Bagpuss

All of which is exactly what you will be saying in reverse

Makes you wonder if that home defeat to Belle Vue prompted Somerset’s inside line approach to track prep.

2000.

Not in the top league, but that did happen in the second division in 2007.

People don’t need to walk your track, any video of a race from Poole shows riders back wheels jumping around in the corners. Mr Shovlar recently added one from Wednesday night and good race though it was it clearly shows an uneven and bare (maybe with a blue groove?) inside line. Nobody will ever convince me that a track with lumps, bumps and holes has been prepared in the best way. The smoother the better for me as it gives riders the ultimate confidence to throw their bikes at each other, just like Belle Vue the other night. Uneven tracks will make away riders tentative and play into home riders hands who know where the obstacles are.

It’s a difficult one, teams will always want their home track prepared ow their own riders like it best because to a point home wins mean bigger crowds, particularly when it could be the difference between a Play Off final and therefore a bumper crowd and big gate receipts. But we don’t want it to be to the detriment of the racing too much. But then what would Lynn punters demand for example, great racing with a 46-44 win or a mega grippy track which provides two or three good races and a 55-35 score line? Same with Somerset and their inside line or Poole and their uneven surface? Belle Vue are in a great position as their riders seem to prefer their track to be prepared so there are multiple racing lines, same with Scunthorpe in the second division. But I’d have thought at this stage of the season a winning team leading to big crowds and a good atmosphere would be the most important thing, however short sighted that may be for some.

Somerset look like slight favourites to me with Belle Vue slight outsiders and Lynn and Poole in the middle. Whoever wins the Somerset/Poole semi will probably go on and win it I would say but it’s very open on paper.

Our track would be comparable to most if a much less clay based and therefore less stock car friendly shale was used. Unfortunately the four wheeled residents are the cash cow at the stadium and therefore call the shots. Simply put no stock cars and bangers would mean no top flight speedway IMO. It’s a shame but just the way it is.

Hopefully Swindon will perform as well as they are tonight.

I’d say there is a difference between ‘doctoring’ a track and preparing it to the liking of home riders. The problem of course comes when a track like Somerset for example was one of the very best in the country and the prep is changed to leave one fast line round the inside.

That’s a fantastic amount raised for the lad. Hats off to everyone.

#fakenews

Why do you feel the need to insult a whole region of people? The vast majority of folk in this part of the world have a sense of humour when the subject matter is amusing, unfortunately yours very rarely is.

The best one ever was 2010. Oh how everyone laughed

I think you are barking up the wrong tree there, Daniel doesn’t even go to Lynn any more. Heat 13 was absolutely unbelievable, fabulous speedway. Breathtaking.

Indeed, but what a pity Holder wouldn’t acknowledge Worrall afterwards despite having two opportunities.

Of course the lumps, bumps and holes of Wimborne Road fit nicely into this argument too. Let’s hope Belle Vue don’t bugger about with their magnificent track eh?

Never nice to be on the end of a hiding but in the grand scheme of things it probably won’t matter as the hard work was done on Monday evening and unless there are a couple of unlikely results tonight top spot is all but secured. The main aims should have been to come through in one piece and get an idea of the set ups and lines for a potential return in the Play Offs. It was always going to be a tough assignment with two heat leaders absent. That said those who rode last night will need to pull their collective fingers out for any play off meeting at the OTA. Just like Poole at Lynn last week I’m pretty sure next time would be a very different performance and result.

To be fair he wasn’t the only one who predicted Lynn to be bottom (including me!) and all three changes have been forced by injury or retirement. It’s just nice to prove so many people wrong, and pretty remarkable considering Iversen’s average dropped so much. Robert Lambert has also made a few people look a bit silly. Even if we don’t finish top or win the title this team has far exceeded expectations and the management team need to take credit for that in part for introducing the health and fitness methods in pre season.

It makes sense, if he was riding through the pain barrier and word had got through that Lynn had won at Wolves then it was sensible for Doyle to not aggravate his back further. Will be interesting to see if he rides tonight and tomorrow.

No need for Lynn to take unnecessary risks tonight, whatever happens six points tomorrow against Leicester should be enough to claim top spot. With Proctor likely to be out the last thing we need are more injuries.

This run of wins has a similar feeling to the run of 2000 which set up the league decider at Eastbourne.

Well that’s three points I didn’t expect. Lovely old job.

One point behind Cook. But if people really want to compare the two then league averages would be the only way to do it and that shows a fair old gap across the three main leagues.

Not as good as he thinks he is? On the contrary, I’d suggest that one of Cook’s main issues is his self belief and confidence. I’d also add that while doubling up exists any British rider should be entitled to do it if they wish. Cook is riding for Glasgow because he wasn’t able to get a regular ride in Poland so it was mutually beneficial for them to offer him a team place.