Grachan

Swindon sign Claus Vissing. Looks like he is a temporary signing and the intention would probably be to have Stefan and Toby back when fit. Presumably this gives us a bit of a higher averaged reserve than having guests.

In 96 it was set at EL standard. If the league was set at CL standard then the teams would be the strength of CL teams, so the same as now.

If the league was set at Championship level - perfectly feasable bearing in mind rider ability - why could they not afford it?

They showed 1983 too (as did ITV). I remember it being very "bitty", showing it in 3 or 4 separate sections throughout the afternoon.

Well, obviously. They're in the Premiership, not the Championship.

Which is why we need someone at reserve who can win reserve races. It's useful to have a good reserve. For me, though, Rasmus is too good to be at reserve. A lot of his rides would be wasted on weaker opposition.

I still don't see the point of having Rasmus at reserve while having someone in the top 5 who struggles to score. So, Rasmus can replace him in one of his rides. What about the other 3 rides? If Rasmus was in the top 5 he could have all of those rides and the rider who struggles in the top 5 could score decently at reserve.

I think that for this level of racing to be a success at Swindon they need to have their own riders and not just be a NL Select side. Apart from Anders Rowe there's no real association with Swindon from the side, and even he was a guest who actually rides for the opposition in the NL. I think if a batch of riders came through that were proper Swindon juniors like we had before - Chessells, Smarts, Broadbank and so on - it would catch on a lot more because the crowd could get more behind them.

I'm sure your ideas are well intentioned, but you seem to be coming up with theories that will make crowds even lower. Why would you want the sport to only attract 600-800 spectators at the top level?

If he is out for less than a month, as he is saying, then I would, yes. I like Bellego, but Tobi is a proper heatleader and makes our top 5 very strong. Bellego apparently rode well last night, but we still missed a big scorer and Tobi might have given us that extra possibility.

He has tweeted that he expects to be back in 2 to 3 weeks and posted a video of himself on an exercise bike, but nothing confirmed. Yes, we need a permanent reserve, but I would guess we will wait until we know how many points are available. Last night, for example, Swindon missed a big heatleader score. Musielak might have been to guy to get one. It's a tricky one though. Musielak and a low reserve or Bellego and a better reserve. If Perks can score decently, as he has been, I would go with Musielak.

I would think he is waiting on the signing of a reserve until a decision is made on whether or not Musielak comes back in.

A big decision, though, because doesn't that mean no Musielak? He says he is only out for 2 or 3 more weeks.

Bellego still has to take 3 rides though. Sure, Jensen would be a good reserve, but I think the side would be more balanced once he moved back into the top 5. I'd rather have Jensen in the top 5 beating heatleaders and a reserve beating reserves. Better than having Jensen at reserve beating reserves and a rider in the top 5 struggling in 3 rides and needing replacing.

Only needs to take 7 rides if the top 5 are crap. If you have a top 5 that are scoring well then there's no need to replace them. A reserve that can beat other reserves is all we need.

The way Jensen has been riding, he'd be wasted at reserve. He is capable of beating heatleaders, so why have him riding against reserves with a rider in the top 5 who struggles. Much better to get in someone who can beat other reserves and have our best riders in the top 5. Suppose Bellego is struggling, for example. Jensen could only take one of his rides, and it would be a ride that he might have been in anyway had he not been reserve. Get someone who can win heat 2 and we're good to go. Jensen would beat other reserves by half a lap. It's a waste.

Worse than Tobi. Better than R/R.

In which case, no, it isn't.

Oh, you know what I meant. ☺

It must be very entertaining standing near Belle Vue fans when your team is riding against them. I can just imagine the conversation. "Oooh, this track is rubbish. It's nowhere near as good as Belle Vue." "Quite right. Belle Vue is the best track in the World. This track is rubbish. Look. He hit a bump. I'm going to mark it in my programme." Marks it in programme. "He'd never have hit a bump at Belle Vue. Belle Vue is the best track EVER." Max Fricke then breaks the track record. "Wow. If that's a track record, Lord knows what it's like when it's NOT a track record. It must be terrible." "Must be. It's such a terrible track. Not like Belle Vue." Slight pause. Then, both at the same time: "Belle Vue is the best track EVER." Give us an A - "A".....

Last night was perfectly good racing. It's just Belle Vue fans showing off because they have a great track.

A very enjoyable meeting with some good racing. How on Earth has Rasmus Jensen ridden in the Second Division all these years and been practically unnoticed by myself at least? This guy is sensational and gives Swindon another instant heatleader and a very strong top end. This track is a world away from the old track, and it's great to actually have some passing in races now. Jensen's first to last was sensational, although I did think he could do it when looking at the line up in the race. It was till the race of the night though. There is talk of changes in the side due to Musielak's injury, but if he isn't going to be out for too long (and the latest information seems he's not as badly injured as first thought) then I wouldn't replace him. With him back in the top 5 we'll have a great side. Having said that, R/R scored 5. Bellego should be able to get 5 too, and we could bolster the reserves a bit. But I'd want Tobi back once fit. The reserves played their part, both picking up legitimate points. We just need to hold our own at reserve, and last night we did that. Good match, although Belle Vue were a bit of a disappointment.

The what?

Dropping himself can be nothing other than withdrawing his services. What else can withdrawing services be?

Me neither. Especially with the form that Bellego's been in lately.