Wildcat Steve Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Its funny how we can be quick to moan and criticize speedway but we are slow to see the good things. With IoW re opening and British riders coming back into the sport and a very healthy National League this year. I have always been one to moan about the lack of British opportunity and although with planning and lack of speedway owned stadiums we cant compete with Europe on track time for young riders, things are looking a lot better than for a long time. If you can build a good base at root level it will grow. So if you don't go to NL meetings take time to have a look because this is where we will build from. Thank you all NL promotions, Sponsors and Supporters because without you we would have no first rung for our lads 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Not realy sure what all this is about,but of course things have been looking somewhat better for a while now.We have a 2 time world champion and also a great prospect in Robert Lambert,who has been around for a few years now.So no surprise.Also a few young kids looking good for the future behind Robert,like Zak Wajknecht + Kyle Bickley.Can't work out the IoW connection though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Steve Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Not realy sure what all this is about,but of course things have been looking somewhat better for a while now.We have a 2 time world champion and also a great prospect in Robert Lambert,who has been around for a few years now.So no surprise.Also a few young kids looking good for the future behind Robert,like Zak Wajknecht + Kyle Bickley.Can't work out the IoW connection though Well With the Wightlink Warriors back we have another speedway stadium back and yes I agree with you A British World Champion and some good riders coming through at the top end but we have riders coming back into the NL this season and plenty of new reserves in the NL. With such a healthy bottom tier for speedway can only be a good thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) I'm not sure who is coming back into the sport,that you are talking about,but I always have doubts.Think to my knowledge the only rider I know of who had a rest and came back that was any good was Ronnie Moore.Have seen a number in recent years including one who I thought was highly talented(Arthur Sissis) and others who people thought were talented like Charlie Möller,Jonas Raun in Denmark who never got back to anything like their old form.Will be interesting to see if Gjedde can get anywhere near his old form,but like I say it hardly ever works out Edited January 8, 2016 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Don't be put off by the standard BSF negativity/cynicism Wildcat Steve, I can understand your excitement about George's return and I do hope it all goes well. As time goes by people will begin to realise that the NL, despite its faults, is a vital foundation of any British Speedway revival. Imagine a league without stupid double points rides, with reasonably stable teams, good racing and affordable. Who needs big names? Well, some do and they can cling to what's left of the upper levels of the sport as they disintegrate. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Steve Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Yes will be interesting to se how they do. When we used to run the training schools and second halves at Weymouth we had such a great bunch of youngsters and it was sad over the last few years watching them drift away the likes of Matt Bates, Tim Webster, Sam Hurst, Adam Wrathall, George Piper. Brendan Johnson. James Purchase Now we see George and Brendan back for the IoW this year and James for Cradley I know with George he would have continued at Oxford had they returned in 2008. He has been riding Moto X and did a few rounds of the Pit bike British Championships he is on better equipment now and has excellent sponsorship so will be intresting to see how they do You will only find future stars if you have a good system for riders to progress and to me its all moving in the right direction 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Actually I didn't even realise that Brendan Johnson has taken a break from the sport to my shame.I remember there was a nice Poole fan(yes there are some ) on here who was close to him and I think sponsored him.Best of luck to all of them 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Having many more rookies and therefore fewer journeymen in the NL last year was great to see, thats the path the NL needs to keep following. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Does George Purchase have a spin anymore or has he gone to MX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Any Glasgow or Edinburgh fans out there that can tell us of any developments with the training track that Glasgow were looking to build if they got the land next to Ashfield or the one that former Edinburgh director Brian Gray was looking to build? Both projects would be brilliant for bringing on young Scottish riders, something that both clubs could benefit from. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Its funny how we can be quick to moan and criticize speedway but we are slow to see the good things. With IoW re opening and British riders coming back into the sport and a very healthy National League this year. I have always been one to moan about the lack of British opportunity and although with planning and lack of speedway owned stadiums we cant compete with Europe on track time for young riders, things are looking a lot better than for a long time. If you can build a good base at root level it will grow. So if you don't go to NL meetings take time to have a look because this is where we will build from. Thank you all NL promotions, Sponsors and Supporters because without you we would have no first rung for our lads While I agree with much of what you say, there is a slight irony in the fact that too many NL teams seem to have filled their places with tried and failed NL career riders, who are actually robbing some young hopefuls of a chance of a team place and the required experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 While I agree with much of what you say, there is a slight irony in the fact that too many NL teams seem to have filled their places with tried and failed NL career riders, who are actually robbing some young hopefuls of a chance of a team place and the required experience. The NL is much better for their presence. Many have quite respectable careers and provide plenty of entertainment along the way. And remove all those riders and I suspect the lowering of standards would have