2023 National League Riders

[Tsunami]

On 12/20/2022 at 4:36 PM, Diamonds85 said:

I'm lost... How much brighter do you want British speedway to be?? Let's take a look at how many let's say Bewley and under age riders there are kicking about

1		Dan Bewley	20/05/1999
2		Jacob Clouting	28/08/1999
3		Matt Marson	15/03/2000
4		Josh Warren	12/04/2000
5		Mason Watson	07/08/2000
6		Jack Parkinson Blackburn	02/09/2000
7		Sam Bebee	18/10/2000
8		Henry Atkins	02/01/2001
9		Tom Brennan	02/07/2001
10		Jordan Jenkins	02/08/2001
11		Kyle Bickley	27/02/2002
12		Anders Rowe	09/05/2002
13		Kyran Lyden	18/05/2002
14		Dan Gilkes	21/05/2002
15		Drew Kemp	11/08/2002
16		Connor Bailey	13/08/2002
17		Jason Edwards	14/09/2002
18		Leon Flint	22/02/2003
19		Kai Ward	29/04/2003
20		Gregor Millar	07/12/2003
21		Elliot Kelly	22/01/2004
22		Jordan Palin	19/02/2004
23		Nathan Ablitt	03/03/2004
24		Jake Mulford	04/03/2004
25		Harry McGurk	04/03/2004
26		Dan Thompson	22/04/2004
27		Joe Thompson	22/04/2004
28		Eli Meadows	23/04/2004
29		Mickie Simpson	21/05/2004
30		Sam Hagon	10/10/2004
31		Archie Freeman	29/11/2004
32		Sam McGurk	01/01/2006
33		Freddy Hodder	18/04/2006
34		Ben Trigger	27/05/2006
35		Vinnie Foord	13/07/2006
36		Ace Pijper	06/09/2006
37		Jody Scott	14/02/2007
38		Max Perry	29/04/2007
39		Luke Harrison	15/06/2007
40		Max James	05/07/2007
41		Ashton Boughen	21/08/2007

Every single one of these riders should be given the opportunity to ride in the BRITISH development league, regardless of average, attitude, height, hair length, toe count whatever... They're young British riders and they deserve every single opportunity they get to race and show their worth.

41 riders CURRENTLY riding in the British leagues who are younger than Dan Bewley (I may have missed some, and yes you could argue some (JPB) aren't riding anymore, but he seems to come and go and you could say some riders don't deserve to be on this list, but that's how so many young lads have been frozen out in the past, they've been discounted and not given the opportunities they deserve).

39 (Minue Bewley and JPB)/7 = nearly 6 full teams of ONLY under Bewley age... Not to mention all the other NL riders who are aged above who deserve a spot in the NL just as much... It's not the lack of riders that is the problem IMO, it's the rules of the league. The NL needs to be strengthened, it's too far away from the CL level, numerous young riders throughout the years haven't been able to make such a big leap and have been frozen out and lost to the sport... Open your eyes!!

There's 5 riders born in 2007, 5 riders born in 2006, 11 riders born in 2004... All of these riders are still teenagers!! I would say British speedway hasn't looked this bright in decades?? Obviously there's way more Poles and quite possibly more Danes about, but I refuse to believe there's that many young Swedes or Aussies... I do look into that sort of thing because that's the kind of thing that (sadly) fascinates me... Who will be the big nation of the future...?

That's not even including some of the younger riders who are only a year or two out.

William Cairns

Billy Budd

Ashton Vale

Jody Scott

Stene Pijper

I'm sure there's more...

Who knows which 4-8 year olds are going about their day to day lives without realizing that they're the next big British speedway star... Time will tell.

As you can probably tell I'm at work and there's not a lot going on...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Edinburgh's main issue is funds and geography...?

Could add Katie Gordon who I think expressed a desire to move onto NDL.

[Fromafar]

On 12/20/2022 at 5:51 PM, Diamonds85 said:

Which riders would you say are in the run in for a Devils spot then? I imagine the Millars at reserve, Josh Embleton would jump at the chance... It's the top end yous are struggling with I guess??

