Hackett

Woffinden Doyle Hancock - 1. If he doesn't retire this weekend. Laguta / Dudek / Zagar - depending on who drops out of the top 8 ....

.Be surprised if it is Ian Jordan that moves on , he has been central to the commercial development of the club over recent years. Sponsoring riders Tom Brennan, Jason Edwards to now being a director and driving a lot of the organisation forward. On track - Dependent on BSPA deciding on one league or two. Think on track main change will be the balance of the team heat leader heavy and effectively 3 reserves didn't work. Tom Brennan will be back even though attached to a false average from his time at reserve. Be surprising if Eagles don't persist with Jason Edwards with a couple of months experience in CL. Lewi Kerr has stated his preference of returning for another season and is a fans favourite. Lawson has done an excellent job for majority of the season. An excellent rider at this level. Part of Jon Cook's Hammers quartet that was brought in so be interesting if he returns. Newman has done a solid job at second string + steadily improved at Arlington. Has an average that doesnt get considered in first team draft but if fits Eagles 2020 I would look to bring him back. Woods was announced over speakers he had retired from speedway. Excellent at Arlington woeful away. #Eastbournitis Bowtell flattered to deceive but was handed 2nd string spot to start which was unfair + struggled for confidence. At reserve was better but if the Eagles go for Edwards at reserve unlikely to return. Kennett never going to live up to starting average - was solid until hampered with arm injury. Surgery over winter taking plates out be interesting to see whether he wants to continue or return.

COMEDY GENIUS !!!! FARCICAL

Clean-Cut Sports have been looking to do this for years but understand that the BSPA were not to keen. Away support is non existent in the sport for the most part so I doubt that this would effect attendance figures too greatly. If clubs did monthly subscriptions - featuring interviews , features and meetings can only see it being neneficial to the sport. Would be interesting to see how UK Ice Hockey attendances are - as a number of matches are streamed.

Commercial Director - Ian Jordan "We must dust ourselves down and look at some significant changes for 2020 on and off the track...."

The racing has improved -- As has crowd numbers. Commercial Director has driven the community side and far more youngsters being taken to Arlington. Like the Daily Express , Speedways fanbase as a demographic is dying - so need to bring in younger fans Eagles are trying to do so. Most meetings have over 1000+ which is a start and seems as though with sponsors doing enough to return in 2020 .

Excellent meeting last night with good racing. Nicholls rolled back the years but should of come as no surprise as he passed Lawson in exactly the same place earlier in season - then did it to Kennett a couple of heats later. Great races by fomer British Champion. Eagles just can't cover the loss of Wood at Arlington and you need a dominant reserve . Ht2 was a decent race as was the Newman vs Perks battle. Newman has been superb the last couple of weeks and be good to see him back next season with Kerr + Lawson but that will all depend on averages and one or two leagues.

As an Eastbourne fan this season has been far better racing wise. Meetings are sped through which makes whole event far better. Lawson and Kerr have been excellent all season. Hopefully Eagles can compensate for r/r at 2 and weaker reserves. Can see a narrow win at home but Lions to win easily in 2nd leg.

Was impressed with Redcar .... They signed a decent guest in Adam Ellis who knows the Arlington track well. Erik Riss was smooooth looked fast when he gated and appreciated just had to pick up points if in 2nd. Jordan Stewart did a solid job as did Kasper Andersen then with Greaves at reserve able to pick up points they were never in any serious danger of losing the fixture over two legs. They knew their jobs and all rose well ensuring to pick points up ... Eagles have been solid at home all season but losing Wood at Arlington and two junior reserves is never going to cover his points with r/r. This season was all about consolidation for the Eagles and ensuring their speedway future hopefully that is conformed then wait to see what the BPSA decides in the Winter - One league or two professional leagues.

Ellis is a great shout for the Bears - former Eagle knows his way around Arlington. The hole Wood leaves at no.2 is huge - r/r the reserve pairing is not strong enough to cover his rides - his rides were worth 4+1 and most of those were gifted. Eagles will need to keep it within 8 points for any chance ...

Brennan will be nailed on for a starting spot. I would look to add Jake Knight as number 1 he is exciting and missed start of the season. Georgie Wood guess that will depend on where he rides in the Championship and what day they race but I would look to build the team around those three. But I am sure Connor will throw a couple of curveballs !!

The National League is the first tier of league speedway - A genuine 3rd tier - It's naturally a development league of sorts to allow youngsters a first experience of league racing. So the likes of Tom Brennan, Jack Smith, JPB, etc etc can gain some track experience however it's a genuine 3rd tier. There are true development leagues through the MDL the SDL and NJL. Riders are being paid - so it is about winning !!

Ayres in different class. Come on leaps and bounds every time he raced at Arlington. Just wants to win. Brennan for the Eagles was excellent but Heathens threw away a lot of points and Arlington not the greatest track for Armstrong.

