crescent girl

Isn't it P&P for just the Bullets, plus Academy (NJL) riders?

Looking at the IoW situation from afar, l'm baffled as to why such a go-ahead, progressive promotion (as l'm repeatedly told they are) felt they couldn't continue to promote their terrific brand of speedway in what would be a nine-team NDL? All the reduced points limit would in effect have meant is they would have to replace one seven-point rider with a new three-pointer -- and if their promotional ideas are so effervescent, their shows so attractive to their public -- surely this shouldn't have been a deal-breaker? The NDL set-up seems to suit the other eight teams well enough -- what is it that the IoW promotion feel would prevent them continuing to put on their much-acclaimed presentations?

I'll stand by my original post - - four doubles, two singles and a stream.. A nice mixed selection box!

That's an interesting thought. Let's imagine that everything goes well, crowds return and there is a Championship Pairs (at Somerset, a handy neutral venue, the night before Cardiff) featuring all twelve clubs. A Plymouth walkover - - or are there any other opinions?

You think?

Yeah, we could each be right -- or wrong! I was taking my data from the BSPL site, which listed four. Now the Bullets (and Bandits) fixtures are on club website, it is still a bit hazy, as the club site has Bandits v Newcastle on BOTH June 19th (which would be a double-header) and July 3....... BSPL have that match on July 3rd, as has the Newcastle website.

Well, these are special times. What has happened in the past, in every walk of life, far beyond speedway, has been swept aside by the global pandemic. While the Island promotion have every right to decline membership of this year's 3rd Division, it might be worth thinking that, if the team average had been set higher, say at 39 or above (as l have seen quoted as their preference) we might not have had an eight-club NDL this time around, with other teams unwilling, or unable to join the league under such terms. While having every sympathy for the deprived Island fans, l personally feel their promotion's withdrawal might be seen in hindsight as a somewhat excessive reaction to a decision which has been accepted by the remaining eight clubs - - with just a whiff of the terrible Coventry/Peterborough furore from a few years back....

Berwick's fixture list at present offers only four double-headers (incorporating NDL matches with Belle Vue, Leicester, Kent and Eastbourne) plus two stand-alone NDL matches (Newcastle and Mildenhall) and the opening meeting of the new UK season on May 1 (against Armadale) which will be a closed-door event, streamed live around the planet! If this schedule is maintained (fixture-lists can prove pliable) having just four double-headers may retain their novelty as 'special occasions' and allow extra promotion of the matches at the appropriate time. Despite a personal preference for stand-alone matches, l readily submit to the financial advantage of running the occasional (and four, over a season, is about right) well-promoted CL/NDL double-header instead of two separate meetings.

Bullets might be pushing it to finish 11th, but Bandits will be much higher than 9th......

Connor Bailey has pulled out of Glasgow team, announcing he's staying at home.

Behind closed doors, and live-streamed, maybe?

Connor Bailey won't be available, as Glasgow also race on Fridays....

Nothing has been announced, but it would be likely that there will be stand-alone meetings on the many 'reserved' dates in the Championship team's calendar. But that's only a personal opinion, not official in any way.

ACU, rather than SCB, but I agree that would be shocking.

Instead of going on and on, bemoaning a lowering of rider quality and the regrettable loss of a club as a result of the drop in team averages, should we not be welcoming Newcastle and Armadale (after more than 15 years) and Berwick (after quarter of a century!) back to boost the division? If this format suits the majority, and can be seen to work this year, we might hope and pray that any such success can draw the loW and maybe Buxton back into a revitalised NL structure in 2022? Always look on the bright side (whistle)

Excellent introductory briefing there. Only hiccup is in Luke Ruddick's nationality -- he's from Melrose in Scotland, not Northumberland. A big difference!

Whooosh.......

Although he is a Berwick asset, there is no way Luke Ruddick can currently ride for the Bullets alongside Leon Flint and Kyle Bickley - - the averages make it impossible.

In addition to Mason Watson, l think Keiran Douglas should be on board. Both very local - the very type of riders the NL is designed to attract to the sport! The suggestion of Greg Blair's name is intriguing (no idea of his average) as Greg is the great-grandson of Danny and Liz Taylor, who created speedway in Berwick, 53 years ago!

Let's see how long before col69 manages to find the NL thread...

Delighted to have NL racing at Shielfield Park to offer a full calendar of Saturdays this coming summer - - bring it on!

Even if the "occupied territory" north of the Tweed was rightfully restored to Scotland, Shielfield Park -- in Tweedmouth -- would remain in England.

Barry was a fair junior rider in his day, doing a couple of seasons in the old Scottish Junior League, making their all-star team that raced against the Anglia Junior League around 1979/80 time

That's a reasonable proposal.

Regardless of averages, l cannot imagine ANY Championship promoter not wanting Jason Crump coming to their track this year with Plymouth. He will be a huge boost for the league's profile and a huge turnstile-spinner at every club hosting the Gladiators.