neil3065

I have an original race jacket from Wiggy's Big Day Out meeting in 2001. Its the number 10 jacket, which was worn in the meeting by Brent Werner. Brent has signed the jacket on the back. Sensible offers considered. Please PM me if interested. Pics available.

Like all successful sides, Mildenhall have had to break up their side from last season. Heeps, Blackbird and Jacobs will take some replacing in the Fen Tigers side. If Nielsen keeps progressing, he'll be an excellent number one. If Stoneman picks up from before his injury, he'll be one of the best reserves in the league and could well move into the top five as a result. Halsey is a solid heat-leader at home, but, IMO, has to prove he can be consistent away. Jon has had a while out, but obviously still has the desire to race and if he's anywhere near his best can still be a consistent double figure scorer at this level. If Josh Bates continues to progress, he'll be a very good second string and could push on towards heat-leader standard. Aaron Baseby is a solid second string who could push the top three averages if he continues his development. Liam Rumsey won races round West Row for Stoke last season and if he can do that regularly for Mildenhall could well prove a shrewd signing. Mildenhall, will of course, face a massive challenge to emulate last season's magnificent achievements. They'll be tough to beat at West Row, but could find it tough away, as I think several teams will be stronger round their own tracks than they were last season. They should compete for the play-offs, but will find it much tougher to secure a spot this time. There is still a lot of potential there, alongside the experience of Armstrong. The availability (or not) of doubling up riders could also be a significant factor. Of the other sides Dudley will be strong again and have a top two as good as any in the league. Overall, like Mildenhall, not quite as strong as last season though, perhaps. Plus there looks to be more competition from other sides. IOW have taken advantage of Dudley's changes and seem to have their strongest side since dropping down from the PL. To me, they look certs for the top four, with a serious chance of winning trophies. Stoke have a number of riders either returning to the sport, or complete newcomers to NL level, but if they gel and show their best form, they'll be competitive for the play-offs. Hard to say with Kent, as they've only signed two so far. However, they'll no doubt bring in most of last year's Raiders team, so will be a combination of experience and potential. With the fresh impetus of being a new club and if they can get another proven heat leader and discover a promising newcomer or two, they should have a serious play-off chance. Lynn have a solid top five with potential to improve and that puts them in with a play-off chance, especially if they can sign some reserves who can improve their starting averages. Buxton have an experienced top three who can beat the best on their day, but will need their lower order and newcomers to make significant progress to have a play-off chance. Coventry have some riders who can compete with the best on their day, but may not have enough for the top four. I'll predict (with Kent and Lynn not yet complete). IOW and Dudley look like likely top two (in whichever order). Then two of Mildenhall, Stoke, Kent, Lynn with a potentially really close scrap to make up the top four. Followed by Coventry and Buxton (possibly in that order).

Great signing. A true Mildenhall legend returns!!! :approve:

Interesting choice. Assuming he's wanting to ride this season, he'd obviously need a new club at NL. Perhaps West Row isn't a big enough track to suit his style ideally. He did ride for Mildenhall in the Graham Drury era, and did well on the whole. My criticism of him at the time was it seemed to me that sometimes he tried too hard to pass the rider in front and fell as a result, when he'd have been better off holding onto the points he already had. Having said that, he's probably a much better rider for the experience he's gained in the ten years or so since he was at Mildenhall. I'd have my reservations about Cockle coming back to Mildenhall. Mainly that I'm not sure he's a genuine heat-leader on a consistent basis at NL level these days. But I thought I saw some decent scores from him last season. He's probably one who has been guilty of trying too hard at times in his career. With options limited, especially if Heeps or Schramm are no-go's, then these two, along with Hargreaves, could be options Mildenhall consider. If that's genuinely you, Jon, and you feel can score the points like you've done for Mildenhall in the past, then they ought to be considering you. Mildenhall legend!!

While the nature of the National League means there arent a huge number of options open to Mildenhall for second heat-leader, I'm sure if Hargreaves is making a comeback, then he'll be one they'll consider, along with Schramm if there's any possibility he might be eligible and indeed Cameron Heeps if there's any chance of him being able to double-up. Beyond those three, which all must have some element of doubt surrounding them, its difficult to see what other genuine heat-leader options there might be.

I'm not sure whether promoters and other officials have as much of a problem with these patriality riders coming through the NL as some fans do. However, the problem seems to me to be that, despite the regional junior leagues that have now been created, the training structure still isnt at a level where its possible to produce a greater number of young British riders to a better standard of ability than is currently the case. Certain clubs and officials are clearly committed to the discovering and training of young British riders, but the fact that this commitment is not consistent across our clubs and officials limits what can be done. With no disrespects to young British riders trying to make their way in Speedway - there are some very talented British lads in the NL - in a lot of cases the patriality riders are of a better and more advanced standard when they start riding in the NL, both in terms of on-track ability and off-track set-up and attitude. This is presumably because more time and effort has been put into their development than is the case, barring a few notable exceptions, amongst British clubs. If British Speedway genuinely is committed to finding and developing more British riders to a higher standard of ability, then it needs to do a lot more in terms of its training structure. It needs to match the efforts of those who have demonstrated genuine commitment and build on them. It needs to stop paying lip service to the issue, as is currently done in a lot of cases, it seems. Otherwise, people will keep coming back to these very same discussions about patriality riders and a limited number of British lads progressing in the sport.

