Bagpuss

Possibly but he’ll he at reserve and therefore riding against opponents he should beat in heats 2, 8, 12 and 14. I think having an ex GP and international rider of some repute at reserve is a massive plus whatever his shortcomings nowadays.

It sounds like Johnson isn’t very good at his job. Is Pratt still involved?

Does it really matter?

Less dirt this year apparently so perhaps the penny has dropped. Anyway a winning team will always trump good racing for folk generally.

I expect it will cone down to what’s left in the kitty. That team would have a bit of a Dad’s Army feel about it but still looks better than at least three other sides to me.

I don’t see it like that at all, he is building both sides in a similar way ie with three distinct heat leaders and riders who have plenty of history at each club and will be popular with many supporters. Jorgensen and Kerr wouldn't have been in many people’s teams due to their scoring but they are popular, they are club men. Many people who go every week will be happy they are included, same goes for Hans, Niels, Ulrich and to a lesser extent MPT at P’boro. Buster knows people will keep coming back if his teams win at home and that what he is going for I believe.

Explain what you mean by ‘a lot more’.

I think the widening has improved things a bit, I’ve not been for quite a few years but looking at some of the heats which pop up on the BSPA site from the Foxhole many of those passes wouldn’t have happened on the old narrow track. It can’t / won’t happen but it could probably do with being widened outwards rather than inwards. Hopefully the extra banking will help, can’t do any harm.

They may well do but it’s impossible to say. The last three seasons Swindon, Lynn and Ipswich all got to the Play Off final despite being tipped to finish bottom of the pile, that’s how unpredictable such a small league can be. I think P’boro look slightly better than us (assuming their last two signings use their remaining points properly) but I certainly wouldn’t put money on it. Swindon are most people’s tip for the top but they could quite easily struggle if one or two riders have a tough time, a bit like Robert last season. My expectations are fairly modest as usual, I think we will finish bang in the middle bit like the last two years it could go either way. Don’t forget we would have won the title at a canter in 2018 but for injuries, we ‘won’ the league table comfortably even though pretty much everybody thought we would be bottom.

Makes a lot of sense giving Lewis the captaincy, think he will do a great job. The two year deal is obviously linked to his testimonial but if for whatever reason he doesn’t fit next year don’t be surprised if he ends up elsewhere, we’ve seen these ‘two year deals’ only last one season before, just a bit of PR really. And how we’ve missed the early morning GRW lectures I’d suggest we all wait and see who Panthers’ last two signings are and how their whole team performs on the track. And what the racing turns out to be like at the two venues. It wasn’t as good at their place last year and we’ve been promised less grip at Lynn so let’s see how things pan out. Will be more reliable than Webbo’s crystal ball / tea leaves / tarot cards

Here we go.....

Absolutely, I’m surprised he’s took it in but really glad he has. Hope he doesn’t suffer burnout like he did a few years back.

Couple of reasons been discussed on the forum, he is over here for the summer anyway as his lad races road bikes and also he has said that he has ‘a scratch to itch’.

Might be as I understood it.

Bech and Jonasson both said before Xmas they had deals agreed in the Premiership.....quite possible that they did but the team(s) involved changed their plans, something which happens every winter I’d imagine.

They presumably felt Lambert and Cook were better bets as a top two, also it’s taken P’boro until the middle of February to persuade him which must be a factor. Time will tell if the choice was correct.

What I like about the league this year is that it looks much more balanced than last season, a few big names have returned albeit in their twilight years and you could just about make a case for any of the seven teams to reach the Play Offs. Of course like every year somebody will excel above expectations and someone will struggle unexpectedly but it looks competitive from top to bottom. Just hope they don’t spoil it by increasing entry prices too much.....

Yep I stopped being lazy and just looked, it’s over five.

What is Nicholls’ average?

Whether it be Ulrich or Wells at seven that’s a decent team with a good TM, well capable of reaching the Play Offs.

Gonna tweak this slightly..... Swindon Belle Vue Peterborough Lynn Wolves Ipswich Sheffield Just a bit of fun

Words fail me

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day

I thought he races road bikes.

Not really, he left due to a fall out and is arguably better than what we have now so hardly a cast off. He was a major par of Lynn’s success through the noughties by generating team spirit and getting the best out of some previously ordinary riders.