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Sorry Scunny fans, but I did have a giggle. Losing a 5-1 in heat 15 & putting the same riders out for the superheat, despite Harrison riding unbeaten! Deary me!

On paper you wouldn't expect any of Berwick's bottom 3 to beat any of Edinburgh's top 6. It's Berwick's top 4 that need to get the points to get a result imo

For that reason I wouldn't have MPT at 5.

I see Schroeck spoke to the referee & wanted heat 15 re-run. I can't really see a reason for that. Yes it's very wrong that some races got re-run & some didn't, it's also very wrong for the start marshal to stand in an unsafe position, there certainly should be sanctions for Poole & the referee, but I don't see how a re-run fixes any of the issues of the final staging of heat 15.

Anyone else think it's odd to be called KO Cup "Champions", surely you're ko cup "winners" the Champions are the team that wins the league!

I think it'll be really close for 2nd, 3rd & 4th. Ipswich could meet Belle Vue in the semi final as Leicester & Sheffield it still have to go to Birmingham & Oxford, plenty of away points available. All to play for, unless semi's are decided for "commercial" reasons?

I thought it was very clear what you were saying, don't understand how people wouldn't get what you meant? Especially when you explained it again.

Seems a bit harsh, Kemp has been good for both teams this season, one poor score & he gets grief from the manager! Bit of a shame!

For Poole Kerr's 2024 ave 7.08 (7.58) Kerr's 2025 ave 7.07 (7.59) For Sheffield Kerr's 2024 ave 5.00 (5.81) Kerr's 2025 ave 5.33 (6.20)

What happens if Harrison is left in heat 4 & Kemp comes in for Joe T then? 😉 Could even use Harrison for his 3rd ride in heat 13, if they wanted Klindt in heats 4, 12 & 14!

I think Lynn need virtually all their riders to ride well to win, but Klindt is the most important because he can take the most rides.

Wether the plan was for a strong reserve or wether that happened because they couldn't find a top heat leader doesn't change the fact Lynn should have the top reserve in the league. Why wouldn't Lynn want to give an in-form rider as many races as possible? May not be necessary if the top 5 ride well, but I can't see how that can be considered desperation! Is it desperation when Belle Vue use Bewley & Kurtz in heat 15 or give them tac sub rides (replacing a reserve)? Of course not, just using their best riders as often as possible, just like Lynn would do! It is also possible Klindt would get extra rides even when the top 5 are doing their job, just because he's going better & getting extra rides, wouldn't automatically mean they are riding badly.

I can believe that very easily. Schroeck makes more mistakes than any team manager in history. It'd probably be more of a surprise if he made all the right decisions.

Statistically Poole's reserves are better than Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Plymouth & Redcar's. No surprise Oxford's reserves heavily outscored them, they look a fair bit better (on paper). Workington gaining a bonus point, Oxford doing the same in the BSN series & Oxford having the potential to do the same in the league, won't hurt Pirates play-off chances if they don't make the top 4, which doesn't look likely. Poole haven't lost to anyone else on aggregate. While Poole are not as dominant as they have been in recent years, they are still the team to beat imo.

That's a ridiculous comparison, Zaine Kennedy is just over half a point away from being a heat leader for Scunthorpe, Smith & Pijper could add 4 points to their averages & still not be heat leaders for Berwick/Redcar! Yes Oxford were weakened, but not by a massive amount.

Poole must expect him to score points, you don't sign a rider 6 months in advance unless you think he's going to be a "superstar". They also signed two temporary 2.00 riders till he was old enough, you don't do that unless you think Cairns is the best 2 pointer around (he could still be). You also can't blame fans for having high expectations for the very same reasons above. As for tonight, Oxford have strong reserves, so Cairns isn't performing badly, just riding like a 16 year old in his first season against a solid team.

Zach's August average would make him a heat leader at the following clubs: Edinburgh, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Redcar, Scunthorpe & Workington!

Fancis Gusts too. 3.00 Prem average allowed him to sign for Oxford in the Champ on a 4.50 converted ave. Doing all they can to help British riders (not)!

Harrison could go in any heat if he's taken out of heat 4, could even replace an under performing rider (instead of Klindt) for his 3rd ride. I don't really see the advantage of him finishing his rides by heat 8 tbh, gotta have 3 rides at some point, never really understood the "get his rides out of the way" plan. Also if Harrison gets his 3 rides early, then the number 3 & 4 riders, can't be replaced by Klindt in 12 or 14 if he is going better - he'd be in the race with them. So a weaker rider could be getting 4 rides, unless Klindt replaces them in their 3rd ride. Because Lynn have such a solid team, the manager won't know who's only getting 3 rides till well into the match, that's why I would opt for more flexibility (using Klindt in 4)! I'd say it's a specific Lynn strategy, not many teams have a reserve you expect to get 5,6,7 rides a match.

Nice to have a bit of loyalty from club & rider though. When's the last time a rider got a testimonial for 10 years at the same club?

I don't think that's been in doubt for a few years now! If Ben is serious about becoming a works star, then needs to leave the Champ behind. If he just wants to earn a living, then could come back.

It depends on how the riders are going, if Fricke & Masters are unbeatable, then Klindt may score more in every heat except heats 13 & 15. Also it could be that Klindt scores 10 from his programmed rides, the next best two score 9 from their programmed rides, the rest score 3 or 4. In this situation, giving Klindt heat 15 would mean a rider who scored 9 only getting his 4 rides, while a rider who scored 4 gets his 4th ride as Klindt is being saved for heat 15! That's the basis of my thinking, if a high scoring reserve is one of your top 3 riders, the only way to ensure all of your top 3 get an extra ride is not to use the reserve in heat 15. If it turns out Klindt is the only Star capable of beating the Lions top 2, then yes out him in 13+15, otherwise I stand by my original idea.

Why not do both, predict what the team manager can do to give his team the best chance of winning, then enjoy the racing if you're at the event / watching online?

If Klindt is on an 18 point maximum after 6 rides, then of course I would use him in heat 15. My plan however would be to use him earlier, ideally to avoid 3 or 4 on the trot. Potentially use him in heat 4 for Harrison? This would also leave more options later on, depending who is on form?

Statistically you shouldn't want a reserve getting his 7th ride in heat 15. If Klindt is the best Star & gets 7 rides before heat 15, then the 2nd & 3rd best riders get an extra ride. If Klindt is in heat 15, the 3rd best rider doesn't get an extra ride.