I find it hard to judge that team, amazing top 4, but a weak bottom 3. Especially as Hagon had spells where he struggled at reserve. Good to see many Brits getting a team spot.

The Speedway Star has a page dedicated to "this week "x" decades ago", and it is truly incredible how the same things get mentioned... With usually at least one promoter being quoted as "this needs to change", (to something that still hasn't changed), or "we need to work together to get more people into the stadiums", (still doing well that one!!!).. The 2036 edition (if UK Speedway is still a thing), will no doubt have 2026 comments quoted which echo those quoted in 1996!!😁

With Oxford's suggested top 4 being so strong, Perry would have to be the "stronger" reserve. You never know what you’ll get from a new 2 pointer, for example Ben Whalley averaged 0.84, so it could be too big a risk starting with Summers & Fletcher?

Closed season discussions have always been Groundhog Day, in my opinion. Such as: Will a team run next year, yes or no What will be the points limit Tyre regulations Which riders are available and who is moving to where Tinkering with the rules What has been discussed and agreed at the conferences 

If you want to be part of a range of projects and initiatives aimed at helping to keep speedway in Britain alive then by all means visit http://www.speedwayunited.org as we use the findings from the British Speedway 2030 report which is being serialised in Speedway Star this month to come up with strategies to help the sport nationally and at club level. Many fans are frustrated and feel disenfranchised, unable to make any impact with what can feel like a sport run by people who are not listening. Let's make it hard to ignore fans and others with something to offer. For this we need numbers, people signing up to join Speedway United, subscribe to updates etc. and we also need action which may start small but evidence what coordination, collaboration and connection can do.  During the course of my research for the Speedway Star articles, I don't see a magic solution to bringing in new fans or sponsors/backers, or to stopping tracks from closing but I do see passionate people who work hard and often subsidise the clubs to keep the sport running. Together we can do more for the sport and being active in ways that can help is a great way to stop feeling unimportant or distant from the sport you love.

It says, (copied and pasted from the digital edition) ”I’ve had talks with a few clubs now, so I’m definitely coming back to England but it is not sure yet which club that will be” Also says about his first time at Plymouth,  “First time I went there, I didn’t know if it was a practice track or the real track!”