GeneralMelchett

Well - right now its raining a fair bit where I am in Sheffield - so the big question is - is it raining in KL?

It'll be interesting to see if it rains tomorrow! Given how off the pace they generally were on Thursday its seems extremely convenient. Met office currently has no rain for tomorrow whilst another one suggests 'drizzle' - considering Sheffield ran with the threat of rain (with some in the afternoon and then later in the meeting) last Thursday this seems very pre-emptive!

Well Doyle may have only got 4 but Emil scored 14 for Torun! A likely home win but if the Witches restrict the Aces to 10 or less thats progress on last season! Gives them the BP if they do! the key question is can Emil finally win heat 1 in 2024 in the UK! Edit - he won heat 1 at Oxford the other day I forgot that one!

plus - it must be a bit demotivating to ride in an mostly empty stadium!

The crowd wasn't brilliant at Owlerton last night and that wasnt being streamed - but I accept what you are saying. For me however streaming is great to watch an away match or one i wouldn't not travel to - due to distance etc but no substitute for actually being there same with any live sport. On a brighter note as someone who really felt for him last year at times its good to see Joe Thompson getting the wins / points this season.

I remember the one lap dash events in the old second halves in the late 80s / early 90s - I enjoyed them but last night at Owlerton I saw two cracking passes on the last lap in 2 seperate heats so lets bin off that idea!

oh completely - football / sport is littered with great players who never made it as manager and mediocre players who made great managers etc

Seems Emil still can't get a win in heat 1 - don't think he has won a first heat all season! Apart from Jenkins everything seems to be pretty much ok - he will drop to reserve which will hopefully give him some confidence. I watch a rerun of the Peterborough v Sheffield match from last season and he looked really good. Don't recall him being that great there as a rider either!

He was pretty fast last night, in heat 13 he missed the gate completely and against Jack and Tai you can't do that and expect anything other than a 3rd! Reverse applied hin heat 15 he was out of the traps like a hare and off into the distance. he also missed the gate in heat 1 but worked hard to overhaul Howarth on the last lap.

Tarsenko failed to complete 4 laps under power in his three rides, in his first he seemed to stop on the final bend and that wasnt a pulling up at the back giving up lazy type - he coasted over the line, he pulled up in his second and then stopped abruptly in his third which caused Howarth who was behind him to crash into him - luckily both up quickly. Having seen him on the BSN riding at Peterboroiugh last year I really was looking forward to seeing him ride.

Routine win against a 2-3 man Stars team there were 2-3 really good races - mainly involving Brennan and Tobi - but also Josh Pickering when he spent the entire race chasing after Tobi and then passing him that was a highlight for sure. really good to see Dan Gilkes scoring well after his first ride and Chris Holder looked v quick tonight - I’d kind of forgotten how good he was in many ways with him being absent from the U.K. scene for so long. there will be tougher nights ahead for sure for the Tigers.

Of all the tracks in the top division Sheffield and Belle Vue would be the ones you expect them to do best on - maybe Tarasenko has some mitigation with his bike issues but both he and Wojdylo were nowhere near good enough and Palm Toft was also awful. Sheffield are strong at home but these three might as well have not turned up tonight!

Even you might have been a better option - having seen Tarasenko and Wojdyko at the EoES I expected more of them here tonight!

Well we are going to find out looks like the weather will hold!

It’s just so annoying like you say it was perfect weather until about 3pm - I am doubtful if this would get to heat 15 if it starts but let’s hope!

I am about 1.5 miles from the stadium i overlook Hillsborough / Owlerton from Crookes it’s dry now stopped raining - according to the forecast I am seeing no more for today after about 5pm but who knows! I am lucky however in that if it is off I only have a short journey to the stadium

Really nice feature / tributes to JL in the star today

Glorious and sunny so far let’s hope that stays!

Tough call but a slender home win here - given the number of ex Witches the Spires have they should be looking to go well here! I hope to be at Owlerton tomorrow rain permitting, but should be in town for the following week V Sheffield which will be odd!

odd in a way as at Foxhall last year he was really good - beat Doyle fair and square which doesnt happen often!

he has had 5 retirements in 18 heats as well - this the equipment right? I just checked the Brummies averages their top rider isn't even really theirs!! Scott Nicholls.

Am hoping to make this at the 4th attempt in 2024 for a Match at Owlerton. Will be good to se Tobi ride as well but I expect a comfortable home win!

This is undoubtedly true - on paper you felt a close matchup was likely but 2-3 of the Brummies side have certainly flattered to deceive as the saying goes. I fear for them when Ipswich and Belle Vue show up. With the greatest of respct to Joe Thompson (who i do have a lot of time for as a RS up and coming rider and enduring a tough time at Ipswich last year etc) there is no way I would be happy if he showed up and scores a 5-1 over the home heatleader in heat 4. I was actually thinking of watching the stream but due to the terrible weather where i am decided against it as I fet the match would propbably be off - it might well have been better if it had been! Lets hope for the Brummies sake there is a reaction in their next match!

Yet again another pre-emptive call off looks to be entirely correct - foul weather on the 'right' side of the Pennines which means its normally made its way over the snake! Fixtures already backing up tho!

Amazing three away wins today - well done Witches