Big Al

From the team announcements so far, it looks like British-based riders are being signed-up by Elite league teams as a priority. Perhaps Leicester should focus first on getting a couple of Brit-based riders signed up, and I'm thinking in terms of the Simon Steads and Olly Allens, and who knows maybe Danny King. However, even these guys could be waiting to see if they can get team places elsewhere, before giving Leicester any close consideration.

So what happens if, halfway through the season, someone like Kerr is basically unbeatable (and has established an average of over 8 for Newcastle in the Premier League). And earlier in the season, Kings Lynns no.7 gets injured, so then they can bring in anybody as a replacement and the replacement happens to be Robert Lambert, who also tends to be unbeatable and stays in the team as the guy he's replaced still isn't fit to return. Kings Lynn are running away with the league with nobody (not even Poole) near them. What could Mr Ford and/or the BSPA then do, to make the league less of a walkover?

Not sure if the shopping centre would be as co-operative over parking on Thursdays, but it may have to happen in order to have a better chance of building a team.

The only raving I'd be doing is if (when) it all goes pear-shaped!

Saturdays are speedway nights, yes, and they'll be mainly on the telly ....or maybe a big screen on the centre green ...after all, the stadium is now FIM accredited!

How about; 1.Magnus Karlsson; 2.Adam Roynon; 3. Lasse Bjerre; 4. Kauko Nieminen; 5. Kev Doolan I think they should all still be available Oh....and 6. Lewis Blackbird, 7. James Sarjeant

Kind of echoes my post a few pages ago about the Saturday/Poland on Sunday problem and previously about KK being a risk. The stumbling block in the past with KK has been the Polish Federation exerting control over his non-Poland commitments and I am sure that, sooner or later, the issue would have raised its ugly head again. K.Bjerre isn't fixed up in the UK yet, but wouldnt be surprised if he's playing hardball financially and talking to Lakeside as well, maybe even Birmingham now they seem to have washed all of their dirty laundry in public. Intersting to know Belle Vue have signed Nicholls - would they be able to accommodate him plus Cook and Zagar? The Saturday race night is probably also proving problematical with many other possible signings.

I think we can discontinue to Craig Cook speculation, as today's Edinburgh Evening News says he has signed deals with Edinburgh and Belle Vue for 2014

Elite League? I presume you mean the Premier League tarted up a bit with a few extra riders, many of whom dont really want to be there and frequently arn't.

DH is probably "talking to" a great many riders at the moment! I hope he has a good phone deal, because he will need it. And Craig Cook is also probably talking to many promoters, in the UK, Sweden, and Poland.

For a guide to team possibilities, it could be worth looking at the Eastbourne situation for parallels, as they are in a similar situation regards the regular race night being Saturday and the problems that brings. How attractive will a Saturday commitment in the UK be, for someone contracted to ride in Poland the next day? Or will sufficient Leicester home matches not actually be on a Saturday - in addition to the Grand Prix/SWC/SEC avoidances. Is the promotion finding it a bit difficult so far due to those reasons? Some of the names mentioned so far in previous posts here, have those kind of commitments and would probably jump at the chance of riding in the UK for a team with Friday/Thurday/Wednesday as the main race night in preference to a Saturday one e.g. Lakeside, Swindon, Kings Lynn, Coventry. Birmingham are in a real mess by the sound of it, and so could have problems attracting riders and does anyone know what's actually going to happen to Belle Vue next season in so far as where they will be riding and on which night? I think that it's all far from a clear picture at the moment. Let's hope that something more encouraging emerges soon, who knows a full 1-5 could be announced all at once, as with last year's 1-7.

If the team, and even the race night, is built around Kasprzak it will be a risk. His performance with Coventry in 2013 does not inspire confidence, but at least he has a low average. Maybe that was the master plan all along! Race night-wise, would Coventry and Peterborough be helpful and co-operative or not? All depends on how much they really do need Leicester in the same league as them. But we could have to pick up the crumbs left over when it comes to race night, and of course there is Kasprzak's needs to cater for. As for the entertainment quality, I fully agree with Weatherwatcher that a rider using "track craft" to keep someone behind him is highly entertaining. However, when the riders are strung out by the backstraight of lap 2 (or even sooner) it is just plain boring. Unfortunately this occurs often at Leicester. Would the Elite League improve that? Not if what i saw on Sky TV this year is anything to go by. In my humble opinion, the main problem with the track is bend 3, along with the length of straights in relation to tightness of bends generally. Mr Hemsley owns the business of Leicester Speedway, and i guess it is up to him, to decide what he provides to his customers. If the move to "Elite League" does happen, i think we will know by about July if those decisions have been the correct ones. Leicester Speedway isn't a public service, it's a private business and next season will show if it is a viable businiess or not. It's all down to what the customers think and if they want to buy the product, and sponsor it. The product is of course more than the on-track entertainment, but it's one heck of an important part. So bring on that skilful track-craft!

Getting us ready for Elite League!

A bit skeptical if all of the announced "Bella Vista" team will actually appear! It's more like a Scunthorpe/Edinburgh select plus guests. Annyway, probably better having been "up front" and announce the team well in advance, so nobody will be able to claim they went along expecting Zagar, Zetterstrom, Wolbert, Dryml, Ostergaard. But really it should have been changed to another team name. The promotion must be banking on the Belle Vue name attracting people who havn't got much of a clue, and who won't notice anything amiss. If that's the case then they are con-men - but what the heck!

I'd be wary of riders who are into their 30's and who have had injury problems and whose averages have dropped. It may be tempting to take advantage of them being available at "bargain" averages, but sadly they all too often cannot stop their decline.This would rule out Kauko and Howe. Nick Morris is the only rider, at present, i would advise to bring in. The rest of the team depends totally on the league structure next season and where we are within it. However, Doolan and Karlsson are worth a punt providing the circumstances are suitable, and the rest of the team is age 20-30.

