Sings4Speedway

This argument has been rolling since way back in the youth days and hopefully will continue for many more years with many national titles contested between them. Both have strong speedway families, practically personal practice tracks and sponsorship that could rival many elite riders. If both of these do not make it big in the sport there are serious questions to be asked.

I get the feeling Paul will be involved with the team in some way but be surprised if it was through riding? Would you want to sign a rider who has had no competitive action as an injury replacement anyway? Plus what crazy average would he come in on? A re-assessed higher tier average? His NL average divided by 2 (9.00 / 2 = 4.50) Anything goes these days but i feel Hurry would be better suited sticking to the Grass/Longtracks if he wants to keep riding

Think you should be alright with Hume? Only Isle Of Wight run on a Thursday? If he only has 3 Sunday clashes & 1 Saturday the very worst case is he would miss Buxton, Covenry & Mildenhall Away on the Sundays & Stoke/Eastbourne on the one Sat. However if the planners cannot negate at least half of that i would be worried.

Not been up for a while but the stadium has been vastly improved upon compared to what was there but the task to bring it in line with some of its rivals is vast. Obviously the motorcycle dealership has taken priority and is finished? But from day one there was always a potential issue with lack of promotions knowledge regarding rules, riders and the loop holes within the sport. The track improvements last season along with the step up in league papered the early cracks but this years team does look very ordinary and unless a spectacle is produced at home Rye may find the crowds drifting away yet again.

Agree with that. Weekly speedway can be a chore whilst fortnightly on occasion makes it more of an event. Plus obviously Somerset have ensured they are running every week during the summer holidays to maximise potential crowds. To make this happen there had to be gaps open up somewhere else

As stated above decent signings. Glad Luke has found a place on the back of a good season last year & if Phillips can rediscover some of his pre injury form it looks a very potent side. Not sure i can see Dwyer getting a place? Suspect Hunter, Halder + 3 pointer to complete the team?

Don't think the result for this one is in too much danger. Needed Knight, Bailey & Hopwood to make a spectacle of it. Whilst Gilkes is a talented developing rider i think the current Eastbourne reserves will batter the challengers and the result will be decided from the 6&7 berths

Didn't realise Andy's injury was that bad? Any news on his recovery? You thought right. Ben Woodhull & Bickley included. Neither surprise signings with Bickley nailed on. Hope the Woodhull's can keep up with so many hobbies on the go.

Ive always been an advocate that if you are good enough then you are young/old enough. The higher the quality of the league the higher quality of rider you will produce. Both Tedham & Woods have had a few years in the league now and are both still 3 pointers. I can see the sense in opting for the younger rider as they have longer to develop and some riders develop slower than others.

Drop me an invite if you do plan one. I'd love to create a kind of "flash mob" for the hard work everyone on the Island is doing. Wouldn't it be amazing if we could get everyone who was thinking of visiting to go for the same meeting? Boost the gate by 50-100-200 who knows? Would certainly keep Barry & team busy greeting all the first time visitors

Not really any riders available or willing to use up the points? Slightly strange choice as I thought if it was a 3 pointer it would be Tedham. That said if any rider deserved a little luck this season it's Sam so I wish him well.

Definitely hope Bristol can run from Swindon this season and create more opportunities for developing riders plus add a little value for money (in some peoples eyes). I don't think Somerset are as keen on running development league sides as they once were and have seen the Exeter SDL side relocate to Plymouth for the 2018 season.

There will always be pluses and minuses to a team running solely in this competition. A team has to either nominate an intended team under the 39 point limit at the start of the season or pick a team of riders on form but come in under 39 points as the season progresses or use a selection of unattached riders. For Cradley & for entertainment purposes the route the club is taking is probably the correct one as there will be a competitive side out each time and continuity will at least bring a side together that fans can relate too on a regular basis. Obviously this all falls over if Cradley reach the final and the rider reverts to their original club. As proven last year the concept of producing a dream team is one thing but creating the unity and fighting spirit plus creating racing partnerships is another. As ever i would rather see two well matched sides on track creating entertainment than a meeting where the result is practically decided before tapes up. Providing the Northern group serves up good racing and keeps the Cradley fans entertained there is hope that the Team can survive as i fear if a spectacle is not produced interest will wain and the famous name may be lost again.

