Bagpuss

If there are problems with the averages of any riders then why on earth has it taken until March to come to light?

I think anyone who knows HT would tell you that he doesn't go round spouting unsubstantiated gossip. I'm going to make an assumption now and say that the fact that Fisher didn't find a team spot in either league until late in the day, and only then once another rider had left for another club, suggests that he has been asking clubs for a fair bit of money. His perogative of course with a family to feed.

^^ What those two said! ^^

*sigh* I'm not saying that neither party is to blame, just that we'll probably never know the truth and to blame either without the real facts is a bit silly. The fact that Ashworth decided to keep quiet over the matter while Bowden ranted like a spoiled brat doesn't prove or disprove anything. Hopefully all parties can move on once the season starts as Plymouth, Berwick, Ashworth and Fisher all seem better off with the arrangements.

A diplomatic answer would be one where you blame neither Bowden or Ashworth.

Based on?

So I take it you are totally dismissing the suggestion that Mr Bowden changed Ashworth's terms after agreeing them? I don't see how anyone can categorically blame either party without actually knowing what went on between them.

If any facility is for the lower figure then that makes parts of my argument completely redundant Assuming its not against the rules and that Fisher is up for it then 500cc's solution is a good one as fixture clashes aren't currently an issue, and Fisher would be an excellent stand in if Barker was unable to ride for whatever reason. Rain offs may create fixture clashes but at least R/R would be for a decent figure.

Speedway's rule book and its constant bending is enough to make anyone cynical! I guess strictly speaking any facility would be for Barker (wouldn't it?) but to solve the problem just give the token rider a home meeting against Eastie or Belle Vue, shouldn't be any harm done

He'd pick up an 'injury' (or an old one would flare up again) and as if by magic R/R would pop up

Indeed, so Brum need to find someone who has no interest in riding in the EL or who would accept a few quid to be in the squad and be happy to not ride in the EL for the year. Without riding in Sweden or Poland then Barker will be a much better rider for Brum if he's also riding for Plymouth, so it would be a few quid well spent from their point of view.

Just found this video on You Tube, think its the final of round three this winter How spectacular is Nicolas Covatti?!

Quite, although you could say the same about many riders on varying averages. Its the chance a promoter takes when he signs any rider. As for the second bit, and bearing in mind how easy it seems to be for speedway riders to get hold of sick notes nowadays, I reckon R/R would always pop up when required. Rather than an NL rider I was thinking more of a PL rider not currently in a doubling up spot, plenty to choose from. Lynn have pretty much done the same thing by naming Palm-Toft....rumour has it that he was suprised as anyone when our squad was announced

Ah yes, but then they redeclare with someone who has a comparable average and will sign as they'll actually be getting some meetings. Or if its a long term injury they get someone in permanently from Europe. The point is a token squad member is all thats needed to allow Barker to double up. Ah yes, but then they redeclare with someone who has a comparable average and will sign as they'll actually be getting some meetings. Or if its a long term injury they get someone in permanently from Europe. The point is a token squad member is all thats needed to allow Barker to double up.

Surely its just a case of Brum naming a 'token' rider and chucking him a few quid to take on the role? Anyone would do.

Ashworth was very positive about riding for Plymouth when interviewed in the Speedway Star the other week and stated what a good deal he would be getting. With the suggestions that Bowden altered the contract coupled with the fact that the bloke is a wrong un anyway I'm inclined to side with Ashworth on this one. Still, as HT rightly says, both clubs have done very well out of the changes so everyone is happy I guess. As long as Mr Bowden keeps his word with Fisher of course

I'm a little worried that if the lad is that good he might be tempted to ride elsewhere if he's only getting sporadic opportunities at Lynn. We've already seen Lewis Blackbird defect to Mildenhall last winter and I'd hate for the same thing to happen again.

Congrats to Taylor Poole

That a bit before my time my first Foxhole meeting was Good Friday in 1992 when we won a Gold Cup meeting 48-42, last heat 5-1 from Henka and Bo, happy days Definitely a fixture thats been sorely missed since 2002 for me.

Good to hear that Ippo are planning to come back to the EL in the forseeable future, hopefully we'll still be there when it happens and the good old derby matches can be revived

Had Lewis Blackbird not 'signed' for Lynn last year at one point?

Absolutely, and if he's happy to be seen in that light then good luck to him, its not done Pedersen or Fisher much harm in their careers so far. You'd imagine that Troy has probably had the professional courtesy to make contact with Kozza since the incident to see how he is anyway so his interview perhaps shouldn't be taken as his definitive response to things. Will be interesting to hear what Kozza has to say too, can't imagine him being anything other than philosophical about it all.

Two seperate issues now......as I've said I don't think there was too much wrong with the race itself but Batchelor's words afterwards leave a lot to be desired. He could certainly do with a bit of PR training, unless of course he likes being portrayed as the bad guy.

Batchelor's take on things http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/1033/batch-hits-back

I don't often agree with Shovvy but I think his post above is spot on. It was a similar move to that which Nicholls pulled on Harris in the British Final last year, tough racing. If there is a small gap there it has to be gone for when a National Championship is on the line. Like others have said though, its easy to see things differently when the rider getting hurt is from your own team, as I did the first time I saw it. When you see it a couple of times though it was just hard racing and would probably have resulted in everyone staying upright nine times out of ten. If a similar incident occurs at Poole this season I'm sure SS will respond in exactly the same manner