Baldy

Either dump them or fill the league with the standard of the riders named above.....but please do not fill the teams with 10 point and 3 pointers as you fall between two massively different stools. Quite right that people will not pay to watch junior meetings, but the national is trying to do that by having 3 pointers in the teams. If the rider is a true three pointer standard then he is a novice or junior or whatever you want to call them.You cannot disguise what is being served up by putting higher standard riders in to "compromise" to get these lads a ride. Have the highest standard of riders we have in this land riding and not sitting on the side lines whilst we ask the public to pay to watch part junior meetings. I'm not stupid and know that they have to make money out of what they put on, but the board ham-string them with stupid rules stopping riders from riding because they are too good. I will not compromise with my sport. If people will not pay to watch teams of 3 pointers ( which they will not) then do not try to fool the public by going this way. Where will the 3 pointers get their rides?. In junior meetings until they are better and beat riders in the national in a return to second halve rides.

I used to wonder why I do not go to speedway. Not any more. It's stuff like this. I wish speedway would think of a good way to put their product to the public. This isn't it. Wilson, Stark, Worrell, and a few more were way too good to be racing in this league from the start of the season but due to their laughable way of producing averages, they get in. It's speedway Jim but not as I knew it.

In days gone by I would of returned home from a meeting and said "the lads are not there yet but they put the effort in". That for me doesn't wash anymore unfortunately. I have been told that to see where you are you need to put yourself up against better people. That's is all well and good but don't ask people to pay for it. I work too hard to put my money into lob sided affairs and this division is giving that at present; not the riders fault but the ruling bodies. They need to think what they want from the league and the standard of rider they want in it and enforce it. Ridiculous that you have people who can get max in the elite riding against teams containing first year beginners. Not good enough speedway I am sorry; too many other entertainment outlets to hold me at present.

Move up to what?. Premier or Elite. Thought the Dudley reference would get a reaction. Hope they do as they belong in a higher standard on all counts.

Just a question. When Max Clegg becomes too good for the National league and moves on up the leagues; as I suspect Dudley will not move with him, does he stay a Dudley asset forever?

Those are excellent photos and article

Was it a good meeting or not?? Seem to have two extremes with "entertaining" from Halifax and "awful" from Heathen.??

Well said Halifax, It is with the way the sport is run that I no longer attend as it is set-up completely wrong in my view and I no longer wish to spend money on something that I think is no worth watching. People have said to me that if I wait for the set-up to change then speedway will be gone and I have cut my nose off to spite my face; to a degree I see their point but I have gone along for too long and was simply not enjoying speedway at any level because the difference in standard of riders within any side was too big. It's an argument that I have had for years that teams are "forced" to select riders to get within a points limit. Why not let the riders find their level/standard and go at that.? If someone is good enough for the "best" league then they will get there, if not then they will not. There are riders riding in the Elite and also in the National and that cannot be right. Seven of the same standard per team and lets see racing in every race not just two or three a night. Can't see it myself but that's what I want and will not return until it does. Just to add to that just noticed the scores during the week Steve W top scores for Swindon in Elite, Edinburgh in the Premier and rides in the National??? Explain how that can be right that a lad who can top score in the elite yet ride against "up and coming riders" in the national. Just does not make sense.

Pity the rain came hard to put an end to the meeting. Potters impressive so far this year and look solid in all departments. If they remain injury free then they will take some stopping. All expect Wilson,Hopwood and Armstong to be a big backbone to this side and so they will but where good sides become challengers is if the rest of the team comes on and Chris and James have been as good as any in the side; in fact have far exceeded expectations. Lee will go from strength to strength as he gets more rides and Rob at reserve is only into this sport but picking up useful points with spirited riding. Good to see Stoke having good press and a team worthy of the 5 Stars.

Chris and James look especially good at the start of the season for Stoke. That said; all should be applauded as it looks like any of the Stoke riders...(maybe not Rob so early in his speedway life) could win any race for you. Yes Kent were unlucky with the loss of two riders but Stoke had a little "bad" luck with Ben? and Lee losing points in scoring positions. Not sure that Benji would of scored any more points than his rides brought as he was injured anyway, So to start in the first place was the wrong decision for his team. Chris to go past Lambert on the Stoke track is a massive pointer on his ability and future development. Well done Stoke.

