False dawn

As long as you're really good and can walk on water eh? Seriously, even 12 matches is better than none. But a regular 2nd half regime might also develop some local talent. But I'll be called old fashioned if I keep talking this way.

NSS (boring choice but valid none-the-less) Gillman - Adelaide (I'm not showing off. This place has a very special place in my heart/memory as some will attest to). Bydgoszcz - Not too many arguments I suspect. Sheffield - Thank you Neil Collins Cradley Heath - RIP

You know, it occurs to me that when we finally get a world team competition as opposed to a pairs competition, we have half a chance of fielding a competitive side again. Wow, I've lived long enough to see us in the ascendancy again, like when Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs rode for Britain

I get what you're saying and I have some sympathy for that point of view. But isn't that the route to fortress Britain and us having no future presence on the world stage? Just now, I'm guessing, like me, if Tai (or Robert) won the world championship, you'd be up there shouting your head off and singing the National Anthem?

Sorry to say but that makes the condition of the track last Wednesday even more unacceptable. I've said elsewhere that I went to support my adopted team Leicester and that I was seriously considering going back this week to support the promotion in it's time of need. But what I've read here in the past few pages does not inspire me at all.

And here's what you could have won.......

Agreed 100%. But I think Kyle Howarth deserves a mention too. He also represented (quite well I thought) your good selves and my temporary team in Leicester

So it was an Aussie last year and worse this year with a Frenchman winning. Just kidding folks. Well done Adam you're the best of British tonight. If we hadn't been shown so clearly, you'd hardly know it had rained. What a track that is. Roll on the SON.

Can I say, I'm a neutral when it comes to this fixture. I am, however fairly local, living in Rugby and temporarily supporting Leicester until the Bees return. I would hate to see another speedway go to the wall (it is a subject on which I am familiar) and would consider attending this fixture simply to show my support. Not to mention watching a bit more speedway. But, and it's a big but, I was at Perry Barr last Wednesday. The track was poor to say the least and the dust from heat 1 was a disgrace. Such things can happen as a one off I know but there is evidence that the track was not much different the week before. Sorry, but if there is a real risk that the track is going to be the same this Wednesday I'll stay home. I've got 3 meetings planned for the weekend anyway.

In my experience it tends to be average bargains.

I'll get my coat

The National Development League is alive and well, thank you. There is a healthy, if modest sized, following that enjoys watching 14 committed youngsters giving their all in every race. And the NDL is just one piece in a bigger jigsaw that provides for a route into the sport and hopefully onto to bigger things. Oh, I know it's not all perfect. But lots of folks are working hard to build and evolve that career path for our home grown riders of tomorrow. And remember the D for development comes before the L for League. Track time, a formal team structure and some kind of identity that both riders and fans can align with, are much more important than "winning the league".

And there we have it. I like studying my programme (all tablet based now of course). P.S. I especially like getting to the truth well before the commentators!

As opposed to cancelling COVID till the GPs (and our domestic season) are finished

That's a terrible way to describe your wife.

If we dispense with the semis and the final, as you suggested above, that wouldn't happen.

There is nothing wrong with your analysis except that under the previous system, not just every race counted towards the championship, every point did. It was worth chasing 3rd place, regardless of your potential to qualify for the semis. You could be on 11 or 2, that 3rd place might be important in the final analysis. Suddenly every position in every race is important. We get to see 23 keenly contested races times 4 positions. 92 significant finishing positions in every GP all of which count in the end of year standings.

Don't forget the fastest lap. Now we've got transponders, every lap for every rider can be recorded.

Actually, it does start to make sense. Sort of. After heat 6, Eastbourne were 10 behind. In heat 7 they could have used a TS for Eddie Kennett, Richard Lawson for example. He could have then been used as a RR later as well. Instead, Eastbourne used Nathan Ablitt as an RR. With all due respect to Nathan, the decision to use him was a bit of a mystery. One Eastbourne fan even said that they'd raised the white flag.

Quite right. I fully agree with you. That's a very ironic comment (dare I say). Leicester did just lose their 3 year home record to Poole. Mind you, the track was as slick as a badger's a**e that night due to the real possibility of rain.

Hey. 7+2 from 5 when he guested for us in June persuaded me that he can come back anytime. Even riding for the opposition. A real talent.

I was there. In 51 years of watching league racing I've never seen such a thing. Surely it's mandatory to nominate 2 eligible riders, regardless of the score or whatever? The only theory to explain the absence of a second rider that was suggested to me, was that Richard Lawson, who was clearly harshly excluded in heat 13, threw out his teddies and refuse to take part. I can only speculate as to the background to having to watch the splendid Tom Brennan as the only Eastbourne representative. But I feel, as did several Eastbourne fans nearby, that someone, be it the rider(s) or management involved, should be fined for this bizarre ending to this meeting.

Wood is a bio fuel. Perhap we should try steam power? I'll get my coat

As it happens, the announcer at Leicester tonight said it was Dan's last meeting at reserve.

I know I'm the resident nerd but I have what I think is a very pertinent question...... Issue 11 of the Championship declarations shows Dan Thompson's new average, 6.05, effective 28/7/21. This means Dan can continue to ride at reserve this Saturday vs Poole and at Plymouth next Tuesday. However, checking the rules, Dan's new average should become effective 7 days after the last qualifying meeting (Eastbourne last Sunday 18th July). On that basis Dan will be in the team at Plymouth. I'm guessing the effective date of 28/7/21 is a mistyping of the 25/7/21. But the difference in dates could make a big difference to the result at Plymouth. [And just to prove I'm not infallible. I just proofread the above and I'd typed Dan's new average as 60.5. With that average we'd definitely win the league ]