HGould

Clearly Somerset had an off night but may be some credit has to go to Eastbourne. They have signed 3 excellent Heat Leaders, Lawson will be strong everywhere, Kennett at home and Kerr I alsway felt on a good average. They refrained from signing unknown or journeymen foreigners and invested in British bottom end. Morley and Bowtell were 1-2 in NL Individual 2018 and have a bit of CL experience now, Wood for me is make of break this year, permamnet NL or 1/2 decent CL career (who knows) and Brennan I think is as good as Kemp and those 2 are next generation of "special talent". Be very interesting for the Group to see how Rebels recover at Brum as Eastie have a big points advantage at moment and anything could still happen in Group.

I went to Kent 3 times in last 2 seasons and normally quite good at guess a crowd, probably 600-700 tops both times, that's decent for NL but by no means a big crowd. I doubt he could on that basis go up to PL (Mondays) or CL (any other night).

You have a very good website and nice to see an independent (non AP Media) one.

Read somewhere that our Brummies Paco (Castagna) is riding in Italian Championships this weekend, would Covatti be in them as although Argentine born doesn't he ride on an Italian License and therefore mandated to fulfil Italian commitments??? - would weaken Rebels unless they get a top Guest.?

Always been impressed with Henry Atkins and he knows the track, I think possibly a year too soon for Anders Rowe based on NL form? Been told Covatti will miss most Saturday Fixtures Somerset have?, if true will be a big blow to them as he has an average that belies his form and won't be easy for them to get good Guests if Berwick; Leicester and Eastbourne have Saturday matches, will only leave a few Teams and a small number of riders to choose from.

Disappointing gate according to my mates who ventured down, they guessed about 600, they are usually pretty accurate don't know how???, they guessed 600 at our opening meeting and usually spot on there; and they guessed about 1000 at Eastbourne on Saturday was 1100 I believe? , must ask then what's going to win the Scottish National on Saturday

As a neutral I love it. It's technical but because of that you get lots of passing inside and out. It's usually very well prepared. It's a thinkers track and not just wind it on and ride the fence. Good riders can ride anywhere and usually do well there. Bomber i think will find lines round there no one else can and Schlein will do very well.

Damage limitation against Harris Schlein and Covatti Don't much rate Kurtz and the German is a complete unknown and I think our reserves will eat theirs, so mixed feelings. I'd be happy to get closer than we did at Eastbourne but doubt we will as think we caught Eastbourne on a night when Morley and Bowtell were learning the track and Wood looked very nervous and under-powered compared to his NL form 55 - 35 my prediction tonight.

I thought Lawson and Kennett looked untouchable v Brummies, Kerr and Brennan impressive as well. Yes Schlein and Harris are better than our Heat Leaders but may take a race or two to get the set up's worked out. I am in London for a family reunion Saturday, might even try to get there as a speedway fan any chance to see "Bomber Harris" is a treat. I can't make Somerset tonight due to work commitments. How Bomber rides Arlington will be worth the admission fee as there was plenty of passing on Saturday when Brummies were there and could be a great meeting for any neutral, place was buzzing last week, made Perry Barr seem very quiet.

There is one main reason Lakeside and Workington closed and it's nothing at all to do with Friday and Saturday's. The fact they had to ride so many Fixtures in October mostly against each other was a huge factor. The other factor ROB GODFREY - cancelled Lakeside Fixtures in summer as them riding on a Friday stopped him booking Guests for Scunthorpe and cancelled some Workington matches too. The success of those sides unfairly affected them. Had Godfrey not cancelled Lakeside matches at a few days notice they would have ridden fewer Fixtures at Rye House and not lost huge amounts on last few matches there. Also a fact they lost their Track to developers, that would have whatever day they race on. We absolutely need ONE BIG LEAGUE of 14-16 Teams giving variety and whatever level that finds can and should be marketable until the Polish bubble inevitably bursts and Riders have to accept that "getting paid in UK" is better than not getting paid 5-10x more in Poland...". Some sides are having a real go at PROMOTING the sport, others are living in denial and negativity.

Although we lost i really enjoyed that. Kennett; Lawson and Kerr will win Eagles a lot of matches home and away. Zak and Paco undoubted stars for Brummies. Some very good racing on a very cold night in front of what looked like a big crowd, the upstairs seating area was packed, usually a handful in there, someone local told me he thought over 1000. Encouraged by way Brummies stemmed tide and were only 6 points behind after 10 or so heats, both teams could do better than a lot of people think. Will go back for our KOC on Good Friday I only hope its a bit warmer. Meeting Presentation was very slick.

Some great racing at Arlington last night but boy was it cold. LOoked to be a very big crowd based on my NL visits there with Brummies in recent years and the atmosphere was very good. I don't know who the Meeting Presenter was but h was excellent. Eagles Heat Leaders look very strong, Brennan went well. Zak rode best of the Brummies and Paco showed some excellent touches, we packed the places but lack of heat leader strength was crucial. One nice touch I thought was Eagles Management walking down long queue outside to apologise for delays getting in and explaining that it was because a number of their staff were at Football semi final, they needn't have done that, most clubs wouldn't but little things like that matter and a few home fans in the queue explained how positive things are with the new Promotion and Management.

Not sure whether you are being a bit mischeivious there ?? LOL I'm pretty sure if you cut Jon Cook in half he would be an Eastbourne man, isn't that where he started out and made his name. Lawson; Morley and Bowtell from Lakeside will do well there, Eddie Kennett is Eastbourne through and through, Kerr just loves to race and the others are NL riders moving up. Be interesting whether my Brummies or the Eagles do best of the Clubs moving up. What other "personnel" have followed Cook from Lakeside to Eastbourne, Geer and Bellerby the Promoters are long term Eastbourne men aren't they??? I do agree its great to see a Professional team from South in Speedway, they should have a huge catchment area, especially on a Saturday night from their own, Lakeside, Rye House, all the old London Clubs too - especially South of the River. They seem to have done some very good marketing and having a real go, good luck to them.

