TheSpecialOne

Absolutely pouring here (Kesgrave/Martlesham). Forecast is for it to clear mid afternoon but there is a lot of water on the ground. Foxhall Road flooded in places and Bell Lane junction completely under water. Will take a massive effort to get this on.

Unfortunately the big winner in all of this Heeps. The run of injuries and the need to make changes as a result has only served to mask his continued failure this season. In truth he is the one who should have been replaced had the rest of this mess not occurred. This years team was built around a strong top 5 and to an extent carry the reserves whilst they were given time to improve. Heeps poor performances has put the focus and unessessary pressure on the reserves. No doubt he will return a score against Redcar but these aren’t the fixtures where we need him to deliver. It really is his (last) chance to deliver.

How sad to see how far the once mighty Ipswich Witches have fallen. Easy to blame a run of injuries but in truth this is s badly put together side which would have always struggled to complete even at this level.

The out of date beer from the bar?

The track and general entertainment of the meeting was frankly terrible apart from one very creditable ride by Covatti. Howarth tried to make the outside line work and went backwards. King a usual exponent of the outside line made no progress whatsoever when trying to come from behind. Why the track was left so dry and therefore became slick so quickly is beyond me on such a sunny and and drying day due to the wind. It isn't the volume of the music that is the problem. The noise coming from the local radio DJ however is painful.

Time to make some big decisions. Both Covatti and Heeps were signed on inflated avaerages. Covatti was always going to struggle to maintain his after the best part of a year out injured and Heeps as mentioned earlier struggles both in terms of consistency and professionalism. The reserves are not to blame the way the team has been built will mean they were always going to need the top 5 to carry them to some extent. The calendar this year does not allow time to riders to find their form, failure to act will mean yet another year of under achievement.

Would be good but not possible within the limit. Remove Covatti and it's possible to fit in Campton and Newman .

King, Heeps, Mountain and Hume

I suspect the result will largely depend on the fitness and sharpness of Schlein and Newman. I fear Newman's fitness coupled with his recent habit of failing in big meetings/races could be a problem. Hope i'm proved wrong.

Useful practice for Campton at Glasgow if the Witches need to use him as a guest for the final

Talking rubbish as usual. The more telling stat is that Cam started the season at 5.07 as is now up to 6.78 and rising. Sedgeman came into the side at 7.60 and is now down to 6,46 and dropping. The Newman comparison is an even better one. Allowing for Sedgeman's injuries, Newman has had comparable, if not worse, during this season and yet to his credit has maintained his average (started 6.31 and is currently 6.29.

No surprises last night. The result wasn't decided at the Douglas fall and subsequent withdrawal but more at the point that the relegation favourites Scorpiins team was declared prior to the season. The only real surprise on the evening was that their management didn't stage an on track sit in protest after one of their numerous falls and exclusions. All the best

Quick question, were Wolves aware of Skornicki's equipment plans when they offered him a contract for this season?

Apparently we shouldn't be too hard on Lambert. He wasn't poor it was just that the 'track was dangerous'* *not my words, an actual quote from a Peterborough supporter

Will the entire Berwick team refund my admission money from Foxhall last Thursday then?

Anything to do with the aggregate score sitting at 67-95 with 3 heats to go at the time?

I think your observations on Heeps could well be true. He really hasn't progressed in the last two years and has gone backwards if anything. Not convinced by his inclusion (if true). The top 5 needs to score the bulk of the points, pressure should not be put on the 2 young reserves, however it's hard to see who in that top 5 will actually increase their average which is usually the need of a successful team.

I agree and actually expected a bigger first leg deficit so why then is somebody unconnected to this semi on this thread claiming the toe is over?

[quote name="macca56" post="2796047" timestamp="1465634886" Leave it alone please, TSO, the situation at Foxhall is worse than you can imagine, especially if you care as passionately about the sport and team as Baldy does.... I'm fully aware of the situation at Foxhall having been a regular on the Heath, up and down the country and across Europe for close on 40 years. I know it sounds like it but this isn't and shouldn't be a 'I'm a better supporter than you' competition. I will leave it alone as and when you cut the mindless dribble on this and other threads. Things may be relatively bad right now but not as bad as your mega blubb posts make it sound.

Spot on Lewy

Both metings held on his home track at Kurri Kurri. Also worth taking a look at the line up for the 1st round of the Australian title, must be the weakest for a long, long time (no Doyle, Holder or Batch).

What average does Joe Jacobs come in on?

Surely the best news of 2016 and we're only in Oct 15.

I don't think the entertainment value was helped by the bizarre and unexplained need for a track inspection half way through. Unessessary breaks and the delays caused by a team operating R/R never help the smooth flow of a meeting.

If we're discussing next years team already the first name that should be nowhere even close to it is that of 'Tungate'