But watching your team knock 60-70 points past most teams this year cannot be entertaining and stepping up to higher levels with better riders must be better than that on show at present. There must not be much on in the area if people put up with what is going on and class it as enjoyed and then boast...not yourself but most Heathen fans at winning this league. You have had the top cream riding for you and now sit content in the bottom league. Get competitive racing and I would be back like a flash. This will kill speedway

Some good questions there. I think the Stoke public do want speedway but not run as present; although I feel it will never get back to the crowds that once went, they were not massive anyway. Some feel that a change of direction in promoters will bring the crowds back. I think not. People have now found other things to do and spend their money on. It will be more than sunshine to get that track...back on track having seen it from a distance. I would not be surprised if there was no speedway at Stoke this year. The track problems look terminal and any good that goes into prep is undone by the stox. Hope I'm wrong.

A lot of sense spoken there but the league has to decide what it wants to be. The main reason I have stopped watching league speedway is that they are all full of a miss mash of riding abilities regardless of the team the riders ride for. The individual averages of quite a few riders are false to their riding ability; in golfing terms there are riders playing off 20 handicaps that are really single figure players. It's an old chestnut but why can't leagues be filled with riders of the same or similar ability from one to seven and as they get better move up through the leagues. This draft has in some eyes been a success but to me there are a few riders who are really struggling to live up to the Elite league badge. All the best for the season.

Really am disappointed with your comments Heathen. The whole speedway world were behind the efforts to get Cradley going again, and all were delighted that the club was up and running again. Stoke have problems; may be not the same type as Cradley had but problems all the same and all your comments about Stoke are negative in the extreme. What about putting forward ideas that may help Stoke, old followers of the track have suggested new promoters etc but I doubt that this will happen due to the major outlay on the surroundings and track. Lets not forget that Stoke had in many peoples eyes; one one the best prepared and race-able tracks, a few years ago I admit but excellent racing. Due to whatever reasons the track is now a poor race track. I say again that this problem at present is a major problem and is one that could not of been forecast. Stoke may not be in the same condition financially or run as your club at present and may never be but having seen the wonderful rise of the Cradley set-up to where it is now and to constantly kick another club when it is down is hard to take from a fan of that great club.

Incisive comments again Heathen. The track is not fit to be raced on and Malcolm and Dave have given the reasons why. This problem is a major problem not soley down to current weather conditions but to underlining problems with the track base and to ask riders to race on it would be dangerous in the extreme and anybody who has the safety of the riders at heart will be frustrated with the situation that racing cannot take place but would understand the reasons behind it. This could happen at any track and I really question if you have the sport at heart. That would solve the problem of not enough teams....how? Stoke need to make big strides in getting back in with the speedway world but to close would just hammer in the last nail and it would be a brave/stupid team of promoters to re-start it up again. For all the exiled supporters say; there is not enough support to financial support a premier side in the area regardless who takes over. Perhaps Cradley would like to move up and make it their own circuit as that would bring the required level of support, They have been looking for a while and will never find one back in their area.

Interesting to know if you and any other (not only Cradley) fans enjoy this sort of "entertainment" where teams rack up 60/70 points against other teams?.

A lot of sense spoken in all your reply's there Halifax.

I have always regarded your comments as being of great value and continue to do so. Would be interested to hear how speedway get around the problem of massive differences in standard of riders in the same league which we have at present in the this league. Not sure that customers of Mildenhall and Cradley will be satisfied by hammering teams on their our patch when the weaker teams come to town and processional races are the norm. Love the comment about Steve Worrall as a developing rider on the fact that he is younger than Arron. That did make me giggle a bit. Steve is a class act at this level and developing for sure regardless of his age compared to others. Anyway back to my question. How do we level the differences in standard of riders or is everyone happy that the way the league is set-up and that it gives good racing and value for money?

It is the reason I refuse to go to speedway now. We have a national league full of teams with different agendas. We cannot knock Scunthorpe for the way the team is set up at all as developing riders is the name of the game but it is in a league that is mostly full of teams that have riders way above their standard. Kent as a stand alone have to have a successful side to bring the punters in through the gate. The unfortunate thing is these two teams should not be in the same league as the racing can never give entertainment as Scunthorpe will be the whipping boys until/if their riders improve. Who will pay to go and watch Scunthorpe away from their stadium? I dread to fear when the Cradley take to the track against them; especially Steve W who has been taking Premier riders to the cleaners in Glasgow today, what he will do against lads just starting out!!!. 14 equal standard riders racing against each other is what I want and nothing else. Will it ever change?. All the riders taking part need our encouragement and hope the two lads who took a tumble are up and riding soon, but get it sorted speedway, people don't want this....do they?.

