Unfortunately the standard has dropped so much that the two time winner of said championship is still after three seasons of racing got an average of a tad under three pts. We have produced 4 world champions and countless world finalists and GP riders from the championship. I can't see that happening any time soon!!

All this not blaming the rider is BS in my opinion, the likes of Sayfutdinov & Kurtz always hold the cards, there's no way their clubs are going to drop them while they're still scoring the points and even if they did they'd be a queue of other clubs wanting to sign them.  It's time they stood up and showed some integrity! Sayfutdinov should definitely receive a nice 28 day ban... and miss the pay off final 😁

Are we just looking at the consequences of the decision to have the league cut-off after the play offs have started?

It’s not a like-for-like replacement; it’s deeper than that. We took a risk when building this team and while it may still work, it’s cost us several times this season. We’re top heavy and that isn’t Max Perry or Freddy Hodder’s fault, but unless our top five are firing on all cylinders- which hasn’t happened on several occasions - then there’s more pressure on those two teenagers to deliver, especially the one riding at number six. Perry and Hodder have had a tough gig this season, but they should be proud. Next season, keep Hodder and compliment him with a stronger reserve.

I should add that Dan Thompson - who raised concerns about competing in said meeting due to the risk of injury - ended up injured because Luke Killeen was unable to control his bike taking off from the start line. The final ended with three riders eating dirt.

Cairns was outstanding last night and continues to exceed expectation, but I agree with the sentiment of your second paragraph. The standard of British speedway is abysmal and the level of rider coming through is so far removed to what this country once produced. The British Under-21 final earlier this season was like watching one of Scott Nicholls’ training schools. The focus for 90% of that field was safely getting around two bends; not actually racing. It was so poor. Once upon a time, we had Lorams and Screens, then we had Steads and Allens, then we had Kennetts and Bridgers, but now we don’t.