torpointfanatic22

Delighted for Batesy to be fixed up, he is well up for this season, hopefully he will have a good year, he's more than capable! My worry with that team is that Andrews and Gough will be at reserve, both great triers but not sure if they will be able to add much on their averages. Great to see the team full of young British talent though. Well done to the promotion!

Bates 4.47, Pickard 4.35, Perry 6.56. Hope both our former Devils get snapped up soon

Good for him, looks a promising talent.

Whats Ben Taylor up to for this season? Is he fit? Could he return to the Hitmen along with Allot and Branford. Dallaway will surely be back?

Pretty sure Birko's last average was just over 8, 8.38 rings a bell for some reason.

Not having a go here mate, but thats the exact problem with speedway in our country! A development team that has 2 Aussies already and now the suggestion of another one! Anyway I thought Newport were only looking to use their assets this year in the NDL. I believe Jaimie Pickard is a Newport asset, given how he ended 2010, he would be a cracking signing on 4.5ish. I know Matt Bates from our Devils side last year is on the look out for a spot and would be a similar average to Pickard. With Herne, Kurtz, WW, Young and possibly those 2 you would have a strong 6 with room for a 3 pointer. Maybe Daryl Ritchings? I reckon the Hornets could look tidy with something like that!

Ah, I saw Adam talking with Will Pottinger after the NYC and wondered if this was on the cards. Brilliant signing for the Heathens and if injury free Adam will be a class above the majority of the NL, hope the move helps the lad re-discover his confidence and form.

Indeed a certain Mark Jones who is back with Newport in the PL for 2011

Well Lewis Bridger has stated on his facebook that he is looking forward to the New Year Classic at Newport so it's looking good for that one

Take out Plymouth mate, we are PL now apparently!

Rye have been asking for youngsters for their Cobras team so it looks very much like Rye will be running in 2011. As for Plymouth, whilst I'm hearing mutterings of us replacing Kings Lynn in the Prem, I fully expect us to be in the NL.

Bob I do hope your right

RR I know you have verbally supported our application for PL racing of which I can only say thank you but what makes you think we would get a PL spot now? Whilst Lynn may be going into the Elite League, I still can't see us getting a place!

Well if Plymouth are invited into the PL as a result of a PL club moving up to the EL, it will prove that it was all about numbers and nothing to do with any genuine reasons for refusal. It has been said on here previously by me and plenty of others. I'm quite exhausted with this whole debate and our sport in general to be honest. The AGM has brought nothing but problems across all 3 leagues and if that isn't confirmation that the BSPA are ruining this sport then I don't know what is. There are too many egos and too many agendas throughout the higher echelons of our sport and quite frankly it is a bloody joke!

Speculation as to why we were refused will continue until Mike Bowden explains to the fans, I agree in that I dont think travel would have been the issue. Our facilities would have been my main concern, given the restrictions we have for example no permanent structures allowed at the SBA, ie concrete terracing or stands, but as a few have suggested on the AGM thread, it wouldn't surprise me if the PL didn't want Mike Bowden rather than the Plymouth Devils!

I would have loved Plymouth to be put into the PL, but if a PL club moves up and we are invited it obviously means the reasons why we were refused in the 1st place are utter crap! If our facilities weren't up to scratch or the BSPA felt our track wasn't good enough or the travelling aspect was a problem (all genuine ish reasons for refusal) then surely no matter what happens we shouldn't be invited anyway as none of these things will have changed! If Lynn do move up and we are asked to move up I dare say Mike Bowden will do so, but it will just prove most peoples theories right, that the BSPA are a bunch of self centred, arrogant people that function on a basis of who you know not what you know. The sooner they are removed and an independent body comes in the better our sport will become!

This post sums up what is wrong with speedway in this Country!

I would be surprised if the PL has less than 14 and the NL has less than 9/10 teams for the new season. As for Stoke, whilst I can understand Potters fans feeling their promotion have done things wrong (I have no clue what the promotion have done over the years and how the fans have been treated), but despite dropping down a league the level of racing and excitement will still remain! These young lads (and some older ones) are bloody good racers and you don't get any primadona's unlike the EL. It somewhat annoys me that fans of teams in a league above continue to dismiss anything below that level! I hope Stoke fans give the NL a shot as I really think the Potters along with the Heathens will be very good sides next year.

Plymouth haven't as yet been confirmed as being accepted into the PL, so you may yet have south coast rivals!

People must realise surely that any speedway is better than none! The NL as a product isn't that far behind the PL in terms of close racing. Although the standard of the top NL riders is around PL reserves, the racing is on the whole tremendous to watch! Plymouth were without a club for decades but the CL/NL has been our route back in, Stoke fans must not give up on their club. If the promotion build a good team, which i'm sure they will, Stoke will be back among the trophies!!

I'm sure Stoke will build a very good NL side for 2011. Whilst I can understand all Stoke supporters disappointment at not being in the PL for 2011, the racing in the NL last season was brilliant. I hope Stoke keep most of their fan base and support a good young side for the Potters to then return to the PL maybe in 2012. As for potential riders well I wouldn't be surprised if the likes of Barrie Evans, Jaimie Pickard and possibly Paul Starke (doubling down) are included. Possibly Ben Hopwood too. Either way I expect Stoke to have a team capable of winning the league.

Garrity is one rider I have never seen much to my disappointment, a cracking prospect i'm told and Squall and Youngy tell me he is a bit mad. Just a shame every time Buxton have come to Plymouth he has never turned up

Real shame to hear about the goings on down at the Wessex, I have heard plenty of things about Mr Bartlett's promoting skills, although may I add do not know what is true and what is merely rumour. But it is a real shame that another club may possibly be closing. I have been to Weymouth several times over the past 4 years for some epic battles with the Devils and have generally enjoyed a really good nights racing on a decent track. (It seems this year however both the racing and the track hasn't been to the same standard). I only hope things can be sorted out and the Wildcats are back racing in 2011. Best of luck to all involved

Whilst I agree that Joe is a cracking little prospect, I think he would struggle badly in the PL. He has never gone well when I have seen him (3 or 4 occasions), but the talent is certainly there. 1 more year of NL then the step up should be on the cards.

So many have improved this season and down at Plymouth Mr Pickard has become a real rider this year and has been brilliant in the past couple of months. As for the visiting riders I have seen, biggest improver from the 2009 season for me would be Kyle Newman. He used to be terrible around the SBA but impressed me greatly this season. However the most impressive guys for me were the first time visitors of Marc Owen, Steve Worrall and Nick Morris. They all went really well and had a good go at the Devils lads. As for the others Tom Perry and Jake Knight stand out. I have to say for those non NL followers they have missed a treat this season. Been some great racing and with the exception of Morris (as he is an Aussie) it shows we do have some great British talent out there.