StevePark

Nope. Rode for Redcar last week.

The action they should have taken was back in November 2011, by not issuing Bowden a promoters licence. Hopefully they have learned their lesson and 2012 will be different, if no one else takes over, of course.

Mainstream TV are not interested as (as you have already pointed out with the Sky TV situation) only speedway followers will watch. TV stations won't show it as it is a 'minority sport' (like it or not) along with the likes of Ice Hockey and Basketball etc., and will therefore not attract many (extra) viewers. In fact you already said we won't get it! Advertising costs (a lot of) money. Something there is little of within the sport, due to the falling crowds etc. Newspapers aren't interested unless it sells copies. (see point 1). It's sad, but that is the position the sport (along with a whole host of other things) finds itself in at this moment in time.

Perhaps they didn't want anyone to know that they were going to sign him (for whatever reason)?

Nah - I've watched all 33 episodes of Inspector Morse (many times!) - nothing throws me off the scent

Yes - you missed off Kake Nieminen who is above Pijper in the list you've taken from the 'Speedway Star'.

I think I've been around speedway long enough to say whether (in my opinion) a 40+ rider (nearer 50+ I believe) will or will not ever be "good enough", which was the point I was trying to make. Yes, for every "Ricky Anderson", there will be a "Max Clegg". My argument is, the likes of Ricky Anderson should have no place in the Junior/Development Leagues. Amateur Meetings and 'open' second halves, yes. After all, we are supposed to be debating the future of British speedway. I'm not (and never have) knocked anyone for "wanting to have a go", good on them, but the idea of some of them in the Junior/Development Leagues just doesn't lie well with me. That is my opinion and if you don't like it, well, sorry, but tough.

Wrong. It's called a 'Junior' League... as Backless has already quite plainly stated "this is what Amateur meetings are for." Agreed, let them spend their money on whatever they like, if that is a speedway bike, fine, I haven't got a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is, a league called a 'Junior' League and having 40+ (or however old, certainly over 'Junior' age) 'riders' in it, when, quite clearly, they aren't and never will be good enough, even for NL level.

40+ Ricky Anderson, 20+ (and been around awhile) John McPhail, already been mentioned the likes of Loof (Ex-PL), Sike etc. So which part of 'Junior' do we not understand? By all means, give 20+ or 40+ riders a go, but for the Love of God, the 'Development' part of the name should be at least adhered to as well. In the likes of Anderson it clearly isn't. If riders "have to be brought in to make up the numbers" then that, surely, must tell you something?

Isn't that what the Amateur Meetings are for?

If he does that around Derwent Park, imagine what he's going to be like round Plymouth!

Might be

There are now two threads running on this topic!!!! Other thread here: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=67890&st=0&gopid=2036739entry2036739 Mods please delete one or combine them! Thanks

There is now two threads running on this topic!!! Other thread here: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=67921 Mods please combine or delete one of them! Thanks!

Why start another thread when there is already a Newcastle 2012 thread??

Yes, I realise you said could! The thing is though, Richie scored 10+1 from 6 rides at Plymouth for us back on 9th September, so I doubt a 3 point 'rookie' would get anything like that (please note I said "doubt" LOL). Joe (for the record) scored 4 from 4 from the number 3 position.

I refer you back to my original post:- re devaluing the (PL) product. There are 3 other PL matches that night, plus an individual meeting at Leicester, so getting a PL reserve guest in in the first place is greatly reduced! And how would bringing in an NL guest for Richie (3.74 ave) make us stronger??

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you here. Surely it's up to the NL meeting promoters to come up with a suitable date which benefits both teams? Somerset vs Scunthorpe in itself suggest that riders are 'double booked' (for the want of a better phrase) and, along with Plymouth vs Newcastle was arranged weeks ago, so why should PL teams release riders for a 'lower-tier' match, when their own PL match was (re)arranged first? Plus the fact that Scunthorpe can ride on any day of the week, suggests that an alternative date where riders aren't riding elsewhere, could be found, surely?

Yes, which is why he missed the GB Under-21 vs USA Touring Team match at Dudley last night. He's been missing with a back injury since 18th September.

Newcastle are already two riders down and need a reserve guest as it is (R/R for Kyle Newman and guest reserve for Joe Haines), so there is no chance they will release Richie and de-value the product even further.

Another thread in the 'individual, shared etc' section on the forum already started for the Fours.

Errr.... no he didn't.... Ted Rogers was the host of 3-2-1 (Dusty Bin and those stupid clues!!!). "Come on Down" was The Price Is Right 'catchphrase' and was hosted by (originally) Leslie Crowther. But it's an easy mistake to make!

Has this meeting been called off? Adam McKinna says on his Facebook status that "no meeting on wednesday now wonder how long this racing drought is gonna last."

As mentioned above.... See more here: http://www.mckinnaracing.com/news_article.asp?id=76

I thought for one terrible moment he had been fishing illegally, or something! Seriously though, well done to the lad and let's hope he continues in the same vain on the shale as we could do with some young talent coming through the ranks.