Sings4Speedway

Its a classic six of one situation....without the movement of riders into, through and onwards from the NDL it becomes very stale. That said lower points limits creates artificially increased averages that can see riders frozen out. Whatever the limit it would be nice if it was consistent year on year (or at least a shown formula or team limit vs teams in the league).

Atkins was riddled with errors from early season mostly due to over riding, higher personal expectations and even higher parental expectations. McGurk was always going to struggle away from Belle Vue. Trigger certainly has talent but focus is questionable and temprement is a big question mark if stepping up a level and would desperately need a NDL place as well as any CL racing.

All the above are valid points but Mildenhall have largely always been in the same situation and mostly got decent meetings on most weeks with only one or two bloopers a season. Sadly now its reversed and one or two good meetings is clearly not enough to keep crowd numbers up. Sunday tracks will always be good for NDL riders but not if preparation is poor. Mildenhall lack the right equipment and approach to produce decent racing now. The giant tractors do more harm than good lap after lap and attempting to create a grippy surface on a track with very little run off is always going to cause problems (especially as it just makes it patchy) . A slick surface might create a bit of dust but it would also pump meetings through in a sensible time frame.

Rothery and Millar shown zero commitment and complete waste of places. Can't see Pijper anywhere other than Berwick. Sadly the higher points limit is going to expose the disparity between the top and bottom ends again this season.

Are there any possible combination of riders that will bring enough fans back/in? Generous quotes from average meetings last season was circa 500 (happy to be corrected) a 20% increase in attendances (and name me a promotion who wouldn't rip your arm off for that) would only bring crowds of 600. Spectators are easy to scare off and hard to tempt back.

Pretty much nailed it. With clubs running in two divisions double home fixtures just simply is too many meetings (especially the successful teams) but it does leave the standalone sides a little exposed. Kent i believe have planning for two league fixtures a month and Mildenhall have to juggle other events at the Stadium so with an April start inc K.O cup all fixtures could and should easily be completed by the end of August ready for sensible play offs in September.

Think many will see reduced attendances too. 11% price hike is pretty hefty even if everyone else is attempting it too.

Love IOW but they are having a great time doing their own thing. I think most teams have already declared an intention to run either via announcement or actions. Belle Vue are the only side ive neither seen or heard any confirmation of running but they are usually committed so fingers crossed for a 9 team league.

Sadly the gulf in ability of the 18 x 2.00 reserves would be massive (see fast track system of a few years ago). Couple of riders would succeed, several would get an average and then miss out the following year whilst ironically those who stayed on a 2.00 could have another chance with even lower rated riders. If the NDL had disappeared then that format of 8 man teams could be an option but otherwise it would be no more than a one season wonder/blunder.

Word ive heard is some signings already agreed for Plymouth Centurions 2023....that said that was likely prior to the extended fixture list for the champ which "could" spell the end for several NDL sides and potentially the league as a whole.

Not even a particularly astute line up. Laker & Fellows take 3 rides together so will be scrapping over a point, Woolley & Boughen take 2 rides together. At least sticking Wooley at 3 and Laker at 5 would have spread the points chances a bit and reduce it from being an embarrassment to a shambles.

To be fair Mildy had a number 8 and he got promoted to the 1-7 for the second meeting. Unfortunately its just an unforgiving venue that often sees rider withdrawals (but i won't blame the track as its never the track and just a complete coincidence)

very confused now as some of the averages are calculated including bonus points and some not? Thought averages normally were done without BP?

Have to agree on that, think that once it comes to play offs an unattached rider has to take a bookings for 1 side only and if they go out its no further bookings until the next season.

Does anyone have the line ups from the completed matches? Would be interesting to see if the intended level was achieved?

Did Morley get shale in your tea at a meeting or something? I always enjoy the jibes at NDL riders who are eligible but too good for the league whereas Bomber, Nicholls etc are valuable additions to the CL and great entertainment (and definitely not milking it). The latter point is valid and new 2/3 pointers into the CL should have achieved a certain level at NDL before they can be considered for a move up. Two pointers as a whole just encourages a sacrifical lamb anyway so minimum 3 or even 4 pointer at the tail end to create strength in depth looks to teams rather than big gulfs in teams abilities?

But you knew the score when you signed on for a NDL side. Plenty of riders did long away days the other way round and ran at big losses for the trips however they did them because signing for a NDL side means you sign up for all the meetings not just the home ones and away tracks you like.

The Belle Vue big money side any many peoples pre season favourites have fumbled and not made the play offs. Home dominance clearly isn't everything.

Entirely true, although Richards case was that he told the club way in advance he couldn't attend, the club either didn't accept that or simply didn't bother to book a suitable guest and short changed the Armadale paying support. The problem with the with holding services rule is that the club has to lodge the complaint to gain use of a cover facility but Plymouth with so few riders available didn't want to risk alienating another one.

It will depend if Belle Vue back his story or not? Precedent has been set with a few riders being no shows this year and no action being taken. Unless Poole put in a protest to get him banned and use better guests for the play offs

For a team 10+ points stronger than the Royals in the averages i thought the Colts visit to Kent was shocking. Kent tracked 5 riders with an average lower than Hodders. As covered Ablitt was decent, Freeman solid and unfortunate and Smith would have posted a better tally had the track not been swimming wet for the first couple of races. Even with both McGurks looking very disinterested they still left with an away point so seems hard to believe they cannot manage similar at Armadale (and in fairness if the Colts don't get at least a point they don't deserve the play off spot).

Sooo how hard are Belle Vue pressing to get this fixture on now? Even with the Colts poor away record they would fancy at least getting a close loss and the single point needed to secure a play off spot unless Oxford and Kent do something daft like manage a draw on Wednesday.

Indeed shambolic accross every league every year. Armadale fixture "might" not be so key now after Oxfords ridiculous call off last night. If the Colts can get a win (and even a draw is probably enough) at Kent thats the run in decided. A Kent win and they will be keen to re-visit Oxford and hope there is medical cover in place before they make the trip.

Lucky that there have been so few rain offs really, imagine a full fixture backlog now and potentially an iffy spell of weather....the cut off should be end of August with play offs in September...simple

I guess the events of this weeks key fixtures at Oxford and Kent will play out then the urgency level will be decided.....does seem daft that after a whole season that the play offs will be held in deep October.