I personally can't wait to come to Edinburgh next season, it's a track that's completely evaded me somehow, despite being to the city numerous times, but I want to make sure I get up there next season, because I thought at one point this winter I was never going to get the chance... Looking forward 

Just remember the track is 25-30 miles from Edinburgh when you start looking for it on your visit to the City.!!

[szkocjasid]

On 12/20/2022 at 5:52 PM, phillwhitewasmad said:

Fantastic post I personally believe riders should be graded at the start of the year for team allocation and should be regraded at the halfway stage of the season. With riders only being able to go up or down 1 grade regardless of the points they are averaging.
exactly as you say there should never be a kyran v anders race if one is a heat leader and the other a reserve should be heat leaders v heat leaders and heat leaders v second strings. The others should then be second strings v second strings , reserve's v reserves and reserves v second strings. Riders should race the grade above or below only . Grading should be A heat leaders ,B second strings , C reserves , D reserves in first season or not achieved a 3 point real time average during previous season. D graded riders should stay at that grade all year 

The elite league fast track format would be useful, heat leaders never meet reserves in that format!

[phillipsr]

Anyone know if Sam Hago Is riding this year! Also what happened to Josh Bailey? 

[Diamonds85]

17 hours ago, phillipsr said:

Anyone know if Sam Hago Is riding this year! Also what happened to Josh Bailey? 

Another 2 young, British riders lost to the sport because there isn't enough team places for them... Meanwhile teams who want to enter the NL get turned down... 

[PotteringAround]

17 minutes ago, Diamonds85 said:

Another 2 young, British riders lost to the sport because there isn't enough team places for them... Meanwhile teams who want to enter the NL get turned down... 

Not sure what you're on about there.

Josh Bailey took a break after a bad crash in 2019.  It wasn't a lack of team places.  Scunthorpe didn't sack him or anything.  Sam Hagon rode for Oxford last year.  Not sure who he's riding for this year, but if it's Mildenhall, they only confirmed their participation this week so give them a chance.    Finally, no teams wanting to enter the NDL have been turned down.   A new team has joined (Workington) and 2 teams who couldn't guarantee to continue at the AGM were given a further month+ to get sorted (which Mildenhall now have).   So basically you seem to have everything wrong?

[phillwhitewasmad]

2 hours ago, Diamonds85 said:

Another 2 young, British riders lost to the sport because there isn't enough team places for them... Meanwhile teams who want to enter the NL get turned down... 

Name names then and I do believe that it was said that any team can still apply up to the cut off date which was set for Mildenhall and Edinburgh 

[Mr Blobby]

2 hours ago, Diamonds85 said:

Another 2 young, British riders lost to the sport because there isn't enough team places for them... Meanwhile teams who want to enter the NL get turned down... 

Not enough riders of a good enough standard you mean. Plenty brits riding 2nd halfs and Junior league just not enough to make a competitive side. 
 

No teams have been turned down as far as I’m aware every team that has applied to run a NDL side has been accepted.

[Diamonds85]

On 12/20/2022 at 3:21 PM, Fortythirtyeight said:

Then you need to open your eyes.

The British youth rounds are the lowest in numbers there have been for years as very few are taking up the sport. Yes, there’s few good ones coming through , mostly now moving into 250’s , but not many, and where are there replacements? You need to look at the ages of those that are around , not many of team racing age. One club who enquired about running in NDL was informed they probably wouldn’t be considered as there wasn’t enough riders of the right quality to fill another team. Yes, the rules are an issue but more so the lack of proper schools where kids can get on a bike and try the sport.

Just going by this post earlier in this thread... But then again I shouldn't believe everything I read on here 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Diamonds85

[Diamonds85]

2 hours ago, PotteringAround said:

Not sure what you're on about there.