Bet your great to be with in the pub

I could not agree more. After watching at Stoke mainly but at other tracks as well since 1978; I came to the conclusion last year that speedway wasn't offering what I want and saw just one meeting all year. Not missed it at all and plough all my spare cash it to going from Stoke to Reading to watch London Irish play Union and going to their away games ( mostly closer to me !!). I check on here regularly to see if things with speedway will change but no. For me, if we had seven equally ( as close as you can) level riders racing in teams against each other I would be back in a flash as there is no finer sight. Too many strung out races to justify my attendance and money. I wish that it long continues for those that follow it with a passion but for me "bad" speedway is not better than no speedway.

Hope Kyle stay's injury free this year.....and any following year too. Boy does he deserve it. Top rider.

Thank you Malcolm for the reply and realize that it is a difficult situation and position to resolve. I certainly do not regard the NL a league of wobblers and know that you did not insinuate that. For me at present the product on offer is not what I want. In all sports the ones taking part find their level and it is at the start that the most progress is made and if some are not offered a team place then they will not progress, but some who are too good for the NL need to be moved on to allow them room, I must admit It was with great joy that I watched Ben Reade develop into a very good rider ( it could have been James as I was there to watch the race offs been him and Ben for that final place in the Potters 7; James gating in front and the Ben coming past; two lads of the same standard at the time racing against each other(see my point) My list of problems are topped that teams are forced into selecting riders that my not be up to the standard of the racing whilst capable riders are sitting on the side lines because of the flawed average set-up. Careers have been ended because of averages. I want to watch Elite standard riders riding against Elite standard riders ...dito for all leagues. I know the two riders i mentioned in Ben Wilson and Rob would not normally ride against each other but were used as a level for standard both of experience and ability at this level. I wish Rob all the success in the world as I do James and if they have the drive that is required then they should do well. I know this will never happen but what killed meetings for me were when either a rider did not appear for whatever reason at the track or a rider got injured in his first race then he has to be covered by a reserve; fine if the reserves are false three pointers but can lead to riders being in races to to fill a spot; lets have riders in there that are same average or close to for the rider that is out or it can even lead to three riders races if situations get worse for a team. I want four riders in a race unless somebody has been thrown out for dangerous riding. For me; and I know I am in the minority by a long way; speedway is wrapped up in rules and regs that are not giving enough close racing for me. Let the riders find their level and let them race. That is what other sports do. If somebody is good enough for the Elite he will get there because someone will see their talent and bring them into their squad, if not do not force them. Good luck for the season Malc and I know for sure that you will do Stoke proud as you always do

I have all the time in the world for you Malcolm; in fact when you came to Stoke it kept me going for a while, so I will respect what you say to my comments. I no longer go to speedway due to the set-up we have in all leagues not just the NL because There is very large a gap in the riding ability of the num one riders and the lads that ride at reserve berth. I have too long watched riders finish 1/2 to 3/4 of a lap at times in front of others due to the spread in ability. I have often said I would be willing to watch lads of Ben Wilson's standard race against each other as I would also be willing to pay to see Rob the new seven at Stoke (sorry his surname has gone from my head) race against his standard but not Ben against Rob as no racing tends to be involved and I end up not entertained. Two to three good races a night is not enough. Why cannot sides be with riders of equal ability racing against each other?. I hear that for lads to get better they need to ride against better riders and to a degree that is correct if the ability is close; if not then a lad can be demoralised by the experience. This is not a complaint against you, just interested in your views.

I think I may be well out of touch but I thought the pay rates were the same for all clubs in the NL?. If not they should be, as the big clubs just hoover up the best and leave the rest to scrap for the bits. Looks like with the signings it will be a wipe out for Cradley for this year, o well may be a return for me back to speedway for 2015 as the disjointed league racing continues this year. All I ask is 7 riders of equal or as close to equal riding against each other....I hate to think how far in front Ben Wilson and Steve W will finish of the rest when they get going.