Sings4Speedway Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 2 minutes ago, blueherb777 said: Has a team ever lost so many riders through injury and taking time out? Probably but it will tell on the team in the end. Very reminiscent of the Mildenhall side of last year with the amount of misfortune although Kent appear to be coming through the worst of it. Gilkes back to fitness, Ledwith close, if Spooner can return he is going to be very dangerous at reserve come the play offs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Injuries and way too much pressure put on young riders these days not to mention the expense and travelling involved. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloom89 Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 Hope Jenkins can come back, he’s had some terrible injuries for someone so young but he’s got massive potential only injuries have held him back I think. I seen him at Redcar in the u19 final and his last ride was brilliant. There is so much pressure on young riders these day though hopefully he can get everything sorted and come back even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Crusader Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 2 hours ago, blueherb777 said: Has a team ever lost so many riders through injury and taking time out? Probably but it will tell on the team in the end. Just when you think you have overcome one hurdle another comes out of the blue and smacks you in the face. This has been a nightmare season for the management who put together such a great team with huge potential at the begining of the season. I know you should not ride if you could be a danger to others and yourself but they just quit with no notice, is this not letting the team and fans down. Other riders work through confidence issues. Probably their age I guess, we expect them to be like the more mature riders of old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 It is very much one of the curses that comes hand in hand with the current obsession of tracking younger and younger riders. We now have youngsters who are trying to figure out who they are as people as they are edging into adulthood whilst contending with 1 or more full time speedway team places that comes with all the pressure and critique that accompanies the privileged position. Throughout every aspect of life there are those confident in their own abilities (rightly or wrongly) and those not so confident in what they are doing (again rightly or wrongly). There never has and never will be enough support for those who suffer with self doubt. The difference between a rider who drifts in and out because the going gets tough occasionally and a rider who is genuinely in a rut and feels standing down is the only way is huge. All i will say is that i hope Jordan feels the pressure lifting now and can get himself back to a position where he enjoys himself and riding his bike then take it one step at a time from there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac101 Posted August 21, 2019 Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 (edited) Hardest part for younger riders is trying to juggle speedway with work which is usually an apprenticeship so harder to get days off and normal life it’s hard for these youngsters as it’s normally there parents that have to drive them around and loss money with having to take days off doing 1 league is hard but 2 leagues must be even harder riding the bike is the easy part sometimes it’s everything else that’s hard , driving ,cleaning bikes ,maintaining them and then trying to earn a living to pay for it as you don’t make enough from the sport to do it without a full time job so something has to give somewhere trust me I know having to travel from Glasgow every meeting is twice as far for us Edited August 21, 2019 by mac101 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted August 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2019 20 minutes ago, mac101 said: Hardest part for younger riders is trying to juggle speedway with work which is usually an apprenticeship so harder to get days off and normal life it’s hard for these youngsters as it’s normally there parents that have to drive them around and loss money with having to take days off doing 1 league is hard but 2 leagues must be even harder riding the bike is the easy part sometimes it’s everything else that’s hard , driving ,cleaning bikes ,maintaining them and then trying to earn a living to pay for it as you don’t make enough from the sport to do it without a full time job so something has to give somewhere trust me I know having to travel from Glasgow every meeting is twice as far for us Every part true and very valid points made. The additional money required to subsidise NL level whilst remaining competitive is hard to find and something has to give somewhere. Even if the funding / sponsorship is there the sport is time hungry and demands a lot of weekends and holiday days so in fairness riders and their families have a lot less actual time to relax and unwind. Obviously its a choice but there is still a lot of associated pressures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted August 22, 2019 Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 National Development League....develop as just a rider or as a person too..?...15 year olds / duty of care..etc etc 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted August 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 12 minutes ago, Mike.Butler said: National Development League....develop as just a rider or as a person too..?...15 year olds / duty of care..etc etc Huge duty of care to all riders but especially those under 18. The sport needs a full review of its approach to young riders and the protection of before its too late (Which is currently the driving factor for any review of rules / procedures). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 22, 2019 Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 19 minutes ago, Mike.Butler said: National Development League....develop as just a rider or as a person too..?...15 year olds / duty of care..etc etc I totally agree Mr B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander15 Posted August 22, 2019 Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 Why sign for a Championship team if you’re contemplating quitting? I wonder if that’s what tipped him over the edge which has inadvertently affected Kent way more than Birmingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted August 22, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 35 minutes ago, Islander15 said: Why sign for a Championship team if you’re contemplating quitting? I wonder if that’s what tipped him over the edge which has inadvertently affected Kent way more than Birmingham. Could quite possibly be the case. Its one thing signing for a club and then not getting on with the track as much as you expected to (Jenkins away average is marginally better than his home and a lot better if bonus points are included) so i suspect Jordan would have ridden the year out and moved on over the close season but he clearly also has aspirations to move up the speedway ladder and if he wasn't competitive at Championship level due to confidence, ability, machinery or a combination of them all it must put a lot of pressure on the desire to continue riding. Not everyone has the ability to put a bad day behind them immediately and if those baddays start to mount up life can become very tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adonis Posted August 22, 2019 Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 On 8/21/2019 at 4:22 PM, Sings4Speedway said: Every part true and very valid points made. The additional