Grachan

Agree Sidney. A very big thing for me that we lost the World Champ. I never went when Briggo was winning titles. This could have been the moment I'd waited 40 years for. I know some people think that having the top riders doesn't mean much, but things like this really drains my enthusiasm. Will Somerset, King's Lynn etc gain as many supporters as Swindon will lose from this rule? I doubt it.

Doyle would have been at Swindon if a little gang of promoters hadn't ganged together and voted to make sure that the top clubs had to release a rider over 8. I'm sure Jason will be happy at Somerset - and may stay there in the future - but there's no way he would have been there if Somerset and the like hadn't voted for it. Anyway, the result of the supposed restrictions everyone decided to place on teams is that everyone is going to get stuffed by Poole again. So well done all.

Riding at 2 or 4 doesn't neccesarily make you a second string rider if your average is that of a heat leader. Ivan Mauger sometimes rode at number 2 for Exeter as a tactic to give him a ts ride later in the match if required in KO Cup matches. It didn't make him a second string rider.

If nobody snaps him up, then there's a pretty good chance they will once the new averages come out, if they can fit him in.

Neither was Jason Doyle before he got dumped.

Some teams still do - just not King's Lynn because they struggled. That would be a team at the top of the table and including bonus points. In the "good old days" Swindon had Phil Crump at number one on a 10 point average, and Malcolm Holloway second on about 5.5, while Cradley's lowest rider, at the top of the league, was on about 6. Swindon's averages last year, when they were at the top of the league, and including bonus points were: Doyle 10.26 Morris 9.42 Musielak 8.32 Bellego 7.90 Ellis 6.27 Wilson-Dean 5.05 Wajknecht 4.86 The heat format in the "good old days" also led to higher heatleader averages as there was no heat 15.

He still should not be allowed to sign an 8 point rider from outside the league, regardless of whose daft idea it was.

He shouldn't be allowed to sign Iversen. He should have to sign Bjerre or Lindgren as he forced them out of their clubs. Why have the rule otherwise?

Averages per ride or average per ride x 4. Makes no difference. It's the same average, just represented in a different way.

This old chestnut again Averages are the average points per ride x 4. In a 15 heat match, two riders have a nominated ride in heat 15 giving them 5 rides, but their averages are still per ride x 4. For example: A team has 42 points after heat 15 with scores of 8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4. Team average = 42. In heat 15 they get a 4-2, giving them 46 points. Rider 1 scores 11 from 5 - average 8.8. Rider 2 scores 9 from 5 - average 7.2 Team averages are now: 8.8, 7.2, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4 = 42.

Maybe the main thing is you get priority on your own assets, which is why Swindon ensured they had 5 in their side?

So sad, what happened to Brandon. I had many an enjoyable meeting there. I remember a brilliant night not so long ago. Swindon put in an amazing win, with Darcy Ward in a class of his own. I never, for one second during that meeting, considered that it might be the last time I visited Brandon or the last time I would see Darcy ride. It turned out to be both. Life, eh?

Actually, all the incomes quoted there are pretty crap if you are looking to go to speedway every week - unless you are living in a house free of charge.

Respect for your elders.

I don't think parents would be shocked at that for a one off night out. Getting them to pay it every week, however, is a different matter. But if my son was taken somewhere by his friends' parents and I was told it was 20 quid to see a live sporting event I'd pretty much expect it. I don't see why people factor food into the cost though. Just eat before you go. What's the issue? And you don't need to get a programme for every one either.

Pretty key point, though, don't you think? If it wasn't for that I'd agree that BT is better, but that can completely wreck it. I find myself getting frustrated sometimes watching BT because of that. I never had that with Sky.

Yup. And look who had the strongest side.

Funny that - Poole and Leicester looking strong. The two sides untilising dodgy averages.

I don't go to every meeting. I probably to to 4 or 5 meetings a year, and they tend to be when the opposition looks most attractive. This is down to distance I live from Swindon, convenience due to work and cost. This would make it an easy decision which ones to attend. I would go to the "Super League" matches. Not sure why you think it should suddenly cost 20 quid though.

Good, because I have BT but not Sky! Much as I think Natilie is a great presenter, Sky's coverage was better, though. Hopefully BT will understand the importance of minor placings more this year. Great that it will still be getting covered though.

I think you've got me lol. One with Nick and one with Darcy.

I'm intrigued now! I've often wondered if I know you too, from those times, as we seem to share similar memories a lot of the time! Winning at Swindon and Oxford was always the best thing, as we always tended to be poor relations to one or the other (or both!) over the years. Things were so much better when we had that three-way rivaly, and I used to regularly go to all three.

I remember a trip to The Shay. Phil Crump beat Kenny Carter twice in the match, and then won the second half. I remember Trevor being on those trips. My parents were good friends with his parents.

Hans should have been excluded. Much as I was a supporter of him and felt he was easily the best rider in the World, I just can't see how he got away with it. I just took another look at it on Youtube. Tommy is going round mid bend. Hans is inside and moves out towards him, and Tommy actually tries to move further out at the last minute to avoid getting hit, but Hans takes him out. No denying Hans was the best in theWorld, and maybe he needed to get the rub of the green just that once to get off the ground with World Championship wins, but he got away with that one.

Good: 1 - My first meeting at Swindon. I had been to a meeting at Weymouth earlier in the year, which had inspired me to go again - but Swindon was another level. I can still picture it now. It seemed so much faster and more professional than the meeting at Weymouth. It was Swindon v Wolves in 1974. Martin Ashby broke the track record and beat this guy called Ole Olsen, who everyone was mocking because he only scored 7 points from 5 rides. 2 - Going to Poland in 1976 and seeing Peter Collins become World Champion. 3 - Swindon signing Andrew Silver after his brilliance at no 8 the year before. 4 - Cradley walking out at Oxford in the snow. Not sure why, but I loved that meeting! 5 - Swindon coach trips to World Finals and away meetings. Bad: 1 - See Steve Roberts good point no 5! 2 - The same as you, Sidney, with Petersen, Holden and Jansson. Like you, Sidney, I was at school at the time and those three had such a profound effect on me and I became a bit obsessed with all three. 3 - Reading and Oxford closing down. 4 - Going to a Swindon v Glasgow meeting after many years away, and standing on a near empty second bend and watching a dull match with a very small crowd. I couldn't believe how much the atmosphere at Swindon had changed. I do think it picked up again later, when Rosco came into the club, but that was a real shock. 5 - Watching Reading and Oxford celebrate World Champions and waiting over 40 years for Swindon to have the World Champion in their side themselves, only for Jason Doyle to win it and then get dropped before riding for th club.