False dawn

Did he not loop at the start in his first race?

That would be a titanium rod, of course

Whoa.... Look what the cat dragged in! Lt in all his glory (not L t) It'll be Norbold's hole next! Welcome back "old" friend. We'll have Krissie and Phil posting before you know it Welcome back

Thanks Robbie B. A great way to add a certain extra edge to these meetings. I'm starting my homework ready for next year......

So we drop more points in 3 heats tonight than we did throughout the meeting last Saturday. Hmmm

I was tempted to alter my earlier selections and claim a maximum in every round. But I am an honest fellow. And someone would have noticed, I guess

So all this discussion about Russia is predicated on the assumption that they will do no good now Grigori has been banned. Seem to recall people saying that on Thursday. Oh well, I'd like to wait and see.......

Original post recycled.

Predictable? Hmmm...... Oz will playing their Joker in a minute. ooo err Missus

I've just heard, Putin has intervened and granted Tai, Russian citizenship. He's riding for them tonight.

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As Greg (and many others) was famous for saying, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings". Tomorrow's final is looking like a real challenge for us serious players!

Interesting choice my friend. This is the "I've got nothing to lose" syndrome I assume?

I like to be up-to-date. But I take no joy in reporting a drug's offence and subsequent ban. Grigori is a class talent and we'll miss him on the World's stage. P.S. If the ban is in force for tonight's meeting I switch my selection to Tarasenko.

Good luck to the BSPA, SCB or MI5 policing social media. We've had "anonymous" posts on here for many years. If someone wanted to call the BSPA names and not be fined, it's easy.

There are 18 players in the game. Stand by for 18 identical posts!!!

I would vote for that. Just seen that tonight's selections might have been thrown into the melting pot.... "I see that Greg Laguta has been suspended after being caught out in a drugs test" https://m.sportowefa...pany-na-dopingu

How much more skillful to pick one more from the remaining riders. Would you pick Laguta, Holder or even Bogdanovs (or Max)?

Are but, will he score the bagful of points everyone seems to think he will? Might he have a couple of troubled rides and then let Max take his rides? In which case Max looks like an astute selection. Perhaps this meeting isn't so clear cut as we all thought!

Sorry. Your previous post looked like an announcement. However. Taking what you did say as the basis for a better competition, how about choosing one rider from each country and one other from any of the countries (a wildcard?). And to truly eliminate the joker concept, how about taking the extra points off a rider's total if he raced as a joker?

It's not clear from the above whether we are definitely only choosing one rider per team next year and then voting on the double points idea? Can't say I like the joker idea. Looks like a mathematical device rather than real speedway. There is a famous saying that says "Exceptions make bad laws/rules". Tonight's meeting is an exception. The basic idea of the game remains sound. It ain't broke.

We run both meetings at Belle Vue on Monday. Alright, I'll get my coat

I think this is an unusual round i.e. there are 2 riders from each team that nearly everyone will pick. The final already looks a bit less obvious in terms of who to choose. It is still "game on". You could invoke the "choose before the competition starts" rule as they have with the championship itself. Then we would have to choose 2 riders from every team before event 1 and be stuck with our choices barring injuries 4 out of 13 haven't.

Am I the only one not to extend this thread and obey the rules by editing my original post? Oh bugger, I broken the rules by asking!

I recall when they brought in tape touching as an offence (yes that was a long time ago). It was mayhem and some riders (Kelvin Tatum was one as I recall) said it would never work and the rules were stifling good racing. But within a season, riders learned to come to the tapes, sit still and not touch the tapes. Now we have a certain breed of riders who are working hard to anticipate the start. So what do we do? Let them play silly buggers? Go back to charging the tapes? Allow anything as long as it doesn't cause the odd stoppage/delay? Well no. Don't relax the rules because riders are not prepared to obey them. Referees are paid to judge what is and what isn't a fair start. Oh I know, we all watch the reruns and say that was a perfect start, but without electronic assistance we have to rely on the referee's judgement. The idea of the warning and that warning remaining in force for the rest of the meeting seems a very effective device to make riders sit still. A bit more of an unpredictable period between the green light and the tapes going up will help. This doesn't mean holding the riders for an inordinate time either. A shorter period is just as effective. The, "Oh it's Burt on the button tonight. Just count to 3 and drop the clutch and hey presto" syndrome has to go. Where has the "punishing a rider by his own actions" technique gone? I'll teach the little bugger to sit still. If he moves and pulls up I'll let the tapes go and he'll end up dead last. This isn't rocket science.