highside Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 So with Berwick pulling out and Workington moving up is this the end of the NDL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceBelle Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 43 minutes ago, highside said: So with Berwick pulling out and Workington moving up is this the end of the NDL Highly likely b/colts not running also ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandit59 Posted October 19, 2023 Report Share Posted October 19, 2023 Looking very likely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimmo Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 On 10/16/2023 at 6:37 AM, highside said: So with Berwick pulling out and Workington moving up is this the end of the NDL It sadly looks that way. So where do all the youngsters that Neil Vatcher is guiding through the ranks go now? Kent almost certainly out too, and Mildenhall must be extremely doubtful too. Such a shame, as I love NDL racing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 with so few teams in div 1 and 2 it shouldn't be beyond possibilities for clubs to run 2 teams, even if they're 5 man or something, so many blank weeks to fill. Invite some Aussies and young Americans too, 1 or 2 per. team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W9 Lion Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 21 minutes ago, ch958 said: with so few teams in div 1 and 2 it shouldn't be beyond possibilities for clubs to run 2 teams, even if they're 5 man or something, so many blank weeks to fill. Invite some Aussies and young Americans too, 1 or 2 per. team If something like that was to happen my prefered option would be four rider teams, with only one rider allowed to be over 23 and all have to be UK nationals. Lets focus this opportunity on developing home grown tallent. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 I remember the old SJL.. I think all had four heats each in 3 man teans, with six heats in all... That could work maybe? Six lads per night getting more racing... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk127 Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 1 minute ago, mikebv said: I remember the old SJL.. I think all had four heats each in 3 man teans, with six heats in all... That could work maybe? Six lads per night getting more racing... That would work but how many clubs would run out of time and be up against a curfew so you get riders turning up but not getting an outing. If the powers that be really cared they would not allow the NDL to fall apart but do something constructive. Alternatively they could stop being total a..holes and allow any rider not attached to a club to ride in Nora arranged meetings without the threats that they have dished out in the past. As someone has already mentioned you have so many blank weeks during the summer months at many tracks when it is allegedly a summer sport so why not get clubs to fill those blanks with some form of meaningful competition for NDL riders. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 (edited) 30 minutes ago, Hawk127 said: That would work but how many clubs would run out of time and be up against a curfew so you get riders turning up but not getting an outing. If the powers that be really cared they would not allow the NDL to fall apart but do something constructive. Alternatively they could stop being total a..holes and allow any rider not attached to a club to ride in Nora arranged meetings without the threats that they have dished out in the past. As someone has already mentioned you have so many blank weeks during the summer months at many tracks when it is allegedly a summer sport so why not get clubs to fill those blanks with some form of meaningful competition for NDL riders. I do agree, however.. "Professional Juniors" have become far too prevalent so I can see why clubs may not want to keep running the NDL in its current guise.. Any "junior league" really needs to be expenses only, with track time and development, via a clear time lined structure, being the key determinants rather than renumeration.. And given the rents for some tracks, and all the other costs, to put on events, I do see why "blank weeks" will be left blank as, for the vast majority, the crowd who attend won't pay the costs... Edited October 20, 2023 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortythirtyeight Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 1 hour ago, ch958 said: with so few teams in div 1 and 2 it shouldn't be beyond possibilities for clubs to run 2 teams, even if they're 5 man or something, so many blank weeks to fill. Invite some Aussies and young Americans too, 1 or 2 per. team That’s not going to happen for a number of reasons. The club will have double their ‘running bills’, staff, electric bills etc when the ‘2nd team’ may only attract a very small crowd so it’s a big financial loser. The NDL struggled to find enough riders of a reasonable standard this year so if there were more than 6-8 teams wanted to field a side it would be of a low standard, possibly MDL/ NJL standard, that won’t attract a crowd. If you try this with a 5 rider team, how many heats ? How many rides per rider ? What happens when the inevitable junior gets withdrawn after an injury leaving only 4 ? Aussies and Yanks aren’t going to be attracted by a ‘junior’ league. The sport struggled to complete its fixtures this year with the small number of clubs so it’s not the blank weeks that’s an issue, it’s the way the fixtures are planned , starting too early, finishing too late as October is no longer Speedway friendly. