Aces51

It's no less credible than anything Tai has said and at least we can understand what he is saying. It's a gracious, response wishing Tai well but making clear he is not going to beg, which has to be right. It would seem that Tai didn't give Rosco any explanation so it seems everyone is in the dark about his specific reasons. Do we know what this successful business is that Tai has created?

I've not heard that. It has certainly been reported that the BSPA paid for it and didn't Rosco say the same when on TV for the Swedish GP, I think on the Saturday when they were filling time before it was called off or, did I imagine that. Tai said he didn't go to Croatia because he had already made other arrangements to be elsewhere, nothing to do with money. You also have to consider the EL clubs running NL teams. It certainly isn't being done to make money, maybe in the hope they produce British talent for their EL side but that also feeds into Team GB. Plainly more can be done but my point is that it is untrue to claim, as some have, that nothing is being done by the BSPA.

I suspect he sees it as an opportunity to earn a crust as he is not riding abroad. Anyone who has suffered the misfortune of a broken rib knows the agony everytime you take a deep breath, let alone ride a speedway bike. It is bound to affect him but as we know he certainly doesn't lack courage.

We still don't know the facts so perhaps not wise to be forming judgements. We do know that we have the Poultec programme up and running, the Young Lions set up being supported by the BSPA and the pre season training camp in Croatia paid for by the BSPA, so certainly not true to say nothing is being done. What I do dispute is that Woffinden is unequivocally best placed to determine what we should be doing because he is presently our best rider. He may be but equally, he may only know what works best for him and that may not work for others. Cook has a fitness programme, it may not be what Woffinden does but may be better suited to Cook. It has not usually been the best riders who have made the best administrators, managers or trainers. Rosco and Middleditch, not a former World Champion, were chosen as national team managers and the most successful training programme to date was run by Dent Oliver,a good rider but never World Champion. The point is that determining how best to produce the next crop of world class riders requires different skills than being the best rider. Tai may have those abilities but it is certainly not a given that he does. My guess is that if you asked a group of world class riders you would get different answers as to what GB should do. I am sure that Tai would make a valuable contribution and should be listened to but that does not necessarily mean doing everything he wants.

I agree we need the full facts before anyone, those defending him and those being critical, can make an informed judgement. Whether we shall ever get the full facts from both sides is another matter. I must admit I am surprised both by his decision and the cryptic tweet. Does he really expect fans, other than those who will blindly believe he must be justified in his actions, to understand what has happened to cause him to abandon his country of birth? It must be something he considers really serious and important but what? You can't make that sort of statement and then back away. Riders like Cook and I am sure others, already have a fitness programme. The BSPA are supportive of the Poultec programme, Belle Vue are setting up their academy and we have all the work being done with the Young Lions,so it is certainly not as if nothing is being done to nurture new talent and become more professional. Could it simply be that it is not being done his way? I don't know.

For my money Steve Worrall is the EDR that has made the most progress. A NL rider when it started and now an established EL second string and top PL rider.

I have no problem with Wolves signing Woffinden. It's within the rules and if you want to do it there is nothing wrong with signing someone on a lower average than the rider being replaced when you can be fairly certain he will easily outscore him. It wasn't a masterstroke. Circumstances happened to fall into place, fixtures drying up abroad, Kylmakorpi and Tai having the right averages and Tai letting it be known he was looking to keep race fit and available to sign. Personally, I am pleased we didn't do it. I wouldn't like to see any of the 7 riders who have given their all and got us to the top of the league replaced. I hope they go on and win the play offs and believe they can but if not, I shall have no regrets.They are Belle Vue 2016. Tai will add some spice to the play offs, hopefully increase the crowds and give opposing riders an opportunity to try to raise their game and beat him.

I doubt Belle Vue would have picked Wolves anyway. If we finish top would pick Lakeside or Swindon and hope to meet Wolves in the final as that would be more likely to bring a lot more away fans.

I think you miss the point. A new track takes time to settle so the conditions and the lines are different week to week. This is even more so with a wide, big track with so many potential lines. Independent opinion from the likes of Rosco and Tatum have said exactly that. Every team eventually does build up a home advantage, some more than others because of the nature of the track. We had a big home advantage at the dog track. I doubt Belle Vue will ever have that sort of advantage at the NSS or, anything approaching it, because everyone enjoys riding there and it is a track where it will be difficult to defend a position once all the riding lines are fully developed.

