oldtimer

The BSPA need to find out if SKY are pulling the plug or not, Swindon are struggling to pay their riders even with SKY. Also need to ask all Premier and Conference clubs how many are definitely going to have air fences in place by the start of next season. If there is to be one big league how will the team averages be worked out, will a Premier riders average be reduced if he is now racing against former Elite riders. The difference in ability is too great between top Elite and second string Premier riders and would produce processional racing so will Elite riders say over 8 point averages be banned from competing in the new league. The only way promoters can afford new air fences is to get the money back from their only income and that's the fans, unless their sponsors give more. However many I have spoken to say the current prices are as much as they are willing to pay for the entertainment given. Of course the entertainment could be improved, and I am not talking about the racing more the presentation. Is there a firm who will rent air fences for a season with an option to buy? Would the Premier League still be viable with half the current teams? Answers on a postcard please.

I think it does matter because you have a better choice of opposition the nearer the top you finish and can avoid tracks you don't fair so well at and choose a weaker team for your first leg. Ipswich are currently 2 points behind Somerset with 2 matches in hand. Somerset management should tell Doyle not to take any bookings from them.

How many times can they have a replay, any rules on the subject? For Rebels Wright looks useful, hope Kyle and Fricke ok, and won't mention Alex in case I upset Statman.

The changes may or may not help Somerset win the League, and perhaps the KO Cup, but what would also help is if Jason Doyle didn't help Somerset's opposition by scoring 14 points for Ipswich and giving them 2 away points at Sheffield in a 45-45 draw.

I may be wrong but technically I don't think Stefan has put 2-90 on his average (3 to 4-90). Did he not come in on an assessed average of 3 points and did not get an average until completing the 4 home and 4 away matches, which was delayed due to an injury. My point is if you had another rider coming in on a 5 point assessed average, and his average was now 4-90 you could not say he had got worse, by his average dropping. Stefan did not get an official average until issue 31 2nd August on the BSPA list, which was 4-90. Stefan's Conference average is 8-32 and Charles Wright is 10-74 so in theory Wright should perform better than Stefan. Just another point, we are led to believe that there is a good team spirit at Somerset and moral is high, if the allegations that some riders influenced the decision, then that throws some doubt over the team spirit. If the allegations are not true, as I suspect, then how will these changes affect team moral. It seems strange to me that Somerset management would have said we must win the League at all costs, as they have shown loyalty in the past when willing to stick by Tom Perry much longer than many other clubs would have done, and in another example in previous seasons, they continued to re sign James Holder when most people thought he should be replaced.

The number of speedway rules confuse me and cannot remember the cut off date rule, was Wednesday the last opportunity to change a team before the end of the season in October, or just for the next month?

If you want high scoring reserves, don't start the season with an over 9 point number 1 and an 8 point second heat leader, which makes you top heavy and a weak tail.

Bit of a shock that, and ironic as Simon rode a great race to win heat 12 last night, however his away form is not good and if still suffering from an injury, probably the correct decision to let him go. Stefan Nielsen on the other hand has been an excellent reserve at home, a paid max a few weeks ago, an entertaining rider and a real battler as last night proved. However his away form is not good for some unknown reason, and if we are to win the League we need to make changes, it's not impossible that we could have won it anyway without making changes, but if one of the top 4 have an off night we are in trouble away from home. It's a choice of winning the League at all costs no matter what or who we trample on, or being loyal to a rider who has improved his average, is exciting to watch and gives his all, but needs some help (was any given) to improve his away form. One wonders if Alex turns in a poor performance on Friday will he be next for the chop? Whilst I understand why the changes have been made, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth. I assume the two new riders have been declared for Friday?

WOW, what a cracking match this was, it had everything, great ride by Alex in heat 9 to hold up Tabaka and let Nick through, great ride by Lambert to win heat 12, Stefan the unluckiest man of the match with a puncture, then being knocked off, and pushing his bike home for a point. Dubious decisions by the ref ,Nick disqualified a real howler and in heat 14 Stefan the meat in a sandwich when knocked off and should never have been all riders back, Cook moving at the start in heat 11 and forcing Josh into the tapes, no ref warning.. A fantastic heat 15, have never heard the crowd so vocal. Also music much better tonight and interviews louder so you could actually hear what was said over the tractor grading. All riders from both teams giving everything, a real classic and great entertainment. Would like to know who got rider of the night as my mate had to go so did not visit club house after match. I would have given it to Stefan. Lets hope we lose by 8 points on Friday then we can do it all over again!

