Teromaafan

Thanks Jaizer! I did look earlier on the SGB website. I don’t think they update it until 10.00am though.

Does anyone know the team line ups?

Never like having to operate R/R, particularly away. I think that Lions will do well to get a point against a strong Bears team. Zaine Kennedy's performance will be key here and will most likely be taking three of the R/R rides and Jack Thomas will have to take all of his programmed rides. Our big guns will subsequently need to be bang on it to keep us in the contest.

Agreed. This is speedway though. Riders can be hired by and ride for who they like if the money is right for one off situations. In our 'sport' it is referred to as guesting. With this concept in mind, I'm thinking of employing some ladies in tight skimpy clothing wearing heavy make up to be made available for late night 'guesting'. I don't see them as prostitutes, but (in speedway terms) employers 'assets'. If certain ladies were unavailable, as an alternative, punters could chose someone equally as pretty or uglier (along the lines of same or lower average). Such is the credibility of speedway.

The sport is lucky to have people like False Dawn as a paying spectator. For the sake of speedway, I hope that your enthusiasm does not diminish should you encounter more late postponment of meetings.If it helps, I have contacts at the Met Office and they have assured me that over the next two weeks, there will definitely be some weather.

I don't get to many away meetings to watch Leicester because of the geographical implications of the majority of teams in this league, but I did enjoy my visit to Perry Barr a few weeks ago. Despite my team losing and the unacceptably dusty track, it didn't put me off returning (Brummies financial circumstances permitting). Home fans and track staff were very friendly and good humoured. The opportunity to casually enter the pits and do a track walk with riders (chatted with the very open Ashley Morris) sticks in my mind. I even started to eaves drop on the Brummies team talk they were having between bends 1 and 2 (but they just seemed to be taking the mick out of each other) before walking back to the terraces. From this experience, I would be gutted if the Brummies (add in Newcastle) couldn't come to the tapes next year. The sad fact however is that it appeared that at least half of the crowd were away supporters and I doubt that other visiting teams would be represented by similar numbers (in view of it being a midweek track and there being no other teams an hours travelling time). Despite it being the second largest city in the country, if the interest in the sport isn't there, what can you do? Enough promotions have tried.

Will do. I once got arrested for filling in a questionnaire. He was the doorman an up market London hotel that refused me entry.

Great Lions recovery tonight. There can't be many teams that have had to use a tactical sub and then win by a dozen points. Kennedy seems to be finding form at the right time of the season. Whilst this is team speedway, seven riders per team, tonight is a good example of being there or there abouts come heat 13 if you have a couple of reliable race winners. Hats off to Summers, it's unlikely that Morris would have bettered his return tonight.

You would think so but there are only three other teams to chose from (for a guest) that are not riding on the same night.

You're right, but the buck has to stop with the club. Putting out just one rider for the last heat is inexcusable and Eastbourne deserve to be fined, their financial plight being irrelevant in such circumstances. The paying public and particularly the travelling supporters have been short changed. I really hope that the apparent financial situation can be sorted, nobody wants to see Eastbourne, Birmingham or Newcastle folding.

This meeting should be called off right now. The forecast is grim and the opposition have a long way to travel. This has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I will be at Wembley watching City (yeah, I know, we are likely to get thumped) and cannot be in two places at the same time, to witness what should be a great meeting. Selfish, but honest! If the Lions win however, that's all that matters. if City win as well......let's not get too silly eh!

City are at Wembley on Saturday which will have an impact on the crowd. Those not going to Wembley may watch the game on TV, which will not finish before the speedway starts. Having called the Edinburgh meeting off once already, I suppose the management feel that they need to take on one the chin this Saturday?

Decent racing requires riders of similar ability and just as importantly, attitude. The Brum riders were simply not up for it tonight. It makes me wonder if some riders actually read to much into the negativity regarding the track and when at the back, just pull up. There were six heats where only one of their riders finished the race. Harris can hold his head up, but even he uncharacteristically surrendered points from positions you wouldn't expect. I had Riss nailed on for double figures on a track he knows well, but offered little. The Brum promotion are relying on a good turnout for their next home meeting. Since Leicester is the nearest track, tonight presented an opportunity for them to show their travelling supporters (although they weren't expected to win) that they have a team worthy of their backing. Their fans deserved better and I heard some chuntering that they might not even bother on Wednesday. Fingers crossed that they get the numbers they are looking for (from somewhere) through the gate for the Kent fixture.

