wjm

Good team.

Berwick. The side with Ashworth, Auty and Parker was a good side though yes? That the crowds have tailed off from 10 years ago isn’t solely a Machin or Hoggy, or even Sheffield issue, it’s a problem for most tracks and it runs a lot deeper than that. I have bought the Sheffield highlights from GRT the last 4 years (excellent and well worth buying IMO) and I have to say I have found the standard of racing and entertainment more often than not excellent, admittedly I haven’t watched last year’s yet, but I have it and will give it a watch when I get the time. Guys like Hall, Auty, Parker, Ashworth even Skidmore had his moments when he is an entertaining rider. I am not defending the side currently being built or last season’s effort, I am simply not as black and white on things as some there are always certain grey areas. I am the same with Berwick, same with most things Speedway, its easy to state I want, this, that and the other, but looking at the bigger picture and understanding why things happen, and why clubs make certain decisions, or in some instances need to make certain decisions is a bit harder.

Twice the size of last season, but half the size of 10 years ago and a club that doesn’t sign quality riders anymore yet built a side of quality, and a team that produced some superb racing on a track that hasn’t produced good racing since Wilson?

Evidently they can, its only a couple of seasons since they finished 4th and 2nd tracking guys like Parker, Auty and Ashworth, the line between a good season, and a poor one is pretty fine in speedway, it isnt like football where you have an established order based on club size.

Funny, because I had thought the general trend that has taken over Speedway was its all about today, and not tomorrow. While, no one sane would get involved to make money out of speedway, it would be insane to think anyone will run a speedway club at a loss, and to the point of extinction (which would be the end result if clubs track the BSF fantasy sides a lot of fans wish for). Most clubs will be looking to break even across the year, that’s just common sense. Of course every club wants to be competitive away, but the bread and butter, and thing that will ensure clubs longer term futures, is a entertaining home side, that’s where most clubs will focus, more so with things the way they currently are. Every club has to get the basic right, which is an entertaining night of racing at home, what comes after that is an addition. Given what happened to Sheffield last season, the best option to safeguard the future of the club would be looking after their home meetings first, everything after that is a bonus, a decent season at home, going unbeaten and picking up 3 points most weeks will see most sides in and around the Play Off hunt, its understandable clubs are making that their priority. A lot of stick is aimed the way of Machin (and Silver), it isnt a coincidence that both have been involved for years and won multiple trophies, they aren’t the idiots a lot on here make them out to be, they are just a bit more pragmatic than fans want them to be.

They are announcing their full 1-7 tonight……

Somerset will probably end the season with 2 of the top 5 averaging riders in the PL. Be interesting to see what Josh G does, I wouldn’t say that he has gotten stale at Glasgow, but the injury really seemed to be a set back at a time when he was kicking on, hopefully he can get back to the form he was showing during Glasgows PL winning season, it’s a smart signing by Somerset. Of the teams announced so far Rye look like the only side with what could be considered an established reserve pairing IMO, the rest are looking for riders to emerge or progress, Ipswich (potentially look very strong at reserve) but there isn’t much to choose between the rest. I can’t say any side is standing out for me so far, they all seem to have their strengths and weaknesses in equal measure.

I am not as convinced as some that Albin would be a waste of a signing, maybe the problem is that Dick Barrie supposedly rates him rather than the rider himself? (for what it’s worth I would trust Dick Barries judgment of a speedway rider, he has seen enough riders to know what he its talking about). I only saw a limited amount of him, but I thought he looked ok, but not enough to make a full assessment…. Did anyone really see enough of him to form a true judgment of his ability? The basis for not signing him seems to be that, well, the other 5.00 riders Berwick have signed didn’t hit their average, on that basis Glasgow should never have signed Josh G and Campton , because Davey, O Malley and the other guy they signed who’s name I can’t remember were poor. There is an element of gamble with every 5.00 rider you sign, some will work some wont, its worth the couple that don’t work if you find a Campton, Josh G.

That is a decent looking side, Redcar always seem to have the right idea when they put together their 1-7 at the start of the season, a bit like Berwick though, things just never seem to click at the same time for one reason or another, both sides seem to be waiting for something unfortunate around the corner. If they can keep that side together and get a run they could have a good season. Be interesting to see if Dyer can hold form over a season.

Keeping a hold of Aspegren would be great, he could stick at least a point on his average next season IMO, I would take him before a lot of riders who already have 7.00 + averages.

When you see the sides being put together by teams in the North it makes you realise how entertaining a meeting the Ben Fund will be at Berwick, makes sense all round to have local riders to get an even bigger crowd? Guys like Cook, Masters, Robson, Bach, Stead it would be a really decent start and that’s before you even think about guys like Barker (would surely want to defend his title) and a few EL riders who normally turn up like Hans Andersen who has been a regular. Sure whoever is there it will be an excellent occasion as a lot of the guys always seem really willing to race in this meeting. It’s a well worth cause anyway so worth attending, but it would really be a bonus for Speedway in The North, and not just Berwick if the event is well attended, would help increase the chances of more events coming up this way, which can only be a good thing for all Northern clubs..

