Col

Zmarzlik £134 more. Madsen £133 less. Lambert £133 more.

The track improved after the post heat 4 grade, when allot of the dirt was scraped off. But I have said before the best was to prepare a track for racing is to allow each rider to do a couple laps then grade it a small amount between each heat. They can get two tractor circuits in the 2 minutes between heats if required. Cook is not as young as people think, obviously a late starter.

Neither have been up to much since I've been a regular at the NSS. Their British titles were won when there was one line 5 cm's from the fence.

Well Ipswich were fairly toothless, only 1 heat win prior to heat 14. Disappointing all round except for Dan Thompson who looks a far more accomplished rider than he did when I saw him last year. Racing wasn't great, especially to begin with. Lidsey v Sayfutidnov behind Cook being the highlight. Is that the first time Sayfutidnov hasn't won a heat in Witches colours? No-one will know how the EF affected him really, but Mountain was clear and Bewley had just sneaked past him.

Why no Doyle? For anyone traveling North, fear not once you get past Keele services the weather is far, far drier.

Forecast is not getting any better, now rain at 5 p.m. but I've got a ticket now

For a complete round-up from Poland for riders in this meeting, Tarnow v Pila was rained off so Ellis didn't ride. Rew scored 4 from 4 during Leszno's thumping in Torun. Finished ahead of Smektała & Przedpełski in one ride. Zengota inflicted Sayfutdinov's only dropped point.

Wroclaw's visit to Czestochowa was a victim of snow so Bewley should be well rested. Rybnik fixture also called off so Kurtz & Blodorn had weekend off. Tine for Aces strength in depth to get the through a meeting as their top 3 may struggle to match the strong Witches spearhead. Blodorn, Cook, Bailey & Mountain must prove they are better than their Suffolk counterparts.

Well when Pawlicki, Lampart & Milik attain actual averages Laguta can replace Worrall and Vaculik cab replace Lampart. Premiership be warned!

Lidsey has just passed Pr Pawlicki to win heat 13 with Doyle in third struggling to keep PI Pawlicki behind him.

Lidsey isn't fairing much beter.

Just hope the weather allows me to finally see some racing this year. Due to weather forecast I didn't bother going to NSS for the visit of Sheffield on BHM or Aces visit to Leicester last Thursday. Even though the meeting went ahead it's never as exciting when the track is damp and there is drizzle in the air. Was going to visit NSS last Monday also.

Bottom spot is between the two teams currently racing and Leszno is my prediction. Torun are looking to me like the only team that may stop this years final being a repeat of last year.

I don't think Brummies have a "wonder signing" lined up, there isn't a wonder signing out there, Zagar is probably as good as it gets. But if Lampart is given enough time to attain an actual average rather than remaining on his assessed average he could be replaced by Zagar now, and should another shuffle be made later in the season due to injuries for example there are more options to re-jig a team with Lampart on at attained average (of let's say 3.75) rather than his assessed average (is that 5.00). I don't know if there is a minimum average for Poles before any pipes up with that.

Forecast has gone rather grim!