21st century heathen

19.9.1.2 An ex PL Rider declared in a NL Team at the start of the season will be ineligible to remain in the NL (unless SR 19.9.2.2. applied) should he join a PL Team at any time. 19.9.2.2 A current PL Rider under 25 years-old with a PL MA of 4.00 or below at the start of the Season.

It was nice to see the new look Heathens sliding yesterday. Few bumps and bruises picked up but hopefully nothing too lasting for man or machine. Clegg went well throughout and likewise Williamson who was taking to the PB shale for the first time. Taking that in to consideration it was very good to see him looking very comfortable and riding the track with good pace. Greaves looked fine but for slipping off a couple of times. Lower down the order one would expect to see a slower pace and a few wobbles here and there. Harris is a rider I've seen a number of times now and always impresses me with his neat and tidy style. Hopefully this season his gating and overall pace will improve steadily too. I found it quite tricky to judge Mogridge. I didn't see anything to concern me in the slightest but he didn't do anything to stand out either. I'm hoping for a safe and steady season from him with the points just ticking over nicely in the middle order - not too many heroics with points slipping through his fingers. What we have we hold will be a decent mantra for him, though no doubt a racers instinct will kick in. For the most part I'd report similar not too this and not too that for Neale but an impromptu 'race' between he, Clegg and Greaves caught my attention. Greaves let them jump away from the start but Neale showed good pace behind Clegg and actually had to back out of it when he almost ran in to the back of Clegg. Govier had the most wobbles on track but kept it all together and certainly seemed to settle down the more laps he got under his belt. I'm pleased we've got him on board to cover as required. He should do a steady job. It's difficult to call anything from practice sessions but it was notable that there didn't seem to be anybody suffering an obvious nightmare with machine gremlins - a major plus point.

Okay so it's a tad early but it's been a long time coming, especially for the speedway-starved Brummies faithful. It's less than a week now until the first NL action of the new season so I expect there will be a lot of eyes on this early challenge meeting. I don't think anyone should read too much in to the season's prospects whatever the result for individual riders nor either club. But there's local pride at stake and it'll be great to see the lads blow away the cobwebs. I won't bother with a score prediction but I'm calling a win for the mighty Heathens as the Brummies new boys may need time to settle before giving us a tough time later in the season. I saw the Heathens having a spin yesterday but not the Brummies. Did anybody go yesterday evening?

A good and well reasoned post. On paper it does appear top heavy but there is lots of scope for improvement in the Brummies team. In 2012 Roynon averaged over 11½ so a top heat leader at this level who has good equipment and doesn't throw points down the road with silly disclusions can achieve that type of Über-high average. Adam Ellis falls in to a similar category, though I'd not put pressure on the lad by saying he should average 11½+. In the same year Tom Perry was 2nd only to Roynon in the league averages, with just under 10. Baring in mind the number of times he finished behind Roynon (or A.N. Other) one should consider that his record against opposition riders was very good indeed. That season he averaged more than the like of Garrity, Birks, Heeps, Wright, Worrall, Kerr, Starke, Nielsen, Jacobs etc. All may have gone on to ride at a higher level in the last couple of seasons but it proves Perry has the ability against very strong riders at this level. The league in 2015 will be a very pale shadow of itself in terms of this quality of top heat leaders in 2015. Perry Barr will suit Perry down to the ground, and especially so if there's dirt on the old Dickie Sweets line around the boards. I expect Perry to continue return to form in 2015 and be very strong. Wajknecht should take to our league racing like a duck to water and the smart money is on him taking 7 rides for the first few meetings as he should start at reserve. That will keep the Brummies ticking over while the other new boys find their feet. Typically many who switch disciplines tend to be good gaters and PB is a nice sensible size and shape so it shouldn't be too taxing on man or machine. Give them some time to settle and I think the Brummies lower order will be doing enough. I can't see any undue concerns about the back up although with so many new faces in the league this year I'm not the only one who could be eating my words in a few months time. If we start to look at what could go wrong for clubs I can make a case for them all failing to win the league!! It's just what we (fans) do. Nobody has had a pop at anybody before a wheel is turned. We're just thinking it through from the little we know about many and taking a punt on who may finish where. If, in a week's time, people slate anybody for a poor show then shame on them. That's the time to scream give them a chance. Stoke are very similar, in my opinion, to Coventry. They've steered clear of the high risk:reward strategy and gone for riders that have at least some experience of riding our NL. It's just that something always seems to go breasts vertical for Stoke, but it could easily be Stoke who put it all together and have a strong season. I started welling up reading that; brings a lump to your throat.

