crescent girl

This would have been attended to at AGM time, l expect. But only their standard money, unless any special contracts had been lodged with the authorities pre-season. Riders who are publicising that they have unpaid debts will be seeking the extras promised by the failed promotion. Sadly, others owed dough -- outwith 'speedway debts' -- aren't likely to see anthing ...

Fair enough.

Lewis Bridger was badly let down by sponsored equipment when he re-started his career at Berwick, but made changes and dumped the guy (down south) who was providing the bikes. Lewis then bought new equipment from a GP rider, whereupon, until his season-ending crash a few matches later, he was getting better and better, and looking very much like a #1.

But it has always been so. Peter Collins, Mark Loram and Barry Briggs all retired, were replaced, and the sport moved on. You say the forty-somethings need replacing? As always, they will be. By Jacob Hook, George Congreve, Nathan Ablitt, Lasse Fredriksen, Dan Gilkes, etc, coming in fresh and new at the bottom to replace the retirees. Who in turn are replaced at the top by the brightest and best moving up through the league -- Tom Brennan, Leon Flint and Jordan Palin are going to be stars, Ryan Douglas and Josh Pickering are already well on their way. It's the Circle of Life, my friend. Hakuna matata!

Ty Proctor was a vital cog in Worky's treble-winning team of 2018, and again with Leicester's title-winners in 2019. If he provides the same solidarity for the Bandits, his signing could be productive, not least in away fixtures.

5.42

It is a tragedy the new Comets were prevented from joining this year's NDL by the vandalism. However, if it hadnt happened this way and the stadium opened in time, who would Workington have been able to recruit for a 2022 side? Surrounded by established NDL clubs at Edinburgh to the north, Berwick east and BV south -- who between them appear to have all the promising northern lads signed up -- might the Comets have struggled to get a team together? Indeed, might they have a similar problem in twelve months?

Bullets' fixture list offers three home stand-alone NDL matches, plus four double-header nights featuring both Bandits and Bullets. The stand-alone nights in April and May will fill blank dates in the CL calendar and provide regular speedway this season, hopefully allowing a continuity of Saturdays that hasn't been enjoyed at Berwick for quite a number of years. This alone makes last year's creation of the Bullets a worthwhile decision -- all the refreshing entertainment they provided in the process was a terrific bonus!

Fixture list now offers a nice continuity this season, with three stand-alone NJL meetings fleshing out blank Saturdays where there isn't a CL match scheduled. One blank Saturday in June is presumably insurance against one of the previous ten being rained off -- another in July would cover KO Cup progression or another rain-off. August has two blanks because of Cardiff and the GP Challenge, but all in all a pleasing roster of Saturdays in prospect. Bring it on!

Historically (1950/60s) Glasgow raced Fridays, Edinburgh on Saturdays. When Powderhall opened in 1977, they needed Friday, as Saturday was the big night for greyhounds. Although the BSPA might well have backed any Glasgow protest against the application, new Edinburgh promoter Mike Parker gained agreement from Tigers' owner Jimmy Beaton (for an undisclosed one-of cash payment) to also run on Fridays. The two clubs shared Fridays from 1977 until around 1994 or so, when Shawfield's bosses introduced Friday-night greyhound racing with Tigers switching to run on Sundays. When the Scottish Monarchs raced there in 1996, it was on a Sunday evening at 6.30. In 1997, Monarchs switched to Armadale and reverted to their traditional Friday, but Tigers remained a Sunday operation at Shawfield, and then Ashfield, for the next twenty years or so. Their first move was for a year of Saturdays, before adopting Friday again just two or three years ago (after close on quarter of a century of Sundays). On another slant, in the original British League of the mid-sixties, there were at least six Saturday circuits - meaning twelve clubs were involved every Saturday. The difference between now and then is guests. Having four Friday tracks in 2022 leaves little scope for recruiting guests, and if there was to be fifth circuit running on Friday, this would make finding a suitable guest nearly impossible.

As the play-off schedule comprises ten meetings, that's only twenty regular matches. Eleven CL clubs, means someone might only get one visit per season.

How much does it cost for public liability cover, and the increased stewarding cover now required for all "public events"?

Speedway Star interview with Ben Duffil says either seasonal subscription or a pay-per-view option for single meetings, as l read it. Presume tracks like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Redcar will continue to stream all their meetings, independently from this new service.

Berwick 10th? No pressure, Bandits!

There is a general, encouraging, trend in seeing more British riders staffing CL squads. Even Berwick, where they've been fairly thin on the ground, now have (at least) three this year. Whatever the reason, more home riders moving through the leagues can only be good news.....

Past it this year -- got a bye!

While the Isle of Wight's announcements are always interesting, surely this thread should be confined to "The Way Ahead" or "General Discussions" as -- currently -- the island events have absolutely nowt to do with the National League? Not that I wouldn't welcome the Islanders back into "real speedway" (and the National League) in a heartbeat.........

Actually, Josh MacDonald has a true rolling average of exactly 4.00. His last twenty meetings gave him 85 rides from which he scored 85 points.

Not to forget Leon Flint on 6.04 with Berwick.....

Since you ask...... Yes, Leon Flint has the better CMA, he is on 3.63, Drew Kemp is only 3.36

I'm sure they would! But will our awful goverment, post-Brexit, be extending a welcome to such aspirants? Indeed, will Birmingham have a sponsors licence in place to welcome new non-British employees?

The little footnote to the announcement, telling us Ben is now a Berwick asset, is a real boost for the club, too..,

Kieran Douglas confirmed as fourth Bullet

Ready for what? Ready to take on Dan Gilkes, Jack Smith, Ryàn Kinsley or the Thompsons? Of course not, he's just turned fifteen and has limited 500cc experience. Ready to continue the progress he's made from sessions at Duns, the GB Youth events and for Berwick's Academy side in NJL mini-matches? Absolutely! This coming season, he'll only have to beat the opposing #7's -- home and away -- to justify his team place and repay the faith the GHT Bullets are investing in Ace. By joining local fellow-graduates Mason Watson and Keiran Douglas (and before them, Leon Flint) his recruitment to the NDL side -- emphasis on the 'D' -- displays the Berwick club's continuing determination to 'grow their own'.

Cant agree. Nicola Sturgeon has worked tirelessly for the past two years, keeping the nation's head above water in the face of vindictive and cynical actions by the lying and cheating Westminster posh,-boys. IMO.