Grachan

I believe Morrissey's song 'Speedway' is having a go at Johnny Marr, who is a fan of Belle Vue. Swindon had a period of having local bands and singers performing in the interval a couple of years back. I thought it worked well in keeping the atmosphere going, but it didn't last for long.

Pretty sure Tatum rode in the top flight for Wimbledon right from the off.

So would you be ok with it if Wolves riders decided not to turn out for their club because they wanted to ride elsewhere? No problems with that? It's irrelevant whether or not people will be going. I won't be going to Somerset, but this was clearly unfair to The Rebels and their fans, for whom both Doyle and Morris would be major attractions. Believe it or not, some people can actually see a situation beyond whether or not it affects them personally.

Presumably the same issues will arise that currently occur with the Aussies and used to apply with Swedes before they joined.

Buster Chapman is chairman of the BSPA. It's his job to know. Both sides messed up here. Thankfully common sense saw through in the end. A bizarre episode all round really.

Yay! Power to the people. Right on! http://www.kingslynnstars.co/2016/03/04/doyle-recalled-by-swindon/

It's about respect. Is it right to say that Chapman is now Chairman of the BSPA? Not a great start, is it, to think purely of his own club at the expense of what was probably a pretty big occasion for a PL club. And even if it was arranged before the Somerset match - which I'm not sure it was - Doyle was only put into the King's Lynn side this week. I'm surprised anyone can see that as acceptable. It showed complete disrespect for Somerset and, indeed, Swindon to even ask him.

It doesn't matter how "meaningless" it is - and I suspect it's not meaningless to Somerset to have Doyle and Morris there. If Swindon are riding, then their riders should be in the team and not guesting for another side or riding in an overseas team on a GB track. Interesting this is being called a "Test Match". Are King's Lynn claiming this to be an international and therefore giving it some sort of priority?

How much he is getting paid is irrelevant surely. Because the match at Somerset is against Swindon - Doyle's team. It's not an open meeting.

King's Lynn have Nick Morris down for the opposition too.

Why not? Sweden did.

For a while there I thought there was nothing to complain about regarding the new Belle Vue. Phew. What a relief. Stand at the end of the straight then.

Don't they? They did last year.

Just to make it even more confusing, London Irish play in Reading and London Welsh play in Oxford. I've heard of Wasps, but, like you, didn't have the slightest idea that they played in Coventry.

I'm with Steve. I think he should have to qualify, even if just to prove his commitment. I think he gets invited every year, though, so I'm sure he won't have to.

If he's a bit like Jarek Hampel then we're laughing!!

Somerset have first call on Tungate and Wright. There are 2 fixture clashes. That is according to Rosco on the Swindon Speedway Facebook group.

Don't know much about Tungate and opinions seem mixed so will have to wait and see. There is clearly a plan to go with Aussies this year so hopefully team spirit will benefit as a result. I am surprised we never went for Bjerre though, seeing as he could have been fitted in.

Ooh get you Mr 'i know something you don't'. Dakota North has pulled out because of his father's problems. So, how many points are there to use up? Who's still available?

I'd take Zengota over Bjerre without doubt. Bjerre may be more of a 'name' rider, but Zengota will give his all and is a very good rider. He was rider of the year at Swindon last year, and I think he was also rider of the year when he was at Coventry. Unless Leicester can get themselves a proper, all out number one rider then he would be a decent signing.

As I remember it, he was the only Cradley rider who seemed prepared to give it a go in that famous 1975 meeting at Oxford. By the time Cradley had walked out, Levai had already taken 4 rides I think, including a TS.

Are you sure? I don't recall full plans for Reading ever being submitted. Something called 'outline planning permission' was apparently granted for Swindon Stadium in 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-21744357 Before now we'd just seen artists impressions rather than proper drawn up plans, which is all I recall ever seeing of the Racino. So it does seem that we have gone a stage further.

It makes a clearer definition betwen the standard. The way to look at it is to round the rider up or down to the nearest point and add the word "man" afterwards. Take, for example, Neils Kristian Iversen (8.98), Matej Zagar (7.83) and Craig Cook (7.29). Iversen is a nine point man. Zagar is an eight point man. Cook is a seven point man. Do it as average per race and you get 2.25, 1.96 and 1.82. Suddenly all 3 become 2 point men. It's better as it is.

Am I right in assuming that, with the publication of these plans, we have gone further down the line than Reading and Milton Keynes did?

Is the points limit too high? I thought it seemed high when they announced it, but I'm not so sure it is now. King's Lynn could sign Greg Zengota, taking them to 39.68. That would leave Leicester with a space to fill. I'm not sure what they have remaining as the their average aren't shown on here - but the problems they have are as much a problem with Leicester as they are with the points limit. It's not the points limit thats wrong. It's the squiffy averages we have now. Greg Zengota is a good rider, but he's not a number one.