.

What was that you were saying , My first time getting all seven right

So glad he is back !!! Looking like a pretty strong team the Glasgow management has put together x

This team could surprise one or two folk, on paper it looks ordinary but you never know ,so long as there is good racing i’m not bothered, anyway it could be worse we could have signed Danny Phillips.

Agreed, The team is looking good so far and the last signing could make it Very good or average !

Speedway racing can be the best form of entertainment. But going trackside to watch the spectacle becomes slightly samey if you don't have a dog in the race, a team in the true sense of the word or a favourite rider. How can you possibly turn up at a track and support what is often a list of seven men thrown together simply because their average fits... and the track's race day, which also allows them the to race for at least one other team? The sport has lost its characters, its personalities and, more importantly, the reason most of us tagged on in the first place - the team thing. Now it seems so much like Formula 1. If I would have wanted a sport like F1 to follow, I would have followed that. In fact, growing up, I used to get annoyed when people asked "speedway - is that Barry Sheene?" I wasn't at all interested in motorcycling, never have been. I told them it was league racing and not about individuals. Speedway was special, it was about my team, Belle Vue. It wasn't just about motorbikes. I didn't want to support one individual, as motorcycling and F1 required much of the time, I wanted to follow a team. In doing that, you got your own favourites in that team, at times not even its star man. But, now, speedway isn't anywhere near that. I see riders gaining the most from it nowadays and get the feeling they'd ride anywhere. It isn't about loyalty now. They just want a team place for next year. Maybe it's always been the case. But I genuinely think the way the sport has gone in the last two decades - an over reliance on doubling up and down, has killed off the team thing that most fans fell for. Although it's seen as being popular, the play-off system has also killed off reason to have six months of warm up matches just to get there. Then , after a few matches of higher than average crowds that the PO Finals drag from indoors (where've they been all year?), we end the season thinking the sport is in better shape than we thought.

An actual speedway track.

There are more than enough quality riders if they were shared around better.. The issue is that a few clubs will have 3 heat leaders of Div 1 heat leader standard and some clubs will have one at best, and some maybe none whatsoever.. There really is no point in "saving" tracks and then leaving them to face another year of struggle due to not being supported in team building.. Running the sport like they do really doesnt help anyone either, as these teams with a poor side will struggle at home so their own fans will stop going, and struggle away so their opponents then get low crowds when they visit, and then invariably pay out loads in points money for a hammering.. With ironically the team with the poor side who get hammered away getting a 'positive' as they dont pay out much... Still.... Winning that UK Speedway title is so important isnt it? Much more important than the collective growth of the sport... I mean. You may get your results in the weekly local paper, (just above the darts and crib leagues updates), and, if successful at the end of the season, be invited to a buffet with the local mayor. (Covid rules allowing obviously)... A completely avoidable race to the bottom once again for some...

Can we afford the British Champion???

On a sub 9 average it would have been criminal not having him back.

Good to have Cookie back.

Perfect. Looks like has some shiny new engines to play with next season too

Offer him what you can afford, not what he wants (same for every signing).

You (and anybody else) have that option, but........ Others may want to buy the pass now, no matter who the last rider is, to support their team regardless.

To put it bluntly however strong or weak we simply have to turn up and encourage others to do so of we want Brummies to survive. The annual rent is 50k if we have 20 fixtures that's £2500 per match. With only 14 guaranteed fixtures if we don't make play offs or progress in the Cup that would be £3571.48 per fixture. I hope this has been factored in but its a stark message to everyone to support your local club. We've lost too many.

Definitely has its own micro climate like Buxton. Little bit more squeezed for space around the track but a much better racing surface. Seen plenty of good riders round the place and setting some quick times. The plus side is the training track, 2nd halves etc can all be a breeding ground for future riders with an actual progression route (rather than the BSPL mickey mouse ones)

Don’t you believe it I’ve got seriously sun burnt once as it’s a sun trap in that part of Kent - never cold.

I know Brum will have a tight budget to work to but this will need to be balanced against having a poor team without having a proper No1, past history over a number of years have shown that Birmingham fans will not turn up to support a poor Team, so far no rider has been announced that makes me want to go and watch them. I know its not easy but Tolley, Rogers and Co need to give this a great deal of thought, Thomas will be a big miss for Birmingham as i think he has more scope for improvement than either Morris or Shanes.

Amongst the supporters methinks... being in the box all those years was great, but I've missed the crack of being with mates in the crowd.

No but at home we are getting 15 heats of cracking racing. If not that’s when changes will happen

Really? For me Newcastle’s team looks awful.

Entertaining speedway on a well prepared track is certainly not boring ..... But we do need to sign at a couple of riders that's going to attract the 'neutral' fan... I'm sure there's more revenue in one season from a 'neutral' speedway fan attending, than a 'new' face....(just my opinion...) Back in the 70/80's, I never missed a B'ham home meeting (religion) but my old man would take me to see Cradley on a Saturday and sometimes Wolves on a Friday, simply because they both had riders worth watching....I know it's different these days.....there's no so called 'stars' at any club. Gone are the Box Office days of Olsen v Mauger....Penhall v Carter....Gundersen v Nielsen....to name but a few !! I'm so envious of the 'Poles' these days

I agree 100 % Kennedy is an upgrade on Mcdonald as is Douglas .with reference to Jorgy rumour was he was nailed on for a team spot then he upped his money demands I can’t confirm this but I’m sure there’s a few in the know on here

Never going to get a title winning 1-7 as Scunny cant compete with the likes of Leicester, Poole & Glasgow. I think Rob has built a decent side to win at Home and get into the Play-Offs, Cant complain too much when you've got three HL track specialists as well as a British hotshot on the up and Kennedy at reserve imo.