Definitely nice to see some positives from the AGM with (potentially) additional teams in each league. Bristol at Swindon is exciting as its a new host venue whilst the return of Kings Lynn is another major plus. Hopefully all the TBC's will get sorted so the leagues can begin to prosper again. Shame that Milton Keynes are currently homeless again having been around since the development leagues started it would be a great shame if they were forced to not participate this year.

There have been several complaints about the noise at Kent over the years including several made on weeks where speedway wasn't even running. I feel any like these should be immediately dismissed as there is clearly an agenda rather than genuine concern. Sadly some people are only happy when they are trying to make others miserable.

Not been announced anywhere yet and Stoke cannot fit him i with the points left. Must be either Belle Vue or Coventry although with Cov running on a sunday also i guess he is Manchester bound.......

Must be signed somewhere as its been far too quiet about him. Im guessing Belle Vue would be a bit too far so i guess Brum or Cov.......unless he want another unattached season?

Wouldn't have fitted at Stoke anyway (not that you were implying that) with another 3 pointer at reserve it leaves 5.4 to finish the side. Luke Ruddick on 5.31? Nice to see a fresher approach at Stoke this year.

There is absolutely nothing that says Layne cannot be a good speedway rider and a music star however In My Opinion to succeed at something and to truly reach your full potential takes dedication and full commitment. Even at solely NL level riders need to find 1/2 days a week to work on bikes, plus hold down a job and include some level of fitness regime all of which prove very time consuming but are required if a rider wishes to achieve their potential. As for annoying you that's your concern. This is a forum for opinions, often peppered with rumours, insider information and gossip. It's certainly not to be taken too seriously or forming personal vendetta's.

Presentation is huge and speedway have it very wrong (although many new attempts appear faddy). The other issue is Speedway & its fans don't know what they want it to be? Is it supposed to be an afternoon/evening out with excellent entertainment like a social event or is it supposed to be a quick fix and hammered through as quick as possible with a few thrills like an illicit rendezvous ?

Exactly why not make a night of it, offer further entertainment. You have juniors & second halfers who turn up all over the country and ride for free just to be rushed through and treated like dirt. Providing the curfews are not in danger why not run another 15 heat match with second half riders? No money to pay out just track time. Or invite the sidecars? Anything extra to present a better value evening. If you can prevent the current culture of everyone streaming out of the stadium immediately it might create a more unified atmosphere

Problem is as stated by some already Speedway is neither family friendly or extreme for the modern generation. Family friendly means clean well kept stadiums, good viewing for adults and children alike and toilets that do not disgust people. You then need a team that is prepared to interact with the fans, be around pre-meeting and not rush off after like all do now. For the extreme side things are just not that dramatic to the instant generation. They want to see the thrills & spills, ideally in a 2 minute clip max and then move onto something else. Attention spans are short, anticipation is unnecessary technology has created an instant society and minority sports will continue to struggle. There are plenty of grand ideas that could be used to promote the sport, demo's that could be put on with almost rehearsed racing which will have short term gains but all the while everyone is focused on saving the immediate the future is slipping further away.

Not sure where all the no interest in Speedway has come from? Shanes has been riding NL since 2013 so covering plenty of UK miles along with his Grasstrack & Longtrack commitments. Poole obviously would be a benefit to him as it would make local sponsorship easier to come by but with new bikes being built & 10 engines on his work bench id say its likely he knows he has a Premiership berth somewhere.

Fair point probably more valid to compare Zmarzlik with Kelsey Dugard.....oh wait Layne could easily up his average if Speedway is his first priority and not trying to become a music star but if he continues to spread himself thinly over several fads he will remain a 4 point something rider. As for why are the Poles so good......thats a whole other topic

Ties with Holder? Either way its not a positive start from Lynn or Lambert. He is going to really have to deliver this year otherwise there will be serious questions asked about his commitment and the promotions decision making.