Josh Bailey took a break after a bad crash in 2019.  It wasn't a lack of team places.  Scunthorpe didn't sack him or anything.  Sam Hagon rode for Oxford last year.  Not sure who he's riding for this year, but if it's Mildenhall, they only confirmed their participation this week so give them a chance.    Finally, no teams wanting to enter the NDL have been turned down.   A new team has joined (Workington) and 2 teams who couldn't guarantee to continue at the AGM were given a further month+ to get sorted (which Mildenhall now have).   So basically you seem to have everything wrong?

Josh and Sam aside, there have been many, many riders who have been desperate for a team over the past decade or so who have missed out and in turn jacked it in... It has been a constant issue in the NDL, young British riders not being given the chance

I do hope that Sam signs for Mildenhall, I am not having a go at Mildenhall for not announcing him yet at all

Edited January 4, 2023 by Diamonds85

[PotteringAround]

1 minute ago, Diamonds85 said:

Josh and Sam aside, there have been many, many riders who have been desperate for a team over the past decade or so who have missed out and in turn jacked it in... It has been a constant issue in the NDL, young British riders not being given the chance

I do hope that Sam signs for Mildenhall, I am not having a go at Mildenhall for not announcing him yet at all

Again, I'd say you are completely wrong.    Can't think of any upcoming rider who has jacked it in due to lack of an NDL place.   I'd like to know who you think these "many, many riders" are. 

I can't think of any promising young British riders not being given an NDL chance, let alone it being a "constant issue".  Perhaps you can supply a list of all these upcoming riders being constantly frozen out of NDL?

There have however been plenty of riders packing it in due to not being able to move up into a 2nd division.  A constant problem with the structure of the top divisions.

I'm not saying Hagon will sign for Mildenhall, just that he hasn't retired and has obviously signed somewhere.  Could be Armadale, Belle Vue, Berwick or Mildenhall.  I just assumed Mildenhall was closest to home for him.   There aren't enough quality NDL riders around to staff all teams, so Hagon will be somewhere.

 

[Mr Blobby]

4 minutes ago, PotteringAround said:

Again, I'd say you are completely wrong.    Can't think of any upcoming rider who has jacked it in due to lack of an NDL place.   I'd like to know who you think these "many, many riders" are. 

I can't think of any promising young British riders not being given an NDL chance, let alone it being a "constant issue".  Perhaps you can supply a list of all these upcoming riders being constantly frozen out of NDL?

There have however been plenty of riders packing it in due to not being able to move up into a 2nd division.  A constant problem with the structure of the top divisions.

I'm not saying Hagon will sign for Mildenhall, just that he hasn't retired and has obviously signed somewhere.  Could be Armadale, Belle Vue, Berwick or Mildenhall.  I just assumed Mildenhall was closest to home for him.   There aren't enough quality NDL riders around to staff all teams, so Hagon will be somewhere.

 

Last point is bang on. Plenty riders just not enough of standard to create competitive teams.

[phillwhitewasmad]

4 minutes ago, Mr Blobby said:

Last point is bang on. Plenty riders just not enough of standard to create competitive teams.

So let's use commonwealth riders to make up the numbers once all British riders of the required level have a team place .

[Mr Blobby]

4 minutes ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

So let's use commonwealth riders to make up the numbers once all British riders of the required level have a team place .

I’d rather see competitive racing which you get very good ones at NDL level than a team filled with 3 pointers about half a lap behind some of the top guys. 

[phillwhitewasmad]

47 minutes ago, Mr Blobby said:

I’d rather see competitive racing which you get very good ones at NDL level than a team filled with 3 pointers about half a lap behind some of the top guys. 

Me to that's why I said once all British riders of the required level have a team place

[Mr Blobby]

29 minutes ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

Me to that's why I said once all British riders of the required level have a team place

I’m with you now misread it, my bad haha. Just unfortunate there isn’t enough at the moment hopefully that’ll change sooner rather than later.

[Sings4Speedway]

Following on from this theme of close racing isnt the solution to cap the top and bottom averages. Whatever the league  a 10 point rider and a 3 point rider in the same race is likely to cause strung out racing. A cap on top averages might force the racing to be closer together. Then those who rise to the top step up to CL and sink or swim but again opportunities ahould be available.