Sings4Speedway

I would like to read the original statement again as i thought regular was mentioned. Credit to the tracks who are going beyond the minimum requirements. Still yet to see any meaningful fixtures listed for Poole, Plymouth, Ipswich or Kings Lynn. Given they are run by some of the more influential promotors its telling how much support they put behind the scheme.

oh no no no. The mafia dictates the race day. Mildenhall have been told Sunday or nothing if they are to enter the CL.

In reality Oxford aren't that fussed for these fixtures so saving a few quid and keeping a local happy is enough for them. In a months time when they travel to Belle Vue needing a win before travelling to Leicester where the score line sets the tone of the season the choice of guest is going to be far more important.

Hats off got that wrong. I had completely forgotten that the ruling of re-declaring a rider into a side had been thrown out the window. Im sure this little rule tweak will help no end and we shall likely see see plenty of riders dropping in and out of sides just before big average reductions and then re-introduced at the expense of another rider.

In reality there is only Hodder and James performing "worse" in the reserve positions and Atkins overall if its based purely on averages at this stage and ignoring teams raced, home vs away bias and bad luck etc. The fixtures where the 1-5 can continue to dominate will save plenty of blushes but if there are any close losses with the reserves scoring poorly the calls for changes will get louder.

Those lineups sum up why the NDL has been reduced to a mockery. Nothing personal against Hutt but he simply lacks the ability to be either competitive or safe in a fixture of this level. The fact that Mudgeway has been quietly slid into the side in place of Mulford shows either cost cutting or more likely that Jake sees the NDL as nothing more than a nuisance. I feel for those who will end up paying good money for a very one sided match.

Sadly the two fixtures showed up the frailties of the Workington top 5, strong one minute and below par the next. The reserves were always going to get punished and only added to their totals due to Perry's exclusion. If Liebmann has been riding like she did in the heat 14 video all year its clear to see has speed but the gating is woeful. More worrying is the gulf in the league if a team can scoop an away win one night and get hit for 60 the next.

Whilst Sundays and Poland is a nightmare i still think its a more positive race day for Mildenhall than a mid week race night, that would a sizeable shift in routine of regular spectators. As a surprising optimist it would be lovely to see all NDL & CL level meetings taking place on Fri/Sat/Sundays and then the Prem can continue with the midweek set days. Yes short term it is likely to cause a rider availability problem but a considered longer approach might actually attract a few more riders into the sport. Either way its great to see positive news coming out of Mildenhall.

When the best prospects for the sport are converts from other disciplines with deep pockets (Boughen and Killeen) and Hagon who has almost been raised to be a Speedway rider (in the same way Bickley was) its worrying times. As products of the youth system Harrison, James and Cairns are the biggest arguments there but subsidised by a colossal amount of continental miles too. The sport simply isn't sustainable without new riders but at present the sport is doing very little to encourage it. Charging admission for youth rounds is poor form, over charging for practice days and simply the fact that those with the deepest pockets are the most competitive. 125cc category is a great breeding ground for skills and talents but moving up to 250cc its purely who can afford to move to the top, a 250cc GM from a top tuner will cost £8000+ and put simply if you don't have good engines, plural, those next to you on the line will.

The point will be proven in a year or two. From the current crop of U19's there are those that are already riding at CL standard or close to it (CL standard also being lower this year due to team build reductions) those riders are the product of previous seasons NDL. If the new breed Summers, Vale, Springer etc progress to CL standard then the league is continuing to work, if they don't the the inferior product is letting them and the sport down.

I think there are a few spares vans hoping he gets signed sooner rather than later and eagerly await his arrival at track......

On a personal level my own interest is very low due mostly to the league structure and team make up. I used to follow the sport around the country and almost every match on updates but now just scan the results. Didn't even do the excellent fantasy team this year simply because i take no fun from the National league and will likely take my hard earned funds elsewhere

and the best joy of all is that the BSPL investment ultimately comes from.....yep the paying public who hand over their money every week for it to be continually mis-managed.

No going to disagree with you there. Unfortunately those who run the sport and ultimately run teams in higher leagues cannot see that a higher level in the NDL will generate a higher level across the sport. Instead the NDL was viewed as a competitive viable product and therefore a threat to higher divisions and was dumbed down rather than focussing on developing the product higher up.

But surely if a rider coming through the junior ranks isn't good enough to displace a poor established rider.....With the low numbers competing an U21 league would virtually guarantee anyone with a bike a team spot and thats no good for making the standard better.

Not true, i asked if he had the tactics all sorted prior to the match.....he smiled and shook his little tin of mints at me....

Garrity was on a borrowed bike and in borrowed kit so fairly safe to say he isn't set up for full time racing. That said i wouldn't have leant him a fiver so more fool those who are assisting him.

The NDL product today is much poorer than it has been for as many years as i care to remember and the admission price is the highest....its simply not a sustainable business model for standalone clubs and relies on top ups from clubs running multiple sides which can't last forever. The writings been on the wall since IOW left

it will only get worse as the lower limit is going to falsely inflate averages so the leagues "better" riders won't be as good as they were 10 years ago and the competition at the bottom will become poorer for it. British Speedway needs strengthening from the bottom up not top down if its to have any chance of surviving.

It will but surely thats the wrong way round? Once he is proficient in the NJL then he graduates to the NDL. Im not picking on Parker, thers plenty of riders who have been dropped into the league far too early, i can't even blame the riders for grabbing the opportunity its the promotions who go with the sink or swim mentality.

I saw Parker in the flesh a couple of times last year and its safe to say he is technically challenged. Thats not to say he doesn't have potential but to put any rider straight into a league side after riding for a year is a huge gamble (yes Dan Bewley blah blah) but he was a generational exception rather than the norm. Im not saying Parker won't make it but i feel like he should have served more of an apprenticeship first

Parker wasn't ready last year and isn't ready this year. He just has connections in the club and is getting laps ahead of others who are more deserving. Its been happening for years and will continue in the future. Sometimes it clicks for a rider and often it doesn't.....

Maybe they will up the points limit...all in the best interests of the sport of course. I hope a rabbit comes out the hat because even Morley & Clegg can name their price atm. Would be a real shame if having landed Zischke and Vuolas on bargain averages Worky weren't able to deliver a decent season.

Easily dealt with, the powers that be just need to not issue him a licence.....

It is/was a level down from NDL a few seasons ago with regular riders all around the fringes of reserve places but as ever when the MDL was watered down the competition just isn't there and the standard falls away. Also the drive with British speedway atm is to constantly promote from the youth ranks rather than slightly more seasoned development league riders. Also throw in that there are so few team places available could anyone honestly say they would recommend speedway as a path to youth rider in the same way they would have 10 years ago?