Col

Had forgotten Vaculik was also injured, without Wozniak to cover one of his rides it makes Gorzow even weaker.

Still no Wozniak & the two absolute novices at reserve for Gorzow. Torun to win.

Given loads of chances by Gorzow early 2019, never looked like scoring a point. Kemp & Rowe would give their all, they'd get as close to winning it as Woffinden & Lambert. It's going to Russia or Poland. Light years ahead.

Andy Smith rode a few British Finals while "Unattached" in the 90's. He may even have won one of them. Sure Woffinden won a championship at Monmore one year, it was his first visit to these shores since the start of the Ekstraliga.

But isn't it just like the BSPA to think "Lambert & Woofinden won't ride, in the British Final, if we ask... so we won't ask". Ekstraliga season for Lambert is almost over, one dead rubber to ride. Dunno on Elitserin, less interesting, but he certainly hasn't featured in every Lejonen meeting

I'm certain they wouldn't have!

Would seem odd, unless there is an influx of new teams to flood the lower tiers. Granted with Daugavpils & Wittstock already competing in the third tier are a few others beyond Poland likely to join them?

Any news if Pedersen will be able to ride this weekend?

Either Grudziadz or FZG won't be in Ekstraliga next year surely?

Didn't attend that fixture, only went to Perry Barr a few times in 2019 after a near 10 year absence. The season ruined by injuries to Legault & Roynon (amongst others) put me off watching a team full of guests & R/R, had enough of that in 1989/90 with Cradley. Brummies stint in top flight was no good as couldn't do Monday nights, then they dropped to third tier.

Bewley must be favourite, Cook's form seems to have dipped. Two 0's at Newcastle tonight.

I hope the M6 isn't shut at junction 10 again this week, 15 minute journey took 90 minutes last week. With the Albion being at home I don't fancy M5 / Black Country Route but it is preferable to going 7-8 miles an hour for 10 miles behind some artic lorry. Mercifully Albion don't kick off 'til 20:00.

With West Bromwich Albion & Birmingham City both having home fixtures on this the same night will the crowd be depleted? Brummies won when visiting Shielfield Park in the season opener for both teams but Berwick were missing a rider or two that night. Any predictions? Other than Bickley, who did nothing special for Glasgow in 2019 I don't think seen any of this Bandits septet at Perry Barr, except perhaps Summers but it would have been a long time ago.

Agreed but he was brave enough to back his ability to get to the first bend with the option of getting around those inside him. Deserved that luck. Personally I don't think Doyle would have got to the bend in time to hinder his run around the outside.

I believe his confidence brittle, unlike Zmarzlik.

Well it was pretty dire as a spectacle until the two semi's. You have to hand it to Zmarzlik, didn't look like he was going to make the semi's after 4 rides but to win the GP from that position is "remarkable, Kelv." So much faith & confidence in his own ability. Wonder if that will hit the confidence of Laguta, looked like he was going to be leading the series comfortably at the end of the night, at that stage. Suspect the top 3 tonight will end the series as the top three in that order, with Janowski in fourth. Some big names are going to have to battle it out for top 6 - Sayfutidnov, Madsen, Doyle & Woffinden. Lambert isn't having any luck but bad luck currently, but he should learn allot from this, just too naïve at times, don't think he'll do enough to retain his GP spot unless he can do so through the qualifiers. Needed to finish above the other younger GP regulars - Fricke & Thomsen to have a chance but it's not going to happen. When he does hit the front though it's clear he has enough speed as he pulls away comfortably. I hope this is the last season we'll see Kasprzak & Zagar in the series, always liked Zagar but is lacking at this level now.

I take it he's still presenting (& dancing) from the Monmore Centre Green? That's another to not return.

Charlie Gjedde was good at Blunsdon Abbey in his day!

Douglas had his first match at reserve when the Panthers visited Monmore on 02/08 I believe.

I used to enjoy it, the retirement of the Sooo-pah Trooh-pah meant i stopped going. I found the racing very predictable, it's painful to watch the likes of Batchelor trying to not get over taken on the exit of turn 2! It was a difficult call, the choice of gate was also difficult as gate #1 had become a disadvantage compared to gate 2. Guessing that is why Morris went off 3 rather than Douglas. Gate 4 wasn't a good place to be but given what choice the team manager had I think he made the correct choice putting Harris off gate 2 considering Brummies needed a second place to secure victory. Riss is underperforming, in my opinion he didn't deserve a extra ride. Shanes hadn't won a heat and Morris had only just managed to beat Kennedy in heat 14 from gate 4 so Castagna was the only real chance of getting a point, when forced to use the wide line he's usually quick on it, had beaten Douglas previously that night & had gone from gate 4 twice near the end of the meeting. My issue with the team manager would have been not replacing either Thomas or Grobauer with Castagna in heat 8, conceding a 1-5. I'd have replaced Thomas in heat 8 and given him his third ride replacing Grobauer when partnering Riss a heat or so later. Such a good suggestion @bigal said it twice!

Never heard Monmore referred to as a normal track before!

That would be my theory also!

It's on the Brummies website.

I have no clue on track preparation but I have never seen a track as dusty, it's even dusty after two laps of heat 1. Surely if water is the issue drench the track 30 mins before tapes up, then tractor it. Grading tractor following the bowser, mix the moisture in. I got there 30ins before the start. No tractors did I see. Again the close nature of the contest out entertained the action on track. Still not sure how Morris sneaked past Kennedy to effectively win the meeting for the Brummies. Not sure if Douglas fall cost Lions more or less than Harris fall costs Brummies