Sings4Speedway

With the greatest of respect its just a tombola of names ranging from those not old enough to retired riders and just about everything in between. My only hope is that PL is restricted to 3&4 star graded riders and once it kicks properly next season CL sides have to add up to 4 stars in total ( so 2+2 or 3+1) otherwise the gap in standard is going to be huge. Not knocking but some riders haven't even completed a decent season in the NDL yet (and some have had several seasons at trying to) so the fact that there is even a chance of them heading into the "professional" leagues is more than a bit concerning.

Oh sorry that seems a touch optimistic given its still sledging season

Perhaps thats the bit we are all missing....its a five year plan but only applies to one match a year....

Whilst slightly off the topic i think the above also illustrates the tremendous reactions shown by some in avoiding accidents and laying the bike down, over the years i have seen some tremendous feats of this underrated skill and big injuries prevented. Sadly in contrast i have seen riders travel significant distances and still collide with a fallen rider. It still slightly baffles me that we operate in a sport where big throttle use is often the only requirement for entry and safety/ability is not always the over riding requirement.

I agree its a stretch but there are just about that many riders knocking about. I would say 10is riders who competed in the development leagues are on the cusp of being able to step up a level and are competent enough to do so in ability and safety, there are probably the same number of riders who didn't get team places for various reasons. That said it will leave injury cover very light and if there is no cap at the top end the disparity between riders could be quite large. The league has had 10/11 teams before and currently the SGB website lists only 6.

I can't argue that another Northern side would assist the league and the teams involved, always good to have little local rivalry. Buxton, Sheffield, Scunthorpe and Kings Lynn would all be useful additions to the league and provide some derbies for closer rivals.

They couldn't possibly have done that could they? After crushing all the nomad sides and forcing good honest people out of the sport. Would make good sense. Still have some loyal NDL fans, would offer extra local derbies against Kent in two divisions and a great chance to keep developing riders ready for the next 5 years (cough cough) of rising star program.

Personally i find Danyon one of the nicest and most genuine people in speedway, thats probably why he hasn't had a decent chance somewhere, for reasons unknown those are a bit of a hole tend to get chances open up for them.

Should have been given a crack first time round.

ah yes from the person who stated the AGM had already been held. Interest from "several" Prem & Champs clubs to enter sides is encouraging (providing they actually know and care about running a 2nd team). As ever with the shockingly late NDL meetings there is limited time to prepare or complete team building before the "May start date" if the rules & entrants are even decided at the first meeting. One of the few good things about British speedway is the National League and if it is spoilt by those in higher tiers wanting it run their way such as 4 man teams run as second halves and double headers for the standalone clubs then a lot of what is good in the sport will be lost forever.

Plymouth as a promotion have every right to do what they think is best for the club. However i still feel sorry for the NL riders who are now left out, difficult phone calls have been made this week so i would say there has been a fair level of expectation from some that they were still required.

Makes sense. There are positives too as the number of options to consider is fewer so less time deciding, riders out of work at present should be more grateful for the opportunity and not ask for silly sums otherwise they risk being left on the fringes for the the upcoming season. Its just a case of picking the decent gaters out of who is leftover and keeping fingers crossed for some home results

Only the reserves look any value there and the engine room is shocking Agertoft? Really?

Charming reply bet the CL section can't wait to have you back. Riders were signed and announced for the 2020 season and most have rolled over to this year. I wish Plymouth and the promotion all the success in the CL but barring IOW i question how many will genuinely miss the treks to Plymouth.

Feel very sorry for the Plymouth riders who were signed up and have spent out ready for the approaching season. I hope all the fans who called for "superior" CL racing actually attend. Personally Plymouth have dipped in and out of the NL when it suits them and only them. I just hope for all involved theybwont be back.

No hints or updates how this will affect the NL side. No mention at all actually which is ominous

Barry isn't one for spin or skulduggery. If there was a NDL AGM he would have been invited, if he wasn't then A others would have told him it was happening and B if the IOW team are being excluded from it then count me out of anything to do with the sport in the future. These are the people who might give it a chance of having a few glory days once again, shutting them down because they possess a little vision is as unlikely as it is ludicrous

In the grand scheme of things in speedway signings one race suit is a drop in the ocean. There is a lot wrong with the decision making at PL level if a set of Kevlars is the deciding factor.

Clever business by Anders although i can't see the wage limits being stuck too or Kemp being happy getting significantly less. Fortunately there are plenty of ways round it. Strong side for the Witches once again.

Only in Speedway can there be calls for youth development and calls against the weakening of the leagues and a plan is put in place to make a right fist of both. One of the best ruling implemented for years was the minimum standard required to be a PL rider. Why is that not being used as a benchmark here? Riders who have achieved a NL average of 6+ for example are eligible for a CL place, then continue with the minimum 4.5 average to become a PL rider. Its been seen time and time again recently where teams build with 6 string riders and the cheapest 7 available gets thrown to the wolves, takes the minimum 3 rides and has their confidence hammered. Im all for British riders getting chances and creating opportunities but only for those who have earnt the right and are proving they can make the grade. Filling teams with riders just because they are cheap, local, compliant is not going to benefit them or the sport in any way.

Fortunately im not a complete non-attendee and do still get a fair fix of Speedway in over the active seasons but not to the levels that i did previously. I can just no longer throwing money at meetings where the entertainment is minimal. A lot of the southern tracks have quite a home bias and as im not a supporter of any given team (just a few soft spots for certain clubs) but rather a supporter of the sport in general and so pick my matches based upon the quality of the visiting sides. A sentiment that i think is growing amongst the more casual fan base the sport has.

My only regret is that i can only like that comment once. Barry & Martin are one of the few teams who realise that whilst their own team is important the league as a whole needs to flourish in order to see the greater benefits.

Well somebody is telling porkies probably that shifty Bishop....hard to trust a man who puts tripe on his crumpets

Two ends of the spectrum with there two both had plenty of ability but one barely had two clutch plates to rub together but confidence a plenty whilst the other had more machinery than he knew what to do with but fading belief. Zach is still very successfully riding Longtracks and i think it will be hard to tempt him back.

Whilst rush isn't the right word i think at the moment everyone is looking for some glimmer of hope to keep them motivated. Many of us are far more used to the NDL being run in a more open and honest way compared to the higher leagues (although i accept the bar isn't very high). But surely even a statement of we have discussed several options for the coming season based upon differing scenarios and will release full details once further variables are known. Keeping people in the dark does nobody any favours.