East End Fan

Berwick is a long way from Kent...but not on this thread apparently....

Like all Kent fans, I am in the dark at present, but I would guess that the whole object of running a National League side is to try to produce riders to become future Kings...and I would applaud that. Far more important and useful than trying to put together a team to win the league. There are already riders in the club who will be perfect for such a scene, Mulford immediately springing to mind as an example.

Makes a pleasant change to see a Kings fan writing on the Kings site. Almost everyone else is a fan of elsewhere !!! Personally I think that, as newcomers to the Championship, the Kent 7 look O.K. to me. Know nothing about Covatti, but other people have told me he is a racer...if so, he will please me personally. But I will get my greatest kicks out of watching youngster Gilkes and "Oldster" Ledwith dealing with the upper division. I'm sure they will find it tough going, but, as the saying goes, that's when the tough get going. Pleased that Kent will also be in the N.L.

With Boris now winning the election with a huge majority, Brexit is now a certainty. How will this impact, once we are totally out of the EU, on the use of riders from Sweden, Denmark, Poland and others ? Looks like a minefield to me.

Just re-read all the recent comments on this thread which is intended for Kent. Not a word about Kent have I read . Does anyone actually know if Kent are going to compete in the NL ? Does anyone know who else will form the NL ?

I really do not understand the logic here. You stopped going because your club ( is that Somerset ?) dropped down a league which you considered less value. All the leagues, from NL upwards can provide exciting racing. You do not have to have World class riders to provide good entertainment. When Lakeside closed, I switched my viewing to Kent in the NL and they have entertained me every week just as much as Lakeside ever did. My suggestion to you is to stop being a Premiership snob and just enjoy what is on offer.

Central Park Stadium, Kent Speedway is owned by Roger Cearns who is co-promoter for Speedway.

Interesting Rebel1...Your Speedway history is very similar to my own...Although I did not start at Rayleigh...West Ham, Lakeside and now Kent. It will be interesting to see if our view of current Speedway is similar. I think the signing of Scott Nicholls was a master stroke.

You are right Old Bob, I wonder if the same thing is planned for next year ? Can anyone inform ?

I am sure that it has been said that race night will be Wednesday at 6.30pm. I also believe that the Council restrictions only allow one meeting per week and an 8.30pm curfew. So if NL run it will also be on Wednesdays as far as I can make out. It's obvious to me that prices will rise and if the figures I have heard about what riders earn in the top two leagues is to be believed, I am expecting a substantial rise.

Kent have certainly not been unbeatable at home and Kent fans do not wear sackcloth and ashes if a match is lost. Given the circumstances, I think the new team has a good feel about it. Some good youngsters and some good Oldies too. If we make the Play Offs I will be over the moon, but I'm not holding my breath. If they are all the Racers as suggested, our entertainment will continue as in the past. I will be fascinated to see how Gilkes and Ledwith handle the reserve berths.

I am a big fan of Ledwith. What makes you think he is not capable of filling a reserve berth adequately ? By the way, the news of Covatti and Starke is to be applauded. Side is solid, may or may not get any silverware, but the management have said quite clearly that we should not expect to win things in our first season. Fair comment IMO.

I know, Waco, that you are a big fan of Ben Morley. I am a big fan of Ledwith, and the reason that I am such a fan is that he is very entertaining. With Ben Morley you know he will gate and go, but with Ledwith, you never know quite what to expect other than that he will ride his guts out for 4 laps and keep your heart in your mouth. Maybe that is why he got a team place ? Nothing to do with his average ? Just a guess.

I assume you are saying that unless the so called social media are used to their utmost, then the sport will not survive. I cannot possibly agree with that sentiment. What actually MATTERS is the level of entertainment supplied THAT is what brings people through the turnstiles...and that information gets the best possible use when it is spread by actual word of mouth, verbally one person to another. I do not think any new person has ever attended because of something read on social media. Almost everyone I know, and certainly myself ( in 1946) first came to Speedway because a friend recommended it. That situation has never changed over the years.

For once I find myself agreeing with Sing's remarks. I personally think that the standards in the existing N.L. is about right. A good mix of experience and youth and a place where riders like Gilkes can learn their trade and spread their wings. And attractive to people like me to pay to see it.

Don't know much about Starke, but I hope Gilkes gets his chance. He progressed at a rapid rate of knots last season in spite of a nasty pelvis injury early on. Really cannot work out who the final 7 will be, but looking promising in spite of noises coming from the management not to expect a title contending side in the 1st year up.

Is there a plan to make the NL into a juniors only league ? Worst idea I've ever heard. Who came up with that stroke of genius ? I hope that someone on this thread has the wrong information.

That comment gave me my best laugh of the year !! Thank you. I'm a fan of Ledwith which made it funnier.

Sounds like a good idea. I am not aware that it has ever been done ? Can anyone enlighten me ? So far as I remember, every KO cup has started off with some Byes if the numbers make it so. This year is no different.

I wonder how you know these facts that you quote ? Is that knowledge in the public arena, or do you have insider knowledge ?

Well, that does not tell us very much ! Rather typical of the BSPA to keep everyone in the dark. Does anyone know why the meeting was adjourned ?

Do they not know Ledwith's average then ? Why not ? Or is this just guesswork ?

We have a Speedway mystery !! A rider who averaged 3.76 at home and 4.5 away yet has an official average of 5.03. Explanation please ?

If Tom Bacon achieved these numbers, it would be a tremendous result for the rider and the team.

I don't know too much about Heeps, but he has now been in UK for quite a time, so should be familiar with all tracks. So a good signing as an all-rounder, probably. I do know about Tom Bacon having seen him in action at Sittingbourne. As a visiting rider, he was very fast and hard to beat. Curious that he was never in the N.L. team. Will be a good force at home and is fast enough to beat many of his contemporaries away from home too. Good pick.