Yes they do. (source Speedway Star of last week)

Love the optimism but a few very salient points. The trip to Kent for any Away side currently in PL / CL on a weeknight would be an absolute nightmare - that's before holiday season / god knows what happens with Brexit and M2 becoming a Car Park and for the majority a trip on or skirting M25. None of that is Kent's fault but would I think preclude moving up on anything but a Saturday or Sunday a massive risk. The most logical move would be PL (if the format stays the same as now) on a Monday night, since you are well established and would be no major change like it would for many Clubs to switch off night). Belle Vue on the 22nd Easter Monday should be a great draw for you in terms of Crowd as they remain "the iconc" name in British Speedway. I get the rivalry you have with Eastbourne but notice that 3 of the only 4 riders of their 2018 NL Double Team in the UK/still riding are tied up that night (Mildenhall at Cradley/Wolverhampton) so what kind of match is that going to be??, not even on the Eastbourne Fixtures on their website??? The NL Fixtures will be the most influential, will be interesting to see if fans want to watch competitive Speedway or walkovers and 60 points every week?, I guess for 1 season it might work but can't see it appealing longer term. Would wish Kent best of luck in getting a positive Planning outcome but unless they do unless Len can pull a rabbit out of the hat going to be tough to move up. That rabbit might be a breakaway big league or just one main League where BT could not dictate race nights. Be great to see Len and Kent back with the big boys.

Modern "grass" football pitches are basically now carpet with a lot of artificial material and only a % of what we would call "grass". Go and walk on almost any football pitch in the PL / EFL Championship and it is like a spongy carpet, then look at the pitches on TV this weekend near the end of the season and they will look like August pitches from 5 years ago. Many lower league grounds are as good as the PL of 5 years ago with semi artificial pitches. If they have 2 weeks of decent weather, bit of rain and sun and all goes well it will be as described Sadly, as you imply, the minute they stat moving shale its the end at Derwent Park - shale is commodity though these day, so may be they will make a few quid moving that on. .

whoops.....fail to prepare prepare to fail

Somerset - very strong top 5 - need 1 of the reserves to fire that's only weakness. Glasgow - strong at top, need Bickley to not be passenger he was last season Leicester - strong 1- 7 and look most solid complete team - expect Mountain to kick on this year. Sheffield - be hard to beat at home and nice balance - Bates fitness and attitude a key and progress of Kemp will be most interesting Eastbourne - strong top 3 - strong at reserve - depend on second strings when not reserves - Brennan like Kemp one to watch Newcastle - Worrall signing saves bottom 2 battle but still look weak away Redcar - decent team, better than 2018, could surprise a few Berwick - lack top end power, lot will depend on how well Flint performs at home Scunthorpe - lack of top end and could be in for a struggle and hard to see much improvement in team - Birmingham - building a foundation is all it is about for me as a Brummie - don't expect any fireworks, win more than lose at home, run in 2020 I'll b happy Edinburgh - look to be in for a real struggle unless they can gain confidence in what looks tough Shield Group.

It's hard to fathom exactly what has occurred here and probably we'll never know. It does seem though that you have a Promoter/Owner with a flair for controversy and a Rider who seems to have trouble with a capital T following him around. He seems a nice lad but not the first Club he has had a strop with and suggestions that there has been a "communication break down". He'll need all of that whopping guaranteed payment per meeting from Glasgow if he is going to get out of this mess financially as he is not exactly sought after in Poland and Sweden and other than Poole; Wolverhampton or Belle Vue (would they touch him??) can't see where he can fit in? May be Uncle Len will give him an NL berth, he seems to have very deep pockets ! (that's a joke btw)!

I've thought all along we'd sign Bradley Wilson-Dean but always thought Eastbourne would be his preferred home and he was waiting for something to happen there, even if after 30 June when points limit goes up to 40 (confirmed Speedway Star last week). Eastbourne signing Daniel Spiller though makes me think he is being lined up for after 30th June, he was better than BW-D in National League year but hard to know how he has progressed since. I now think we might have BW-D after 1st averages as also confirmed Shield and KOC count in Green Sheets (also in SStar)

seen Drew at Leicester on Saturday night and Sheffield yesterday, did OK Saturday but well out of his depth at Sheffield, may be he should go back to his old gear. #kevlargate

at times when I have been has been too much dirt on, and that means nearest the fence wins every race. Good to see passing inside and out and a lovely surface yesterday. Hope that will continue as when Owlerton is good, it is as good as any of the bigger tracks.

I think everyone in Speedway whoever they support will wish Lewis a great season at both Kings Lynn and Eastbourne, the epitomy of a fighter and a really nice bloke to boot.

Interestingly I read my speedway star yesterday and saw that a rule change in Championship is that Team Average allowance will increase to 40 points from 30th June, then i read about Spillers, Daniel in particular; made it in to several U23 European Rounds last season. What would his CL average be 5 points??. Could I suspect come in for one of the bottom 4 on average and make a big impact?

Absolutely right "The Dog" going back over the decades, the 2nd Tier has often been won by a tight Team - as Workington proved last year, they had 6 blokes average in a range between around 6 and 7.5 and did brilliantly, they even carried a 1 point reserve for most of the year, and if you go right back look at a side like Long Eaton in the early 80's. I think its clear that Somerset ; Leicester ' Glasgow have the top end strength but have compromised a bit with reserves; as Gary May admits himself, and the others have all got a solid look. If we win more than we lose at home and a few away wins, decent crowds and break even / make a bit, its a step back up to where we want to be and in the mason we trust!