SCB

Just looking at one clubs website and i had a mini heart attack. It was terrible. Why do speedway clubs continue to put out substandard websites? And even more worryingly it seems they pay for them some times. Club would be better with no website than some of the crap some clubs have. So who has the best and worst websites?

I've never seen Heeps but I imagine he'll be in the 1-5 very soon and it'll be hard to put a point o his average in the 1-5. As for Lanham, he's a 7.5 rider at best in the PL.

How is it not? I can race for a club in Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Germany, Cz Republic and the UK. So 6 teams, so why can't I ride for 6 teams in the UK? It's restraint I tell you. Actually, it's not restraint, in the same way anyone earning a living in a foreign league is not being prevented from earning a living because they are owned by a club who are asking for a transfer fee.

I'd take Schramm over any one of the Ipswich riders. I see a points improvement form him, not sure I see that in anyone expect maybe Ellis at Ipswich. I'm amazed Schramm doesn't have a team, 2012 is the first season ever his average has dropped, it's always gone up a tiny bit.

I want to ride for Coventry, Poole, Belle Vue, Swindon and Glasgow. The rules don't allow it, is that restraint of trade?

Another moto-xer who was rubbish hot out of the starts. What is it about former moto-xers that makes them good starters?

And who was 2nd? I could win a meeting if it consisted of Barbara who runs the corner shop, my mate Dave, a one armed man and a blind man. Wouldn't make me any good. He never seemed to beat anyone worthwhile when I saw him second halfing.

Only saw Austin Novatril once but my God was I impressed. That was about 2 years ago now so I'm guessing he's 18 and come on a bit. I'd sign him on a 5 point average,. Would have to agree on Manzares, seen him a handful of times, 3 point PL rider only IMO.

Newport "followers" didn't turn up when Newport had a team shooting up the league and winning the KOC. Why? Because 10 years of being rubbish eventually leads to a general feeling of, "so what?!" and they stop going, never to return. Once the rot sets in it's hard to turn it around. Yes teams have bad years, thats not bad thing as it means the good years get spread around a bit but thats just it, the good and bad needs to be spread evenly for everyone to stand a chance of maintaining crowds. It's not good for Newport, Stoke, Glasgow (generally), BV etc to be at the bottom of the leagues every year while the same teams win all the time. Sheffield have had 1 poor year and a few of not being great, admittedly this season team doesn't look like it's going to take the league by storm but watching Stead each week and seeing the 3 novices come on should be pretty exciting in itself. The trick is to know when you're rubbish and to give up on winning that year and go for a laugh, to see mates, to see some good racing - the issue is when you're doing that year after year.

It was quip at someone who asked how many of those saying this team was rubbish had ridden a speedway bike. He seemed to think that made your opinion more valid, I pointed out I'd ridden a speedway bike. Frankly I think it's a load of rubbish. Theres many people out there who have not done a certain job but still manage people who do perfectly well. Rob Lyon has never ridden a speedway bike but he's not a bad team manager.

I've ridden a speedway bike. This Rye team is rubbish.

He was just a little bit rubbish at Coventry. Never saw what anyone saw in him. No style, no finesse, couldn't pass, just gated and wobbled.

At least 1 of them riders has retired, so I'm informed. It wouldn't be fair for me to name the rider concerned, thats up to him and his clubs - thought I don't think it takes a genius to take a good guess. And Karlsson has said he's not riding in the UK hasn't he?

Signing number 1 is Oliver Greenwood on a full transfer then.

Exactly. Number 5 means nicely spread out heats, you ride with your reserve 3 times and the oppositions once do can average 4 without beating anyone. A 6.5 average at number 5 is pretty poor.

But they did. The rule was you had to do 12 meetings to be an asset, he did that (5 home, 3 away and 4 KOC) but that winter they changed the rules to riders had to achieve an average to become an asset. Thats fine to change the rules but it's totally unfair to retrospectively do so. Does that mean that all rules will not be used retrospectively? Whole can of worms.

Opps. Missed Nelsons 5.5. Still makes its 4.5 short. Mind you, it takes some mindless optimism to believe he's going to turn up.

9+6.5+5+4.5+4+3.5=32.5. That's 10 points short. I accept I'm estimating averages but no way am I 7 points out. It's a piss poor team, it's seriously bad, even allowing for massive improvement in Garrity and Mellgren. Just who else is going to put points on their averages? This 7 riders will not hit a combined 40 by October. Didnt they get a draw in the PT?

But it's about 10 points under the limit. Sorry, it's terrible, this 1-7 will finish bottom, by a long way.

That team is brilliant lol. The first team to go all season without scoring a single league point? Get Olly Allen in your fantasy team - 5 rides and a TR every meeting.

They may but hey, this is a start. As I see it nothing will be lost this way.

I don't see the issue. You ride against the GP's now so it won't matter, just sign non-GP riders and on GP weeks ride against other teams without GP riders.

Monster are taking this speedway thing pretty serious then.

Ward failed to qualify for 2012, and when offered turned the offer down. Hampel failed in 2008 and 2009 too. If you're arguing it should all be qualifiers the riders who finished in the 4 reserve spots would have been in the GP's in place of the wild cards. So the riders missing out were 2008 - Tomicek, Bjerre, Dobrucki, Davidsson/KK rather than Harris, AJ, KK, Lindgren 2009 - Iversen, Jedrazek, Sullivan and Monberg rather than Nicholls, Harris, Lindgren and Sayfutdinov. 2010 - Lindgren, Harris, Pepe, Watt rather than Lindgren, Harris (oh, hang on ), Woffinden and Hans. 2011 - Kolodziej, Zorro, THJ, Harris (or Iversen and Harris finished top 8) rather than Kolodziej, AJ, Nicki, Emil 2012 - Vaculik, KK, Ljung, Madsen rather than well, this year was a farce, as they ended up having to give Ljung the qualifying place anyway and nobody actually wanted to be in the GPs 2013 - Dryml, Madsen, Batchelor, Andersen/Vaculik/Ljung/Buckowski rather than Vaculik, Woffy, Wardand Hampel Looking back, I think I prefer pretty much all the picks to the actual qualifiers! Especially for 2013 because as bad as Woffy is, he is better than Dryml, Andersen, Ljung and Buckowski. Probably Batchelor too.

Excellent news. Pleased for the Edinburgh fans who I have a soft spot for, when ever I've been to an Edinburgh meeting I've been welcomed into their group as one of their own, great people!