oldtimer

I beg to differ the bikes are not all the same, they may look the same, but the quality of some of the parts differ from cheap, to expensive to very expensive. Also the big boys can afford to have their engines stripped down and tuned more often then the low scoring guys.

You are spot on, the Elite League has ended up with a GP rider coming to the tapes against a second string Premier rider who is just there so they can get under the points limit but still keep a couple of star names. It hardly makes for exciting racing to watch riders of vastly different capabilities strung out the length of the straight.

I'm afraid you have not thought it through, you could have a 21 points limit with 7 riders all on 3 points, but by the end of the year some would still be on 3 and some would be on 9 points or more and some in the middle. The new 9 pointers would be asking for 9 pointer heat leader money and certainly more than the 3 pointers. Will the promoters say to them, you can't be paid more because you are only a 3 pointer Conference rider who just happens to be a heat leader because the League has been weakened so much.

At the moment they don't satisfy the needs of anybody, except perhaps Len Silver! If that points limit is true, it's the death of speedway.

The BSPA have decided that they are trying to sell a product, the product is called speedway. They have to sell the product to their customers (there called Fans). Having consulted many large successful businesses for advice, they have decided to package their product on what their customers (Fans) actually want. What our customers want, said a BSPA spokesperson, can easily be found from various web sites and the trade magazine Speedway Star. The spokesman said "I know this is a "Thinking Out Of The Box", idea, but if we give the customers what they are asking for, we have a good chance of more of them actually paying to buy the product.

Unfortunately the reward for having a successful team is you have to change them to get under the points limit, we need to lose 4-54.

My wish list team depends if Doyle wants to stay in Premier and double up, I cannot see why he would not want to do that as more meetings = more pay. Charles Wright is a must signing as he can only improve and rides well home and away, so I would have to leave out Newman and Davies. Kyle Newman has improved and has done well coming from reserve in 2012 to the difficult number two slot this year, however to keep our top three, reluctantly he will have to go. Alex Davies is an easier choice to lose, his home form is good but he has the biggest difference in home and away averages than any other member of the team, a 3.12 points difference. If we are to try and win trophies again, we need riders who can perform away and I think a change of club would benefit Alex. Plymouths Todd Kurtz would fit into the averages left, and reading in between the lines in The Star, he does not seem to be on Plymouths wanted list. I have not counted the British rider reduction as cannot remember what it is. So my final top seven are: Jason Doyle 9-79 Todd Kurtz 4-92 Nick Morris 8-84 Charles Wright 4-30 Richard Lawson 8-28 Brady Kurtz 3-00 A N Other 3-00 TOTAL 42-13 If Doyle does not come back then we could just keep the rest of the team and keep Wright at reserve, with 12-76 to play with for two A N Other's. Nick Morris 8-84 Kyle Newman 5-32 A N Other A N Other Richard Lawson 8-28 Charles Wright 4-30 Brady Kurtz 3-00 Have amended my original forecast on 4th November and also deleted Josh from my original list and inserted Lawson

Good to see Chris Holder in the club house, and from the outside, looking fit and well. Some funny interviews from Roscoe and the local Mayor said there would be an open top bus touring the surrounding area (presumably with riders) leaving the Oak Tree about 2pm on Friday, although exact details not yet finalised. Lastly, Bish and Debbie would make a lovely couple.

Do I have to explain my jokes?

A thoroughly deserved Championship for The Rebels, as undoubtedly the best team throughout the season. A real shame about the weather, but hopefully common sense will prevail at next months AGM, and the League matches will start earlier and finish by the end of September in 2014, we can only hope. A deserved success for the Hancock family and all the efforts from those behind the scenes including a great track man in Ez. Somerset's on track fortunes have taken an upturn since a certain "Master Tactician" and speedway's answer to Alex Ferguson a Mr Gary May joined the club, and although we need to lose about 5 points off the team average for next season, I'm sure we will soon be saying, WOW, that was a surprise , how did Gary get that signing. I was hoping to persuade Mrs OT to attend Fridays presentation night, but she said I would rather be dead than talk speedway all night, so I'm taking her to Switzerland on Saturday.

