TonyE

As already said, 'The Voice of Reason' would appear to be a total 'misnomer' - such bitterness. I am almost beginning to feel sorry for him.

The difference is, however, that we are not compelled or legally obliged to do as they tell us. There is an argument that the royals bring a lot of money to UK but that is for another day. The Queen is a constitutional monarch who is obliged to sign Acts of Parliament into law - she cannot refuse.

With key elections due in several countries in the months ahead, it may well be a very different EU that we have to negotiate with anyway. A 'Hard Brexit' is widely anticipated given the intransigence of key European players regarding the four fundamental principles. The latter cannot be negotiated away/varied without risking the very existence of the EU so I am somewhat perplexed when certain individuals keeping stressing that we must maintain tariff free access to the single market as that is incompatible with the outcome of the referendum. Things will settle down eventually - history proves we are a very resilient country.

Turn it the other way around. We are still in the EU (at present) and have had non-EU guys riding here for years (mainly Aussies and the occasional Russian) sure a bit of paperwork involved but they rode. Why should it be any different when everything flips sides?

Who is 'closing borders'? - that is just more simplified rhetoric. UK will certainly NOT be a closed area for immigrants but we will, at last, have the final say on just who is allowed in.. Of the many folks I have encountered post the referendum, the issue of sovereignty came up before that of immigration amongst those that voted 'out' =- that is the ability to hold our politicians to account for the way they run the country ( at the moment the EU partly runs the country) and to take the ultimate sanction should we not be best pleased. Yes, there will be some short term pain, Sterling was over-valued anyway, but, in the long term, to be able to determine our own destiny is the overriding factor.( I seem to recall paying around £1.30 per litre for fuel not that long ago). It is all very well playing on the downside of Brexit whilst conveniently ignoring the ongoing problems of staying in the EU. As of today, it (FTSE 250) is higher than it was the day before the referendum!

Difficult to comment until the issue of Polish authorities forbidding riders to ride in no more two countries is sorted out. Wouldn't mind Scott Nicholls at Arena - he isn't/doesn't look - comfortable at NSS and it would mean less of a trek to his home meetings.

It is now! Should be a cracking final.

They think it's all over ....

Nip & tuck here.

PK a tad fortunate there.

Looking good.

I don't believe there is any less passion for the club but more of a frustration with the circumstances we now find ourselves in. Being realistic and expecting a thrashing doesn't mean you have stopped your support. Unfortunately, coupled with all the foregoing, we have a promotion which has not been fully candid in communicating with the fanbase nor living up to promises made at the beginning of the season.

What happened to R/R?

In reality it matters not a jot who we get at No. 1 vis-a-vis the final outcome but it is a slap in the face for Aces fans. Other than attending to applaud their team for their victory at Arena, there does not seem much point for them in terms of a competitive match.

Yes, agree - it would HAVE, could HAVE and should HAVE been saved!

From the meeting preview on the Hammers website.

I expect AJ is already on painkillers - at least at BV there will be no hard turns if he rides.

My preference would be to stick with KK for the away leg - admirable on AJ's part to attempt an early comeback but he will be far from fully fit. Better he saves himself for the final (in the unlikely event his team are still in it).

I think the point Jon Cook was trying to make was that R/R was likely to be better than the available guests.

On the Lakeside v Belle Vue thread - nothing new there then! It is the second leg next Monday that AJ is talking about.

So who would you use then?

The problem with that is KK and the Hammers have history. In the current EL setup and Play-off issues, AJ is irreplaceable.

So these guys ride within a metre of the inside line all the way around?

An example of total ignorance of basic speedway technique - riders do not ride the shape of the inside line at any track - and it isn't 'D' shaped anyway (Google Maps) - the entry and exit of each of the bends have been chamfered to produce alternate racing lines and judging by the quality of racing/overtaking seen at Arena, it works very well.

Wasn't it 48 - 45 on their last visit?