So the Promotion are happy trying to win all the home matches? For me, I want a competitive team that fancies its chances at every track in the country! Two heat leaders fine. Two 2nd strings passed their sell by date and will not improve. A 17 year old who has done extremely well ,but will now be under great pressure in the main team. A reserve who basically has hardly ridden for two seasons and another reserve who again is expected to shine from the off. I am underwhelmed and it seems plenty of other Scorpion fans feel the same whilst chewing the fat with them.

Initial thoughts were that the middle order is a bit light. On reflection, providing that the heat leaders maintain their averages, we have four young riders who are on their way up and between them I would expect an increase in combined averages of three (may be more) points. On that basis, the Lions should be there or there abouts come September. I really do think that the gaffer has assembled a team of racers and am looking forward to seeing them give it a right go.

Correct... it was apparently a "little misunderstanding" however that nice fella Rob Godfrey got things sorted so @Neila can get down off his high horse and credit to the Chairman of the BSPL for resolving the minor blip... It will save @Neila a couple of quid as he will still be able to use his old Hat; Scarf; Clip Board; Jacket; Flag; Beanie; Pyjamas; Underpants; Sweat Shirt; Polo Shirt; H18tory Hoodie and Advertising Strip in the back window of his car. "Win Win" (Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win and Win) there then Neil eh... Hugs and Kisses to big Bad Rob G as all's well that ends well eh Neil... Come on Workington Barbarians... Oops... Regards THJ

Connor Mountain is the secret weapon in the side. He rode most of the season at 3 & 5 for Newcastle, Connor will be a second string for Leicester so he's capable of scoring big and upping his average by a point imo. Leicester & Glasgow both look very good sides to me.

Would highly reccomend Redcar, usually a very good meeting at the MPA against Scunny, and vise versa

Covatti would be an incredible signing.

Last season's included Ty Proctor and Josh Bates. Many were talking up that team as if it had already won the league, with supposedly five heat leader calibre riders. Well, we all know what happened to that

I think its a great venue and offered track time to a huge number of riders over the years. Its the type of venue that is more sustainable if the sport has a long term future. However its certainly rough and ready and won't be everyones cup of tea. The other divide will remain between track owners versus promotors as to who provides the investment for any upgrades etc. As stated though, field parking, hired toilets, bars and catering a-la grasstrack and theres absolutely no reason why its not a sustainable venture. Next up is a team that fans can relate to of Kent connected or based riders.

Good summary of the Team situation.

Thomas Jorgensen

Tommy Gun plus any half decent 2 pointer makes it look a cracking side

Think he has the metal to do the job...

Didn't they both race on the same track in the same weather that night no home track advantage which there never is may I add

You went to London? My condolences.

That was reserved for Cameron Heeps but he never signed,so they might throw one in.

You may or may not get something

Yes it is… You’re on the South coast f f s, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Berwick are all 8 hours away, that is the middle of nowhere, just like Glasgow and Edinburgh are. All meetings that are for ALL teams, should be hosted somewhere CENTRALLY, not on France’s doorstep

Teams should never be forced into signing riders. Especially when you consider how many riders do not want to come to the UK. If a rider gets injured, penalising a club would ve silly. Sounds like sour grapes from rival fans.

What an annoying wee nonce... okay you have got a bite (you've been trying for long enough)... and you have been told what the situation is... however on the issue to hand just about any company can be a sponsor... we (as a company) have just done it for one of our European Employees and as Crescent Girl points out it is time consuming but it isn't that expensive (we felt) and once you can show 12 months of trading you can apply for a Sponsors Licence. The important thing to note here is you should have 12 months of trading and produced a full set of accounts before you can apply to be a sponsor... it has nothing to do with the BSPL it is driven by the British Government and if you don't have 12 months worth of trading accounts you can not apply for the licence so being a new promotion with no trading accounts is a critical factor... 12 month into the job its a different story and you can apply for your own licence (or you can tie into another clubs licence which I wont go into here but it can be done) However costs for a licence are Type of licence Fee for small or charitable sponsors Fee for medium or large sponsors Worker £536 £1,476 Temporary Worker £536 £536 Worker and Temporary Worker £536 £ 1,476 Add a Worker licence to an existing Temporary Worker licence No fee £940 Add a Temporary Worker licence to an existing Worker licence No fee No fee I would suggest that Speedway comes under a small or charitable sponsor as you are usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply: your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less your total assets are worth £5.1 million or less you have 50 employees or fewer https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers Furthermore the employee (in this case the rider) has to obtain a relevant visa and permit to enable them to enter the country and work which also has a cost attached (for someone)... its complicated until you get your head round it... so any Speedway fan who can get their head around the intricacies of the Speedway rules and regulations book will have no trouble with it as it is only half as complicated as they are... So don't keep trying to correct what you perceive as "some of the nonsense previously spread" as it is blatantly obvious you don't have a clue what you are talking about and worst of all because you don't know what you are on about you think it is okay to make up your own little version and stick it on here as being fact. All this has been covered in previous posts that you thought were nonsense then however hit the link and look at the facts and apply them to the situation to hand and you will see the facts (FACTS) for yourself its all there to read... There are none so blind as those who cant see... or aren't prepared to and who would much rather be an antagonistic little Pratt... Regards THJ

Agreed. Very honest and self-aware. He had a lot in his favour. A speedway family, great role model team mates like Hans Nielsen, talented. He should have joined a big track and got away from Eastbourne. Truth is Dugard, Barker and Norris should all have done better and as three likely lads together, probably held each other back. In all sport though, you can never really say who is going to make it to the top until they actually get in that environment and see how they react. It's not always the most talented who make it. For example, not many of us would have seen Jason Doyle becoming a World Champion.