gazzac

Think you could be right although like Eastbourne should be pretty unbeatable at home which is the first step to getting fans to try it out.

If you see my last post I think that's more likely the situation. Even though in public it's just family banter, with him being the forth generation speedway rider, imagine this type of thing has been going on in the family for years.

Kelsey is hugely popular at Arlington, with everyone wishing him to do well, even when he was sliding off way to offen in 2015 there was never any negativity from the crowd, and received the biggest cheer when he did hold it together against opposing heat leaders. I'm convinced the comments are only to gee him up and can imagine that type of banter whether in private or public has been going on all their lives in the Dugard household, so I can't imagine it holds any animosity. Who knows what was said to Connor when he dabbled with a riding career and couldn't quite make the grade.

By what everyone is saying on all the threads the 39 point limit had done the trick, no one has a perfect team, strong top end vs strength in depth, younger teams vs more experience, just think we're lucky with the nl, going to be really open this year, roll on April.

Nailed on then! Hope he does, was always a shame at Eastie last season that we never saw what he could achieve apart from leading for 3 laps.

Is that an Islander 15," Kyle Hughes is signing for Plymouth" has to be or something more substantial!!!

I remember at the end of the 2015 season the announcer having a 'game' with the riders asking such questions as who's the laziest, who moans the most etc and nearly all the other riders said Kelsey. It was done tongue in cheek but I would imagine since a young age his brother and dad would have always been 'nagging' him in the usual family way. I get the impression this is probably a throw on from that with no malice intended just a bit of banter to get him going.

Agree, Tom Brennen had the ideal way into the national league last year (with the exception of his broken collar bone) Kent should be going down a similar route through the season, keeping him on 3points, then nailed on for next year having gained some experience . Either have him at No 8, or bring him in if any injuries, or for the 3 meetings making sure he stays on a 3, or for cup matches and playoffs if they're in them! Only foreseeable problem is finding another 3 pointer to start now.

Although I rate him as a rider and will be one of the best No 1's , the signing of Bowen so early before the points limit was known was always going to lead to this situation with reserves. Will leave Kent weak at the bottom end unless someone surprises us. On that note I've always said set the limit for 2 years if it's a sensible one, and 39 is. If we knew that was the limit for next year would mean you could build once the last green sheets of the season come out and know the make up of the team from word go.

Ditto.

Last season there was always a feeling that Birmingham or Eastbourne would win the various competitions from pretty early on with Kent possibly in the mix as well. This year looks wide open. Probably become evident in the first couple of months who's more likely to succeed, but reacon perhaps half the teams will be in the equation instead of 3 last year. Good news for the league.

I think we will be the best strength in depth team, and once Baseby, Extance and Coles get dialled into Arlington will again be hard to beat at home and hopefully the middle/ lower order can negate the big hitting heat leaders scores home and away. Be some tense heat 13 and 15 though unlike last year when you expected Adam Ellis etc to finish the match off. Even with Ellis, Perks, Knight and Wood, our top heavy team still couldn't beat Birmingham when it mattered, so I'm really pleased with the makeup given the points limit.

Pretty good analysis all round really, should make it an interesting season though.

Think you could be right, and Mark at 5 would probably suit him better.

I imagine quiet because we're all fairly content at the moment seeing the other teams. We have a few faults as fans (not many I grant you! ) but I think generally we all like to give the riders chosen by the Dugards a go without bitching before the season starts. As has been said, the Dugards aren't shy of making changes if it doesn't work, but hopefully it will .Ko cup is always a good possibility with our massive home track advantage and top four in the league then who knows. Crikey I've talked myself into our best season yet not forgetting the NL trophy!!!

Couldn't agree more,hopefully mean more close matches which are always more entertaining.

If you get a good last rider at reserve(although not really sure who's left who can do the job) and as looks likely Hopwood will be with you looks a pretty solid team.I think it will be the most difficult team in the league to know where they're likely to be . Last year looked likely title contenders from day one, this year like a few teams who knows. Hope it does all gel as apart from the first matches at Easter last year with all the injuries, had some really good matches home and away against Eastie.

And the circle keeps going on and on! Sure if it's left alone Gustix will move on from the subject as well.

Only problem we find at Eastie is the track is always much better in the evening than the afternoon especially in the summer and I imagine that's the same at Lakeside. Ideally want to run in the evening, and Saturday but the odd 6.30 one we had on a Sunday at the tail end of the season didn't seem to make much difference to the crowd.

Said before one of these could but shouldn't be needed on the NL section,unfortunately looks like it is. Last time I'll be posting on the feud thread but hopefully will free up some other threads so we can get back to fun sensible discussion and banter and not page after page of senseless bickering.

Seems to me the moment Ben Morley and Zach were confirmed as heat leaders, the make up of the team would always have a third heat leader the likes of David Mason. As Lakeside were a fairly late addition to the league, most of the other 6 point plus riders were probably already in place or been approached by other clubs. I remember David Mason coming in at reserve at Eastie year's ago due to an illness to one of the riders on the day, literally stepping into to an Elite league match with an hour's noticed.Think it was in the day's of John Cook being promoter, so he has known David for many year's. Although he may not add to his average this year can't see it dropping by any really .Although I prefer the ethos of the Dugards bringing in riders who look capable of upping their average, even we were prepared to give Ben Hopwood a go last year on an 8 at the start of the season because of his experience, but unlikely to increase it,thing's didn't work out through no fault of his own at that time, but we were happy to give it a go. Give this team a go and see what happens!

Let's keep it that way from now on.

Someone on the Premiership section has started a 'Feud thread' to take away the bickering and slightly pointless arguments away into its own thread. Does anybody think we ought to start one on the NL section, seems there could be a need here as well?

Anyone think we get too much time off for Christmas/New year now? Seems the case!!!

So Eastie aren't the only track with a home track advantage! What a relief all the year's I've been going having read the thousands off posts and thought we were the only ones. Can rest easy now if we happen to win the league!