szkocjasid

I understood why they picked him, to allow Borke to sign, but not why they haven't looked to strengthen up, with a stronger 2.00 rider

For me Wroclaw need Laguta a hell of a lot more than he needs them, Woffinden, Wright, Janowski all picking up injuries. What if Laguta said to Wroclaw "I've signed a contract to ride for Peterborough & I'm going to honour that contract" what can they do? Fine him, ban him from riding here (is that legal?) Then what if Laguta replies with "screw you, I won't race in the final for you then" would Wroclaw really throw away a chance at the league title - hell no! I know top riders will pretty much do whatever the Polish clubs tell them due to the wages they are getting, but what's to stop them even "bluffing" that he won't ride for them if he can't ride for Peterborough? Even if he 100% plans to ride for Wroclaw anyway - they won't know that!

On paper I think Belle Vue & Sheffield looked the strongest teams. With injuries it makes the play-offs far more open, of course I don't want any rider to pick up injuries, but sadly that's just a part of sport.

Would Killeen be happy with that? Potentially no rides as a number 8 vs 3 guaranteed rides guesting for the opposition.

The rule you suggested wouldn't stop Boughen stepping up, if it was reach a 5.00 NL ave to step up for example? Bewley on the other hand signed for Edinburgh before racing NL, so he shows how that wouldn't work. In theory clubs should be singing the best 2.00 riders available, which would avoid rider stepping up too soon & potentially being a danger to others (not saying Wood is), but why Edinburgh picked & stuck with a NL reserve confuses me?

There are downsides to such a rule, it means one club is building to a higher limit than others, plus any clubs stepping up could really struggle to find riders. Another (perhaps unlikely) scenario could mean a rider demanding 2 or 3 times his current pay because he knows his team want to keep the same 7 riders? For example Belle Vue are averaging 42.66, let's say Connor Bailey wants more money, if they don't agree they have to drop 3.66 to fit with a new team! Works the same with Bewley, he could say sign me on my Polish wages or replace me with a 4.34 rider?

No offence to the lad, but his return weakens Edinburgh. So I guess you could say his presence is key, as it makes a very minimal chance even harder! No wanting to slag of Dayle, he's doing exactly what is expected of a NL reserve at Champ level.

I know they do, but any extra points they gain are getting lost by Brennan at 5 (no longer a problem). I honestly believe Basso would score the same at 3 or 5, but Brennan would score extra at 3.

Sensible points being made by you, makes me wonder why Glasgow's team manager didn't realise too & move Brennan away from number 5 earlier?

I agree, Schlein the best option imo

You could have, before his average changed & before the transfer cut-off date

Now the Lions season is over, you'd think the Lion Cubs would have been quicker to announce their remaining 2 league fixtures, especially as they've got the KOC final & are 99% in the play-off final, plus need a free date for the jubilee cup

I reckon about 75% of double headers don't last the full 30 heats

Scenario 1, could be so easily avoided, just by saying riders can't guest for clubs in their own group. Teams would still have 6 out of the 8 clubs to find guests for. For the last part, I feel of you wanna be Champions, you have to be able to beat any club over 2 legs, can't plan for an easier final. I think more restrictions on guests would be good, not just in the play-offs though!

That part doesn't bother me so much, Speedway promoters seem to feel of they are weakened by injury it's a travesty, but in any other sport, it's accepted. I'm not saying get rid of guests, teams cancelling matches because they can't get a good guest should certainly never be allowed, but having to use a weaker rider to cover a stronger one, is just a part of sport!

That is one benefit, shares the extra matches around to riders whose season is over

Cheers, you're right, it was Daugavpils last year

Ipswich do "deserve" to be in the play-offs, how they got their is irrelevant. They finished 4th. I for one hope they win the league, because I hate play-offs & want everyone to agree with me, which they are more likely to do, if the team in 4th becomes Champions lol!

I'll have to defend Stead on this one, Ellis was the in form rider - in Poland, I don't believe he was out of his depth, but even if he was - I'm sure any alternative would have been equally out if their depth - GB had 3 GP standard riders, racing 3 opponents with 4 GP standard riders imo. It certainly made sense to replace him for Sheffield (but Opole didn't drop him).

I was expecting to read a Batchelor comment after that lol!

Because he is "refusing to ride / withholding his services" whether he's suffering from mental health or not the outcome is the same - he refused to ride, Edinburgh can't force him to (nor would they want to) & can't use a guest without a facility. Now if Cook didn't feel he could ride because of mental health issues, all he'd need to do is visit a doctor & get signed off (I sincerely hope he would visit a doctor, forget about his team - for his own well being, if he needed to) however this would have allowed Edinburgh a facility & they wouldn't have had to report him for "withholding his services"

I'd have to disagree, surely the aim of anyone suffering from mental health, is to either get better or learn to cope (perhaps with medication) with it and get back to normality, doing what you love. So I really hope this isn't the last we've seen of Cook.

I personally don't understand the point of this guest restriction in the play-offs. For example; 1) in the BSN series Jason Edwards can guest for group rivals & risk knocking his own side out - deemed acceptable by the rule makers! 2) Josh Pickering can guest for one of his clubs rivals for 6th spot & risk his own side dropping down to 7th - deemed acceptable by the rule makers! 3) yet a rider from group A, guesting in group B, which means it can't affect his own team whatsoever - not allowed by the rule makers!

But that doesn't explain why Redcar have organised a testimonial before the KOC S/F date?

If true, that would have been an idiotic move by Oxford imo. Risking reaching the grand final by picking the best team in the league rather than choosing Edinburgh!