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Anyway back to the meeting . After watching Zmarslik heave and elbow another rider into the fence on Saturday night , and as usual get away with it . It was a joy watching Harris and Masters give each other room to race and thrill the crowd with amazing four laps of speedway in heats 13 and 15 .

For me, it was telling watching Hawkins car crash interview. (well done abi). First it was like watching a rabbit in the headlights. It is clear that these are grave times for British speedway because we need those brilliant riders yet it appears if the Polish team decide not to risk them then you are buggered. You can make the PO final and then lose your best riders. Basically British speedway has lost all control over its destiny. Watching Emil ride in Poland it was clear he is not fit (despite a typically surreal performance)and it is equally clear this is not his decision so would be great if all the numb nuts could shut up and blame those responsible, the Polish promoters (for ruling the world) and the British promoters (for losing control). Its clear Ipswich have been withholding information about Emil from the public and I would like to know if Morris is doing anything to sort this muddle out?

He should indeed, that was a poor decision to leave it to the two guests, what a cop out. Almost as bad as trying to fix the gates for the finale, that wasn’t a good thing to see either. The meeting was kept interesting by the scoreline, nothing else as the racing as such was gate and go all night, unfortunately Leicester isn’t any better but I think the lead isn’t enough for Ipswich who badly let it slip when it really mattered.

If Emil was fit to ride he would have. He couldn’t travel it’s that simple. Toruń pulling rank isn’t an argument. They don’t have the power to. Emil is contracted to race, this isn’t a guest booking. If you think Toruń can stop him then why doesn’t the following happen… Wroclaw stop Bewley, Lublin stop Holder, even Ostrów stop C Holder? Answers anyone?

I’m not sure that “rule” exists. Ipswich signed Jenkins on a reduced 25% average this year despite him spending the previous year at Peterborough. But I haven’t seen any such rule. The only interpretation I’ve seen is riders graduating out of the rising star scheme are given a 25% “helping hand” reduction so as not to be left on the scrap heap. Rowe is a good case in point here. Done very well, and would likely have his pick of clubs on a 3.91 average, but on 5.21, probably not so much interest and in danger of being left out.

It is black and white. Emil completed a foreign league meeting then failed to attend an official fixture in the UK so going off past implementation he will be banned. Do I think he should be banned? No, as he has 100% more holes in his arse than is the norm and the Poles don’t give a monkeys. I like Emil so think he shouldn’t be banned, if it was a rider or team I disliked then I’d say ban him. I think that kind of thinking makes me ideally placed to be the next SCB arbitrator, from a consistency point of view.

There is only one reason Woffy will be back in.Monster.

It’s the same line up for both teams as last night.

Really? I thought he did absolutely fine. It’s blatantly obvious the landscape has changed since Emil’s injury. Emil rode in our play offs this time last year with no issues whatsoever. I don’t get the big mystery here at all. As you concede, anyone who watched him at the weekend could tell he was uncomfortable and not properly fit, despite what might have got lost in translation from his “interview”. Everybody knows the pressure these boys are under from the Polish authorities to get out there if they’re 100% fit or not. Woffinden gave a pre-meeting interview before a Polish fixture a couple of years ago stating his obvious disgust that he was being made to ride with a hand/wrist injury. He subsequently couldn’t hang on to the bike in his first ride and fell doing even more damage. We know what they’re like over there. I have zero sympathy for the riders btw. They know the score and have a choice not to ride there. But if they want to take the huge coin on offer then they know what drawbacks that comes with. It’s their look out quite frankly. We don’t pay anywhere near what’s on offer in Poland and as such, don’t place the same demands on the riders. If we did, they’d all tell us to get stuffed from the get go with what’s on offer here. If Ipswich would have been aware that Emil would do the season but not do the play offs then I’m pretty sure Ipswich wouldn’t have signed him. One thing Louis demands is commitment and loyalty from his riders (when fit) and in return he repays the favour and supports them when they’re struggling. We saw that loyalty and commitment from Emil last year, and also this year. But again, the injury undoubtedly changed things. There’s no grey area here, it’s perfectly black and white.

It will have too be.🤔

You can’t sell it as a team sport though. Guests are unheard of in Poland and you can’t get attached to a team where your riders could guest for another team and help them go above his ‘contracted’ team. I don’t blame the riders because, as people seem to forgot, the reason why British league will never get back to the same level, is and always will be, MONEY. Until you get crazy investment from somewhere then Phil Morris can try all he wants, but you’ll never get to a top level where people don’t complain about something. Stadiums not owned by the clubs and housing estates taking priority over them, riders guesting, Eurosport being crap at hosting, and so on and so on, we just need to enjoy the sport whilst we still have it! People in the masses just aren’t interested in it and as sad as that sounds, that’s how it is.

Would add Workington to current tracks.

Watched heats 13 and 15 last night, great entertaining racing!!

