Bagpuss

Great combo

Has the track been like this all season? If so Buster has ruined it I’m afraid. The only decent TV meetings from the UK this year have been from Belle Vue, everywhere else has been rubbish so far unfortunately.

You only have to read some of Phillips’ comments on the Plymouth forum to understand how he treats his customers. Little wonder he and they are struggling really.

I can think of a few cup finals where that wouldn’t have been a bad thing

Reading between the lines he thinks he should have been in the team but based on his Championship scores over the last 2-3 seasons I’d disagree with him.

He’s 16......

You would imagine if Jorgensen is off it’s in part due to his dodgy shoulder.

Absolutely, the experience that the three youngest ones gained last night will be invaluable. Kemp & Flint have five more years in this age group and Bickley four so you’d like to think that by 2023 they will form the nucleus of a strong team in this event. There were others who could have been chosen last night who arguably won’t get much better judging by their club form so in the long run using the three younger lads will probably pay dividends. As ever though they need exposure to foreign tracks as much as possible over the next few years however that can be achieved.

Josh Pickering?

Absolutely spot on as ever HT. Couldn’t come and find you unfortunately as we sat in the home straight stand in the end and shot off after heat 20.

Sorry if I’ve missed it somewhere but where is Smolinski?

Really enjoyed that, after a processional first couple of rounds the racing was excellent once the Danes and Aussies got a bit more dialled in. Poland in a different league as a unit but Lambert was untouchable after heat one. Flint rode very well in his one heat, perhaps ought to have had a couple more races .

Kemp was indeed properly involved in that one, he has great track craft but lacks a bit of speed but that will come, only sixteen after all. The dirt was just a bit too wide for Bewley in heat twelve, needed to get under Smektala somewhere along the line.

Heat 10, great race.

Very, very poor.

To be fair to Ellis (and Riss) they are fulfilling commitments which were arranged presumably long before signing up in the Championship, the onus has to be on the governing body to either block their signings or work to rearrange fixtures so that they are always available.

I think those Poole fans who bleated and whinged like little girls all week about how they would get thrashed and showed absolutely no faith in their team whatsoever should not be allowed to support their team for the rest of the season as punishment.

Riss also missing for Redcar tomorrow, NL guest there also. The question needs to be asked, should teams be allowed to sign riders if they are unable to fulfill every fixture? NL guests at heat leader damages the sport.

If the track was shortened/widened and they used proper shale Lynn would be a fantastic speedway track. Unfortunately the dirt used is awful for speedway, riders are literally hanging on for four laps as the bike is pulling so hard due to all the clay and consequently good races are few and far between with riders so strung out. Getting hit by big, heavy lumps doesn’t help either. While the stock cars bring in the money and subsidise the speedway it won’t change, people come out with the same moans and groans every time we are on telly but it’s no surprise, it’s been like it for years. One thing it isn’t though is patchy, it’s always been smooth and consistent despite the unsuitability of the surface.

Can see us getting a hiding unfortunately. A point would be an excellent result. Need much better from Lewis tonight with no Tomas.

It’s in Buster’s interest to have a track surface which suits cars and makes lots and lots of money from them, it’s really that simple. Speedway is just an afterthought nowadays.

Not really the shape which is the problem (although shortening and widening would do no harm). It’s all about the shale used which is great for stock cars (massive crowds) but awful for speedway bikes (much lower crowds). Nothing will change while the stocks rule the roost.

You’d have a better idea than most but for me whenever I went pre 1996 it seemed far too narrow.

Last match of 2003. I think Adam Allott might have been the only fit Lynn rider.

To be fair Poole do have four riders out.