Would be competitive at home, for sure, but could struggle away. Halsey has something to prove as a heat-leader on away tracks. Connor Coles must be fairly likely to ride for Kent I'd have thought. And obviously Kerr is at Leicester, which would clash at times. Still wondering why no website updates for a month and no Mildenhall signings confirmed on BSPA site, even though ML had announced six signings in the Cambridge News (albeit now Jacobs has moved on).

How come no signings have been confirmed on either BSPA or Mildenhall websites?! Halsey a solid rider round Mildenhall, but the challenge for him is to prove he can be a heat-leader away from home. A solid side, but like any other successful side in Speedway, Mildenhall have had to let some good riders go and while they'll be tough to beat at West Row, it'll be interesting to see how they fare away from home.

Really hope Berwick survive, its a cracking track and a decent stadium. They've had plenty of decent riders up there in recent seasons, but sadly very few trophies to show for it. Trouble is, when you've had decent riders and won a trophy and the crowds still arent at a decent level, then it makes it harder to keep signing those riders. Is the National League a potential 'better than nothing' option for the Bandits in 2013?!

That could well be their thinking. Having said that, while Halsey is a very solid scorer at home and can comfortably do a job as third heatleader round West Row, he's going to have to improve his away form considerably to be considered a genuine heat-leader. Nielsen should make an excellent number one and Bates and Stoneman are also excellent re-signings.

From 1-6 that was the line-up I thought of when I was thinking about what they might do for next season. Understandably, they will want to use their own assets as much as possible, but they'll have to make at least two changes to the 2012 side, just to fit into a 40 point limit. I cant see how they can accomodate Heeps on a 9.00+ average without having to lose too many other assets from the side, so I think its fairly certain he'll be concentrating on his Ipswich commitments next year. Baseby will be a big consideration for them - and I just wonder whether Halsey could be the one to make way, with Baseby's average a point lower, to accomodate an 8.00 number one Bates and Stoneman will be good choices to retain, if possible. Having stuck with Ryan Terry-Daley for much of the season, it must be fairly likely they'll have him back at reserve, I'd have thought. I have heard that Josh Bailey is highly rated, though. Like you, Adz, I see Jacobs and Blackbird as two of the three heat leaders on bargain averages. Nielsen would be a good number one, but with Mildenhall not owning his contract, and him nailed on to get a PL place, you just never know. There arent that many established number ones out there that could come into the side. So it could well be Jacobs finds himself at number one, with another heat leader brought in. That might spare Halsey, and brings your initial selection into play. Having said that - Halsey doesnt always score as well away as he does at home, so might be a weak link as third heat leader. I'd think they'd look to use Baseby in anycase, rather than sign another second string.

I suspect, gp, that if Roynon had gone for a similar gap in between two Mildenhall riders and been knocked into and sent sprawling into the fence, you (and many others connected with Dudley) would be spitting feathers and wanting serious recriminations. How Nielsen managed to get up and walk away from that, I'll never know. If it had happened in a GP on Sky, the commentators would have demanded the authorities throw the book at the rider.

Indeed, clutching at straws. That's exactly what it is. We had it after the KO Cup and we've got it now after the play-offs. Somehow I think the Dudley management have just looked to rake something up because the results werent what they expected. Dudley simply need to accept the result and move on.

As successful a season as 2012 has been for Mildenhall. Sadly, I cannot see a move up the leagues materialising - certainly not at present anyway. With the current set-up, Mildenhall is effectively a feeder club for Ipswich. For Mildenhall to go PL again, the Witches would have to return to the EL and I cant see that happening, certainly not in 2013. Despite the fact that current attendance levels indicate that PL Speedway might be viable at West Row, given a competitive team being put together. Unless the Witches ever return to the EL, I can only see Mildenhall remaining an NL club. There's also the fact that West Row stadium seems to be available for fewer dates for Speedway than was previously the case. Taking into account bad weather, Mildenhall havent been able to complete their full home fixture list at NL level this year (needing Kings Lynn's help to stage last nights fixture and still having one NT fixture to race). Its difficult to see how a PL fixture list could be completed at West Row.

The ref could have chosen to exclude Nielsen, had they felt that to be the appropriate decision. They'll have known what was at stake and that the losing side would have been angry about it. You'd have happily taken victory if the circumstances, the decision and result had been the other way around. To be fair, Dudley are a very good side and their time for winning trophies will come - just as Mildenhall lost out last year in the league and have their moment now.