Sings4Speedway

Just daft all round, Riss has been trading off his brothers stock his whole career, Kemp risking getting an average (although manipulation should take care of that with little to race for) but Wally-inger Wal the Funk. No talent, no show National League reject. There are plenty of NL riders that would have loved the opportunity to ride at this level and put themselves in the window, there are development league riders likewise and all are more deserving of a team spot than Wallinger begger me the person who runs the tea bar must be more deserving of a place.....

Certainly average manipulation is becoming a far greater factor in the NL. 3 pointers would be crazy to sign at this point of the season unless they have a concrete offer for next year (and there is no such thing in speedway) with 4 meetings to attain an average there is huge potential for somebody to have a few decent scores (lucky or otherwise), pick up an injury and then are saddled with a high average freezing them out forever.

Is there any further updates on Sam Bebee anywhere? Scratch that just seen he has a broken arm. Sad times. Wasn't there but was he another victim of the armco behind the air fence?

Good early fight from IOW and they must be heartened by that against the visit of one of the leagues top two sides this year. Final hurrah for Flint at reserve but the Brum reserve headache has been coming for a while and as yet there has been no sniff of a new recruit. With development league racing at Perry Barr and the chance to run 2nd halves when these do not take place the chance to find another reserve was there. Could have even chucked Butcher & Cupitt out with them as i think there would have been several challengers who were keen to ride for Birmingham. Im not sure that waiting for Gilkes is the right answer for the team or him as averages are awarded much earlier this year and with him likely to increase his it would make his prospects of a team place next season more difficult.

Don't worry you might sign Saul Bulley and turn things around

Im not going to claim abuse is widespread or that there are persistent abusers or that things haven't gotten a little more sophisticated but there is more than enough funny smelling smoke to say there's a fire.

There are rules in place that are not currently enforced. Its common knowledge that you can take a standard engine up to 600cc plus or that a 350cc motor could be taken to 420cc which would actually help on some tracks as putting down less power would be an advantage. Throw in the number of very dodgy carbs / nitro / fuel abuse which goes undetected every season and you can see why there is little hope of any meaningful restrictions being imposed.

There is no debating that engines are part of the problem but these are driven by promotions and the riders they are willing to sign. There are plenty of technically gifted riders about who have been overlooked over the years in favour of those who will wind the throttle fully open and hang on. Taking a moral stance in speedway won't get a rider anywhere and when riders either side of you are using top tier / GP level engines the only option to remain competitive is to follow suit. Sure plenty of riders are far from getting the best out of the engines but there are clubs who wouldn't even look at a rider using a longstroke jawa despite them being far more predictable. Id also like to add that whilst engines are an issue the new silencers are still having a huge effect on producing a safe controllable bike.

Sounds like common sense has finally prevailed although shame it has come this far. Fingers crossed Stoke get everything sorted quickly and can move passed this.

Big tracks are less tiring than small ones where the bike is turned more rapidly / more frequently, straights afford 1-2 seconds extra to catch breath. 350cc machines don't hang around, didn't attend so don't know what the level of opposition was but a National Title is still a National title.

Come on Stoke. This is your biggest night of the year ahead. Perfect week of weather in the lead up so forget the result and just serve up a consistent track surface with limited dust, get the meeting run within a respectable 2 hours and allow the 2nd half meeting to actually be completed. If you can achieve this it will be considered a great success if Stoke fail to deliver on these basic items i fear their whole existence will be in great jeopardy.

Based upon Lawlor being fit for this one i can see him being the difference maker in this one with Woodhull also amongst the points. Smith & Bickley know their way round although Perry's form has been far from sparkling this year. The big 4 for Brum will fare well and it should be Walkers kind of track so if Cupitt can find a few and Butcher betters Dicken (in fairness id expect any Butcher, Baker etc to better Dicken) then the points will head to the Midlands. Either way fingers crossed for a good crowd and a close exciting meeting.

Surely with the Poultec academy based from Kings Lynn and the extra track time afforded to those riders one must be worth a look? In terms of Brits who would hold their own at least against the opposite numbers Morley, Mountain, Bacon, Hume or Shanes all have to be a more positive signing than sticking with Andersen.

Id also heard that rumour although as i feel Wood was the one rider least likely to be happy about it im not surprised he has found a higher tier club. I also suspect if such rulings are to remain in place at Arlington it will be Woods last season with the Eagles

Hampshire or Cupitt........ that's like the choice between getting kicked in the knackers by a wellington or football boot...