Alphabetically, Birmingham, Cradley and Mildenhall are my favourites to take the top three places. There's usually a team that's tipped to go well that for some reason or another falls short and for no other reason than a gut feeling I think it may be Rye this season. On paper they equally strong contenders for a top three place though. If a team is to step up and do better than many expect I think that could be Coventry, but there's a lot of pressure on Ritchings to hit the ground running after almost an entire season out and Knuckey to have a whole season in the form he showed in the latter part of 2014. There are lots of unknown quantities though so for the first time since 2010 when we joined the league I don't have a huge amount of confidence in my own predictions for the season ahead. It should be a very competitive season and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Tough to try to name all teams in exact order, particularly when there are still a number of key positions to be filled. At the moment I expect B'ham, Cradley and Kent to be the main contenders for the title with Coventry and Mildenhall nibbling at their heels. Stoke and KL likely next up around the top of the bottom half. Buxton, Eastie and Rye most likely to have a tough season at the bottom. One potential tweak I'd make to that is that I think Buxton may have a season of two halves and if Carr comes back and hits the ground running he could transform their season. A late run of form could see Buxton pull clear of the bottom. They may even get on terms with KL if they've not lost too much ground and Carr is back in time to have an impact.

Yeah, slightly wonky prediction there Islander but overall I suspect our team average will be in that ball park.

Surprised you didn't quit after the first attempt to be honest mate - I would have done!!

I understand where you're coming from and I can liken it to many post 1983 Heathens teams. We were always top heavy with often 'dodgy' reserves and over the course of a league season we'd come up short. But those bottom end riders could turn it on at times and we hoovered up trophies for fun. With the NL reverting to a straight forward battle for top place in the league one could argue that this comparison is valid but there's a slight twist in the tale. Strong heat leaders in ht 13 and ht 15 can be worth their weight in gold with the daft league points scoring we have. A top two banging in 5-1's can grab you 8 points and that, at the end of the season, could have big impact on the number of league points scored. A ht 13 5-1 can give the riders in ht 14 a lift too rather than an it's all over anyway approach to the heat. Maybe it is being brought up on a diet of strong heat leaders that gives me a biased view but I feel a good top two (assuming sensible averages - not signing on 11 each) is not a bad way to start building your team. Zach is a fantastic prospect and a riders I hoped I may see in Heathens colours when I first saw him ride a couple of years ago. I don't know anything at all about Banks but typically the lads who come across from moto-x tend to be good gaters and after a year or so to settle make progress quickly. If B'ham name a good solid NL rider next, or one likely to make a big step in a weaker league, then they are looking very good and certainly strong contenders.

Not Carr, unless his fortunes have taken a dramatic turn for the better. I heard his injury is a severe one and he's going to need an extended time away from speedway to recover. My fondest hope for 2015 is that we hear some better news for Liam. If fit to start next season he'd be the first name on the team sheet, and without doubt one to watch in 2015. And on the off chance that Liam or anyone who knows him is reading - best wishes for a full, speedy and comfortable recovery.

On the subject of Tom and particularly for those not very familiar with him, or indeed NL racing in general, take a look at the clip to see what could be on the cards for you 2015 speedway fix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34RaK9xe-9E Incidentally this was the night of Heeps' Monmore Green debut - this was the only point he dropped from 7 rides!! And this shows what Tom's capable of - if he just finds the consistency of 2012 again you've got a hell of a top two on your hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulhy09hxs9U

Good start for Buxton to have Extance on board. What about something along the lines of Atkin, Williamson, Extance, Blacklock, Woolley, and what about Verge and Downes to add a little experience at reserve?

Yeah, point taken. But if, and it is an if as I don't know, Sarj and Ollie don't ride NL next season you'll still need to put out a competitive team. And that means finding the right rider on the right average to provide immediate success for the NL team. Rob and Darryl tick that box. The benefit to the EL team is the continued progress of Sarj and Ollie where ever that may be in 2015. If neither had a PL place then you'd think start them in the NL and go top heavy (this would mean no Crang though) - accepting that losing them to the PL may happen during the season. If it's considered best by the riders/club that they (JS/OG) now move on to be placed with PL clubs (and Bees for Sarj again) then attention should shift to Crang and naming him in your own NL team rather than the averages squeezing him out. He should become a NL heat leader and possibly be in the frame for PL guest bookings or injury cover as the season (2015) progresses. 2016 could (should) see Garrity in the 1-5 and Sarj/Ollie at reserve with Crang knocking on the door for place in the draft (likely away from Bees for a year). 2017 you hope Sarj/Ollie has progressed enough to move in to the 1-5 and the other at reserve with Crang. As for the NL team; by 2016 you hope you've identified at least one other young rider which should keep the conveyor belt moving. Any club that has two teams, and for the record I envy Cov fans having both EL and NL to support (massive thumbs up to Horton for this), has to balance up making the NL team a success in any given year to keep the punters coming through the gate to fund the process and finding/signing riders with a view to eventually joining the EL team. And the club and fans will have to accept that not many will progress to EL standard and there will be times that your riders go out on loan and loanees come in.

