Of course anyone that is picked doesn’t have to accept it that’s a given. I think that’s unlikely however. The financials and the chance to ride with world class riders would be too tempting to turn down.    It also doesn’t matter how much Louis would want him unless he signed him at number six which wouldn’t happen. If Ipswich give up their retention of Edwards, they’d have to sit and wait for their pick and I’m sure someone would go for Rushen before Ipswich got their chance.    Unless Cooper did what Jenkins did last year, reject the advances of other clubs that picked them first and then accept Ipswich’ offer when it’s their turn! Another reason why this rising star scheme doesn’t work and is a total nonsense. No rider should be forced to ride where they’re told, that should NEVER have been the case and good on Jenkins for sticking to his guns and riding where he wanted.    Scrap it. 

Just enjoyed my celebration cooked brekkie at the Premier Inn Middlesbrough. Ok we didn't win the 1st leg but just the 2 points in it sets the Treble up nicely. Fair play to Redcar for winning fair and square. And a nice welcome from the announcer to the Pirates ☠️ sat in the 'royal box'.  Great effort by the Pirates despite their mechanical issues. All set up nicely for Wednesday at WINborne Road 👍 C'mon the Boyzzz ☠️ 💪 

Cooper & the team around him seem very level headed. I think everyone would love to see Cooper become a Witch. However I think if Coopers team decides it’s too early then he’ll give it a miss. If he is picked he doesn’t have to accept the rs position. Louis could well be one of those who is advising him who knows. 

The way I saw it was that the Tobias/Ace move was in essence simply a block pass, accurately carried out be it close/harsh, and Ace had options. Ace should have gone.  With the Kyle/Zac one it was always going to be close/harsh, but the manoeuvre was poorly executed (there seemed to me to be significant contact). But on balance a racing incident, part and parcel of the spectacle we love to watch. If Zac had fallen (any which way) it would have forced the ref to exclude Kyle.  Both incidents were on the edge racing, fit for a final. 

Don’t know if I’m easily please but I’m happy with the usual 90mins it takes to run a meeting. Even if it runs over at 120mins its ok with me. The replays and interviews on the big screen plus those over the mike keep my interest between heats, if I’m not chatting with folk that is. Add in the antics of Chase and his interval white line challenge for the kids (big & small) pass the time nicely.  Andy sticks to his regular quick track grades with only two of the four “holding things up” as the others are at the interval and before heat 15 when there are breaks anyway.  Pre meeting we have Philips manager interviews and post meeting we have the press conference with Hayley & Lee before we can have one to one chats with the riders, all in the lovely surrounds of the Peter Craven suite.  Being from an era of three TV channels, a whip & top to play with and chippy tea being a treat, perhaps my entertainment sensibilities are out of step with current trends.    I agree about the stats thing and I’ve spoken with people trying to produce an app to draw the kids in using stats but nothing has surfaced yet. Also there should be more for the managers to do and us second guess them as currently the format is far too ridge, for no apparent reason that I can see. 

Speedway is full of inconsistent referees etc. Max fricke went inside Leon and only went off his line by a few yards and got excluded. Chris Harris went inside Richard lawson and hit Lawson's bike after he had crashed and Lawson got excluded.   At Edinburgh Nick Morris got excluded when Edinburgh showed the referee an ultra slow motion replay but a week or so later that wasn't available when Luke Harrison was excluded.