False dawn

The stats don't support that conclusion. BV have only dropped 5 league points at home (44-46 to Somerset and 46-46 to Poole). However their away record speaks for itself. In fact they have an aggregate advantage over everyone except Somerset so far.

Bit concerned by Hans's comment about crunching noises in the back of his head when he turned it. Might be worth chacking out properly.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with gate 4. I'm just imagining myself making the first pick in the final (well I can dream!). Someone whispers in my ear, "half of the races up to heat 16 were won from gate 4". Then adds, "there hasn't been a winner from gate 4 in the last 6 races". My decision might be a touch difficult. Oh I know not all races are won from the gate and these stats can only be an indication. But such stark numbers must indicate something significant.

This year's field will not allow anyone to cruise to the top 8. After 5 rounds, Tai is 3 points ahead of the 8th place rider. And in 9th and 10th you have PP and Zmarzlik. There is, of course, the also ran's further down the field, like NKI and Chris Holder, yeh right. You sit on your laurels at your peril.

So what did they do to gate 4 after heat 16? 8 wins out of 16 races and then not 1 in the remaining 7 races. Call me a nerd. But don't tell me that track "preparation" doesn't make a difference. Still a good meeting. For the record, points scored from each gate and races won from each gate (1 to 4) 2016 38 41 34 25 8 9 4 2 2017 30 40 33 34 4 6 5 8

Chris H got a last in his last race and he's in gate 4 this time out. Any predictions? Gate 3 is a graveyard

interim report..... Gates 1-3 have won 5 races between them. Gate 4 has won 7. I love it.

I watched a meeting at Peterborough recently and, from memory, gate 3 was a massive advantage. Had won more than the other 3 put together. So I went down to the start line to inspect the condition of the track. Guess what? All 4 gates looked identical. I think Excel tells us more about track conditions than the amount of shale in place. I'm still a student of statistics and my own analysis is a strong indication as to what might happen. But riders defy the stats every meeting I go to. And long may it be so. P.S. I'll post the 2016 vs 2017 stats at the end of the meeting

What price statistics? 3 heats. 2 wins from gate 4. That's as many wins from gate 4 as we had from 23 heats last year

Perhaps a way around this problem is for riders to make a long term commitment. So if you ride in a "National event" for one country, you are barred from riding for another for say. five years. This should be in addition to the current British requirement of passport holding and residence etc. You could even make such riders make themselves available for the National team in the SWC and so on. Whoops, sorry Scott.

There are always ways. I've been to all the Bees fixtures this season and although we might be pushing water uphill, I'll go to all the others. Sadly, with this cancellation and the silly predicament at Leicester, we might not see anymore. Oh, I know it's a tough call and we may be looking at the death throws of a once famous club, but I ain't ready to throw in the towel just yet. There are people who have as much as millions of pounds "invested" in Brandon. I have (this latest period) 47 years of my life, man and boy, invested in this club. Before that, I went with my Dad as a nipper. Stadiums come and go (ask Belle Vue). But a club has life all it's own. The odds ain't good but they are not non existent.

Sometimes it's hard to comprehend what I'm reading in terms of the track conditions at KL. What has happened? This was a promotion that prided themselves on preparing the best of racing circuits. I know what the track looked like first hard just a handful of years ago. Albeit on a sidecar. But I did know a well prepared track when I saw it (I ate some of that shale last time I was there). I went to Oz twice and people out there asked me what KL was like and I compared it to Gillman in Adelaide which is considered one of the best circuits out there (I crashed there too!). There is nothing wrong with the shape, the bends, the banking and when I knew it, the shale. Why, oh why, do I keep reading these poor reports?

It's June. No "R" in the month. Sorry, I don't mean to be flippant. But, many weeks ago, I gave up trying to keep up with the rules. Especially those pertaining to averages and team building. Am I alone in this?

But only if there's an "R" in the month

False dawn, on 21 Jun 2017 - 10:02 AM, said: I repeat my questions

You are right in your analysis. But the immediate feeling, the feeling that the best rider in the World had lost, watching Ivan being covered in shale while he lay on the track whilst his Polish rival completed the run off and the historical nonsense that was written that day all left me wondering why I'd made my way to Katowice to see that meeting. Even the Poles said the wrong man won (although they meant Zenon Plech, who I could have accepted).

Sadly, one of my earliest memories of the Poles was the 1973 World Final. I was there Mind you, I did learn something that day. The poles are ferociously enthusiastic fans and at the same time good to be with.

I have some sympathy for Rye's point of view. However, when did Bomber sign for Peterborough? When did Eddie commit to the long track meeting? These things didn't just happen. Please, plan a replacement date.

That little known number "Extra Manoeuvrability"? Or perhaps "Your Cheatin’ Heart" or "Naughty by Nature". [sorry Matt!] Or Poole playing by the rules....... "It's impossible" What Kind of Fool Am I? Oooo. this is thread that just keeps giving

Quite correct. 8 + 1 from 4 completed rides. Had the almost inevitable fall and excluded in his other ride.

I was. A few stats (nerd alert).... DK rides = 5 and a bonus SW rides = 10 and a bonus That is almost enough to make the difference. But BV provided 11 of the heat winners but also provided 9 of the last places. tbh the real difference was the three 5-1's by Nick Morris and Kenneth Bjerre Leicester pulled off some good race results to keep themselves in it. But when it came to outright speed from the front BV just edged it. There was some spectacular riding round the outside, notable Erik Riss. The pity was that it was a very quick track (track record in heat 1) and overtaking was at a premium. Jim Lynch, in his match report points the finger firmly in Lasse Bjerre's direction. True he never was at the races but he has shown real promise in earlier results. Not the best entertainment. Certainly the hour long delay due to the sun was irritating. But I saw enough to go back. A warning to other teams, Leicester, on their day, can beat anyone.

I did decide to come to Leicester tonight. A nice night and the novelty of a full Leicester team. Well I got that wrong. Danny announced at the last minute as absent and now an hour's delay because the sun. We are getting fed up

Now RR for Danny King Now RR for Danny King

Ah but. Yes the financial side has to be considered (I want Leicester to succeed given that they are willing to put this meeting on at all). Would the riders accept a lower point payment? 3/4 of the proposed rate would do it. And given a good field wouldn't the gate return be better anyway? If the 4 "Bees" riders signed by Leicester ride for Leicester (which seems right) and Kenneth doesn't ride, we are faced with fielding a 2 man team with 5 "guests". Hardly keeping the Bees name alive.

I did suggest an individual meeting instead of a team challenge. All 7 Leicester riders plus as many of the intended Bees as possible and then the likes of Bomber, Rory, Robbo and any other ex Bees who could be encouraged to take part. I even suggested a certain GP rider might make an appearance. But the idea was rejected on the basis that the Leicester promotion, who are paying all the expenses and points money, bless them, would end up paying for more points, 120 (plus a semi and a final) vs 90 odd for a team meeting. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.