szkocjasid

I cannot understand why Wright & Lawson weren't picked, especially as they could be the 9th & 10th named riders?

I think all the top 5 would have to be racing in that FIM event, otherwise one missing rider would have to be the r/r. But yes you could technically run with 7 guests, but I'm sure the match would be re-arranged before this ever occurs! I'm now doubting myself, if all 3 heat leaders are injured can you use 3 guests?

Are you sure? Would it not be 6 guests & r/r?

It's 1st vs 4th, 2nd vs 3rd in the play-offs (well it was last year) no picking your opponents

Certainly didn't change straight away, after Rickardsson was excluded in the first round, Hancock, who had won the first round, was excluded in the second round. I was convinced at the time it was a conspiracy to allow Gollob the world title lol! I remember a pic in the Speedway Star of Rickardsson taping a stop watch to his handlebars to avoid it happening again.

I'll have to disagree, the rules are the same wether it's heat one, heat 15, a last heat decider or not! I'm football of a player makes a red card foul in the first minute does the referee not send him off because fans want to watch 11 vs 11? No they follow the laws of the game - not exactly the same but if you avoid excluding someone for delaying the start to give fans 4 riders in a heat, what next? If a rider falls on his own at the back all 4 again?

Obviously trying to avoid what happened last year, but no doubt a team will get an injury right at the end of July / beginning of August & have to use guests for 2 months, leading to moans about too many guests used!

Is it not August 31st?

Top 4 qualify for the play-offs?

So the same rules as this year then lol!

I'm not sure why fans & team managers make such noise about a reserve being able to get 7 rides a meeting? Logically if Bowtell gets 7 rides it means the second strings are off form, so it could be a struggle. However Bowtell getting 5 rides & Hagon getting 3 is better than the earlier pairing of Pearson & Thompson getting 8 rides between them imo. For sure Bowtell is a useful reserve to have if using r/r or to cover injuries on the night.

Would make sense to re-run the match next Tuesday as Glasgow are at Oxford on the Wednesday & would give fans the option of staying down south for both meetings.

I'm almost certain Nicholls will be in the heat 8 r/r spot, which as you point out is not wise, waste of using a top rider just to beat Edinburgh's 2+7, but we will see!

Bailey has such a high average, second to Jordan Jenkins in the averages, so many possible guests if needed!

I noticed that when Edinburgh are hosting their double header, fans who only want to watch the first match, will get money back of they leave before the second one. But as that is Monarchs vs Bandits followed by Academy vs Bullets, you'd think it's not so necessary to offer that! But how many Plymouth fans want to watch Belle Vue & vice versa?

Really need to win away at any (or all) of the top 4 clubs, not only gaining 3 extra points, but denying their opposition of the same points available. Can't see that happening at all, plus even if they do may not be enough!

Have a "rest line" 5 meters from the start, then call the riders forward & green light goes on 30 seconds later, no time for "gardening" it's the same for all riders, so no need for them to complain (though they would).

Sounds like Rathbone should have been the one to negotiate with Poland over using their Extraleague riders. He was smart enough to get paid to release a rider, while years later the league has given up priority on Thursdays for re-arranged fixtures! He deserves a medal for his brilliance lol!

Poole will be favourites to beat either club over 2 legs, don't think giving Ben Cook an extra match at Scunny will change much. Plus win or lose a KOC final against Poole should be a crowd puller

I like the rolling averages fine, but maybe the total league matches ridden should be the number used, for this season it would be a 16 match rolling ave in the Championship for example.

Could go either way, very interesting tie

I thought Belle Vue were the strongest team by far last year, even before they added Mulford, still can't believe how they managed to miss out on the top 4!

Simple answer would be don't allow different start & finish lines.

Let's be honest, Glasgow have already secured the play-offs. No matter how good Boughen is going, it would be very risky to run with 2 x 2.00 riders in the ay-offs (of course Pijper may be a 3.5 rider by then but not a "senior" reserve). You also can't guarantee a replacement will end up being stronger. Nowak was stronger than Sedgmen at home, but far weaker away. Previous to that they dropped James Sarjeant for Mikkel B Andersen who weakened the team! Using unofficial averages from 2021 Sedgmen (6.24/5.03) dropped for Nowak (7.00/2.55). Then in 2019 Sarjeant (3.79/3.72) dropped for Andersen (2.32/2.77)

I'm Cook's defence after his first ride (after which he may have sussed out the track) he only lost to Douglas!