Wee Eck

I wonder what’s changed? I was there in 2015 for the Aussie champs and they ran the heats plus the under 16s all the way to the semis without a single track grade. Something like 36 or 40 heats. They knew rain was coming so went as quickly as they could.

Why was it abandoned? There seemed to be lot of falls

Love it

I like Kyle (end of season average 5.65. all from reserve) and Anders (5.95) occasionally shows his abilities but to suggest, even in a weaker league they’d score 14-16 points per meeting is pushing it, especially as Kyle would no longer be at reserve. I think your judgement on Tom and Tobias is closer to the mark - 9 to 11. Poole rarely make mistakes and, if they do, they usually find ways to correct them. One of Middlo’s main jobs, as well as “mothering” Tobias has to be keeping Lawson focused on his racing and not allowing him to be distracted by his testimonial. If he can do that, Poole will be close to the top again in 2024

I think Adam IS capable of a 6 point average but injuries hold him back and poor bike preparation lets him down. He seems to have more than his fair share of EFs including three in a row at Glasgow at the end of July. His early season form suggested it was going to be a big year for him but he quickly seemed to fade. Such a shame.

A not entirely unrelated question - as the season progresses, do any team changes, other than like for like, have to build back to 38 points or does the team building average revert to 42? Or has that already been discussed and I’ve missed it?

You’ve been biting your tongue, well keyboard finger, on that one all day I bet. An interesting signing - another Ford rabbit pulled from the hat or a rabbit that will be caught in the glare of Pirate’s stardom? I rather suspect the former

Can or can’t? I seem to recall him raving about, I assume, a Scottish rider at Lakeside or Eastbourne called McKorpy. First name Kill

Apologies. I was being suckered in by the names being bandied about. If Zagar is to be number one then the gaps need to be filled with riders with potential rather than some of the names being bandied about. I will await the grand reveals to come with interest, but maybe also a little apprehension. I’m prepared to be wowed, but will that happen?

Good move for Cook and here’s hoping it’s a good move for Workington. With the way they’ve gone about their business, they deserve success.

It’s seems I might be on my own on this one but I reckon signing Covatti has completely transformed this team. I think the Gladiators will put an end to the expectation that they’ll be easy meat on their home turf. As long as they remain injury free, the blend of youth and experience plus Garry May’s expertise should see Plymouth top half in 2024. IMO

No need to be rude. I was merely suggesting that lack of track knowledge wouldn’t protect Birmingham - the Brummies need world class riders if their fans aren’t going to be subjected to poor performances at home. In my opinion. My first post was actually the opposite of what you say but, hey ho, there we go.

And, by your calculation, 22 out of 42 visiting riders, also a majority, have also ridden there. I really hope Birmingham manage to put together a successful team for everyone’s sake, but I rather doubt home track knowledge alone will be enough to see off the likes of Janowski, Sayfutdinov, Musielak or any other of the top PL riders

But, as there has been a mass clear out at PB, the majority of home riders won’t have ridden there in the last two years either.

Although Birmingham are not yet complete, there aren’t many riders left to move them away from being favourites for the wooden spoon. Neither Leicester nor Belle Vue look particularly inspiring - where are the riders who are going to really up their averages? Ipswich and Sheffield are powerhouse teams so should be close to the top and Kings Lynn, probably thanks to having Rob Lyon involved, have three of the best ex-Peterborough riders plus Musielak. Had they moved faster on Harris, that could have made them play off finalists. They might still be. And that leaves Oxford. I seem to recall that many were unimpressed with their 2023 CL team yet that nearly topped the league. A lot depends on Janowski. He had a poor year in 2023 - though still good enough to bring home the World Cup for Poland - with an abysmal Cardiff GP, then a bad ankle break and the loss of his GP place. Has double fatherhood mellowed him or motivated him to return to being a world class rider? Magic on top form will take Oxford close to the top so my top four are Oxford, Kings Lynn, Ipswich and Sheffield with either Oxford and Kings Lynn or Sheffield and Kings Lynn contesting the final. Knowing my ability to predict the future, that means the final will probably be between Birmingham and Leicester

Rosco was certainly in the frame and would have done a decent job. Maybe it was a money or a control issue but I don’t see Sam as the answer. Zagar will do a decent job at number 5 but the Brummies need a strong number 1. Is that Polish lad Zmarzlik still on their books? He seemed like a decent prospect for the Brummies in his one (?) meeting for them several years back

Appalling attempt at a joke by FIM President when presenting Zmarzlik with his gold medal. Something along the lines of FIM deliberately banning him in Denmark so he could win the world title in front of his home crowd.

Neither. But expect the former….

Picko number one after a change of heart.

A Cook comeback would be good for him and good for the sport. Hisp toxicity saw him dumped by Glasgow then banned at the request of Edinburgh so he’s got work to do to get back to where he should be. Workington moving to CL is a great opportunity for him and I hope he grasps it. He’s let so many people down over the years, but still loads are rooting for him. Here’s hoping he uses that support to spur himself on rather than complaining of feeling pressurised.

Within 45 minutes of Swindon. That could take you to Bristol. Not exactly “Swindon” is it?

Rosco has to be in the frame for TM I’d have thought.

I’ve just caught up on this thread and it’s a joy to read in quiet times. And interesting that the BSF community has passed judgement - and, on balance, it’s not in Richie’s favour. As far as the comments on Danny Bird are concerned, davie10 has half the story. There were suspicions raised about Danny in 2006 when he was riding for Glasgow. At that time, there wasn’t the same drug testing routine that has been operating for the last 6 or 7 years. A drug testing team arrived at Glasgow which someone spotted and Danny feigned illness or injury and was given permission by the referee, perhaps ignorant of the drug testing about to take place, gave Danny permission to leave the stadium. Subsequently, the referee was heavily censured for his actions but, from that day, Danny was a marked man and tested positive for a distillate of cocaine when tested in 2007 at Reading.

Are Glasgow’s 1-7 being announced at tonight’s celebration evening? Plenty of rumours floating round that suggest the Tigers will be really competitive again. Looks like 4 oldies and 3 youngsters. To start……

I certainly hope so. It’s the least he deserves.