szkocjasid

Who would be your prediction / preference for 2nd heat leader?

2 brilliant signings for Edinburgh so far

I know it's a joke, but 1) it was Kennett's 3rd ride he got injured in, not 3rd lap. 2) Plymouth didn't break any rules. 3) the rules haven't been changed since then, so BSPL must think they're still suitable. 4) Have any injured heat leaders been replaced since then? While it's easy to mock Plymouth, no-one else has been in the same situation & done any differently (unless I've forgotten someone). Most recent examples are Jason Doyle at Ipswich last year (different league I know) & Erik Riss at Redcar this year, neither of those teams could find a heat leader replacement. Most recent heat leader signings have been "spare" riders coming back from injury (Nicholls) or a ban (Morris). Riders of this ability are not normally available to cover after the season starts. Better mention Poole now, I think Kennett would be a good signing for the Pirates if his average dropped to 4.00, for example.

But what can they do if they want a 6 team Premiership & not enough teams want to join them? They can't just make Poole or Glasgow move up.

Or people talking about Joe as a rider who hasn't been named in any teams 1-7. No different than any possible teams being put together.

Gotta agree with arnieg here. On average teams that started on 40, should end on 42. If clubs start next season on 42, that should be the same strength as last year's sides starting on 40. So a 40 point limit is weakening the league. If the limit was raised to 41, the league would still be weaker (statistically).

Perhaps an idea for next year is to run, 2 x Championships. A top league with a 45 point limit & a second league with a 40 point limit. Probably be easier to encourage an even split of 7 & 7 if it means stepping up to a "strong" Championship rather than the Prem. Still allows riders to double up. Hopefully still fit in the best non-gp riders in the new top tier?

There must be some new fans, not everyone who goes to Speedway was alive in the 70s heyday. I'm sure there's Edinburgh fans based in Armadale, who do didn't go to watch at Shawfield or Powderhall 30 years ago. Look at the kids race at Glasgow, pretty sure their parents must pay to get in. I'm not saying everything is Rosey, far from it. But I can't agree with comments that the sport won't be here in a decade.

If one big league, with a rider like Foord in a second string position was the only way for league Speedway to survive over here, then I'd support it.

Couldn't disagree more. There will always be Speedway, may become more amateur or more part time. Could be a series of individual meetings if a league cannot exist. May end up being electric bikes. No doubt changes need to be made, but don't see Speedway ending in this Country.

Surely doing the right thing is ensuring league Speedway in GB continues for the next decade. Not ensuring GP riders can race over here?

If a rider wants £200 a point, but a club will only pay him £180 a point. He can either find another club, or if there's no-one wanting him retire & get a "normal job". I'm sure every rider would want to be paid more & every promotion would want to pay less.

How about? Dan Thompson - 8.50 Justin Sedgmen - 7.34 Kye Thomson - 5.93 Joe Thompson - 5.72 Jonatan Grahn - 5.30 Luke Harrison - 4.97 Jordy Loftus - 2.14 Total - 39.90

I'm talking about a Champ team for 2026. If there is one big league, then would need to know points limit & how many riders are in a team to have a clue what his team position would likely be.

The way Speedway works, I'd have been desperate for Tate to return, because he had a disappointing year.

Kerr's 2023 ave 8.60, 2024 ave 7.96, 2025 ave 6.94. I'd honestly prefer Batchelor to Kerr. Think he has more scope to up his average.

I wouldn't have a team with Foord starting in the top 5.

I agree with the first part, disagree with the 2nd part. He was an incredibly consistent scorer in the second half of the season. Last 19 matches, zero double figures, 1 score of 5, mainly scored 6 points a meeting (11 times), a high of 9 in only 3 matches. I'm surprised his average didn't drop more tbh. I'm not sure Rowe is much value on his average & certainly not worth paying over the odds for. I'll give credit to Poole for sticking to their budget if he's asked for too much. Can't say I'm impressed with the Bowes signing, maybe it's his attitude towards Workington at the end that's soured me on him. But don't see a lot of improvement on his average (what Poole normally go for).

NL / NT doubling up hasn't caused any of these issues. Last year development league riders only got 10 matches, which can't be good for their development. This year that was increased to 18 matches for riders on both competitions. Also as the development leagues always take second fiddle when there are fixture clashes, these matches don't cause any issues to Champ clubs fixtures. If a rider rode for Buxton or Kent in both NL & NT would you even consider that doubling up? Explaining this year that Sonny Springer rode for Leicester in two development competitions, would be the easiest explanation of a rider racing in more than one competition imo.

Fully expect it to go up.

Look at his last races, when he had more than 4 rides, which I assume were heat 15s 2',3,1,2,3,3,X. That's fantastic scoring. Should be a brilliant no 1 imo.

If the argument is a rider who previously doubled up, for example Jordan Jenkins, no longer doubles up so wants more pay. What about a similar averaged rider last year Jake Allen, did he get paid more than Jenkins because he only had one club? I'd assume not! If Jenkins asks for more due to no more doubling up, surely every other 6 pointer (i.e Allen) would ask the same? So if a promoter would say to Allen, "don't be daft you're not getting extra you didn't double up last year" they'd have to treat Jenkins the same (paying last year's Champ rates). * riders used as an example as they had similar averages, couldn't really compare Harris or Lawson to a rider not doubling up.

Surely one rider riding for the same club in different competitions gives the sport credibility? The alternative is William Cairns riding for Belle Vue at Leicester, then swapping teams to ride for Leicester in the NT, which happened this year. I'd suggest this gives less credibility to the sport than my suggestion.

Personally I think it would be horrendous if an 8+ rider missed the start of the season because there were 10 wanting to race in the Champ. While averages can always dictate a rider missing a team spot, to introduce a rule that guarantees a riders misses out is an awful idea. The thought that an 8.01 would become unemployed, but a 7.99 rider would be the most sought after in the league, is just what I'd expect of Speedway, sadly!

I made the comment last year that stand alone clubs should be able to enter both NDL & NDT competitions, with the same 7 riders. Buxton & Kent Eagles for example. Then all the doubling up clubs join one or the other. As long as it's decided before signings are made a rider could choose to ride for Kent (NL) & Kent (NT) or like currently Oxford (NL) & Plymouth (NT) for example. It didn't work with Leicester this year, as they were a last minute addition, so only Sonny Springer rode for both Leicester sides.