I think 7 days is too harsh especially for a first offence, maybe a 1 match ban or 3 day ban and then increase for each illness in the season just to stop any abuse. I think earlier in the season Howarth rode unwell to avoid the ban and if I remember right did end up injured.

Sheffield won't finish top so have no choice. Ipswich will 100% pick Belle Vue

Even when injured?! Anders does always seem to try to race. He has my vote. 

Sad to see yet another club closedown, this time extinguishing all signs of speedway in the West Midlands, which once boasted 4 clubs (CH, COV, Wolves and BM) Like London and the South East speedway is finished for good.  What has become of Dudley Wood and Wolves old stadia ? We all know the never ending saga of Brandon... but have these other stadia succumbed to housing developments ?      

Clearly a not fully fit Barker showed great determination. The gust of the evening astounded everyone including me...... Lewis Kerr once again showed his inconsistency perfectly tonight. Given another opportunity he'll probably score 0 at Saddlebow Road 🙂   Sadly another British rider who seems to have suffered severe injury and never quite fulfilled his potential.  Another  who I regularly saw as a very young lad at Lakeside juniors was Sammy Hagon. Showed great promise in junior race always bringing up the rear against the likes of Jason Edwards, but despite an awful lot of track time never settled at Poole and finds himself struggling in the upper tier at reserve.   

Last year when riders raced in Poland while being injured in Britain, the wording was after 28 days they have to return or be replaced, clubs wouldn't get a second 28 day facility. Assuming that's the case this season, if Becker didn't return, Leicester would only be able to use a 75% guest, as they can't replace him.