enotian

Without knowing the reason for IOW not competing I'll not attempt to apportion any blame but it does seem a massive shame that in a year when there'll be (hopefully) lots more people holidaying in the UK it would have been great to have had (a well run by all accounts) speedway as an attraction to potentially new supporters. Without knowing too much about the NL the 2019 IOW team didn't appear to be full of 'old hands'. Only Ben Morley had extensive CL experience. So perhaps it was the limited fixture list? If so I'm sure some other shared events could have been awarded. It sounds like it would be a great place for all the young riders to spend their six weeks holiday (if that still exists) getting track time every day. Shame.

All the more reason to increase the 4.00 starting average for new foreign riders. Not a pop at those teams that have taken advantage of this if they can as it's all within the rules. Whilst acknowledging how big a part foreign riders have to play, I think if you're serious about allowing UK riders to progress removing these low averages for foreign riders has to be considered.

That's the point though isn't it. By giving these riders a low assessed average of 4.00 you can't blame the promoters for going for two assessed foreign riders ahead of say a UK 5.00 and 3.00 who maybe haven't shown signs of improvement. It always seems worth the gamble especially now you might have seen footage of the foreign rider in action and apparently they become an asset of the club rather pay a loan fee. Had those assessed foreign averages been 5.00 then there's some more jeopardy as to whether a newcomer would achieve that level so the likes of Mountain, Greaves, Sarjeant, Kinsley, Smith and Ruddick might have got places. Notwithstanding that there are still places available elsewhere so hopefully they do all get fixed up. But you can see the incentive to go for a new foreign rider on 4.00 over a UK rider which doesn't really fit in with the Rising Star ethos.

There'll be test events prior to that. They're even talking about the F A Cup final being a test event on the 15th.

agreed, once a rider has experienced riding as a #1 in the NL what else is there for them to learn? Exciting group of talented riders though when you add in Flint and the Thompsons plus others. Hopefully they'll all be given the support and opportunity to develop. Typically the U21 world team cup is now also a pairs event but we could be challenging for silver already

I thought only the top 4 in the USA championship qualify for a work permit? They were Max Ruml, Broc Nicol, Billy Janniro and Luke Becker. Dillon Ruml ran 5th. 2020 FIM NORTH AMERICAN FINAL Perris, California 12.12.20 | Speedway Updates (proboards.com)

just get the home track to pay for both sets of points, it's all fixed rates at this level isn't it?

Don't think streaming from individual tracks will provide enough revenue. You probably have to charge less for streaming and you lose income from families (who only buy one stream instead of say 4 tickets) and probably a fair amount who don't stream given the demographic. You might pick up more revenue from away supporters and even some neutrals but you basically have the same cost base. I reckon it could work for shared events where there's an interest for each team but not when there's only two teams involved where I doubt the viewing figures would be large enough to attract advertising to fund the gap. I really hope that the BSPA are asking government if they can act as a guinea pig for the return of supporters to live events. Whilst I've got no appetite to attend events with restrictions in place I think league speedway would be an ideal test bed for that sort of thing and it can't do any harm doing the government a favour. They might even under write any losses.

That could be workable if there was an 8 team league with 3 full members (Belle Vue, Mildenhall, IOW) able/looking to run a whole season and 5 (reserve teams) only looking for 4 home fixtures. The 5 only host matches against other reserve teams for 4 home fixtures. With their remaining 'home' fixtures taking place at the full members tracks, i.e. they visit Belle Vue, Mildenhall & IOW twice. So reserve teams would in reality have 4 home and 10 away fixtures. And the full members would have 12 home fixtures and only 2 away fixtures. Not ideal but you end up with a final table in which every team has met its opponents twice over the season.

functionality on a hand held device. It's basically a user interface, and accessing a website is what your grandad used to do when he was a lad.

Love this. I wonder if this is what becoming a Pro Star Status is all about? I seem to recall Josh Auty was one of those in the Redcar changing rooms back in the day if you add an 'n' and shuffle the r and the o

There's loads of them on the list. And on the basis that the whole idea is to encourage the progression of more young UK riders it seems obvious that you'll pick an available rising star from the list while your star is injured. So yes, it'll definitely be guests and Jordan Palin will have ridden for every CL team by the end of May

wonder if the substitute will have to be an U-14 rider

I don't think we can apply these gradings to anything other than 2021. Surely, for example, Jordan Palin doesn't remain a 1* for the next 5 years!!!!! By 2026 he could be in the SGP FFS