Shock of shocks! Website now carries a PLRC report-so they did realise it was taking place, after all! What a snub to Magnus, though, to not even mention anything beforehand. If he wants to come back again next year, (and if he does, it will probably be for the supporters and providing the money is worthwhile) I'd welcome his doing so. As proved yesterday, Glyn has said Magnus is in the top 4 riders in PL. I agree, providing things are all to his satisfaction. He just dips when things are not fully right, whereas the top guys seem able to keep producing the goods irrespective. The draw worked well in his favour yesterday and the track was bang on for him, but still a great performance. Maybe the lack of mention about the playoffs on the website, is because the promotion hope that nobody will notice that we've not qualified!!

Do I hear a rumour that Leicester are not in the playoffs this year? Also caught a rumour that Magnus Karlsson is representing Leicester at the PLRC today. Not a word about either on the Leicester Lions website. Anyone know anything about these??

With the FIM apparently seeking to fill as many non-GP weekends as possible with other events nowadays, what are the chances of a European team league being introduced? I'm advocating this, or sure of its merits myself, but from the FIM's perspective and as another possible way of generating TV revenue, it would also give top riders a further money-earning outlet and further reduce their need for and interest in the national leagues. Maybe starting up with 6 teams - say 2 from Poland, 2 Swedish, 1 Danish and 1 British with expansion to 8 teams in year 2. The clubs/teams would effectively become franchises. I could see this being of potential interest to a club such as Poole - who would also have the possibility of running a team in whatever UK league/s are operating - only with a different actual team of riders. (and for the more paranoid out there - this is not "Poole -bashing" !). Disadvantages - would further reduce the number of top riders taking part in the UK league/s, but on the other hand it looks as if those guys won't be around in the mainstream UK leagues anyway, so at least it would maintain some UK connection. It would mean the UK league/s would defintely become a case of taking the crumbs from the top table, but, again, isn;t it going that way in any case? It could also be used as a way of riders qualifying for the following season's vacant GP places by way of rider averages, to replace the current circus of qualifying. Amendment to previus post - such have read "I'm not advocating this"....!!

Sounds like we'll have a team full of unknowns, operating in an as yet unknown league. It's fear of the unknown that bothers me

TTFN

A track that suited all riders prepared to attack it and have a go. GT and his "consultants" got it right, big help with the weather conditions being spot-on for good track prep as well. Alex deserves a slap on the back, obvious he was in pain but as usual he improves as the match goes on (makes the attempted comeback at Rye all the more baffling/annoying - sorry to harp on about it). Can be a good combo with Simon N, who seems to be better in the earlier heats of matches. Bit concerned with Gravs inconsistencies, but suppose you can't argue too much with 2 heat wins - just wish he'd reduce the zero's though. Liam Carr was great value for Embra and thought he was very unlucky to get chucked out when he fell. Shows BP can be tackled by young brits, especially if they can get out of the start on levle terms and not get spooked by mixing it on the first bend. Assuming KD not back for Newcastle, his r/r's should be availble to all the rest with him moving to no2 in the averages? Thik im right in saying Newky will be deffo in playoffs if they win today at home v Berwick, but with no chance of being in top 2. Maybe next Sunday theyll be just a fraction less charged-up and we can take advantage. Think Leicester took good advantage of Embra not being focussed enough on last nights match as they'd been giving all their attention to the cup semi - so maybe same again next Sunday?

So no guest for KD - just r/r (with limited options as new averages don't take force till Sunday). Why?

Assume r/r for KD can only be taken by MK, LE, JG and reserves? All due respect to the latter three, but that's a bit fragile, isn't it? Can't a guest be acquired, or don't the rules allow? Also LB is still a bit bashed up (and i don't just mean by Kozza) if his points outcome last night at KL is anything to judge by. Generally agree with comments re decision-making of management, sad to say. Reserves has been a botch from the start. Re-iterate my previous comments and those of many - too late, and the Rye House episode (both matches) a huge screw-up by the look of it.

Isn't Simon Neilsen injured? Steffan Neilsen released by Sumzet? Thats a surprise move - who have they got in to replace him? Agree he falls off a fair bit, and seems to take other riders down when he does - quite often team-mates. Maybe that's why Sumzet have shipped him out - too much of a risk. I'm not a statto so someone else could know this - but when (presumably) the new averages come into force from 1st Sept. , how far down the pecking order will Nemo drop? Could be he goes down to 4th? It will only be relevant - in the short term anyway - to the Newky away match where we'll likely need to get at least a point, but it would render using R/R more of less out of the question. Or will he be fit again by then? Anyhow, the reserve situation needs to be sorted once and for all, but it could all be too late - like re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic!

Glyn is unable to win with the track prep, there will always be somebody it doesn't suit. Put on too much dirt and the riders struggle to turn their bikes and guys get thrown off and break collarbones or worse. Magnus needs it slick on the inside with some grip on the outside of bends 2 and 4, Lasse wants it grippy but not so grippy you can't turn it properly, the crowd don't want to be covered in dust so its got to be kept watered but they also want overtaking, but that might not suit all the riders..... need I go on?? What we saw on Sunday was dirt being taken off, and dumped on the back straight. This was being done by the toy tractor and took a lot of time (on top of the previous sun break). In a previous match (can't recall which one - Newcastle?) Glyn was out towing a blade, shifting dirt from the inside/mid track to the outside. This seemed to work very well and was reasonably quick and effective . I think he used the blade later-on in the match to bring some dirt back from the fence. Why hasn't this been used again since?