bigcatdiary

EL could have easily implemented British only riders at reserve and kept the original heat formula and then we wouldn't have had any of this average crap we have now. The drafts were brought in to cut the wage bill the fact that it was explained to bring on British riders was secondary, the main aim was to cut costs.

I listened with interest to Hans Andersen discussing this very point with referee Jim Lawrence at Ostergaards Testimonial and pointing out when it's windy tapes will be touching front wheels.

Glad to see I am not the only one who thinks this.

I agree the bloke got the rider of the year award last year and fully deserved it, he hasn't let us down yet.

I think Wednesday/Thursday or Thursday/Friday are the obvious/commonsense choices so the best riders can fly in for 2 matches and then fly out again. we then just need to see the PL adopt any nights other than the ones chosen for the EL and I will be impressed, a way forward, leagues accommodating each other for the benefit of the sport in the UK, and a new rule book perhaps. I would like to think it can happen but I am not holding my breath.

I am sure I have read that it's 4.00

Or it's Ford spin for I am not paying that for him

Referees mark riders who fail to complete the 4 laps as R unless they fall or are excluded etc, riders only get a 0 if they complete 4 laps and finish unplaced.

I seriously doubt it will be anything different this year, Poole look easily the best team and with Ford on board they have every angle covered. Leicester look dreadful with the rest all chasing the runners up spot.

Thank the lord for that, the rulebook has wanted ripping up and rewriting for a decade or more.

Track wise it isn't the best by any means but the stadium and viewing are very good. Will certainly be a blow to the sport to lose Coventry.

Shown as 3.00 in the Edinburgh final GSA for 2013, it doesn't show how many matches he rode.

No the sensible ones ignore him completely.

Premier Inns at Orton Meadows, Hampton and Norman Cross are all within a few miles of the track, their are plenty of other reasonably priced hotels in the Peterborough area as well.

I would have thought it was obvious why Panthers are seeded to the final.

The management have picked the team and clearly rate both Jakobsen and Porsing who are expected to make a mockery of their starting averages, they are also both young and on the up in their careers as opposed to on a downward trend. Grondal is another who should improve especially starting at reserve and both Ostergaard and ROTY Lambert had excellent seasons despite suffering from injuries, Palm Toft needs to find consistency but mounted on decent machinery could be another HL and Perry is as good a number 7 as any others in the league and probably better than most. It looks an exciting team and they could surprise a lot of people, no double uppers as well which is a major step forward, it might look points shy of the limit on paper but leagues are not won on paper.

Interesting to read see of the issues regarding late arrival because a few years a lot of mine used to come Friday, Saturday and very occasionally Monday and after speaking to my local postman it was clear it wasn't his fault or the stars. The postman told me some magazines are held over by the local distribution areas and after a firm email to the local SO manager it funnily enough doesn't happen anymore except for the odd bank holiday. I think the star is a quality read and like others I especially enjoy the special articles and track reviews over the winter, the new super 7 being a good example.

Many thanks for your replies which are appeciated we'll certainly by me. One quick question, bearing in mind the whole topic came about because of a flawed race format wouldn't it have been common sense to scrap it and go back to a race format that provided accurate averages which were fair to all concerned.

Certainly my interpretation.

A quick look at the current rulebook shows all changes from the previous year in bold print.

The problem is the SCB are not in control of the relevant sections of the rule book that cause all the problems, the BSPA control the sections applicable to the EL and PL a point the SCB manager Graham Reeve has pointed out to me several times. In addition two members of the SCB management are BSPA promoters (Alex Harkess & Gordon Pairman) so are hardly Impartial.

And that's the basic problem It needs ripping up and starting again.

I have been saying this for years and it hasn't happened yet, a new rulebook written by people other than the BSPA would be helpful as well.

Phil I did try and PM you but for some reason I am unable. Did the BSPA or office complain or has SCB been suspended just for flouting BSF warnings.

I am sure you will correct me if I am wrong but I thought it was Stuart Douglas who keeps the sport going at Lakeside, has Cook bought him out.