Steve Irving

UPDATE 2 | British riders who have never achieved a three-point average can start next season on a two in both leagues... So there it is, no red face for Chris Louis after all! Didn't think he'd have not known the rules somehow.

My money is on you...

"Any new assessed riders including Danyon, will be a 2 point rider and not a 3" Louis' exact words. We'll soon find out I guess.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04bkg82 If you fast forward to around the 2:40 mark, Chris Louis seems certain that Danyon Hume will be a 2 point, rather than a 3 point rider as he didn't do enough meetings to attain an average. Seems that all NL newbies will be a 2. Could be rather embarrassing for Louis if he's wrong of course! But you'd have to think he knows the score as he's an intelligent guy and just spent three days at the AGM.

Agreed, it'll be wider, rounder, perfect camber and smoother in 2017. Lots of work planned for the winter. ..👍 That was Chris Louis' tweet to Sam Masters. He also said that both track surface AND shape would be changing this winter in reply to a supporter.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04bkg82 2:35.50 to be precise if anyone fancies a listen

So King can ride for Ipswich after all so that's 1 and 7 sorted (King and Hume), just fill in 2-6.

Think there's far too much smoke for there to be no fire TBH. We'll find out later today one way or the other.

That confused me also. This AGM is for the EL and PL, the NL have their own AGM at a later date. So if Lakeside can't declare to run EL by the start of this AGM, then surely they can't declare to run PL yet either?

Spot on with all those. Would add Snooker and "whispering" Ted Lowe too.

Ipswich? I've heard that one myself the last few days..

"Agreed, it'll be wider, rounder, perfect camber and smoother in 2017. Lots of work planned for the winter. .." That was the tweet by Chris Louis in reply to Sam Masters who wasn't exactly waxing lyrical about the track when Edinburgh visited. As Foxhall will be my "home" track next season, I'm looking forward to see how the changes affect the racing. Hopefully in a positive way.

Well done to Danny King, beating Craig Cook's track record in what would probably be the last official meeting on the current track given the proposed alterations over the winter?

No idea Scooby..

Think that was in reference to your "cracker" comment as in Jacobs Crackers. Could be wrong though

Oh I get that bit he seems a strange chap indeed, I meant generally besides him the whole thread seems a little bizarre in the main! Scotsman's post above just about confirmed it LOL.

I genuinely haven't a clue what's going on in this thread. Not a clue.

🖕🏻

The Sheffield fans also seem to be saying similar as well. Seems to be a trend unfortunately and there's an ever decreasing number of tracks that seem to be serving up good Speedway on a regular basis. Even in the EL King's Lynn (which always had a good rep for producing good racing) has come under fire in recent seasons, mostly from their own supporters.

Gating is a skill you either have or haven't got. The sport has been riddled with riders down the years who were notoriously bad gaters and vice versa. Mark Loram for example was a poor gater his entire career and could never master it despite working hard at it. I think you're correct Baldyman, you either have quick reflexes or you don't.

Actually looking forward to this! Quite enjoy my visits to worky.

No that's fair enough and like you rightly say, each to their own. I was just a little confused at your post that seemingly started off anti EL and pro PL, (because you don't want to watch has beens like Nicholls), and then in the very same post seemed to become anti PL by naming journeyman riders who ride PL (Risager and Covatti) who are no longer good enough to be wanted in the EL. The PL has seen plenty of riders use it as a retirement home who can no longer cut it in the EL. We could even see in a year or 2, the rider you don't want to watch, drop down a league and become predominantly a PL rider for his closing years.. The argument of preferring being competitive in the PL rather than struggle in the EL is a valid one, and one I'm sure is shared by plenty of others. But I don't think Chris Louis would risk ailing crowds by moving up and not being competitive. Things got pretty hairy last time if I remember rightly? and I'm sure he wouldn't risk Ipswich' future if he wasn't confident of at least being competitive.

You're contradicting yourself there Baldy. On one hand you don't want to see the club join the EL to watch has been riders like Nicholls, and then make the point that Risager and Covatti are journeyman has beens that don't get a sniff of EL racing and are PL riders only, the league you want to remain in? That doesn't make an awful lot of sense to me.

Nicholls has had a good year to be fair.

I'll be coming to this one too. My last chance to see Redcar until we visit Ipswich next season as I'm moving down south in a few weeks. Seeing less of Redcar might not actually be a bad thing mind!