gazzac

I think the same as we would have done, but the deciding factor may have been he looked far happier on the Birmingham track than ours. Most likely now William O'keefe after yesterday?

See Hampshire has gone to Birmingham as I feared. Wonder what Conner has up his sleeve for the remaining reserve? Unless Bates can raise his game, having now sorted the main body of the team could be worrying when Powell and him swop.

You did get the numbers right I suppose. ...

Should be popular with all fans really, far healthier situation for the league. Makes it even more satisfying if we do go to places like Stoke and Buxton (and Kent!) and get a result.

Perhaps he's already agreed guest bookings next week for other teams? If he signed for us now he wouldn't be an unattached rider.

He was beginning to get to grips with the track on Saturday by the second half, so seems a quick learner. As the koc cup, national trophy and the playoffs don't qualify towards a new average, if he does come from the 1st July perhaps the plan is to keep him on a 3 for next year and use him like we did Tom last year. Unless he goes elsewhere of course!

See what I mean! It won't be only Brum wanting him as well.

Don't know whether he wants to be an unattached rider for the rest of the season, but if he does want to commit to signing for someone, after his rides last Saturday and at Birmingham last night we should snap up Taylor Hampshire asap, if we don't someone else definitely will.

Definitely don't think he needs protecting, but he is still learning and pairing him with an experienced calm rider like Mark can only do him good in the long run. Maybe it'll end up Mark supporting him at some meetings, expecially if Tom gates as speed wise not a lot between them. Also having the 2 of them at 3/4 gives you a really strong pairing in the vital middle order . Definitely think it's a good plan to have them at 1/2 at the moment as it does take some pressure off Tom against opposing bit hitting no 1's.

That was my thinking, Tom and Mark rode well together Saturday and have another 3 league meetings and the koc cup tie to ride together so will be used to each other. Georgie is an out and out racer and have noticed unintentionally he sometimes blocks his team mate. The number 5 slot always seems to be the one where you go for it, which I think suits Georgie best.

I think it more likely Mark at 3 and Georgie back to 5. Puts Mark and Tom together for 3 out of the 4 programmed rides.

I hope you're right, as I said similar thing happened to Andrews a couple of years ago.

Will probably have Bates and Powell swop at the next average changes which could compound the problem. Could make Bates do what Andrews did at the end of the 2015 season , regaining confidence and banging in big scores, my only fear is you'll never know whether he'll get 1 or 12! Makes you realise the strides Powell made this year as you now expect him to get 6/10 a meeting.

With the fixtures, running on a Saturday which as from experience is the only viable night for Eastie to run, arranging the home fixtures is and always has been a nightmare to sort with trying as much as possible not to run the same night as a gp, and especially with nl riders avoiding weekend grass track meetings as we have 2/3 riders regularly doing national and European meetings. I supposed having sorted a date for the meeting in between a gp and grass tracks, was probably impossible to rearrange. Also with Smith and Bewley riding for 3 teams an alternative date may have been impossible anyway on a Saturday. Obviously one couldn't forsee the injuries to the other 2 , but can understand why Eastie wouldn't alter the fixture.

Thought exactly the same, and was actually really impressed how he adapted, the extra rides in the second half helped as well. Definitely worth keeping, he has the speed and can only get better.

I recon they'll give Hampshire a go as a guest for the next 2 meetings as a trial and make sure he wants to ride permanently for the season, then re declare him in the team instead of Saul.

it is a shame with bad planning of the fixture, but don't think it'll make a too much difference to the crowd and it will still be a good attendance, 4 of us are going especially as it seems a long time without speedway at Arlington and no chance of rain. With the guests they have should still provide an exciting match, and a lot of fans will want to see Tom at No.1.Hopefully if we take all the points it's still closing the gap on them, whoever rides in BV team.

Is a shame but still should be a really good match. Only plus side is if we do eventually play them in the koc or the playoffs, at least Bewley and the others missing still won't have experienced our tight track.

Must have been bad to feel that way sings!I always enjoy a bit of geeing up the opposing riders but as you say there is a limit and depends on the rider,the better they are the more they seem to be able to take.Always makes me laugh with Danny Ayres when he comes to Eastbourne,whether riding for Kent or Cradley,think he's a great rider and as last time responded to the stick with a 15 point maximum.It's the 'my team' effect if next year he rode for Eastie (not likely I know) but I could guarantee within a match he'd be an Eastie 'favourite'.

Agree but if he had come on a 9 point plus more realistic average, you wouldn't have the team you have now, which is the gripe with most fans. Not blaming Lakeside but as usual the BSPA cause so much unrest and confusion it just annoys most fans. Look at the Plymouth thread and b there's a similar discussion starting about Roynon.

Whatever way Hurry's average was worked out it certainly is being proved that as 99% of people thought it was way out and not right. That said at least the people who are bothering to go and watch are taking to it and think that the racing can be more exiting than the old elite, which was posted by myself and many others at the start of the season. Still stand by that, once you've been a few times and adapt to it, if you've a good team, especially at home as Lakeside certainly have now, you'll not want to go back up the leagues.

Really? Think it more likely it was planned from word go regarding Mason, what appeared to be getting the averages low enough to get Hurry in, and then being able to get the team re declared. No rules broken, just very clever by Cook, to get 3 heat leaders in the team instead of 2 . (Took too long typing, this is a reply to E I Adios post! )

That's really what I ment, although was looking at it from Easties perspective having got the 10 point lead whether by luck with Clegg in heat one, or skill in the wet.Taking into account all the if's and but's and the bad weather a draw was the right result, and certainly wasn't having a go at Powell, he was excellent in the conditions, expect his grass tracking experience helped!

Shame we lost the 10 point lead with 3 heats to go but the 5/1's in heats 13 and 15 always looked likely with the form Carr and Clegg were in, and no blame on Charley who was excellent all night, if he'd not had his nasty fall we'd have sneaked it. Still 2 points is a good result at Brum, and just shows how competitive the nl is disregarding the guests. Still think a similar result would have happened if both teams had their usual riders. Maybe we'll find out later in the season in the playoffs or koc.