Bagpuss

You might be right about the newspapers in this instance (I haven’t bought one for years) but in terms of the website there were features on there about the Lewi Kerr evening on Dec 27th and Jan 6th. Not sure if anyone has yet but it would be interesting to hear from somebody who went about how many people were actually there rather than judging from a couple of photos.

It should be but what if, for example, Lambert makes a really slow start to the season and is in bad form but Wright or Cook are riding as well as they ever have done? Would be daft to not pick who is riding well at the time.

It should be Robert but form at the time has to come into it, can’t be picking riders reputation alone.

2011 wasn’t it?

Not sure that criticising a promoter for hosting this meeting is appropriate whatever axe you have to grind with him? Surely he would hold it regularly if he was bothered about nest feathering.

A couple of years too late but good to see racesuits, hopefully the rest of the Championship who don’t have them already follows suit(s).

And so it starts.......

The only reason I can think of is that they wanted to include Douglas and Nicol so nobody else could and so they can bed them in for years to come. No matter who the number one ended up being I think they wanted the other six regardless.

Too late, Poole have changed leagues A good idea IF it’s properly administered.

I’m not convinced there’s another point in Wright, would love to be wrong though.

Nicholls would start at reserve, no brainer. Presumably Wolves could have done this too rather than starting so far below the limit? Or at least had Nicholls as a second string and Becker at reserve.

In my opinion the dirt used at Lynn is unique, high clay content and ideal for stock cars which is the sport that brings the money in at the AFA. It’s been the norm to pile the shale on and make away riders uncomfortable as they don’t ride tracks like that very often and you would see riders fighting the bike to keep it on a good line making overtaking difficult especially when getting sprayed with heavy dirt which slows you down. Also bike set up is unique, all adding up to a strong home record. If some of those things can be removed or suppressed then that can only be good for the racing. The shape is good even though it could do with a bit of widening IMO.

This is a good point and one I had thought of. Personally if that means better racing I’d be ok with it.

In true BSF a pretty good thread has gone to the dogs. Shame.

I’ve put Aces second because for me they have five riders with improvement in them. Of course that also comes with risk as nothing is guaranteed. Essentially they look less mediocre than five other teams.

Half the fun of the thread is seeing people getting their knickers in a twist

Perhaps but I think we have a pretty good idea who they will sign.

Thought we had one already but can’t find it...... Anyway this is a bit of fun and ultimately means two fifths of very little so please don’t be offended or get the hump! Ta 1 Swindon 2 Belle Vue 3 Ipswich 4 King’s Lynn 5 Wolves 6 P’boro 7 Sheffield

1992 was his first season, at Peterborough wasn’t it? Increased his average massively and they won the league. Then he was at Swindon in 93 and Poole in 94 when he made the World Final! Rapid progress in those early years.

It’s very much a bit of fun. The important thing is to not take umbrage when somebody thinks your team will be sh ite

Agree with the majority of this, however I think your expectations of the top three are a title high.....if Cook & Lambert can both average 9 and Riss 7-7.5 they will all have had good seasons. Also I’d argue that the improvement he might give is the only reason Proctor has been signed again.

Or maybe a lack of funds through Buster financing two clubs?

I’d agree they are the teams to beat but it wouldn’t surprise me if we went through the card at home, the side is stacked with Lynn specialists. The hope of course is that the middle order rides like they did in 2018 and not 2019. There is a lot of reliance on Proctor to get back to being a 6+ rider.

Worries over heats 13&15 would be tempered by the prospect of having a very strong pairing in heats 2,8,12 & 14. Very few teams are going to have that.

Like you I’d have gone with the three heat leaders + MPT + three new faces but the team is what it is and should still be competitive.