BIRMINGHAM boss Chris Adams has revealed the club are in advanced talks with a third heat-leader. The Brummies have already announced five members of their side including proven Premiership points scorer Tobiasz Musielak, former Grand Prix star Matej Zagar and Keynan Rew who missed out on a medal in the curtailed Australian Championships by a single point earlier this week. Dane Jonas Jeppesen and Rising Star reserve Jason Edwards have also joined the Second City side leaving the Brummies with two spots to fill. Said Adams: “All over the seasonal period we have been working hard to try and sort out our final signings. “I can confirm that before Christmas we were speaking to three riders that I feel could fill that role as a No.3 and who I believe could also challenge for the No.1 spot. “But we are now in the final stages of negotiations with a third heat-leader and I’m hoping we can get pen to paper in the next week or so and an announcement by the end of January, if not sooner.  “I’ve said from the start that as a club we wanted to bring the best that we can to the track next season that is possible. “If you want to compete at this level, you need to be going further afield and this comes with more planning, more organising and more costs. “I think if we can put pen to paper with our final rider in the next week or so then we shall be in a position to finish off with our last signing; I’ve got a good idea on who I want that to be but I just need to wait to see what happens.” More from Adams an be read in the latest issue of ‘Speedway Star’ (Week Ending January 11), available to purchase online now via: speedwaystar.net/store/magazines

Now the Champ fixtures are out. How many Lge matches before young Cairns gets a GSA ?? I notice Poole ride 7 Lge matches before he rides his first match against Glasgow at home on 2nd July. Meaning in effect 9 Lge fixtures left prior to any play offs if they qualify. Can anyone confirm what the qualifying criteria is as get the feeling they have timed it so he keeps his 2 point GSA also for 2026. I know the play offs do not count for GSA's. Similar the BSN qualifiers that counted will also be completed before July.

Why is it a shambles  Poole were asked and declined   And I'm no Poole fan 

Or open up a whole new topic as to reasons why 

More than likely! Although Cradley Heath were also blocked from bringing in a lower average rider in 1979 (Teromaa for Bastable), because it still left them over the point limit, which was 50 by then. At some point after that, it was allowed to make a change as long as the rider coming in had a lower average, even if that change still left you above the limit (i.e. the rule that has stayed in place to this day). I've never completely understood how the 1977 points limit worked. I think it was based on start of season averages rather than how they developed across the season. By 1979, it was current averages and several teams ran squad systems at the start of the season to manipulate a way around the 50 point limit!    

Thanks for the update Lenny. With regard to track work, does that include any alterations (i.e. shape, alterations etc) or just pre-season preparation work?