2018 MDL and SDL

[LaurenceRogers]

2018 MDL AND SDL

 

The clubs involved in the Midland and Southern Development Leagues met at Perry Barr Stadium , Birmingham on Saturday to make decisions in readiness for the 2018 season.

Both leagues have lost clubs unfortunately but have a few new additions although , as yet, three need to be confirmed. In the MDL Scunthorpe have withdrawn whilst Milton Keynes are in discussions to remain in the league . In The SDL Plymouth are not running their Demons side this year whilst Exeter move their operation from Somerset to the St Boniface Arena whilst Weymouth are in discussions to share the Eastbourne track with Reading. Kent are awaiting confirmation that they will be using Iwade as their home circuit in 2018.

The MDL welcomes the Birmingham Bulls as a new club whilst Kings Lynn may return to the fold in that league if they can sort a few things out to compete.

The SDL welcomes the Isle of Wight Wizards whilst the Bristol Bulldogs are awaiting news on where they will be based having been in talks with Swindon to run there.

The loss of Scunthorpe has also meant the loss of 2017 MDL co-ordinator Nigel Hinchcliffe , who has decided to cut his ties with the league and return to just watching from the terraces. With less involvement than last year having resigned at Plymouth new Birmingham team boss Laurence Rogers, who co-ordinated the SDL last year, was voted in to co-ordinate both leagues with support from the MDL from Carmarthen’s Lawrence Fielding and the SDL from Reading’s Emma Pike.

He commented, “ it is a great pity to lose Nigel who did a superb job running the MDL last year . Having cut back on my workload with Plymouth I know I can oversee both leagues with the support of Lawrence and Emma . The AGM was a good one with so much agreed without opposition and a real good feeling throughout the clubs.”

The format and rules of the leagues remain unchanged with the race format retained of four man teams over six heats with opportunities for running three junior races for the 125/150cc or 250cc riders if clubs can include them.

Clubs will be naming four man main squads with riders also being added to a national pool of riders that clubs can use with riders in the two leagues being encouraged to get as much experience as they can by racing in both leagues if they can. There will also be inter-league challenges where clubs are trying to give their riders more track time and meetings and run regular second halves .

The eligibility of riders remains unchanged in 2018.

There will be no play –offs with the team at the top named as champions and if fixtures allow at the end of the season there may be a two legged clash between the MDL and SDL Champions.

There will be a joint MDL/SDL Riders Championship Final with the venue being sorted with two possible ones being discussed at the AGM.

Once confirmation of Milton Keynes, Kings Lynn and Bristol is received then the final format of the two leagues will be known. If all come to the tapes there will six teams in each league meeting home and away once.

MDL :  Birmingham ; Belle Vue; Carmarthen (at Stoke); Kings Lynn (TBC) ; Milton Keynes (TBC);Peterborough.

SDL :  Bristol (at Swindon TBC) ; Exeter (at Plymouth);  IOW; Kent (at Iwade TBC); Reading (at Eastbourne) ; Weymouth (at Eastbourne TBC).

 

[Sings4Speedway]

Definitely nice to see some positives from the AGM with (potentially) additional teams in each league. Bristol at Swindon is exciting as its a new host venue whilst the return of Kings Lynn is another major plus. Hopefully all the TBC's will get sorted so the leagues can begin to prosper again. Shame that Milton Keynes are currently homeless again having been around since the development leagues started it would be a great shame if they were forced to not participate this year.

[*JJ]

Is there no MDL at Leicester (either team) this year? Couldn't MK try there?

[Sings4Speedway]

From the fixtures im pleased to see M.K have found a venue even if it means two teams from Birmingham. Shame that the Bristol/Swindon hook up didn't happen same goes for the return of Kings Lynn.

Looking back to 2015/2016 and seeing 10 teams in the MDL compared to 5 this season it is very sad to see. Fortunately the addition of the SDL has helped paper over the cracks but the diminishing numbers is certainly alarming.

 

[LaurenceRogers]

Kings Lynn are looking to do  a few challenges with a view to hopefully coming back in 2019 to the MDL.  Bristol are looking to also do a few challenges and hope that will lead to a 2019 SDL spot.

Notice JJ had mentioned Leicester and I did have talks with them but with a weekday staging now in the top flight they cannot commit to doing any 2nd halves at the moment but again hopefully that will change in the future.

 

[gee jay]

with o'keefe signing for stoke , will reading be allowed to sign another rider  or can they use guests for the home meetings ?

Edited March 30, 2018 by gee jay

[skydog]

On 30/03/2018 at 1:04 PM, gee jay said:

with o'keefe signing for stoke , will reading be allowed to sign another rider  or can they use guests for the home meetings ?

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