szkocjasid

So while many are now saying Lynn are awful & were never gonna be any good, they were predicted for a play-off spot!

Like last year, added up the predictions to get an average. Like the speedway star used to do giving 1st = 7 pts & so on till 1 pt for 7th. 1st Ipswich (6.9) 2nd Belle Vue (5.8) 3rd Sheffield (4.5) 4th King's Lynn (4.1) 5th Leicester (3.1) 6th Birmingham (2.0) 7th Oxford (1.7) Tbh, the only ones who didn't put Ipswich first were the ones who said "top 4 in no particular order".

Wouldn't agree with that, but you're entitled to your opinion. I reckon Glasgow have the weakest reserves in the league, although they weren't great today, don't think the second string department should be a worry.

Boughen's average is higher than every single reserve in the league, I don't know how you could expect him to be a reserve. Actually Boughen has the highest average of any number 5 in the league (5th highest average in the team) before anyone says he's not at number 5 lol!

After Glasgow fans were so cocky after the first leg, so be over the moon if Monarchs can win tonight. Can't really blame them, both sets of supporters like to rub it in when the other does poorly.

If more fans thought like that, I'm sure there would be challenge matches, individual events, pairs, fours at every track & fans wouldn't have to opportunity to moan about lack of matches. Unfortunately as long as a fair selection of fans only turn up for league matches, that'll never happen. I think as it's the same 7 riders wether it's the league, KOC or challenge, why go to one but not the others?

I'd agree with that.

It's a challenge match, Redcar could've used Dan Bewley to guest if they wanted to (and could afford to).

If I was running a team that finished below Ipswich, I would want it announced that the "ranking order" was no more & riders could go where they choose. I wouldn't want fans thinking I had a clueless team manager or that my club wasn't trying it's best to win.

Yes Gilkes still qualifies as a "rising star" but I can't see Schroeck swapping them over tbh. Given that they could've picked Jenkins, Flint or Gilkes to start the season but preferred secure Killeen rather than go through the "ranking order" shows how highly they rate Killeen. I agree he could be a star if the future, but wouldn't use him if he's not the nest option available now. Last year they basically dropped Kerr for Kemp, then Kemp for Killeen. Being able to "secure" Killeen as the RS for 2025 apparently more important than winning matches - as no one could convince me that move was made to improve the team.

Tbh, I'd be very surprised if Kemp moves up into the top 5. He's made a great start to the season, but don't see him overtaking Howarth. I may look at swapping around the number 5 rider Masters, Becker & Douglas taking turns maybe?

Indeed, wait to see what they can do at home first before losing all hope lol!

Reading the comments from the Scunny fans on the Speedway updates, they've given up for the season already!

At what time did Oxford announce McDiamid wasn't riding?

From the Northumberland Gazette 2 days ago: Dane Peter Kildemand is back on a bike after serving a nine-day concussion ban while countryman Bastian Borke is back riding after major knee and leg surgery over the winter. New signings Sam Hagon and Craig Cook will be familiarising themselves with the home side of Shielfield Park’s pits bay while Dayle Wood will be the busiest man of the day. The charismatic 30-year-old Australian will pose for the assembled media in his new R.E.D Bandits, powered by STS kevlars before heading north to Armadale where he will race for the Monarchs Academy in their opening National Development League fixture of the season against Middlesbrough Tigers. Interestingly it mentions Craig Cook will be there.

Just because Poole wanted Dan T, doesn't mean he wanted to go to Poole. I'm sure every club in the league would've wanted to sign Dan, but that doesn't mean they missed a trick in not ensuring his signing.

Ipswich beat Belle Vue by 54 on aggregate. Belle Vue beat King's Lynn by 24 on aggregate. King's Lynn beat Oxford by 32 on aggregate. So I can't see Ipswich getting less than 60. Could get 65+

I don't quite get your point, if I as a neutral fan suggest Ipswich should score 60+ at every home match, I don't expect the riders to read my comment & say "oh we can take it easy because szkocjasid said so". Now if the club suggested that wins are a foregone conclusion & they only have to turn up, then yes, you could warn them of complacency. I think I fans who are expecting big wins, are being realistic tbh

Why wouldn't they? Ipswich are very capable of such big scores imo

In the pre-season Speedway Star Chris Louis still talked about Ipswich being surprised / fortunate Jenkins hadn't already been picked. Either Birmingham, King's Lynn & Oxford are really daft or Louis isn't telling the whole truth. If "rising stars" weren't picked in reverse order, why not just admit that?

One option to counter that, would be top 4 into the final & do away with the semi final. While I don't like finals feel 4th winning is preferable to 6th winning.

With Birmingham having "1st choice" of rising star & being well the the limit, they really should be looking to be stringer at reserve than they are. Imagine Sedgmen or Kerr in the top 5, pushing Jeppesen to reserve with Jenkins as "rising star".

That's pretty much what I was gonna say. How can anyone beat Ipswich when they get away wins in this fashion?

For a 6.5 rider away from home against Belle Vue's heat leaders, that's not an awful showing. However for a GP rider it's very disappointing. But he did nothing to warrant a GP return except be born in Czech Republic tbh.

Great effort from Mulford. Didn't think he'd do as well as this.