Hamish McRaker

That "fast track" scheme used by the top league a few years ago, whatever it was called then, didn't do much to improve things because it should have been done in the second tier but presumably the promoters didn't want it because they preferred to complete their teams with foreign rubbish. Now it's clear to me that it needs to be properly re-introduced to the Championship next season, with a mixture of protected heats and the riders being fenced-off from the rest of the team in the team building/averages. You just have a maximum team building average for 1-5

Not to mention Roger the Cabin Boy. So I won't. Just Captain Haddock

Bates fights his bike, he doesn't ride it. There will only be one winner, in the end. Difficult decisions coming up for Mr Dickson, don't envy him.

Read an interview in SS with Wajtkneckt a few weeks ago. Said he has problems switching from grasstrack(?) to speedway, and that it takes him a few rides to get back into the hang of things with speedway. I don't know how often he does grasstrack, but surely coming out and saying something like that isn't the best policy?

Please keep this level-headed, which includes not indulging in attacks of a personal nature against Craig Cook. He has seemingly left Peterborough for contractual reasons on the eve of the season and Glasgow in the CL is now his sole UK team. I do not know if he has team places in Sweden or Poland, but I'm doubtful. Does he have other income to replace his Peterborough job, will he secure a team place at another PL club, or has he burned his boats with respect to his career as a top level speedway rider?

Surely if Scott Nicholls needed to skip a GP tv date because Leicester need him for a re-arranged fixture, he would be released by BT without any problem?

Well I for one am looking forward to reading about Rob Godfrey's thoughts about sports broadcasters in this week's Star.

Sadly it seems the first rule of commentating is to ensure no silences, but of course this is the age of constant noise, much of it of poor quality. Barry Davies was another from the old school now consigned to obsolescence, Peter Alliss is probably the only surviving one. I am certain that Rob Godfrey would agree with this.

The number of studio and pitchside experts deployed to live sport broadcasts is becoming ludicrous. David Coleman and his like didn't need that, and what is more they wouldn't have tolerated it.

Liberal use of the record and fast forward facilities gets around that one

I think one of the problems we get when averages "collapse" as a consequence of smaller leagues, is an accompanying reduction in the "wow effect" when a lesser rider upstages one of the higher scoring ones, because having a 10-point average, in the minds of the spectator, creates more of an aura than if that same rider has a "mere" 8-point average. The achievement by the lesser rider is probably just as great, but the reaction is possibly more muted because he has "only" beaten an 8-pointer, especially if that 8-pointer is having what you would call an off-night. There just aren't any riders taking part in any league nowadays who has that sort of aura. The collapse of averages produced by smaller leagues plays a part in that, but other factors have contributed significantly to a situation where no rider in the world has that aura.

True, the less knowledgeable and experienced the spectator the more impression will be made on him by the normally lesser rider who pulls off a win in a crucial heat, against the grain. Of course the more seasoned spectator will be much less prone to such rashness, being more highly aware of the wider picture. The manner of winning also has an effect, due to the chemicals which will flow from the spectator's brain into his bloodstream as a result. The senses and human biology have a greater role than mere data.

No matter how many statistical permutations and theories are advanced, it is always people's individual perceptions of reality that ultimately have the greatest influence on their thoughts and decisions

Absolutely. Promoters have to be so careful they get the right blend of fans allowed to attend matches. An individual interview should be conducted before access to the stadium is allowed, they can't risk the happy clappers being put off from coming back because of too many miserable sods having been let in. PS. RIP Jeremy Hardy

Is there one named Buster taking part? I wouldnae be putting any money on it winning.

A lot must be going on there if poor old Kings Lynn speedway can't get their team news out

Thing is, North Norfolk's a real hotbed of top sports and so it's a very tough task to get the timing of any announcement right, such is the competition for media attention. We have much the same problem in the Outer Hebrides. Try finding the right time for announcing the new line up for the Stornaway over 65's Curling team, it's a nightmare.

They've forgotten to do it. Surely somebody there must wake up soon

Peterborough team was sorted months ago. And then it was un-sorted

Chapman to Rathbone, November 2018: " I'll leave you to get on with signing the team up, just make sure you keep the costs tight. Chapman to Rathbone, January 2019; "JFC, Ged, I told you to keep the costs tight. You're going to have to reduce the wagebill by 20%. If you have to cut a heat leader I can take him to Ippo or Lynn but I won't be paying him the money you've agreed. You can have Tungate but you'll have to pay him a lot less than you've agreed with your other heat leaders.

That's a tasty looking team. If Becker is anywhere near as good at speedway as his dad was at tennis, it's going to be top drawer. Get him on the faggots and peas early doors.

Ive always wondered what happened to David Hemsley

Scotty to be beamed aboard?

Incognito I don't get around much speedway tracks-wise, what is it about UK tracks that riders like Pawlicki consider to be sub-standard?

Is the bionic man finally finished with riding or will he be making another comeback? If so, would any club hand him a team place?