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fortythirtyeight Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 53 minutes ago, mikebv said: I remember the old SJL.. I think all had four heats each in 3 man teans, with six heats in all... That could work maybe? Six lads per night getting more racing... SJL had three rider teams with three rides each. The current format for the NJL is four rider teams with three rides apiece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric i Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 2 hours ago, Mimmo said: It sadly looks that way. So where do all the youngsters that Neil Vatcher is guiding through the ranks go now? Kent almost certainly out too, and Mildenhall must be extremely doubtful too. Such a shame, as I love NDL racing. Whats the problem with Kent and Mildenhall? I know Mildenhall struggle to produce a safe track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK62 Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 Whatever they come up with for a new version of the NDL they will have to tackle the issue of payments. Fifty percent and more of the current breed of NDL riders expect good payment for riding, some are paid the same as good Championship riders and this has to stop if there is to be any hope of clubs willing to run some form of NDL style racing alongside their current team racing. Riders have to get their heads round it being a ‘hobby’ at this level and not a full time job. Wasting their money on logo’s vans, fan merchandise etc, the priority is learning to ride first, then ‘race’, the time will come, if they are good enough, for the flash stuff. If there is to be a mini version of NDL type racing, perhaps as part of a national style second half racing, but regionalised to reduce travel costs, then riders have to get their head round it being a possible stepping stone to ‘semi professional’ racing, not a ‘good earner’ as some view it now. I do hope the powers that be come up with a workable alternative to the NDL or the sport will die. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skodaman Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 2 hours ago, KK62 said: Whatever they come up with for a new version of the NDL they will have to tackle the issue of payments. Fifty percent and more of the current breed of NDL riders expect good payment for riding, some are paid the same as good Championship riders and this has to stop if there is to be any hope of clubs willing to run some form of NDL style racing alongside their current team racing. Riders have to get their heads round it being a ‘hobby’ at this level and not a full time job. Wasting their money on logo’s vans, fan merchandise etc, the priority is learning to ride first, then ‘race’, the time will come, if they are good enough, for the flash stuff. If there is to be a mini version of NDL type racing, perhaps as part of a national style second half racing, but regionalised to reduce travel costs, then riders have to get their head round it being a possible stepping stone to ‘semi professional’ racing, not a ‘good earner’ as some view it now. I do hope the powers that be come up with a workable alternative to the NDL or the sport will die. Whatever the powers that be come up with they have to take into account school terms for the 15 year olds. That is why there are not many fixtures for he youngsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBP Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 How about returning to the old fans favourite happiness is 40- 38 yes 13 heat matches then having a second half for junior racers 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
False dawn Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 36 minutes ago, DBP said: How about returning to the old fans favourite happiness is 40- 38 yes 13 heat matches then having a second half for junior racers At least that would save the 20 minutes prior to heat 15 we get now where the teams works out who they want to nominate. The four riders we've worked out several heats earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK62 Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 1 hour ago, DBP said: How about returning to the old fans favourite happiness is 40- 38 yes 13 heat matches then having a second half for junior racers Why do we have to reduce it ? Clubs are more than capable of running 15 heats and a six heat second half….and more ! Redcar , and a few other northern clubs, do it every week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo 403 Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 A return to the old 13 heat formula would save a promoter enough money to run a team similar to the old Anglia junior league.Heat 15 alone must cost an unnecessary fortune with four of the highest paid riders having an extra race,often with no effect on the final outcome.Always more money to the star men and a greater gap between their income and the lower members of the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binman Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 (edited) Yes Berwick can start at 6.30 and fit 30 heats in at the moment Edited October 20, 2023 by Binman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillwhitewasmad Posted October 20, 2023 Report Share Posted October 20, 2023 7 hours ago, eric i said: Whats the problem with Kent and Mildenhall? I know Mildenhall struggle to produce a safe track. Have you witnessed a meeting there or just assuming this from reading social media posts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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