Sings4Speedway

My personal feeling of the popular names mentioned is that Brendan has unfinished business on the Island, Shanes will be back at Kent & if memory serves me right Matt Bates had to retire from racing due to his knee? On the flip side i think Boxall, Andrews & Govier are highly likely along with a second halfer.

Nicholls comments of several riders all pushing for Number 1 sounds like there is a higher averaged rider coming in but also that there won't be much differences between the top 3 which is always a good sign for any side. I suspect the BMR promotions limited knowledge of the sport will mean a side of established UK names which might not be a bad thing if the pockets can support it.

Dwyer was hitting over 5 for large parts of the past season & i think Bowtell will prosper at another track. Atkins is one of the top youngsters who seems to be a little under the radar at present. There will be teams with much longer tails than that one.

I have to admit i thought he was older than that? No doubting his potential as looked useful whenever i have seen him although there seems to be something in my mind questioning the quality of his equipment? Either way its all irrelevant if he doesn't have a UK passport.

How about this side? Chessell - 8.57 Rutherford - 4.06 Perry - 8.12 Bowtell/Dwyer - 4.21/4.15 Ayres - 8.56 Basford - 3.15 Atkins - 3.00 Total 39.67/39.61

Has Eryk Borczuk got a UK passport yet? He has tried to do MDL twice in the past 2 seasons and been thrown out because he doesn't have the correct paperwork. As for Kirby i have said more than enough about him in the past however if a rider has not ridden for the entire previous season (injury excluded) and then gets a team place it makes a mockery of those who have and are trying to get team places.

For me the best news is that the signing confirms that Kings Lynn are definitely running in the NL this season. Fingers crossed the crowds improve as the entertainment is generally excellent.

Kevin Jolly has been pretty vocal about having Stoneman on his shopping list and i believe he now lives local to the track? I wish Sam all the best but agree that he probably won't be ready to start the season, as for Jordan i would like to see him sign on but am yet to be convinced however with the limit at 40 i could see a line up like this; 1 Mountain - 8.73 2 Ruddick - 3.10 3 Coles - 7.11 4 Stoneman - 7.00 5 Armstrong - 7.82 6 3 Pointer 7 3 Pointer Total 39.76

Thats a top notch team although i think you will miss out on Smith however Mountain, Kinsley or Bacon would be equally impressive replacements.

Think this side is fairly close especially the 1-5 although i think Bowtell would benefit with a different track to progress. Everyone wants Jenkins and i would be surprised if he was at Mildenhall, Bebee will feature during the season but im not sure he will be in from the start. I expect Ruddick to feature again despite no improvement over the past 2 seasons with the other berth going to Parker or Spooner.

They can ride just on high averages. Tbh i think its best if Hurry keeps away from the shale and i think Mear is treating grasstracks as his priority. Waj, Morley & Branford are all possibilities but Kingston would be a huge liability if included in the side.

Completely agree with you regarding the clueless promotion. The riders that scored points were already at the level already and the new blood all have a very poor speedway schooling and were in no way ready for the NL.

Not surprising but still disappointing. Perhaps the amateur racing points towards a MDL side? Otherwise all the statements about developing new riders is just PR guff.

Great team if Hunter + 3 pointer scored well at reserve & Brennan/Jenkins scored well in the main body of the team. IMO to have a side that is strong all season you need to either keep your good reserves at reserve or have two riders who will drop down and score equally well.

Don't get me wrong Birmingham do have facilities & links / advice for riders that also assists with getting riders signed but they have also been able to pay higher points money (along with several other clubs) to lure riders in also. I know one rider was offered double what he was offered by other clubs. It would be nice to see if Brum could unearth / give opportunities to unknown riders but there are plenty of other clubs who are equally guilty.

Whilst i subscribe to it being the National Development League i do not believe that the opportunities have to be limited to young riders solely. Its for new riders into league racing, enhancing the skills of more established riders as they work their way up the leagues & the continued learning of track craft for all. If the more experienced riders are able to assist with this in any way (which i know they do) then they are welcome any time as far as i am concerned.

It was more a proposed team for Brum however with that line up i wouldn't be looking forward to their visits to Central Park. That said its not like Brum actually discovered any of the riders anyway or gave any a chance when no others would. They just assemble a team of riders with proven potential and are able to attract them with financial muscle & assistance that other teams cannot / do not provide.

1. Bacon - 7.83 2. Kinsley - 5.97 3. JPB - 6.74 4. Smith - 6.09 5. Hume - 7.33 6. Lawlor - 3.00 7. Jenkins - 3.00 Strong flavour of Brum from 2016 but with new youthful additions.

From the outside i suspect that line up will most likely form the spine of your team. Other factors that may scupper it are that Knight, Perks & Wood could all find themselves in the running for PL reserve berths?

Much will depend on the team building averages. If The additional teams join and fewer drop out i suspect the averages will have to come down. Several teams struggled to build a side near the limit last year due to the limited available riders with established averages. For that reason i think Powell might get a place but i would be highly surprised if it was at Eastbourne. It would rely on him not only being at number 2 and improving his average but improving it enough that it keeps Brennan at reserve to maximise his potential. My gut feeling is that the other Eastbourne reserve will be a NL newbie.

Makes sense to me and i like it. Gives those that have a season at PL and take find time their feet another chance on a more attractive lower average but also makes it feasible to include new riders stepping up.

I hope not. I don't think there would be enough riders to go around even if it was 6 a side given the number of PL riders that are currently in the EL also. Add in the number that don't bother as they wouldn't be able to do it full time with only one UK team. It would only open the floodgates to questionable imports & ensure non-progressing journeymen kept their places also.

Very true although the NL pay structure is following the higher leagues and growing rapidly. However still sustainable at £20-40 a point and i think Lakeside could attract a very useful NL side if it went down that route, line up some potentially spicy local derbies and provide very entertaining racing.

and yet for that figure you could pay an entire NL 1-7 after a decent win.

Zach was having a solid but unspectacular year before it was brought to a close by injury. Dropped a point off his starting average and given the progress of several others i suspect they will be in higher demand to stay than Waj.