szkocjasid

Still would've worked out better, if Palovaara beats Hodder as expected that's Monarchs 2 points better off. Wether Castagna was first or last, Palovaara for Marson gains more points.

13th June. Unless rain-offs, missing matches etc.

Pre-season everyone seemed to agree Workington preferring Bachelor over Cook was a good decision. After tonight, might have to review that prediction.

This was my suggestion before heat 13 was re-run "Now heat 13 is a 3 rider race, let Polis take a 2 minute exclusion & bring Marson in for his 3rd ride = Castagna & Palovaara in heat 14!"

With Glasgow having already qualified, would it have been worth experimenting with the riding order?

If missing an official team match, then a non-speedway injury or illness gets a 7 day ban (medical certificate or not). But if he was injured riding Speedway then no ban. I'm not sure what happens for the British final as Lawson chose not to enter, the same for the Pairs & Klindt didn't ride in the riders championship.

With Paco second in the averages that's a good r/r option imo. Monarchs have won once already, no reason not to aim for the same again. But Glasgow should be good enough to win.

Totally agree with that comment. Really don't understand riders who don't race in the British final. So what of you're not the favourite? Just go & do your best, aim for a GP wildcard of you don't think you can beat Bewley. Go to give your sponsors more coverage on TV at a big event!

To me that would be even worse i.e "not caring about losing because you'll qualify anyway" I'm sure Oxford fans are delighted to win away at their rivals, so the TM should do his best to ensure that happens. If they were 20 points in front of 20 points behind, then I'd accept that reasoning.

Joe T seems the obvious choice, then Nathan Ablitt, Vinnie Foord, Luke Harrison? Hopefully Dan will be back on a bike soon.

To be fair to Starke he's riding above his average this year.

I thought the same thing too, replacing a second string rather than a reserve in the next heat made no sense to me. As they were 10 points down were guaranteed to be able to use a tac sub on heat 7.

Neither of those riders would fit under the limit. I don't think fans can criticise the Promotion unless they can name a better 2.00 rider. In Marson's defence he's not ridden against a fellow 2 pointer this season. Both Oxford & Plymouth have strong reserves. Biggest question mark for me is picking Starke ahead of Foord. Too early to say if they got it wrong, just yet.

I was almost about to compliment Schroeck till I saw he replaced McDiarmid with Killeen in heat 12. McDiarmid had just got a 5-1 in heat 11 & scored 9+1 from 4 rides, beating Starke, Marson (2), Lawson, Cook & Kerr. While Killeen had scored 3+1 from 3 rides beating Starke & Marson (2). Was Schroeck trying to throw it away? Luckily for him Oxford still won.

Me neither, but if Knudsen or Gilkes takes a r/r & then Killeen I'd better, he can replace them twice in their programmed rides. So for that reason I wouldn't use a reserve as r/r in heat one. I actually like r/r in meetings, more for the terrace team managers to discuss.

That wouldn't surprise me, but means one of Masters, Jenkins, Knudsen or Gilkes wouldn't get an extra ride. If they all ride better than Killeen, then it's an avoidable mistake. Normally I'd think a team manager wouldn't make such a silly error, but as it's Schroeck were talking about who knows lol!

There's no need for a reserve to get a r/r outing, unless they have outperformed a top 5 rider, even then can replace a top 5 rider in their programmed ride. That being said, I'm kinda expecting Killeen to come out in the first (or second) r/r heat as he seems to be a favourite of Schroeck's (alongside Riss in the Prem).

If it's a draw & Poole win the superheat, Poole would go through with a record of 1 win, 2 draws & 1 loss. Oxford could go out with a record of 2 wins, 2 draws! Of course the second place team may also qualify too.

100% agree Would be a typical Speedway rule, if a club wanted to improve the track during a delay, for the benefit of the fans in attendance, only to be told it has to be left as it is.

Hume's 2025 average is better than his rolling ave, so I wouldn't say he's struggling. But I would say there are many stronger riders available, don't know why they went for him?

Joe has a higher average than quite a few who got picked!

In heat 8 against a reserve!

I don't understand why Schroeck has put r/r at 2. It just means Masters will take his extra ride against the weakest second string & a reserve. Is that really the best use of arguably the best rider in the league? I suppose if you think you're gonna get thrashed, then it's a good move, putting your best man in the easiest heat to give yourself a better chance of picking up 30 points! But I would say it's a negative tactic. That being said, I don't think there was any thought put into it, just the usual "r/r always goes at 2" attitude, which a great many managers follow, not just Schroeck.

I have to admit it was a pretty embarrassing interview, he really appeared quite clueless, just listing a bunch on excuses. The riders are professional sportsmen, if the track doesn't suit them, then they need to make changes to their bikes, it's the same for both teams. I have massive respect for Tolley for running the club & certainly hope he doesn't bankrupt himself. But my sympathy for them is quickly fading, a lot of their issues are self inflicted with poor team decisions. Dropping Zach Cook last year was a poor choice. This year Kerr, Sedgmen & now Cook, all of whom are stronger than Vuolas & Hume, have all signed for Prem clubs did Birmingham try them first? Maybe we'll never know, but if they were asked when they didn't have a Prem team, I don't think they'd have turned the Brummies down. Now I like Hume & if a team only has 3.3 available, then he's an acceptable signing, but as Birmingham are so far under the limit, got to wonder could they not have signed someone stronger? Batchelor, Palovaara, Polis, Barker, Allen or Mountain for example?

I noticed that used to happen at Berwick a lot, they'd grade the track at the same times every meeting. If they'd use r/r there would be a gap after one heat, nothing done, then track grading when no riders had two-on-the-trot. It was like it was an automated system they couldn't change, rather than the reality of telling the tractors the best times to go out.