gazzac

Just seen on our website that were doing the double header Saturday with no Baseby or Powell due to pre arranged holidays, using rider replacement and Kelsey at No2, moving Edwards to No4. One would still think we've enough to beat both the IOW and Stoke, but Max Clegg is doing both meetings and seems to have hit a bit of form, would only take an injury and we could be in trouble. Because of the decision not to run more meetings in the summer, and somehow Powell and Baseby being on holiday the same weekend, one slip up now and we won't be in the playoffs. We've gambled with getting fixtures completed since we've been in this league so it may finally come back to bite us . Obviously hope it's not the case, although would probably save us being runners up in the league again!

Is the situation really any different to Mitchell Davey, rode in numerous Australian championships in speedway and long track before riding over here. Does he think of himself more Australian or British? Doesn't matter,he's here within the rules as is Ethan Spiller, please to have them both ( hope Mitchell recovers fully and rides here again). I know he didn't ride for Australia, but that's only because of the different standard of rider's in Australia and Germany.

Eastbourne don't seem to have much of a problem, like or loath the track, 99%of the time a good safe surface, not sure of the name of the current track curator/ tractor guy, but he's as good as the late great Bob Dugard.

See the Eastbourne match against Buxton is off , so with no disrespect to Stoke or Buxton, the potential of up to 8 points has gone. If it's wet next Saturday,and we fail to run the double header and gain the 6 points, unlikely to qualify for the playoffs.Every year this happens as we hardly run in June/July. I really find this fixture mess the most annoying thing about watching speedway, I want speedway through the season and not have to cram everything in to October ( if we've got enough matches played to qualify). Reckon I would go to 4 or 5 more meetings a year if the fixtures were sorted properly and I could space my trips out.Drop the NT, get on with the league, and if the seasons over by August/September so be it.

Georgie was fantastic all night, led from the front and went away, did two really quick times, and battled through in other races with some great brave overtakes especially considering his comments of feeling sore and nervous. He's really been what the NL has been all about for Eastbourne, seen him go from a novice reserve having come from grass track to a No 1, and exiting to watch at Arlington. Agree with the comments on the commentator, very clear and precise.

Probably about 10 times with Eastbourne if we have the usual challenge, NT, NL, KO cup and payoffs

He certainly is one tough lad, remember last year when he crashed hard into a rope post grassracking, and was a feared broken pelvis, he was back the following week.

Suprised Wood is riding having spent last Saturday night in hospital. I know he didn't break anything, but must be really sore!

I'm sure Mildenhall won't pick Birmingham or Eastbourne in the semi finals, assuming the top 4 are these and Kent. As an Eastie fan hope that is the case otherwise it's yet another match against Kent in such a short space of time. Although think Birmingham with a full team are a tougher proposition than Kent to beat on aggregate, would make a more exciting semi final.

Probably out of Martin's own pocket (or Dugard Machine Tools) I expect, probably why he was a bit upset !

Also agree, he was a main contributor to us winning 3 trophies in our first season in the NL.

Do you mean it's nice and warm this time of year so the damp doesn't affect the old boy!

It does seem odd it's been so quiet on the website, no rescheduled dates for the Kent and Mildenhall fixtures, even now will we get them all in? Loads of league fixtures and the ko cup still to fit in. Just hope we're not heading for another Rye House type statement.

How about the NL Promotors Purple Helmet maybe

I wonder whether we were riders down at the weekend perhaps with grass track and believe Wood had food poisoning during the week so may have been a dought or not 100%. Think it would have affected the crowd by a small amount, but may have been a means of rearranging the match.Still can see the usual rush to get fixtures in again though.

Would that be Donald Trump on Twitter, sure he must know, the p***k seems to think he has knowledge of everything in the world.

I see we have a slot reserved in the fixture list on 28th July for the KO cup, not sure if the semi final draw is done before all the current ties are finished, but if that is the case not even a date in the fixtures for the Stoke vs Kent one, let alone the following round against Plymouth! Even now can see the last minute panic coming in October to get everything in as usual. Just wondered if it would make sense to slot the tba league match against Kent into the 28th slot, we even play at Kent away on the following Monday in the league so would tie in nicely and not leave a long gap between home fixtures.

Easy home win with our trick track and smooth surface which the Brummies won't be able to cope with, Bacon, Shanes and Hume have never riden well here and probably the only track the wonder kid won't get to grips with. That's what the Brummie fans will tell you as usual . Seriously though should be a pretty close meeting, but think the deciding factor will probably be Dugard at reserve, with a home win, but Birmingham could quite easily grab a point.

Goes well with all the other daft rules we have in speedway I suppose

You're right, need to draw a line under the other issues here, hopefully it can be fixed!

There's so many good valid points here about the machinery, and Sings point about the silencers has definitely made the current bikes seem less controllable actually narrowing the power band. But at the end of the day the prime cause must be track preparation in whatever conditions are thrown up ,especially with set weather. I can only answer for Eastbourne, our track looked destroyed over the winter by the stock cars, but we always seem to prepare a track that's a bit slick on the inside with plenty of dirt and grippy around the outside and don't remember seeing any dangerous ruts. Although some opposing riders find our tight track a bit ' demanding' it's not normally dangerous. I suppose throttle control comes into play rather than just winding it on. The opposing riders who can master it don't normally complain about the track surface, expect Kemp found it ok last Saturday. So track prep is key, what you can do about machine regs for the NL I don't know, only way to instigate something would probably be no doubling up which I can't see happening.

You'd have thought the power's that be would have learnt over the last 20 year's that a low points limit has never been good for any league. There will always be stronger and weaker teams whatever the limit, but as you say a higher starting figure always gives the weaker teams chance to improve, and the likes of Jake Knight and until recently Bowtell wouldn't be without a ride.

Yes did have a quick look, I think against Plymouth away in August, hopefully doesn't affect us nearer the sharp end.

Agree,the most satisfying meetings are a 49/41 win having got a 5/1in heat 15 to take all 3 points and restricting the away team, although if it's a cracking match, 46/44 is great and gives the away team something for their efforts in making a great meeting.

Just hope there's not too many fixture clashes as it's always the NL team who loses out.