East End Fan

The only problem is that those riders who will ride for nothing are worth exactly THAT.. NOTHING.

It is hard to disagree with Teaboy...BUT, I can see that if the BSPA treat Buxton as a special case, waving fees and so on, which will be the next club to claim that they too are a special case ? Personally I see the National League as the MOST ESSENTIAL part of the sport in the UK. Producing new young British riders year on year. Yet, if all we hear is true, many of them struggle to survive...indeed Buxton did NOT survive and their input into the training scene is lost, to the detriment of the sport. IMO the BSAP should make more effort to support the N .L. The reward is less expensive foreign talent.

I tried to get onto the Swale Council site to add my bit in support of the Saturday thing, but, sadly, my lack of knowledge about how this blessed internet works, I did not succeed. So I think all those who ARE able to press the right buttons should add their support. For the long term, I am sure this move is essential to Kent. I am not the only one who would find Saturdays easier than Mondays. Has the club said anything about the opening date yet ?

Does anyone know when the new hearing will be for Kent's application to run on Saturdays ? Far more important to me than worrying about how much the riders get paid. Also can anyone tell me how I can write to the Council...address etc to support the application. Would be a good idea for us all to do it especially if we can do it by e-mail which is so easy.

Funnily enough, I can remember some few years ago that I was told by one of his riders that the whole team at Rye House were on the same points money. So maybe that is one of Len's strategies ? Anyhow, as I've said before, where riders' pay is concerned, so long as I feel that they are being treated fairly, I'm happy. Would not like to think that they are being taken advantage of ( I'm sure that happens sometimes).

If Cradley and Kent pay the most, then presumably all the rest pay less than the figures you quoted. But, from the conversations I hear and some stuff I've read about somewhere, these pay rates are still far below the Championship levels, so those critics on this forum who loudly proclaim that no riders should expect to be paid more than £10 a point are WAY OFF the mark are'nt they ? There must be a connection between the pay rates of the 3 divisions, relating to the abilities of the riders. If a top heat leader in National League rode for £10 a point and scored a maximum of 15 points he would only get £150. Out of that he has to maintain an engine and bike plus travel up and down the country late at night to get home. For such a dangerous occupation, would hardly seem worthwhile. And he would not always score 15.

TurnTwo..you seem pretty well informed. Are you one of Kent's promoters ? Tried to do the arithmetic but ran out of sensible answers half way through. But it added up to a lot of money. No wonder Buxton dropped out.

The comments about Ledwith are getting better and better.

Do you know what the 3 riders you mention are being paid ? What would you consider "not signing cheap?" Personally I don't really care what the riders are paid providing I get the feeling that they are being treated fairly....never really know about that, of course. Just a gut feeling.

Very interested to hear from a fan who actually knows something about Robert Ledwith. I know little about him so I found your comments interesting. Lots of criticism has been expounded because he is in his 40's ( I have NO problem with that) and now I know a little about what sort of rider he is/was, I am keen to see him in action.

I'm sure I either read it, or heard it somewhere that your comments are similar to some coming from the Kent management. I did not realise how young some of the Kings team is, apart from Ledwith. So it is not unrealistic to think that as they progress many of them COULD reach Championship level. And don't Kent also own Danny Ayres ? But I would assume it all depends on getting Saturdays.

You're just a baby, my childhood was Eric Chitty, Aub Lawson, Cliff Watson, Jack Parker et al

Did not realise that, apart from Ledwith, the rest of the team are under 17. I am already looking forward to my visits to Sittingbourne and I hope they get the Saturdays so that traffic is easier. Does anyone know what is happening on that front ?

But the consensus seems to be that Leicester will be the team to beat with an unbeatable top 2 plus two of the best youngsters in the country..Isn't that the case any more ?

I do not know much about Ablitt. Is he really as good as posters on this line are suggesting ? Is it correct that he is 15 in March ? Reminds me, if he is, rather like when Anders Rowe first started. Bottom end of Kent looks good to me.

Can you explain that, TurnTwo ? Do not understand what you mean. Clearly you know stuff that I don't. And what about Kemp ? Is he riding in the National League ? I thought I saw somewhere that he was in the Sheffield side in the Championship League.

But I am sure that the Saturdays had been turned down by the council ? Is there still that possibility ? Will make a big difference to my visits there, Saturdays make the travelling easier. Does anyone know anything on this topic?

Hi Teaboy. Where did you pick up that Jordan Jenkins had signed for Kent ? I have seen nothing about that.

MY team does not have Ledwith...or for that matter anyone else. Lakeside is no more sadly. But frankly, if Ledwith at whatever age, can beat other riders, he is worth his place. IF his age stops him from entertaining on the track then get rid of him. As a VERY senior citizen, I have no age discrimination thoughts about ANY active lifestyle. Good luck to Ledwith, I say.

Thanks. Seems there is room for a couple of big hitters. Any thoughts?

Completely agree about Danny Ayres, probably one of the top 3 entertainers in the business. Personally I do not see any reason for freezing out ANY rider, no matter his age. If a rider can score points and win races better than the next man, then he deserves to be in a team. The young talent will ALWAYS rise to the top, and having to beat experienced riders is VERY good for their development. No one ever thinks that Arno' should be pushed aside even though he is well into his 40's...He does a terrific job. And so can many others who are currently out of work simply because they have reached a certain level.

So who have Kent signed so far ?

Well...if the rumours which have been around ever since Cradley re-appeared at Monmore Green , The Heathens pay more money to their National League riders than any other club...ie "bonkers money". Move out of the Glass House.

Interesting thought...Both Eastbourne and Birmingham have moved upward into the Championship League. Would they have stayed in the National League if the points limit had been sensible ? Maybe that was the motive of the BSPA for making such a low average ? Does anyone have any clue about such thoughts?

I bow to your better judgement, Adonis...but there are so many examples that PROVE the benefits of the National League as it has been and I simply do not understand the reasoning behind the lowering of standards. And it seems, if the various views that are expounded on this forum are true, it is NOT the wishes of the N.L. promoters that is being implemented.