Bitza

Well this does seem a bit like trimming up for Christmas in June, but hey ho ho ho. Is it Connor Bailey being referred to? If so what average would he come in on. I wouldn't fancy relying on three youths, cos you never really know how riders will respond when stepping up. Remember Sam Hagon's switch to No2. Also no mention of Kerr, OK not everybodies fav early season. But has come on this season scoring important points in some matches, good for another year at least.

The way I saw it was that the Tobias/Ace move was in essence simply a block pass, accurately carried out be it close/harsh, and Ace had options. Ace should have gone. With the Kyle/Zac one it was always going to be close/harsh, but the manoeuvre was poorly executed (there seemed to me to be significant contact). But on balance a racing incident, part and parcel of the spectacle we love to watch. If Zac had fallen (any which way) it would have forced the ref to exclude Kyle. Both incidents were on the edge racing, fit for a final.

So can anyone out there help me out? I'm a bit confused by a couple of recent incidents, both involve two riders racing lines converging onto the same bit of track. The first was Tobias' exclusion against Redcar KO cup, Ace Pijper on a fast wide line has Tobias sweep in front of him on a slower inside line, Ace could see what was happening but held his course and rode into the back of Tobias, and falls as a result. Referee decision Ts exclusion. The second is Kye Howarth overtake of Zac Cook, Zac on the outside has Howarth comes clattering into the side of Zac who slowed as he struggled to avoid coming off. Howarth goes on to win no problem. So would Zac have been better off falling off?

Can the Pirates reset, refocus after such a great night? This is going to be a bit of a mental challenge too for Poole, but one they should be up to imo. But it could also be an opportunity for The Bears. First four heats crucial tonight I'm thinking.

Surely I can't be the only one, but what does Coraldon mean FTG to stand for? Fear The Gamers... according to Google.

Well commiserations to all the Tigers fans, you must have believed the force was with you come heats 15 & 16. But Zac and Lawson's class came to the fore. Cruel to have a looser in such a great contest.

Bearing in mind it's the final, I'm not too bothered by the lack of over taking either, it is the result that counts for Poole fans (just as it would have been for Tigers fans had they won). Sorry for those who paid good money to watch the stream, cos you miss out on the atmosphere and tension. Track prep is very much part of the sport and not really worth analysing every time there's a streamed meet at Wimborne Road. Just hope the Glasgow leg lives up to people's expectations.

Xxxx

Glad to hear that there were no serious injuries, and I wish those affected a speedy recovery. The SCB have now issued a statement in which the result of the tie is given on the basis of the number of heat advantages over the two legs, resulting in a Redcar win. Pity it wasn't decided on track, but it is what it is.

Long-term weather forecast is very settled for the next week, so no problems likely.

It'll be interesting to see how Glasgow go this evening against Redcar. Odd that there's no match thread on here for that one.

Well two weeks ago I wouldn't hesitate in making Glasgow favourites, but the recent run of Redcar matches has been good for Poole building confidence and giving them momentum. Sure Nagel and Thompson etc are a potential threat, but their performances also depend on how Poole let them ride. Should be a great contest, hoping for a good result at Wimborne Road, a plus 12 lead would be a real result for Poole.

Just a few weeks ago it was looking like being a great season for Redcar on form, being in all three finals a real possibly, and dreams of doing the Treble. But in sport momentum and handling pressure are key to success. Redcar buckled and Poole grew stronger, making Glasgow's task even harder now. Pretty sure the remaining finals will both be Poole vs Glasgow.

I'd go along with that. Dan Thompson is potentially the biggest issue imo. Great race night, Poole showed class, Tobias unlucky exclusion, looking for where other riders are isn't a reason for exclusion, Piper's error.

Leon Flint and Ben Trigger guesting for the Bears, makes them a stronger team than in the first leg, imo. Still an uphill struggle for them to overcome the 14 point advantage. Two weeks ago, Redcar were looking an in form team with every chance of being in all three finals, and with a bit of luck could even be on for the Treble. Now things aren't looking so great, this is going to be a mental challenge as well as a racing one for the Bears.

Freddy's average for his last two visits to Wimborne Rd is ONE. So I guess he could do with some practice. O

Should have been in Portugal tomorrow night, but will be at Wimborne Road instead hoping for Lawson to be riding and for the Pirates to do better than a +6 win. Could be that the Bears crumble, certainly had limited fight in them on Sunday, and I feel that they aren't on the up.

My first thought about the team Steve puts forward concerns the youth/lack of experience. So B.Bailey at number 2 I assume. Youth is no bad thing when its going well, but a bit of an unknown when the pressure is on.

So has anyone got any kind of update on Kerr's fitness? If it turns out to be a more medium/long term issue who are the likely guest options? (obviously opponent dependant). Jordan Jenkins 6.15 Jason Edwards 6.60 Antti Vuolas 6.77 and more improbably Ben Barker 6.32

After eight heats I was going to suggest giving a prize to the first rider managing to come fourth.

Take whichever way you want makes no odds to me, you're just not listening to what I'm saying. And yes it was intended to get to get people talking about something other than weather forecasts.

Well no, what I'm saying is that Masters while being a talented/fast rider, I wouldn't want him riding for my preferred club because when your backs against the wall he gives in, I think he's flakey, remember the end of last season. He really needs somebody like Nicholls to motivate him. Against Poole his motivation was personal, he just didn't want to be beaten by Lawson yet again, before heat 15 how many times in a row was it? He's motivation is about himself not the team.

Cheetahs are a spent force for this season, Master's in particular he's got speed for sure, probably the highest GSA in the league, but when the going gets tough he bottles it, when he feels the cause is out of reach he gives in, spineless. Even worse is the manager, why do Oxford keep him on god only knows. The Bears have to be short odds for the KO final.

I was assuming it would be called off, but the forecast I saw shows no rain in Oxford today, so fingers crossed. Some of the Pirates (Tobias, Starke, & Will) looked a bit rusty last night I thought, probably down to not having ridden for a bit, so should be a bit sharper tonight.

Great news, I'm bored of looking at weather forecasts, let's get back to watching speedway!