Matt Marson guests for Max James for Monarchs and Berwick replace the still struggling with injury Bastian Borke with Jack Smith which moves Sam Hagon into the main body of the team. Another close one I think.   Friday 2nd May: Edinburgh Monarchs v Berwick Bandits (BSN Series), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR MONARCHS: Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Jonatan Grahn, Paco Castagna (Capt.), Oskar Polis, Victor Palovaara, Matt Marson (Guest). R. E. D. BANDITS: Craig Cook, Danyon Hume (Capt.), Sam Hagon, Drew Kemp, Peter Kildemand, Dayle Wood, Jack Smith.

One question, why do Ipswich, Belle Vue and Sheffield have to get punished because other teams can't do a good job at securing a solid team? Ipswich could lose hundreds of supporters if Emil or Doyle goes, and Birmingham gain another man and his dog turning up because they arrive at PB. Just face facts, some clubs have better support than others. Instead of watering down the league, maybe think about trying to promote the product you have now in a better way, Birmingham have a decent team and is located in the second capital of the country but can't get anyone in the stadium. When I was working the other day down in Essex with some sub-contractors from Brum I told them I'm watching the Birmingham vs Ipswich speedway that night and they didn't even know that PB housed speedway! That's more of an issue than trying to do a 6 man team or nick other riders from good teams.

Any thoughts on Saturday's GP? 365 have odds on. Doyle and Lambert look like the picks for me. Doyle has started pretty well, and I think Lambert will be right there at the end of the season - big season for him.

Totally agree something different needs to be done. The product has been watered down over the last 30 odd years to try & save the sport, it doesn’t work.    However I suspect what will happen is in the next couple or so years we will end up with one league of the 11 or 12 last standing clubs who will limp along for a few years before it finally implodes.

That was at a time when the top riders still wanted to ride the uk in high numbers. More to do with what they could earn than anything else with all the Sky TV money floating around. That’s no longer the case. From what I understand Emil wouldn’t ride anywhere else in the uk. If he is in the GP then I’d be surprised if he returned to Ipswich.

Four R.E.D Bandits (Drew, Cookie, Danyon & Sam) contesting tonight's British semi-final at Leicester...... Top six go through to British Final on Monday week.