an adverse impact on attendances. There are still several team places available for three pointers and not a long list of NL ready riders to fill them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 The NL is much better for their presence. Many have quite respectable careers and provide plenty of entertainment along the way. And remove all those riders and I suspect the lowering of standards would have an adverse impact on attendances. There are still several team places available for three pointers and not a long list of NL ready riders to fill them. Yes but it's hindering development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damosuzuki Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Any Glasgow or Edinburgh fans out there that can tell us of any developments with the training track that Glasgow were looking to build if they got the land next to Ashfield or the one that former Edinburgh director Brian Gray was looking to build? Both projects would be brilliant for bringing on young Scottish riders, something that both clubs could benefit from. We haven't heard anything - the track in the borders was ( led to believe) a Brian Gray project and as such seems to have been lost. As for Glasgow I've heard nothing and it always seemed a bit suss being in the middle of town. IMO Glasgow or Edinburgh should have a northern juniors and NL team in some form or another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Any Glasgow or Edinburgh fans out there that can tell us of any developments with the training track that Glasgow were looking to build if they got the land next to Ashfield or the one that former Edinburgh director Brian Gray was looking to build? Both projects would be brilliant for bringing on young Scottish riders, something that both clubs could benefit from. Very interesing question. It is high time to get a training track started in Scotland. Are there any Scottish speedway riders around in 2016 at all? Who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 We haven't heard anything - the track in the borders was ( led to believe) a Brian Gray project and as such seems to have been lost. As for Glasgow I've heard nothing and it always seemed a bit suss being in the middle of town. IMO Glasgow or Edinburgh should have a northern juniors and NL team in some form or another. I would really like to see every Elite and Premier League team to have some sort of junior team, so that second half racing follows every meeting. It would be a long term project if you like, to bring more riders into the sport. Look at the riders who came through the SJL in the 70s to go on and ride for National League teams. Some sort of National League team in the Borders / Central Scotland area would be a natural stepping stone between the junior leagues and the Premier League and again would be a great boost for the sport in this area. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildcat Steve Posted January 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 I would really like to see every Elite and Premier League team to have some sort of junior team, so that second half racing follows every meeting. It would be a long term project if you like, to bring more riders into the sport. Look at the riders who came through the SJL in the 70s to go on and ride for National League teams. Some sort of National League team in the Borders / Central Scotland area would be a natural stepping stone between the junior leagues and the Premier League and again would be a great boost for the sport in this area. Peter Oakes had a great idea with the Academy League where you had teams that did not belong to clubs but rode against each other around the country as second halves this way you did not find one club using all the best juniors and the Academy gave everyone riding good experience of riding for a team and riding tracks they would not normally ride on. Worked very well. before that a Weymouth we had a junior team and had second halves against invited teams worked very well and was received well by supporters Yes but it's hindering development. How do you feel this hinders their development? the top riders in the League help bring on the junior riders and we have plenty of spaces for 3.00 average riders. Riders coming back does not mean they are failed riders. Riders quit speedway for many reasons and a return should be greeted a a good thing I would have thought. I don't know of any failed riders returning. Speedway is a hard sport and can be cruel some times and as well as physically demanding it is also Financially draining. Also at the the NL level most have jobs and a life outside of Speedway so there are many reasons for riders leaving speedway. Does not mean they are failed riders which seems a little Harsh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Peter Oakes had a great idea with the Academy League where you had teams that did not belong to clubs but rode against each other around the country as second halves this way you did not find one club using all the best juniors and the Academy gave everyone riding good experience of riding for a team and riding tracks they would not normally ride on. Worked very well. before that a Weymouth we had a junior team and had second halves against invited teams worked very well and was received well by supporters How do you feel this hinders their development? the top riders in the League help bring on the junior riders and we have plenty of spaces for 3.00 average riders. Riders coming back does not mean they are failed riders. Riders quit speedway for many reasons and a return should be greeted a a good thing I would have thought. I don't know of any failed riders returning. Speedway is a hard sport and can be cruel some times and as well as physically demanding it is also Financially draining. Also at the the NL level most have jobs and a life outside of Speedway so there are many reasons for riders leaving speedway. Does not mean they are failed riders which seems a little Harsh The idea used to be to have one senior rider who could give advice, some teams have stocked up with riders who failed as draft riders or who failed in other leagues. It's getting like a cheap PL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Very interesing question. It is high time to get a training track started in Scotland. Are there any Scottish speedway riders around in 2016 at all? Who? Whatever happened to Linlithgow ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmon Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Originally an abattoir was built on the site. It is now a meat and fish processing plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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