Keeping Bellego would be massive, he is such a talent, he really kicked on from pretty much the Ipswich KOC meeting.

Possibly there is yes, I am not disputing that. My own thought is that 20 is still young, I think it’s the same with football though ever since guys like Messi, Rooney and Ronaldo came along the expectation seems to be if you haven’t made it by 21/22 you aren’t going to, Ward, Woffinden and Holder seem to have made it the same in speedway, guys can progress in differing ways.

Might be wrong but are two of the three not assets of other clubs (Nielsen and Jacobs) I appreciate Knight was and Sheffield have purchased him, but maybe this wasn’t an option on the other two? The asset system is flawed in many ways, but, if you can get a commitment from a guy like Knight I can understand why you would back a guy at that age as your asset ahead of another clubs riders. Knight seems like a guy who is pretty determined and focussed to make speedway his career, I can understand why you would invest in him (not to say the others don’t only referring to Knight as he is the main subject here). My own opinion, possibly wrong, when you are signing kids at that age, averages alone isnt the only factor, need a bit more than that to show you are going to progress longer term IMO. Some weeks he might, some weeks he won’t, some week he might get 5, he might go a couple of meetings at home and struggle to make his 3.

Short term it possibly does put you at a disadvantage, but the progression of younger riders (in some cases) isn’t easy in the short term, that’s why every club isn’t doing it, that’s why clubs who do decide to go down that road should be applauded for doing so. The implementation of such a rule where you have to have x amount of young Brits would be tough on a lot of sides in terms of attracting numbers to fill a side, finding replacement for injuries etc, your Bagers and co are just as fundamental to the running, and progression of British youngsters as a lot of British youngsters are. In theory, watching Jake Knight, young asset, grow from a struggling 3 pointer to decent reserve, good second string to strong heat leader over the next few seasons won’t be a longer term disadvantage, it will be both excellent to watch as a paying fan AND for the benefit of the club in the long term, and in the short term that has been balanced out, again, in theory by introducing Stead into the side. Stead and Knight is 9+3 =12, is it that much different from say Wilson + Bager = 6+6 coming to the same 12 points a meeting? , what two will you get more out of across the season, and long term? ( I don’t mean to pick specific riders, or do anyone a disservice just giving examples) more than likely Stead and Knight, hopefully, both in terms of entertainment and points from Stead, and progression and enthusiasm from Knight. I can understand the frustration as such, there is always a feeling among supporters of every side, not just football, not just the best, or worst sides that things could be better, but the promotion are savvy Machin in particular is a smart guy when it comes to Speedway IMO, there will be a decent thought process behind the signing.

Sheffield are fine with signing Knight if they subsidise their side with balance IMO. I appreciate others may have a better NL average than him, but is that NL average their limit? Maybe in some case yes, maybe not in the case of others. If I was an EL promoter I would invest in a few PL riders on 5 or 6 averages who I would see as a “project” before I would a few riders on higher averages. If an EL promoter was to sign a Bellego, Aspegren or Campton as part of their squad it would be pretty understandable IMO, guys on a lesser average but with that bit more potential. Won’t be able to make a true judgement on the signing of Knight until the rest of the side is announced IMO. I like the idea of clubs signing riders with the understanding that it will take time for them to improve and find themselves, they key is being able to manage the situation. I hope/would think Knight will be in the NL as well next season which should in turn help with confidence issues if he finds the PL a bit hot at times, and he will, as long as he shows progression, good on him, and Sheffield for taking it on. There is a bit of a shortage of riders in this country, every club needs to take on the responsibility of growing riders.

Aspegren

That’s an excellent signing, Edinburgh look like they are going to be strong again with that heat leader trio. Same as every winter, you just can’t gauge the strength of sides that announce early, Leicester look less like “league favourites” with every signing that is announced. Quickly forget about the doom and gloom that the winter can bring once riders start to get announced, the North is looking like it is going to serve up some great entertainment.

That is an excellent looking team. Was it Chapman that reference the changes to the points limit and the difference it would have on sides? Based on that 1-7 he is right. Maybe a little bias given the Berwick connections in that side, but Alden could be the business if he can keep his head right, will be great to watch around NA. Hope Kozza can get a decent winter in Oz and come back looking like the rider he was becoming before his injury.

Pretty unfortunate but better to find out now, still a lot of good riders left without team places while a lot of sides are starting to fill up.

High profile, decently presented…..stick your nice sponsor here… Fair play to guys like Machin and Silver for going about things with a bit of pragmatism.

Pretty decent side, in theory…stronger than the one that actually raced on track for a large part of last season. Same as every winter though, some teams announce early and get stronger/weaker the more sides that come out.

Weegies love a Ned

I don’t mind him, I can see Goldmembers point to an extent, like the other "Armadale loving Monarch” that we had before, he is decent around Berwick in patches, but he has had his fair number of poor races, sure he might break the track record, but then he can tail off badly that’s pretty much been the story of his career on the road for a long time IMO. I wouldn’t know if the move to Berwick would be the making of him or not. I could see him being a frustration across the season.