Ben91

Booking Edberg showed more intent than we usually see from Rye when booking guest reserves. We're early in the season, far too early to be putting NL riders in to gain experience. I don't buy Mellgren still coming back from injury, he had half a season racing last year and a whole winter to prepare. His form hasn't been that bad at all though. He always has a duff ride here and there, that's why his average isn't higher.

Don't see why not. Stumbling block over Shanes would be that he is a Plymouth asset I believe. Wilson-Dean doubling up would be no different than Perks at Scunthorpe and Cradley although he did start the season an an assessed 5 point NL average. If someone did move for him and it was blocked it could have big consequences in the NL.

In terms of entertainment the NL can be one of the best however I think the Premier League is the best product. In the EL and NL it is rarer to see reserves challenging and beating heatleaders because of the differing levels of quality between them. The PL offers a lot more close races. The ideal scenario IMO is to have a PL team and a NL side to help develop your own riders.

When all else fails sarcasm always beats logic.

An extension of the argument you instigated. And as I stated and you have agreed here, no fans = no sport, no sponsors = a lower level of competition but not to the extent of the sport dying out. Sponsorship is a method of advertisement in most cases, these sponsors are not doing riders a favour, unless they want no acknowledgment of their financial help, they are advertising their businesses.

That's irrelevant, the sport of speedway wouldn't completely die without sponsors, it may end up a shadow of what it is today but there would still be fans and riders willing to fund themselves. If all the fans gave up on speedway then it would die a death. Supporters are more important than sponsors.

To say sponsors are the lifeblood is false though. Fans are. Without fans there'd be no sport at all. Sponsorship is basically advertising, if nobody is seeing that advertising then it is just an unnecessary overhead for the company.

Priest's injuries sound pretty bad. Hope we've been on the phone to Brendan Johnson as it looks like Priest may be out a while.

Have to disagree on this one Derek, purely because pairs meetings should be about the best, or most consistent pair being victorious in my opinion. It puts an emphasis on team riding too and that's never a bad thing I say!

Not the best line up, the fact that a 3-2-1-0 scoring system has been used is laughable too. Morley and Sheppard were the best pair because Morley went unbeaten and Sheppard only finished ahead of an opponent twice. That's not how pairs meetings should work.

Bridger has been eligible to double up between EL and PL in the past and not done it, that wouldn't have changed this season.

It's spelt Craig Cook.

If he can learn to trap he'll go a long, long way in this sport IMO.

I'm voting for the Green helmet cover Party.

Wonder how many bites this comment will get? Fear for Plymouth this season, got absolutely ruined tonight.

Chapman and Shanes will be in the mix to win too.

Not expecting anything so won't be disappointed if we get hammered. Will need the top 5 to all be on song if we're to put up a fight.

Should be using Edberg as a guest for Bowen on the Friday and someone like Graversen for Kasper. Pretty sure the NL guest rule has been scrapped this season for your lowest averaged reserve.

New promoters need an "experienced hand" to guide them for their first few seasons in the sport I believe, so until Scott has been owner for that period of time at lease I assume Len will still be on the scene.

I could be wrong but I thought the doubling up age only came into play after a rider had spent a year doubling up. I think it may be too soon for Ayres, if there is a debut pl season exception to the doubling up rule I'm sure it'd be better for him to be geared up for a year's PL racing in advance. Phillips wasn't any better than Hughes/Chessell round Rye on Saturday so I personally wouldn't consider him. Plus he's a Peterborough asset and I don't think we need to be cultivating another team's asset when we have our own that could use the development time.

An on form Bowen will be hard to replace with the points available to us. Think Ayres is the next Silver asset in line for the Rockets but he needs a full year in the NL behind him first IMO. Have a suspicion we'll go after Wilson-Dean, if he's good enough then he's ready. That being said he's only had two meetings over here so far, I remember a lot of Rockets fans were calling for Andrew Aldridge to be given a Rockets team spot after his first couple of Raiders meetings, his work permit prevented it luckily in the end because he turned out to be nothing more than a NL second string. Owen and Shanes are probably the two standout NL riders without PL spots otherwise, either of those or Ayres would do me but it'd have to be on the fans understanding that they probably won't do much this season. Halsey had a chance as a Rocket 7/8 odd years ago, wasn't good enough and hasn't really improved since, a no to him for me. Hughes needs to prove himself in the NL again while I think PL is too soon for Chessell. All the best to Luke for the future whatever he decides, he has been a fantastic servant to our club and has always bounced back in spite of some horrific injuries over the years. Perhaps he will carry on as a Raider in future where his experience could be so very valuable in helping develop our own riders.

Well done to the Potters on their win on the day. The track was not in the best shape for the second meeting and it clearly caught a fair few of the riders out. Branford was by far the best rider on show in the second meeting, his charge from last to first in heat 15 was fantastic. Chessell looks good too, I think his fall in his last ride was due to a mechanical problem, if he hadn't come down he'd have finished his programmed rides on 11 points and may have had more of an impact on heat 15 than Priest did. Hughes seemed to have bike problems which is concerning as we need him to be able to compete in all his programmed rides and be ready to go for heat 15 if needed. The reserves look rough around the edges but look as if they will only improve. Bowtell looks more steady at the moment but Hume seems to be able to get away from the tapes better. I look forward to watching their development over the course of the year. Stoke look a solid outfit on paper this year and I fancy them to put in a title challenge. Terry-Daley seemed to have gone backwards from last year however but that could be due to the track conditions in fairness. Tedham will pick up lots of points against rookie reserves this term in my opinion, if he does this and moves up into a 1-5 position the Potters will always have a strong reserve. Think it will take a monumental effort for the Raiders to progress in the cup this season but it is good to see them back on track.

Lost opportunity to all but cement a place in the League Cup Semi Finals. Mellgren turned up today, which is positive. Unfortunately Robin, Boxall and Bowen didn't. Kennett led by example in his opening four rides, was poor in heat 15. Jakobsen had his worst meeting for us so far in scoring six, we shouldn't be expecting more than that from him yet so he's exempt from criticism in my eyes. For the Panthers, Palm Toft looked very good. Robert Lambert too. Despite the track conditions there was some very good racing, Lambert and Jakobsen's tussle and heat 13 spring to mind. Well done to the Panthers, put themselves back in the mix to progress now.

Middlefield, bloomin' newcomers to the town!

Exactly, and if you want to leave after the first meeting you aren't going to leave without claiming your £4 back. The fans that do leave early will probably spend more than that £4 in the stadium on food, drink and programmes etc too, especially if they are planning on getting back to Peterborough in time for the evening fixture.