MD

What a season this is turning out to be. Sounds a very eventful meeting, plenty of fight from the visitors and a couple of points from the No2 jacket.

Seriously though, why are we even engaging in buying rider registrations any more. The system is widely discredited and we've had first hand experience of being burned with the Lawson and Summers signings.

Jack Thomas was allegedly not being paid. Atkins is the second Somerset rider to step down this weekend.

More to the point is why did we go to this effort for Sarjeant. At first insistence to part with cash for his registration we should have moved for Nathan Greaves, or someone else.

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

The only odd part is this post if you followed the recent thread.

Mystery over however judging by his recent form i wish they hadnt bothered. What goes around comes around.

Did we buy his registration?

Where would the riders come from? Most riders currently ride for teams in each league. The Premiership is a glorified CL with the exception of Doyle, Lambert and Fricke.

Our last three matches have been excellent, well matched teams producing great entertainment. Our league is largely good with the odd exception (Birmingham, Edinburgh ). What we dont want is to rescue the Premiership as its on its arse and have all the BS that comes with it. The CL doesnt need rescuing, is its own product and has a good mix of teams.

To be fair to Bickley he was mainly up against Connor Mountain who has a few years experience ahead of him. I agree about lack of consistency, he needs more speed and aggression when he moves off the white line. He has the style to carry it off just needs a shove however if there was a time to be under pressure this is it. With new averages out on Thursday we need to see where we are with Sarjeant. This is the way he is, we cant act all surprised when history is constantly repeated. Redcar will be another serious challenge next week.

We know, and especially at home.

Another decent meeting finishing with another superb ht15. Despite Glasgow winning 12 of the 15 heats we picked up 10 last places where Leicester were consistently picking up points largely through super reserve Connor Mountain. With Bailey (blameless) and Sarjeant failing to score that put unnecessary pressure elsewhere on the team. It really is time to replace Sarj if there is a better option available, he is woeful and wasnt even ready in ht10 when the tapes went up despite arriving at the gate in plenty time. For Leicester they can look to Lawlor for failing to get a league point in trying to round Starke in ht3 and taking a bounce off the b2 fence when he should have sat in for the point. Ht7 was absolute poetry as Harris did the old look down at the engine on lap 2 of his ineffective TS ride, when making no ground on Jensen. Good to see it wasnt just us he pulled that s*it with. On to tomorrow it could be a long night for us at LEI.

Bringing back Sarjeant is coming home to roost as this is what you get from him. He's easy to mask in a strong team but at this point we arent as strong and need him to score points. We had the choice to make at the end of last year to retain Sarj or Nathan Greaves. I'll leave it there.

That only gives Ryan Douglas a ride as the rider above and Ellis Perks and the reserves below. Not quite panic stations.

Is he riding at Glasgow on Friday then?

Another learning point for Connor, rather than how to get out of a situation like that, try not to get in it to start with. He is a very good prospect.

That was a wake up call that we cant ride like this every week and get away with it. Eastbourne's long tail eventually gave in, having completely outgated and outscored us up to ht12. Bickley was the catalyst for revival getting off his comfort zone on the white line for a great second place from Newman. Up to that point we picked up 8 last places in 11 heats, not good enough at home. Ht15 was a belter from Lawson and Cook though I doubt 4 points is enough to go through. Before that though we have to be better against Leicester on Friday, especially from the gate.

He'll be keeping the MOT up his sleeve for future use!

With Scunthorpe due at Edinburgh a week on Friday and at Glasgow at the end of August probably best to hold off on that change.

Cheers, Championship Shield it is.

Not a good night for Starkey, its small margins like that, that turn a league point into three. However having taken points at every away match so far must'nt grumble. Thanks to Masters for doing a good job replacing Cook. Toughest test so far coming this weekend with Leicester home and away followed by Scunny away. Before that its Eastbourne at home on Tuesday in the KOC with a big lead required.

Heavy track or disinterested opposition? Five retirements in 10 heats is pitiful.

Good of Proctor to show up.

Hope Richard Lawson does better than he did at Poole tonight! 1 point from 3 rides won't do.