Noelinho

But is it really a national stadium outside of Belle Vue?!

Just move it around different clubs each year. Btw, the centre of the Great Britain is north of Manchester so it’s more central there than it would be in the Midlands!

Quicker, I think.

Glasgow were allowed to replace Howarth. They just weren’t able to make the changes they wanted.

No. Mario is 4.00. Reid is 3.87.

It seems it’s break. If next season is the exact same as this season I’m not sure if I can be bothered. Its a shame as some teams are being held back by others who would rather slowly kill everything than let teams who want to make something of the sport just get on with it.

It wasn't the best GP, but I took six people to it, with five who had never seen it before. They all loved it. Riga is different to other tracks in that it's very sandy, so it doesn't behave the same way. I don't think the track prep changes to accommodate this. The first block of racing you really needed the inside line. The second and third blocks of racing (heats 5-12) probably gave the best racing last night, and I'd say it's because dirt had started going out wider, but hadn't gone too far. This has happened at Riga before. The very outside line at Riga is too far wide, so you have to bring the dirt back in to the middle of the track. There, you get riders using the inside and middle lines. But once it's pas the middle, the inside line is by far the best line. There was no effort to move the dirt back to the inside, and it really hurt the racing later on. The other issue is the gates are very uneven. Gate 4 starts well, but as the racing goes on, gate 1 becomes clearly the best gate. Gate 2 gradually improves and gate three is like treacle. This is compounded when the track prep doesn't create the conditions you need for a good outside line.

Zmarzlik did everything he could to throw that last race away. Three mistakes on the opening lap, and yet somehow they’d still let him lead.

Yesterday the track was fine and the starts didn’t rut. Today the ruts were there after four heats. It’s definitely not a hard wearing track - too sandy. They’ve also not moved the dirt back inside enough.

Yeah, it didn't look like Lindgren at all, and from the top of the stand, I can't say I noticed any banking. No obvious rutting on the starting gates though.

He was replaced, therefore it doesn't count as one of the three (but it would count as one of the 7 max rides).

Take the #18 trolley bus from Marijas Iela and get off at Mežciems.

One out of three points. Four behind with two matches fewer to come. Both have Poole at home.

I don't agree with the stick people might be giving Cami for yesterday. If I were to pick one thing, it would be waiting until heat 12 for the tactical substitute. I'd like to have seen it in heat 11 because waiting is a bit of a dangerous game and effectively says you're hoping you don't do well in the meantime (because then you wouldn't be able to use it!) I'd have put Bomber in heat 11. It worked out though, so it wasn't a bad move, but I do think it's an unnecessary risk. I also think Bomber is better for the team at 3 than 5. I think he works better with a more established partnership, which is possible at 3 but not at 5. I like giving him a solid pairing for three rides and I think it's worked out really well with Kevin. Kevin averaged 8 over his home meetings in July, whilst paired with Bomber who scored a paid max in all three matches. Of all the possible issues, that's not one of them. Leon is best rider by averages this season and so putting him at 5 shouldn't be a problem, and I don't think it has been. 35+1 from 15 rides at 5 suggests it's been of no hindrance (and before anyone points out his third places in heats 13/15, points are worth exactly the same, no matter which heat you score them in - there's nothing magical about those heats). The issue is the other four. 9+1 from 12 rides at #1 in July is a massive part of it. That's unfortunate. Sam and Freddy have had a couple of better meetings recently, but neither were great last night. We need to see more of their better sides. And Mario... 😐 That signing just hasn't paid off. It was a very risky one. It looked like he was signed off the back of one good meeting and that wasn't a great idea. He was always billed to be something he's not. He's probably better than he has shown, but his home form particularly has been abysmal. Maybe he should have practiced more.

Redcar only have one home meeting left and are already behind us. Poole visit both Ashfield and Shielfield Park, so I don't see us at a disadvantage there. Berwick haven't eon away from home so far. The current top four are the only four who haven't lost an aggregate point. Doesn't guarantee anything, but it's hard to see who replaces any of the current top four.

The top four are currently looking pretty set, so not much riding on this one and I’d imagine it’ll be a polite, tame affair and very few emotionally invested in the outcome.

I’d happily take Cook or Nagel. Risky? Yes. But worth a punt for two months, I reckon.

They did two. And it was very well deserved. Was there not some added spice because Stewart Dickson had left only the year before? Friday was definitely a long way short of being the worst thing I’ve seen in speedway, but someone should have a word with the lad and tell him that’s not on. Obviously, we will rank the Monarchs in the league at the end of the month, as that’s the one that matters… Although maybe we could arrange the Cross-Border Cup with Berwick and see if that can fit in the *ahem* crammed trophy cabinet? Or the West Coast Wreath?

The good: choosing to take the gates in heat 15, Tate looked properly on it, Cluff was decent, Mario superb even with the fall in his first ride. The bad: got pumped, Drew Kemp (just fire whoever booked him, he was always going to be useless), choosing gates 2&4 in heat 15 when 12 of 14 heats were won from 1&3, putting Bomber from gate 4 where there were 0 wins all night. The ugly: Cluff celebrating whilst a rider was lying motionless on the track. Really, really poor, especially as he’d ridden past Kevin twice, so he can’t blame it on ignorance.

Because we didn’t want Edinburgh to get any practice on our track, I think 😄

Also, well done both teams for making the final again. It was looking sketchy earlier in the season.

Do we know when the second leg is yet?

Yeah, I’d agree with that. I also had skin in the game as I was away with work and by the time I left Edinburgh Airport on Friday night it was already 8pm, so a call off suited me well 😁

That's a great theory, but it doesn't work in practice when the rain is expected at the start time and there's a curfew - and it's not like fans are known for being understanding when there's a rain delay during a meeting! People moan either way.

Not sure the transponder result gives people any confidence 😂