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Very much depends on how the final league positions turn out, but looks likely to be Witches & aces finishing first and fourth with Lions & Tigers finishing 2nd & 3rd although in which order is harder to call. Given the above, for the semi final, I'll go with Witches beating Aces simply because the aces have proven to be venerable on the road with the worst away record of the top four teams whilst the Witches have clearly the best away record thus far. The second semi final is more difficult to call, but I am going for a Tigers win on the basis that the two late changes to the tigers line up appear to have worked in making the team stronger whilst the Lions (unbeaten by Tigers this year) have the big question of Luke Becker's availability or RR/guest affecting their choice of line up...this tie much closer to call. So a Tigers v Witches final, with Ipswich coming out on top.

That'll be why they've had to close the gates a couple of times previously when Poole have finals to contest!!

This should be a cracking meeting between two evenly matched teams. Redcar are a tough nut to crack anywhere, especially at home so the Gladiators will need Klindt and Nicholls to be at their very best. If they keep it to a manageable level, anything up to 10pts I would say - it sets it up for a heck of a return fixture tomorrow. I've got Redcar just edging it tonight but should be a great meeting, hopefully it'll be a good crowd supporting this fixture

The return leg of the clash on Friday against the Redcar Bears. Tobias Thomsen guests for Klindt, RR for Lasse - no idea about guests for Spencer if he’s missing or for Redcar. There’s been some huge crowds at Plymouth in recent fixtures and more importantly some outstanding racing. Expecting another HUGE crowd this week and the Gladiators promotion have announced a new ticket offer for season ticket holders of Plymouth Argyle, Torquay United and Exeter City - £5 off entry for all ST holders from those clubs. Fingers crossed for another memorable night, huge crowd and brilliant atmosphere.

Have you been to the Collsium recently ? Before you go sprouting your 💩. Check out your facts. May I ask on what grounds you base your 🐄💩 on ?

How is it Plymouths fault ? They signed him first?

If he is fit and riding in Poland - there will be no facility at all.

No they don't thanks very much

Think this will be a lot closer than the cup match earlier in the season. Monarchs licking their wounds from a mauling at Ashfield on Wednesday. Teams from Edinburgh website: Friday 15th August: Edinburgh Monarchs v Workington Comets (Championship), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Victor Palovaara, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Justin Sedgmen, Michael Palm Toft, Kye Thomson, Jonatan Grahn, Jordy Loftus. GT TYRES COMETS: Troy Batchelor (Capt.), Fraser Bowes, Antti Vuolas, Jye Etheridge, Tate Zischke, Jacob Hook, Vinnie Foord.

I'm no Belle Vue fan but, to be fair, nobody brings it up more than you! And a pretty poor choice of video to highlight passing last night. Weird how the argument has developed, we've even had some fans suggesting there's too much passing at Belle Vue lol

I think traditionally Speedway has been more successful in towns rather than cities probably due to less things to do in towns

We get it Belle Vue fans we do know your track is the best in the uk Its just so boring when you remark about every track not being as good There was some good racing last night Unfortunately you are spoilt with your track but your riders can’t adapt

He could be.

And the excitement is beyond belief.

Next up for TV is the almost certain meaningless match between Oxford and Kings Lynn on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August start time 7.30pm on TNT Sports 1

Does that really constitute a pass?

The thing is pro wrestling is scripted to provide a fixed outcome, speedway is fixed to try and provide a scripted outcome. A close match resulting in a draw is more entertaining than a one sided match (for the neutral) so why gimmick it up further, making one sided matches look even more inferior?

Yes thought that was a bit rich!

I think their riders were not pleased about that.

He could be.

That can be for a number of reasons. H&S might do spot-checks, but it could be the rental is based on attendance levels

I thought Tobias was guesting for Lasse at Redcar and Klindt at Plymouth?!

I know for a fact that speedway isn’t the best kept secret in town as we have done the following over the years to bang the drum. Have an advert on local radio over an extended period of time. Have an advert in local newspapers over an extended period of time. Have an advertising board on some of the busiest roads in Manchester. Have posters in shops and businesses. Had out flyers in local shopping areas. Have a float or attend local fairs and carnivals. Attend local trade shows. Give out free tickets to schools and businesses. Take bikes and merchandise into schools to accompany the talk they deliver on the sport. Be featured on local tv news’s 4 or 5 times between March and October. Have a regular editorial in local papers. Have a 30 minute highlights programme on a local tv satellite station. Form a tie up with local groups and offer free entry and supporters club membership. Attend (and win) local sports team of the year awards. I know I keep saying it and it’s a bitter pill for us all but as a generalisation, people do not like speedway. I asked recently if you could all ask family and friends to attend a meeting with you. I had no response but I’m guessing if each asked 20 people then out of the collective thousands that were asked the answer would have been around a 100% no. This is from people who now know where and when and how much the local speedway is and the opportunity to attend with a knowledgeable friend but still refuse the invite.

With regards attendances, the lore is fans overestimate home crowds and underestimate away. Clubs aren’t happy with their crowds and if you’re making a bob or two then great but no club has any bragging rights about attendance. Manchester has so much going on in the battle for the leisure pound. The average man/woman in the street (which is exactly what a speedway fan is) only has so much expendable cash so should they attend one of the many many shows or concerts etc at £50-£100 a pop they do not have the money to visit speedway. They can catch the speedway almost any time but when a particular show or artist comes to town for a short run or one night only then it’s easy to see who wins. Add in the plethora of sporting greats in and around the city then it’s amazing that such an unfashionable sport as ours can hold its head above water in the area. This is not a dig but I spent a week in the B&B Hotel in Ipswich at the end of last October. I struggled to find anything to do. No theatre (one production had been cancelled), no gigs and no comedy. There wasn’t even a pub quiz night. I had to travel to Cambridge to get my theatre fix. I found Ipswich to be a lovely town and had it been summer then a walk along the waterfront together with a drink and a meal would have been great but winter time offered me little. With limited competition for the leisure pound it’s little wonder that places like this and Poole get fairly decent crowds.

Perversely, it may be because they are the two biggest cities that they won't have a team between them - land values are so high and suitable sites so rare that to get a new location is very difficult, even if the demand is there