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So we're now in the situation whereby we have a ridiculous scoring system because the winner of the GP MUST have the most amount of points but that winner could have finished 10th in the qualifying heats! Utter madness!

Until teams announce their full 1-7 how can anybody say a team is weak at reserve

I think it’s a great idea, just do it big John.

And gives us even less racing for our money.

Tbh if the other clubs are doing nothing to help Birmingham & even raiding their top riders, I wonder should Birmingham pull out of the league? Hope Tolley doesn't let his heart rule his head & go bankrupt. While it's not the job of others clubs to keep Birmingham competitive, surely they know there's a very good chance it'll soon be a 6 team Premiership, is that what they want? Re Brennan if a club doesn't want to use their own asset isn't his current team supposed to have "first refusal" on him?

Bewley, Kurtz, Emil And Doyle, TWICE!!! What's not to like..?

Probably more likely to be Keith McGhie, he's certainly been the Redcar SS "correspondent" in the past.

You could have yes, but that wouldn’t be wise would it? That’s why you’ve made the change you have, it’s suits your club. As for “poach others”, your team has poached Zach Cook that Birmingham pencilled in to their team. You’ve done that out of pure self interest, because it’s a change you simply had to make. As said above, if you really wanted to be helpful, you could have not signed one of your top three and helped others below be more competitive. But you haven’t done that have you? Your club acts no differently to Ipswich or Sheffield. All three clubs have retained their top heatleaders, which is their right to do so. Perhaps you should be congratulating Ipswich for being loyal to riders of this Country? Five Brits I make that in the Ipswich team. Lovely to see. How many have Belle Vue got?

I suppose that depends on whether you want to watch live speedway or only watch it if you win. I much prefer to see good racing, whoever wins rather than boring victories but I know others think differently. I've seen some good meeting where my team has lost sometimes by quite a margin.

There’s no way he really believes the drivel he comes out with so he’s blatantly fishing for bites. Stop jumping straight in to his net 😉 Everyone is fully aware Belle Vue do what’s best for Belle Vue, just like every other club.

No disrespect to either, but .. If those two are One and Five then they may as well shut... Edit. Or some way of allowing them to run in Div 2 on Mondays is found.. No point in Birmingham limping along just making up the numbers, and, if the plan is to move somewhere else, then far better to be seen as successful in Div 2 than out of their depth in Div 1.. Neither title means much outside the few who follow the sport anyway, so either league will get similarly noticed, so locally, winning most weeks could help attendances...

1 Cook 8.42 2 Lightcap 5.00 3 Jenkins 6.21 4 Gilkes 5.08 5 Zischke 6.96 6 Trigger 3.00 7 Bailey 4.97 Total 39.64 From what i heard on Friday night this team isnt going to be far away! Cant say who i have added but i have 5 certs and on good authority the rest are 'Done Deals'.

You been on the same stuff as complin? Jesus christ

Dont see why not. No team can have riders with averages of less than 2.00 so by definition this pair must be among the lowest / weakest in the league. Bear in mind neither actually achieved 2.00 and they were particularly weak away from home.

I think you're underrating Lynn purely because you're comparing them to Ipswich. Any team will look weak compared the the rumoured Witches 25 line up. I'd also disagree that King & Ellis are better than Iversen & Klindt, but there's not a lot in it. Even if the Lynn side is "bang average" that's still an improvement on their last few seasons. Plus an average side could make the top 4.

He has, thats why he's Poole bound

If there's only enough riders (willing to race in GB) to fill SIX teams at a 40 point limit, then how can that be the points limit for a SEVEN team league? I guess if the other 6 teams vote for a 40 point limit not much Brummies can do about it. If there was a 39 point limit, freeing up riders for Birmingham, they league would have the same riders in it, they'd just be spread out more evenly rather than some clubs having more heat leaders than others. At the end of the day, you'd still get some strong looking teams with a 39 limit, someone still has to win the league, this doesn't make it harder for anyone, just more equal for everyone. Very disappointed with every Prem club for only looking out for themselves, which is their right (for short term gain) but may be regretted in the future when they have less opponents to race. I also believe Birmingham should have been allowed to compete in the Champ on a Monday. With so few fixtures, just avoid signing Belle Vue riders & arrange fixtures to avoid needing guests depending on the Monday Premiership fixtures.

If the rumours are true , and this is the team , then it's quite an exciting prospect . Bomber will do what Bomber does , score well and entertain us . Dan Thompson could really kick on next season and become the second heat leader . Leon Flint looked to be finally getting the hang of Ashfield towards the end of the season just past. Kyle Howarth is a proven performer and will ride to his average . Young Mr Boughen could be capable of much improvement. Yes the reserves look a bit on the weak side , but they are young lads and you just never know . I'm confident Freddie Hodder can compete adequately in the home fixtures at least .

Brennan did well for us last season, he carried the Team on many occasions until Lindgren arrived. The way I look at it is this. Brennan is the only realistic prospect of a British rider breaking in to SGP full time in next 3-4 years realistically on the horizon. Whether he is good enough is open to question but he has to optimise his chances of doing so. Will he do that carrying a team at Birmingham knowing its 95% sure to close as the Stadium closes in a years time or being a third heat leader behind 2 experienced GP stars at Ipswich, where he could legitimatley stay for a number of years and step up the pecking order in time and learn from those around him, rather than carry them. He will have a solid UK base, is building his profile in Poland and also gaining valuable experience in Sweden. I'd actually argue that had he NOT gone to Ipswich, he'd have been better off riding CL at Poole than PL at Perry Barr in terms of his development in 2025. Thanks for all your efforts Tom, onwards and upwards young man!.

