Sings4Speedway

Congrats to Jesse Mustonen on getting through. Shame its same old faces otherwise though. Hansen would have shaken things up nicely and Waj is edging closer every year.

Unless Jye really fancies it im sure a slight muscular problem can occur? Haven't i seen someone miss a meeting with a tight calf this year? Could have been Howarth? Whatever the reasons required to miss a meeting now are so pathetic that Dany Gapp can easily be entered if Berwick wanted to.

Money? Not sure if its Sheffield or Hagon that that is sponsoring him to be in the UK (i suspect it hasto be the club he is registered too?) i don't know the exact figures but im certain that the club has to supply accommodation and a basic salary as a minimum so if Nicol is fit they might as well get something for the expenditure (as they are not exactly getting any value for money from Kennedy or MacDonald either)

What a barmy decision and an expensive one? Unless of course Sheffield are still footing the bill for Nicol's visa qualification in which case they might save a few quid? Its unlikely that Drew was going to return next year as he just didn't seem to take that well to the track however its another import chosen over a Brit which stinks a little. Im sure Drew will drop in somewhere and be able to shave a bit off his average ready for next year.

If its wet / greasy i would make Smoli one of the favourites. Not the best on show but a very adaptable rider who really knows his setups.

Both sides have suffered with riders missing / injured. Shame given the team that Stoke put together that this and the return fixture could well decide who finishes bottom of the table. However must be much more satisfying this year being more competitive throughout the season.

Tricky evening for both sides with a lot riding on it. Guest reserves for both sides but Douglas definitely has the greater pedigree although not sure if he has ridden Plymouth before or not? Coles absent is a big miss for Stoke but with Perry fresh from his holiday & Lawlor in good form could look to spoil things. For the Gladiators Wilson & Stoneman should be sharp, Wally is due a good meeting as its an odd day i the month but Andrews recent for has been a worry. Still should be a home win but if Stoke take a point i wouldn't be that surprised.

In an ideal world yes. Even if it was Friday + weekends so work after a late night wasn't an issue however the number of stadiums available at the weekends are minimal. Speedway is the minority sport and lower earner compared to dog racing so is pushed mid week. The only weekend tracks left running in the NDL are stock car venues and even they have to move / accommodate the more financially rewarding events. Those that start / move from other disciplines and fly up through the ranks do alright but those who take longer to find their feet must think what have i don at an all too alarming rate.

Definitely bordering on an under strength side....maybe Buster will fine himself.

Could quite possibly be the case. Its one thing signing for a club and then not getting on with the track as much as you expected to (Jenkins away average is marginally better than his home and a lot better if bonus points are included) so i suspect Jordan would have ridden the year out and moved on over the close season but he clearly also has aspirations to move up the speedway ladder and if he wasn't competitive at Championship level due to confidence, ability, machinery or a combination of them all it must put a lot of pressure on the desire to continue riding. Not everyone has the ability to put a bad day behind them immediately and if those baddays start to mount up life can become very tough.

Huge duty of care to all riders but especially those under 18. The sport needs a full review of its approach to young riders and the protection of before its too late (Which is currently the driving factor for any review of rules / procedures).

Its never been Bombers fault he can't find a setup! That whole side of the sport is what has held him back from being a much more successful rider. Yes his gating is iffy but not that terrible, what keeps him an an inconsistent enigma is that he doesn't know how to set a bike up and just lucks in some days but the worst part is that its always somebody else's fault.

Examiners didn't notice it on IOW then

Every part true and very valid points made. The additional money required to subsidise NL level whilst remaining competitive is hard to find and something has to give somewhere. Even if the funding / sponsorship is there the sport is time hungry and demands a lot of weekends and holiday days so in fairness riders and their families have a lot less actual time to relax and unwind. Obviously its a choice but there is still a lot of associated pressures.

You put your left Hans in.......

Bomber is going to have a go at riding tuned motors now...might as well he has tried everything else.

It is very much one of the curses that comes hand in hand with the current obsession of tracking younger and younger riders. We now have youngsters who are trying to figure out who they are as people as they are edging into adulthood whilst contending with 1 or more full time speedway team places that comes with all the pressure and critique that accompanies the privileged position. Throughout every aspect of life there are those confident in their own abilities (rightly or wrongly) and those not so confident in what they are doing (again rightly or wrongly). There never has and never will be enough support for those who suffer with self doubt. The difference between a rider who drifts in and out because the going gets tough occasionally and a rider who is genuinely in a rut and feels standing down is the only way is huge. All i will say is that i hope Jordan feels the pressure lifting now and can get himself back to a position where he enjoys himself and riding his bike then take it one step at a time from there.

Very reminiscent of the Mildenhall side of last year with the amount of misfortune although Kent appear to be coming through the worst of it. Gilkes back to fitness, Ledwith close, if Spooner can return he is going to be very dangerous at reserve come the play offs.

Kents woes continue with Jordan Jenkins taking a break from the sport. Nice lad but hard on himself and his progression curve has levelled off quite a bit although considering his burst onto the scene that is partially to be expected. Has an awkward average that is ok until the end of the month if Ledwith returns but if he moves to 5th in the list is going to be tricky to cover.

This is exactly the reason why RR should be limited to number of uses per season but to be kept back for examples like these. Switch over to RR for Phillips and Palin can take an extra ride, Bailey can cover another two, the result would likely remain the same but it would have created a closer spectacle and that is what people are paying to see. I certainly hope there are not anyone on a first time visit who won't return due to the rules crippling the sport.

Im guessing that a number 8 would have to be a 2.00 rider not attached to any other Championship club so whilst an opportunity for someone it seems unlikely unless Wallinger is keen on the ride.

Typical that it happened on the same night as the planned 2nd half got cancelled. result wasn't likely to change but few valuable laps gone begging.

Big win for the Warriors although still a silly rule that 3 rides had to go blank for Belle Vue (would at least make sense if a unattached 2 pointer could have taken them). That said 4 man Belle Vue put up a fight but its 3 valuable league points for IOW that not only almost guarantee they won't finish bottom but keep an outside play off chance alive.

Wow some of those are some mega prices. Still some bargains in there too. So whoever brought the Wiggy longtrack bike for 5k if you want to drop me a PM and i will tell you where to end it....please please pretty please.

Looks a big ask for the Warriors but thought that for Kent last night and they got the win. The battle of the two big track teams will see a very powerful top 5 for the Colts but a tail that could keep the contest interesting with Sealey blowing very hot and cold and Bailey well below par last night. That said a returning Verge, Campos & Wirtzfeld both patchy will likely seal it for the visitor despite likely big scores from King and Widman.