Noelinho 873 Posted May 19, 2022 I can’t say it has ever bothered me really. We all know riders get injured, so guests are fundamental to the sport. I don’t mind if Chris Harris turns up with the visitors at Ashfield every week really. I do think once a guest is announced, they should only be replaced if injured/sick. And I do think if a rider isn’t coming back, they should be formally replaced with a permanent replacement. Apart from that, I don’t really see too many issues. There are already rules about how often you can guest for a team, or at a track, aren’t there? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gambo95 87 Posted May 19, 2022 1 hour ago, phillipsr said: All teams are doing it though and making themselves much stronger Plymouth - Harris/Lawson for Kennett Birmingham - Howarth for Auty Newcastle - literally anyone for BWD not loads of ways around it in all honesty short of running R/R Make the riders show the SCB etc they have been for tests/checkups etc if you are doubting the injury? 1 hour ago, Bluenose said: Does this not mean the away side have to name their team 4 days before said meeting, naming guests included ?.,or have i got it wrong ? REG,s 2022 .010.4 TEAM NOTIFICATIONS Home teams must notify their opponents of the team line-up at least 5 days before the meeting to which the away team must respond within 24 hours with their team line-up. Notifications must be in writing, include MA’s and where applicable, the reason for facilities being used. At least 3 days before the meeting, the home promotion must log the team line-ups, including PJL, NJL and MSDL teams, at the nominated SCB website. The information must include each riders MA, details of any rider in a team’s current declaration who will be missing, the full reason for absence and the facility being used along with the name and MA of any guest rider. Wonder if Berwick put Leon down for r/r at Newcastle knowing he was going to get hurt the night before? Possibly Berwick had a guest in for Jye knowing he was going to get hurt 3 days prior to the Plymouth meeting (and Belle Vue has r/r for him in their declared lineup for Monday past). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fina 78 Posted May 19, 2022 32 minutes ago, arnieg said: Redcar once named a team consisting of 6 guests and r/r for a fixture at Sheffield in 2017. Luckily for the sport's credibility it was rained off. When restaged Redcar only tracked 5 guests (+ r/r and Jonas B Anderson) That answers my question then, assuming rules have not changed. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmuncie 196 Posted May 19, 2022 A few years ago now there was a rule where averages were split into home and away for guests so when at home you got up to their home average and sane for away. Stopped the horses for courses nonsense we get now where teams seemingly can strengthen time and again 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaizer 2,798 Posted May 19, 2022 I think the rule about declaring sides was to do with riding order rather than specifics of guests etc. Teams were changing order at last minute home sides couldn't retaliate you were getting no. 2s in averages riding at no.2 against home sides weakest member of top 5. I think where sport not shone in best light this week is that if for example Scott Nichols was stuck in traffic then it would've been reserves until showed up, but because it was a guest can bring Harris in to replace him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,226 Posted May 19, 2022 I think a good start would be no guests for injured or missing reserves.Clubs should have Promote a No8 or junior in the long run surely it would help the development of younger riders. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triple.H. 1,972 Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) Last night from what I've read and heard in the local media Nick Morris contacted someone, I don't know who at approx 5pm to say he was stuck on the M5 due to an accident and unlikely to get there. Oxford then contacted Bomber who's meeting at Poole had been called off early morning due to the poor weather forecast, a Len Silver special but proved correct. I don't have a clue where in the Midlands Bomber lives but when contacted he could get to Perry Barr and was happy to accept the booking. TBH any Birmingham fan who was at Oxford on Tuesday must have seen Nick Morris busting a gut on a heavy track that he's not ridden before to score points and earn money. So as he's ridden Birmingham plenty of times do any of you think it made much difference ? Edited May 19, 2022 by Triple.H. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
