Halifaxtiger

Birmingham have already mentioned it as a possibility. Could be Kent because they may pick up some with Lakeside closing. I'll be very surprised if its Eastbourne. They only other is Plymouth, Mark Phillips having talked about it. Its easy to be negative here but all clubs - with the exception of Lakeside - are coming to the tapes in 2019. Given the rumours and speculation, that's welcome news.

The problem is that they treat speedway as a full time occupation and consequently they expect to be paid accordingly. Until recently, and with the exception of the top stars, it never has been. A few years ago, the then Somerset team manager Mick Bell criticised one of his riders for expecting to make a living from the sport. As a second string/reserve in the old British League (who won three winners medals) Bell said that when he was riding speedway was no more than 'a good paying hobby'. What we get from rider demands on the basis of full time occupation is pay of - to use your figures - £1,200 a week or so. For one rider, on gates of 6-700, that's absolutely unsustainable. Worse still we get the nightmare of uncontrolled doubling up which has undeniably been a disaster for the clubs. Dean Felton has repeatedly said that the 'tail is wagging the dog' ie its all about riders, their wishes, needs and demands. He's right. It means that one thing is absolutely certain : when decisions are made regarding the future of the sport and its ability to make ends meet, it cannot be the case that the matter of rider pay is not considered. As one of the major costs, it should be near the top of the list.

I'd be surprised if 'most' top Championship riders are paid that amount. If they are, it doesn't take the genius of an Einstein to work out why speedway teams are in desperate financial straights.

I think you are absolutely right and this simply has to be addressed. The pay rates that I have heard Glasgow were offering were unbelievable, and I got that from several sources. Its all very well to bleat about huge losses but when part of that is down to unsustainable wages responsibility lies significantly with the promotion themselves - they are the ones who are just ignoring the income they have when they consider their expenditure. Glasgow might be the worst example but there's no doubt in my mind that others are almost as bad. I have said several times in the past that aside from the very top boys speedway has never been a full time occupation - at whatever level - and the sooner we get back to that the better. I am sure there will be riders who really won't like it but they need to get a grasp on reality.

If I had the money to spare I'd certainly prop up a speedway track even if I didn't actually get involved in the promotion, and I can think of several Workington fans who would do the same. According to Ged Rathbone, someone has bought Peterborough so there are still people - as we have seen many times - who will purchase a speedway team.

Daft, isn't it ? We also get some bemoaning how teams are split up so there is no continuity for the fans and others desiring wholesale sackings The team I stated earlier - Fricke, Bewley, Tungate, Pickering, Cook, Nielsen, Berge - would (I think) fit under the existing points limit. There is continuity in the team and potential for scoring improvement within that continuity. To be fair, Tungate isn't likely to go up much but I would retain him anyway. The 'new blood' is Nielsen and Pickering. Nielsen has the potential to make mincemeat of his average and Pickering would be absolutely sensational at the NSS.

Tungate - based upon Premiership matches last season - actually averaged over 6 away from home (not including bonus points), two rubbish performances at King's Lynn putting a major dent in that figure. Could be better for a third heat leader, but most certainly not 'very poor' or a 'liability'. He's a big scorer at the NSS and, what's more, is hugely entertaining.

You might be surprised. True, it is more uncertain this season but in the last few years Belle Vue, Leicester, Glasgow, Berwick, Workington, Sheffield, Peterborough, Isle of Wight, Birmingham & Plymouth have all had new owners.

I think you are absolutely right. If the club moves to Rye House, then they should be called Rye House. Its a little bizarre, but there are those who wouldn't go to Hoddesdon if the team remained as Lakeside but would if it changed to Rye House.

It is thought - by some - that an extremely low average will force some of those in the NL who are content to stay there and score big points on reasonable pay up. My own view is that there are very few like that, any rider with ambitions will want to go up anyway and that the higher leagues have a disastrous record of dumping a young rider within a short period of time if he doesn't score well. The latter will mean at least potentially that they can't ride anywhere. From what I have heard, almost all NL promotions are against it and that suggests a very low team building average won't happen. It would be utterly ludicrous to force most of the league to do something that they don't want and I can see a number of tracks closing if they do. The NL can see that people won't be shelling out for something little more than a training session and while wages will reduce, the cost of stadiums, insurance, medical cover. shale etc will remain exactly the same. Frankly - and even allowing for the point about disparity of strengths - I believe that the NL just about hits the balance between developing riders and being a business spot on. It should therefore be left very much alone and allowed to go its own way without interference by outsiders who, lets face it, aren't exactly in a position to tell others how to run their league.

Yes, but not for the reason you have stated. Word I have had is that the stadium is seriously dilapidated, with the developers doing all they can to make sure that sooner or later it will become an eyesore and they can knock it down and build houses. Apparently, its not much better than Coventry and will require serious investment to bring it up to scratch. I am saddened but not surprised at Stuart Douglas' announcement. I don't think its much of a secret that he has poured a huge amount of money into Lakeside over the years and losing the stadium, and the manner of it, has probably persuaded him that now is the time to go.

