spin king

Not the best televised meeting at Peterborough, but it did have its moments and looking at both teams I think you will see both sides in the mix when the play offs starts. Also agree with Tsunami that the Brady/Berge incident could have gone either way dependanton what camera angle you looked at.

Hard looking fixture on paper and Workington always usually give us problems. But looking at recent results the Comets have looked pretty inconsistent. Add to the fact that Brady Kurtz is an excellent Guest replacement for Simon Stead, Newcastle had Richard Hall at reserve last week and did not cause us any problems. I going for a Sheffield win by at least a 10 point margin.

Exactly, the sport is has its complications and contradictions, riders classed as assets but also classed as basically self employed. Like I say the sport can be both unique and frustrating at times.

Point taken, but you could also say the same thing about a rider who is doubling up or riding for clubs in other countries. An interesting fact is that in the recent article for the next match at Sheffield, Sheffield thanked Somerset for their co-operation in letting Sheffield borrow Brady Kurtz. I wonder what would happen if a club at the start of the season told rider that they would not allow them to take Guest bookings what would happen.

Would tend agree with teams not replacing riders and using Guest riders. The problem we face at Sheffield is that Simon Stead virtually impossible to replace especially at home. But Guest riders are part of the culture in the sport in this country and with the obsession of points limits and trying to level teams up. In some ways it make the sport attractive and some ways it puts some fans off.

Obviously you don't rate Sheffield then.

Maybe it time to start asking teams to have a compulsory number 8, that way teams in the situation that the likes of Plymouth found themselves in today would stand a chance of putting out a full 1 to 7 side out.

Who me never.

Well sat here in my armchair and it is nice to see Newcastle have a full team.

Bit difficult to drag my armchair down to Owlerton on Thursday as I was at the meeting. Fact is Newcastle turned with three Guest riders and a Rider Replacement, okay if you had a few injury problems I could accept it, but to have all those four riders fit and ready to ride elsewhere. Also annoying when you think that the general census was that the changes actually made Newcastle stronger, in fact more than one Newcastle fan was looking to take a point of us. And lets not forget last season after signing two Kings Lynn assets who were riding Kings Lynn George English tried to sign a third, which if there was a Newcastle / Kings Lynn would have meant two Guests and a Rider Replacement. To me that is plain stupidity I like to see my own riders and would guess most other fans would want to see there own riders. But Dave if you like what you see fair enough, sit there in your rocking chair and enjoy the meeting. .

Good win for Sheffield last night against what was a Newcastle select team. Last night showed what is good and what is bad with the sport in this country today. The track last night was superb and produced excellent racing. That is the good. The bad. Newcastle turn up for a meeting with three Guest riders and Rider Replacement. And of all of the missing riders none were injured. If there are problems at Newcastle then they really need to address the type of teams that they put together, we are never going totally eradicate the need for Guest riders but turning up for a fixture with three plus rider replacement for riders who are injured is absolutely farcical. Its even more farcical when you see that Newcastle Promoter and Team Manager is a member of the Management Committee of the BSPA, which to me speaks volumes. George English needs to take a long hard look at his team building skills, because the one thing that speedway fans want to see is their own riders riding for their team not a bunch of Guests while their own riders are off riding for other teams.

Has to be yes again. Possibly Rider Replacement for Worrall Richard Hall for Rose. Actually potentially makes Newcastle stronger.

Does that mean no Steve Worrall.

I wonder if Manager Dickson has a Guest on standby for Mick Norris.

Well Done to the Tigers,

Would that be Mick Norris.

Quick question, there was a new track record time set today. Does that time stand with the problems with the tapes?

No there is not, but it would be helpful in cutting down on Guest Riders/ Rider Replacement if the Elite moved to one night per week racing.

I think that Newcastle have to be very concerned with the result tonight. Sheffield traditionally don't go well at the Hot Dog Stadium, and to top that off we turn up with one of the bottom of the league's reserves who did not score a point at Newcastle filling in as a Guest in the heatleader role. This should have been a stroll in the park for the Diamonds, but we got to within 5 points of them and to me that constitutes a result for Sheffield under the circumstances. Never mind I am sure that the food outlets will have done well.

Thank you.

Never mind the weather surely the biggest talking point for this match has to be. What colours will Baby Shadders be wearing? Will it be the Yellow and Blue of the Rockets Or the Black and Yellow of the Bandits.

You could not stage a meeting like that anymore. For instance last night Nick Morris rode at number 1 for Swindon. The next meeting at Sheffield is against Glasgow whose number 1 is? Nick Morris. Its not too long ago the only doubling up riders in the Elite League were those who shared a reserve berth. The standard is narrowing. Totally missing the point, trying to pit a full strength Elite League team against a full strength Premier League would be virtually impossible due to over used doubling up rule. For instance of the 14 riders on show at the Swindon v Coventry meeting last night I can see 8 of those riders riding in the Premier League. And looking at it of those 4 Swindon and 4 Coventry the two top scorers from each are riders that I can see in Premier League. Not so many years ago the only doubling up allowed was two riders sharing one doubling up position.

Of course the standard of the Elite League is better than the Premier League, but I think that the main point is over the last 4 to 5 seasons the gap in standard has narrowed rapidly to the point where they not that far from been level in standard. I too love the sport and enjoy watching team racing at all levels, but for me I much prefer the Premier League where there are far more variation different competitions than there is in Elite League.

There is a difference between riding in the British Elite League and the top Danish League. In the Elite league you may find yourself riding; Belle Vue on the Monday Poole on the Wednesday Swindon on the Thursday Coventry on the Friday (providing there is no GP) The Danish League is run only on a Wednesday. The Elite League asks for a high commitment level for little financial reward. That is why the likes of Pedersen, Hancock, Hampel, Jonasson, Kasprzak, Jensen do bothered with the league and Jonsson who appears after starting in the league has now turned his back on riding in the league. Look at the GP standings so far the top 4 riders all have given the Elite League a miss, the Elite league far to demanding, and until Promoters and fans alike accept that top level speedway in this country should be run on one night only the top riders in the World are more likely to give riding in the league a miss.

Somerset are a far better team than people are giving them credit for. I really fancy them to win the league this year, two riders in the team more than a match for anyone else's number 1, and the rest of the team (Benji Compton excluded), they are more than capable of beating any team.