leander

I'm not too sure if that's good news or bad!! The new list means that we now have 8.45 to play with to replace Lewis. That's the good news. The bad news is Robbo's average has dropped from 7.02 to 6.65 which further restricts our choice of guests. For example Lewis Kerr is no longer eligible (even with the 5% bonus allowed for home meetings) although Palm Toft still fits for Robbo but not Lewis Rose (who's average, for some reason, hasn't changed),

The choice of guests for Robbo hasn't changed simply because his average hasn't changed. It's just that whoever guests (assuming we continue to go down that route) will be at No1 instead of No 3 or 5 or wherever.

Yep. My mistake forgot about the homegrown bit.

Errr. Wasn't that rule rescinded?? Isn't that how Panthers got Nicholls?

New green sheet averages from 01 May show a little change. Overall team average drops slightly from 41.24 to 41.10 meaning we have 7.87 to play with regarding a replacement for Lewis. Robbo moves to number 1. Ash stays (just) at reserve for another month. Result!

Since he has stood down to take time out I would think that's "withholding his services", 28 days in the norm for that isn't it? Not sure what effect the next greensheets would have on the amount of points we have to play with. The regs seem to imply that you need 4H 4A rides (in the league) so that would take it until 1 July before anyone changes in averages take place. Some say rolling averages are back in again using the last 20 (where applicable) league matches including 2017 scores which would mean some earlier changes in averages could be/ or not beneficial.

He is!!!!

If he does then he's automatically suspended for 7 days as it would be a none speedway injury.

It was. I was puzzled by that as I couldn't figure out why Bjerre would be missing. Couldn't see a meeting he would be riding in that would take preference, and I didn't think he was injured. Preview on Sheffield website this morning lists Bjerre as riding.

Needs to change his tuner methinks. His bikes are absolute crap this year. He has his good tracks and his bad tracks, like most 3rd heat-leader/ top second string. I tend to think Diamonds are like that song "I don't like Mondays , Thursdays"

That may or may not be true. It's not what the regulations state. But they are a bit vague to say the least. If it is true I would have expected some changes on the latest Greensheet averages issued yesterday, especially in the premiership where a number of fixtures have been completed before the cut off date of 23rd. Yet there are no changes to anybody's averages, just re-declarations to cover injuries, etc.

Were you there??

He's at reserve at least until 01 July. GS averages calculated on minimum 4H 4A LEAGUE fixtures only. Thes championship shield fixture don't count to the GS averages. Our last of the minimum requirement is at home on 17th June. First GS after that are 01 July. Unless, of course, they fill some of the blank dates between now and then by bringing fixtures forward.

At least our reserves are half decent home AND AWAY.

You obviously weren't there. Won heat 1 comfortably. Huge engine blow when third (paid 2nd) in his second ride. That's two engines confined to the scrap merchant this season already. Missed the gare and a poor 3rd on his 2nd (and blatantly slower bike). 2nd in heat 13 (the HEAT LEADERS race) ahead of Berwocks No. 1. Chain break which put him head first into fence on bend 3/4 in heat 15 when 2nd. Could have easily hit double figures last night.

In theory it's for 28 days. But you can then re-apply again and again and again. So it shouldn't be (and usually isn't) a problem as long as He keeps submitting Sick notes. You might have had a problem if he got injured riding for Belle Vue BEFORE turning out for you as a facility isn't always allowed if a rider hasn't rode in the current) or at the end of the last) season for the team concerned . That's why Poole had to sign Kildemand on a temp contract to replace Holder. You will have a problem if he starts riding for Belle Vue and/or Poland and you are still using a facility for him. Unlikely, it's true, but it has happened.

Like there are just loads and loads of available number 1's NOT! Masters would already be somewhere if he wanted to do Premier League. He doesn't. end of.

Yes, and ONLY Ipswich managed to complete all their fixtures before the cutoff date for the playoffs. Despite a completely manic fortnight just before with double headers, teams running twice a week to try and get up to date. Most teams were still trying to complete league fixtures well into October. If this doesn't prove there were TOO many fixtures last year than what does. More league fixtures possibly but you'll have to get rid of the playoffs so teams can run until at least the end of September instead of August, playoffs excepted.

It's a league so Tac Subs are allowed. In this case I think Newcastle felt it was more important for everybody to get as much track time as possible since it was essentially Newcastle's practise, and a tac sub wouldn't have made much, if any, difference. if we'd only been 6 to 8 points down at, say, heat 11 then maybe a tac sub would have been used.

On reflection I believe they came to the conclusion that it gave the taller riders an unfair advantage as they could reach the ground easier and dig deeper trenches! Personally I would like to see riders settled and up to the tapes BEFORE the two minute time allowance expires, not just being astride their bike at the start and faffing around for several minutes.

I think Newcastle saw it more of a "blowing the cobwebs off" of a match, since it was our first meeting (with not even a press/practice day beforehand. Especially as we've neverdone particularly well at Sheffield even with a lot stronger top end. And Sheffield have had at least one fixture as all there team, as far as I'm aware, rode in Steady's testimonial. No reason to panic just yet.

Try :- Diamonds 1. Ludvig Lindgren 2. Tero Aarnio 3. Lewis Rose 4. Matthew Wethers 5. Stuart Robson 6. Carl Wilkinson 7. Ashley Morris Sheffield 1. Kyle Howarth (c). 2. Todd Kurtz 3. Charles Wright. 4.Josh Bates R/R 5. Lasse Bjerre 6. Jack Smith 7. James Shanes

I stand corrected having just re-read the regulations:- 16.5.2 For an absent rider with a) an assessed MA b ) has been approved in a team’s declared line-up at the start of the season a 28-day Facility may be granted at MC’s discretion Though this seems to contradict 16.5.2.2 above

Not exactly. All teams have essentially redeclared as it is the start of the season. Josh was in your declared 1 - 7 at the end of last season therefore you will be allowed a facility. You wouldn't be allowed a facility, for example, Charles Wright, if he was injured elsewhere before your first official fixture as he wasn't previously in your end of season 1-7. 16.5.2.2 No facility is permitted to replace a rider, who although included in a Re-declaration has not made an appearance for that Team since being re-declared. That is why Poole have had to sign Kildeman on a short term contract to replace the missing Chris Holder. They can't get a facility for Holder as he wasn't at Poole last season.

I suspect it's more likely, if asked, he said NO. And we only have 1.26 available according to the latest greensheet listing.