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Technically Oxford can still qualify, they just need to get the bonus over the Pirates & hope Plymouth get a home win over Poole. But realistically a chance to improve on their home track before the league starts.

I can understand the point of getting to heat 10, Lynn were never gonna win of it gets to heat 15, not would they have a chance if it was re-arranged. But I feel for the public paying full price for 2/3 of a meeting. Feel there should be some sort of refund in cases like these.

I was a massive Fan of Jan O, probably the first rider I liked who didn't ride for my team (Rye House)

Odd / poor team managing by Birmingham. Using a tac sub on heat 9 against the strong Lidsey / Cook pairing (losing a 5-1) instead of using it in heat 10 against Blodorn who was struggling (but beats Milik).

Good point I was forgetting Masters was riding on his "home track"

Certainly looks that way so far, Oxford favourites for fourth imo

Ipswich 57-33 King's Lynn

Belle Vue 53-37 Birmingham

Part of me thinks Ipswich could've gone with r/r give their riders more track time / earnings, as it's "only King's Lynn" in opposition. But I guess that would've left Nicholls available to guest for Lynn, so better use him to avoid that!

I think the problem is the RS criteria has lowered. When it first came in riders had to be below 6.5 in the Champ & 5.5 in the Prem (to fit in Josh Bates) but know if you get above 4.00 you no longer qualify. So while the Prem gets stronger, the RS are actually getting weaker. Next year Flint, Dan T & Rowe will likely be above 4.00. Are there 3 more riders ready to step up & replace them?

Perhaps Buster will keep finding "poor" weather forecasts & cancel every home match till Musielak returns?

Nope.

Starke could only replace Liebmann, so that's a simple answer.

There can be no doubt Riss has done better than King.

Narrow Berwick win, maybe 47-43

I guess the Ipswich preview could mention Musielak is Stars new number one / top rider, but after a fall last week his inclusion is unknown? At least that way Ipswich aren't guilty of false advertising.

That's a great response, not fair to blame the ref for following the rules.

I'd change it if I knew how

How do you find the ignore option?

While that looks to strengthen them, they lost at home with a Riss maximum. So maybe changes needed elsewhere if they want to challenge for the top 4?

This match is the perfect example of how difficult it is for the weaker reserve racing at number 6. Hodder wins heat 2, but doesn't meet another reserve. In his next two rides finishes last behind the Thompson / Vissing & Cook / Zischke pairings, then gets dropped from his 4th ride. Compare that to Jack Smith, beats Leibmann (x4), McGurk and a great ride to beat Batchelor. But also loses to Liebmann, as well as Zischke, Thompson & Vissing (as expected). Pretty similar standards shown by the two Glasgow reserves, yet Hodder scores 3 & Smith 8+1.

I get your point, but finishing 4th, is just as valuable as finishing 1st. Then just need to be good for 4 meetings. If they can sign a top heat leader, then that'll make a difference (I expected that rider to be Janowski). I thought the original team looked very good, so can't blame the promotion for getting it wrong.

After 3 defeats in their first 4 home matches, think I knew better than most regarding Redcar. Don't like to see teams struggling, but it's nice to go against the grain & be proved right (so far).

Not massively surprised, as I just don't think Redcar look that good. Don't think they are awful either, but look one of the weaker teams in the league to me. Great result for Scunny, as I don't see them dropping any points at home, so a great start to their top 4 ambitions.

Hardly anyone said Workington would get the wooden spoon. 99% of people said that would be Plymouth. But most people had them on the bottom 3, I'll give you that.