chun

Now up and running

Allen was never going to win the heat having only filled minor places against Swindon reserves whilst King had at least won heat 9 and briefly lead heat 12, so was arguably coming into a bit of form. Remember we needed a heat advantage to get a point. Lawson and Bellego looks expensive on +6 averages especially compared to Lampart on a 4.5 (likely due to the former achieving higher averages in an ever diluting top flight strength).

What are the rules now with respect to anticipating the start? Is it referee discretion? I counted about 4 or 5 heats that could have been pulled back. Maybe riders are chancing it judging by the 3 or so broken tapes we saw.

Whatever has been done seems to have worked. A new stadium would have been nice but I’ll take exciting racing over that any day of the week.

Batchelor didn’t see him coming

This competition favours top heavy teams with the reserves only getting 3 programmed rides and the top 4 riders in the last 2 heats. Ipswich put up a decent show considering although there were multiple anticipated starts towards the end. Track is a big improvement and should up the entertainment significantly although all I could see were the 1st and 2nd bends pulled in about 15 metres. Have the gates been moved back?

We only have 1 heat leader and he was unbeaten by an opponent in his last 4 rides

Hopefully the guy will show enough to get a team berth elsewhere afterwards

He only has to have 3 rides but it does heap pressure on Garcia Maybe the crowd will also stay off his back if they know he's only in it for 6 meetings

I'm actually feeling positive about these changes. It gives us a fighting chance to get to the playoffs. We are a little vulnerable at reserve initially and there is pressure on Garcia to deliver. Then again the alternative was to stick with Mountain and he showed little evidence of finding the consistency expected of him for whatever reason. In the past Louis has been criticised for not being proactive with team changes but this time at least it looks like we have a plan and will potentially peak for the playoffs with Danny and Drew set to come in.

It's a match we are likely to win easily. It gives the new riders more rides and therefore more track time and money. A heat leader guest is likely more expensive.

Why did rossiter let his riders choose the semi final opposition? Surely he is better placed to see the big picture? Or maybe not.

Think Swindon should have taken Wolves out in the semis and hoped Belle Vue did the same with Poole.

6 riders per team maintaining 2 reserves over 13 heats, north and south divisions qualifying into national playoffs might be the way forward. Currently losing interest in the 2nd half of the meeting due to the understrength teams.

Btsport have had a real steal off Sky. Nearly all the meetings so far have been eventful, although in this case not always for the right reasons. Fingers crossed the withdrawan riders are able to ride again soon.

Cook seems to have gone off the boil big time since the World Cup. Maybe the polish experience has knocked his confidence?

What a performance from BWD

Well speedway is bigger in Poland than anywhere else. I would say.

Congratulations fella enjoy your moment. End of the day Speedway is the national sport in Poland so you're always going to be there or there abouts with the best equipment and biggest pool or riders to choose from.

Not what I'm saying. Riding both the British an Polish tracks require skill, just different style. Hopefully Belle Vue should prepare the British riders better for these types of tracks.

Speedway just seems like a different Motorsport in Poland. All about horsepower and engine tuning rather than gearing and clutch. Both forms of the sport have their respective skills but it just feels tonight feels closer to longtrack IMO.

I think this answers the question of whether cook is ready for the gps...

It's not just tonight though is it. That being said neither Steve nor Robert are ready, though one day Robert might.

I'd like to see what happens if the other teams got a chance to ride the polish engines

Lets just hope the swedes beat the poles and the Brits the Russians then