Bad day at the office for the Eagles .... the @ITFirstEagles twitter feed stated that they had 3 blown engines and were riding on used tyres as there was no spares van at Mildenhall. This was followed by another tweet stating that they had bought a number of tyres from a spares company so not to get caught out again. It is early in the season so no need to panic just yet; but it would be a concern that Tom Brennan is top scorer each meeting and the heat leaders are struggling against opposition no.1 + no.5's hopefully get back into the groove at Arlington on Saturday.

Skornicki has been released. CVS will look to find him a Championship club. Interesting they say that he was using a test engine which they weren't aware off + he has stated getting a new engine. So obviously that new motor hasn't worked. I guess releasing Skornicki so early means they have a bigger average to work with.

The young aren't interested in speedway because it hasn't been marketed to them in the right way. Belle Vue as an example has a great track ; arguably the best racing track in the UK + a great stadium. Youth marketing is all about social media - although the BSPA is using video clips now - They should be maximising this not having racing rights restricted for video usage (Gospeed). Remember riders stating that they couldn't use race footage on promotional dvds or clips to sponsors. The small montages Sky and now BT Sport make should be used everywhere - each club provided with a montage of their own riders clips etc to show to schools , youth clubs etc to generate more support. Think what MotoGP does. Speedway needs to do the same and then change the way the sport is presented - meeting take far to long and need to be pushed through we are looking at 15 mins racing ONLY - A meeting should be done and dusted in 90 minutes barring injuries. Seem to remember Frank Ebdon not wasting too much time with the "2 minutes" - As for the audience blue chip sponsors aren't interested because the numbers don't warrant it -

Rye House track has always been on the slick side .... "slicker than a strippers bikini line" ... Not the first time they have had trouble with the track. Only last year that the Rye House Raiders vs Eastbourne Eagles meeting was abandoned. Issue is a lot of riders don't like grippy or deep tracks. The Rockets with Nicholls, Robbo + Harris have three racers in the team. Bomber has never been a gater and needs dirt and grip to give him a chance to pass from the back. So few tracks have a decent amount of dirt on these days BUT then I guess that saves them from spending too much money on track prep + a blade.

Real shame considering some of the hyped dross that Sky Sports shows BUT it is all about viewing figures. Sport needs to look at itself - bent over backwards for Sky Sports and still they walked away. Personally I think BSPA/SCB should terminate Go Speed contract and look at straming video heats etc on social media. The sport is 4 laps behind MotoGP + MotoX in terms of self promotion and video content. The sport needs to look at new ways to attract an audience - there is hope ; look at the success at Glasgow Speedway.

That team is shocking !!! Great to see Leicester back in speedway but can only see that side struggling.

Think Swindon should take a bow for honouring the contract despite the crazy average. They had agreed a 2 year deal and honour that. Loyalty is a rare commodity in speedway and I hope they prove people wrong.

Adam Ellis was excellent for Poole and was good enough to keep a former GP rider at reserve. At Eastbourne it was like taking a Uzi to a duck hunt. He was superb all season. Although he has an average that is traditionally difficult to fit into an Elite team. Should he choose he could easily do a job at Premier League or whatever it will be called in 2017 James Shanes looks a good prospect for the EL reserve or PL. Has improved in the two season I have seen him race and if he can get a reserve berth and a racing track as he rarely gates he could be decent. With guidance could be a good rider.

Superb result for the Eagles especially after such a bad start. Points were thrown away by both sides but a great meeting for the NL Final. It is the Eagles to lose but need another strong performance from Adam Ellis, Ellis Perks, Jake Knight + guest to keep it close and an improved performance down at reserve as the Eagles cant afford a 27-2 return at 6+7 as the pressure on the Top 4 will be huge. For those at Perry Barr it should be an absolute cracker !!

1. Ellis Perks 8.68 2. Jordan Jenkins 3.00 3. Georgie Wood 7.53 4. Ben Hopwood 6.00 5. Jake Knight 8.54 6. Kyle Bickley 3.00 7. Tom Brennan 3.00 Total - 39.75

Drury has come out today and sees the reserve pairing as key to the meetings. “I certainly feel we’ve got the upper hand with the two Jacks (Parkinson-Blackburn and Smith) at reserve and a lot will depend on their performances. . ." Last time at Perry Barr the Eagles took the chequered flag on 10 occasions but lost 47-43 - They will need Tom Brennan + Luke Harris to be competitive and pick up points. If Brummies hit Eagles for 5-1s in the reserves heat. 17+5 Brummies - Eagles 1 !! A repeat of that will make it a tall order for the Eagles !! Jack Smith 10+2, Jack P Blackburn 7+3 vs Luke Harris 1, Charley Powell 0

Agreed Woffinden was simply playing the game ;-) called #banter - Wolverhampton may of won the Grand Final but speedway and Belle Vue Aces are winners with track. Just a shame the nearest tracks to me are Eastbourne + Lakeside ... Must be a pleasure watching racing at the NSS regularly...