acclennell

Total and utter joke - totally devalues the competition and will also have an effect on the crowd attendence countering any argument about having the meeting before the GP to boost the crowd.

Exactly surely something can be worked. How's it a ridculous statement as by not having those riders present not only totally devalues the meeting but will also knock the attendence down. Also with the point a couple have mentioned concerning the PL/EL doubling up argument It has nothing to do with the qualification for the GP event.

True but it just fully illustrates how totally stupid it is putting a major event on which results in a clash with a GP event and causes riders to missout. Another demonstration of why British speedway is on the decline.

Yep it is

Development is the NL though unfotunately he is just not PL standard (I really wish he was) at the moment. I would agree with you about winning the 2 leg aggregate but we have to get enough points to get there first though - wish I had your faith NJC but there are definitely a few worrying signs. We need to do something at reserve though as when LR has a poor meeting we are being crucified ponts wise.

You're right Dave that is in my opinion minimum 3 points lost tonight, 3 at Edinburgh, minimum 1 at Glasgow and Sheffield and out of the League Cup also. MK has improved and doing what we were hoping the last few meetings but has had a few very poor ones also VP is a bit hot and cold RL/SW although getting points are losing out in heats 13 and 15 a lot recently LR has had 2 terrible meetings but is doing a lot better than I expected at the start of the season LL I won't go on about him as may upset a few but I think most know my opinion DP is nowhere near current premier league status and must be replaced Think the team needs a kick up the backside or I can see a very disappointing season ahead coming up as we're already out of the League Cup and as Dave has said current form could prove costly in qualification for the play offs. At this moment in 4 heats we are riding with 3 riders and this must be stopped immediately. I had high hopes for this team pre Edinburgh but since there are a few worrying signs starting to develop. It shows if even Dave is commenting on poor form as he is as loyal as they come to the team and the riders. Over to you George.

I can accept Lewis having a couple of bad meetings as he has been very good up to the last couple of meetings. What I can't accept is the continuation of a rider who is not anywhere near premier league standard - it is honestly bewildering why!!!!

You're right but possibly George wasn't expecting that result (MK only had 1 point at that stage) and SW was in the next heat. I can understnd why he didn't even though if he had we would of had a point coming back tonight. More concened with the lack of points from DP and also recntly we seem to get weaker in the last 5 heats when before we were actually stronger. I honestly believe we have a strong team 1 - 6 when all are present and on form but the lack of fielding a full team is hitting us hard currently and also having 0 points from 4 rides (except for gifts) from our number 7 is certainly not helping either.

I find it hard to believe the lad has already not been replaced. The lad unfortunately is not Premier League standard currently and surely any confidence he had is now shot. Even 2 or 3 points can be the difference between 1, 2 or even 3 points. It's a shame but it can't continue week after week. Decent performnce by the other riders tonight although seems to be a bit of swing the last few meeting as pre Edinburgh we were actually stronger in the last 5 heats wheras we seem to be losing points in the last few meetings during the same heats - missing riders doesn't help mind.

Very disappointing night and poor performance with with only 1 win from the guest riders - I had a feeling this was going to happen and as I have already mentioned could well be the thing that stops the team from winning trophies due to absent riders at key times. Time is up for DP I'm afraid as we cannot continue to persevere with a young lad who is clearly not ready for premier league racing currently. Well done on SW and MK for good performances tonight.

Disagree the rule was misinterperated as the correct rule was not followed. Yes I agee it has been amended to avoid any ambiguity but it doesn't alter the fact that there should not have been a rider replacement for the exclusion apart from a reserve. What I will say is why are referees not briefed in the rules before the start of the season (and if they are then something is obviously wrong) and also why this has took so long to be clarified as George had highlighted this earlier in the seson. Obviously George knew exactly what the rule implied so why did the other promotions not as surely the rules are agreed at the promotors meetings before the season starts?

And both referees were wrong do you really think that the SCB are going to totally change a rule mid season just because George complained. The rule has been amended in clear speak to ensure no misinterpratation but the point is that the rule was misinterprated in the two meetings you mention and to be fair in the Berwick match earlier in the season. They have not 'changed' the rule they have amended the rule in better terms to ensure that the rule is not incorrectly adhered to in future. Well done George for ensuring clarity is brought to the table and to be fair most people were unsure what the rule meant and I for one was dumbfounded when I heard Summers was being brought in as a replacement for an excluded rider.

He obviously didn't and thats why the SCB have put out this statement after a complaint from George English and to ensure the rule is NOT misinterpreted in future.

The meeting proves that both were bang on form last night against EL opposition is it not a fair comparison (and also based on the fact that both have been in excellent form on their home track this season) to say that they would have added to the Newcastle total last night - I think most knowledgeable speedway supporters would say yes. Seems your manager was also of the opinion Lambert and Rose missing also weakened Newcastle I wonder why that is . As for the track well Mr Summers obviously didn't have any problems with it. We will probably see in the future when the 2 teams are matched again probably at some point (cup maybe even play-off) - I look forward to it

Apart from Newcastle not having two of their in form riders last night who scored 18 points away at Wolves which would of meant even steven and an aggregate win for Newcastle and as for the track I have seen poor tracks at Glasgow in my time also (as I have every track)- now lets be consistent in all this before you get carried away.

Unexpected win considering missing 2 key riders - would have said at least another 5 - 7 points would have been added with the full team but I'm not complaining.

Shocking - it's only end of May not September - honestly the BSPA are the reason why speedway in this country is dying on it's feet and this from so called professionals of the sport.

Being able to replace a rider who has been excluded with another rider within the main scorers in heat 15 is wrong - however would have made no difference to the result as too many riders did not perform today. MK and DP are a concern at the moment as their form recently has been poor. RL is a class act and I see he is furious with himself after today's performance. Not confident about tomorrow at all as Glasgow have a few Brough specialists in their ranks and we are missing 2 key riders.

Thing is there are other comps also which we could lose out with - by all accounts we will require 4 riders for Boro away in the league cup which is a must win. What's the way round it don't select riders who are contrcted to EL clubs but as NJC said do you really want then to miss out on seeing RL and SW most weeks. Tough one and I know it's not just Newcastle but we are badly affected as we have 3 riders doubling up. Grumpy tonight after missing out on 4 points

Unless it's Scunthorpe that track is a curse for us.

True but it's just so frustrating and the problem is also it's not just one rider but 3 and sometimes more with overseas committments for LL and MK.

Decent result but so frustrating when with a full team I have no doubt 4 points would have been coming our way and not just 1. Missing 2 riders on Monday and 4 riders on Thursday by all accounts - not good and could end up costing us on all fronts which is a shame - full team out we are a match for everyone but on how many occasions is this going to happen. Well done to Victor on a fantastic performance.

It has been done in the past though and when a team is missing two of its key members on current form then surely an option. A trophy/qualification for the play-offs can be won or lost on such decisions. Belle Vue have started earlier to enable SW and RW to be able to ride so I see no reason why not.

True it has, just think with a key fixture like this, then I wold have attempted to race both legs on the Sunday - maybe George did try this and Glasgow said no. We are clearly a decent team this year but as I said the fact that we are missing key riders in a number of matches could end up shooting ourselves in the foot come the end of the season. It's a difficult one all round and one where British speedway shoots itself in the foot in my opinion.

It's a very valid point and one which my come back to haunt at the end of the season. Seems we are missing a combination of key riders in a few meetings this season which is a shame as the team are shaping up very nicely overall. We have held both home and away meeings on the same day in the past though with an earlier start at Glasgow and a later start up here.