East End Fan

Is this story really true ? Where did the news come from ?? Anybody out there know the facts ?? Sundays with no lights needed MAY make Brandon available, I don't know how the owners/developers will view that. Would dearly love to find out...IF true, great news for the National League which is steadily improving its stock.

Wow, what a memory you have, Hawk 127 ! Those were the days when fans turned up every week no matter what the meeting was. So all promoters could add challenge matches, individual championships and stuff to give us all speedway EVERY week no matter what. Now I see at many many tracks weeks with no meetings and the fans moan about it, but they have only got themselves to blame...as I've said on this forum before, "Use It Or Lose It !"

Anders Rowe's father Del' is a very experienced Speedway mechanic who has engineered for many world class riders. So at the very least he has the benefit of excellent equipment as well as having been practicing on almost every track in the country over the last 4/5 years. So it is hardly surprising that he is able to perform at a high level for a 15 year old...Good luck to the kid, I wish him well.

"Speedball" gives his opinion about pay scales in the National League, quoting that it's wrong to pay a rider a £600 guarantee. Now I do NOT believe in paying riders guarantees as it is against the spirit of the sport as an entity imo...BUT, as I see it, the National League is a business just as much as the senior leagues and so promoters are entitled to do ( within the rules) whatever they wish to enhance their business. If that means paying a rider over the odds, it is only the same thing that happens in the upper leagues, so who should criticise ? But frankly I do NOT believe that ANY promoter at this level finds it necessary to pay guarantees of the kind quoted and I have friends among some top riders who confirm my thoughts.

Tried to pick up the video, but could not find it on the link given by TMW, thanks anyway...Seems that some rain early on made the track difficult so, well done to all the riders

Was not at the Island last night...Can someone tell me...The innuendo seems to be that the track was difficult...is that true? I have heard that Smallbrook has not been in good racing condition this year, but it's just hearsay and may not be correct. On a track of that size, round a Rugby pitch, rough conditions would make it hard for visitors who are used to smooth tracks like Arena.

Predictable result, so no surprises except the low score from Ben who usually performs to a decent level on all NL tracks.

What has happened to Island with the Ipswich move demonstrates the attitude of the BSPA to National League racing. It is the very lifeblood of the sport in this country and, as such, should be given every chance to succeed. Instead, the BSPA seem to kick the clubs of the NL in the teeth at every opportunity even taking away their right to own riders' contracts, a disgraceful decision which is morally indefensible imo.

Agree with Hawk 127 who is probably an old Hackney fan as I once was. We will both remember all the sheenanigins with referees that Len had on a weekly basis to our delight. Greatest race track in the country without a doubt and survived when many others failed. Now he is at Kent, which I find astonishing at his age, and still doing the business...sad that I read on this forum about fans in Kent who stay at home because they don't approve of a particular meeting....there's an old saying..."Use it or lose it".

It's for sure that Tatum will be aware of the mountain that has to be climbed at BV..It is a fab' track as I witnessed in person last season and totally different to Arena. Some of our riders, like Zach, will love it, but most will be out of their comfort zone and I'm not optimistic about the result, being realistic.

It must be remembered that there are many youngsters in the National League who are taken about by a parent who sometimes may not be able to miss work. Also riders themselves are only semi-professional so sometimes may not be able to get time off work. It's a thing we must accept at this level.

The Colts match will sort out what we can expect from the Hammers this year. Our weak tail may be the telling factor. But the Manchester riders may find our tight bends a bit tricky. Close result in either direction I think.

Ommer Man once again echos my own thoughts about the National League. More fans should support it.

Take some good thoughts from the comments by Ommer Mon....Maybe our Hammers team in the new league this year will give us something to cheer about after all. N.L. is a much better league than people who support upper league teams will admit. In any case, with a big change to TV arrangements that I keep hearing about, the old Elite teams may have to have a re-think about rider strength.

Well, it didn't look as if Kent missed Danny Ayres with a score of 61 points ! Must have been a nightmare for Buxton to lose so many riders and not have any facility to cover for Perks...No happiness for either Buxton or Kent fans from this one...but no one's fault as I see it.

Was not at Wolverhampton for the Cradley match on Monday, but from a distance it looks like one that got away ! Big question is whether Zach would have outscored the guest Greaves. Shame we have to lose our own asset when there is a clash and it may prove decisive when it comes to Play Off places. Noticed that Perks has not appeared for Buxton...why am I not surprised ?

After Cradley's poor result at Eastbourne last night, they will be smarting and out to prove themselves. Makes it tougher for the Hammers. Didn't expect such a scoreline and it shows how unpredictable the NL is..

Real test for the Hammers and I think we'd do very well to take a league point. But in this league it is very unpredictable with lots of fallers etc. So all we can pray for is that Lady Luck is on our side.

Don't know why Richard Hall was not allowed to ride NL last season...silly decision IMO. Great asset at this level and a very exciting rider.

Sorry to hear about the serious injury to Danyon Hume. He is one of the brightest prospects for the future, so I really hope he repairs well. Brum will miss him for sure.

I agree with Teaboy 279. Every NL team is at a big disadvantage for acquiring new riders' contracts and I am wondering how it affects my club, Lakeside. We have a number of class riders under contract...are we allowed to keep them ? And what if we uncover some young Gem? Are we not allowed to own his contract ? If this is the case then surely the NL promoters MUSt do something about it.....

I have been asking about tyres but have got no answers other than the yellow band tyres are harder but seem to shred to bits when the track is slick. Obviously if one team are on the new tyres while the other are on the old softer ones, it could affect the result, so the sooner the BSPA sort out this mess the better.

If tyres were a problem at Mildenhall it cannot be true that Eastbourne bought up most of the red band tyres still left Has this tyre business been the result of another knee jerk reaction by the BSPA or SCB...wasn't there a similar situation with cut-out designs a couple of seasons ago ? Tyres haven't been a problem for years, so why was a harder tyre brought into use ? Can anyone answer that ?

Does anyone know the true story about the new yellow band tyre ? SS articles seem to suggest they are a problem and if Eastie have got all the old tyres, then that cannot be right. BSPA are saying that another "yellow" band tyre will be available in late May...that's what I was told anyway

Boxall is such an exciting rider that he will keep Devils' fans interested...not many to beat him at this level if he keeps his equipment up to scratch. Shame that some fans are only interested in senior speedway. In my book, the NL is the only league that looks to have a bright future and I am pleased that at Lakeside the crowds so far have looked reasonably healthy.