oldtimer

I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why match could not have been held on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week when only National League taking place, must be a reason, at least I've got some support to my post. Hope Rebels get a good lead to take to Rye for the fans sake.

Great picture of all the Rebels on back page of this weeks Star, with Gary May clutching his pen ready to sign new riders!

Missed the last two matches due to holidays and disappointed on my return to see that Nelson, Davies and Morris will be missing the KOC final due to more important commitments in the Under 21 World Cup Final, once again speedway shoots itself in the foot. Perhaps someone can kindly tell us if any riders will be missing for the Premier Play Off matches. I assume riders had already signed up for the Under 21 World Cup when they signed for Somerset and Rye House at the start of the season, if not they should have been given a contract which states they cannot miss matches for the team they have signed for. This season we have had Somerset missing out on winning the 4TT due to Doyle’s absence as he was riding in the World Cup. In the important match against Ipswich to decide who finished top of the League, we had both teams number ones missing, Doyle and Barker and also Morris due to Elite commitments based on a rule which should have been opposed by the Premier League promoters at the AGM, I cannot believe they could not foresee the problems it would raise. Surely the “Sam Masters rule” applies here regarding riders missing crucial matches. What happens if the Czech Final is postponed on the day due to rain? Will it be re run the following Saturday so that riders are missing in the Play Off match against Redcar? When I attend speedway I expect to see the riders of the teams advertised, (barring injuries) I’m not interested in the rules or what problems this involves, that’s the problem of the people putting on the entertainment, I’m just a customer and I pay my money and I expect the product I am paying for. It’s bad enough having riders missing through injury and the hated R/R, but to have riders missing due to rules agreed by promoters is a joke. When teams are announced at the start of the season the riders names should be listed but at the end of the names should be printed the caveat, “When available”. Somerset say they did not want to use this Friday for the match as they knew riders would be absent but were forced to do so, but did they have to race on the Friday? They have used other days for matches this season and I can only assume that their number of mid week matches they are allowed has been used up, or that Rye for some unknown reason could only visit on a Friday. However Somerset had three blank weeks when no matches took place w/e Fridays 26th April, 24th May and 12 July and surely this is the reason, along with a badly planned fixture list by the BSPA that teams are trying to fit matches in at the last minute. I’m not blaming Somerset they are the victims of the amateur way the sport is run. If riders are to be allowed to ride in all these extra meetings and double up, then the fixture list needs to be drastically changed. Get rid of the Premier Trophy and KOC, two events which drag on all season, and then have many more blank weeks, so teams can then be more flexible and arrange fixtures to avoid clashes. I realise that if you have a good summer, you may finish your fixtures in September, but surely fans would prefer to see finals in September than on a freezing cold, late October night. Having said all that you will not be surprised that my friend and me will be absent this Friday evening, and I shall be watching TV and the lovely Susanna Reid perform the jive on Strictly, a much more attractive proposition than watching Nicolai Klindt.

Not impressed by Nicolai Klindt on his last visit to Oak Tree, last in his first two races and did not get going until track got slick.

On Rye House web site (not on Rebels web site) it says Nick Morris is missing because he has concussion?

Hope it's not true that riders will be missing due to other commitments, getting fed up with this happening. If Nick and Alex missing OT will be missing also.

Only problem is Rye not agreed to come to Somerset yet for a blank Friday next week, at least it's not listed on either teams web sites. With Rebels left with 3 home matches in Play Offs, a rain off will mean a double header somewhere.

Fantastic performance by the Rebels, probably the best performance of the season, only one heat advantage for the Monarchs, who could have forecast that. Even referee Christina Turnbull appeared not to make any mistakes. Wish I had been there.

'And so say all of us'

Well done Rebels, well the four that were there, a great fight back after being behind. Should be able to beat Newcastle and Redcar in the Play Off first rounds.

It's been a joke for a long time I'm sad to say. Ben Barker for Ipswich and Jason Doyle for Somerset both missing and R/R at last nights Premier match.

If the weather is bad in October and meetings are postponed, could we end up in the same situation again with riders missing in the Play Off semi or the final, or will common sense prevail?

