False dawn

This might be all wrong. It's an age thing...... Wasn't it Rick Miller that was the only rider to finish a race at Brandon only to find he'd been excluded for not trying. He spent most of the race performing wheelies for the crowd. That was a 0-0.

Get rid of those silly silencers and go back to wooden rattles (for the fans, not the bikes).

Given that the "easiest" target audience is the "I used to go" brigade, why don't you advertise the NSS as "You remember how good it was at Hyde Road, well this is better". I think it's open to debate, but who cares? As long they come. Then they'll stay.

A bit extreme, but an understandable reaction. I'm a bit confused about the 15m penalty rule that came in and some say has been dropped. Did referees complain that they were being asked to adjudicate on what was in a rider's mind? "Did he stay down on purpose or not?" For me, referees often have to make such judgements and this is no different. "Did he close the door on purpose or did he just drift a bit wide?" being a common example. The 15m penalty for a team mate in the rerun seems a fair response to a rider apparently staying down on purpose when his team mate is in 3rd place. I think I can tell if a rider is making a bonafide attempt to clear the track. How many times have we seen riders hobbling off the track with a damaged bike? For sure, if there was a suitable punishment for manipulating the situation, would riders take the risk?

Well I only "watched" this one on live updates, but the performances of Ryan Douglas and Ellis Perks were clearly exceptional. The team as a whole, rounded off their league programme in style and can now only wait and see if it's enough for the top spot.

Actually sounds like a cracking meeting

I wasn't suggesting otherwise. I was alluding to the need for "stand-in" paramedics when the regular guys and girls have to disappear off to hospital leading to long delays or abandonment. This joke doesn't work when you have to explain it, eh?

But don't forget to get it out if the other side wins (not to mention the fireworks and the hot water for the showers).

Paramedic, surely.

AJ remained popular with the Coventry fans long after he left the club. A special talent. Have a well earned rest and come back, in whatever capacity, when you're ready.

Oh well. If AL doesn't make it, I'll transfer his spread to Max.

Is Antonio definitely riding?

Actually, maybe we should teach our kids on the grass. Then they could ride anything Poole or any other track could throw at them.

Poole is the best ~~~~~~~ track in the country.

But Lions are hungry

A smaller wave, eh?

Don't forget this is a trick track that is very dangerous. Or is that a track further south that I'm thinking of? [where's that stirring spoon smiley when you you need it?]

Personally. I'd rather face Glasgow without Craig (even with a guest) than with him.

Well he did get picked for a SON place and he is going to Cardiff, albeit as a "track reserve". I respectfully suggest that he should take himself out of the international scene, get himself a shirt sponsorship and take it from there.

A GP at Belle Vue would be a quite different event to Cardiff. On the racing front, clearly BV would provide far better racing. As a speedway weekend, Cardiff is recognised domestically and internationally as a two day experience to be savoured. Two events that surely perfectly compliment one another. Bring it on. The thought of Max or the Dude sweeping high and wide round BV is enough to get the juices flowing.

Sorry. I was obviously having an off moment

So let me see if I've got this clear. If the top 3 from the challenge don't qualify from the current year, they go into next year's GPs and if we need reserves, they are somehow "selected". But if one or more of the top 3 do squeeze into the top 8 this year, we then look for additional qualifiers from the challenge. Not an awfully consistent policy.

Hang on. If NKI or MZ should just squeeze into the top 8 this year, who gets their challenge qualification spot?

Flippin' eck. So getting into the top 3 in the challenge is an even bigger deal than ever. At least if you missed out by an odd point, you could fully expect to get into one or two GPs.

Just a thought. How many generations back can these Aussies claim qualification for the British team?