skydog

All the club's claim to be making efforts. This isn't a new stipulation, we have to do this every year.

They aren't prevented. I don't know why Rob said that in the SS article. The fact is that each club have to show sufficient evidence that they are attempting to find land to bring Speedway back to the area they are representing. If they cannot do that to the satisfaction of the BSPA they won't be allowed to continue using the defunct club's name. There is some question as to what satisfies the BSPA, but going by what Rob claimed he is doing, he shouldn't have a problem. Whether this "rule" is viewed as fair or not, it certainly isn't as Rob suggested.

I so wanted to reply to you but I couldn't!!

Let's get back to good news... Racers Move Closer To Home. The air is full of excitement and methanol fumes as the Reading Speedway management team have made a shock last minute switch in their plans for the 2019 season. The exiled Racers team will still take their place in the Midland & Southern Development League but will now race their home matches just down the M4 at Swindon after travelling to Eastbourne for the last two seasons. Racers' Emma Pike contacted the Wiltshire club when there were rumours concerning the future of the Eastbourne raceway at the end of last season, but there seemed to be no chance of a move. With Eastbourne continuing to race but moving the Development League matches to Sundays- where they would stage stand alone matches - the club were all set for another season in Sussex. However a last minute offer from Robins co-promoter Lee Kilby proved to be too good to turn down for the bosses of the nomadic team. Emma quickly asked team managers Gene Carter and Mat Stevens to contact the riders who had already committed to 2019 to ensure they could accommodate not only the change in venue, but also in race night. The Racers will stage six "home" league matches which will follow Swindon's Premier League contests on either Monday or Thursday nights. Emma commented "While we remain ever grateful to the Eastbourne management for continuing to accommodate us, this was really a no-brainer. We're so excited to be able to offer all those Reading fans that have missed seeing their team for so long, the opportunity to travel just along the M4 to see the winged wheel on track again. Also we hope to take advantage by securing more sponsorship, which as an amateur club with no income, we rely on massively." While Swindon is currently the closest the Racers can possibly get to racing in Reading, the management team haven't given up on bringing the club home and their fourth member, Andy Griffin, has been busy meeting people regarding the search for a suitable site. With Kilby's addition to the promotional ranks at Swindon, the club agreed it is important to support the Development League level of the sport. Lee stated "We're really happy to help the Racers get on track a bit closer to home, with the added bonus of giving the Robins fans some extra value for money. We'll be offering six extra heats of action at no extra charge on the gate at least six times during the season, which is great news" Emma and her team wished to express their gratitude to Lee and rest of the Swindon management for facilitating this arrangement, as the clubs now confer on dates for the Racers matches, with full details to be released soon.

Thanks

There is no reliance on or expectancy of paying spectators. We run on sponsorship and fundraising. However this season will stretch us to the limit. Unfortunately this is the only way Eastbourne would allow us to continue using Arlington.

To be honest a lot of them, particularly the Midland boys were in the SDL anyway... i guess they want to ride their bikes, but i think most clubs now manage to help with sponsorship in some way

Always good to know there are still Racers fans around! Roll on next Monday, hopefully ithe Plymouth/Exeter situation doesn't affect the work going on behind the scenes

I think that's a question best answered at Exeter's AGM on Monday 18th...

An amalgamation was the only way to go. With unfortunately losing some teams, it wasn't viable to run the 2 leagues separately. It's desperately disappointing that it seems to be getting harder to run development league Speedway when we thought we were blossoming last year. Still a bigger league offers more matches for clubs if not for those riders who would have ridden in both. All in all its not a terrible outcome, at least there are still opportunities.

We will indeed geejay, sorry I took so long to reply!

MDL and SDL are on Feb 2nd and I believe the NJL is on the following day.

It was actually Tom Spencer, Jamie was safely out of the way on this occasion!

shouldn't young riders trying to make their mark be willing to ride anywhere for anyone?

I've never understood this rule going back to the World Cup... don't the Under 21s have a competition of their own? So why compulsory in the senior version?

We have a squad of 6 riders so will work around it.

Clark Osborne wasn't involved in your stadium... hate to be cynical everybody, but as a Reading fan I feel I'm entitled...

and the most important...

At the start of the season each team is allowed 1 nl rider up to 4.00 ave. He is eligible for the season, ie Luke Harris, who averaged under 4 and was dropped by Eastbourne last year... when Reading approached him late last year he was very much a rider who could have gone either way and needed rides. Also allowed is a 3.00 nl rider, ie Nick Laurence. Kyle Roberts also agreed to ride late last year and there was no sign of him getting an NL place until Brum signed him 3 weeks ago. You're correct, the 3 can't be used in the same line up. William O'Keefe was actively looking for more rides to go alongside mdl. He is only getting guest rides in nl and we didn't know he would get so many. It is about development and the Reading team is full of riders with real prospects of developing, but admittedly we do need to be competitive if we are to get the diminishing number of Reading fans to take this to their hearts.

The Reading Racers roar into competitive action for the first time in eight and a half years on May 27th, in their inaugural match in the recently formed Southern Development League. The Racers will race at Eastbourne - where they will be staging their home matches this year against the Devon Demons, after the main Eastbourne v Plymouth National League match. With Racers No.2 Nick Laurence riding for Lakeside in the NL the same night, and Niall Strudwick unavailable, 17 year old Stephen Whitehouse is drafted in to complete the line-up. The match ends a long awaited track return for Racers fans, who have been without competitive Speedway since their home track was reclaimed by the council for demolition back in 2008. The Reading Speedway Action Group have worked hard in the past year to raise the funds to cement a place in official competition for the Racers once again. Team Managers Mat Stevens and Gene Carter are confident that the group have assembled a team capable of upholding the good reputation of the Racers name, with high hopes of helping the riders to make the next step up in their Speedway careers. Reading; 1 Luke Harris 2 Stephen Whitehouse 3 Kyle Roberts 4 William O'Keele Plymouth 1 Callum Walker 2 Jamie Bursill 3 Henry Atkins 4 Saul Bulley

Where can I watch it from within uk? Except BT obviously...

Cheers Laurence

Is Jamie Couzins named in an NL side?

Surely it's only a matter of time before Osborne finds there's someone waiting for him when he gets home one night..? He just lies, then wrecks whatever he can that will make him money.

Congratulations to all qualifiers, particularly Luke Harris, who must surely be the least expected out of the 10.