money required to subsidise NL level whilst remaining competitive is hard to find and something has to give somewhere. Even if the funding / sponsorship is there the sport is time hungry and demands a lot of weekends and holiday days so in fairness riders and their families have a lot less actual time to relax and unwind. Obviously its a choice but there is still a lot of associated pressures. Actually a team place in the NL . commits the whole family 7 days a week . it may only be dad attending meetings , but the impact is on the whole family , mums washing suits and feeding the troops . dad trying to earn a living and clean maintain bikes . just to give the lads a little glimpse of some sort of normal life , no holidays , no weekends off because theres always something needs doing . then theres the team manager who in NL is generally a wannabe asshole who couldn't manage a pissup in a brewery , adding pressure expecting too much . + the back stabbing from other riders , It's not pretty ,, Lads who have come from Grasstrack or MX must wonder what the hell they have let themselves in for , being used to friendly atmosphere . and encouragemant from other riders . riding when you want and not when you don't , and stepping into the cesspit that is the speedway pits !! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGould Posted August 22, 2019 Report Share Posted August 22, 2019 1 hour ago, adonis said: Actually a team place in the NL . commits the whole family 7 days a week . it may only be dad attending meetings , but the impact is on the whole family , mums washing suits and feeding the troops . dad trying to earn a living and clean maintain bikes . just to give the lads a little glimpse of some sort of normal life , no holidays , no weekends off because theres always something needs doing . then theres the team manager who in NL is generally a wannabe asshole who couldn't manage a pissup in a brewery , adding pressure expecting too much . + the back stabbing from other riders , It's not pretty ,, Lads who have come from Grasstrack or MX must wonder what the hell they have let themselves in for , being used to friendly atmosphere . and encouragemant from other riders . riding when you want and not when you don't , and stepping into the cesspit that is the speedway pits !! May be NDL Matches have to be held on a Saturday and Sunday only - you refer to MX and Grass - that's Saturday and Sunday and occasional Bank Holidays. Just a thought that would ease pressure on these kids (and some of the older more experienced types have chance to work) in and allow time for study / apprentiships etc, and less stress for parents too. Might not suit Clubs like Kent / IOW etc but still be room for them in a higher League?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander15 Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 8 hours ago, HGould said: May be NDL Matches have to be held on a Saturday and Sunday only - you refer to MX and Grass - that's Saturday and Sunday and occasional Bank Holidays. Just a thought that would ease pressure on these kids (and some of the older more experienced types have chance to work) in and allow time for study / apprentiships etc, and less stress for parents too. Might not suit Clubs like Kent / IOW etc but still be room for them in a higher League?? That would close clubs down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 On 8/21/2019 at 2:13 PM, bloom89 said: Hope Jenkins can come back, he’s had some terrible injuries for someone so young but he’s got massive potential only injuries have held him back I think. I seen him at Redcar in the u19 final and his last ride was brilliant. There is so much pressure on young riders these day though hopefully he can get everything sorted and come back even better. Yes i hope Jordan can regroup and comeback he has the ability the main thing for him is to be happy in whatever he is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted August 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 10 hours ago, HGould said: May be NDL Matches have to be held on a Saturday and Sunday only - you refer to MX and Grass - that's Saturday and Sunday and occasional Bank Holidays. Just a thought that would ease pressure on these kids (and some of the older more experienced types have chance to work) in and allow time for study / apprentiships etc, and less stress for parents too. Might not suit Clubs like Kent / IOW etc but still be room for them in a higher League?? In an ideal world yes. Even if it was Friday + weekends so work after a late night wasn't an issue however the number of stadiums available at the weekends are minimal. Speedway is the minority sport and lower earner compared to dog racing so is pushed mid week. The only weekend tracks left running in the NDL are stock car venues and even they have to move / accommodate the more financially rewarding events. Those that start / move from other disciplines and fly up through the ranks do alright but those who take longer to find their feet must think what have i don at an all too alarming rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 14 hours ago, adonis said: Actually a team place in the NL . commits the whole family 7 days a week . it may only be dad attending meetings , but the impact is on the whole family , mums washing suits and feeding the troops . dad trying to earn a living and clean maintain bikes . just to give the lads a little glimpse of some sort of normal life , no holidays , no weekends off because theres always something needs doing . then theres the team manager who in NL is generally a wannabe asshole who couldn't manage a pissup in a brewery , adding pressure expecting too much . + the back stabbing from other riders , It's not pretty ,, Lads who have come from Grasstrack or MX must wonder what the hell they have let themselves in for , being used to friendly atmosphere . and encouragemant from other riders . riding when you want and not when you don't , and stepping into the cesspit that is the speedway pits !! Wow ! What a jaundiced view of life in our sport. Is Adonis an ex-rider ? Or maybe a present rider ? He must be to have formed the opinions expressed. In past years I was closely associated with a promoter/manager and I certainly don't recognise the description of them by Adonis. And "cesspit" for the Pits ? If that were true, most riders would jack it in I imagine. I don't make a habit of visiting the Pits so maybe I am wrong ? Is there anyone out there who DOES visit the Pits ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adonis Posted August 23, 2019 Report Share Posted August 23, 2019 Just now, East End Fan said: Wow ! What a jaundiced view of life in our sport. Is Adonis an ex-rider ? Or maybe a present rider ? He must be to have formed the opinions expressed. In past years I was closely associated with a promoter/manager and I certainly don't recognise the description of them by Adonis. And "cesspit" for the Pits ? If that were true, most riders would jack it in I imagine. I don't make a habit of visiting the Pits so maybe I am wrong ? Is there anyone out there who DOES visit the Pits ? No He's the father of an Ex rider .. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted August 24, 2019 Report Share Posted August 24, 2019 22 hours ago, adonis said: No He's the father of an Ex rider .. Now there's a clue....ex-rider. At what level ? The view he has tends to make me think that he was a lower end rider trying to make his way and finding it difficult. Then the world would have seemed to be against him, hence the jaundiced view of Speedway life. I'd love to know the truth.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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