szkocjasid

Don't forget Redcar have better reserves than Glasgow. Although I expect Loftus will slowly improve throughout the season.

Not been to Sheffield for a couple of years, but always felt their flag marshal encroached far too much onto the track, can't imagine the rules would allow it. Seems a very unworthy risk, I imagine insurance premiums would go up if there was an accident. If I'm accused of being a killjoy, I'd reply the fans are there to see the riders not sure an enthusiastic flag marshal would add anything to the gate.

That's a good point & given me something to think about. I guess because Flint has ridden every Glasgow match this season that doesn't bother me, but a rider appears once, doesn't score a point & now Plymouth get a facility, doesn't sit right with me. However, it would seem odd if Glasgow got a facility & Plymouth didn't with riders racing in the same event!

Looks like Plymouth are strengthened by using R/R for Grmek! Annoys me that clubs can sign a rider & get a facility in their 2nd match, having only ridden once - especially when there's Brits without team places.

I see the Premiership KOC finalists have been decided before Northampton have hosted either of their home matches, not an ideal situation to bring in a decent crowd! However maybe the locals won't be aware of the situation & turn up anyway, plus most clubs usually get big crowds for their opening nights.

I've not seen Spencer ride this year, it's a general comment about wanting riders to be given a fair chance before making team changes. If he's been well off the pace & not looking like beating anyone, then maybe I'd think differently? After Grmek had a poor first match & with Klima about to move into the top 5, they could look very suspect at reserve & wish they'd gone for Alfie Bowtell?

Clearly haven't planned the fixtures very well, which is ridiculous when you realise how few matches they race these days.

If anyone wants to sign Jeppesen, they need to do it before his average goes up in May, his converted ave for May is set to be 5.65, in April he's available on 4.34!

Nick Morris guesting for Riss on Wednesday, seems a good choice.

That would be a good move, didn't expect the averages to drop, but best use the available points to strengthen up when they can.

Starke's average is too high. Ben Trigger would fit! However would be very harsh on Spencer to get replaced so early in the season.

Happens every season with the KOC. Even this year it's easy to explain, teams finishing 2nd & 3rd of the group get "knocked out" of the competition!

If fans are happy with a "boring" win, then I guess that'll keep the crowds coming. I'm very much more interested in the entertainment on show, than the result. While I'll tend to be cheering on one of the teams in action, I don't have "my team" to support (Rye House & Arena-Essex / Lakeside) so can understand why others would feel differently.

I was replying to the first part, about the Poole track in the play-offs.

Don't let a Poole fans hear you say that 😆 Anyway, I have seen mostly from the gate matches kept exciting by a close score. But a 60-30 match could be exciting if the Scunthorpe keep gating & Workington keep passing.

This is all hypothetical, but would it be in the rules? Rushen ups his average to above 5 (not likely to happen), gets dropped for Riss (on his Champ converted ave), then after missing 1 match, gets brought back as the RS in place of Scott? Basically what Edinburgh did in 2009, when they dropped Wolbert for Tully (Wolbert must've been an injury replacement), then Dilger for Wolbert (something along those lines, my memory is fading a little on that situation).

This seems like making a mountain out of a molehill! All Phil did was comment on something he was told & have a discussion about it, he didn't declare it as fact did he?

Just out of curiosity, does that mean if you prepare a boring race track on purpose it's acceptable then?

I can't imagine they'd have expected the averages to go down though? Cook, Jeppesen & especially Zischke would've been looked at to up their averages!

Totally agree with the first part, I think because Kvech was a GP rider you automatically expect more of him, but have to remember he finished 15th. Think he was always gonna lose his extraliga team spot as he's no longer an U24 rider. British Speedway should be important to him if he wants to prove he can compete with the best.

I'm not saying it's definitely wrong for Cooper to step up so soon, or that it definitely won't work out, just that it could prove disadvantageous if it hurts his confidence in such a tough position. He could have a long career in front of him, so thought "why take the risk"? Obviously didn't do Robert Lambert any harm, but most riders take smaller steps.

I do feel like Lynn were thought of as a strong team by the majority & Ipswich as potentially wooden spoonists, hasn't taken people long to change their mind lol! I always thought Lynn had too long a tail & suggested Gusts instead of 2 x rising stars (pretty much got laughed at for that).

I agree with your first point, I don't see the rush for him to be a top 6 Prem rider in his first season as a 16 year old. Not sure if have recommended him as the RS either, felt there was no harm, starting in the Champ only & if he's scoring well, then look to step up. But I wouldn't say he's been "thrown to the Wolves" he could simply have said no thank you to the offer of a top 6 team place.

I agree with the suggestions that Trigger & Perry would strengthen the Comets team. While it seems incredibly harsh on Etherington, it's nothing to do with his form, more a case of the step up coming too early in his speedway career. Is he can knock in maximums in the National League, I'm sure he'd get more chances in the Champ.

I feel that's a little bit harsh on Castagna, who at least managed to average over 4 last season. But totally agree about the reserve berths, I wouldn't have used both "rising stars", especially as inexperienced as they are.