Rebels lost by 8 points away to Monarchs when Cook below his usual best in a couple of races, so Rebels need to take at least 12 point lead to Armadale on Friday. Fricke scored well on his last visit to Oak Tree but he was at reserve then, and is now at number 2 and Ben Morley unlikely to score, and the absence of Vissing certainly gives the Rebels an advantage. Fortunately Cook cannot take an R/R, with Piper, Fricke, Tabaka and Sneddon having that privilege. Rebels need to get off to a flying start, something they haven't done in a few recent matches. I think Rebels should win this as for some unknown reason the better the opposition the better they perform, yet struggle against lowly clubs like Glasgow and Plymouth, a real enigma. I hope Gary May has a word with the ref to keep an eye on Cook moving at the start.

I have a cunning plan! Why not change the date?

Unfortunately Harris is not the rider he was, you only have to look at his Elite League average and who is beating him in the League. For his sake I hope he does not take part and save him and us the embarrassment of watching him trail round at the back in another GP season.

A pity we could not get a mid week date to avoid a clash, as council seem more amenable now days, obviously there must have been a reason. Will probably give this a miss with Doyle and Barker absent, but will depend on guests, if Somerset got Hougaard or even Zorro to guest (I think his average may just fit) both a big attraction.

I know what's going down next season, it's the sport, "it's going down the pan".

Didn't attend this match as a number of local weather forecasts said showers turning heavy by 8pm. Thought I had made wrong decision as not raining at home, but as it turned out it was correct decision. Unfortunately Mrs OT is watching Master Chef and can't stand it. However have purchased a copy of FIM Speedway GP 4 and it's pretty good, although I crash a lot, but will keep me amused. It's only 97 pence from a well known Weston-S-Mare computer shop, but have to order on line and collect. At that price you can't go wrong.

What would the Director Of Speedway think?

The last time Ben Barker was here with Ipswich he said he would have done better if Somerset had put some dirt on the track and he would bring a different bike next time. That was back in April and Rebels won by 20 points, I cannot see the score being any different on Friday. Unfortunately, being a Friday, rain is forecast from late afternoon, hopefully just showers. Ladbrokes are offering odds on this match, it's even money Barker gets punched by someone.

All teams have team managers and promoters, but I read each week in the Star that Ipswich have Chris Louis with the pretentious title of Director Of Speedway, can anyone tell me what this job is please?

Rebels web site has given some extra points to Somerset.

This was a lot closer than I thought but a great Scottish Tour by Rebels and good to see Alex go better yesterday. Great performance by top 5 Rebels which made up for the big difference in the two teams reserves scores.

COME ON ALEX, a paid max at least!

I think you are getting me mixed up with Rebel Rebel who's remarks about Alex were totally out of order. Of course not being at the track I have fallen into the trap of not knowing about bike problems etc and just looked at the bare results. However Mark Loram said in the Oak Tree club house that he just needs to get Alex's away form going and you are just quoting tonights match and forgetting just 1 point at Edinburgh. Yes Alex finished behind team mate and may have been covering him with a team ride but was only in front of Starke the Berwick reserve. Alex can score away as at Plymouth and Workington, but another team we will meet in the Play Offs, Newcastle he scored 2. I think you are reading more criticism into my statement than it deserves, which I repeat for clarification. The form of Alex and the reserves still a worry if we are to stand any chance of winning the League.

:drink:

Lambert is permanent replacement for Perry. This should be 15 demonstration heats for Rebels.

Four points in the bag for rampant Rebels, hope injured riders not too bad, Berwick seem to be having all the bad luck, but Rebels would have won anyway. The form of Alex and the reserves still a worry if we are to stand any chance of winning the League. Stefan particularly disappointing compared to his paid max at Oak Tree. As I correctly forecast, tonight was a "walk in the park" tomorrow at Glasgow we could stand still in the park and still win.