In the absence of a thread for Plymouth v Leicester match, which has now finished, it seems reasonable to post comments here. Not being present tonight, I wondered how good the racing was from an entertainment perspective? Going back to watching Leicester at the old Blackbird Road track, the novelty of good racing and narrow home defeats wore thin pretty quickly. Smug as it may sound, the management's decision to go for a very top heavy team appears to have predictively backfired already. Plymouth's entreprenural approach has to be applauded but it would appear that a major team review is required, particularly as Crump is not recovering from knocks so easily these days. Altough they appear not to be weakened by the choice of guests that have covered for him, the situation is clearly not sustainable. Putting my Lions hat back on, a great response after being overturned by those pesky Pirates at the weekend.

Honestly, if the track is as bad as you make out after several visits, why the the hell did you bother to make the journey last night (assuming you are based in the Poole area, about a 4 hour journey?). Regardless of the track and passing opportunities, Poole were well up for it and the better team on the night. Whilst I don't get to visit many away tracks (although I have been to Poole a few times), I do watch Premiership and GP meetings on TV and don't see a much superior product in terms of passing. Yes, the original track shape was a cock up, but a lot of work has since gone into improving racing opportunities. It might not be Belle Vue, but it has improved. Has it occurred to you that the racing may be down to the quality of riders? I have watched breathtaking races between Doyle and Janowski before any significant track alterations were made. Some riders pick up on negative track comments and have up front excuses for poor performances instead of attacking the track. I'm in Dorset in a months time ( might visit Wimborne Road), if I come across you, I'll buy you a pint and we'll have a bloody good laugh. You have been warned!

If Dan rides at No.4 that pairs him up with a reserve at the business end of the match (heat 14). Can’t see Dickson exposing him to that.

Sorry meant Howarth…..Bloody auto collect!

So where would you slot in Douglas? He’s not exactly struggling. His form will only move in one direction. The partnership with Howard’s is still strong. When Dan moves up he will simply swap with Kennedy and pair up with Hans at No.2. If it ain’t broke……….

The Grand Prix on TV is no doubt a factor.

Bates v Protor? Okay, so just two riders in the race. I'm predicting Bates to gate ahead of Proctor. Close battle for two laps, until Proctor pulls up sensing he can't win. Bates fails to spot Proctor has stopped (despite Ty waving to him from the centre green) and is determined to make it difficult for riders behind him (who don't exist). Unfortunately it becomes too much and he over cooks the last bend on the final lap and ends up on his arse. Race is awarded to whoever was sponsoring it. What do you mean taking the P155? It's speedway and could happen next week.

Doesn't tonight's score speak for itself? Yes, Scunny were without their No.1, but I doubt he would have scored more than Danny King tonight. Like that would have made much difference! For a team that ran up 63 points the night before, Scunny had little to offer. It summed things up when they were on a certain 5-1 in heat 8 until MacDonald wobbled and fell on the final bend resulting in his exclusion and a subsequent 3-3. One of their better riders on the night, but never really looked comfortable. A few people might be irritated by Aarnios return of 4 points after bagging double figures against the same opposition on the same track guesting for Newcastle a week ago. Although again it had no impact on the result, the timing of Scunny's tac sub seemed odd (heat 9) which backfired with a Lions 4-2. This will surely have been Scunny's toughest trip on the road, but they will need to go some to collect a few points to back up their solid home form.

Last season (2019) the top four in the Championship made the play offs, where is the source (can't see anything on the SGB website, although it does state that it is the top four in the Premiership) that states it is the top six (as it was a few years ago) that qualify?

You may be over thinking this, in speedway, 'debut' means first time this season!

Loving this rumour if it turns out to be true. What average would he come in on, his PL average x 1.4? If so it leaves less than 4.0 for a double change. Dan T would not let us down if a re-shuffle moved him out of the reserve berth (which will happen sooner rather than later anyway).

A good post to start the ball rolling for a few people to get things off their chest. National League aside, Dan & Joe are now competing at a higher level and are punching well above their averages and will surely continue to do so. Any criticism of them is extremely harsh, especially at this stage of the season. The team that Dickson built was based on it doing 'what is says on the tin', and any criticism should focus on the 1 to 5 of the team. So far, that narrows it down to the second strings. Proctor is only going to move in one direction, but if he can maintain his average I think that is all anyone can expect of him. No need to press the eject button there (for now). Bates is the big concern, as other posters have highlighted. Being brave and fearless is important for a rider, but so is being responsible. For some time now he has been a danger to himself and other riders. So when he has to withdraw from a meeting and miss the next one, where does that leave his team? Using R/R is a strain on the Lions since only Proctor and the twins can cover. Going back to Dan & Joe, that's not fair. Guests are an option but the availability of alternatives is more limited than ever. Let's not forget that we are talking about the current Lions track record holder here though! Surely someone can educate (okay, could be a big task) him to ride with his head not his throttle. (Back to Dan & Joe again, sorry to say but they already seem to be smarter than Josh in this department). Josh might be relying on his management connections but I'm sure that Dickson won't tolerate that for too long. Always end on a positive though, the top three are flying!