Halifaxtiger

Next Monday, please. From the grandstand roof.

No worries. I am coming down for next weeks meeting and as an experienced texter keen to add to my tally of doing so from 14 (yes 14) different tracks I'll speak to Sue about it. After all, I am bound to be unbiased, aren't I ?

You have to ask yourself then why the 'other members' - to me, that could quite easily be anyone of the other 6 - didn't get the push instead. There a few riders around who could have replaced one or more. The other thing is you can run with a 3 pointer but Knight wasn't that. He'd scored 16 points in 9 PL matches so that's more like a 1.5 pointer. If you think that some of his points would be without beating the opposition - as at Scunthorpe, where he got nearly a quarter of the 16 - it brings the grounds for dropping him even more sharply into focus. Until a fortnight ago when Koppe starting scoring, he'd have been my choice for being dropped (Spinny's too, and he watches every home match). Easy decision now, but it hasn't always been like that and if Knight had banged a few points in yes I think Albin or Koppe might have gone.

It did occur to me that he might make more money in the NL at £10 a point than in the PL at £40 (if that is what he was getting) so I don't think its a matter of finance. I don't think its a matter of attitude, either. Talking to one of his sponsors on Friday, he stopped riding for King's Lynn on the basis that if something happened mechanically on a Wednesday night his bikes might not be ready for Thursday, so he gave all his commitment to Sheffield. I agree with Pinny, though. The lad simply isn't good enough for PL racing at this stage of his career and even if the team had been able to carry him - which was highly debatable from the outset - there would have been pressure to replace him anyway. I do think the change was made because of his lack of scoring, though. Sheffield simply have to do something to turn their fortunes round and get a few people returning on Thursday nights and carrying on as they were wasn't really an option. With Koppe's upturn in form, there was only ever going to be one to go. I hope that he changes his mind and carries on in the NL because he has some ability. I recognise, though, that the financial cost of doing so can be far too much to bear.

I actually meant that strong wind and sun can play havoc with a track surface and if rain is predicted it can be left very slick to avoid a postponement..............but I know tracks that benefit significantly from a downpour immedaitely prior to the meeting, Buxton being one. I think its a myth that chucking tons of dirt down means good racing. What the actual answer is I am not so sure, as I am no expert either. It'll be interesting to see what its like next week.

Said all along Mick its not the shape, its the preparation. If it can be brilliant one week, it can be brilliant every week (weather conditions excepted).

It was pretty awful but Wells apparently refused to do heat 15.

I really don't think that a judgement can be made wholly based upon past experiences. I went to the NL fours at Stoke last season and the track was an absolute disgrace, the worst I have seen anywhere for several seasons. But Saturday was nothing like that. There was some good racing, which usually indicates that the riders are confident enough to attack the track and try and pass the opposition. It could be that it was recognised that the track the week before wasn't good enough and that measures were taken to improve it. Lets give a bit of credit to Stoke for that and trust that it continues. Loomer Road has a superb shape - in my opinion, one of if not the best in the country. Prepared properly, it would be one of the best racing tracks too.

I think that the very fact that Koppe passed Lemon speaks volumes. If he, a first season rider, can go round someone of Lemon's experience I'd say the others could have done the same. Heat 1 is never, at any track, known for passing moves, Hall was poor all evening, Haines is a gater and Gathercole was the best visitor I have seen this season (albeit in only three visits). What's more, he seemed to ride just where Stead wanted to. I think the track was a lot better than the racing might have suggested. Judging by the inept use of rider replacement and reserve changes on Thursday and the comments made here in this case it seems to me they can. I am anything but an expert but I said Koppe should be in heat 8 at the time. In my view, team management cost Sheffield the win. The crucial point will come when the averages change. We'll see. There's no question about the fact that Haines is better at 2 and that is evident from his performances. You were dead right, and have been all along. I thought putting Wells and Hall together was a strange decision and it looks to be a bad one. Your riding line up looks spot on to me.

Wouldn't argue with that. I saw a bit of it at Stoke last night and trust it isn't becoming a habit.

I am no expert but I didn't think there was anything wrong tonight. Indeed, I thought it was a good meeting with several entertaining races. Good to see Smarty scoring a few points, but the two I was impressed with were Ritchings and Payne. Ritchings certainly had no fears about the track and attacked it at every opportunity, whilst I haven't seen Payne before but he looked like a very useful reserve indeed.

Yes, it was. I think it was colder at Stoke tonight............

Believe me, noone studies forecasts like I do. The met office forecast (and the BBC get it from them)is updated hourly and changes ,- often dramatically -as frequently. What I am saying is that I don't blame the promotion for the slick track. That often happens if there is bad weather forecast. I rely on XC weather. They got it spot in three days before hand.

Personally I thought it was a nightmare of a meeting and would have left long before the end had I not been doing the texting. I should say, though, that it was more a combination of circumstances that caused that and I don't think any one is particularly to blame. The track was terrible - very slick indeed with a large ridge on the third turn. That meant that with rare exceptions the racing was poor. Then there were persistent delays which led to the first 6heats taking 45minutes. I chose to stand on the third bend and got cold and covered in dust, and then they had an interval (which I really don't like). The match was a one sided hammering and Adam had a poor meeting by his recent standards. Given the very poor quality of met office forecasts (they had thunder and lightning at 4pm and it was actually sunny) it's difficult to complain about the track. Where I stand is down to me and the delays were caused by the riders, so it would be very wrong to try and pin any frustration on the promotion.

By no stretch of the imagination was Koppe disappointing - indeed, he was completely different rider to the one I saw a few Weeks ago and there's every chance Sheffield have got an excellent signing there. It was a shame that he fell after brilliantly rounding Lemon, because that would have been the icing on the cake. It was stated in the programme a few Weeks ago that Compton would need substantial financial backing, so I doubt if he will sign.

I thought the tigers team manager cost them dearly - I'd have put koppe out in heat 8.As it was they were lucky to get a point with Bechs bike stopping on the last bend. It was good to see Koppe and Haines improving so much - the former, in particular, was a different rider to the one I saw at my last visit. Replace Knight with a 7pt man when the averages change and Sheffield will have a good side.

According to Met Office and the usually reasonably accurate XC weather, light showers in the afternoon. With a bit of luck, just enough to water the track for the evening. See you all there.

For all those who took Odsal Boy's weather forecast seriously the other week , I have an update on current conditions for you. Its sunny in Halifax. Very close tonight. Koppe and Haines perform, Sheffield win. Otherwise, Plymouth do.

Done at some risk to yourself, but much appreciated. I am in touch with some lads coming up from Plymouth and will let them know.

Its not like Dale to make comments like that. He's as passionate about his speedway as anyone I have met but in contrast with some of the others he's very fair too. Mildenhall weren't impressed either, apparently. I am due to go on Saturday (weather permitting) so I'll say my piece then.

Said it before and will say it again : it is the track that makes the quality of the meeting, not the standard of rider on it. I think its more about the effort that promotions put in. I'd say Somerset is a good racing track, but Berwick isn't. Because the Berwick promotion pulled out all the stops, we saw it at its very best and there's no reason why others can't do the same. Givemn the fact that everyone has said how good it was, does that matter ? I can't disagree but the best reward you can give a track for putting on a good show is to let them have another Sky meeting. Drop those who can't be bothered and give those who can more air time. Mildenhall v Isle of Wight next time, please.

Complete rubbish which I suspect will rightly be completely ignored. They won't like it. Nor will anyone else when the track closes at the end of the season. The promotion might be damaging the club by such actions but there's no need for the supporters to help them.

Not sure if his average would fit, but Charles Wright is banging in some big scores for Buxton, James Sarjeant was pretty impressive at Sheffield the other week for Leicester and Ben Hopwood is riding well for IOW. With respect to Steve Worrall, they can't do much worse than he is at the moment.

Newman was very unlucky. He was always in with a shout only to be let down by his machinery. I might be wrong, but I think he shed 3 chains.

They should listen to to your Dad a bit more. He's been saying move Haines to no 2 since December. I am not sure the other changes were a success, but that one most definitely was.