TMW

Everytime this subject comes up we are served 3 choruses of 'Scunthorpe forever' and it is starting to wear a bit now

I'm not sure you lot actually believe all tis drivle or whether you are on a wind up

He is not the only one who has shown such credentials Newcastle took a gamble on someone who had virtually no experience not sure they would do the same with others. I'm not gonna get into an argument with you on that one. 'Suport 'OMG you think he has gotten to Lakeside in 1 season with no support (Not necessarily financial but I'm sure his PL points money helped) I'm all for discussion but only when both sides ae opearting in the realworld. Stoke are going to find their last riders from rheir own Amateur meeting

I presume in that statement you include Adam Wrathall I supose it does show what can be done when you have a shed load of support behind you (and I don't mean just money) just not all seem to get it. No desrespect to Richie as quite rightly he will grab whatever he is offered but he is not the only one. I'm just saying don't dis the ones who haven't had such support. Maybe it is down to other promotions not doing their bit but is that the riders fault? Does that earn them the right to call them s*** It may have escaped your notice but only Stevie is riding for the saints but faiplay to Stoke as they have to build a team to win

How can Richie doubling up through 3 leagues be good for other riders? Priceless!!!!

This could be worth a look at http://www.fbraceplates.com/

I don't think there is an intention to replace the NL with the 2nd half leagues. It's just to get riders up to the standard to make the NL more competitive and obviously put NL in the shop window with PL and EL supporters. If they like what they see i the 2nd halfs who knows they may even take in a meeting or 2 and increase the crowd base.

And putting it in this section is only going to compound the problem, I would say. It is a Junior (inexperienced) league not a youth (age related) league. I imagine there wil be some MX riders making the switch competeing and they may not be 16. I'm of the understanding that it will follow the rules of the MDL & NJL in previous seasons with some ammendements. In the past it has been 1 NL rider in for each team but on occasions it has been difficult to get Youngsters with school commitments etc.... So another NL rider has filled the gap but I believe this has been tightened this season. The BSPA website has given this league it's on section on the BSPA site which is excellent news.

I am sorry I cant share your memories that far back.....I apologise if it came across that way. The question was suposed to put a different point of view.

Once again I agree

Very good post Dean Nobody sees the PL as a training ground for the EL, which it is. One thing we must not do though is degrade the efforts of Amateur set ups.Although I know that is not what you meant Dean

I didn't assume your answer I am pleased you like it. I was merely giving you another point of view by asking a question I have started supporting speedway since my involvement with the NL before I could take it or leave it more often than not leave it. Names I couldn't pronounce, riders I couldn't relate to etc etc etc. Unfortunatley we all need to get out there and promote the league, If we want our league to survivie. We cant just leave it to the BSPA to wave a magic wand.

This thread is going nowhere in this section I'm affraid. A lot of supporters don't even bother with it. I suggest it should be moved to General Discussion but as t has NL in the title Phil wont like it.

Where as I appreciate your passion I have a question. If Dudley were in the PL would you have this passion for the NL?. Unfortunatley, all to many answer this question with NO. I suspect that many teams, you mention, are reluctant to put there big toe in the water let alone swim. There just isn't the support for the league i'm affraid apart from Dudley. The people who pay their money want to see the stars and who can blame them?. I suspect the only way the support for the NL would incease would be to make it free entry and then you are getting into the realms of the chicken and the egg or catch 22. I have to support the PL because the only local team is a PL team and I have to say the only heat I all to often enjoy and look forward to is Ht 2. More often that not its 4 british lads giving their all in a difficult league.

U tell em!!!!!!!!!!

Come on guys you need to be reasonable. Some PL teams have NL and for them to fit another 7 fixtures in at this late stage I imagine would be a nye on impossible I would say. Lets just see what comes out of the NL AGM before making a judgement.

I know that is why I have had to hijack all the other threads

Yep thought so. Maybe I didn't word it quite how I meant it. I was just pointing out the different approaches and how more teams are now focusing their approach. maybe I should have lost the 'possibly' The only thing with them going off and being owned (transfered) or loaned by other teams is they can get lost in the system. Now I wouldn't like to spark a massive debate on this it is just my perception.