Max Fricke Josh Pickering Dan Bewley Rohan Tungate Craig Cook Dmitri Berge Stefan Nielsen Depends on the conversion from CL to PL, but I think that is under 42.5. Pickering would be a fantastic addition - easily capable of giving the sort of entertainment provided by Bewley & Tungate.

Rider of the year - Danny Ayres most impressive team - Mildenhall team rider of the season - Alfie Bowtell one to watch - Ben Woodhull meeting of the season - Plymouth v Mildenhall surprise of the season - Ryan Kinsley underperformers team - Birmingham (due to injury) unluckiest rider - Jordan Jenkins newcomer of the year - Drew Kemp

I was going to do mine too but I agree with you on almost every one. The Scunthorpe-Glasgow match was my favourite - which is saying something considering I watched a lot of racing at the NSS. I also very much agree about Josh Pickering and have told everyone at Belle Vue that he should be one of the first names on the team sheet. He'd be amazing there.

Unfashionable they maybe, but they are still a terrific little club as well. Definitely one of my favourite places to visit for more reasons than the racing alone. A quick word for Tony Jackson here. I have never met him, but I have never heard a bad word about him either (which, where speedway is concerned, is exceptional). Comets through and through, from standing on the terraces to becoming team manager and co-promoter. There's no doubt he has made a substantial contribution to Workington's season and its all the more pleasing when one of the decent guys gets his share (more than his share) of success. I echo your view regarding the future of the Comets. For me at least, speedway simply wouldn't be the same without them.

That's why I think the announcement on the Eagles website and facebook page on 15/10/18 about the meeting on 26/10/18 is important. It would be surprising if Eastbourne simply went ahead and announced a date without any consultation with Mildenhall but, if they did (and there is nothing on the Mildenhall website or facebook page), then I would say that it is Eastbourne that are most at fault here.

According to the statement, they notified Eastbourne on 21st.

Absolutely delighted for everyone at Workington, especially Laura, Jacko and some fantastic supporters.

While I agree that the rule can - and indeed has - been abused there has to be some leeway for NL riders who are at best semi-professional. The question is whether that is the case here. On the face of it, it has but I'll await the outcome of the SCB investigation first. What I would point out is that Mildenhall went into the play off final with Kelsey Dugard guesting for Jordan Jenkins and rr for Danny Ayres. That strongly points to the fact that there are indeed difficulties getting replacements, because there's no way they would have gone into that meeting so weakened had they been able to get other riders. To me, the important question is whether Mildenhall agreed to the 26th fixture on the 15th. If they did, then they are culpable.

I am a bit reluctant to be critical here but I take issue with a couple of points. I am pretty sure that none of us want to watch a 'a gate and go borefest' but in my experience Workington just isn't like that. Most of the meetings I have seen there this season have been decent at least and I certainly wouldn't make a 6 hour round trip to watch rubbish. The NSS is no more a purpose built speedway track than EWR is and I'd remind you that Leicester is the same, suggesting that such a track is not 'bound' to be good for racing. A great deal of care went into ensuring that the NSS became the world class circuit that it is. In truth, both EWR and NSS are similar where racing is concerned. I'd say that it would be harsh to say that the early heats are 'boring' more that there is usually a definite improvement later on. NSS is the best track in the country, but EWR is definitely second and only a bit behind. I am most fortunate to have both within reasonable travelling distance.

Question is, when did Eastbourne know about it ? While all speedway fans accept that NL riders have commitments,according to the Eagles website this fixture was made on 15 October. Presumably at that time Mildenhall agreed to it and its hard to believe that they did so in the knowledge (or possibility) that they would have one rider available. Less than a fortnight later, however, (and after they have lost the NL Grand Final) only Marson can ride in what is essentially (to Mildenhall at least) a nothing meeting. Its not difficult to draw the conclusion that Mildenhall just weren't bothered (especially taking into account the fact they have done this before) and that's simply not good enough.

He might have overstated it a bit but this : 'Well done Workington, I think you have a lot of neutrals on your side around the country given the way you try to go about your business and have been treated this year... ' ...............….is almost certainly bang on. There will be quite a few outside Lincolnshire who will display a degree of schadenfreude at that result.

A little harsh, but only a little. There's no question that the decision - for utterly selfish motives - to stop Workington, Lakeside and Peterborough using Friday nights has contributed to this situation.

That's what Edinburgh thought with a bigger advantage Scunny - the outclassed Philips apart - were very solid indeed while Workington relied on the brilliant Jensen and Campton. Klindt, Starke & Bach were poor, although Bach at least tried hard. Cracking meeting , with the highlight surely Campton's astonishing pass of Garrity & Manzares in heat 12. He came from nowhere to take them both on the inside with a remarkable turn of speed and its definitely one of the best moves I have seen anywhere this season.

I think the thing to remember there is there isn't a single fan from any other club who wouldn't want that sort of financial backing. Many congratulations to the Comets