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14+1 paid maximum for Dan Thompson in the Championship last night. Ipswich and Chris Louis deserve huge credit for turning this young man’s career around. Dumped by his parent club a couple of seasons ago (a decision they now must hugely regret), his improved form was almost instant under the guidance of Louis and he’s not looked back since. Any young rider trying to make their way up the Speedway ladder should take heed of that when choosing their club to ride for.

Edinburgh got more guests than the local B&B 😉

Utter rubbish. Do you think that 1,1,1,1,1 =5 and being on the wrong end of 5 5-1s is as good as 1,1,1,1,1 = 5 and beating five opponents? All that really matters is how many opposition riders have been beaten. In the example above, that has generated so much heat and so little light, all three riders had beaten six opponents in their first four rides making their contributions equally valuable.

😅 Definitely NOT over watered!! 🤣🤣

It’s also the way reporters list the riders scores and have done for decades, 8+1 trumps 7+2 everybody knows this. It’s just someone changing the system in a vain attempt to suit their argument. Bizarre.

No good the team manager criticising riders for being inconsistent when a couple of his own tactical decisions were at variance with what was obvious to most watching.

This is what I have to put up with. I get the trolls will trip themselves up whilst creating their imagined reality but I expect a level of consistency from the same poster. I don’t think you’re a troll and we can put this down as a mistake but please can I ask for a little less attitude and insults, we’re all (hopefully) speedway fans and can discuss things on here in a civilised manner.

Seems like you're stuck in 2015, rather than in the present. Musielak & Janowski are declining & Zagar is way way over the hill. These 3 are nowhere near "World Class." They can still have "World Class" moments but that's it, moments. They're absolutely no better than the 3 you compare then too, especially in England. What's the point in arguing that MJJ is better than Doyle & Sayfutdinov?? Can MJJ score 31 points a meeting for Birmingham?? The divide the the Premiership at the start of the season was huge. Sheffield losing Woffinden & their 2 changes has dragged them in now with Leicester & King's Lynn. A lose to any of the top 3 riders at Belle Vue & Ipswich will suck them down massively too. But it's absolutely certain that Birmingham & Oxford won't be close to the Play-Offs. Currently, the Premiership is this:- 1, Ipswich 2, Belle Vue 3, Sheffield 4, Leicester 5, King's Lynn 6, Oxford 7, Birmingham The gaps are that big from top to bottom, it's clear and obvious to (almost) everyone.

Why do you need to blame anyone? It's a team sport. Everyone has a bad meeting occasionally. Don't remember you two reacting like this in the playoff final when Tom only got 4 at Oxford. But as you say you don't want Lewi at Poole so it suits I guess. Maybe they should put him at 4 whilst settling in. But shame to split up Zach and Anders partnership which is working well already.

Plymouth beat Poole with only 5 riders contributing against Poole's 6 riders. More to come from Plymouth watch this space!

Really enjoyed that meeting. Tough on Edinburgh to take nothing from two last heat deciders over a 48 hour period, but they were depleted tonight. I thought Cook and Polis were the stand outs. Cook’s mid-meeting interview was great; really insightful and amazing to see him upbeat, then to seal the win with victory in heat fifteen was deserved. As I said, Polis will top the Edinburgh averages. No doubt about it. They’ve found a gem.

If I was Oskar I'd be offended getting compared to Matic

This is only the third time I’ve saw him, but I fully expect him to top the Monarchs’ average come the end of the season. Ashfield, Shielfield and Armadale are like nothing he’ll have ever encountered in Poland, but he’s scored sixteen across the first two meetings and he’s on five from two already tonight. For perspective, compare him to Matic Ivacic for us last season.

He’s a main man is Blobby

For the first time ever, I have zero interest in this year's GP's. The lineup is same old same old, and weak, and the new scoring system is absolutely ridiculous. They have turned it into a clown show...

For the last time do yourself a favour and shut up they all scored 9 … wasn’t decided by race wins or bonus points … just they scored 9 watch …… 3 riders into 2 spaces doesn’t go Now bore off you prat

Sorry you deserve every insult going ….. you troll the Ipswich threads time and again making remarks so tedious and infantile How many times do you need to be told the same thing ….. do us a favour and eff off

I think the decision to put Sedgmen in 15 can just about be justified by the fact he won heat 13 on what looked to be a different bike from his first 3, so the hope was he would pop out the start the same again. Going with Paco however was a terrible decision, assuming Polis didn't turn it down, while his time in heat 14 wasn't quick he is a good gater, all that being said I don't think anyone was beating Dan Thompson tonight it was a faultless display. Palovaara as others have said was underused should have been nailed on to replace Thomson in heat 9.

There is too much of a disparity in HL strengths.. Within the 21 HL's there is simply to much of a gap... Cook was a decent No4 for the Aces and is now a No1... Tungate is (at best), a No3, (and only at certain tracks), yet rides at No1.... Ipswich have such a strong team because they have used the UK reduction brilliantly well, but also, more importantly, they have every rider in their team in precisely the correct position to match their capability in a league with top level world stars... Not many teams have ever had that to work with over the years, therefore, no surprise they are hammering teams, as "head to head" v their opponents, from one to seven, they have the better rider.. Seven teams of seven riders has meant too many second strings having to ride as HL's for the league to be competitive...