So Riss & Pijper vs Vissing & Ablitt, who would score more combined?

Wright, Mulford, king, Edwards, Riss, ace P, Tom Spencer

He’s an obvious Troll. People should stop feeding him.

Sometimes the stars align and you can end up with a team heavily featuring British riders. Only last year when injuries cost us the title we had six during the season if you also include our No8. The Aces and the Brummies (with two junior sides) have a clear program of British youth development. Ipswich do not thought I do applaud your team that will feature five Brits this coming season, well done. Raising this as a point scoring attempt has failed spectacularly, again well done.

What does the “GSA” stand for on the 2024 statistics page then? No they’re not rolling averages that are used for team building/positions, but they’re an accurate statistic over performance for this particular season. They show averages for League meetings this season with bonus points, and a Green Sheet average for League meetings this season. Well no it really can’t can it? It’s an accurate average on a full season’s performances in league meetings. Those stats don’t lie. I personally find these useful and a more accurate guide to a rider’s progression or regression from their previous season’s “average”. I do agree though that as these averages are not used for official purposes, they may as well include all meetings although with some riders riding play off meetings and some aren’t, it will skew them slightly for comparison purposes. As will some riders not riding every league meeting through injury but there’s nothing you can really do about that.

Connor is 100% not riding speedway next season according to Gavin Parr on the latest Official British Speedway podcast

You know that won’t be the Team .

The issue here is the sport simply isn’t popular enough. We have had 40 years of the product being watered down in terms of lowering points limits to try & even things out however that has been totally unsuccessful in halting the decline in attendance figures or the number of tracks operating. Granted some tracks have been lost to housing but that’s not the case for the vast majority. The only way to save this sport is a proper plan & a rebirth, it needs to become more popular to survive.

Don’t put that kind of negative energy in to the atmosphere, I’d rather have 6 riders.

Can we get this pinned? Mods…..

I never said all seven were Brits did I Geoffrey. A shock to absolutely nobody that you can’t read because you’re as thick as mince. To help you a little, I’ll repeat what I said. FIVE Brits in the Ipswich septet, is damn good going and lovely to see.

No, but the entertainment is usually better and that's more important at my age !☺️

Floppy actually was Eastbourne's No 1 in 2004 with a nearly 10 point average, even when Nicki was at his peak, such a shame after a broken leg, then concussion he never quite got to those heights again. Nicki always preferred to ride at 5 I reckon because it meant normally less team riding as well.

Zagar would be a great signing at Belle Vue, but I wouldn't take him at any other Premiership club, especially if he's as expensive as rumoured.

No they don't

yep that masters track would have been a test for anybodys shoulder!!

Birmingham wouldn't then be in the top division. Both Birmingham & Oxford are only there because those 2 clubs have gone.

No brainer to retain Ellis then. I was using gbspeedway.com GSA's when comparing them but yes I forgot they're rolling averages and not yearly ones.

James Black will probably be the Redcar report. He does Berwick reports (and the Berwick stream). Possibly some for Redcar, Edinburgh and Workington also.

The main sponsors are Watling JCB who are a distributor not JCB who are the manufacturer.

Oh there is, 100%. Every club, Belle Vue included, build the best teams they can within the budget they have, without a seconds thought for anyone else.

Please don’t bracket Belle Vue with Ipswich & Sheffield on this matter, there is just no comparison, sadly.

Don’t think Ipswich would build 3 points below the limit.. I believe they tried!! Ultimately riders will go where they want to go. Rew isn’t at Belle Vue. Unless his sudden availability has tempted them to now swap him for Zach Cook. It’ll Be Jason Doyle surely. Leave the new man in the team until last.

Well don't look at @Redtruck team, even weaker at the bottom end lol!

The World Speedway Riders Association have named Peter Schroeck their team manager of the year! I can't disagree with their summary of his season: Having managed Oxford’s teams for all 66 fixtures across the 3 levels of British Speedway, the German has shown the greatest commitment in 2024! But being in charge of the most meetings doesn't make him the best manager! I've never suggested he doesn't work hard, but he's one of the worst "tactical" managers I've ever seen.

If I was brum I’d be all out after Thorsell and lahti who I think could be getable

Were the sprint races well attended by those at the GPs? It seems a novelty gimmick to me and not really worthy of standings points. If it’s genuine qualifying then that’s qualification for the main event or if it’s practice then the riders should be free to do as they please. Neither should be treated as actual competition with serious rewards at stake.

Wanna bet ? As much as you want, loser pays to the Ben Fund...

No quality heat leader to support Frcike next year v all the comments around next years team then we will struggle when/if get to play offs...Fingers crossed for a big signing Wosniak...?

What I dislike about this format is that it means 1st is no better than 4th, while 5th is no better than 8th. Of course 4th is gonna be infinity better than 5th. You won't get any excitement at the bottom of the table as the team in 8th will no longer be desperate to make it to 7th, once you can't make the top 4, just take it easy till play-off time.

In the relegation play-offs between the teams that finish 5th to 8th in the regular season, the 2 semi winners will be safe and the losers will meet each other with the loser relegated. The winner will then meet the loser of the Extraleague 2 play-off final to decide who is in Extraleague and Extraleague 2 the following season. This could mean that the team who finishes 5th in the Extraleague regular season could be relegated !! - seems a bit harsh !!!