Aces51

The post was about if Poole were using guests instead of signing Lindback.

I think you'll find that most posters see the issue being with the BSPA. As for transparency, that would be the openness and transparency promised by Chapman when he took office almost 12 months ago. He seems to be conspicuous by his total lack of comment on anything apart from a childish outburst following the opening meeting at the NSS. I was hoping that it was exactly this sort of farce over Lindback's assessed average that he was going to stop.

They couldn't have KK his average is now too high. Much is going to depend on how we do in this match at Lakeside. If we don't keep it to within 8 points it will be an interesting second leg.

Ford obviously applied in the hopes of getting the average reduced to below Andersen's. I'm not sure how you know he wouldn't have pursued it had his application been refused. As for genuine reasons for the assessment yes, obviously there were reasons, whether they were genuine reasons we don't know. It is difficult for most of us to understand the rationale behind it and it looks to me that they knew how ridiculous it would look and so tried to justify it by apparently mentioning other riders that most would expect to be assessed higher than 7. Of course they were aware of the fact that no other team was in a position to sign any of those other riders.

Doesn't that depend on the price that has to be paid? It is no good them coming back if they do not attract more fans to attend, at least sufficient to cover the extra money they will demand. The evidence is that crowds were falling before they departed. Clubs are surviving on a financial knife edge now so we must be sure they will increase crowds after the initial novelty has worn off. Otherwise, the sport will be left in a much worse position than it is now. Also, if we are going to let them in on artificially low averages, as seems the current thinking, we are going to put the likes of King, Cook, Nilsson and Thorsell out of a job. Is that really what we want to do to those and others on similar averages who have been loyal to the EL. I much prefer that we have teams made up of those riders committed to the UK. That will give us the opportunity for fewer guests, more places for home grown talent, continuity of riders in teams season on season, riders fans can then identify with and weekly home meetings. Over time standards will improve and we can look to regaining our place in international speedway. Importing more mercenaries who simply want to use the UK to earn more means fewer places for British riders and a continuation in our decline.

I agree that Poole choosing the right guests for the away matches could have made them stronger than signing Lindback, although I think he will do better than guests at home and it is the aggregate scores that matter. It's the fact he comes in on a 7 that is wrong and which damages the credibility of the league competition. I have no problem with an injured rider being replaced but it has to be by rider who is of the same or a lower standard. How many fans genuinely believe that Lindback would average 7 or less if had been riding here. With all due respect to Craig Cook his average for matches ridden this year is near enough 7, would people assess Lindback and apparently Dudek in the same category.

I think you'll find that most Aces fans are pleased that we are going into the play offs with the 7 riders who have got us there.

Neither I or 5 others I know with season tickets have had any problem. I am sure Belle Vue will resolve it for these two supporters, as they have with other teething problems but in any event it will not be a full house for the semi final and season tickets don't cover the final.

I think you're being a bit unfair, nowadays it's called doing a Poole or doing a Wolverhampton.

I like Bomber, his never say die attitude and courage but I can't see him coming to Belle Vue and certainly not in a swop deal for Fricke. Harris has been terrible at the NSS and sad to say, unlikely now to improve, more likely the reverse, whereas Fricke is 20 on the way up and and looks a genuine GP rider of the future.

Sorry to hear that Steve, not nice when people get over excited and have those sort of accidents.

When did I last mention gogglegate, not this year. However, as you insist on drawing a comparison that was a breach of the rules because he started the race without wearing them but the referee didn't spot it. Just be grateful.

Poole lost, get over it. No point in keep going on about the what ifs. They pretty much cancel each other out anyway. The rule was quoted and apparently it doesn't.

I think we shall be doing our best to deny Swindon any points, which won't be easy with Doyle and Tungate, in the hope that we can pick Lakeside in the semi. That's not to decry the Hammers but we can do OK there and they may not fare so well at the NSS. Tonight, Poole relied very much on Holder, who was brilliant and guest, Tungate, who scored many more than Andersen would likely have done. Otherwise they were not overly impressive. The Aces were solid throughout. Fricke would have scored more than Hougaard and Zagar is unlikely to only score 4 again, so we have nothing to fear in the play offs. That's not to say we shall win but we should be able to give anyone a run for their money. Another good meeting at the NSS, not the best meeting we've had but still excellent entertainment. This is the first season for many years where I am eagerly anticipating every home meeting.

He's run out of fingers and gone to bed with a headache.

Like most clubs we never get a big crowd when it's on TV. Reduced admission doesn't seem to work either.

I think it will be close. Depends if Tungate can replicate the sort of form he had on his last visit to the NSS. If he does I can see a Poole win but he has dropped a few points recently and at the moment doesn't seem to be on that sort of form. We are weaker without Fricke but Hougaard has shown his liking for the track and overall I think we shall get the 3 points but Poole may get a consolation point.

Riding in the Swedish play offs.

I think it best to pay no need to rumours especially those that circulate on here and repeating them without knowing if they are true risks giving them credibility to some and doing harm to the clubs mentioned and the sport in general. It is beyond my comprehension why people who claim to be speedway supporters would want to do that. Over the years I have heard many rumours about problems at different clubs, some have turned out to be true, some haven't but I have never thought it right or, that it would benefit the sport, to comment openly on what quite often turned out to be baseless gossip. As for Fricke, he lives with his mechanic close to Brandon, which explains his visits to Coventry when he is not engaged elsewhere. As for next year who knows. I hope we keep him, he is an undoubted talent but we need to look elsewhere if there are going to be as many clashes with his foreign commitments.

Of course other factors can affect the racing but a track that is well prepared but the wrong shape will nearly always produce poor racing whereas a track that is well prepared and the right shape will invariably produce good racing. The track for the race off produced poor racing not because of the track shape but because the rain prior to the meeting made the track too grippy. Hence the very fast race times but lack of passing.

He's just trying to emulate Andersen's current form.

But Hans has been off form lately so very unlikely he would score anything like 13 this time. I would have thought 6 or 7 more realistic. However, Scott is having well documented engine problems at the moment, he thinks things are improving but still doesn't think he has solved it completely. Nonetheless, it's good to see that Matt has confidence in him to do the job in such a vital fixture. Unusual for Matt to choose a Brit.

I don't think you're right, Scott usually does well at Monmore but Tai is a much better rider than Hans anyway so any replacement for him should by rights score more. Having said that I hope that's Tai's problem doesn't stop him riding.

National League racing at Belle Vue has been brilliant to watch, good racing and virtually every one of them giving 100%. It's great to watch riders develop and hopefully, a few will progress through the PL to the EL. It's excellent value. Belle Vue charge £10, concessions £8 and under 18's free. Every track that can needs to invest in a NL team if we want to produce some good riders for the future.

There's not yet been a meeting at the NSS with 15 one sided heats and there won't be tonight with King, Garrity, Harris etc., Many of us expected easy wins against Leicester and King's Lynn but both provided excellent, close racing and no Max Fricke tonight which weakens us.