Do you get a guest for someone who hasn't yet ridden for you?

The other thing to remember is like last year, Sheffield have been the best team in the land year on year and losing to a strong team like that isn’t unexpected. They are also consistently good gaters and in modern speedway terms that equates to wins. Having not visited Sheffield for five years (shocking for a track less than 30 miles away) I was surprised by the small attendance compared to previous visits. At home you notice it less as you are visiting regularly so the small drops don’t register the same as revisiting after many years. A stark reminder of a dying sport. 

Where is Captain Oates and Lord Lucan?

For the past few years. The Aces, on average, have lost by over 20 points a meeting when visiting Sheffleld, with the exception being the play off final... I don't think it really matters who is missing, or even if they are at full strength... The Aces just struggle at Sheffield... Looked a good night for Dan though, and after seeing him at the PCMT, and in a few Polish meetings on TV, so far, he seems to be a bit more aggressive in his riding, and gating a bit better too... He certainly has the talent to reach that GP top step, he just needs that forcefulness to do it...  

You missed all the excitement leaving that early. All the Aces fans suddenly woke up and chanted "Bewley, Bewley, Bewley" when you finally got a heat advantage in heat 12. Pity the match was already over by then. 😉

It’s the 5-point riders that often struggle to find a spot. Too high to be a reserve, too low to be a sure bet. They’re the ones that get squeezed for the final spots.