Lovey

At least Bob Andrews qualified for a World Final, and was actually a world class rider. Bunyan is a great bloke and a 110% rider, but hardly up to GP standard.

One of the bizarre restrictions of the stadium usage is that there can't be more than two motorsports events in any 8 day period - so if the Witches raced on a Saturday, and the Stock Cars were also scheduled to race on the Sunday, then one of the Thursdays either side would be ruled out - and maybe both if Spedeworth had another meeting scheduled. Possible you would think, but it would definitely take a bit of working out. Also of course, the PL has a few weekend clubs, and the Witches will already be arranging their fixtures around other commitments, e.g. Tresarrieu, plus I'm sure the young Aussies will be called away for some racing on the continent.

Historically, the Witches have always raced at home on a Thursday, so it's well entrenched. There are other possible limitations, e.g. the tenancy agreement and District Council impositions which may have an impact? Saturdays are very difficult, because during the summer, many of them are taken up by Spedeworth (the Landlords) for stock car racing. I suppose in the EL, the coming of the GP meant that Thursdays were always the more practical proposition - perfectly placed between Sweden and the weekend. Ultimately, the Witches could find their way back into the EL, so I'm sure Thursdays will remain speedway night at Foxhall.

Fair point. Even so, I still think it's daft for a 32-year old journeyman rider to be in a GP. Doesn't matter if he's Albanian or Welsh - indeed, how about giving the Welsh champion the chance to ride at Cardiff ... LOL, humour, etc.

LOL. You're thinking of Fred Housego

No. I can't think of a single current Sackers Witches rider who would be good enough to ride in the 2012 GP - although i'm sure none of them would turn down the chance to do it. If they are going to select Bunyan for NZ, then we might as well have a campaign for <insert your own popular journeyman racer> to ride at Cardiff this year. I'll open the bidding at Ted Howgego.

Well said! What a joke for Bunyan to be given the wildcard. Getting Mitch Shirra out of retirement would be better. At least if Bunyan is coming back, we will be able to see him scorch to a 21-pointer at Foxhall on Thursday 15th March - I understand it will be Sackers Witches v Rockets in the new early season tournament - maybe the return at Hoddesdon on the Saturday?

An interview in Polish with Mathieu Tresarrieu: http://alex-mowi-wprost.blogspot.com/2012/01/zuzel-po-francusku-czyli-opowiesc.html I tried a translation of the first paragraph using frengly.com, but it didn't work very well. Anyone out there able to assist? TIA

http://www.suffolkcamra.co.uk/pubs/pub/547 If I recall correctly, this is JL's old stamping ground - back in the day, I think he lived in Dumbarton Road.

The Badnits could start season with Smith in their 1-7, i.e. using R/R.

With our superior grammar and diction, we'll thrash them in the read-offs!

Attack the post, not the poster

I heard a rumour there will be some house-sharing - I'm sure the cleaner will have one heck of a job on their hands!

The whole point of riding EL is to sharpen up - even with a large degree of overlap, racing at that level still has a harder edge, and obviously the handful of top riders are definitely there to learn from. If Nelson can steer clear of injury, then the outings he gets for Birmingham should be beneficial as a rider, and potentially for Rye House too if it helps him step-up performance-wise in the PL. I don't think a "bribe" would stop him from wanting to experience the EL. Anyway: from what I saw of RH last year, £1k a week is about £2 per paying attendee

Australian Championships Qualifier - North Brisbane - 06 Jan 2012 Details courtesy of Live Updates: 1. Sam Masters 3, 2, 3, 2, R = 10 2. Nick Rowe 0, R, R, 1, 0 = 1 3. Daine Stevens 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 = 8 4. Brenton Barnfield 1, D, 2, 2, 2 = 7 5. Micky Dyer 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 = 11 6. Rohan Tungate 3, 2, 2, 3, 3 = 13 7. Harley Horwood 1, 0, F, 3, 3 = 7 8. Sean McLellan N, N, N, N, N = 0 9. Joey Ringwood 2, 0, 3, R, 2 = 7 10. Tyson Snow 1, 3, 1, 0, 2 = 7 11. James Holder 3, 3, 0, 2, 1 = 9 12. Tyson Nelson 0, 3, 3, 1, R = 7 13. Todd Kurtz 3, 1, 3, 3, 1 = 11 14. Ryan Douglas 1, 1, 1, 0, 0 =3 15. Jake Anderson 2, 2, 2, 1, 3 = 10 16. Mason Campton F, 2, 1, 3, 1 = 7 Heat 01: Masters, Stevens, Barnfield, Rowe Heat 02: Tungate, Dyer, Horwood, McLellan (N) Heat 03: Holder, Ringwood, Snow, Nelson Heat 04: Kurtz, Anderson, Douglas, Campton (F) Heat 05: Dyer, Masters, Kurtz, Ringwood Heat 06: Snow, Tungate, Douglas, Rowe ® Heat 07: Holder, Anderson, Stevens, Horwood Heat 08: Nelson, Campton, Barnfield (D), McLellan (N) Heat 09: Masters, Tungate, Campton, Holder Heat 10: Nelson, Anderson, Dyer, Rowe ® Heat 11: Ringwood, Stevens, Douglas, McLellan (N) Heat 12: Kurtz, Barnfield, Snow, Horwood (F) Heat 13: Horwood, Masters, Nelson, Douglas Heat 14: Kurtz, Holder, Rowe, McLellan (N) Heat 15: Campton, Dyer, Stevens, Snow Heat 16: Tungate, Barnfield, Anderson, Ringwood ® Heat 17: Anderson, Snow, Masters ®, McLellan (N) Heat 18: Horwood, Ringwood, Campton, Rowe Heat 19: Tungate, Stevens, Kurtz, Nelson ® Heat 20: Dyer, Barnfield, Holder, Douglas Read more: http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=aus&action=display&thread=9805&page=1#ixzz1igJHtItq

Bellego was scary when he did some laps at Foxhall!

Indeed, people forget how experienced he is ...

But will the 12 matches from 2010 be taken to balance the number of home/away matches - or will it just arbitrarily be the last 12? Could well make a difference ...

My first visit was for the 4TT Final, and the racing was quite good - with the first/second bend producing passing, along with the third/fourth for those that mastered it. The thrid/fourth also provided some entertaining incidents with riders consistently missing the turns - if they can sort out the banking on those bends to be the same as the first/second, then it should be a very good racing circuit overall.

Un très joyeux Noël et bonne année

Cheers Aljer, er, sorry, Aljack - let's bury the hatchet and start 2012 with hopes for great speedway and maybe a little bit of success Merry Christmas everyone, even the Scots and the Welsh!

Maybe Werner's average will be reduced after missing for a season? By signing Holder, and if Werner is on 5.57 then that leaves only about 5.2ish for the last rider. Kristiansen would seem a decent middle order rider, rather than Werner anyway - but the Dane alongside Werner, with say Cockle at reserve would be better than Werner, another 5 pointer and Holder ... Indeed, Hart would be better than Holder - especially at the SBA.

Joe Jacobs has sustained a broken left ankle, racing in Australia: http://craic-photogr...6941552_fkx3fNM Currently (22 Dec) in Joondalup Hospital (north of Perth) undergoing an operation on the damaged bone(s). More info via his Facebook pages.

And a missing comma! I recall writing a rather anorakish letter to the Speedway Star wondering why the rider numbering had been changed, e.g. #3 & #5 swapped, with #3 & #4 taking over from #4 & #5. On reflection, and being brutally honest with myself , it was a sensible change by the BSPA .

The rider at #5 is the same as the old #3