Sings4Speedway Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 I think the bank holiday fixtures will probably sustain the season and should bring bumper crowds as usual but a fixture list with one home match a month for the Royals will struggle to gain any momentum before packing 3 fixtures into 4 weeks in September. If things have gone well for either side the numbers could be ok but if there is little to play for on the final matches it could be futurama level crowds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bob at herne bay Posted March 18, 2021 Report Share Posted March 18, 2021 Lets remember Kent Royals are EFFECTIVELY a stand alone NL club, as they cannot run the majority of their fixtures as double headers tacked onto their CL meetings as is being done at other clubs. With the vast reduction in standard of riders in 2021, the entertainment value has to be there ...even in the plush surroundings of Central Park, folks will rapidly get disillusioned if 15 heats cannot be completed before the curfew. Will be interesting to see come the end of 2021 just how many NL clubs continue into 2022 ..........to continue the BSPL experiment of the 3 point novice rider scheme. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 1 hour ago, old bob at herne bay said: Lets remember Kent Royals are EFFECTIVELY a stand alone NL club, as they cannot run the majority of their fixtures as double headers tacked onto their CL meetings as is being done at other clubs. With the vast reduction in standard of riders in 2021, the entertainment value has to be there ...even in the plush surroundings of Central Park, folks will rapidly get disillusioned if 15 heats cannot be completed before the curfew. Will be interesting to see come the end of 2021 just how many NL clubs continue into 2022 ..........to continue the BSPL experiment of the 3 point novice rider scheme. I think there is an exagerration of a drop in standard. Our Royals team has 3 very good heat leaders in Ryan Kinsley ( don't know too much about him except that he has been a heat leader at MIldenhall), Danny Gilkes and Rob Ledwith plus an improving Jacob Clouting and the very exciting Jake Mulford. I think that's as good a top 5 as we have ever had IMO. The two newcomers are a question mark, but if one of them turns up trumps, we are in for a good season. I also keep reading of riders joining our near neighbours at Eastie and none them are nobodies. Isn't Jake Knight their No 1 ?? the only time I saw him at Central Park he was sensational. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 8 hours ago, East End Fan said: I think there is an exagerration of a drop in standard. Our Royals team has 3 very good heat leaders in Ryan Kinsley ( don't know too much about him except that he has been a heat leader at MIldenhall), Danny Gilkes and Rob Ledwith plus an improving Jacob Clouting and the very exciting Jake Mulford. I think that's as good a top 5 as we have ever had IMO. The two newcomers are a question mark, but if one of them turns up trumps, we are in for a good season. I also keep reading of riders joining our near neighbours at Eastie and none them are nobodies. Isn't Jake Knight their No 1 ?? the only time I saw him at Central Park he was sensational. Sadly the difference in standard has occurred in two ways. One is that the gulf between heat leaders and the rest is getting very wide and it will take special riders like Gilkes to bridge that gap but for the most part there will be a stark difference in ability on track at the same time. Two is that building a decent team to the limit can be done if known about but only by a couple of teams. Kent had a much better team before the rule change than after it and the points difference is only 0.26. Easbourne have been able to pick up the pieces of the IOW and Plymouth sides along with a local number 1 and build a side thats easier to pay to watch but it will still be a hard sell if the opposition isn't putting up much of a fight. Oh and no major disrespect to the lads but this top 5 isn't a patch on the class of 2016. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 6 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said: Sadly the difference in standard has occurred in two ways. One is that the gulf between heat leaders and the rest is getting very wide and it will take special riders like Gilkes to bridge that gap but for the most part there will be a stark difference in ability on track at the same time. Two is that building a decent team to the limit can be done if known about but only by a couple of teams. Kent had a much better team before the rule change than after it and the points difference is only 0.26. Easbourne have been able to pick up the pieces of the IOW and Plymouth sides along with a local number 1 and build a side thats easier to pay to watch but it will still be a hard sell if the opposition isn't putting up much of a fight. Oh and no major disrespect to the lads but this top 5 isn't a patch on the class of 2016. But surely, one of the enjoyments of the National League is watching the new young riders progress and improve. This year my eyes will be on Mulford and Clouting. Mulford in particular showed signs of exceptional ability on occasions and I believe is outstanding on Grass Track ( not the same, I know, but relevant). Clouting has taken a bit longer to progress but has quite a classic style which I love. The "class of 2016" were no better when their careers began. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 19, 2021 Report Share Posted March 19, 2021 26 minutes ago, East End Fan said: But surely, one of the enjoyments of the National League is watching the new young riders progress and improve. This year my eyes will be on Mulford and Clouting. Mulford in particular showed signs of exceptional ability on occasions and I believe is outstanding on Grass Track ( not the same, I know, but relevant). Clouting has taken a bit longer to progress but has quite a classic style which I love. The "class of 2016" were no better when their careers began. I quite agree the issue being the level of improvement required to be quantified a successful. Should the mentioned Mulford or Clouting beat all the other reserves and second strings consistently this season then yes i would say that is a solid and achievable improvement. However there is still likely to be a big jump from that level to competing with the heat leaders who are also riding in the CL. Clouting has a great style but now needs some additional speed to go with it and Mulford although talented still has a way to go to join the ranks of successful grasstrack crossovers and is only just cutting his teeth in the 500cc class of that discipline. Time will tell for both riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted March 23, 2021 Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 On 3/19/2021 at 12:10 AM, East End Fan said: I think there is an exagerration of a drop in standard. Our Royals team has 