Garry1603

It's been lightly raining in South Manchester since about 4-00 today. Never thought I'd want a rain off (and the forecasts don't expect the rain to continue to be honest), but wouldn't it be better all around if the Aces could put out a full team in another week and let's see who wins with full(ish) teams?

Sadly I agree unless Brennan and Blodorn can really step up a notch.

I can't see r/r bringing in too many points - maybe four from Zagar and Brennan (a first and third or two seconds) and one point from Blodorn & the guest. It will certainly be less than Charles Wright would have scored I'd have thought.

Charles Wright wasn't at the press conference after the meeting (unlike the rest of the team) - was he taken to hospital or just sent home to rest? Lemon said both Wright and Etheridge were feeling pretty beaten up and bruised - but is that enough to keep them out is the questipn.

The fascinating thing about this match is that there are riders on both teams who can step up to the plate and win the title for their team, Wright, Brennan and Blodorn for the Aces and Howarth, Ellis and Mountain for Sheffield. It could be a classic final and should bring some great racing in both legs.

I'd say anything less than a 10 point lead to the Aces makes Sheffield favourite, 12-14 it's even and a 16+ lead would put Belle Vue in the driving seat. The no tacticals rule could mean the middle order riders decide the silverware.

Potentially it could be a very close final between equally good teams and a great advertisement for the sport. I hope that both sets of clubs and the BSPA try to promote it properly - not holding my breath though.

Whatever anyone thinks about the rights and wrongs of the Lambert signing, he was sensational tonight and for however long he is involved again in British speedway he'll be a great asset to the sport. One thing is for certain, he didn't just turn up for a paycheck tonight.

Great idea, it would bring the sport right up to date, surely attract a younger audience and would fit in with the 'green agenda'. I would have thought that the bikes would be more evenly matched as well, so the racing could improve. Would love it to be trialled after matches next season when possible and slowly integrated into the mainstream sport if it catches on (maybe open meetings to start with)

Lashed it down 6 miles south of the stadium at about 2-15, but it's stopped now.

What's really spooky is that I said to my friend before the afternoon match that it would be 47-43 (!)

Can't see the Aces getting anything tonight - hope I'm wrong but I think t will be around 50-40

It could have been good television to have the three riders racing at Cardiff in the afternoon for the British Title - maybe over three heats with each having different starting positions for fairness. The winner (if not Bewley) would go into the GP and the other would go home. At least they can say that they had a chance.

No one was a winner tonight - Bewley, Brennan and Harris will obviously be disappointed, but the real losers again were the poor spectators who had to wait for the inevitable result in the rain, and most of all the sport itself (again). How can they not have hard and fast rules in place for a meeting called off after 12 heats, it's not like it's the first time it's ever happened. What would a casual tv viewer have thought of that I wonder?

Surely it should be rerun, but if not the fastest heat winning time of the three eight pointers should prevail? Not great, but it's the only fair(ish) result.

Raining again about six miles south of the stadium. Weird weather!

Really enjoyed that. Belle Vue were certainly 'on it' today and were fired up from the off. The return of Zagar has given the club and crowd a real lift and he didn't disappoint - a real showman. For the Panthers, there were two or three that are starting to ride like their age I'm afraid. Comes to us all. Maybe a season too far for Harris, Nicholls and Andersen?

Good first GP of the season with more passing than might have been expected, the coverage was very good to be honest. Kelvin stepped up to the plate (Nige wold have been proud) and the general presentation was fine. I liked the heart rate graphic, even if wasn't maybe 100% accurate (maybe!) We're in the Zmarzlik era though and it will be hard to promote as he's a few percent above everyone else at the moment (Laguta and Sayfutdinov's absence doesn't help obviously), but that shouldn't detract from the event'. To me he's like a Schumacher of the early 2000's - great equipment obviously, but also a little bit better than anyone else. Let's respect that even if it detracts from the promotion of the sport to the wider public,

Looking forward to this, my first meeting of the year. All the Panthers seem to go well at the NSS, but I still think that the Aces top 4 (plus Brennan) will be enough. 48-42

Such, such sad news. I loved his enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport and he could make a boring race interesting. Some commentators are synonymous with their sports, Murray Walker, Sid Waddell etc - we've sadly lost ours. RIP Nige and thanks for the memories, you will never be forgotten.

I think that there's no doubt that Simmo was the better rider (certainly in individual meetings) but Betts was the better team man. I think given the choice, if I were a promoter, I'd rather have had the latter.

For those in the North West, Granada Reports have a slot in their program tonight at 6-00 about Peter Craven and apparently to boost the idea of a statue of the Wizard of Balance to be erected in Liverpool.

Yes, you're right. In the past a Best Pairs event )which this effectively was) would be won by a 'Star' rider getting 16/17/18 points with a back up getting around 10 points - that would be enough for victory, but this system of 'avoid getting a last' encourages a more consistent second rider to win - and we did it very well. Well done Team GB

Yes, and we did it well.

The format really rewards the team that has a very good / consistent number two rider, which Team GB certainly had in Woffinden and Bewley.. There's no denial that Zmarzlik was head and shoulders above the opposition, but Magic, was a bit too inconsistent. It's all about not being last in a 4-3-2-0 format especially in the latter stages, so it's a well deserved win in my opinion. (albeit a bit lucky in the final when Janowski came to grief).