Sings4Speedway

Richard Hall

Heeps might look worth a gamble at CL but PL he appears a massive risk, Rowe could be another who stalls and the all important RS could make a heck of a difference, pushing for a good one rather than local will be key.

Nathan's had a couple of cracks at CL and never really cut it consistently. No doubting he can be quick but often over rides and i think he has his own business now? Also no idea on his recovery from the multiple broken bones he got on IOW?

Think Iwade is a Nora site and not SCB? Also even with the donated air fence i suspect there is still too much to do to get up to league standard ....plus obviously would need a promotor. Very much doubt IOW will be back after how they were treated and the dirty tricks campaign against them. In reality its Armadale, Berwick, Belle Vue, Mildenhall and probably Leicester. Then its the new entries / maybes Redcar? Oxford?. Think Northside 2023 will be a thing but for next season the clock is probably against them to get finished, signed off and build a team etc

In fairness Alcock was the worst rider in the league, Freeman just got dumped in to replace him as you pointed out far before he was ready. Thers certainly an argument that riders should achieve a certain level in the NDL before they can take up a CL place.

Rowe rejected the RS wages and brokered his own deal based on being part of the 1-6. Can't see that changing this year...unless he thinks hes at risk of being left out?

I know little about Congreve so he could be the real deal and a real bargain but the overseas unknown riders who come in on a visa recieve a hefty amount of help from clubs and far more than many young brits in the same boat. Id wager that several UK emerging stars would have stronger seasons if they knew that accommodation, food and basic living costs were being covered.

At some point they will have to separate and forge their own paths but it certainly won't be yet. Leicester and associated sponsors have invested a lot into the twins over the years and they won't risk losing out on that return even if it compromises a season or two. The twins and the club are playing the long game plus they are in demand as a pair so if the Lions only wanted one its likely that both would find a deal elsewhere.

I think thats exactly why they dropped it although theres an argument to say if "we" are not producing enough riders on the conveyor belt the solution shouldn't be to abandon the process but look at ways of improving it. The NDL was dulled down so those who might have been ready to push on weren't really pushed and those definitely ready had a casual easy season. If the RS system remained (as flawed as it was) it would at least force clubs in higher divisions to take an interest in the progress of emerging riders and do something about it to assist like (dare i say it) the do in Poland.

The problem being that NDL is (or should be) fairly high up that ladder from riders who are starting out/have limited experience. Realistically it should be Introduction days, Amateur Practice, Amateur Meetings, Dev Leagues, NDL (or youth route, dev leagues NDL) however sadly the opportunities are few and far between for the early ones leaving promotors to track riders who aren't ready on the hopes that they will make a rapid breakthrough or get dropped when the next rider who shows a glimmer of talent shows up

Anyone know what the decision was on conversion rates? Obviously there was the 5 year plan to increase from 1.5 to 2.0 in increments of 0.1 each season but that "stalled due to covid" (no idea what covid had to do with a conversion rate). Will the increase actually be applied or was the only thing to come out of the zoom meetings is to drop all 5 year plans?

All guesses but... Sheff - Mountain Vue - Palin P'boro - Brennan Wolves - Thompson/Hume Ippo - Flint Lynn - Kemp

So likely to be Mountain, Palin, Brennan, Flint, Kemp + a.n.other (possibly D.Thompson) with the ever unfortunate Hume missing out.

Genuine question is the beef between the Ippo promotion and Kennett? Yes he was a bit pants last year (still better than Heeps) but he is a Foxhole master and yet year on year seems to get over looked for a Witches team place? I would have thought a strong home side that can pick up pieces on the road was a better way to build?

There is no point (might as well make it all PL teams have to have Brit under 24). Because the scheme was so well considered (cough) and the longer term aspects realised that the majority of the RS places for CL level would be filled with riders not ready to make the step its been dropped. Implementing a "system" when there is a glut of riders available is easy but as the next 12 riders haven't appeared out of thin air the whole thing has been dropped.

Discouraging statement today which says the door is open to Birmingham and Kent until the agm is held (although there will no longer be an official agm held). Either way late entry and late team building is going to create issues of both cost and quality. I fear another rocky season ahead for Brum.

and the ever decreasing circle continues......if thats the reason then its crazy. How about, crazy concept i know, having competition for team places. The best / best value riders get team places and the others don't. During the season there will be changes and opportunities for those who are still interested and the sport gets to use the best possible riders available rather than the all inclusive that does nothing but lower the standards

Its certainly going to be an interesting winter and upcoming season with the lower end riders and former rising stars with regards to who is seen as "good value" , who is seen as a future investment and who is seen as hitting the ceiling. Palin on 5.70 could be argued as a bit high, Flint on 6+ likewise if compared to riders like Nicol and Etheridge who are both around 5.5 and spent most of the season at heat leader. If team building is 42 then most of these will likely be slotted in with the lack of power heat leaders in the league but there will be nervy waits for some, Simon Lambert on 5.98 doesn't look a shoe in to improve that number so could be a long winter for him.

Id wager more money on the flying circus lasting longer.

Is that National or Nora Development League

The vast problem with the current running of the sport is that the promotions are only looking after their own business interests rather than being custodians of the sport. Yes you are right the nails have been firmly banged in and the sport in Britain continues to focus on today and the top tiers. The NDL has been destroyed and yet so many of the now top flight riders came through that route. Until the UK can produce riders of a good standard there will be nothing left, being able to keep them racing in Britain may prove more difficult but not impossible. Plans for the next 10 years plus are needed but most promotions aren't likely to even still be involved in that timescale so why do they care.

Again in complete agreeance but that was the planned ethos of the league according to the powers that be. A massively reduced 35 point limit forcing teams to track new blood and pushing those at the higher end of the average scale up into the Rising Star spots that have been so kindly created for them (with all the pay restrictions that come with it). The belief being that there will be a steady stream of riders progressing through the bulging youth ranks and all league ready each season ready to take on and learn from those who trod the path before them. The reality is already obvious that riders far from ready have been tracked this season whilst others have seen their averages rise far beyond expected levels due to lower levels of opposition and that will continue year on year with basically anyone with a bike getting team place. For those who can host double headers its feasible (if not ideal) but for standalone ventures its wildly unviable.

In terms of weakening the product i am 100% in agreeance with you. I was highly against the reduced limit from the start as it was clear that lesser riders would appear, averages would be inflated and the product would ultimately become poorer (which of course is what the powers that be wanted as the NDL was a serious threat to the viability of the CL). What would be nice to see though is some actual consistency, if the limit was cut due a long term (poorly thought out) plan then at least stick with it and take accountability when it fails or admit that it was gotten very much wrong and back track. The constant yo-yoing on team building points limits does nothing for anyone except leave a few riders lumbered with inflated averages.

I fully agree. I don't really know why Kyle hasn't been able to kick on like others around him. He has been raised from a young age to be a professional speedway rider, has secured astonishing sponsorship deals over the years and yet has been unable to unlock the talent he clearly possesses at a consistent higher level. I fear that unless he starts to burn bright soon he might burn out of love for the sport.

I see Kyle very much as a confidence rider and think he really needs to nail down a good CL season before thinking about PL places and winning week in week out in the NDL should help that.