Sings4Speedway

15 blinking quid to get in at Kent this year! Fair play to those who can sustain the constant rises but personally i will be attending very few meetings at that rate. More likely spending my money at Eastbourne at the next level up for just a quid more. Poor reasoning too, riders costs have gone up because they have allowed them to, its not the fans fault that riders choose to have new race suits, bikes, engines every season but they are the ones being hit in the pocket.

Aside from new punters coming through we are short of new riders coming through as who realistically would encourage anyone to take up the sport. Costs are spiralling, clubs are folding, apart from 1/2 riders we are adrift on the world stage and at the mercy of a glut of foreigners to keep the leagues operating.

It also has to be said that whilst a useful experiment greyhounds, horses, stock cars and speedway are pretty different sports whereas solo speedway, sidecar speedway and short track are much more connected. If these could be organised with the invited riders matched to a closer standard then the entertainment would come. Its even got potential to break riders into class groups and close the gap in standard. As for the comments about regulars i just don't see the sport surviving with the current supporting trends or even in a regular team format. The GP's continue to prosper whilst all leagues are struggling, all the indicators are that the majority want less meetings but of a much higher entertainment standard.

Maybe he has actually ended up with a deal that means he is paid per point so will have to put some effort into his racing.

True but they are still in their infancy with respect to speedway. If they were being made for specific riders rather than just a one size fits all then they could be a little more tailored.

No they want to give Ipswich half a chance

Obviously plenty left in the Ipswich budget. Still doesn't mean he isn't grossly overpaid. Plus the Witches were desperate for a big name rider in the side or risked fans not turning up. Harris would need to end the season on a 10 plus average to make himself considered good value.

have to say im hugely in favour of this an have made similar suggestions in the past. I see the future of the sport as more of a travelling show rather than a weekly team sport. As you said various classes / formulas all run on the same day. Grasstracks can draw strong crowds with a lesser standard product. Make it a full festival of shale based sport but as the most suited Speedway would finally be the headline act.

Confirmation of what was largely known already although confirmation that Tungate is notably cheaper than Harris is quite alarming because i doubt Rohan comes that cheap so Bomber must be raking it in once again.

Thats the point. Even in a relatively simple league with simple rules nobody can write down anything concrete. Its always just flakey stuff that gets abused and exploited.

I have to say that as a middle ground im surprised more clubs don't utilise the Jersey approach. Riders can have their own kevlars and be recognisable via legs but have X jerseys made each reflecting the clubs preferred design for the upper body and can have the riders sponsors included too. Keep a couple back for guests and cheap to make when Poole change 6 of the starting line up.

Personally yes i think it would/should be great if all clubs had team kevlars it just has to be listed as part of the contract /signing on fee. As a rider you are expected to wear this design kevlar every match, here is £5-600 go get them made to the design we specify. If you wish to spend more that's your own choice. Its not rocket science to be honest.

Looking at the pictures i would say he was riding at Scunny? Not sure who wiped him out but "only" seen bruising to lung and abdomen as injuries. Wish him a speedy recovery.

In fairness when i read your original post which has now vanished i thought you were digging out the MK Knights. Whilst the ideal is that all ghost teams are doing their best to find a new venue of their own not all have the funding to setup a fresh lets be honest how many established clubs can start up again, Cradley for example have been trying without success for ages and have much deeper pockets than most. But by keeping the team name going the hard working groups of supporters are keeping the interest afloat and by having an active team name is still a positive step to the sport returning to the area.

Whilst harmonising has its merits, it is certainly not a simple rulebook. Why not ditch the IRR, if a rider gets injured then the rides are covered by reserves. If a team is already running RR then they must have a number 8 on standby. That is easy to explain rules "that average guy got injured so they can only replace him with the reserves" rather than "that average guy got injured so now the best 3 riders can all take a ride each and completely swing the match". If a rider has to withdraw does a mandatory X day lay off still apply?

Hate to be "that person" who corrects you but Shanes did plenty of Speedway prior to signing for PL Poole. Starting out in the MDL before limited appearances at Plymouth & Coventry where he didn't pull up a lot of trees to be fair. Even when he signed for Kent he would score well but couldn't gate for toffee. His attacking style suits some CL tracks and thats where he started to gather interest before joining the Pirates. Not going to debate his ability/potential too much but fear his Grass style will continue to hold him back a bit on many more technical tracks and despite very strong sponsorship is still behind with the financial clout that Brennan & Zac Waj have.

Not quite Longtrack but worth a mention / consideration for any fan. Sunday 15th September sees possibly the final meeting held at Swingfield nr Folkestone. Whilst this may be classed as a grasstrack it is a huge track and i fully expect many of the top European Long Track riders to be in attendance one again along with some very talented Brits so a definite date for any calendar this year.

Whilst they were largely pointless anyway as most clubs failed to use them the introduction of IRR virtually kills any sensible use of number 8's in the NL. This facility was generally put in place to enable extra opportunities for breakthrough riders, by removing it is another step away from the Development tag the NL has. There is really no clear direction in which this league is supposed to take.

Yes anything could have happened if it had held on until racing was under way. All riders have a responsibility to ensure their equipment is up to standard and then there are officials who verify the state of the bike too (although it could have been amended after being checked). The likelihood is that an engine has been fitted last minute and everything not done properly.

Here we go (apologies in advance to all riders for sinking their season before it starts) 1. Clegg CH 8.63 2. Spooner Kent 4.50 3. Harris CH 5.74 4 Brooks Mild 4.53 5. Flint BV 8.55 6. D Thompson Leic 2.00 7. Gilkes Kent 2.00 Total 35.95

Yep Kent have followed the trend in Greyhounds of being broadcast direct into Bookmakers and therefore have to run on strange days / times of day. Its another sport where the viewing habits are changing constantly but the interest is still there.

The danger is clearly the "sufficient" element. Exeter providing they have everything well documented sound like they are sorted, Im sure i have read that Reading are active in the search but it still leaves the others who im certain are a little quieter on that front. Should Camarthen, Weymouth or Milton Keynes not be able to satisfy the requirements the league would be in major jeopardy.

Thats how i read it. What i was getting at is where do riders over 18 stand? If they are missing for reasons other than injury or doubling up it looks like up to 3.00 point replacements?

Until next year when all teams without their own track are prevented from racing and the development leagues are consigned to the history books

Certainly does. Also an interesting introduction "In the NDL, only a rider who is 18 years old and under may be absent for any reason providing 3 days notice is given." Reading this means that pre-arranged holidays, family BBQ's and other miscellaneous reasons do not qualify? Also including the inability to get time off work?