It was only a few hours ago that some Poole fans were thinking they were going to finish top and have the second leg of the final at Poole. Now after one meeting we're carrying all before us and obvious favorites.

Sorry, I got it wrong. Poole have to pick up 19 not 15 points on their travels. 7 matches left so 5 wins and two draws could do it unless we drop points at home, whenthey'll need less or, Poole do and they'll need more.

Not nailed on but Poole have got to pick up at least 15 points away less any Belle Vue drop at home to overtake us. I would say we are in the much stronger position. Our away performances show how strong we are. If we had the sort of home advantage Poole have we would be uncatchable.

If both teams get to the final and Fricke needs to win heat 14 to win it the second leg will be at the NSS.

Your chances of catching Belle Vue are getting more and more remote unless your away form improves. You will have to win both matches at the NSS and not lose again to us at Poole. You make some interesting comments about Wolverhampton being more formidable because if the Aces finish top that is more than likely where you will be heading for the semi final.

You can sense the anxiety and the realisation that a new era is dawning.

An impressive performance by the Aces tonight. Zagar would have scored more than we got from r/r but to be fair so would Kennett. However, I feel confident that Fricke on present form would have done better than Morris. Another away point gained to consolidate our position at the top of the league. There is certainly interaction with the fans at BV. Last year at Kirky Lane the riders used to walk through the crowd on the terraces at the end of the meeting to chat, pose for photographs and give autographs. That is not practical with the all seater grandstand at the NSS but we now have after meeting press conferences in the Peter Craven suite which riders attend, on Wednesday it was Zagar, Cook and Jacobs and fans can ask questions and later take photos and get autographs. So far they have been popular, plenty of fans have stayed behind to attend. Anyone coming to the NSS who is not impressed with the standard of racing on offer is never going to like speedway.

Maths is obviously not a strong point. A win at home to Belle Vue and a win at the NSS would leave you on +10 and Belle Vue on +17. You would still have to pick up more away points and not lose at home again to Belle Vue.

In fact his CMA at Lakeside from the two matches last year and the one this year, discounting extra tactical ride points, is exactly 9. So in fact a track where Zagar does very well. Each to their own. I have enjoyed the NL matches at Belle Vue this year but for me they don't measure up to the racing in the EL. I'm not on my own either if you look at the respective crowd numbers.

From what I have seen of Wolves this year they are certainly capable of winning the play offs.

You'd think the Aces weren't in contention for the play offs the Sky coverage they've had this year. Prior to 2015 I had assumed it was because of our poor teams but can hardly be that the last two years and particularly now we're top of the league and got the best track in the country.

He had a dressing on his neck on Wednesday from a tapes burn and it was mentioned then it was a bad burn. Seriously weakens us and can now only see a Lakeside win.

No Matej Zagar, r/r. He had a dressing on his neck on Wednesday from a tapes burn and it was mentioned then it was a bad burn. Seriously weakens us and can now only see a Lakeside win.

The best way to look at the league table is home points lost against away points gained. The current table is Belle Vue +20 Wolves +15 Poole +7 Lakeside +4 Swindon +1 Kings Lynn-4 Coventry -6 Leicester -18 From that it looks as if Belle Vue and Wolves are fairly certain of a top 4 finish. Poole are likely to get there, certainly if they pick up more away points although they could be in danger if they don't and lose points at home. The fourth place is up for grabs especially if Swindon can pick up a couple of away wins and Lakeside continue with their poor away form.

R/R for Kennett weakens Lakeside, whether that is sufficient to overcome their strong home advantage is the question. The Aces seem to be on a run at the moment. If Morris rides as he did for Swindon and he has the incentive to keep Swindon in the top four, we could get another 3/4 points.

Hardly surprising considering he has only just come back after another lengthy lay off due to injury. I am amazed he has come back so many times after serious injury and been able to recover his form. He's got guts, I'll give him that and I hope that he's soon back to the form we know he is capable of producing.