Islander15

Learning different tracks, learning about set-ups (I'm sure he'd rather find a problem in an NL meeting than EL), learning how to cope with the pressure of being the top man, earning money, keeping match fit and boosting his confidence and that's just off the top of my head.

I think you're missing the point Alex. That may be true but no PL team offered him a team place so what was he supposed to do? He was offered an NL spot by Birmingham and he took it. As has been said by others, at his age and stage of development he needs as many meetings as possible.

Both Branford and Chessell return from injury tomorrow.

He'd only ridden 1 full year of NL and 2 full years of speedway before this season so of course we should allow him if he's eligible! And the PL didn't want him stupidly, so you couldn't expect him to just ride EL at this point in his career. The only draft rider to try that, in 2 seasons, is Garrity who is much further on in his development (he's just ridden in a GP!) and even he originally had a PL spot at the start of the season and has picked up a spot again now.

Bates was signed to ride tomorrow. Sheffield have rearranged their meeting in the mean time and it clashes and Sheffield get priority.

I think its a good move. He's a fast starter and will do well on the equipment Connor's helped with and he never gives up and a genuine guy to talk to so should fit in well too.

James Wright for Howe?

With all this talk of Sunday meetings I thought Rob said last year that his Sunday double headers were affecting crowds and he couldn't wait to go back to Fridays (as they ran quite a few at the start of the season).

That should be a good one if the 4s is anything to go by with some friendly rivalry in the crowd as well. I'm not going to Plymouth though as I'm off to KL instead!

Stupid post of the week award goes to...

You going next week?

They're not averages. Barrow boy has his own rating system.

I know what you're getting at, to give the number 8 a chance but its not fair to say one side has to cover an injured heat leader with a 3.00 rider but the other team can be at full strength or their injured rider is fifth in the averages. Its not like for like replacements, which at least R/R tries to give teams.

The irony of Grondal R/R! Could have been Allen R/R and then Ulrich could've taken a ride as well.

Surely the perfect rider to replace him was Hopwood. But now there's no-one out there, as Cradley have found to replace Greaves.

A meeting between Mildenhall and a Danish touring team.

Having seen both 'in the flesh' I think Zach has improved more during this season but BWD started at a higher standard. But they're 2 very different riders with wry different backgrounds.

Great to see Cottham finally back racing! I see you have Buxton away in a couple of weeks and Cottham flies round there.

I think Basford deserves this proper chance. Against Eastbourne he was facing the best bottom 3 in the league and many a more experienced reserve has been beaten at home by their lowest averaged rider in Dugard. But riding against Hunter and Halder will show Kent fans better where he's at.

In the declarations effective July 1st he is second, which is issue 10. Between the July averages being released and them becoming effective both Tedham and Hopwood were signed under June averages so a new copy was released as issue 9a and this is what you and guitar_art are looking at and confusing yourselves. But they are not the effective July averages that see Perry second!

That's not correct. Tom is second on 8.96 and Zach on 8.87.

Extance leaving is true and he was dropped, he didn't quit.

Yes that's why I said used to be. Yes that's why I said used to be.

There used to be an age limit (not that I'm sure it was legal) and it was 1 rider over 30.

Kyle says he's not allowed PL guest bookings. He can't double up as he's over 25 so he'd have to do PL only but on his old average.