Possibly Scunthorpe. As if you didnt know. Well I have missed Scunthorpe's aim whether it is to provide riders to sell i.e revenue or whether it is to filter them into the Scorpions. Mildenahll and Stoke have said thet they are going to filter them through to senior teams. I imagine Stoke are going to enter the PL again at some point and Mildenhall have Ipswich. Thats my understanding anaywyay. I'm sure you will tell me if I am wrong.

I think you are being a bit unfair there. Nobody denies that the aforementioned riders are good riders but they ae not the only ones in the NL of that standard, there is a long list actually, They were all given PL places last season Richie without even competing in the NL for a season. They were never dropped and were given a fair amount of support morally if not financially. I would say they are the for-runners of what can happen when a brit is supported and given the opportunities. There are some riders who have been around in the NL for too long because they haven't been given the opportunity of anything else. It does very much sound like teams are turning a corner with Stoke, Mildenahall Poss Scunthorpe and I assume others who are looking to breed homegrown riders. It wont happen overnight but if the riders keep coming through then the future is looking bright.

It is a bit of a turnaround from one season to the next. From having Smethills at reserve and Nielson at no.8 to having novices as second strings. Don't be too down on the lads though they need your support and if you give it i'm sure they will return the gesture and next year who knows they may even win again.

Isn't that how it should be?. The main body doing the work while the reserves learn. I doubt they will be on the pace but give them time. Too much pressure is put on the reserves to win meetings with 7 rides. This as I say puts the reserves under undue pressure. Mildenhall held their own way before Heeps joined them although he did give them a boost. Brandon Freemantle was off the pace most of the season as was Ryan Blacklock but started winning races towards and this season can only build on that

Wasn't that why riders who had patriality started on a 6 before the rules were changed? I think what HT was saying is that it was bending the rules. I don't think anyone questions what Cameron contributed to the league maybe the rules should reflect that. The rules were changed, I believe, to only Brit riders in the NL. This is lads who hold british nationality whether that be by birth (Woffenden)or parental entiltlemt ( Morris - Brandford). Maybe the rules should be changed back to Brits and Patriality. Also If you assess Commonwealth riders and european riders on previuos experience shoud you not also assess riders who come from a different disciplin like MX ,as they have vast track and racing experience and has been proved just need to do a quick conversion course to the speedway track (Worralls and Birks). That doesnt't even touch the seemingly dubious practice of riders deliberatley underperforming to manipulate and average to fit a certain team. Maybe the rules are too strict for the NL and I speak as somebody who has a vested interest in NL for Brits only but it would put a stop to all these question marks and seemingly backroom dealings. Put criteria in place and as has been proven with Heeps people will find someway of meeting it. I think the main question that needs to be asked is was it fair to all the other teams who did compete fair and square not least stoke and they ended top of the league. [quote name=Damon' timestam p='1325500264' post='2063433] amazing that in this NL forum, Mildenhall top the charts with most replys and interest, great to see the interest in the Fen Tigers ! roll on the new season. Don't think it is interest in the Fen tigers it's the ambiguaty of the inclusion of Cameron. It's actually a different thread that is being discussed.

A slight reality check on this thread is needed I think and then move on. Cameron Heeps is believed by some to have ridden illegally in the Fen tigers. This has nothing to do with what foreign riders may or may not contribute to the league that is a different argument. Did this put Mildenhall at an advantage?. Jayne has stated she was told his mother has a British Passport, so no. I think that closes the argument. Unless Mrs Heeps comes on here and states her citizenship status then you will never know if this is true or not as the BSPA will not be able to disclose this information as it wil probably subject to privacy Foreign riders on false averages, foreign riders in the league are a different argument altogether and should be discussed on a different thread.

Possibly hit the nail on the head there. People want to see EL standard riders at NL prices. I say let anyone into the NL and before you know it there will be no NL or a NL of stand alone clubs only which may not include Mildenhall as has already been said on here it is Ipswiches 'little brother'. I don;t imagine Cameron is on £10 a point plus all the X's