Jayne

From the BSPA website : SPEEDWAY'S third tier will have a minimum of eight clubs competing next season. And there is a possibility that number could be up to 10 when the deadline for membership passes next Monday, January 31. Stoke Potters have been accepted into the league after switching from the Premier League and there's an exciting new venture featuring the famous old Hackney Hawks sharing Rye House and Lakeside as a home base. Of last season's clubs Mildenhall, Weymouth and Bournemouth will not be racing. The points limit for team building purposes has been set at 40. Further details, including the final National League line-up and competition format, will be released next Tuesday, February 1.

Not sure where you get that from. There was an end of season meeting in November and the AGM is in December.

Suggest you have another look at the league table. As for a weakend Newport team think you will find Buxton weren't at full strength either but at the end of the day any team can only beat what is put in front of them.

Well its dry in Buxton at the moment and doesnt look we have had any rain overnight so its all systems go.

Have another look you have to add both L columns together: Dudley 4+1 =5 Buxton 0+4 = 4

The meeting will go ahead if at all possible. At the moment there are no problems with the track and the forecast is for showers but that changes day to day. Edit: Just checked another site and they are forecasting light rain from 5pm so fingers crossed.

Dudley have finished top of the league on pts difference only, in fact Buxton have won more meetings than them. They are not league champions as they were defeated in the semi finals of the play offs. Everyone knows that the championship is decided on playoffs before the season starts. People may argue that it is not fair but that is what the promoters want and agree to. When Weymouth won the CL title a couple of years ago I think they finished in fourth spot in the league table but they won the playoffs and were quite rightly crowned Champions. This years EL saw Poole miles ahead of anyone for most of the year but Coventry won the playoffs and are EL Champions. Under the play off system finishing top of the league is irrelevant.

News to me.

I dont really see where there is a problem. The NL/CL has always been more flexible regarding absences and the r/r facility mainly due to the fact that it is not a professional league and that riders can race from the age of 15. With no guests being permitted (other than for a NO 1) then teams need some back up for when a rider is missing. What happens for those at school doing exams or riders whose parents cannot get time off work to get them to meetings? We as promoters have a duty to put on the best show possible for the paying public and with the best will in the world that does not mean replacing one of your 1-5 with an untried rider. As I said previously the EL/PL are permitted a facility for 28 days for a rider witholding their services which technically you could argue applies to a rider who has gone home before the end of the season.

7.30pm

Just to clarify it will be first race at 3pm, the parade will take place at 2.45pm.

Don't see how it is any different from a rider 'witholding his services' in the EL/PL for which there is a facility for 28 days.

Start time is indeed 3pm as usual.

Well its a dry day in Buxton for the first leg of the KOC final. Hoping for a good meeting and a good lead to take to Kings Lynn on Wednesday but it isn't going to be easy. The Young Stars have progressed through the season and it could be close.

Not really fair to tar them all with the same brush, there are plenty of Aussies that give their all and are 100% committed to their cause. Nick had his reasons and I'm not getting into the whys and wherefores of it all. However, the fact remains that some riders are more committed to their respective clubs than others in all three leagues regardless of nationality.

Start time is indeed 3pm.

If you were there today GreyhoundP hope you noted the passes around the outside It can be done if you are good enough.

No its definitely not all over and I'm sure both teams will be going for it as a final spot is up for grabs. Hoping the Hitmen can do it but it isn't going to be an easy match.

The meeting was postponed after the speedway star went to press.

The cup match will indeed be first as the result of the league match is pretty much irrelevant.

Buxton's leg will take place on Sunday 24th October.

Rob will be OK he is a tough boy and will be there tomorrow aiming for a good score.

Jason is 17 in November.

The protection only applies to the same league. Have a look at the PL fixtures and see if there were any matches run in the PL against the PLRC and PL Fours but there were NL fixtures as is permitted.

You cant run against a shared event in the same league. If you look back there were no PL matches when the PLRC was on but NL racing took place, similarly with the PL Fours.