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Does anyone else think it's crazy that Northampton are not being granted a full facility for the missing NKI...? It's not their fault that he's injured and it's not their fault that he's being advised not to fly because of his injury... Surely this is a perfect example of where the infamous "In the best interests of the Sport" rule should be applied... We have a new track starting from scratch, trying to attract and retain new fans... but in a sport that prides itself on having No Brakes...they are being asked to operate with an artificial hand brake applied... Seems ridiculous!!!!

Whilst I take your point on Klindt, Batchelor's scores have been 7+1, 3+1, 5+1, and 9, all away from home, and 5 at home. I'm wondering what you're expecting from a 4.73 averaged rider?

Lads been out best part of 12 months, steps right back in to Premier League with a few practise spins. Show some respect!

To me the heat races now seem like they are just qualifying races before the proper final race, whereas formerly when every point scored counted for the championship, it felt much more like every heat already was a true world championship race.

Can't believe people are still talking about Gilkes replacing Newman, Bowes is the obvious rider to drop if they want Gilkes back.

Poor Cooper signed for the wrong East Anglian team.

Well said. Reform either don't bother with facts or just lie (some of the things they claim they can do at Council level simply are not true) - they've made no difference in Councils that they've taken over. In Kent, they've lost 10 of their elected councillors within a year, and it's an absolute mess there. Tories have faded away. Suffolk County Council is full of Tory old boys who look after their own interests. It needs a shake-up, but with people who have a genuine concept of what can actually be done at County level. No change for Ipswich, because 7 May is not a Borough/District election. Some people have no idea of the difference.

batch rode better than i thought he `would at bellevue

What, for the reform or tory clowns? 14 years of their rule has left the country in tatters, and well done Nigel for brexit, what a disaster.

I know it would be a bit of a faff but couldn't NKI use the train, its a couple of hours from Brussels to St Pancras, walk to Euston approx 10 minutes, train to Northampton takes just over an hour. Get him a railcard to save some money.

They're all crap from all parties, half a brain between the lot of them.....we're doomed......

Can not see it making much difference to the team. They could really do with a good second heat leader.

Imagine needing "someone else" to suggest you actually do those very, very, basic things....?

As Mark Lemon said... "We need the sixth team for credibility"... If any of the Monty Python team has said it, we would be quoting it for the next fifty years!!!!

To be fair to Glasgow, they picked 2 reserves who should improve from last season. Hodder dropping from the harder number 6 to the easier number 7 spot, Hagon dropping from second string to reserve. Not the strongest reserves on paper, but both capable.

Sad state of affairs when a local fan is already disillusioned. TBH i follow my teams in Football and Speedway through thick and thin, it's been mostly thin for both. But someone on the promotion should be speaking to you to try and resolve the issues. You might be full of good ideas to change them, it'll be a first for the BSPL but if after 5 matches only one of which was at home, you're fed up then they need to listen

Exactly and if you look at what Gilkes said, he was disappointed but understood the reasoning. The facts are he was not fit at the start of the season, he has spent a lot of time and money trying to get fit but he turned up for his first meeting and scored one point so he clearly is not ready yet. From a Poole point of view, we got in a rider to cover for his absence who did very well, this rider is a Pirate through and through who has always given his all for us, to dump him for a not yet fit rider would be stupid. I feel sorry for Dan Gilkes but this is a sensible decision.

Too injury prone and another liability, no thanks.

Kyle stays.

I always laugh on threads where 2 point reserves get blamed for defeats when they don't score... That's TWO points dropped... One more point each from the top three, who make up the biggest portion of the team average, would more than cover that... Yet, No's 1, 3, and 5 scoring a collective 25 or so isnt called out the same... HL's are paid to win races, meaning a minimum drawn heat, two point reserves are paid to beat their opposite number the two times they meet.

I tend to agree, good to hear that Fraser helped Lawson out the other day, when Richard's van broke down. It's a bit of team building, might help Bowes feel more like he fits in at Poole. These kinda things can be useful.

Good post... EVERY meeting should have at least four races of "development" racing, featuring four riders.... You only need to watch 150cc and 250cc coverage on YT, from five years or so ago, of riders who are now holding down HL positions in the Championship, straight legging into the bends before bringing the arse end round into a skid... Now these lads hit the bends full on sideways and never switch the throttle off.. Lap, after lap, after lap, after lap, after lap, of practice is the only reason they are now where they are... Like anything that anyone has an aptitude for, the more you do it, the more you improve... The practice though will have been driven by them, and their parents, with no clear development structure ran by the BSP... Criminal how many riders have been lost to the sport given the opportunities provided for overseas riders... Who are either no better, not much better, or, when they get good, clear off...

