Sings4Speedway

It shows how crazy the sport is at present when suggestions of average manipulation are suggested in the NL (and worse that it actually happens). In any other sport any indication of match fixing is severely punished and rightly so. I personally dislike RR especially in the NL and feel it should be unattached 3 pointers used. If Eastbourne are going to be proactive perhaps they should look at identifying a 3 pointer and giving them some laps around Arlington in advance so they are as well prepared as they can be if/when required.

Big mistake for Kent to host a Buxton select on a bank holiday and very flakey from Buxton. After 2 weeks of poor meetings and now little opposition I'm definitely giving this one a miss but fingers crossed the weather behaves for those who do attend

Guest assumes the average of the rider they are replacing.

Take a look at the Under 21 roll of honour. Plenty of years where the top 3 have been the same & loads more where its 2 of the podium places. Got to go back past 1990 before it really starts getting mixed up. There is also an obsession that riders have to be ready for world level at 19/20. There will always be some that are and others require longer to get there. I am certainly not at all concerned with the development of British riders at present (in fact i think its as healthy as its been for a long time) and there are plenty who competed in the under 21's this year who could go on to achieve GP status.

If by meaning the Kent team declaration is illegal because they have a rider named within the 1-7 who is ineligible to ride at present then i would certainly agree with you. As for the SDL side it was certainly legal but was it in the correct spirit? No skin off my nose either way i just hope those running Weymouth & Exeter on a voluntary basis are not too disheartened by it.

True although it rears its ugly head every time a team runs RR and effectively spoils most heat 8's. As for the nos assets in the NL its truly ludicrous. The teams that nurture, give the initial breaks & take the initial risks on rookie riders no longer have the ability to make them an asset or prosper from the success if a higher tier club wishes to buy them in the future. How many higher tier teams (Scunny aside) are doing anything to help the progression on the next generation of riders?.

Well thats 6 quid i won't get back. Im normally hugely entertained by MDL/SDL but last night was 8 processional races between some very mismatched teams. Kent tracking 3 NL riders doesn't really sit with the spirit of these leagues with me & i certainly didn't get the sense from the stands that the majority had been entertained. There has been some track work during the past week but it appeared to leave turns 1&2 cutting up quite badly whilst 3&4 remained slick. Some very dodgy starts which would have been pulled back at NL & excessive 2 minutes when it was Kent riders being waited on. I applaud Kent for running in the league and providing invaluable track time to riders and perhaps next time it will provide some level of entertainment.

What are the rules regarding guests? I thought a guest had to either be from another declared 1-7 (equal or lower than the average the rider they are replacing, extra allowed when its a home match etc etc) or an unattached 3 pointer? I can't see Hurry fitting in to either of those categories? Obviously as a challenge match Lakeside can field whoever they like but moving forward is Hurry allowed to be utilised?

Makes sense and quite right. However the premise of the the sale of the GTR engines is that anyone can buy the exact same one that Freddie is using & there was some kind of time guarantee before a V2 version will be released? If he was simply testing on a hired track then fair enough but if he was using one in a competitive meeting then it goes against everything that has been declared so far.

Only for evening meetings although given free reign to show no urgency what so ever i reckon Len could get near to the curfew even with a 3pm start time (and almost definitely if Mr Drury was in town )

Can anyone confirm what riders are eligible for the SDL? Ive seen bits about NL riders under a 4.00 average? How many NL riders are allowed per team? / per match? Brits Only? Teams to be made up of solely squad members?, Mostly squad members?, a minimum amount of squad members? Sure there are others that will come to me later.

Not sure about the change of start time but a bit more urgency is needed & yet again the start was delayed to let in the late comers who time after time arrive with a few minutes to spare knowing the start will be delayed for them. Definitely need some dirt from somewhere as the sub base showing after 5 heats is very poor in fact i would say the track was as bad as its been since it was first laid which is shocking considering there has been a whole close season to prepare it. Anders looked decent practicing before the meeting which is more than can be said of the others on show. As for the 5 lapper, it happens, the result didn't change & the start crew are all volunteers plus forever in the history books will Luke Bowens 15pt max be completed with a race winning time of over 70 seconds

Glad the first timers who were planning to come this after ran late and postponed for another time as that meeting was largely dross. Track was shocking and embarrassing with such little shale and constantly drenched in water. Good performances from the visiting top 4 and the majority of the main team for kent also impressed barring Stoneman who had a mare (hope he is OK after his nasty looking tumble ) but what I was most concerned with was the quality of the reserves on both sides. Couzins couldn't gate for toffee but still scored plenty. Andrews must be better than that showing, laurence has been trying for 10 years and just doesn't have it and Spooner for all his enthusiasm lacks basic bike skills that need to be developed away from the NL. He had 3 attempts at wiping Couzins out before finally succeeding, fell untroubled in front of his team mate and sadly looks a bit of a menace to others out on track with him at the moment. Can't claim it has lit my excitement for racing at Kent this year but it can only improve (I hope).

Perhaps after taking some flak on here David is out for himself from now on? Would be nice to see him coax one or two of the less experienced members home now and again but can see why he's looking out for number 1

Probably a post that I should have considered but much like each rider should consider if they can commit to a full season before signing. Obviously unexpected things happen and I wish Chris Hay all the best in the future and brum all the best in finding a suitable replacement

What a joke. Signs and takes up a team place then quits after 1 meeting. The sport is better off without the likes of him.

Congratulations to Mac. Big dedication to complete that journey every week (and some hefty travelling expenses for the club). Could anybody confirm the other 9 who tried out today?

I believe Shanes is still a Kent asset

Think this is going to be a tight one. Top 4 from both sides look pretty even so think the match will be swung on the tail. Never seen Ruddick or Woods go that well at Central Park but with Jenkins the Fen Tigers have a sting in their tail. Can the combined efforts as Clifton & Andrews keep them at bay as i fear its too early for Spooner to contribute much?

Especially your lunchboxes Cockle is in town

Tough to call but certainly a good marker for both sides seasons. Ayres, Perry & Harris all in good form plus if Lawlor & Greenwood have good nights it could be a tonking. A lot of pressure on Jenkins to score well along with Mildenhalls heat leaders as i can't see Verge, Woods or Ruddick contributing a great deal.

Certainly thought he would be more in the mix. Anybody know if he was on last years GTR or the replacement as im told the original had issues?

Sounds like a slightly concerning night at Lynn in terms of team performances although Danny Phillips upturn must be considered a plus. Ive said often in the past that i am not a particular fan of Locke, Hampshire or Whitmore for various reasons and can see it being a long season for Young Stars followers. From updates & comments Hampshire clearly needs some setup tips & would think that Locke would be more prosperous running at the easier number 7 berth. Probably the biggest concern would be Kinsley who was in great form over the winter and could do with rediscovering it quickly as only 2 heat wins at home will see this Lynn side become whipping boys if they are not careful.

Never been a fan of R/R but i agree it would take a fair overhaul of the rules to make things workable especially in the NL. Yes Brum have taken full advantage in the past (Sam Chapman) but plenty of others have too. The rules are there to be both adhered to & exploited. Things will change when Hay drops to reserve & Brum could well have a problem as early reports on Hay & Leek have not been particularly favourable.

Nice problem to have. Hopefully a decent group rather than the good, bad & ugly