Teromaafan

Must admit, I didn’t think it would be that easy for the Lions. Fricke continues to under perform but everyone contributed for the visitors, with either a win or paid win. I still think that Brum have one of the best reserve pairings (Flint is better than that tonight), but they have no top end or middle order! The assessed averages of their top two would appear to flatter them at the moment but they should be judged in a few weeks time when their actual average will reflect their performances. Dickson’s riding order shuffle will make him look clever tonight, but it would have made no difference to the meeting outcome. In his defence though, I admire him for looking to do something after consecutive home defeats.

With Scotty in for Lampart, this is possibly the strongest 1-7 Brum will field all season and I’m expecting them to break their duck against the Lions. I can only see the Lions reserve pairing woe continuing comparing with Cook & Flint for the home team. Really don’t get the point of Dickson’s riding order shuffle and I doubt that this will be a factor whatever the result is tomorrow. The weather forecast is putting me off making the trip to Perry Barr and I think I’ll opt for the live stream instead. What is Brum’s stream covering like?

Joe apparently had a nasty crash last night. If he isn’t fit for the Lions at Brum on Monday, what are the options to cover for an absent RS?

It’s a very competitive league this year with teams generally stronger, which is good for the sport. Teams that will make the play offs will be the ones that have top end fire power when scores are tight entering the last three heats. For Leicester to win tight matches, Fricke has to up his game (although tonight he looked a little better) to give the Lions any chance in these situations. The reserves are a worry as many have predicted. At the moment, the Lions are just grateful for wins and bonus points appear to be a pipe dream.

Interesting. Riders with the two highest averages paired together (although there’s only a gnats between second and fifth in the averages). I’ve never been convinced that matches are won or lost due to the riding order. I wonder if that is a one off for the Brum match or if he is thinking beyond Monday.

Anyone stop to the end to hear what the riders/manager had to say?

Fricke has two race wins from three meetings so far, both of those at home. For someone who is first reserve for the GPs, this simply isn’t good enough. Should be delivering double figures at home as a minimum. Started last season similarly, but could be excused for being unfamiliar with the track. Needs to get his finger out PDQ because you cannot carry your No.1.

Agreed. Both teams built similarly, strong 1 to 5 but weak reserves. I’m hoping that home advantage will see us over the line. Lions to win by 6 or 8 points.

'Speedway refs are more like "Sunday League" officials who do it as they enjoy being involved..' The day will come when one of the parents from the home team will be expected to take their turn refereeing the match.

Is my understanding correct that referees are only paid their expenses? If that is the case, I do not think that The SCB should have gone public with the suspension. I’m all for ensuring that correct decisions are made in sport and the referee definitely got things wrong in this meeting, but this could easily have been dealt with internally without having to explain the referee’s absence for a few days. Nobody is going to query this referee’s short officiating absence. If this is the way they treat ‘volunteers’, what a great way to encourage potential officials into the sport! Premier League football refs consistently get brown stuff thrown at them, but they are on £100k a year. I’ve seriously considered taking steps to become a speedway referre myself but this has made me realise how stupid this would be.

When Ben had to think about changing his bike set up he had to stand on a chair to scratch his head apparently!

Lions had three race winners and just one heat advantage. Fricke was a massive disappointment on a track he should know very well and he is starting this season like he did last year. Fed up with hearing about conditions and set ups from commentary teams, just get on with it! As many have predicted, Lion’s undoing could be the strength of their reserves. On a positive note I thought the BSN coverage was very good (first time I’ve watched) and I actually enjoyed the ‘laid back likeable northerner’ in Paul Bowen. Couldn’t get Dickson to crack a smile though could he ?

Thank you Tinker!

This meeting is a BSN stream I gather. Never watched any of their streams and wondered if it was possible to pause the steam once started? (You know what its like, need to fetch another beer, go for a pee etc).

BBC weather site predicts rain for most of the day in Manchester?

Can’t see how the Lions can expect to overturn a home deficit at Ipswich. The Witches have superior heat leaders and far stronger reserves. Where are race winners (never mind heat advantages) coming from?

I do fear for Joe T. The one thing expected of an RS is to beat the opposing RS in home matches. If you cannot pick up points in those races, where are your points coming from? In all fairness tonight, his brother will be the best No.7 he has to face at home, but I think this is going to be a very tough season for Joe and Dickson will be ruthless again if necessary (depending on what options become available).

Take your point but if Monday is his last meeting then neither of our opinions will mean much!

Can’t see either team winning by more than six and think this will suit the Witches over two legs. I will be surprised if any away team has more race winners than Ipswich in any meeting at Foxhall this season.

Hardly a master stroke because if Scotty has seven rides it highlights the weakness in the team’s top five.

Be interesting to see how they shuffle the rider order next month with Scotty dropping to reserve.

Doesn’t matter what points are available and what you can supposedly afford (money not really a stumbling block as I recall, according to the management before the final 1 to 7 were declared), riders have to want to ride for you.

Your reference to F1 has no relevance to speedway? No, the race wasn’t stopped and the red lights did not come on. This is because there wasn’t time to do so (and no point in view of the stage of the race). Regardless of this, the referee can still make decisions after the race has finished. There is a reason why the SCB are looking in to this.

So if this incident happened before the final lap, what would the referee have done? There would have to be a re-run. When was the last time two riders were excluded when a race was re-started? What would happen in an individual rather than team event? Put simply, when have two riders been excluded in relation to the same incident? When races are awarded, one rider is excluded and race points are awarded to the other three riders accordingly. (P.S. You weren’t in the referee’s box last night by chance were you?).

Fortunately neither Joe or Drew were injured. In hindsight, one of them could probably have got up without the aid of track staff and pushed their bike the last few yards to get a point.