StevePark

I hope the Met Office forecast for tomorrow is totally wrong! Looks bleak from 6pm.

You can't really, seeing as 1997 was the year of six man teams! Some are saying it was 'cheaper back then.' I think you will find most things were 'cheaper back then.' How much was a gallon/litre of fuel, or a loaf of bread? The list is virtually endless. Is it less exciting than 'days of old,' or do we just imagine it is? Do we just remember the good bits and forget the bad bits from yesteryear? As far as the British Final is concerned, British speedway hasn't/isn't producing the plethora of decent riders like we use to. Chris Harris is the current 'second best' Brit in the Grand Prix and scored 5 points in it (I know he's failed to qualify for the GP's in 2017), Scott Nicholls did a little better, but finished last in the semi-final. Tai Woffinden (current World Champion and therefore 'top Brit') decided not to even ride in the event, which devalues the whole thing to start with.

We are struggling to get good British riders coming through as it is, without clogging up the NL with second-rate Danes (or any other Nation). Might be good for Karger (and any others), but not good for British speedway.

There was a footballer called John McPhail who played for Sunderland, yes, but there was also a Gems rider of the same name!

When you say Ash Holloway, do you mean Ashley Johnson? Also you mention Phil Babb. He went on to play for Liverpool! I think you mean Phil Bragg. We (as in Newcastle), did it correctly, bringing on the likes you mention, others were in it for one thing only , as you correctly say and were mostly 'stand alone' teams.

I didn't say he wouldn't jump at the chance of a PL place, I'm sure he would. If he did end up with a PL place then he wouldn't want the NL place. The point is he's not looking to "top up his earnings" as currently, as far as speedway is concerned, he hasn't got any earnings.

I'm very unlikely to give birth anywhere........

Born in Ashington according to BSPA A-Z of riders!

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's the top 3 riders averages added together.

So would Hall as he currently hasn't got a PL place.

Four if you include Lewis Rose (Lambert, Rose, Worrall and now Lindgren).

Edinburgh decided to go with Dan Bewley after seeing Mitchell Davey practice (I think that's right). In answer to your question, not very. I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole personally. Nice lad though.

I thought the PL team have precedence

Manu Hauzinger?

https://twitter.com/SpeedwayLions/status/742066455995424769 http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.30664

Robert Branford has a PL average, I think, so would not be eligible

He's a Diamonds asset so we get priority

Ludvig is replacing Davey Watt at Leicester (subject to BSPA approval)

Lewis Rose (on Twitter): Lewis Rose 8️⃣ 2️⃣ 2️⃣ ‏@Rose822 47s48 seconds ago Last 2 meetings embarrassing from me .!!

He came out after the match for a practice on his own, so perhaps he's not happy with the set-up and was trying other things?

Scunthorpe are due back on 26th June in the PL, so I would guess that will now become the KOC 2nd Leg instead, with the PL fixture rearranged for later in the season.

I'm sure someone will enlighten us further, but last night was filmed, but I don't know who is doing the recordings this season.

See above. R/R for Victor.

Thanks for the constructive and honest answer.

A question for you. What was the crowd like (up or down compared to previous Derbies at MPA)? I wasn't there, as I decided against watching a 'Diamonds Select' side and wondered how many others did the same.