Bagpuss

Indeed. What doesn't help matters is that the two home reserves face the same second string from the opposition in their non-reserve-race rides whereas the away reserves face the home 2 and 4 once each. Newman therefore avoided Tungate last night but faced Palm Toft twice which was easy meat really. Probably helps explain one or two of Lewis K's mammoth scores at the NA too. While of course reserves can be switched as and when its something that needs ironing out for next year along with the heats 5 & 6 imbalance.

He did, and it's great to see him fit again after his fall, but his maximum was gained through facing Belle Vue's three weakest riders only, who you would expect him to beat on his home circuit every time. The new EL format has thrown up some scores which are either not as good or as bad as they first appear.

How has Proctor still got two jobs here? Woeful

Going to try to get to the EoES for Embra's visit if I can, should be an absolute corker.

I hope he can double up this year, more racing will do him the world of good.

I was under the impression that any rider who starts the season on an assessed average is unable to double up for the rest of that season however their average may alter.

Decent meeting in terms of the score but thought the racing was fairly ordinary considering the track looked nice and wide and well prepared. If Shamek had gated in heat 15 he'd have been gone but Andersen looked slow and was soon gobbled up.

Apparently it was Ellis' request as he is concerned about his PL form and both he and Morley have always had the option to miss a Lakeside away match to ride for their other clubs in the event of a clash if they feel it would be beneficial for their development.

Peterborough in Hull's Craven Park stadium, great viewing!

I think Rye's team was Robson Kennett Neath Werner King Boxall Allen Although of course they weren't a patch on Lynn's treble winning sides of 2006 & 2009 Really hard to compare teams from different eras but Arena went up to the BL and more than held their own in 1992 by changing only one rider IIRC, think it was Alan Johansen who joined?

Brilliant

Errrrr nope, the leagues need to work together. They are both using each others assets so they need to work towards minimal clashes and make sure that any absences are shared equally ie Swindon shouldn't suffer every time Worrall rides for Edinburgh and nor should Plymouth each time Newman rides for Poole (when there are clashes)

No, but he is an asset of an EL side (Brum)

Smolinski very disappointing and how on earth did Dudek become U21 champion? Have seen him half a dozen times and he always look very ordinary. Excellent meeting though.

Not called the Moanarchs for nothing!

Great little track, something different and some good lines developing.

But the EL doesn't have overall priority, it does over any assets but most riders must represent their PL club first. That said the number of guests across both leagues does nothing to encourage people to go to speedway regularly.

The lady on the right for the rider photos, yummy

0/10 for originality. #pooreffort

A moral victory for the Tigers I'd suggest. The Monarchs two top scorers can count themselves a little unlucky not to be selected for heat 15, nearly backfired it seems.

Record the Swedish speedway and watch it another time?

Not elite in terms of world speedway, but elite riders in the sense that they are assets of EL teams and consequently on loan to PL clubs and therefore propping up the PL!

The definition of elite is 'a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society' ie the highest standard of speedway in the UK. So yes, the Elite league is appropriately named because there is no league of a higher standard in the UK. Those riders are assets of EL teams and most would choose the EL if they had to pick a league to ride in. And the bottom line is that those riders prop up the PL as much as PL assets do so to the EL. Klindt may have had a bad day last Sunday but he has recently qualified for the GP challenge so can't be all that bad.

I have no doubt there are mismanagement issues and significant losses in the PL too. PL relies on EL riders 'doubling down' too, but it seems a little harsh for the PL to get priority over a doubling up rider when neither of his clubs can claim him as an asset. Would be fairer to divide the clashes down the middle and share the absences.

Is the PL not also propped up by EL riders though? Kennett, Barker, King, Gracjonek, Morris x2, Lawson, Worrall x2, Wells, Kerr, Rose, your mate Ludvig, Allen, Proctor, Newman, Ellis, Klindt, Aspgren off the top of my head are EL club's assets who ride in the PL. Make riders choose between one league or the other and I fancy you'd lose several of those riders from the PL as well as I'd imagine one or two others like Stead, Cook etc. Doubling up is far from ideal but its a necessary evil with too few riders to go round. If both leagues don't work together there would be a big problem.