WembleyLion

If it is to be a guest for the KOC finals and the play offs, the Witches may find they have an additional problem of Emil being back at no.1 so the 8 day guest rule could be an issue. We’ll have to wait and see what the averages are. Maybe the Witches need to manage Emil’s average just as skilfully as Peterborough’s Rob Lyon kept Ulrich Ostergaard at second in the averages in 2021. A few ‘engine failures’ for other riders in key matches worked wonders!

Yes that is of course very true but I wonder how often a Medical Officer has refused to sign out a rider who is claiming they are unfit to ride?

Just checked the BSPL archives to confirm it was 2021 at KL - replaced Ty Proctor (another Aussie!) if my memory is correct.

Cameron Heeps is another recent Aussie at KL.

With the Spires scheduled to have completed 75% of their league fixtures this coming Monday at Belle Vue that means no more changes after that fixture so unless they have made another change or changes yet to be announced (and who will be riding at Belle Vue) Killeen for Kemp is the final one.

The track looks really poor. Grading again after heat 3 but in a typical Bomber ride he breaks the track record in heat 4!

Maybe Ritchie was referring to the low likelihood of finding a replacement for JD rather than the timeframe in which it had to be achieved. As you say 1 August is not far away and had the meeting not been postponed last night it would have been 25 July (9 days time)! Maybe Buster can do the Witches a favour and buy some more time by postponing the meeting next week!

Agreed - I have no idea how Christina Turnbull could have missed Boughen’s roller in heat 8 but bearing in mind her crazy decision to exclude Scott in heat 15 it probably wasn’t that surprising as she clearly wasn’t having a good night!

Just seen a strong candidate for worst ref decision of the season!

I first visited Foxhall in 1970 when on holiday and staying with my Aunt and Uncle who lived two miles from the track. The Witches rode against Bradford and Ron Bagley won heat one in a time of 75.4. It was also the first time I saw John Louis ride. JL was soon to become my favourite rider (of all time). Many happy memories come to mind, particularly from the 70’s. My overall stand out is the 1976 cup and league double culminating with the Witches putting in a victory parade lap around Portman Road before Ipswich Town played Manchester City!

I think the Witches management have played it really well thus far by not making a rash move that they might later regret. They have also increased their prospects of landing a top line replacement as the passage of time results in a shorter period to commit to the UK which may be more attractive to an incoming rider. Sill far from easy though but if any management team can provide a solution it will be CL & Co. If there is to be a new signing, assuming no further postponements, I calculate that the first appearance would have to take place no later than 25 July at King’s Lynn so not long to wait before we know for sure.

Maybe best to leave things as they are. The likes of Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris have been doing a great job at no.1 and Ipswich should comfortably finish in the top four. When it comes to the play offs and KOC final the Witches could presumably use Freddie Lindgren as a guest as he may well be happy to do a few extra meetings in September as the Brummies should be finished by then!

Last night we saw the huge difference between a team of riders who were totally committed and are clearly going somewhere this season against another team who have no team spirit and contains some riders who don’t appear to be that interested and riding for their team means absolutely nothing to them. Dickson hasn’t been slow to make changes previously, albeit questionable in several cases but surely time is up for at least one of the top five with Becker the most likely candidate. So well done to the Witches who were excellent once again. If I were a Leicester fan though I would be hugely disappointed at what happened last night.

Admittedly it’s rare but I found a moan free zone for you on the Leicester v King’s Lynn thread where I could not find anyone complaining about the early decision they took on Thursday.

Agreed - there aren’t any forecasts that look remotely promising but Oxford often leave decisions until the situation is beyond doubt.

I guess that based on previous history Oxford will probably wait until much later in the day before taking such a decision. Sometimes they get away with it but often they just annoy their fans by making very late call offs. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Good point - that strategy seems to work well for Pawlicki also.

The Witches had a comfortable win in the end. Bomber was excellent and Rew likewise. How on earth Pawlicki has survived so long in the Brummies team really baffles me.

A very good meeting with another close finish with the Spires just coming out on top helped by several great outside passes.

Looks like they have dumped some extra dirt on it for heat 5! Let’s see if it pays off!

Yes indeed Tai clearly moved before the start in the Super Heat which went unpunished. A very exciting finale to the meeting all the same!

I would also be surprised if the very astute team manager at KL was not aware of the clash and up until last Thursday I suspect all concerned were happy at the thought of someone like Simon Lambert standing in. 17+1points later they had second thoughts! This time though it wasn’t blamed on the KL micro climate, pit gates, dodgy electrics, stock cars…

Spot on Arnie and I guess the answer is that as a consequence of Patryk Wojdylo scoring 17+1 last Thursday Buster is less confident about guest cover!

Buster has had a number of dubious call offs in recent seasons and although he is more up front about this one it will be interesting to see the outcome of the enquiry! Anyone got a large piece of carpet and a broom spare?

So Tarasenko quit on Tuesday! I wonder if he was planning to turn up on Monday before it was called off?