enotian 562 Posted May 19, 2022 3 hours ago, Fromafar said: I think a good start would be no guests for injured or missing reserves.Clubs should have Promote a No8 or junior in the long run surely it would help the development of younger riders. I'm almost certain that back in the old National league days, when I was a lad, there weren't any guests. R/R for heatleaders only and if both teams were operating R/R the #8's were promoted into the 1 to 7 at reserve with the top reserve promoted to the 1 to 5. Imagine the sales of pens at the track shop!! I'm sure a doctors note had to be provided as well. And all this before air fences and all the advancements in safety equipment. Of course the riders were probably riding on average twice a week so the probability of getting injured was less. Trouble is that guest riders are good news for promoters and riders alike so I guess they're here to stay despite the manipulation and lack of credibility they bring. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,163 Posted May 20, 2022 Obviously it goes without saying that with the "Guest Rule" you cant take the sport seriously as it is simply ludicrous in a team sport to be able to bring in "adhoc ringers" isnt it? Even kids League football now uses photo id to prevent this happening.. However.... I can think of one thing might help its credibility... And that's a name change... Just as the "Bosman Rule" changed the landscape of Football, and the phrase "Doing a Bosman" became common place... What about changing the "Guest Rule" to the "Bomber Rule"? Eg. Last night you could have advertised MPT as "Doing a "Bomber' for the Belle Vue Aces", rather than "Guesting"... Could fill those terraces instantly..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss 10,687 Posted May 20, 2022 I really dislike guests but just like penalty shoot outs there isn't a workable alternative unfortunately. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaizer 2,798 Posted May 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: I really dislike guests but just like penalty shoot outs there isn't a workable alternative unfortunately. Don't mention penalties, still traumatised from Wednesday night Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted May 20, 2022 5 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: I really dislike guests but just like penalty shoot outs there isn't a workable alternative unfortunately. Could just bin it all off and go for a walk or something? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikebv 10,163 Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) 56 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: I really dislike guests but just like penalty shoot outs there isn't a workable alternative unfortunately. Yet other countries dont use them and run their leagues fine... Which shows that there very much is an alternative... For me, a fit for purpose RR system would replace guests at a thrice.. Last night for example Kurtz and Wright could have taken all Zagars rides up to a maximum of seven each, (if Lemon had wanted them to)... And promote Bailey into reserve and Brennan into number 2.. Years ago when the No1's ran 10/11 point plus averages and sometimes scored 40 - 50% of a teams points under the 13 heat formula, you can kind of see that they needed replacing.. Now the disparity in level between all the Heat Leaders and Second strings is much closer, as is the difference between Second Strings and Reserves.. So use that close level to put in an affective RR system... Bottom line is injuries happen in all sports and they find a way of not doing what UK Speedway does.. The truth is, is that it is the lazy, too easy way to run it, rather than find a way of running the sport "properly", and of course it provides riders with earning potential seven days a week... Edited May 20, 2022 by mikebv 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigcatdiary 3,156 Posted May 20, 2022 2 minutes ago, mikebv said: Yet other countries dont use them and run their leagues fine... Which shows that there very much is an alternative... For me, a fit for purpose RR system would replace guests at a thrice.. Last night for example Kurtz and Wright could have taken all Zagars rides up to a maximum of seven each, (if Lemon had wanted then to)... And promote Bailey into reserve and Brennan into number 2.. Years ago when the No1's ran 10/11 point plus averages and sometimes scored 40 - 50% of a teams points under the 13 heat formula, you can kind of see that they needed replacing.. Now the disparity in level between all the Heat Leaders and Second strings is much closer, as is the difference between Second Strings and Reserves.. So use that close level to put in an affective RR system... Bottom line is injuries happen in all sports and they find a way of not doing what UK Speedway does.. The truth is, is that it is the lazy, too easy way to run it, rather than find a way of running the sport "properly", and of course it provides riders with earning potential seven days a week... You make a lot of good points, their could be a case for a guest for the missing No 1 rider but the guest for everything else has got completely out of hand again. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,200 Posted May 20, 2022 When I was a lad White City won a league title with R/R all season for Dag Lovaas. They rarely used Guests from memory. Is it fairer to say that IF a Heat Leader gets a season long injury or withdraws his services that a short term Guest Facility is allowed (28 days) but after that the rule is to sign a permanent replacement of to be allowd R/R for the season. R/R at a time of Heat Leader shortgaes may be the fairer option and give opportunity to a declared no 8 who could become a regular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites