HGould

Don't think it's fickle going to every home meeting and 75% of away matches. Heavy thundery rain is forecast and my plans for tomorrow involving one of sons cricket team up near Newcastle where he lives; also in massive doubt, so I prefer to sit this one out.

been some more positive updates in past few weeks including inside cover page of this weeks Speedway Star - still a along way to go, but walking with help, sitting up, sight back OK, talking with prompts and recognises people he knows and seems aware of what's happened / happening (apology to family if i have any of that wrong).

I've decided reluctantly not to travel up. Looks very wet up in that area for most of the weekend.

lot to agree with there. I've watched Eastbourne progress with interest this season mainly because they and Birmingham came up together in the winter; can't forget shameful way BSPA treated both Clubs, asking them to come up, accepting but then placing a "subject to approval" banner on every press release and rider signing from late November to early February. great credit to both Promotions for toughing it out and taking the plunge. On and off the track the Eagles seem to have made more progress (so far) than my Brummies, especially on the Commercial and Social Media/Customer side and they have also made 2 x semi finals. suspect Eagles could step in to a "big mooted league" I'm not sure about Brummies; hopefully both can remain CL if there is a CL next year or be in any big league.. would wager a few quid too that having had to quickly build a side for 2019 therefore mainly Lakeside + Eastbourne NL plus Kennett and Kerr, that Eagles (and Brummies) sides in 2020, when they can properly plan will look a whole lot different with a number of new riders introduce, in Eagles case probably move away from all British, a noble gesture but handicaps them.

they will certainly need to look at a few short term ones but hopefully not penny pinching or has been's wonder if Nathan would come back - had a bad deal really...

what's happened to Connor Dugard? seems to have vanished off the scene apart from making Kevlars? was very outspoken on some issues but a bright young mind that sport could ill afford to lose.

interesting concept Mike but crowd figures are way out. I've been to Wolverhampton, Poole; Belle Vue and Kings Lynn this season, doubt any was 1000 let alone 1200. Wolverhampton a lot down this year. On the flip side heard Ipswich have been getting some big crowds for derbies. Also been to Berwick; Eastbourne; Leicester; Sheffield ; Somerset of which Berwick / Sheffield / Somerset looked about 600 (similar to Brummies) and Leicester and Eastbourne about 1200 (but earlier in season when crowds generally higher). Glasgow seem to get decent crowds and heard Redcar really picked up.

Laurence is often scapegoated because he doesn't hide and takes a lot of the flak for various Promoters he has worked for. He is the front man for Mason's and goes a good job shielding them. Also on Speedway Tavern last night some moans about match at Eastbourne being called off and people booking hotels. Fortunately I always look on rival team websites for any clues about local Hotels (a few do have recommendations) and as a result of following specific advice on Eastbournes excellent site I got a Hotel I did paid for but could cancel up to 1pm on day of arrival - perfect for speedway as it points out. Full refund from Hotel in 24 hours - super thank you Premier Inn! I also mailed Eastbourne and asked why match was off at short notice. Had a courteous prompt reply explaining that they had to ride Shield semi before 31 July but that every date they gave Glasgow was not convenient for Glasgow so BSPA gave dispensation to run on day we were there and insisted match replaced out Fixture. Case of BSPA / Glasgow and Eastbourne getting their knickers in a twist! Always check on opponents sites for Hotels though the few that have information have saved me a packet over the years.

I'm not attacking Morley or Verge, credit them to moving to a big track. Point I am trying to make is the going t a big track in NL against weaker riders won't help them much when they go to big tracks in CL stacked full of big track experts from 1-7

we are lucky to have "Terry the Track" at Brum now and he is producing excellent strips same at Redcar. A lot of the best old track men have gone and departed sadly or too old and retired.

sounds good in theory but doesn't work in practise. slick inner still produces its own dirt, when that dirt develops the outer already deep gets so deep it's too deep and kills engine. several bigger tracks have tried it. even the vaunted Belle Vue can end up with a gate to the dirt line and one line.

with Wright I'd have been very apprehensive, without him I think we can nick it 46-44 could be a cracker as track been excellent last few weeks

also huge ability gap between most in NL and some of the hardened pro's in CL at some of those big Northern tracks! Huge gap!

said b4 most sides would love to be in 2 x semi - finals as a way of "rescuing their season", may be us Brummies; Berwick; Edinburgh; Sheffield, Scunthorpe as example. my opinion is bringing Edwards in now and managing his average carefully is a way to accommodate Brennan on an inflated average next season as his average went up over 6 just after his crash and Brennan/Edwards in 2020 lot more potential than Wood and Morley. Get Edwards some CL track time now is good logic.