Ahh may well have been you who previously mentioned this meeting. I'm pretty sure it was a one-off and I know 2010 was his first season in a NL level team. ------------------------- And yes, that meeting vs USA was a good one.

Big talk mate (and if you do pick a better team than me I'm going to send you the most horrendous texts for updates next season )

I know where you're coming from but the NL won't produce 7 (or even 4 unless you're extremely lucky) EL riders in any given year or two. You'll need to have good solid NL level riders to 'do a job'. Knuckey improved a lot in the 2nd half of last year and in a weaker league a full season of that form will see him put a fair bit on his average. The NL is about finding the Sarj/Ollie type rider. At face value you'd think that Sarj is a no-brainer but he's got PL and EL commitments so availability may be taken in to account. And you'll get used to losing the top end rider as they move on - it's what the NL is meant to do for a young rider's career.

That's my gut instinct. Could well be no Ollie or Sarj. Dan possible and more solid looking team rather than top heavy. (???)

I'll go with that mate - and we are unanimous so I'm declaring a result!!

So Ritchings and Shuttleworth on board and I'd have thought Crang and Knuckey are likely. It'll be interesting to see which way Coventry go after that to complete the team.

Good to see the Heathens shaping up nicely again. Couple of likely strong contenders next season. Brummies looking as though they'll be very strong and Coventry certainly won't be also-rans. Mildenhall look decent too. Kent could be spoilers again.

Well happy to pick up a podium position having lost Freemantle. I'd have needed 6.58 from him to take the title - hmmm close call. I'll revisit for 2015 when we know who's where.

I'm hoping for a healthy rivalry with the Brummies but let's not get silly over this. The Heathens didn't even win anything until '79 so the comment earlier about cheque book speedway in the 70's is a daft one. And B'ham have made by far the better start to team building plans. As previous post - Perry debuted for Heathens in 2010 as a 16 years old. I remember someone saying he'd ridden speedway previously but he didn't compete in a team line-up until 2010. I can't verify that he rode at 15 though. Perry is a cracking signing to back up the rider who should top the league next season and easily the best complete newcomer to the league. Don't forget it was only a couple of years ago that Perry averaged over 10 and was 2nd only to Roynon at the end of the season. He had a blip with injury and illness in 2013 but bounced back to average over 9 with BPs last season. He only failed to score a point in 7 league races in 2014 and 3 of those were retirements!! If the old Dickie Sweets line is working at Perry Barr next season Perry should be flying and once again become one of the league's elite.

No, Will is wrong. The rules and reg's can't be wrong!!

If Neale builds on the promise shown a couple of years ago he'll do a really good job for us.

I'm disappointed that the opportunity for Cradley to progress up to the PL or even the EL has gone but delighted that we have a team to support in 2015 and the fact that the Brummies come to tapes too makes a slightly bitter pill a lot easier to swallow. The idea of starting with a challenge v Brummies is a good one but I'd go with a single meeting rather than a two-legged affair (as we have the NL Sheild to defend early season) and then crack on with league action as soon as possible. With regard to team strengths and riders I do feel that to a large extent the example of dropping the points limit more or less controlling overall team strengths is pretty accurate. But I do feel 36 is a tad low. 38 could be do-able with a tweak to the rules regarding PL average and eligibility to ride in the NL too. Currently it's under 4 PL (apart from the exception of those without a team place in the PL etc). As things stand the NL will lose Jacobs, Nielsen and Rose due to this rule. The like of Mills, Schramm and Bowen become available should they be interested in NL racing. Also, Luke Crang will be back from long term injury. So in terms of number of riders it's more or less evened out. But with more teams joining and a need for top end riders, without opening the floodgates, I propose the maximum PL average be raised to 4.50. This is not a dramatic change in terms of rider ability but will make available Jacobs, Morris, Nielsen, Hall and Rose in addition to Mills, Schramm and Bowen. Add to these the fact that Cradley, Coventry, Mildenhall, King's Lynn and Kent will have to slash their team strength and plenty of good riders will be available to spread around. Thoughts?