Think to shake things up in the short term a change of riding order may help? Thomas at 5, switch Hampshire & Rowe but these are short term items. Im not Stonemans greatest fan as he falls too often but can score big and is a Len type of rider. The fact that Birmingham opted against Hampshire says a lot over the winter and has proved a wise decision for them however i don't see many options for Kent at the moment, Nick Laurence or Jamie Couzins who performed well in the recent SDL match may be an option for Clouting who has been thrown into the league to early and is very uncomfortable to watch on the bike. The fact is that Kent have neither the best heatleader trio, best engine room or best reserves in the league but hopefully one meeting aside they can continue to provide some entertainment this season but forget about any silverware.

KENT promoter Len Silver has fired a warning to his current septet that team changes are being considered. The Kings were demolished 68-21 at Eastbourne on Saturday, a display 86-year-old Silver described as the worst he had seen throughout his extensive time in the sport. He said: “In all my years as a promoter and manager, I have never suffered a performance from my riders as poor as that at Eastbourne on Saturday. “While it is true that there were several reasons that would not have been obvious to the onlooker, it does not alter the fact that it was a sad evening of racing for which I apologised to (Eagles chairman) Martin Dugard. “Chris (Hunt) and I have been frustrated with a wish to make some changes, but with literally no one to call on in the immediate future - although slightly longer-term, we do have a possible choice.” Certainly not surprised at Uncle Len's reaction, i was very fortunate that i didn't travel down for this one and feel for every fan who turned up to see such a non event. I suspect the more established names will be safe enough and eventually forgiven a poor night but Clouting & Hampshire must be hanging on by a thread.

Im thought i saw something over the winter about management restructuring and a new PR person coming on board? The issues at Stoke have been long discussed and long known, what might help save their situation is some actual press releases or admittance that things are just no good enough at present but we are looking to rectify within our means......both fans and riders will be more understanding if clubs put their hands up and say we need to address X, Y & Z. At present Stoke just have their heads buried in the sand and it is only making matters worse.

Usually once or twice a year Stoke comes in for a hammering due to an iffy track and the occasional comedy generator failure but things have now gone far beyond a joke. Its just one disastrous meeting after another. Multiple fallers and second halves abandoned consistently. Its difficult to work out who i feel most sorry for the loyal paying supporters, the riders who fear their seasons may be over if they ride there or the Development league lads who turn up every week, watch a terrible meeting then load up and go home out of pocket time and time again.

Very true although it has become an institutionalised issue. I have lost count of how many times ive heard riders say "hopefully i get a NL place soon and start to earn some money" usually met with me chuckling for several minutes. The NL is not there to earn money but if you are good you could subsidise your hobby but even then be prepared for big spending. Im certain we have all seen riders and thought "they won't make it" not because they don't have the ability but because the funding just isn't there even for a basic level of competitiveness.

Certainly not going to get any arguments from me that the sport at all levels needs to change however there are so many hypocritical elements throughout that its going to need to be radical. Clubs will complain about riders demands but then take no interest in a rider unless they have new & flash looking bikes. Clubs will complain about not enough decent 3 pointers about then do nothing to support 2nd halves. Fans demand successful teams but don't want to see an admission increase to support it. Its no secret clubs need to cut their cloth accordingly. I for one would like to see clubs stand together and not bow to wage demands, set the limits, make them public and find out who really wants to ride.

Heard several positives from IOW last night including an improved prepared track with reduced dust, improved scores / competitiveness from Verge & Widman, the storming debut from Bowtell and an actual home win. Not sure how well received Ben Hopwood was helping in the Plymouth pits but if Bowtell maintains that form he may have done the Warriors a favour. Best Wishes to Adam Roynon though who would have undoubtedly had a big say in the final result and despite some unpleasant sounding injuries from accounts it could have been far worse.

Birmingham did very well with the 3 big riders firing and Walker doing his job. Shanes will be another prong to the attack but when Flint moves into the main body of the team is scoring potential will be muted and the reserves will make Brum look vunerable but still strong. Eastbourne are suffering a little without an out and out number 1. Loyalty to Baseby could prove costly as the side would look far more potent if Knight was included in it. Powell has done well but feel Hunter could have done more and with Edwards in the main team they also look weak at reserve with Brooks yet to set things alight. Both sides need one of the reserves to kick on a bit if they are to be in with a chance against Mildenhall at the end.

Its very marginal. JPB's talents on the bike and far more reliable than the bikes themselves and would be very surprised if RR doesn't return 10+. Think Callum will be just fine and providing he takes one of the replacement rides Flint will be free to swap in for one of Butchers or Cupitts if required.

Brum look just too strong in this one and RR for JPB possibly strengthens them. The new averages applied to the Eagles hinders their cause with Edwards pushed up into the team reducing his threat levels. I assume it will be RR for Powell after his nasty collarbone break otherwise naming a number 8 that cannot be used is a little bit pointless.