The answer is scrap the League Cup, which drags on as a filler all season, then you would have a few blank dates so that you could re arrange matches when riders were available. Fixtures have to be more flexible, matches with Doyle missing for World Cup and trying to finish the League matches on the last day before the cut off, just shows a lack of planning and common sense.

This is a vital match to decide who finishes top of the League and gets first choice in Play offs. The quote in The Star says, "Matches don't come bigger than this, would like to think that Somerset fans will come out in droves," I hope there is a good attendance, although many may feel that they are being short changed with Doyle and Barker due to miss todays postponed match and it would seem they and Morris may also be absent on Monday. This is particularly annoying when Somerset did not make the League Cup finals and had blank Fridays on the days reserved for early season rain offs. There were no matches at home on the weeks that ended on Friday 26th April, Friday 24th May and Friday 12 July. Why not move League matches forward to these dates at start of season and then move these reserved dates towards the end of season to account for rain offs, instead of this end of season scrabbling around trying to fit matches in before the cut off date. It's not Somerset's fault, I'm sure they don't want weeks with no matches in the Summer, it needs an independent body to look at fixtures, use some common sense (wouldn't that be welcome in speedway) and tell clubs to move fixtures, also get the League cup out of the way by mid season instead of it dragging on for 7 months.

You are correct my mistake so Monarchs on 50 not 47, so could finish on 58 points with two away wins, so my statement Somerset finish top is not definite but highly likely.

Rebels now on 54 points, Edinburgh got nothing up at Ipswich tonight so remain on 47, if they win away by more than 6 points at both Newcastle and Workington that would put Monarchs on 55 points so Somerset would need to drop a point at home to Ipswich, all of which is highly unlikely. Tonight's win puts Ipswich on 54 points with the away at Somerset left. Don't think I have left any matches out.

Ipswich would need to win at Somerset.

Somerset finish TOP of the League, well done The Rebels

Weather looks dodgy and hope it goes ahead as no chance to re run this before Mondays cut off date. Rebels need to pick up points here to stand a chance of finishing top of the table. Sheffield look weak at reserve with Facundo Albin and former mascot, 16 year old Max Clegg and both should be outscored by Rebels reserves Charles Wright and an inspired guest signing by Gary May of Oliver Greenwood. Sheffield have Richie Worrall replacing Stead and R/R for Roynan. On paper Rebels look far to strong for the Tigers and it will be disappointing if they come away with nothing.i

Didn't know this was from speedwaytv, so now I have seen it I will subscribe.

Because one of our main rivals in Play Offs. Berwick kept it close (4 points) until Rebels 5-1 in heat 8, and slick track produced some good racing especially from Josh when missing the gate and Charles who was exploring all the lines at the Oak Tree. Charles Wright got man of the match a popular choice. R/R for Newman produced 3 points and R/R for Kozza Smith produced 4 so no excuses there. Alden said in the club house after the match that he thought Bellego did not know he was on a tactical in heat 11, hopefully he was joking.

I have just watched the Ekstraliga match between Torun and Czestochowa , where Emil Sayfutdinov was injured (full match on You Tube). What a fantastic stadium, a massive crowd, attractive start line girls, great presentation and an atmosphere which would have been worth the admission money on it's own, without the great racing on a superb and well prepared track. With riders like Emil, Gollob, Ward, Holta, Laguta, Jensen. Enjoyed the match, which is well worth a look, but it left me frustrated when you compare it to the pale imitation which passes for League racing in this country.

Now 2-45pm, Sun and cloud morning and still the same. The 2pm local weather forecast on BBC no rain our part of the West Country until midnight, local ITV forecast at 2-15 pm heavy rain showers and thunder, one of them must be wrong? Tonight's match should be easy win for Rebels, forecast 58 - 34. Bad luck for Simon Lambert with a suspected broken ankle riding for Sheffield at IPSWICH. He was third in heat 1 holding off the close attentions of Josh G, who was fourth and then a second in heat 2 before his crash. Perhaps a wrong decision in letting him go, hind sight is a wonderful thing.

Hope Charles Wright shows as good form as he did at Edinburgh as he will be having 7 rides.