Marksman

Comets visit Ashfield tomorrow night, Cookie back for this one, not sure if he'll ride at no.3 or 5. Expected Lineups Tigers 1. Harris 2. Hausl 3. Flint 4. Juhl Pedersen 5. Howarth 6. Hagon 7. Hodder Comets 1. Jeppesen 2. Holm Jakobsen 3. Cook 4. Zischke 5. Batchelor 6. Simpson 7. Perry

With the amount of injuries we've seen this season, along with other issues such as riders missing, away riding on the continent and 6 or 8 CL teams riding on the same day the guest and R/R situation needs reformed IMO. It's something that never seems to get looked at. R/R should be made more appealing, as it stands it more often that not, makes the side instantly much weaker and racks up the zero's for the reserves, especially if those reserves are NL guests. Something like if a 5.50 average rider is missing, the team manager gets 22 points (5.50x4) from the team's averages to replace that rider. It can be any combination, i.e an 8.5 could take a ride, but that one ride uses up most of the points, and technically have to use 'weaker' riders for the other 3 rides. It would bring more strategy to the meeting for team managers. If it's deemed too strong at a vote, a 5% reduction to the 22 points figure (20.9) could be in place for R/R used at an away meeting. The 8 day guest rule should be abolished IMO, with a lack of riders, I see no need for this rule anymore. Guests should be able to be brought in from anywhere on previous or assessed averages, i.e not declared in a PL or CL team, this would probably be very rare, but if clubs want to do it let them. The 28 day rule replacement rule is nonsense.

8 teams riding this Friday, so the choice of guests is from Plymouth only in the CL Probably R/R if Cookie isn’t fit, can’t see Nicholls taking it with his schedule of Ipswich Thursday, Plymouth Saturday. Berwick have already taken Tom Spencer, so a NL guest it is for Vinnie. Which puts the pressure on Max Perry to score our likely only points from reserve. Options for Saturday are also very limited with 6/9 teams riding.

Would be a waste of time putting Bowes off 15m that’s for sure 😆 Mitch Cluff hung back and was pointing out to the referee what Barker was doing, I saw it so I’m guessing the referee did too. God knows why he waited until the 3rd/4th bend to put the red lights on too.

I think that was the case 100%, lessons will be learnt I’d imagine. Plus a very long day for all involved, track staff, Marshalls, referee the list goes on.

Well done to Plymouth you deserve some success after a tough few seasons, Grmek is a massive upgrade on Thomsen IMO. Especially as the season progresses. Lots of positives for both teams still, crowd levels have been great at the GT tyres arena this season and looking forward to evening racing next week.

Comets had 10 heat winners, would’ve been 11 had JJ’s chain not went in Heat 6. And still lost 🙈 don’t know the stats but that can’t happen very often, think it shows how reliant on 3 riders we’ve been lately

Very disappointing afternoon there, was close throughout and we couldn’t pull away after heat 10. A combination of Jeppesen’s retirements and the absurd referee decisions probably cost us the win, that man needs challenged, it was bizarre! Team has potential but can’t keep running with a patched up team. The 6pm starts can’t come quick enough, track was perfect last week. Don't think people who aren’t there realise the effect the gusty winds and the sun beating down on the track has, the track is 100% pure shale unlike other surfaces, and just dries out instantly even if it’s completely soaked for hours beforehand. Last week on the 6pm start it didn’t dry out one bit because the moisture could hold in the track. Still had more entertainment than all of our away meetings this season, good to see Tate being back confident and passing riders, just needs to perfect his gating.

If Cluff rides like he did a couple of weeks ago at Northside from the No.2 position, I see no reason why he won’t score quite a lot of points. No idea on Simpson, never seen him ride yet

Would’ve took that at the start, Batchelor led from the front, Tate grew into the meeting and Ritchings was a good guest. R/R was covered very well and we had our gating gloves on which obviously is the most important thing there as it’s over on the backstraight. Think we have a chance of the playoffs this season but you can’t rely on guests on R/R going forward. Tough night for Niklas H in his first meeting back but he looked decent in Heat 11 and will be fine at home tomorrow on his home track.

Niklas H is back for the Comets on Saturday, so I guess that guest booking has been cancelled

JD said he's having a scan on his interview (tomorrow I think) can't see him riding the weekend especially at Armadale unfortunately. Klindt would be a mighty fine guest though 😆

Funnily enough, Kyle Howarth probably cost Workington a place in the BSN semis by taking the booking here instead of at Berwick. He would of scored way more than the 3 R/R got for Edinburgh, the Comets would have got beat at home anyways whoever guested. Plus he also didn't match what Cookie would of scored 😆 Simon Lambert was on standby to ride at No.2 but then couldn't make it, would have ran R/R for Cook instead

Would imagine it'll be Dayle Wood and Simon Lambert on Friday at Armadale, pretty limited choice with only 3 teams not riding. But think those 2 make the team strong, can't be going R/R at number 2 again.