I emailed BBC Points West asking why last Friday they covered the match between two local Rugby clubs and Bristol City losing again, and never mentioned the Rebels away to Edinburgh. I received a reply from Alistair Durden sports journalist today saying he will try and get a mention re tonights match. STATMAN I have sent you a pm with his telephone number.

BBC forecast for Highbridge at 10-30 am today is Heavy showers all day until 20-00 then light showers until midnight. However it's dry now 15 miles from track and just cloudy. Rebels web site just posted that meeting is still on tonight.

Great performance by Rebels, hope Tabaka is OK. If weather stops Mondays match it will run on Tuesday, should be easy for Rebels although Cook will undoubtedly get 6 points in a tactical.

The season ends on Thursday 31st October

Sorry didn't realise this was shouting, don't know why did it in caps, not feeling very well at moment so may be an excuse. Well done Rebels brilliant performance.

WHY WAS DOYLE NOT IN HEAT 15???

My last match this season due to other commitments, but what a match to end on, lot's of close racing and passes on a grippy track, well watered by nature. It was looking close after 4 heats but then Rebels got going for an easy win and importantly by more than 16 points, as that was the margin Redcar beat Newcastle, so if there is a draw on match points between Redcar, Newcastle and ourselves we have 4 extra points in the bag. Nick Morris voted rider of the night and his ride in heat 9 was outstanding. Aarron Summers got a flyer from the tapes and was half the straight clear at one point, however Nick built up speed on the wide outside and in a big blast on the final bend (reminded me of Glen Cunningham) got up on the line. Oliver Greenwood was not outpaced, but needs to be more aggressive on first and second bends. Good sportsmanship by Doyle in heat 15, slowing up on the last bend to let Nick through for his full maximum. For the Bears Mick Dyer lived up to his name as he was dyer! I could not understand why, when he could see the Rebels riding out wide by the fence, he stuck to the white line, Matej Kus was even worse. So good luck to the Rebels in their final matches and hopefully no injuries and for those not going to Rebels Presentation Night may I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Glad You “love it” but it’s true, rider start of season averages, current averages, and improvement as follows: Season start.... current.... improvement Jason.. 9-17.......... 9-79 ......... 0-62 Nick.. 8-00 .......... 8-84.......... 0-84 Josh.. 7-44.......... 8-41.......... 0-97 Alex.. 5-69........... 7-38......... 1-69 Kyle.. 5-31........... 5-32......... 0-01 Stefan.. 3-00.......... 4-70......... 1-70

Expect the Rebels to win by at least 20 points and also get at least a point when they travel away to Redcar for the re arranged fixture. The Bears two heat leaders have lower averages than Jason, Nick or Josh and would only be second strings if in the Rebels team. Weather brightening up and local 2pm forecast is for a dry afternoon and evening.

This should be easy for Rebels with Alex and Nick back. Bears have Dilger back from injury, but in the unlikely event that Rebels lose to the Bears on Thursday, (assuming not a rain off) they should not be troubled to pull back any deficit. End of season voting takes place on Friday for the usual three categories, and my choices are: Rider of the Year Jason Doyle, Most Entertaining Josh G, Most Improved Stefan Nielsen.

Doyle was just an example, could have said replace Nick 8-84 with a 4-30 rider or lose Josh 8-41 and replace with a 3-87 rider. I agree Gary guaranteed to come up trumps with some amazing signing, it's just a shame he has to make any changes. Don't agree with Starman about the track, it has been slick on occasions but that's what the weather dictated, and there is usually loads of passing whether it's slick or not.

Don't know about the numbers as wasn't there, comment was based on what Shadders and Lord Skid said. Pleased that crowd was actually Ok. Just looked at green sheet averages from 1st October and Rebels team average is 47-04, is this a record for Rebels? Hopefully team averages will be raised above 42-5 for next season otherwise we have to lose 4-54 (not counting Brits allowance). Lose Doyle as an example and replace him with a 5-25 rider. Just another thing that makes me disillusioned about the sport where you have to split up a successful team.

A pity there was a low turnout, as already stated some may have gone to Plymouth, but some may have stayed away for same reasons I did. A good win by Rebels, and KOC looks in the bag. Klindt scored better than I anticipated and R/R scored well. When Susanna Reid did a handstand with her legs in the air, I quickly had to reach for my blood pressure tablets.