Bagpuss

But surely the NL would have to 'fix their issues' too? Because the gap is still too big. At the end of the day 'us and them' won't work, everyone needs to work together but promoters haven't done that for years if ever so don't expect compromise any time soon.

It's probably two when you factor in the other half a dozen who ride in the Prem and not the Champs, I expect another six to eight to reappear next season now the Poles have relaxed the rules. I'm not here to defend the top division as its been shambolic this season and has one decent track in it but there's no doubt its a step up in quality of rider.

Presumably part of the thinking is to make the pathway through the leagues smoother? Too big a jump from NL to Champ as it stands.

I doubt very much it's 'up' in quality of racing (BV excepted) or regularity of fixtures but it undoubtedly is in terms of quality. Lots of riders the same of course but no Doyle, Lambert, Fricke, Zagar, Kurtz, Holder, Museilak etc in the Championship.

Yep it's odd, it used to as 2003-09 in the second division Lynn were almost unbeatable at home and used to hit 60 regularly, some visiting riders couldn't even turn the bike (Norbert Magosi springs to mind ) but riders have now become used to it and if you can get out of the start and down the back straight ahead then nice times out of ten you have checked out. Can't see it ever being any different at Lynn and that puts me off ever going regularly again unfortunately.

A bit disrespectful to refer to him as the 'Estate Agent' mate. I expect Alex worked hard with Lewi but I think he had become very stale at Lynn after many years and needed out, he wasn't scoring well either at home or away but has been doing both for Sheffield. All three parties have benefited massively from the changes and as far as I'm aware Lewi holds no grudges, certainly not against Alex or Buster. Can't see him at Lynn again in the future and that's probably best for everyone most importantly him.

A home promotion needs to offer either a winning side or an entertaining racetrack (ideally both!) If it's neither that's a slippery old slope. The club needs to have a long hard look at itself over the winter and decide what it wants to be.

Pathetic.

If Lynn have any sense they'll be practicing today and getting dialled in to the track prep, gonna need 50+ this evening to have a chance on Thursday.

Ellis being gracious in defeat on social media I see. Following his team managers lead I guess. Lacks class if you can't suck it up and lose with grace.

Only really bad losers do that.....

Well done Belle Vue. Good meeting in terms of the close scores throughout and the controversy but racing not great, generally one line round the boards. I actually thought heat three could have gone either way, Ellis momentarily straightened up before contact with Brennan although I appreciate Brennan was heading into no man's land. Glad Holder ended up on the losing side, absolute bellend.

Nobody said it was the highest standard of racing It's the highest standard we have here in terms of quality of rider. That's a fact, not opinion. Talk about hard work!

I thought they were favourites personally, having Bjarne at reserve was massive. They were able to cover for Kerr in the first leg as everyone chipped in and then got paid eleven for Ulrich R/R at home, that was the beauty of their team last year. Even Pailin got paid eight in the first leg. The Etheridge R/R didn't work out for Lemon at P'boro but in fairness he'd scored paid five from his first two rides. Peterborough thoroughly deserved it last season, no shame in losing to them in the final.

I'm not sure anyone would claim that a six team league is better but it's undisputedly the highest standard as it has seen Doyle, Fricke, Lambert, Klindt, Iversen, Holder, Musielak, Kurtz et al appear in it. Therefore whatever else you think of it it can call itself the Premiership

BV got ten from Kurtz's eight R/R rides in the final, he'd have surely scored more than that. You seem obsessed with blaming BV and Lemon for defeat when P'boro were the best team across the season and deserved to win the Play Offs. Belle Vue were simply beaten by the better (best) team.

They are though.....'best' / highest standard in the UK. Regardless of people's opinion of quality of racing, standard in previous years, etc. Its the Premier / Elite standard in Britain. Full stop.

Yep I agree, the issues started when they went back on the agreed format, should have been a one of final at a neutral venue weeks ago. That said Glasgow withdrawing is not good at all.

Shouldn't Edinburgh take their place?

As good as he is, Lambert ain't getting 15 on a track he hasn't been to for five years.

Wow, if you are having a pop at one of the best tracks in the land you really are scraping the barrel. Hope the Bears can keep it respectable tonight. For Poole's part they don't need to take risks with a league title to contest next week.

I don't see S Lambert beating any Sheffield rider personally but we shall see.

His gating will need to be much better than Monday. Pretty sure it was SS (choking/croaking) and semion threw it back at him as a wind up.

Pretty sure he's talking about a permanent signing.

I hate the term choking, really disrespectful. I also think folk are being a but hard on Wright, there was a grippy patch on bend three/four which caught a few riders out. Just one of those things.