Marksman

Looks like a lack of Comets fixtures from this statement https://britishspeedway.co.uk/ndl/2023-ndl-format-confirmed/ Minimum of 8 Home meetings and Maximum of 10, I don't think that's ideal. Championship clubs are obviously not keen to run any more than that though with them not entering the KO Cup. Was hoping to see maybe a 4TT or a Northern section trophy competition, maybe those will have to come in the form of challenge meetings.

Yeah that’s James, played for Braithwaite, along with Mason Campton who also played the odd game

Keith and Anthony aren't brothers John, Keith is Anthony's Uncle. Keith must be about 80 now James probably calls Keith Uncle but he's a Great Uncle. I know James' granda Raymond very well, from his involvement at our cricket club (Cockermouth), He's a real Salt of the earth character, still as active as ever as Head groundsman at 87 years old! Those new photos look cracking btw! Reminds me of the view you get down the backstraight at Ashfield, but Northside looks even higher than that. Can see the Swedish influence!

Great Nephew he is Geoff James is 14/15 years older than some of the riders! Perfect guy for the job he is!

I forgot to put the Derwent park comparison in, plus here's a King's Lynn one too! Derwent Park.. King's Lynn..

Here's a few 1 to 1 scale comparisions I had a play with, placing the new track on top of existing ones Redcar.. A fair bit bigger and wider than Redcar. Belle Vue.. Fits inside the dimensions, looks slightly wider perhaps but tighter corners Sheffield.. Tighter bends, but much much wider. And Plymouth.. Basically the whole of the Centre Green would fit the Plymouth Track with a bit of Room to spare!!

Already on the website if you look hard enough.. Going to be a really strong team!

Maybe get 2 for the price of 1 on one of these days #bros

Hopefully, should be some very good meetings between the 2 next year, maybe even multiple times if only 6 teams run! Both teams looking strong from 1 to 7.

It's looking like a 3pm start for the Speedway, so unfortunately other local amatuer sport like RL and Cricket will clash.

19 in January! https://workingtoncomets.com/riders/elliot-kelly/ I'd have a wild guess that this could be the team.. Connor Bailey 8.86 Sam McGurk 5.38 Luke Crang 7.23 Ace Pijper 6.90 Harry McGurk 7.11 Elliot Kelly 3.30 Luke Harrison 3.00 41.78

Jake Mulford won't be back at Belle Vue with signing for Redcar, maybe he will be an option, Redcar friday night, Workington Sat afternoon.

I saw on the final averages that have been published, Roynon's average is only 6.00. No brainer for me! https://britishspeedway.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ndl22_issue_final.pdf

Was that the Local star or speedway star?

I think alot might depend on the other clubs running 2 teams wanting it. Leicester and Belle Vue for example would also have 12 PL home meetings, plus 2/3 KO Cup potentially. That would leave them with a mighty 30+ Home meetings including the NL ones (2 x Home). Oxford, Berwick, Edinburgh, Plymouth would also have similar issues, as the creation of this new Group comp. + KO Cup includes extra meetings. So they could also be hitting 30+ Home meetings with NL x2 at Home. This would be without any double headers taking places of course, not too sure how common they are now? On the other hand for us, Kent and Mildenhall, the summer would be very light on meetings if there are only 7/8 Home league meetings. For the Comets, this might mean filing the season up with Challenge meetings or others. For the new venture to be very successful, I think we would need regular weekly meetings (to an extent). Going 5 or 6 weeks without a Home meeting for example, which i've seen at some clubs this year, wouldn't be great.

The team will be called Workington Comets, northside is just the location/venue name (within Workington). And a name a lot of people within speedway will know because of the previous training track From having a dig around, The BSPL have already quietly added the new team and track info to the site... https://britishspeedway.co.uk/team/workington-comets/

Key point from this mornings AGM statement

Steve posted an update on his twitter yesterday, back straight looks ready for those seats now

I see that Town's fixtures are now out for next season, and they seem to have reverted back to a 3pm start, only 7 of 10 would be inside the Speedway season it seems, 12pm starts perhaps?

Sounds very promising! I guess when it went in 2018, no one would of predicted us even talking about a return, remarkable. Just my thoughts of course, but Speedway, especially for this new venture, should be ran in the summer/warmer months, unlike the shambles that descended the '22 Championship season. That leaves us with something like this... (in an ideal world, that doesn't exist) 17 Weekends, Running May to End of August; 9 Home League meetings (KL possibly joining) 1 Home KO Meeting Individual Meeting 3 more Sundays...? NDLRC or Pairs? British youth championship round Under 19 final / Under 21 Semi final? Means 14/17 weekends running speedway, giving room for rain offs etc. However of course, rider availabilty will always be a problem at this level, more so the opposition! Then run into September if team progresses in League playoffs / KO Final etc.

Hope this happens, the NL could be the most populated league next year with 10 teams if the Comets and KL both join. Maybe even IOW will be ready to return

Looks like whoever set up the new Scorpions Instagram account has already revealed the 7 riders by following them all…

Hopefully the NDL playoffs on BSN will be well supported, the service has been a breath of fresh air for an nomad fan like myself. Hopefully will see you covering a meeting at Northside, Workington next season!

Yeah it would make sense start off small and build it up, run in the NDL and make money on track hire, other events etc. However, looks like there could be as few as 7 in the championship next year IF Glasgow were to have a go in the Premiership. I’m sure if that was the case the BSPL would be asking the possibility of Workington joining the Championship. Afternoon racing in the NDL, with trackdays, the British youth championship and a few Open meetings with star names is probably along the lines of what will happen in 2023.

Found this nice drone footage someone has taken in August on YouTube, really shows off the track and it's surronding area... The BSPL AGM will be fast approaching with the NL AGM to follow later on I think, may hear some more news soon.