Sings4Speedway

Strong number one in the current league and making the Cubs look more of a force to be afraid of. Shame the 2 x 2 pointer rule exists, i fear this side could run with 3 or 4 and still make the play offs.

Very good signing this season on his average. Newman needs a little injury free run and should finally kick on to the level many believe he is capable of. Certainly knows what its like to be in winning sides which will add to the team and a signature that i feel many teams would be happy with.

Doh! Can see why Atkins would have wanted to keep travelling down for him/his family but really feel NL sharpness is what he will need to make it at the next level this season. No doubting the talent is there, the funding is there so just needs a little good fortune and could go a long way in the sport.

Largely agree although in Ayres case he still adds to the Nl plus would be competitive at a higher level had the averages not been fiddled with/2 point rules been brought in. Smith missing out is a loss but he over stretched himself last year and failed to cut it at either higher tier, not to say he couldn't in the future but sadly speedway is as much about timing as it is about ability.

I literally couldn't agree more. What really grinds my gears is the number of riders who hang around for years, making little improvement and moaning how speedway treats them whilst the actual development league riders & organisers are treated like dirt. Even that wouldn't be so bad but i know better heat leaders at not the most renowned high paying club was giving £35 a point, tyre and fuel for home meetings.

Not going to disagree there, which is why the rules need to be introduced before the season not after. Averages should have been set for 2020 already, definitely wrong that riders who succeeded get squeezed out and riders who sat a year out now appear attractive signings. I think in the short term the lower limit will appear to produce a selection of competitive teams across the board and slightly long term be a disaster that needs scrapping but will then be too late.

Spot on. A new track for Lakeside would be a benefit to all of the Speedway community not just the fans of the Hammers. Although i wouldn't be put off as Gustix is hardly the voice of the Lakeside fan base.

Would count as withholding services surely? 28 day ban (which should include Poland too), no facility and might as well be sacked as most fans would turn their back on them anyway.

Perks & RTD?

There will always be riders who step down during the season as they find the going to tough, i suspect Chessell will be early favourite to be first.

IF Tom isn't at Brum this season the only reason i can think of is that he feels he has got the best out of himself on the track and wants to master somewhere else. He opted for P'boro the past couple of seasons (not a track that suited him) because he wanted to improve on all tracks and its paying off. Riders who want to be track specialists stay still, riders who want to dominate on all tracks move around,

IF Brum have failed to secure the services of Tom Bacon this season i fear for them unless he asked for a move away (which feels unlikely). Fans will not take kindly to one of their own not being included especially one destined for the very top.

Thats a bit previous heat 2's are by no means a sure thing.....its entirely possibly that both will fall and/or break down so leave scope to turn the one into a zero

Early signs for several sides are looking positive (maybe the lower points limit wasn't such a bad idea)

In fairness they couldn't get much worse. I don't enjoy bashing Stoke and in fact weirdly like the place if the track could just be consistent it would produce good racing and get more than a few spectators turning up each week.

Think riders can opt to take 10% of the asset transfer fee but this means their league time served is reset. I remember Cam Woodward couldn't host his testimonial after 10 years in the UK as he took a slice of his transfer from Edinborough to Eastbourne? He said at the time that £600 was a lot of money to him as there was no certainty he would make it to the 10 year mark.

Heard many words about Stokes track last year and none of them were superb. I hope it can be rectified for next season as it would be a huge shame if a good side is assembled and let down by the craters in the surface.

Agreed an applied and interested Halsey is certainly good value on that average. Shaping up to be a strong Cradley side again.

Going to have to disagree. Think Spooner has roughly found his level, his effort is there but equipment will always hold him back and its only Lens help that has got him this far. Edwards looks effortless on a bike, might have been over shadowed by Kemp & Flint this year but i expect him to hit the top along with those two. If Spooner cannot add more than 1.5 at reserve all year i doubt it will go up in the main body of the team.

Heck fire. Did it for a couple of years, things didn't go his way and retires. Probably be back halfway through the season (another Mullins in the making LOL). Plus side good to see Danno back, had a year to find his feet and needs to really kick on this season (and yes that has been said several times before).

Looks a solid side with a couple of marquee signatures namely NBJ & Garcia who i would have thought were in demand this year? Add in the influence of Howe in the pits and it could be a good year for the bandits. Yes there is a danger of clouded judgement with Gary as Manager and Leon in the side but he is probably best placed to tell when he is having an off night and when he can go out and do the job.

If we are slipping further into paid for rides then there really is little hope for the sport.....

Burnett??? How many chances does he need? With a league structure changed to encourage new riders to step in and freshen things up rather than see the same old faces year on year if Stoke go down the Burnett route its a travesty.

Brum sadly have a injury jinx that needs to be lifted and that certainly won't be helped by including Hartel in the side. He is fast but wild in the Longtracks and showed exactly the same at Ipswich, no doubt entertainment but would almost certainly fall out with Ully/Barker and again don't think he is any better than Hume and certainly not on the average he carries.

Declared in a 1-7 as a 3.00 rider or declared as an unattached rider as a 3.00 rider? If the latter there will be mild panic spreading through several teams/riders? Like the not more than 2 x 2.00 ruling it would be nice if the finer points of these rules were actually shared especially as the majority of fans know/respect the rules more than the promotions.