3 very good heat leaders in Ryan Kinsley ( don't know too much about him except that he has been a heat leader at MIldenhall), Danny Gilkes and Rob Ledwith plus an improving Jacob Clouting and the very exciting Jake Mulford. I think that's as good a top 5 as we have ever had IMO. The two newcomers are a question mark, but if one of them turns up trumps, we are in for a good season. Sorry but have to disagree, 2 x 3.1 riders & a 3rd heat leader below 6 has to be the weakest top 5 Kent have ever put out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 23, 2021 Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 Kent probably have the best 1&5 combination in the league but that is largely where the excitement ends. I think the disjointed fixture list seeing just 5 matches until the end of July and then 8 in the space of a month between late August and late September will be telling. If the riders can get sharp elsewhere the team could be ok but if the riders are race rusty this team could take a few hammerings and hurt the reputation of both rider and club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted March 23, 2021 Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 4 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said: Kent probably have the best 1&5 combination in the league but that is largely where the excitement ends. I think the disjointed fixture list seeing just 5 matches until the end of July and then 8 in the space of a month between late August and late September will be telling. If the riders can get sharp elsewhere the team could be ok but if the riders are race rusty this team could take a few hammerings and hurt the reputation of both rider and club. In a very shortened season because of Covid, it is no surprise to see National League fixtures at Kent less than perfect. Doubt if it will affect performances. Just do not see this 7 getting "hammered". Typical of Sings to be so negative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bob at herne bay Posted March 23, 2021 Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 On 3/17/2021 at 10:16 PM, cityrebel said: Admission prices are due on website tomorrow. Adult Admission £18 for Championship and £15 for NDL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 10 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said: Adult Admission £18 for Championship and £15 for NDL As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 17 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said: As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall Yes. Spend the money on petrol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzac Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said: As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall Don't think you're being negative, it always seems to be the norm at Kent with high prices. Would think it guarantees a virtually non existent crowd for NL meetings. Edited March 24, 2021 by gazzac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sings4Speedway Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 28 minutes ago, East End Fan said: Yes. Spend the money on petrol The financials aren't the issue its the feeling of value for money. Throw in making a bit of a day out rather than a midweek rush and the temptation to venture further afield grows stronger. I still may pop by for some CL meetings if the earlier reports of meetings are good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Sings4Speedway said: As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall Agree,£15 is a joke, that’s speedway promotion though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
szkocjasid Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 2 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said: As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall Totally agree, for such a weak league needs to be no more than £10! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Islander15 Posted March 24, 2021 Report Share Posted March 24, 2021 9 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said: As im already tarred as too negative it won't matter. £15 for this level of NDL is a pi$$ take and i will be taking my money to Eastbourne / Mildenhall £15 is far too expensive for a 3rd tier, let alone whatever the BSPL want this league branded as now! Also with the number of double headers now it effectively drives the price down further and makes Kent look even more expensive. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 16 hours ago, Islander15 said: £15 is far too expensive for a 3rd tier, let alone whatever the BSPL want this league branded as now! Also with the number of double headers now it effectively drives the price down further and makes Kent look even more expensive. Kent are not allowed to do double headers and also have other issues with Planning Permission and everyone knows that it restricts the numbers attending. When push comes to shove, the riders have to be paid and even raw novices have to have top class bikes these days. Personally, I am very glad that it is planned to have Speedway every week once Maytime come in. A lot of clubs do not do that. But the Covid bug has not yet disappeared, so lots can change between now and then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bob at herne bay Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 East End Fan , I have some sympathy with my local club ..... but I do think they have failed to sharpen their pencils in respect of trimming costs of the 2021 National League operation. Additionally, there are NO senior concessions on the prices. No doubt thay pay a significant rent for the well appointed stadium at Sittingbourne, but they surely have a reduced riders wage bill than that of 2019, given the standard of riders under the new 35 point limit. I was always told that riders wages were the major cost of operating a speedway club. They have pitched their CL offering at a competitive price with some attractive team members in a side who must command high wages. I am left to assume they are paying the NL team members much more than other clubs.They need to deliver attractive entertainment to provide value for money if they are to survive beyond 2021 IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazzac Posted March 25, 2021 Report Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) To me it's simple mathematics and he's gambling on numbers. If he thinks it'll be say 200 die hard fans at £15 or 300 at £10 it's the same income. But to me I can't see those figures working as people will save their money for the championship meetings ie only £3 more to see Nichols etc. £10, especially with big concessions for children must bring in a higher proportion of the usual fans, plus a few extras may give it a go due to a relatively inexpensive evening out. Edited March 25, 2021 by gazzac 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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