flipper11

The riders will be practicing on the 1st & meet supporters in the bar afterwards. I would assume this will be the p & practice although I was kinda hoping to see Scott etc having a go round Iwade.

No Len is at home what is it you would like to no about Kent’s fixtures?

Kent NL side will have some league matches on bank holidays and occasional Tuesday against other Wednesday night tracks. So no clashes for their CL/NL riders.

I’m a Kent fan & you are spot on. I understand they are trying to work around both teams racing on a Wednesday but come on it don’t take a lot to let the fans no what’s going on even if no riders names are given out. I would take it that either the promotion don’t care about the NL team or don’t care about the supporters.

The Kent Kings have nothing to do with Iwade. Different stadium & different promoters.

Not so. Kemp could have ridden in the NT final for either Cradley or Mildenhall! Cradley also had Bowtell, Perks & Edwards in the team all of who were already in the competition with their NL teams.

Amazingly cradley we’re allowed to build a team with whoever they wanted, including from teams in the NT. Certainly kemp, perks, Bowtell and Edwards were riding in the NT for their NL teams. I remember going to Leicester and Swindon for NT team matches v Kent but I’m not sure on the rules for their team building.

I don’t think championship standard riders will have any problems, riders like Ayres, perks, Hume, Morley, Bowen etc absolutely flew around there last season. The adverse camber on bends 3/4 seems to be sorted now. For me the only thing that needs doing to improve racing is to widen the back straight, this would make the exit of bend 2 faster as some riders have to lock up slightly if they go too wide in the bend. This work was definitely in Lens thoughts but whether he will have time at the end of his ski season to do it remains to be seen. Have a look on google earth & you will see what I mean.

John sampford was Kent’s team manager for the 1st and I think 2nd season before Chris Hunt took over. He has spent his time since then as Len’s chauffeur going to almost every away match, so I think he is pretty clued up on all things Kent.

Then they wouldn’t be able to afford go whenever the bspa put the meeting on then.

What a great weekend that is going to be really looking forward to it. Well done bspa. For those that will struggle to find the loot to be able go to all the meetings it’s simple start saving now.

What about Brooks for the final place?

Sam Hagon is the 1st signing.

I like the look of that side id be well happy if that was the team, lots of very entertaining riders. I do wonder however if Ledwith will be up for 2 leagues. Also Len is very loyal to his riders & I would think he would try & find a place for Spooner & Jenkins if he is going to do NL.

I think Knight would be a very good signing but if he does not have equipment it would be very expensive for him or the Kent management to get set up especially as there are so few NL meetings next season, so cannot see that happening, also Kent tried to sign him to replace Bowen when he got injured and a deal could not be reached then so I guess the same can be said now.

It is not confirmed yet but I think the plan is to run some/all NL matches on Mondays & CL matches on Wednesdays, (there would still only be 1 race meeting per week), this would allow riders to ride for Kent in both leagues. Bowtell has signed for Plymouth. I think if Mulford is going to commit to speedway then it will be for Kent, hopefully not having many NL matches compared to last year will work better with his grass track commitments. Would be great to have Ablitt back but I wonder how many other teams have their eye on him. I would like to see Kemp back at No1 but on a low average (for him) I can see other teams wanting him as well. Agree it would do Gilkes good to do NL as well as CL. Spooner is very popular at Kent so wouldn't be surprised to see him in the team. Thomas would make a great No 1. I wonder if doing NL & CL might be a bit much for Ledwiths ageing bones. Hurry may be a possibility.

Are you saying that ledwith gets an assessed 4 point average because of his average from nearly 30 years ago! Then why did he only get a 3.5 average in the weaker NL.

Can anyone explain how Ledwith has been given a higher assessed average in the Championship than the assessed average he was given in the lower National league? Surely his average should be based on the year before in the NL same as other riders.

Cant be many speedway clubs with a pair of promoters ( Roger & Len ) having a combined age of around 160. Fair to say there is a lot of experience at Kent!!!

Age is just a number. Looking at some of the other reserves in the CL Rob is well capable of mixing it with them & he got better as a rider as the season went on. He has some fantastic back up to go with it, Michael Lee is with him I the pits a lot of the time to give advise & he has has some of the best equipment in the league. He is also heavily sponsored by Kents sponsor Touch Tech. Very very popular rider with the Kent supporters. Gilkes is not being considered for the team at the moment because his family don't feel he is ready (although he probably does) he will be in the Kent NL team if there is a NL & will not be looking for a track nearer his home.

Ledwith reserve.

Yup, 6.30 start - 8.30 finish. Doubt Kent will ever be able to get planning to change the times for Monday-Thursday meetings (they have planning to run until 9.15 on Fridays for Premier league), I think it was this that scuppered plans to go into the Premier league as TV would require a 7.30 start time.

Tomorrow night is Kents end of season do, so maybe he is keeping it for then, difficult for him I no!

Len has always said, if he applies to go into a higher league he will want to keep a NL team. So Kent will run a NL team along side a CL team whether it is compulsory or not won't make any difference. His idea is he would like to see the riders progress with the club. Kent run every week so dates would not be a problem, if it does become a problem there might also be an option of running a couple of NL matches up the road at Iwade. Im sure Len & Chris have approached riders for the CL team already so I don't see getting a team together as a problem, I would be surprised if Kennett is not the 1st to be signed. I think a lot will be revealed this Saturday at the end of season do.

Kent already have planning for Wednesdays. Maybe it has to be rubber stamped by the council 1st but I don't see why. I guess the impossible task of getting a later start/finish time for the nights tv cameras are in town has scuppered plans for the premier league. It would be good if Kent can apply to get an extension of time in the event of an ambulance on track (maybe 15mins) for next season.