I just hope TNT don't cause the meeting to be dragged out - well I can dream... Kills all the excitement and momentum of even the best meeting for the actual paying punters

I can’t make this one tomorrow night due to having something already scheduled for this date before the fixtures were available, I have been unable to find a guest to take my place so the supporter replacement system will have to operate , meaning the fans who are there will have to shout a wee bit louder to make up for my absence

Perhaps the four strongest teams should join the Polish league and then you get weekend racing and good crowds ‘and then I woke up’ All the teams have a limit to build to but not all are either in a position or willing to pay what it costs for some of the top riders. Yes risks exist in signing them such as the Polish team pulling the plug but to use a draft system as has been mentioned elsewhere to solve the imbalance will not work. Those strongest teams obviously have a reputation for paying for the riders services ‘on time’ and not holding back on what is due hence the riders will want to protect the revenue. If you were a rider you would do your homework and go with the club that will pay. After all how many would want to spend six to seven months travelling around Europe simply to race or as in some cases expected because it is mandatory (and when you think of the costs involved plus if you are in the GPs the cost increase horrendously), take a risk on someone defaulting on what you are due It is not just about being a crowd pleaser on the track it is about running a risky business with only once source of income. The U K is no longer the must go to market for the sport and you only have to look at the stadia in Poland on a Sunday for a top league match and ask yourself as a rider where would you rather race, Poland or the UK in drab stadiums and sparse crowds (by comparison to the Polish following) If it is two tier that is because of the failings of the governing body and promoters over many years to do what is right for the sport.

Fair enough I hadn't realised heat 15 didn't count so I stand corrected on that. But Doyle was still on paid 9 same as Thompson. I would have liked to see the best riders from both teams in those extra heats.

Despite some very attractive top riders now racing in Britain from the continent, I find the results of some matches very boring. we’ve got Sheffield, Ipswich Belle Vue and Leicester who will finish in the playoffs. Kings Lynn ,Oxford and Birmingham struggling against the top four receiving hammerings causing several boring matches when they meet, and don’t stand a chance to make the playoffs. Seems as though we only need the top four teams riding against one another so we witness close meetings. Such a boring top flight league.

I think you can blame most of it on him, 2 points from your second best rider! Who do you blame then?

Shame the timeline kept slipping saw some bits 3 times. Then heat 14 total blank with message problem there end,

No idea what was up with him tonight, rode well for Sheffield the other day. You know I am not a fan of his but he is meant to be a professional!

Think Plymouth were better without Ben. Thompson and Bowtell revelling in the starts.

Good to see Craig in a positive mood,there is no doubt he still has the talent too be top man in this League.Bastion struggling big time.Polis was impressive for 1st time at Sheilfield.Class act at this level well done to Dayle Wood excellent points tonight,doing the job he was signed for.

Also on the other side Ashton did a lot better for Glasgow last night so be interesting to see how he does for KL.

Absolutely ridiculous.

What’s the job of the team manager if riders can turn round and refuse to ride in a heat? They should be told

I don't agree with the sprint races & the fact that they offer extra points. Now the qualification as I understand for the Semi finals is from 3rd to 10th with the top two straight to the final. I can't argue with the top two moving to the big race but I think it would be better for a last chance for the next 4. potentially a GP winner could finish on 6 points or even less to get the top points + the sprint race points. FIASCO!!!

Ipswich fan here To go without either of your 2 top scorers in heat 15 is poor management from Edinburgh Glasgow had their top 2 in and didn’t put Harris. The result may have been the same but surely you have to go with your form riders

Agree and that's why he should have been in heat 15. No bonus tonight when a team manager doesn't select the best riders on the night. Second in a two horse race.

Bloody hell,you sound like Robbie Savage 😂

Yes, but from Tesco. I wasn’t at Armadale tonight, I bought Edinburgh‘s live stream for £12.99 which was great value for money.

Did you get your Speedway Star?

Kings Lynn usually don't need any help with that

Doyle and Sayfutdinov both had 8+1, so I think everyone would see that higher than 7+2. Like you say both gave excuses for ducking out, leaving Thompson as next in line.

“Jason Doyle top scored with 11+1.” 😆😆 https://ipswichwitches.co/raceday-report-ipswich-60-30-birmingham/ This post was brought to you by the Plain English Campaign.

Doyle qualified but did not take part

That's all Ipswich supporters like, is there ever any decent racing there? How many awesome heats were there last night, that's what promoters should be aiming for! And bring back uprights, they're better to handle in all conditions! Racing needs to be better than it ever has, said that many times but nobody seems to care. It's not follow your leader races that fans want to see, Bomber knows it thank christ, Henka knew it, every track needs at least a natural racer who can't gate. That's how the know/learn to pass, use the whole track not follow each other on a one line boreathon! Chris Louis was known for his gating and riding the inside line, effective but boring, must be why the Ipswich fans don't care! Oh for Gollob, Rickardsson, Crump, Adams, Lee, Loram, Screeny, Dugard, Norris, Ward, Lambert, Parker etc etc etc. For many riders it's all gate, gate, gate, that won't keep the sport going!

100% agree, I remember a previous Edinburgh vs Glasgow 13 heat match (in the 15 hear era) but many riders weren't interested in the second half, so it got forgotten about in the second leg. While I'm not surprised it happened tonight, they shouldn't advertise top 4 riding unless all 14 riders agreed beforehand.

I felt the gate was lower than normal tonight as well, sadly with no Peterborough the best 'local matches' are Leicester and Kings Lynn.

have to admit the 2nd half was a disappointment, no Emil / Jason or MJJ - well done Dan however!

What YOU think? Good or Bad?? I think and have always said speedway is different.

WTF is this nonsense...

Think I will just watch and see what happens rather than trying to understand the rules.

I just had a quick look at the season’s averages so far published on the Witches web site. Dan is top of the away averages and third in the combined. i thought he would kick on this season but what a start he has had - take a bow young man and keep it up!