Kyle is averaging 7 isn't he? Deserves a run in their side and done well since Brennan got injured. Watched Bowtell and Morley at our place twice and at Leicester and Bowtell far better away from home and gather he rode well at Sheffield the other day, Morley is a "0" most matches away. Most away tracks are bigger so would be daft to leave Morley in side if going to make a change. Wood is dire away too but far better than Morley at home. Makes sense away to me and that's where their problems are. Edwards needs time but got a cracker for the future there.

oh the irony. Kent fans will roundly slag off just about any track they go to e.g Plymouth and Stoke in recent weeks, used to be Mildenhall and Eastbourne. Then you have the "Cradley tribe" just about the most "up themselves" bunch in Speedway with the possible exception of Belle Vue. Thankfully us Brummies are friendly middle of the road types but to see Kent fans slagging off everyone else's track and then getting some back and then the Cradley mob involved in a cheating storm is just hilarious.

or a Kiwi without a CL Club at the moment when fit

seems they just did - top prospect signed although I suspect with an eye on next season and brings them craftily below points limit - may be something else being lined up? https://www.eastbourne-speedway.com/eagles-announce-team-change/

Ben Morley "Nil" (away in CL) should be a Jasper Carrot joke re-write!

any news on Josh Bates - just saw him disappearing at back of shot just after Tatum had mentioned a grippy patch on bend and they didn't show again. some reference that he was "out cold"... whilst I hope he and all others are OK the young man really does need to quit whilst he still has all of his faculties intact as this is 3rd time this season he has been injured, come back and injured again within 2-3 meetings. First one was not his fault I was there but others have been just erratic riding out of his comfort limit.

Nice try and innovative but I prefer ONE League - Home and Away with 14-16 Teams. I'd only allow doubling up NL to OBL and insist No 7 was British NL and no 6 had to have ridden NL in past 3 seasons. That way you'd have just enough for 14 x 7 man teams (I don't like 6 man teams just my preference for 7). Would have a form of Rider Control to Grade defined "Heat Leaders / Second Strings" to make sure equality and once teams are all "staffed" would determine a points limit going forwards. Would look a minimising movement by allocating currently doubling up PL / CL equally between OBL sides staying at one of their current teams where possible. Would give riders choice of their current PL or CL Team or "going to the rider pool" Would set maximum pay rates at £100 a point for Heat Leaders / £80 a point for second strings / £60 a point for reserves and would have them paid on that basis all season of -1-2-3 in averages then 4-5 in averages then 6-7 in averages. Would allow Clubs to set a "match guarantee" of maximum of 10 point score for HL / 7 point score for SS / 4 point score for RS if they wished. This would ensure more equal Teams and rationalise pay rates and would also have a transfer window (out side of permissible injuries) of "June" for any transfers and insist that any rider out for 28 days or less had to be covered by RR not a transfer.

enjoy the semi finals then if you go to them.

us Brummies and I guess 7-8 other CL Teams would be pretty happy to have 2 semi Finals to look forwards to (Shield and KOC) seems you have a vendetta against Eastbourne or is it Mr Cook. They built a top heavy side to try to progress seems to me they have succeeded so far in that very well in first season back in higher league.

If there is one rider with slower engines in CL than Drew Kemp it's Georgie Wood. Great round small tracks and OK in NL but awfully slow on 2 spells at Owlerton. I think Bowtell could do a lot more damage than Wood but with Morley in side they carry one at every Away match. Seen Kennett is riding in France today as well so I'll go 55-35 and another big Away defeat for Eastbourne.

Loss of Wajneckht; Brennan and to a degree Thomas has knocked stuffing out of the side I fear. Think Zack and Tom would have been in Team with Drew as reserved on form before retirement/injury and based on U19 Final. Good experience for Flint and Bickley but way too soon looking at a few of the line-up's