Only got beat by Fricke twice , although Danny beat him once and Lawson once who again Danny also beat Not sure what you are expecting but he more than did his job last night

He is out for the season, but no details regarding what injuries he sustained. https://www.dr.dk/sporten/seneste-sport/saesonen-er--dansk-speedwaykoerer-efter-styrt https://www.skivefolkeblad.dk/artikel/14dc38e2-54eb-3a25-bfdb-7da8db91a281/

I'm fairly sure that the 25pc discount on a rider leaving the rising star scheme is only applicable to the team he was the rising star for, to stop clubs reaping the benefit of others work

Yep, Bart should have gone in my opinion too.

King did ride well but he did his usual Heat 11 trick which frustrates people every week. He gates alongside the rider in Gate 1, who pushes him wide, allowing the rider in gate 3 to pass him easy up the inside. 5-1 to the opposition.

Correct, now a small housing estate backing onto playing fields.

Makes all the difference to women...apparently! 😃

Can't be easy to arrange a date that 'works' for everyone....it's more important that Alan's memory is being honoured! Well done to B'ham for putting this meeting on in the first place!

Everyone is an expert and always wants more. Maybe be happy we have 8 point lead to take to Leicester because two weeks ago everyone would have bitten your hand off for it.

I agree, his home track knowledge was needed.

Surely Hawkins meant it was a pain in the arse being without Emil.

Nobody buys riders these days.

Kvech to Foxhall 😀

Just re-read the Leicester vs King's Lynn thread on updates. A lot of From the Gate comments. And yet Leicester fans criticise other tracks....

Some of us would love to have our home tracks back no matter how bad the racing is perceived to be by others!

I thought Hawkins handled the question well when Abi asked why Emil rode yesterday but couldn’t race today. Let’s face it, he will be more peed off than anyone, but made up excuses to save the face of the sport. Regarding Emil’ s injury, he described it as a ‘hole in his bum’, but surely that is something that each and every one of us have to live with!

Cocky. I like that...! Hope your riders are thinking the same 😎

It wasn't a great spectacle but was kept interesting by the score. Leicester should progress to the final but can't be that lackluster at Owlerton in the final.

Makes me grateful to have Leicester as my home track!

Still some so called Ipswich fans having a dig at King when he scored 9 from 4 …. These people aren’t true fans of the club … King more than did his job … if he scores 5 on Thursday then maybe have a moan but it’s pathetic to moan about tonight

Luke Becker should of got rider of the night as i believe he was the only rider to pass anyone after the 3rd bend of lap 1

He is working on tomorrow's press conference... Where he will announce the two finalists....

Same old cheating Ipswich

Torun won't let him ride for ipswich in between for sure !!

If Torun and Ipswich make the final, Emil's schedule would be the following. Sunday 22nd - Polish Final Monday 23rd - Premiership Final Thursday 26th - Premiership Final Sunday 29th - Polish Final

The Bates won't be happy he wanted a war of the roses semi final and lions final. And he ain't going to get one. Glad he's left leicester heard horror stories from the staff there of how he treated people.

Seemed to me Ritchie was just honest Didn't hide anything as others appear to have done Also if this semi final situation was set "for commercial reasons" why is this in the first week? Emil potentially could've been back next week so why not have this tie in the 2nd week

Yes, Ritchie gave the game away by using the word "allowed".

Its not been said at all- it doesn’t need to be ! - Just think about it. 4 this season instead of 3 qualify. So that’s 6 + 4 + SEC winner = 11. Can you see Doyle not getting a pick ? that’s 12 leaving just 3. So do you really think challenge non qualifiers will be anywhere near a pick ahead of current GP riders ? I don’t !

I've not been able to do that, only once the live event has finished.

Original Lineup and Draw https://britishspeedway.co.uk/major-events/draw-confimred-for-clrc/

Are you really a Glasgow fan. Tigers fans in general like to see riders trying. They realise not every rider can score a maximum. One thing Leon can't be accused of is not trying. He hasn't always been quick enough or picked the right lines on the track BUT he tries and contributes to the team's overall performance. Last night he tried his guts out once again and in Heat 15 he crucially held back Boughen thus meaning Bomber only had Masters to worry about. He started the season with a 6.40 Green Sheet average achieved at a track where he had ridden for a good few years. He has moved to a different type of track and he achieved a modest increase to 6.82. He is clearly disappointed that he didn't do better but it would be madness to replace him now that his efforts are being rewarded with more points.

Just watching the polish playoffs, noticed one of the mechanics had a Riga wrist band on from last night, I bet he hasn’t been to bed yet, it’s roughly a 10 hour drive from riga to Toruń and he got to clean and prep the bikes then before turning up at the track, it’s tough at the top but even tougher for the spannermen

I think you are spot on, the riders are the ones who know the state of the gates and have made starts off them all, and in terms of gate one I always think it's a risk as if you get pinned/ boxed in then it's almost race over on the first bend. As I've said you just have to get the first half a lap right whichever gate you select. I think that's a bigger issue than the helmet colour personally.

Has to be Johnnie Hoskins surely

He’s getting a bit of a reputation. Lambert not fond of him.

I've just been awarded something or other, I never win anything so that's great!