Sings4Speedway

I wasn't agreeing with comments about Plymouths track, when prepared correctly its a nice race circuit and size of track or stadium isnt important but your joy at pointing out gloomy roads demise was still wrong and for a supporter of a team that has folded multiple times i would have thought you to be a little more considerate

They have to Bridger. But seriously JPB had talent but also had too much smoke blown up him too early, family rifts, social distractions and poor preparations meant that once attempts to step up to the higher levels came along it was already slipping away.

Quite likely. As with Mr Bridger im sure if someone fronted up a couple of bikes, some engines and a van he could be tempted back.

I forgotten how much of a tool you are. Stoke was a dump with a cratered track at times but it had its charms and i wouldn't ever gloat about the demise of a circuit although for you im starting to think i could mske an exception

Agreed. Kyle has been in a very fortunate position for a long time with regards to sponsorship and has effectively been raised to become only a speedway rider however i fear that right of passage has meant the desire doesn't burn quite a bright as others who have had to work harder to get where they are now. Kyle is one rider who can never blame equipment which is a blessing as it means the only improvement left to come is from himself.

Great progress for the stadium but i hate stock car fences around speedway tracks

In all honesty if the snobbery was taken away i believe that graded amateur meetings would provide a good level of entertainment for many. Sadly only really Scunny offer this with a few other meetings held at Redcar, Iwade etc. With the opportunity to do more racing locally you might see more riders picking up the sport whatever age. The cream would naturally rise to the top and attract the attention of the "professional" leagues. Grasstrack doesn't really even grade the riders yet often offers a full afternoon of entertainment, if the ability levels were grouped closer then the racing and entertainment would be provided.

Yup and that counts for nothing as 4 star only counts for the Prem. So either Thomas has opted out and will feature in the team on his own merits and make his own deal but Brum will need another 1/2/3 star rider depending on team building or the list is wrong and the BSPL have made a fist of the press release.....both equally as likely but i hope for Jack its the former.

How long until the begging bowl is out again? "Ive spent X thousand on new kit for this season and its blown to bits in weeks/ive put in loads of investment but i have no speed...." No Chris you have no idea on setups or how to get the engines/bikes to perform. The reason he is exciting to watch at times is that he has to wring the life out of the bike to get it to do what he wants and occasionally gets lucky. For someone who has been around the sport for so long knowing how to get the bike to work is what has badly held Bomber back.

The difference being that Poland clubs take an interest in the development of the riders that will fill the junior positions much earlier. They help them along with team places in the lower divisions, make them feel part of the club and have an active role in their development. Barring the twins who else has received that level of assistance in the UK over the past 10 years? Many promotors won't know who half the riders are on the list and yet we will soon be reading all the press releases about how they cannot wait to help continue their development.

it never rains ....

In days gone by riders learnt on 2nd hand bike and in 2nd hand kit, now many juniors turn up on new gear with personalised covers, guards and kevlars. Try telling them or their parents that they need to chuck it up the track a few times as part of the learning exercise.

Hopefully opted out and is going to make it his own way. No Connor Bailey either, Alfie Bowtell & Jack Thomas look to be the other likely decliners and if so good for them.

I cannot echo and agree with the above statements enough. Ive always felt the best approach is to get places dependant on merit rather than x criteria, ultimately if you are good enough you are in. If you cannot achieve the required level at a lower league why should you deserve a chance to move up. Like many i can see so many flaws in the new system not least that better riders could and likely will miss out on places due to complex team building restrictions all the while lesser riders will have the confidence beaten out of them being the whipping boys. When was the last time you saw a rider with no mechanical issues or falls lapped.....

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.