szkocjasid

I wouldn't go as far as that. Even a 7 point rider scoring 5 points a match is more valuable to a team than Vuolas or Hume would be. It would be different if they were built to the points limit & had other heat leader options available.

I cannot believe that, why would he come back if he wasn't paid?

Not really Lambert finished last season on 5.96, started this season on 5.83 & is currently on 5.82. He certainly has been disappointing so far this season, no one can deny that, but the reason he's at reserve is because of the great form of the Kennedy's. Now there's always a chance Lambert will pick up his scores at reserve giving Scunny a strong 6&7 all season.

Even if he dropped to 4.00 as the rules were last season, he'd still be at reserve. Not a fan of the rule change, does nothing to help Brits get team spots.

Workington haven't even ridden a single league meeting. Too early to worry about the strength of the team imo. Get Batchelor up to speed & team looks ok to me

I wouldn't say it was the difference in heat leaders that won the match, it was the opposition reserve scoring 16 points that did it. With Pickering having a poor meeting the chance was there for Lynn, if their 6 pointers could beat Kerr

Brilliant performance by Sedgmen & Kerr

But they can't expect crowds of 1,000 when they lose every week.

It's happening again, thought without Doyle & Dan T Brummies might be stronger, then they put in a woeful performance!

Good idea. I'm not saying ignore to he other 5/6 riders, but preparing the track to suit the number 6 makes sense.

Must win for Lynn to keep their slim play-off hopes alive. King's Lynn 46-44 Sheffield

Birmingham 47-43 Ipswich

Feels like one of those meetings with not a lot riding in it, if either team loses, still massive favourites for play-off qualification. I'll go for: Belle Vue 47-43 Leicester.

I know, that's why I said Birmingham could win this. Not that they would win. Every time Birmingham looked stronger last season, which wasn't often granted, they managed to put on an awful display.

On paper is comparing Brummie's home averages against Witches' away averages, or overall of you haven't ridden enough (Zagar, Castagna, Hume). Birmingham Michael J Jensen r/r Keynan Rew 7.08 Tobiasz Musielak 7.00 Matej Zagar 6.22 Jonas Jeppesen 5.00 Paco Castagna 4.50 Jason Edwards 4.33 Total 34.13 Ipswich Jason Doyle r/r Emil Sayfutdinov 6.53 Tom Brennan 6.12 Danny King 5.33 Adam Ellis 5.00 Jordan Jenkins 4.50 Danyon Hume 1.85 Total 29.33 As well as having a higher total, Birmingham have stronger r/r cover, plus a stronger reserve who could take extra outings.

On paper Birmingham could win this, but whenever I think they have a chance they do the exact opposite.

Good point, personally I'd give Connor Coles a go, who's available under 6.96? Jonas Jeppesen, Matthew Wethers, Thomas Jorgensen, Claus Vissing? Justin Sedgmen 7.35 Remaining 6.95 Paco Castagna 6.92 Kye Thomson 5.53 Jonatan Grahn 5.00 Victor Palovaara 5.00 Connor Coles 3.25

Not that I think this would be a strong team, more a case of riders willing to ride in Britain. Would wait till Palovaara was about to move out of the reserve berth if making these changes though. Edinburgh Justin Sedgmen (7.92) Paco Castagna (7.11) Kye Thomson (6.53) Jonatan Grahn (5.00) Victor Palovaara (5.00) Bastien Borke (4.69) Connor Coles (3.25) Total (39.50) When the averages change could line up like this: 1. Victor Palovaara (8.85) 2. Bastien Borke (4.57) 3. Paco Castagna (6.92) 4. Kye Thomson (5.53) 5. Justin Sedgmen (7.35) 6. Jonatan Grahn (4.00) 7. Connor Coles (3.25)

The advantages of using guests for Dan T is if one doesn't go well, try another the next time. Make a signing & you're stuck with them, unless you make a second change. If they go for a temp replacement, there's been a few impressive newcomers / riders returning to the Champ, Victor Palovaara, Mitchell McDiarmid, Declan Kennedy, I would've added Oskar Polis before he walked out. Also would Francis Gusts be worth a shot?

Not necessarily, could come back & score as of they'd never been away. Can never tell with Speedway riders. Witches still the best looking team imo, but don't look the dominant team they were 2 days ago.

I remember before that, in the mid nineties Paul Hurry, Ben Howe, Scott Nicholls & Savalas Clouting fighting over U21 gold, all top league riders - when the best in the world still competed in Britain. While there are a few strong riders at U21 level, there's not the strength in depth, with NL reserves capable of qualifying now.

Saw this on Ashton Boughen's FB "Not the best of results today but I had to make do with what we had taken as my normal engines are in for service. We try again next weekend for the sgp2 qualifier back on my normal engine" Seems an odd thing to say, why wouldn't you have your best / normal engines available for such an important meeting? What would Boughen's sponsors think or meeting sponsor (if there was one) seeing a rider say "but I had to make do with what we had taken". I realise he's only 17, but doesn't strike me as a professional approach.

I guess technically Sam is a deserving winner, as he won under the rules of the meeting. Not quite sure I agree with your second point as a fair way to do it, everyone meeting once & top scorer wins sounds fair to me? I don't understand the desire to give riders a second chance, or why heat 22 should be more important than heat 1, but I know not everyone will agree.

I know semi finals & finals to finish meetings have gone on for decades now, but I can't understand why having an "exciting final" is preferred to having a "deserving winner" 1st Sam Hagon 15 (7) 2nd Joe Thompson 16 (6) 3rd Luke Harrison 16 (7) Just doesn't sit right to me.

I must admit, I just assumed he must've finished 10th on 6 points. Only once before can I remember 6 points being enough for the top 8.