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Missing due to illness, 7 day suspension coming then.

Excerpts from Plymouths FB page ahead of the Redcar double header Plymouth Gladiators team manager Garry May believes his side can keep their late-season playoff hopes alive as they prepare for a crucial double-header against Redcar Bears this weekend fresh from a stunning home victory over Poole Pirates. Plymouth will be boosted by the return of Danish star Nikolai Klindt for the away leg, with Tobias Thomsen stepping in as guest for Lasse on Friday before switching to guest at number one for Saturday’s home fixture. Rider Replacement (RR) will operate for the home match in Lasse’s absence. With playoff positions still within reach, May knows the importance of the weekend: “If we can pick up around 10 points from our last matches, including wins over Berwick, we might just sneak into the playoffs. It depends on other results, but we’ve got a chance. The way the lads have been riding beating Oxford and Poole recently it’s been tremendous.” He also urged fans to turn out in force for Saturday’s home meeting: “The crowd has been incredible these past few weeks. The riders have responded to it, you could feel the buzz after that last heat against Poole. If we’re going to make the playoffs, we need them behind us more than ever.” No mention of why Klindt is missing Saturday's meeting. I also find it ridiculous they keep going on about the play-offs, but won't put the strongest possible team out to help them get there.

I might not be as strict at that, but definitely think there should be a deterrent in place to stop the Gusts / Cook / Klindt situations happening. 28 day ban with no facility (75% guest) would be my preference. If clubs feel they are hard down by tough, sign a new rider! Preferably one who will turn up each week.

I honestly wouldn't have noticed Gusts missed a match for no reason. I'm so used to Cheetahs having guests in every match, I just assumed everything was as normal. Which isn't a great state for British Speedway to be in.

Yeah, that's really sad. The thought of "finally it's over" should never be in your mind as a speedway fan / rider / promoter.

Do they have to pick a play-off team? Imagine Ipswich could pick Birmingham. Leicester pick Oxford. Sheffield pick King's Lynn. Belle Vue seeded to the semi finals. Only the top 4 teams would know they're in the play-offs for sure, so there would still be something to race for. I was joking when I started writing this, but with Speedway you just never know!

Thought of another flaw with the superheat scoring. Team A vs Team B has 2 draws. Team A at home wins the superheat 7-2. Team B at home (in the second leg) wins the superheat 5-4. So team B gets the bonus point despite scoring less in their superheat win.

Have to agree with that first part, picking a very weak team & almost winning, does not mean they didn't deserve to lose. Certainly feel for the fans.

Made me laugh

Last year when riders raced in Poland while being injured in Britain, the wording was after 28 days they have to return or be replaced, clubs wouldn't get a second 28 day facility. Assuming that's the case this season, if Becker didn't return, Leicester would only be able to use a 75% guest, as they can't replace him.

I think the rule was brought in to stop riders feeling "ill" every time they were due at Exeter, then making a quick recovery for their next match. A 7 day suspension stops this happening. But it also means riders who are genuinely ill, having to miss more meetings than necessary, which means more guests (when they should be trying to limit them). Could also mean a rider races when not well to avoid a suspension, potentially causing an accident if he's not strong enough to control the bike. I would get rid of the rule, maybe of it happens multiple times in a season, can look into it, but anyone can be sick one day & off work, but back the next. Why can't Speedway riders? Better make a comment on the match. Glasgow to win on aggregate.

It's tricky deciding how long a rider can be a "rising star" for. Although the age limit has dropped since it started. Many people say the RS are too weak & out of their depth etc. Others say Jenkins & Flint have been RS too long & shouldn't be any more. But once you limit the amount of seasons, you make the standard even weaker, which leads to even more RS out of their depth! I personally think they've got it about right, Flint has come on a lot this season & his average will prevent him being an RS next season.

I meant realistically could make the play-offs, Scunthorpe could probably still have made it when I wrote that. Before their away match at Edinburgh, Monarchs pre-match comments were that Scunny needed a win in their play-off hunt, but for me that was so unlikely, not even worth contemplating. But obviously they've got to hype it up.

Maybe Lynn should've signed Kerr for Cook for the rest of the season. Obviously Birmingham away is an easier match to score points at than any other. But even if Kerr can't replicate this form each week, you can rely on him to turn up. If he agreed terms before the end of heat 15 does that count as less than 75% of fixtures raced?

Certainly called that one wrong!

I'd agree with that, Jenkins did well enough to regain his spot for the rest of the season. Plus Edwards would have had opportunities for a full time spot elsewhere rather than a temp spot at Ipswich. Edwards would be a good choice of RS guest in the play-offs if needed (by any club).

Howarth has more bonus points than any other Leicester rider, so that helps keep his average down. Good for gaining a team spot next season, but less options if needing guests.

After missing Wednesday's match through illness, Palovaara wouldn't be able to return tonight, even if he was well enough to.

Jack Holder didn't get a ban when he missed a match due to a family illness. Seems like if his wife or kids had to go to hospital no ban, but if a rider was unwell & had to go to hospital gets a 7 day suspension. Doesn't make sense.

Have you seen Zach's FB page, full of fans congratulating him on his performance. Although tbf you see that on all riders pages, even when they are awful, fans will always be like "you did your best", "you win as a team & lose as a team", "you'll be better next time". Kinda like they are talking to a child tbh. I'm not saying they should be cruel obviously, but wonder if that's the best motivation for a rider?

Vinnie Foord missing again, Dayle Wood guests.

While I agree with that, I would have said the same about Ben Cook & look what happened with him. Rider missing matches while racing abroad happens more & more these last few seasons, it's gotten to the point fans may wonder if their Polish club will "allow" them to race over here.

Except for your number one.

Sounds very poor from Berwick not to add an insert into the programme

If Lasse did indeed cause Joe T to fall, then I'd exclude Lasse for being the cause of the stoppage & Kerr for not being under power after his fall. Can't see Lasse being at fault for Kerr's fall.