Halifaxtiger

Apparently Johnson knew all along that his agreement was not a concrete one. Furthermore Wilson-Dean has patriality so, at least as far as speedway rules go, he isn't a foreigner. I think 25YF above is correct in his suggestion that Johnson is a journeyman who probably won't go beyond NL speedway. Some, indeed, would question his right to ride in a league that is about development. The point you are missing - which I have already made on this thread and many times before - is that the NL isn't just a training league. For the stand alone clubs at least, its a business that requires an attractive product to bring in paying customers. One person on here has already said that they are more likely to go given the switch - how many others might feel the same way ? Not in my experience. I thought he was very likeable indeed.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Peterborough, Sheffield, Ipswich, Scunthorpe.

Alan Jones has already said it but: 19.8.1.1 Riders qualifying by UK Patriality will be given an assessed MA of 5.00 The question remains: Does he have patriality? If he doesn't, he can't ride in the NL. According to his website, Brendan Johnson is 22 and has ridden NL speedway for 8 seasons (albeit punctuated by serious injury). Last year, he averaged just over 6.00, so its not unreasonable to say that he is becoming (if he is not already) an NL journeyman. If they had dropped Kelsey Dugard, you'd have far more of a point. Fair point. What some still don't seem to grasp is that the stand alone NL teams are a business and rely upon gate receipts to survive. As such, they need to make their team as attractive as possible to paying customers. I met Brendan Johnson last year and he's a smashing lad but I suspect this New Zealander is likely to pull in more people, so its difficult to blame Eastbourne for the change. Ask Mildenhall what Cameron Heeps did for them. Yes, he is. I'd have dropped Warwick. He's 31, has been around for 13 seasons and has spent most of his riding career in the NL. Further to that, his average is only marginally higher than Johnson's, his been out for a year and, in my experience, Johnson is far more committed. Personally, I'd say its far worse that Eastbourne have dropped Johnson and retained Warwick than they have dropped Johnson nad brought in a New Zealander. Indeed, how many would have complained if Warwick had been dropped for the New Zealander ?

That's simply not true. There's no 'withholding' of fixture dates at all - as Jayne has explained, they have to be compiled after the EL & PL ones. In any case, they'll be available probably two months or so before the start of the season - how much notice do people need ? Half (Coventry run Fridays).

I am sure that this comment is but 'we got told it was OK' is part of the problem. I have little doubt that Plymouth got told Chapman was OK to double up (although why they needed to ask is anyone's guess) in exactly the same way that I have little doubt that Somerset were told that Holder was on a 5.00. One thing is certain: we'll never know precisely who told them that. You might well be right. It won't be the first time a bent decision has been made without explanation or clarification and it probably won't be the last.

I am wondering just how you have come to that ridiculous conclusion. Of course he has a PL average, as dictated by SCB Regulations: Cat 4: Riders who have ridden in the National Development League as an Amateur 18.6.2 The Assessed MA's for new Riders to the PL racing is: Cat 1 8.00 Cat 2 7.00 Cat 3 5.00 Cat 4 3.00 Not that that, as Islander has pointed out, has the slightest relevance. I suggest you try to make a reasonable argument that Chapman can double up in the face of this regulation: NL eligibility: 19.9.2.2 A current PL Rider under 25 years-old with a PL MA of 4.00 or below at the start of the Season. We'll see. I'll await an explanation as to how he can double up given the specific rules that say that a rider aged 25 or over can't do so. Then again, it won't be the first time the BSPA completely ignore their own rule book.

I can see your points here but I think in this situation there is a difference between the BSPA and the clubs. True, all clubs belong to the BSPA but not all of them have been found to be flouting the specific rules laid down by the UK V&I and, indeed, some that have been flouted are trivial. Blaming the BSPA as a whole is a bit like blaming Parliament for the expenses scandal, when in fact it was only certain MP's. Further to that, other sports have also been cited so I think it is a matter between employer and migrant. That's how I see it too. Cradley's team was packed full of young British riders. They just happened to be able to attract the best of them. Dead right. Even this seasons teams have a number of second hand foreigners who have been over here for years but done nothing. And when they do choose a British youngster it is sometimes the case that if he struggles for a few weeks he is booted out with all speed while foreigners doing the same are retained.

Just to correct this post....... I am advised that this is a matter between employer and migrant, not the BSPA. Indeed, they have been proactive in trying to sort this issue out. I am further advised that the difficulties are not insurmountable. Fingers crossed, then.

The answer is, of course, that he wasn't. He got in as a result of a crooked deal between the BSPA and a number of teams. While some might argue that speedway (or perhaps more accurately, the BSPA) have reaped what they have sown I think that the UK V&I are being unreasonable in taking this action at this point. Would it have been so unthinkable as to insist that they all attend courses in October ?

