HGould

Wonder if NL can start sooner as classed grass roots and not Elite?

Very good news Some events last Autumn were pilot events so we may see a bit of action before May 17.

With or without? With of course. By May / June crowds will be allowed Restricted at first.. 25 to 33% Be enough for most Clubs to start. Bought (reserved) some Test Cricket tickets already.

The most interesting one on the 2 Star List by far is Jack Parkinson-Blackburn.

There is a lot of evidence in non League Soccer, Cricket (ECB) and other outdoor Sports that restricted Crowds will be permitted from early May. It's pretty nailed on that major Events won't be allowed any more than 33-50% capacity but as we've discussed many times before most Speedway venues can open and break even at 25-33% capacity. Allowances will have to be made for internal areas like Bars and Toilets. Take your own flask and sausage rolls if you have to. The biggest danger I think would be to abandon the season or to reduce it so much that the majority of venues can't open. That would probably be the death knell for most of them and a large number of semi professional riders (the vast majority) who would have no income from speedway for a second season and quite likely flog all their gear and never return and focus on the day job. If Europe remains slow to vaccinate; UK may yet find itself a safe haven where some will want to come and race. If 50% of the population and those with 90% of the deaths and infections so far are vaccinated by March and increasing number after it, can't see any reason or excuse not to start by June. It's then completely down to the individual to risk it or not. Where would I be safer, surrounded by mask-less kids and covididiots running round in Sainsburys and the CoOp or socially distanced with my friends outdoor on the steps at Perry Barr once a week.

Presume there is a subsidiary "black hole" list full of dormant old rising stars

Palin a very good choice going far in the sport

Good choice especially at a trick track like Monmore

From what I've seen at Perry Barr and some away matches, Brennan is currently better than Palin and Palin is better than Bickley. Brennan could make decent European level, as could Palin, Brennan has more experience. Bickley I think has plateaued and never be more than a second string CL rider.

All interesting thoughts but lot of obstacles. What about Clubs with limited time due to curfew? What if not time to run a 2nd half team? What if some teams are in areas with few riders and can't fill second team in midweek? How about Clubs who can't compete Financially but do what they do very well at a lower level like IOW and Mildenhall? How do you pair Clubs up? 6 in PL and 12 in CL? What if a rider wants to ride for parent Club but not paired Club? How do you account for Clubs running on different nights, Monday and Thursday is fixed for top League? If you scrap NDL how do young riders enter the Sport? Can you explain why Promotion and Relegation is an issue?? Its not and never has been in Speedway? Tried and didn't work as relegated Club didn't want to go down and promoted Club didn't really want to go up?

Belle Vue NSS is a great track. Would it have ever happened though without Kirky Lane, anything but a great Track shoe-horned inside a dog track. Sad fact BV NSS got Council Funding that no other track is likely to get. Stoke when properly prepared was a good place to visit. Sad its been bulldozed.

Not hostile at all just pointing out the blatantly obvious I hope that you feel reassured enough to venture out. Proper stewarding will be required at all tracks

If any sport waits for Covid to be eradicated the sport will be eradicated before Covid. I assume you've not visited a supermarket or been out for nearly a year I'm approaching 70, visited very well organised meeting at Plymouth in September with 400 to 500 others. I've been to non League soccer in Autumn with similar crowds. No reason why Speedway can't start at any UK stadium once lockdown ended and spectator sports allowed. If you don't want to go that's your choice, if many of us vaccinated wish to go I'm sure that we will.

Totally agree with every word Bob Track was far better than my 2018 visit with Brummies Facilities and Stand a great improvement. Stewarding and Match Presentation far better. Communication radically improved with some new blood brought in. If they can maintain 2019 standard and not slip back will be welcome addition to CL

Bowtell was due to be there last season wasn't he? He rode in the 3 TT I went to in September when there. He's a good CL reserve level with Atkins. Would hold there own with a few weak number 7s about.

went there in September. Impressive progress since time before. They have a new seated Grandstand that holds 500 on the Home Straight. Stands on First Bend and Back-straight and banking on both bends. Would guess about 2000 capacity. Depends what Council allow I suppose. Whole structure of Club improved beyond recognition last few years since Mark Phillips took over and bought new people in. Think as a decent sized City could average 1000

If it is Crump it will be great marketing opportunity which I hope pays off for them. Crumpie is an all time legend but will he average more than 8 points over a season and Bjarne more than 7. Its a tough league. Plymouth will have used up around 22 points and may get 15 points back. Key will be the other 5 riders and what they can deliver. Hope it works for them on and off the track

There has never been any doubt that Josh Bates can ride a Speedway bike and ride it fast. The number of falls and injuries and attitude strops though would be the main concern. I also recall reading an article in the Speedway Star where his comment was, he doesn't mind if he gets hurt , as speedway is all he wants to do. Wish him well and hopefully he can fulfil his undoubted potential.

I've had my first vaccine a few weeks ago and no ill effects. Second one due late March just had letter. By mid April everyone Over 50 and all vulnerable people will have had one vaccine and most over 70's will have had 2 vaccines. One vaccine gives more immunity than any Flu jab. There will be a tipping point when there will be more vaccinated and with some level of immunity through having had it than not vaccinated or not immune. The mid April point should see over 85% of the age / groups who have died with vaccine cover We won't ever get full immunity, this is like the flu in that respect, new strains and new vaccines to keep up. If Sport, not just Speedway doesn't start by mid / end Spring it never will. Of course we'll get a season , it will be different. Some Clubs will make the best of it, some wont. If anyone claims to be a speedway fan and wants to see it survive, it will be time to go and support or for ever stop moaning in my opinion.

There are already 3 Saturday tracks in CL and most Midlands and South like to do a Northern Tour plus Saturday not a great day for Guests in 6 teams tied up and lot of top end Riders are on Continent etc. Tuesday / Wednesday is only realistic option Four Clubs already ride on a Friday and remember what The Chairman did to Lakeside and Workington in 2018, cancelling Friday matches at 3 days notice as he couldn't get a Guest for his own Club.

based on what I saw in 2019 at Perry Barr and on trips to Somerset and Eastbourne and a bit of Brennan in 2020, I would say it's hard to decide between them. Hopefully they will kick on and stabilise as genuine CL second strings possible heat leaders by end of 2022 and develop in to good PL performers. Anything else is a bonus. Kemp seems more confident after a difficult spell at Sheffield, Rowe came on leaps and bounds in latter half of 2019 and carried through 2020, Brennan was very impressive before a bad injury and seems to have got over if based on 2020 rides. Can't do either Kemp or Brennan any harm to ride at a Club that seems to specialise in developing young riders over many decades.

Told ya all weeks ago. Guy who richly deserves a proper chance Danyon Hume

As a regular at Monmore and occasional visitor to Arlington I much prefer the latter. Technical but it can be attacked unlike Monmore. Monmore was designed for 2 riders and a fantastic opportunity missed to create a lovely d-shape down back straight.

Key will be being based in UK. May not be much travel allowed initially and being stuck in a small flat in Poland may not be as appealing as a proper home in UK and riding 4 times a week if doubling up.

Might be a nice team. Would cost a small fortune in Air Fares, Work Permits and paperwork. Probably only one possible improver in that team and that's Atkins. Maybe 2 realistic Bowtell and Atkins