szkocjasid

I thought it was a well known rule, riders needing to take 3 rides in the first 14 heats (unless injured) how would the ref (& team manager) not know that rule by heart?

Should McDiarmid have gotten more rides? Scored better than Palovaara & Killeen!

If that was true why would Doyle & Sayfutdinov routinely miss out on heat 15 (unless the match depends on it)? Unless scoring more points earns them more than a guarantee, would it not make sense to give them more rides?

Totally agree, Plymouth team looks far stronger both in the heat leader position & at reserve.

Is Jenkins going to be fit and why haven't they picked Drew Kemp?

I would have thought the opposite. Poole needing thier top riders to carry the scoring? Scunthorpe riding at home being the one match where you'd expect very little from away reserves?

Whoops, lol!

Good idea. Kurtz vs Bewley at both tracks would be awesome!

The problem is, if someone commenting on the meeting says "this proves Foord is better than Starke" people are going to want to give an opinion in this, which naturally involves who Poole started the season with. If someone replied to a message on this thread on the Poole thread, people wouldn't understand the reply. I agree with what you are saying in principle, but meeting threads can expand into other subjects without that being planned.

Great guess. Hopefully Gladiator Phil will send an apology for his responses!

The only team I could see him strengthening would be Berwick in place of Wood?

If that was the case. I'd presume they preferred Starke & Foord was never in their plans? Can't see them planning to build a team over 1.5 below the limit by putting Foord in the top 5. Can't imagine they'd sign anyone other than a temp 2.00 number 7 if they were saving a spot for Cairns?

Brilliant post

Makes a big difference to the Plymouth team. A second big hitter, which they've been missing, plus a strong reserve, which they've not had since Fredriksen moved into the top 5. Bowtell should score well. Not sure they'll be able to make a play-off push, but much better chance of avoiding the wooden spoon now. Big weekend coming up with a couple of "winnable" away matches. Two wins then all of a sudden they're chasing a top 4 spot. Can they do it?

Even if Nicholls did miss some Saturdays (Plymouth don't race every Saturday & there isn't a GP every Saturday either) a 75% guest & Butcher would still be an improvement on a 4.00 guest & Cluff imo. But apparently he's not got GP commitments anyway.

I believe it is subject to management committee approval? Doesn't matter now with the (very good) Nicholls signing.

Poole were almost a point below the limit. Using Foord would still have left them well I feel the limit. It was a straight choice Starke or Foord.

Foord had a higher average than Starke at the start of the season, wouldn't have given the team any points spare to strengthen elsewhere.

I see Belle Vue, Sheffield & Leicester, all are still to race at Birmingham & Oxford. T Good chance of two extra away wins, maybe Ipswich aren't as guaranteed to finish top as I thought they were? Realistically I can only see Sheffield finishing above Ipswich. But still think Witches are favourites to finish top.

Why are people suddenly declaring Ipswich won't win the league, every team can have an off night. Besides a 2 point away defeat is league winning form, Ipswich are bound to win by 4+ against anyone at home. *baring injuries

How can they refuse that? If 12 clubs want one league, what option do the other 2 have? Close down, race a 2 team league or have Nora style events?

To be fair to Lambert, he has improved in the last month. But I still find it hard to believe he is the strongest available option.

As British Speedway has priority on Mondays, surely they should stick to the date and any riders missing the match to race abroad get a 28 day ban for "withholding their services". That'll never happen though. British Speedway will meekly step aside & give Poland what they want.

The problem with a 28 day ban for "withholding his services" is that both Lynn & Cook are perfectly happy with that. Cook gets 4 weeks off when he doesn't want to ride here, Lynn get a guest or r/r to replace a rider racing well below his average. Maybe they should change the ruling to a 75% guest in situations like these? Clubs will be more likely to look for a replacement in this scenario. Maybe then add 1% to a riders average for every match he misses? Harder to get signed the following season if they decide to ride abroad but not over here?

The points limit was the leveller. Poole were always going to be weaker than last year. I don't think Poole are a "bang average" team though. Still amoungst the favourites for the league, if not the favourites. Even if they lose the bonus point shouldn't hurt their top 4 aspirations. But I would still fancy Poole to score 52+ at home to the Comets. This result has made the league more interesting for sure, keeps Comets in the play-offs fight (they'll really be regretting those 2 lost points) while let's everyone know Poole aren't invincible.