MattK

Lambert £100 more Zagar £50 more Doyle £50 more

Looked like a three into one scenario which you see often on the first bend, but unfortunately Doyle took a very heavy fall. Presumably we'll go R/R tomorrow night.

Found it myself. Yes. Boo.

Is the scoring still 3, 2, 1, 0?

I agree, Zak is an investment long term and needs a chance to fit his feet at this level. Lampart, I'm not so sure. I'll be polite and says he's inconsistent!

There is no doubt that some teams have very strong reserves. The problem is, when Heeps and Allen move into the main 1-5, who will replace them? Certainly in Ipswich's case their lowest averaging 1-5 riders are King and Bellago. I can't see our reserve fairing any better against those two than they did against Heeps and Allen. The other issue is that we are effectively carrying three riders. We knew this would be a risk with such a top heavy team, but the consequence of this strategy is that it requires tough choices to avoid a very long tail of riders who only pick up points from each other.

I agree it would be incredibly harsh, but we also have to accept the possibility that at this stage in his career Shanes is not a Premiership calibre rider.

Does Bacon have a Premiership average as his 2019 Peterborough average is 4.78 and Shanes is 3.15, therefore I don't think he fits?

Speedway is four blokes going round in circles - how much commentary does it really need? I am always baffled at the innate ramblings of the commentators on TV, having it at meetings would be even worse. How often do you see a piece of great television or a scene in a film set to an uplifting piece of music? If you want to make the racing more exciting, why not try having music during heats.

It is a reshaping of the old track, which the new stadium is planned to be built around. The old plans, to move the track and stadium to a new position, approximately 45 degrees from the current location was scrapped last year.

Presumably BT Sport have detailed analysis of viewing figures and chooses the most popular fixtures accordingly.

It depends which Terry Russell you believe. This one from the 26th September 2018: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/16903310.swindon-robins-to-rip-up-abbey-stadium-track-this-winter/ Or this one, from the 23rd January: https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/17377892.swindon-robins-chairman-terry-russell-plans-to-start-work-on-improved-abbey-stadium-race-track-layout-next-month/ Swindon's new track has had more false starts than a heat featuring James Sarjeant.

That's not true though, is it? Look at the attendances at Premiership clubs who have bigger name riders, compared to Championship clubs who do no. I would say to a team that Premiership have larger crowds, therefore the "star" riders who choose to ride in Britain absolutely do put bums on seats. The question is whether these top riders provide value for money. Did attendances at Swindon drop by less than they saved on signing Nick Morris as #1 instead of World Champion Jason Doyle? Given the crowds at Swindon last season and the fact they chose to sign Doyle for 2019, it would suggest that the star riders are worth the outlay.

Has anyone seen anything around town actually advertising the start of the season? I notice there was over 13,000 at Swindon Town tonight for the England Women's friendly. Just 10% of those coming to the speedway would comfortably double our average crowd.

Over the last decade the Elite League/Premiership has significantly weakened the product on offer and as a consequence crowds have dwindled. Therefore, the evidence suggests that a "watered down" league will only hasten the demise. Three clubs have gone from last year. Of those three, Lakeside rode on Fridays and Workington rode on Saturdays. Therefore I am not sure weekend meetings are the panacea you think they are.

It is hard to tell. Over the last decade the Elite League/Premiership has significantly weakened the product and in turn crowds have dwindled. Therefore, logic dictates that a significant reduction in team strength, by jettisoning "star" riders in favour of young British riders, would only hasten the demise. You only have to look at the relative attendances of National League clubs compared to Premiership clubs to see that a lower admission prices don't seem to make up for the lack of well-known riders on display.

It doesn't matter. Managers will chose their top four riders and the fans will choose which pair ride in heat 14 with the other pair riding in heat 15 by default. Just because some people don't have smartphones isn't a reason to try something new.

Exactly. I don't understand why some people are struggling with this concept. I actually think it is a good idea, just with slightly uninspiring implementation.

Apparently, that's a supporting wall for the banking of the bends.

Watch as the drainage issues miraculously disappear when the houses are built!

None of the land around the stadium is a flood plain.

Have you read the planning conditions, as I cannot find any conditions or even approval attached to the planning application? The only minutes for the planning committee referred to Section 106 money, nothing to do with conditions related to the stadium/housing.

This is the new stadium plan: http://www.thisisspeedway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/S_RES_18_0027-PROPOSED_SITE_LAYOUT-697013.pdf

The old plan was to re-site the stadium and turn it 45 degrees to where it is today. That plan was scrapped and a new plan, with the track staying in the same location but shorter, was passed a few months ago.

Here you go: You can see how the plan for housing encroaches on to the current track layout (left) and therefore why shortening it is a prerequisite to the housing development. https://pa1.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PCVNPPPTHMJ00