Grachan

Thanks for the clarification, although it does seem a little odd that a rider not riding as a rising star and averaging over 5 points per match can be used in such a way. Be careful with the rule quoting. You'll get accused of being an anorak!

So why have a rule that says that they are determined by average once they achieve one?

People thinking it's no more than just 4 blokes going round a track one after the other and no more is why it won"t appeal to the masses. The masses will have no knowledge of me making a post on a forum and will have no knowledge of the rule book. Also, riders' families being condescending towards anyone who feels inclined to look at the rules on the bspa website and commenting on them by refering to them as an "anorak" won't help either. I've been a fan of speedway since 1974, and the intricacies of the rules and the averages were always a big part of its appeal to me. Sorry if you don't like them.

For me, Anders Rowe's place in the Sheffield side is very dubious - even more so if riding at reserve. Looking at the rules, supplementary rule 12.3.1 states that, once an average is obtained, riders positions in the side are determined by match average. From today, Anders is on an average of 5.49. Bates is still on a "Rising Star" 4* figure. I know that both are on the original 4 star list, but Rowe has an official average that not only puts him higher than Josh Bates but also higher than Justin Sedgman, who is in the Sheffield 1-5. And the rules say that once that average is obtained then that determines his position in a team.

If Ipswich fail to make the play-offs on the basis of a Sheffield home win then they don't deserve to be there anyway.

Coverage was decent. Not much of a match though. Kent not really at the races despite Nicholls and Starke providing the highlights in terms of passing.

Surely this means Sheffield are riding without a "rising star" in the team. Is that within the rules?

Watching the stream. Sounds like Rosco as a co-commentator. Looks like a decent enough production. Would possibly be better with a pit of a pit view from time to time.

Could it be because a KO Cup match is over 2 legs so therefore needs to be raced evenly over both legs?

What I am saying is that if they can't even get enough people through the gate that the Covid restrictions allow for, then the Covid restrictions can't be the reason for the cancellation.

Disappointing for me, though. It would have been my first time to Kent and probably the only meeting I was going to go to this year.

I see that the reason given is because England are playing football on those nights which, alongside the Covid restrictions, will mean a low attendance. That makes no sense. If they can't even meet the restricted figure because the football is on then Covid restrictions can't have anything to do with it.

That's annoying. I was going to go to the Poole match.

Watched from heat 12 on Eurosport player, which I already subscribe to. It was feed only with no commentary. Not sure what happened with Lambert as he was unbeaten when I started watching. Very impressed withBewley. He was unlucky as looked set to win the final before the race was stopped. Impressed with Mikkelsen. He has something of an aura about him.

Whoever it was it can't have been difficult to recognise him considering he had no helmet on.

Any idea who Lester Lion was?

Dave Steen was an electrician by trade. Every time there was an electrical problem at Reading (which seemed to happen quite often) he used to have to go up to the box and fix it.

Just seen that next week's meeting is postponed due to continued Covid restrictions.

I made a couple of trips to Exeter in the 1970s. Leaning over the fence on the home straight as Ivan Mauger came straight towards me is probably the best thing I ever experienced at Speedway.

Indeed. I remember the excitement at the end of season speeches if a rider said he would be back next year.

It's a shame they can't replicate the exact dimensions of the current track somewhere as a "training facility" that's ready to move into should the current place close. The thing is, I guess, that as long as they are being told that the current track is still a going concern, who will take the bull by the horns and do that? This has been going on for 13 years, so I don't understand why GI, if they really do want to close it down, couldn't have said so years ago and given Swindon plenty of opportunity to get a new place to race for when this one closes. What would they have to gain by not doing that? In fact, it would probably be to their benefit as, if Swindon did get a new place, it would free them up to get rid of this one. Because of that, I suspect that the "sports only" clause on the current site must be pretty strong. My guess is we'll be back racing next year in exactly the same state as before and the "new stadium" saga will continue.

Good suggestion seeing as they are on restricted numbers and aren't allowed to let anyone else in and can't even afford to run with the team they've got at the moment.

The restrictions was given as the main reason. Without those, I'm pretty sure the season would have gone ahead at Swindon just as it has since 2008 when it was all supposed to be getting built. I think they know as well as anyone that it's a long shot that there will be any stadium work this year.

If Swindon don't run in 2022 it will be presumably be stadium related, not because of their decision not to run this year because of Covid restrictions.

“The economics of the sport which relies so much on the paying spectator are not robust enough to take any downturn in revenue particularly after the cancelation of the 2020 season. Our government is not able to provide any indication of the timing or the steps of lifting the restrictions, which is not a criticism, just a fact. With this in front of us, it is impossible to plan and commit for racing at the Abbey in 2021." Swindon Robins Speedway Official Website: NO SPEEDWAY RACING AT SWINDON THIS YEAR (swindon-speedway.com)