Now confirmed, hopefully back sooner rather than later, massive loss for us.

Hagon rode well on Saturday guesting for Berwick

Tin hat time, but I think Jason Garrity is on his to way Scunthorpe very soon on an average under 5.

Tbh their 2026 averages aren't far below their rolling aves, especially Lambert. It's Mountain that's performing poorest compared to his 2025 form. Most of the team are doing what's expected of them, I wouldn't say they are particularly underperforming, they're just a weak team. When it comes to MPT, they put a 6 point rider at number 5, what are fans expecting from him?

Frazer needs some track time

Welfare check on Gazc. Edinburgh 2-0 Glasgow. HHGH

The ultimate answer is stop complaining about what other countries/businesses are doing and focus on what you are doing wrong and strive be the best at the job and then that problem goes away

Agreed and I think the bigger issue is our numbers two and six.

This Witches team is certainly performing above my expectations! One defeat at Belle Vue which we knew would happen is pretty impressive. Could be dark horses & I’m still expecting Bangs & Nicholls to get better

....plus Kyle is a decent decorator!!🤣

Good meeting that.... Swedish Speedway delivers the closest and best racing for me... Some very good, well shaped, tracks,

Don't be modest Dave, I was very impressed ..

Not sure what happened there, Swedish comms started coming through on the feed after the interval!

Dave speaking fluent Swedish!!!!!

Despite the result and an awful diversion on the A12 to the M25, enjoyed my first meeting of 2026. Surely Max Fricke will improve and what I saw of the reserves has already repaid my pre-season faith in their ability to get better - I am certain that we will remember Cooper's first steps in the league when he becomes a massive star. Cook & Bomber were solid if unable to make the gates - apart from the mysterious 'red light' race, but as stated elsewhere Paco & Kvech were passengers. Probably too early for a knee jerk change, and I still believe this team will get better. On to Northampton!

Good signing if he is fit ? Two years ago he was a real prospect but injury has stalled his progress. On his day a EWR specialist so given time he could be an inspired signing. Tough on Lambo whos is a club stalwart but this is Speedway. Rob has never been less than loyal to his riders so it will not be an easy decision. Sure all of us wish Lambo the best and he wont be without a team place long. Welcome Dan; he knows the EWR well so that should be a big help.

Confirmed on the Witches website that Lawson didn’t pack his Kevlars or boots when moving his kit from his conked-out van to Fraser Bowes’ van. Ipswich rang round and found someone who had bought an old pair of Heeps’ Kevlars and was happy for Lawson to use them. It doesn’t say whether they needed to put a couple of tucks in them round the middle 😉

Injuries are becoming more and more of a problem when trying to present even a bit of credibility for the sport when I went late 80's early 90's everything was based around the old british league and national league. Now days with riders competing in up to four different international leagues plus doubling down and more individual/team international competitions plus all the grand prix's the opportunities for injuries are way higher so we are less than a month into the season and some teams are decimated already turned up with guest,. r/r and irr. There really is no answer to this in the UK but it doesn't help from a point of view when selling the sport when teams turn up with half the stated riders missing or trying to build a bond with the local fans.

Unfortunate for Leicester as Dan has been riding well so far in 2026. If they do t have many meetings in the next 4 weeks then imagine R/R and home and for away meetings see who is available guest wise if management think R/R not the right choice away from home

Swedish Speedway is back....... Always a decent watch....

Of course the rules are known before the season kicks off. But that doesn’t make the current/latest format a fair reflection of the overall performance of riders during the first 20 heats.

Current averages leave Scunthorpe over 2 points under the limit. Scope for improvement. Garritty could improve the team, but there would be other issues with him. How about Voulas?

The rules are known way before the season- the riders know the big points are handed out in race 23 “ the Grand Final “.

As somebody who attended many “one off” world finals can’t ever recall being bored after the winner was known. I agree a final does add excitement to the meeting at its conclusion, but it’s just not fair on the rider who has performed the best over the preceding 20 heats or have a winner of the GP who may not have actually scored the most points on the night.

Delayed cleaning his bikes? Or finishing off plastering a ceiling somewhere 😂

Thursday May 7th - everyone's chance to make the change.....

Sorry but there’s more important things for the council to spend money than on a parade for coming second. It’s not as if the council will get any of the £150 million, that is going to the football club and them only. I’m not taking anything away from them getting promoted but it doesn’t warrant a parade

It’s quite ridiculous that someone who scores 6 from 5 rides could get 20pts for winning the final.🤔👎