Noelinho

Prediction: GLA 45-45 POO

Well Leon helped dump Glasgow out of the BSN guesting for Berwick 😄

As long as there are two main leagues, rising stars should be in the Championship. Progression to the Premiership should be on merit vs the other options.

I suspect ITV were paid to show it, but regardless we want to get to the point where they want to show it. It may not have been the most exciting meeting, but that’s also how speedway goes sometimes, so for anyone thinking that’s an issue, I think it’s a red herring. You get boring matches in football, rugby, cricket… boring motor races, and millions watch people smack a ball slowly around a massive garden with sand dunes 😄 I think it was decent enough, although it did look like Olly Allen had been kidnapped at times.

Luke Littler moved the PDC World Championship viewing figures to nearly five million, but they started at about two million. When Sky showed Elite league speedway, viewing figures were about 80,000. I’ve no idea what viewing figures would be now for BSN/SGP, but I’d suggest it’s likely an underwhelming fraction. Darts had already been on the up for years with a bit of a cult audience for some events. Speedway in this country is (sadly) still trying to prevent its own death.

Jody Scott is always great to watch. I enjoyed seeing him tonight and was very pleased to see him win heat one. He was the only away rider to knock a point off Bomber tonight and he did it by passing him twice. With so much attention on Cairns and Rushen, I really don’t think he gets the praise he’s due.

You didn't give a full team yourself, so don't get all pissy with my response unless you're going to do that. Four riders isn't a team, I was just asking what you'd do to fill the remaining spots. Here's a team you can make with the four riders you want next year. All based on current rolling averages. I'm not really sure it fixes the issue of struggling for points at 2/6/7, which has been a common complaint of Glasgow fans over the last few years.

It’s a good job you don’t want the other three, as you’re on 30.54 without them. With them, you’re probably 4 points over the limit. Are you happy to carry three two-pointers?

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.