Grachan

The 1975 team would win this league pretty much ubchallenged.

That buggers up any decent team changes then because he'll still be on his stupid average when the 42 limit comes in.

By my calculations we are on 39.1 at the moment with Emil on 5.14. He'd presumably be a whipping boy if we made a change so we could get an 8 point rider in for him as things stand. What constitutes an 8 point rider these days? Would Kildemand, for example, fit in? Or would it be a second division 8 pointer?

It never used to happen. As a kid I remember being stuck in the traffic queue for the stadium, getting out of my parents car and running across the field to get in before the start. I have clear memories of getting in, running up the steps to bend 3 just as a heat was starting.

Swindon do this too, although I'm not sure how popular it is.

That's out of order. They should be told to do it on the centre green. Is Holder getting is average down or is it just Jason Doyle that people are going to accuse of that?

Still there at the moment. Not for long though as it due to be redeveloped for housing. A new stadium is supposed to be getting built adjacent to the existing one.

Didn't go in the end. Was going to go but my wife wasn't feeling well on Saturday morning so we decided not to. She was glad Swindon lost as it meant I wouldn't be annoyed we didn't go!

If Jason scored a maximum in every match he'd still be lowering his average.

We effectively have 3 reserves but that's the price you pay for having a rider on over 13 unfortunately.

You say about the tail, but if Jason scores a max tonight then Swindon win. A lot on Jason's shoulders this year.

It's really irritating, particularly as tomorrow's weather forecast is improving lately. If practice was called off then reassurances that the track is ok are imperative. Either that or cancel it in plenty of time!

I saw a couple of Autorace meetings a few years back, at Funabashi and Kawaguchi. Kawaguchi is an amazing place. One thing you really notice is the loudness of the bikes - the old, throaty roar that we used to get with speedway in the 70s. The races are handicapped, but the riders at the back work their way through pretty quickly so I think there is quite a gap in standard. Didn't Barry Briggs once have a go at Autorace? There's a chapter on the sport in his "Speedway with Briggo" book that I won at school for getting 10 commendations!

Are you connected to the club BTFC Lion?

108.1 miles from where I live according to Google. The thing is, this being the opening meeting of the season, a Saturday night and Swindon's opening fixture there seems to be an ideal opportunity to attract away fans here going to waste.

Yeah, because the track is apparently not suitable. I began to be concerned as soon as I saw comments saying that the track was expected to be fine. Up to that point I wasn't aware that it wasn't expected to be fine. So I decided to wait and see what happened in practice before making a decision. The weather forecast might put me off anyway I the end! I lost confidence in speedway meetings actually being on many years ago, so apologies for my apparent pessimism!

I'm not rubbishing the meeting. I'm a casual attendee these days and this one appealed as it is a Saturday. I have a hotel booked and everything and that! All I ask is confirmation that the track has been tested and is ok before making my 'nothing' 200 mile round trip. I don't think that's too much to ask in light of the problens at Belle Vue and Poole.

Any news on how the Leicester track is shaping up?

In my case, I am a Swindon supporter. It would involve a long drive and a stay in a hotel. All very pleasant but not worth risking if it is likely to be a bad track farce. Who are the guests booked?

I was planning on going, but after the problems with the track I am unlikely to now. Belle Vue last year. Poole already this year. It just makes it too much of a risk to travel that way for what could turn out to be a load of old rubbish. It will certainly take testing of the track before then if I am to go. Swindon are in with a chance too, with half the Leicester side missing. Well, it is the first meeting of the year so you can't expect teams to have all their riders, can you!!

That's me out for Saturday then! Saw that coming a mile off.

Surely if you post on an open forum you are talking to everybody on it.

Darcy was a wonderful team rider. The best we've had in recent times. It's true about Jason. Even if he is behind a second string rider on a 5-1 he will overtake. I hope he does team ride this year as he could make mincemeat of most of this league.

Just being paranoid because I'm thinking of going and I know how disastrous speedway can get. Poole tonight yet another example!

So will the match be on or will the track suddenly not be ready?