Grachan

Even 42 is a bit optimistic. This year it was, in real terms, about 37.

They could keep the play-offs, but have them as separate to the league champions and have all teams involved. Other sports such as Basketball do this, and the play-offs are still prestigious to win. Call them KO Cup or Craven Shield and nobody will care. Call them "play-offs" and they will. That's the way it is these days.

Hello Gater2.

BWD brought his bikes because Poole were making noises about protesting. He was told to bring them just in case he had to ride against medical advice, in order for Swindon to track 7 riders should Newman not be allowed to ride. This has been clarified by the Swindon management, so I don't see why people are sneaking this information out as some sort of amazing piece of inside information. What's the big deal with Newman being booked weeks back? Wilson-Dean had an injury week back, so they needed to cover their bases if he wasn't fit.

Ok. Let's have a look at Newman's races. In his first two races he was gifted his points so BWD would have got the same anyway. Then he beat Shanes. BWD is capable of that. Not saying he would have, but he is capable of it. BWD would also be capable of doing it in heat 2. Not saying he would, but... Then he had a good win, in a race in which the Poole pair were so far behind that BWD would probably have beaten them too if he was fit. Then he got a last, behind Shanes, who BWD is capable of beating. Not saying he would have, but... Not so much difference really.

Have to admit I'm struggling to understand that!

It has to be, quite possibly, the worst conspiracy theory ever concocted. Coming up with the idea that Bradley turned up without knowing he wasn't riding when he had already posted the fact himself just goes to show how lies can be spread on social media and become 'truths'. I guess someone dreamed it up after seeing he was there when they showed him on the telly! With all the fuss about this, it's a shame BY didn't interview him and get his own side of things. The truth is, he pulled out of taking an extra ride at Peterborough as he was unfit and would have been needed for extra rides at Poole. With all the bumps on the Poole track last night he clearly made the right decision. Great meeting last night for the first half, although the racing wasn't quite so good in the latter races. Good for Swindon to get a win, but they did chuck it away a bit at the end. Nice to see Bellego riding well, although he has ridden better. Race of the night was Ellis off 15m.

He posted on the Swindon Facebook page at 1.30pm to say he was unable to ride. So you are wrong.

He's not been at his best in the play offs in all 3 countries.

Middlo's team talk did the trick there!

Oh dear. And you were doing so well.

Not sure which is less interesting. A detailed discussion on how various areas of Bournemouth are named or a playground squabble about a reserve replacement. Newman is better than a half fit BWD and worse than a fully fit BWD. In my most humble of opinions. Also if people do feel Swindon are trying to pull a fast one (which they clearly aren't, then the fact that Poole pull fast ones too sometimes hardly justifies it. Easy solution to all this is not to make guests so easy to use.

At the end of the day, though, there's not a lot to choose between them so I'm not sure it makes Swindon particularly stronger - but we'll see.

The big question is: Would Wilson-Dean have been riding tonight if Newman wasn't available? My guess is that he would have been.

Hopeless. Poole's to lose now.

Yeah. Just read it. Plus the top reserve will probably need to take an extra ride tonight, so just about feasible considering he didn't take the extra ride yesterday.

just checked the Peterborough website. All it says about BWD is that he made an excellent comeback from injury.

Why?

I got Tommy Jansson's autograph that night. He was there on his own in the away pits, sitting against the back wall, then, as you say, came out in the second half.

Carter -should have been World Champ in 82. Penhall had him off. Louis - rostrum place in my first ever World final. Simmons - might have put him second if he hadn't deliberately dropped his average at Swindon. Wilson - 1975. Booooo!! Morton - possibly because he was always second heat leader behind Peter Collins.

What benefit? I don't think there are any. Sure,he doesn't need a visa to work in the UK, but that's nothing to do with Speedway. It's his birthright.

At least "Shovlar" and Starman are real Poole fans. None of your posts have any credibility now you have been exposed as also pretending to be a Coventry fan. So just leave it.

I actually said Swindon are favourites, having been top of the league. It's just all this "oh, poor little underdogs Poole" stuff that is nonsense as, of the two, they are the in-form side.

He's actually both.

Form guide going into this meeting - last 6 matches. Poole: W W W L W W Swindon: W W W W L L Swindon were top of the league so, in reality, would have to be expected to be seen as favourites, but all this false modesty from Poole fans is not based in any reality. Of the two sides they are the more in-form team.