Grachan

I think I'll let you work that one out.

Yeah right. I'm really going to do that. I think you are over thinking it. It's just two random examples of team averages to show how they can differ. It doesn't need to be from the same match.

It varies. EG: Two teams in a 45-45 draw. Team A; 6 + 3 = 7.2 6 6 6 6 6 6+0 = 4.8 Team average 42.00 Team B: (probably a more realistic score chart) 12 + 2 = 11.2 8 + 1 = 7.2 6 6 6 4 from 5 = 3.2 0 Team average: 39.60

Not necessarily. Heat 15, substitutes and so on can skew the figures. You can get two sides with different total match averages for a meeting even if it was a draw. But 42 or 42.50 is a pretty good balance if you are looking for relatively level sides.

I had a horrible feeling somebody would say that.

Why 45?

Exactly. that is caused by having a low limit. The teams that are able to make their changes at the right time and use the averages to their advantages can rise to the top, whilst, at the same time, other sides can find themselves restricted by the same averages. Once Jensen came in for Swindon and put 3 points on his starting average and rise to the fourth best rider in the league, the other sides were helpless because they couldn't bring in someone to match that as the averages topped them. Ipswich, for example, brought Iversen in, but had to bring Sergeant in at the bottom to allow it.

So Swindon had 3 of the leagues top 4. I didn't realise Jensen was so high in the list.

It probably is at the moment, although I'm not sure how that is connected to the point I made about retaining the same side not being compulsory.

I believe there was a longer one once that read: "Why do some people always feel the need to go onto threads on this forum and, for some reason, post stuff that is totally irrelevant in order to side-track what would otherwise be a perfectly reasonable discussion in the scheme of things", although I think it got deleted by the mods.

It should be pointed out that, even if the average was set to the highest average in the league, it wouldn't be compulsory for that team to retain the same riders. Just an option.

Do teams have to be built level, though? That wasn't always the case. I have a programme somewhere from the start of the 1975 or 1976 season, which listed, purely out of interest, the total averages from the teams in the league. I think it was Exeter who had the highest, at over 50, and Birmingham at the bottom, built to around 39 (with bonus points!). I don't think that the league could, at present, sustain such a high points limit due to the way it continually struggles to get enough sides to join the top flight to make it viable. Also, as you say, who are the riders who would actually want to ride here? It could be an option in the future, though, if the league decides to strengthen again.

Speedway Star have tweeted this: "BEEN banging this drum since Adam and Eve ... at least it seems that long. All teams should be allowed to start a new season with the same seven riders as they finished the previous season with. The points limit should be the number that the team with the highest figure achieved." Also, Swindon Chairman Terry Russell is saying he wants to be able to keep his team for next year, and other sides to be able to build up to that. What do people think of this? On one hand, I do, sometimes, feel that the points limit is too low and there is this absolute obsession with equality at the start of the year which can lead to average manipulation and constant team changes throughout the year as people try to play the averages. At the same time, would we get teams like Sheffield moving up if they weren't guaranteed riders having to become available from other sides? And when the team that finishes at the top of the league table can't maintain top flight racing, do we need to cut the cloth accordingly? Or would Poole have had bigger crowds with a stronger side? This year, for example, the points limit would be set at 46.34 for next season. Peterborough finished on 37.83. The top side will always average over the current 42.50 limit, meaning the league would have to strengthen every year if sides wanted to match the champions.

No it shouldn't have been. It should be Swindon v Belle Vue or Ipswich who were the two runners up.

My sister in law's kids live in Germany and always speak German. When we visited recently, the younger one began talking to us in English. We were surprised and asked if she knew it from school. Her reply was: "No. YouTube."

Could be worse!

Great to see Sheffield in the top league and I hope they are successful. Sheffield was my local track for a few years in the days of Sean Wilson and young Simon Stead and it was a brilliant place to be back then. I read that the track isn't so good these days, but it certainly can be a brilliant track, as it was back then.

I've no idea, but if he wasn't then he needs to make regular outings in Poland to improve on that, yes? Isn't that the point?

I think Adam Ellis should be ready to leave the lower league behind him and start looking towards Sweden and Poland. I hope he does. The comments of Olly Allen, when interviewed, saying that riders need to be looking towards the continent might also encourage this. Adam has shown this year that he has it in him to be a top line rider, and I don't think he'll achieve that if he stays in the Second Division.

I had to look this one up! Tuesday 30 July 1974. Weymouth v Crewe. Dave Morton won, from Kelvin Mullarky. Russell Foot third and Ian Cartwright fourth. A 3-3, in a time of 73.3. Weymouth won 41-37.

I think you are over estimating the effort that Eurosport will put into a highlights show. I'm sure it will just be a re-run of the live match with chunks cut out.

I used to be with Talk Talk, but I left them when they got hacked. I still get calls to this day from people claiming to be Talk Talk and asking me to download software so that they can access my computer to improve my signal.

It also would have attracted those supporters who "pick and choose" meetings, making them one of the matches that became attractive. Swindon always had good crowds for tv matches with reduced admission, but low crowds when normal admission price.

I remember that too. Very funny.

I often do that, which gives me a Eurosport issue on BT. It seems Eurosport is £4 a month. Or £10 a month if you want to be able to record it!