Bagpuss

Without fair and proper rules and therefore a level playing field the competition is pretty pointless. And unfortunately that is the situation speedway finds itself in today. Some people can ignore all the political garbage and unfair averages and just enjoy the racing, and I feel a little bit jealous of those people. Some of us just can't and the whole thing is tainted by the ineptitude of the governing body and how some teams seem to be able to find loopholes and ringers year after year. Unfortunately many people of that mindset end up walking away.

He shouldn't come in to the Prem on a 4 anyway!

Case by case basis? Deary me, what a farce. Absolutely nothing against Edinburgh before people start getting defensive but how on earth can a rider who has been a world under 21 finalist and ridden in the Elitserien come in on anything lower than seven? The sport gets more and more shambolic by the day. No idea why there are two different font sizes!

Any of those, although I suspect we will end up with none of them.

I would call that comment a bit derogatory. I would also call posting something negative about him every single time he's mentioned an obsession. We all know you don't like him. We get it.

By all means defend your own circuit (I've seen some great stuff there as well as some absolute dross) but slagging off one of the best tracks in the country makes you look silly.

Seems like the lack of dosh around this year due to no telly deal (who'd have thunk it after years of watering down?) is resulting in few big name number ones. I wonder who we will end up with? Lambert needs to be second heat leader if he returns so somebody higher than him although can't see Buster forking out for a Iversen, Doyle or Lindgren. Somebody like Harris may not be one of the strongest number ones but he'd increase the excitement levels. Whatever happens I hope we go with strong reserves.

Which is understandable considering the product gets worse every year. Inevitable that there will be even less people willing to pay 17 or 18 quid in 2018!

In other words you can't!

I quite like it, perhaps give it a week or two before saying its sh!te? Phil has said it will run slowly initially. People do hate change

Good solid top five, like the Heeps signing and although Thorsell is unproven he looks no worse on paper to me than Morris or Kurtz. Maybe that is the standard of number ones we are going to get this year. Reserves however look weak. Wouldn't be surprised if CVS has an early change up his sleeve like last year, don't see that 1-7 being in place at the business end of the season.

True, but they are two Poles so let's see how committed they are and if their Polish clubs stick their oars in at all. I'm sure you were telling all and sundry this time last year how good Poole were going to be so your comments are best taken with a pinch of salt really.

A bit 'meh' to be honest but difficult to judge until we see some other line ups.

Absolutely SL. There has been lots of warranted criticism of the promotion but the same moans and groans ad nauseam become white noise eventually.

Whatever people think of Batchelor there is a bit of value in his average due to the lack of effort he put in at times last year.

Indeed, so let's unsterilise it by not freezing out several GP riders. Enable more quality riders into the league and give more teams a chance in the process.

Why is that fair but reassessing riders who have been away for a year or two and dramatically improved during that time not be fair?

Indeed, the reason people are unhappy with non GP riders coming in on averages they attained in the past is because of the two new rules which vastly reduces the options for those clubs who don't sign these bargains / ringers. How is that good for the league as a whole? Do them all or, preferably, reasses nobody and get rid of the eight point rule. Let the points limit do it's job without these other factors skewing team strengths.

Reassessing GP riders and the over eight rule? Can't remember those rules last year.....

It's not great form if the riders had already agreed verbally to join those clubs and presumably Cook was aware of that. Not illegal and no doubt not the first time it's ever happened but pretty poor nevertheless by both riders and Lakeside.

Because if you make sure there are only a handful of ringers / bargains that drives up their value and ensures that they will be hoovered up by those clubs with the greatest resources. Would be much fairer for the competitiveness of the league if there were more bargains or none at all. Discriminating against GP riders means less quality riders in the league (on top of the eight point rule) and inevitably greater disparity between team strengths. Good luck to the Pirates and Fraud but those who can see further than the end of Poole harbour recognise this isn't good for the league. And it will lead to more paying customers giving up with it all.

Of course you don't Turkeys don't vote for Christmas. Don't disagree with previous averages being used if it's the same for everybody. Why just GP riders? They've not been reassessed as long as I can remember. Do them all or none at all.

Not cheating, but along with the one over eight rule a pretty damaging set of regulations for the league as a whole.

Reading between the lines of the posts here as I have no other information one would guess that Berwick and Sheffield had done deals with Morris & Lawson which Lakeside then trumped presumably with more money once they were unable to sign Nicholls & Kennett.

Ring(ers) Ring(ers) - ABBA To be played at Wimborne Road every race night.