Wee Eck

No. Because he’s not in Birmingham’s 1-7

I thought he’d been signed on a short term contract not as an injury replacement? The injury replacement rule usually only applies during the season to protect an average. I can’t see any protection is required as there won’t be any major shifts in averages before Pawlicki is due back. First significant change, other than for assessed riders, should be 1 May

Why would Pawlicki serve a 28 day ban? He’s apparently injured so not withholding his services and has been replaced in the 1-7 with a short term replacement.

http://www.birmingham-speedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.3419

Better than, erm, Scott Nicholls vs Doyle and Emil?

Covatti is 35 so not so young. Garritty would have served 50% of his sentence in January so should have been eligible for parole. As nothing has been heard it could be that a) he’s not behaved in prison so parole has been denied, b) he’s out but doesn’t want to ride, or c) he’s out but SCB/ACU won’t grant him a licence. My personal preference is he’s done with speedway and speedway is done with him

You have to think Cook will be named in due course. He would be a great draw and needs the competitive track time. IMO

Do they have them in any leagues or just the SGP?

There was fence all the way down the back straight and what looks like polyfoam barriers on the bends. Albin slammed into Covatti, Covatti hit the fence and was bounced off his bike and then it looks like he was run over by Albin. I don’t see any of it being to do with the track.

What is wrong with the track?

Is it Middlo that has a stop watch round his neck?

The furthest is probably 3/4 of a lap away so 15 seconds should do it.

That is correct. It was changed to being on track within the two minutes after the ban on riding in the centre green was imposed. And that was imposed because of at least two incidents when people legitimately on the centre green were nearly hit by a rider racing across to try not to exceed the two minutes. I’m assuming that the centre green rule still applies, so the reversion to the previous rule whilst still banning riding on the centre green should both maintain safety and speed up proceedings.

Horrible looking accident. I had thought that Covatti would have given Plymouth the rider they needed to help them move far away from the bottom. Without him, what can they do? As it appears Workington aren’t willing to pay for Vissing maybe Plymouth will?

I’ve not looked at 2024 rules but it’s been the rule for some time that a facility was available for a rider included in an initial declaration, that is at the start of the season, injured before they can take their place so facilities were available for Becker and Kennedy, part of the initial declarations, but not Thompson who was named in a redeclaration. No dispensations required.

I didn’t know that. That’s a shame. Josh is a couple of years younger than Simon Lambert - the two had some feisty races against each other when they were teenagers - and Simon seems to still be doing ok.

I’d have liked someone to tempt Josh Auty out of retirement. Some unfinished business there and I’m sure the BSP Chairman would have supported an average reduction

Was carrying a drum of methanol from Edinburgh to Berwick not supposed to have contributed to the death of Jack Millen?

Could it be visa/work permit related that both are assessed at 7.5?

I like your thinking! Lemo is notoriously slow to make changes so I don’t really see BV as a threat to the top four

My recollection is different - Jake Allen was signed as a stop gap as BV had to declare a 1-7 but Zagar was always the target. He was in the line up for the Peter Craven and was being “spoken to” then.

When in recent years have Belle Vue made “the necessary changes fairly quickly”? I know they brought Lambert in a couple of years ago but that was to do with an injury and not because a rider was underperforming.

With the last two riders now being named, it’s timely to reply: I think the majority of speedway supporters want Birmingham to survive but are concerned that a poor team will lead to poor crowds and closure, as happened a couple of years ago with Newcastle. Both teams are similar in that there was a change of ownership and the new owners thought they could do better. Rob Grant effectively got rid of people who could have helped him, Nigel Tolley should have got rid of some of the old guard who lacked the ability to move the club forward. Worse than that, he has employed a team manager with little or no managerial experience and little credibility when it comes to attracting riders. In my opinion. Alun Rossiter’s name was being mentioned for the role back in November and I do believe it was a huge mistake not finding a way to sign him up rather than Sam Ermolenko. He has a proven managerial track record and still carries a degree of credibility greater than Sam. These are my views - I want to see a competitive Birmingham team on track, one which encourages and rewards the loyal supporters. The proposed 1-7 isn’t it. Neither of today’s announced riders is on the way up. Milik looked great riding for Poole 10 years ago but just hasn’t progressed since then. Pawlicki was always hit and miss but seemed to have stood still for some years - perhaps the broken femur in 2017 held him back? Speedway wants Birmingham and Birmingham speedway needs supporters. But the majority of supporters won’t continue to follow a losing team as nothing leaves a worse taste in the mouth than losing at home. I wish the team nothing but success - but suspect my wishes will go unheeded.

They both rode for both.

I think these two fill Phil’s judgement. Neither Pawlicki has reached “star” status since they stopped riding in UK and Milik has really gone nowhere since his stint at Poole.