I think you are right Not that it helps !!

Perhaps they got approval from the same person at the BSPA who agreed Jack Holder could come in on a 5.00.

That's in the FIM Regs relating to the U21 championship: 072.2.1 Eligibility The limit for the minimum age (16 years) starts on the date of the rider's birthday and the limit for the maximum age (21 years) finishes at the end of the year in which they reach 21 years, pursuant to the FIM Medical Code. That's for individual championships only and has no relevance to racing in leagues in this country. SCB Regulations most certainly do.

The rule quite clearly says under 25 at 'the start of the season'. The season is defined: Season: The period from March 15th (March 8th when Easter falls in March) to October 31st (both inclusive) and Meetings may only be held outside this period where specific written permission of the SCB has been given. As far as I can see he will be 26 at the start of the season, so he is ineligible to ride in the NL if he is riding in the PL. As I say, though, that's the 2014 Regulations, which also state that Jack Holder's average is a 5.00.

NL eligibility: 19.9.2.2 A current PL Rider under 25 years-old with a PL MA of 4.00 or below at the start of the Season. He's 26 at the start of the season (because it doesn't start on the 1st January, it starts on 15th March), so he can't ride for Birmingham and Plymouth. That's the 2014 regulations, though, and we all know how accurate they are..................... I sense a crooked interests of speedway, no public justification, say a word against it and you'll be shafted from all sides decision.

I think Penny Cross is right - Benko is a loss. True, his away form was appalling but with a full season under his belt and the prospect of better equipment on a 3.00 average he was as good as Plymouth could get, especially taking into account that he was just 18 and a club asset. Whoever the Devils get to replace him won't be any better. Holder's performance in the Aussie U21 gives some cause for optimism. Mixing it with Fricke and Kurtz means he just might better that 7.00 average.

I think the surprising bit is that he has chosen the NL over the PL. He can, at the moment, ride EL & PL or EL & NL but not PL & NL. Once the season starts he will be able to gain a PL place while continuing to ride for Birmingham & Lakeside.

Shads said it earlier - if Scunny are struggling, there's not much hope for the rest. It is the best race track in the country, Mr Godfrey is one of the best presenters and there are as few delays as possible. That's what people want. I have never had a problem with the PA system at EWR or completing my programme either. There's an awful lot that Rob Godfrey and Scunthorpe can teach a few other tracks. What June is saying, though, is that the connection with paying customers isn't as good as it was. She's saying that the return of the days when there was interaction between the promotion, the riders and fans has almost gone and bringing them back might help. That's not knocking the club, its trying to help (and you're right, Scunthorpe are not the only ones to whom it applies). There are a lot on here who have all the ideas in the world about bringing fans back, but her point is one of the best and most practical I have seen. Moreover, it doesn't cost a penny. Surely its got to be worth considering ?

Maybe they think they don't need as many in the NL. That's just common sense. Kevin Coombes, though, is one of the best in the game - he will be a big loss.

The presence of the air force base wasn't even mentioned in the stadium noise case.

You're right, but I suspect dropping down two divisions will radically change Eastbourne's status in relation the terms they can offer when compared with other teams. It would surprise me if they weren't one of the better payers now they are in the NL.

Nothing wrong on track, clearly (and I would be the first to agree with that). What June refers to, though, is off track. I have little reason to doubt what she's saying and, as such, she makes a very good point. Dead right. Sometimes I think that some promotions regard supporters as a necessary evil to be tolerated but not embraced.

I think so too. So far, the league looks competitive, of a standard that will attract paying customers (because Dean is right, people simply won't pay to watch amateur meetings composed solely of novices) and is full of British youngsters. I suspect I will watch more NL speedway this season than I have in the past couple.

To be fair, the points limit had to be set low to ensure that all teams were competitive and avoid the fact that last season there weren't enough top riders to go around. Its possible that they have gone a little too low but its easy to be wise in hindsight. On the basis of what we have so far, I think the NL will be enormously competitive, will just about hit the standard required to attract paying customers and is packed full of British youngsters. That hits the nail firmly on the head for me and I suspect I will be watching more NL speedway next season than I have for a few years.

Shame on you, Blobby, for saying that it was Allied Vehicles who had bought the Tigers. Its the two blokes that own Allied Vehicles that bought them and Allied Vehicles are only the sponsors. How could you get it so wrong ?

Nonsense. Firstly, most riders can roll forward without touching the tapes - breaking or touching the tapes is unusual, moving is anything but. Secondly, its seeking to gain advantage over your opponents by a better start. Finally, of course, it is stated that riders must be stationary in SCB Regulations. I think the latter is probably why races are called back. The pity is it isn't applied consistently by any means.