cyclone

When did Helfer join the unattached, available riders list

Given that Dyer's current GSA is lower than Bellego's, why do you believe that Bandits cannot use Dyer as a guest for Bellego, and r/r for Ashworth ?

Agree and I do not think there is a possibility of major changes, given that this is a football stadium where I believe Berwick Rangers FC are unlikely to sanction the changes necessary, such as widening the first and second bends.

It's not that many Monarchs fans will be going to Hampden, but that the M8 is likely to be congested in the early afternoon, and that is the problem. While there may be fewer Monarchs fans than previous go to Ashfield now, imo the home support has also declined and the percentage of visitors is probably still a significant chunk of the total gate. A delayed start of 5pm would avoid the hassle on the M8 and the Tigers bar takings could also increase if they opened up to show the live footy on the telly from 3pm for those who follow both sports

Notice this match is now scheduled for Sunday 26th May (assume 3pm start ?) This will be in direct opposition to the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden at 3pm and features Edinburgh club, Hibernian F.C. who are forecast to have at least 20,000 fans making the journey. Would expect the majority of Hibs supporters will be travelling from Edinburgh along the M8. This could lead to congestion and might deter some Monarchs fans from travelling to Ashfield. Tigers should consider either hosting Monarchs on an alternative Sunday, or delaying the start time to 5pm on 26th May.

Considering the extreme weather conditions in the late afternoon & early evening (a mixture of torrential rain & hailstones), Doc Bridgett & his track team deserve credit for providing a track which although heavy, did produce some exciting racing, which visiting guest, fashion designer guru, Jeff Banks, publicly expressed his amazement at for his first ever experience of live speedway . Twelve of the thirteen riders involved got stuck in and in the early stages a Bellego inspired Bandits looked like they could possibly pull off a shock result. However as the track improved, Monarchs took control with Cook and Pijper leading the onslaught. As already mentioned, Max Fricke's hard riding duel with Aspegren was the race of the night and indicated that the U-21 Oz Champ is now on an upward slope and will not be brushed aside by more experienced opponents.

Despite the scarcity of passing after heat 2, the closeness of the score made this a taut affair right up to the final heat. However in the final analysis, the advantage of starting off gates 2 & 4 all night, left Berwick with a near impossible task in heat 15 against the imperious Cook & Vissing pairing. Bandits should not be to downhearted and reflect that last week, 14 points were amassed by Alden, guesting for the absent Ashworth, compared to r/r producing only 5 last night. I feel sympathy for the Berwick Promotion who apparently are unable to make any radical alterations to the shape and dimensions of the track, due to the restrictions placed on them by their Football Club landlords.

Is there not a reg. that an assessed rider cannot be dropped, until he has achieved a GSA based on his on track results, unless he is injured or retires ?

So you know better than this :-http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/team/ Aye Right

Looked at a couple of weather forecasts and continuous heavy overnight rain expected, starting to clear around 11am -12 noon. Hopefully there's sufficient time to mop up before tapes up.

Take it you have not read John Anderson's column in the Berwick vs Edinburgh programme :- "Kozza returns after a year out and will also race for King's Lynn as will Seb Alden who has moved into the Elite League this year but remains a Bandit."

Was Robert Branford not available ?

Over the two legs, Leicester will be favourites to progress, given their impressive home form and not having a young untried newcomer such as Max Fricke in their ranks. Max will take time to bed in, but on the basis of his first two matches, his gating will have to improve rapidly and he will also need to build up his physique in order to mix it with his opponents, rather than be brushed aside. IMO Magnus Karlsson replacing Roynon strengthens the Lions over these particular fixtures. IIRC Lasse Bjerre has never had a great meeting at the Dale, but given his current scintillating form, together with Doolan's previous impressive performances here, a narrow home win is probably the best we can hope for. Then expect the Lions to finish the job at BP the next night

If as is quoted above that Somerset would be involved in Masters visa application for 2013, being his parent club, then I wonder how their visa application for Alex Davis was successful, but Masters was rejected

You have to make allowances for a grumpy old postman who was probably bitten on the bum by Fido, who was trying to make him smile on his round

Suggest you re-read the posting slowly and you will note it was framed as being a fact. If it was conjecture, the insertion of "might" or "I wonder if ", etc., are required.

Given that the 2013 PL fixtures have yet to be published, could you specify which matches Helfer would miss, or is this another case of unsubstantiated opinion trying to be passed off as fact ?

Rubbish - first of all it is Patriality not Paternity, and in Kurtz case this was being referred to in order to obtain a 3pt starting average to fit into the Somerset team for 2013. Fricke, Horwood, Koppe, and Douglas are coming in on 5.00, so Patriality does not apply.

Think you will find that non sporting employment in the UK will have absolutely no bearing on a non EU rider being permitted to ride in the PL. If was that easy I'm sure all potential overseas recruits would be found other jobs as well, be it as mechanics, brain surgeons (which are obviously in short supply in Yorkshire ) or window cleaners !

Given the purported contacts Biggart has with Danish Speedway (was it not him who arranged for Leon Madsen's potential signing for Glasgow several years ago ?), perhaps he is lining up the likes of Mikkel Michelsen as a sensational new signing for the Tigs.

If the above PL eligibility criteria is correct, has Glasgow's new signing, Harley Horwood, or Sheffield's Damien Koppe, ever achieved a top four placing in an Australian State Championship ?

Well above is an unequivocal reply from someone who should certainly know, having actually been present at the BSPA Conference. However it appears some "paranoids" on here would prefer to believe this unsubstantiated drivel instead and conclude it must be Edinburgh of course.

Afraid that's rhubarb if you think Theo was "stale" at Armadale His GSA increased from 5.98 with the Tigs in 2011, to 7.71 this season and banged in an impressive 15 point home max in the last home match. I am aware he was a favourite with the Tigeratti, but Monarchs would be nutz not to include him in 2013, let alone obligingly send him westwards along the M8.

AFIK Dyer is a Swindon asset from his first stint in the UK when he rode for Dudley.

Scunny could do worse than use Matthew Wethers as their guest at OTA, a track where he excels and has beaten the likes of Doyle & Zetterstrom in the past