Sings4Speedway

1. Max Clegg 9.22 2.Drew Kemp 3.00 3. Mitchel Davey 8.61 4. Leon Flint 3.00 5. Luke Bowen 9.07 6. Jason Edwards 3.00 7. Charlie Brooks 3.00 Total 38.9

Depressing topic but with 19? fixtures scheduled to run over Easter and a miserable weather forecast how many do people think will actually run? (will count meetings that get to 10 heats and result decided as completed) Im going for just 2 Scunny v Edin & the Fen Fours @ Mildenhall

Sadly the name of the game in all leagues at present is to have the rider with highest scoring potential possible at reserve. Unfortunately for Buxton that is Whitmore who's scorecard generally reads like my reaction to his signing OOOF

Think you could be right? I recall seeing somewhere that in the event of an average tie one of the governing bodies decides the order and with Whitmore having most league experience would make more sense to see him running at 2.

Cor-blimey Buxton are complete! Youngster with a decent NJL average although not sure if this was from 125 or 500? Certainly a rider whos been tipped in certain circles. Big ask to slot him in at number 2 if as implied in the press release and hopefully he gets a fair run at reserve at some point. Buxton ending up 3 points under the limit though is going to create a tough season ahead i fear.

Seen Clouting a couple of times and can certainly agree that he has a very tidy style and good equipment (GTR's i think). He didn't look particularly quick though but if he has added the extra speed without compromising his style Kent may have a bargain by landing his signature.

Gardening is fine by me but cannot stand the tyre warming / groove digging by spinning the wheel constantly. Best decision by the GP's to rule that out and league racing should follow suit

Have the "forgetful" riders won through? How many of the dismounts early on were genuine and how many were to prove a point over the rule? It really is simple, enforce the 2 minutes. Riders have to be at tapes ready to go when it elapses, start marshall calls from inside gate to outside, rider gets 2 calls each if the dont move / react on the second call they are out for delaying the start. Start marshalls carry very little power these days and are persistently ignored by riders.

No doubt the Kent side has been built with a few question marks but if all / most of the gambles pay off the Kent side will be very strong. I openly admit i was wrong about Rowe last year and he far exceeded expectations. Bowen & Thomas are proven heat leaders. If Hampshire and a reserve can kick on the Kings will take some stopping but im still to be convinced that Stoneman can be solid & the inexperience of the tail could cause some serious problems on the road. That said i suspect home advantage will be enough to see Kent in the top 4.

In fairness there are very few teams in the league who haven't taken advantage one way or another over the past few seasons. Certainly like the idea of a rider being "cup tied" so that they can only represent one per competition......

The problem has been and will remain at Rye for a while. New promotors & manager with limited knowledge/connections for further reaches of speedway. Even if they did fancy signing a rider like Sundstrom they would make so much noise getting contact details it would alert all the competition. So instead they stick with established names who are consistent but offer limited improvement on their averages much as they have done with their touring car team with the likes of Plato & Turkington etc. Ironically success only came to that when the developed their own driver so perhaps that will be the wake up the speedway approach needs.

I don't overly mind it during the season as it gives riders a run out and a chance to put themselves in the window for next year. It bugged me that they didn't achieve an average but that sounds like it will be monitored this year? There is still the moral question regarding unattached guests being used repeatedly in play offs / cup competitions as it could be argued that results are changed by who gets the services of certain riders first not to mention hard on the riders who have competed all season? But im fully aware that morals & speedway dont actually mix.

If thats the Buxton pay rates no wonder they are struggling............Quite rightly Buxton won't break the bank for a 6 point rider as the club comes first over silly demands. But the list of riders left to use up the points is shrinking and im sure there is only so many times Ryna Blacklocks arm can be twisted. I can see a rider like O'Keefe who has bike and is prepared to travel completing the side even if it leaves them starting badly under the limit.

Sounds a bit harsh on Speighty. In fairness there are half a dozen riders this year who i think could struggle to hit their 3.00 averages

Agreed although i was a little surprised he wasn't included from the start so perhaps Stoke are moving away from the status quo?

Its clear that Cradley could have put a side together featuring a selection from Knight, Greenwood, Hunter , Bowtell, Boxall, Compton, Hazelden etc as it is they have gone for Dwyer as their sole unattached rider. As a non Cradley fan id be happy to see a selection from the above arrive and entertain but as a Cradley fan would they still have the same appeal? Its been much debated about the morality of the Cradley choices but if it keeps "them" on track so be it even if i think they will fall short yet again.

Eastbourne Mildenhall Birmingham Kent Belle Vue Coventry IOW Stoke Plymouth Buxton

The sad part about Butcher is i feel its becoming age over ability. He's 17, thats what all promoters want and he has decent machinery.....bonus. Time will tell when he goes into competitive action especially up against the other weaker reserves in the league at Stoke, Buxton & Belle Vue. As for JJ probably shouldn't be throwing those stones around his glass house

I do find it staggering that its "too far". I bet if Glasgow came knocking it would be a different story.

I guess the decision for Gilkes is does he sign up full time for a team once his exams are over and risk getting an average or wait until next year when he can come in at the start on a 3.00? He could "do a Spooner" and remain unattached all season taking whatever bookings he fancies as nobody seems to be bothered on issuing averages to unattached riders.

Geographically Buxton always suffer difficulties attracting riders however the opportunities are there. Do riders want a team place and the chance to put themselves in the window for future seasons or sit on the sidelines getting rusty and hope for something closer to pop up mid season? Not directed at Shane btw just unemployed riders in general. Hope he does get fixed up somewhere though, be great to see him back.

9th April Leicester away. Vaculik vs Killer. Yes Please. Oh heck im excited about potentially going to Leicester

In fairness with the soft side of the National Trophy group you are right. Plenty of matches for him to sharpen up and if he can get a few MDL fixtures in too that will also help his cause. Its a shame that the Trophy has basically become competitive practice but with Cradley select making a mockery of it, it is very hard to view it any other way.

I don't wish the personal issues Chris is having on anyone and perhaps he is better to publicly step back for X weeks rather than ride half hearted and damage his already fragile reputation. Killer being a temporary replacement is debatable at best for legality / morality BUT he is box office viewing and i know which rider id rather watch every time. You never know P.K may think harder about a full term return to the UK? Will actually make me check the fixture list now to see if there is a Poole away day where i can see him in action.

Always thought Arran has looked reasonable / average on the grass but his speedway is very different. From any times ive seen him he makes the likes of Dicken look like a world beater. Think any points will be from retirements / falls but he may have upped his game over the winter? Either way he is facing 3 rides and being swapped out of heat 8 consistently. I can only imagine Roberts is struggling on his return from injury as on previous viewings he is far the superior rider.