Bash

Surprised no one has mentioned that Newcastle won't complete their fixtures either as their match away to Plymouth is still to be re-arranged. If that match took place they had a chance of making top two!! A cut off date has to be in place as if this was extended would have a knock on effect to the play offs and could get same scenario as last season when meetings couldn't be completed because of the weather. It's just unlucky if all fixtures aren't completed by the cut-off but we just have to accept it.

So answer me this why did Cook look round on the last lap entering turn three and roll off the throttle too late to make any difference?

I agree that the team manger decides the line-up but it is usually the riders who pick the gates. The Edinburgh team manager was nowhere to be seen when Cook & Tabaka came out to look at the gates. First Cook looked at gate four and dug around in it, and Tabaka did the same in two. Obviously Cook didn't like the look of four and then told Tabaka he was taking two. Tabaka's face seemed to drop when told this and didn't look too impressed! Concerning all gates being the same gate four gets ridden over more than gate one so will be more slicker as the meeting goes on, so the gates will never always be even, as the two winners off four were in heats four and five early in the meeting.

The point is what did Cook have to lose by trying to slow down the race to help his team mate and his team get a point, only his maximum.

The thing was in heat 15 Cook didn't once look for his team mate and seeing as Edinburgh needed a heat advantage to get a point out of the meeting, you would think he would try to slow the race down to help his team mate but he was the length of the straight ahead as the Ipswich riders was riding side by side to stop Tabaka. The only time he looked round was entering turn 3 on the last lap and then slowed down but was so far ahead the following riders still didn't catch him by the line.

Wasn't sure what the conversion rate was so just picked riders who I thought might be able to be used.

I would go down the Elite League guest route, someone like Cameron Woodward, Mads Korneliussen, Kevin Wolbert or Ryan Fisher.

All we know is silly season has started and until meetings take place who knows what will happen and rumours will always be around.

The rumours are 38 point limit, one big league and no gp stars. Until we know for definite who can plan a team.

Not unless their own team pay them to not score as much.

I know I was just using the riders as examples for guests. Obviously Doyle rides for Birmingham with Barker so wouldn't be available but the others would be. I would rather be going into meetings at this stage of the season with our own 1-7 not relying on guests that's all, so our destiny is in our own hands.

Just seen that we have re-arranged the Plymouth home match & Somerset away match on dates that clash with Birmingham fixtures which rob us of the services of Ben Barker. I know we get a guest, but we will probably have to use a guest from a team that is not challenging for the play-offs, as do you really think someone like Doyle, Cook or Worrall will help us win if it means we finish above them and get the pick of teams in the play-offs, I have my doubts.

Can't see them having a different line up for home and away. Morten will have to step up to the plate otherwise the fans will be on his back, especially if he starts beating the reserves up!! At least they are trying this now as if it doesn't work they can change it for the play-offs.

Haven't got him in your fantasy league team by any chance?

Good two points scored tonight, but credit to both teams for getting the meeting completed in the end, as with the track being so slick, they were all just spinning up in the last few heats. How Ben managed to stay on board in the last heat when he went over the camber on the first/second bend and still got loads of drive I'll never know! Ritchie was having problems with his bikes tonight and had to borrow Ben's in a couple of heats. Fair result in the end.

Speaking to Rohan before tonight's meeting at Rye House he said it's likely there will be a change in riding order on Thursday with Leigh and Morten swapping places. So we will have to wait and see. Also said he was glad some of us fans could see what was going on with him & Morten and his crash wouldn't have happened if Morten team rode!

What and have Morten beating the reserves up in three of his four rides like he did with Ritchie last night. At least putting him at two Ben won't take any crap from him and rides the outside line anyway, so Morten can sit on his inside line.

Well if us fans can see there is a problem, and from how animated Rohan was when he got back to the pit gate to Chris & Pete, surely they must know there is a problem. I think I would just swap Cam & Morten around.

I think you meant to say they were Dyer, like he was again last night.

Why does Chris Gay always hold the tapes for so long? It's if he want to get riders excluded. The other thing was he came down from the box because he thought the track needed work on it even though no riders had complained! Thought Lewis Blackbird rode really well tonight, better than he did for Scunthorpe a few weeks back. Good all round solid team display from the Witches. Surprised at a few of the Redcar riders performances tonight as usually go well round Foxhall (Skidmore & Summers). Matej Kus great if makes start, looks like a novice if he doesn't.

Always seemed to be a crap rule, as if your number 7 has a high average say over 5 your team gets weakened and penalised.

But if you go by this rule any of them would be eligible, but who knows as posters have said as clear as mud!!!!

Depending what rule they are using, if a guest is allowed the choices were:- Chris Schramm Joe Jacobs Joey Ringwood Paul Starke Mitchell Davey Ryan Douglas Lewis Blackbird Damian Koppe Chris Mills Out of these maybe Mills, Schramm or even Douglas the way he finished the meeting the other week would probably be the choice. Had a feeling it would be Blackbird tho!

Lewis Blackbird is guesting in place of Adam Saturday, on Official Ipswich Website.

Concerning the starting gate, that has been like it for the past few seasons, often see the start line staff bashing wedges into the holes that the posts sit in. I think its about time they re-cast the holes so that they fit better and keep the post more upright. Maybe a job for the winter.