I agree that riders should obtain their place on merit and not handed a place on a plate. But remember in 2021 we're only talking about 12 places. Between the 3* and 1* grades there are easily 12 riders of capable of being competitive in the 2021 CL. If certain promoters decide to pick an uncompetitive RS then that's their choice. The old 2.00 reserve didn't always go to a rider on merit anyway. How often did the points limit dictate that 2.00 pointer was thrown in to get under the limit while a better rider on say 2.32 was left on the side lines. At least this removes that issue. I think the idea of creating a pathway for young British riders is a good one. Unfortunately the 2.00 assessed starting average isn't enough to do that. How many times has a promising youngster upped their 2.00 average only to be replaced by an old hand on a lower average but perceived to be an improvement. Seen this at Newcastle many times, Andersson, Schramm, Mills being brought in at #7 based on past reputation. With youngsters dropped. How many times did James Burkinshaw move away from Sheffield get a low average to return to the Tigers the following season to increase his average? As I've posted previously this attempt looks over engineered to get to the position of securing a development pathway for British youngsters. All that needed to be done was to remove those old hands from obtaining team places on low averages. Easily done. Just set a minimum assessed average based on rider experience. Just like new British riders start on a 2.00 over 60 matches have a minimum average of 3.00 over 90 matches have a minimum average of 4.00 over 120 matches have a minimum average of 5.00 any non UK riders have a minimum average of 6.00 For example if a rider with over 120 matches has an actual CMA of 3.33 they can still obtain a team place but on a 5.00 average for team building. Naturally creating team places for inexperienced British riders but also incentivising them to progress their performances to achieve the minimum average. It would mean that teams could build a side with strength in depth if they couldn't afford/find top heat leaders and still have a competitive side. As it stands the 15 heat format already favours teams with strong 1st and 2nd heat leaders. This new system compounds that by levelling out heats 2, 8, 12 and 14 which teams with strong reserves would normally have had an advantage in. That balance doesn't exist anymore so if you haven't got a strong top two (or a wonder kid at #7) you're going to struggle. In summary a good strategy poorly implemented.

Didn't El supremo have a sweet 16 list of available riders? Time to dust it off I'd say. I think Roynon must have been one of them but what about Doolan, Howe, Williamson, Mear, Birks, Complin, Frampton in addition to the previously mentioned. Apologies if any are no longer with us.

Yorkshire SGP surely.

Exactly this. It's the one redeeming feature of doubling up. When these young riders are on their learning curve they need to be on the bike as often as possible. If they're not doing the PL and CL then they need CL and NL for the exact benefits you've pointed out. Even if there has to be nomad teams in the NL (whose 'home' matches are at the oppositions track and fixtures against other nomad teams at neutral tracks) to create these opportunities and a career path for those kids not up to CL yet. Good time to ban ghost teams eh?

How would everyone feel about a Duckworth Lewis style formula to decide abandoned matches or even totally washed out fixtures. Not great for season ticket holders and lost earnings for riders but it would avoid matches being run on unfit tracks and end of season fixture congestion. Might be useful if league matches can't start in May as hoped. Roughly there'd be a mathematical formula to determine each riders match specific 'average'. The formula would take into account the riders average and recent form. Home for the home riders Away for the away riders. Could even include previous performance on the specific track. Importantly the formula and data would be visible so the match specific averages would be known pre match. Then the result of un-run heats would be determined based on riders match specific average. Worst idea ever?

In the CL yes. Because 4* doesn't apply to the CL. No in the PL. Where they'll all be 4* regardless of previous PL average. I see Anders Rowe seems to be the first to have jumped ship. Looks to be in the Ipswich 1-6.

Is why it would have been simpler to just give higher assessed averages to more experienced/overseas riders. Say 5 point minimum average (for team building) for any rider with over 100 league matches under their belts. Maybe 6 or 7 for non UK riders. Provides natural openings for the young riders without requiring an inexhaustible supply of youngsters. And why you can make a 5 year commitment but can't necessarily set out how that will work across the years this far in advance.

It's like a metaphor for Lockdown isn't it!!! Maybe Godfrey suggested the Scotch Egg As you say we should wait for the full details. Ultimately, what ever they decide won't be the reason I'd decide not to attend but might be for some. Just like the offside rule, that many laws to make it 'fairer' to the extent that everyones forgotten what the rule is for. Hopefully the promoters remember what the reason for developing British talent is and don't ruin it with red tape and regulations.

dont like the sound of that one little bit

The general point is that speedway crowds used to be larger. They're decreasing because the sport isn't providing everything the customer base wants or there's more choice elsewhere providing more of what the customer base wants. Football, via Sky Sports, did a massive rebranding exercise. After years of violence and under investment in stadia football was only a domain for die hearts and those looking for trouble. Sounds familiar (apart from the violence bit). The tragedy of Hillsborough and Valley Parade provided a unique opportunity to totally reset the whole industry. Interestingly, speaking to fellow football supporters who can now watch every game (home and away) from the comfort of our own homes for considerably less than it costs to go to the actual game, can't wait to get back to actually attending the matches. It's the overall matchday experience that is perceived to be worth spending more on. Not sure how attainable that is outside of football.

Who said there was a draft??? I'm sure there isn't. Newcastle finished near the bottom of the 2019 table. I'm sure they'd have picked a Flint or a Kemp or a Palin ahead of an Alcock. I'm certain any club can approach any rider on the list and offer them a place. That rider might accept or reject that offer.