Islander15

Called off. So we'll never know how Drury's master plan was going to turn out.

Clearly a tactical move there as Hopwood in rather than JPB R/R strengthens you massively. So Roberts is missing as his family have work but the club would've known that when they put their initial team out with him riding! Whilst Roberts R/R facilitates this and Hopwood and 3 rides from Cupitt will get you way more than he would e scored in his 4 guaranteed outings. I'd be surprised if Brummies don't win this.

I thought this would be a relatively comfortable Brummies win until JPB's injury. He'd had been good for 11pts from 5 rides but Ritchings, Cupitt, Leek & Roberts won't get anywhere near that for R/R and it also means Leek & Roberts have to take at least 4 rides each. Edit: Who's Hopwood in for?

He beat Cupitt the only time he faced him and headed home all his Young Stars team mates. That's all he needs to do really as realistically you wouldn't expect him to beat Birmingham's top 4. I wouldn't expect him to do that in a Warriors jacket, that's down to Wilson, Cockle & Greaves (or whoever). If Widman beats Cupitt again, I'll be happy.

Before the averages change, yes. No chance will you be able to accommodate Knight for Coles afterwards.

Yeah that's right. If you're over the points limit (which Eastbourne will be) you can only replace riders like for like. You can't take 2 riders out and add their averages together, as you'd need to move back under the points limit.

Hopefully good practice for Widman for when he pops back to Perry Barr later this month in his proper race jacket

I'd like to think he's already got a proposition.

That's because there are no new averages yet.

Thanks for the first hand observation, so my scepticism might be right. That may be true but not in this Mason case.

R/R for Mason at 2 big away tracks is probably a beneficial coincidence, isnt it? Though admittedly the riders that can take R/R aren't great, but you could get 5pts from Bowtell & Zach.

Harland Cook won't be riding in the team, confirmed by Barry Bishop.

The National Trophy final will be a good spectacle though. I bet most of the Mildenhall riders won't have ridden the place before!

Another speedway inconsistency. Who'd have thought it eh?! And it often seems to be the NL side that gets forced into something. Yes it is the bottom tier and the upper leagues should get precedence, but there's still a line and there's still an integrity of the sport that needs to be maintained in the third tier to keep customers happy and coming through the doors.

Cook & Coles (if he's released by Eastbourne) to come in for Greaves and a reserve? Nevertheless I'd keep Greaves as long as possible, he's been going well this season.

At least he has acknowledged this and apologised.

It now transpires that Ipswich's initial press release is inaccurate and Greaves hasn't stood down from the IOW but will ride when he can until the Warriors find a replacement (so away meetings). Showing that Greaves is respectful imo. Greaves is entitled to want to further himself and ride in higher up leagues, like skj has said. I have no issue with Greaves himself I just think Ipswich's promotion could've been more courteous.

Disrespectful from the Ipswich promotion to not even bother to let the IOW promotion know that they were talking to or signing Greaves! It doesn't take anything to just pick up the phone. The Warriors have been left without their heat leader now out of the blue.

Yes true and you're not the only club in this situation. Won't Perks ride one meeting so then you can use guests? Or just sign someone on a lower average who'll at least score something (like IOW did with Widman for Jacobs/Compton last year). Alternatively will Blacklock come back if/when he's fit? Will Chessell come back to the sport? Is Cottham fit?

Carr dropped by Berwick, so Birmingham's move is now legit.

Pipe's post match interview suggests Buxton have no idea when, if ever, Perks will be back.

It's not just about whether the win is comfortable or not, it's gifted Mildenhall a match point.

Yes explanations would help, but consistency would too.

True that it was up against the football but the opposition was one of the most attractive.

The crowd figures seem worrying then. How many approx were going in the EL days?