Al Stewart

The best I've managed to get is at http://www.foes.info/Heat10.jpg All it shows is that it is close. The previous frame shows Max ahead, the next frame shows Mason ahead but it's hard to judge where the line is.

I wasn't all that well placed (I do have the video!) but I thought Campton got second. I also have two photos from Ron MacNeill of Max's fuel spraying out.

He did it because Max Fricke's fuel pipe broke. Last to second, OK, but he was gifted the win.

I don't know why you would be quite as pessimistic as that. It's possible you will be right, I hope you are but I think Workington are the strongest team in the PL.

We did a DVD of his top 12 heats of 2013 to go with the booklet we produced, and two of these were team rides with a much slower Derek Sneddon at Ipswich and Newcastle, both 5-1s. I think you'd agree it isn't feasible at the moment to team ride with Aaron until he gets a bit more experience.

Derek didn't come out on that engine due to a small problem in the pits which will be OK for Friday.

It shows up the danger of the new format. It should not be the case that the young reserves win or lose matches but it was all too obvious that they would, on a regular basis. Teams who have chosen badly will suffer, and see the efforts of their expensive and carefully-assembled top five being undone.

Joe Screen also did it. In the current case, it isn't Craig but a group of Belle Vue and Edinburgh fans, and also it is specifically for serious damage incurred riding in a charity meeting, when it wasn't his own fault! If ever a case was justified, it is this one.

But for some reason, being in the Olympics has ensured that any sport in which Britain has a medal chance will be given massive publicity. Sports like curling are no doubt great fun for the participants, and tend to attract viewers who are not really sports fans on a regular basis. Olympic sports also get the government subsidies - I think I heard £5m or was it £14m for curling? Speedway of course gets £0m. If speedway was in the Olympics it would make a huge difference. It's not an olympic-type sport, and in any case these things are planned donkey's years in advance. However unsuitable, we should still be pushing for speedway's inclusion, anything is possible nowadays.

Not all the time. Frustrating, yes. Top of our averages in 1988. Unforgettable 18 point max for us at Rye House one time. Capable of exceptional brilliance.

Trying to think which riders I have seen on QOS, I'm sure there have been a few. Certainly Kenny Carter and Hans Nielsen. Hans got the winning answer on his appearance (and it was a football question!) I try to avoid the programme now, it's like a scripted comedy show.

Is it not the case that Poles can ride in the PL as long as they ride on a UK licence? This is for the eminently sensible reason that in the past too many of them have missed meetings when ordered (or choosing to go) back home. I'm all in favour of UK speedway doing what is in its own best interests and paying as little attention as it can get away with to EU law.

You should take a look at his Danish [performances.

I think they will have. His average should have been reassessed, but the BSPA were asleep. This is what the rule says: AMENDED MA’s may be either Established or Assessed MA’s that have been amended with the Approval of the BSPA GC or MC for: a) Riders who have been absent frRiders who have been absent from British League racing for more than 3 seasons (NB. The MA may be increased or decreased). Steen Jensen's record in the Danish League last year suggests he should be considerably increased. He hasn't ridden here for donkey's years and is now a completely different rider. He should be a 9-pt rider next season. Well done to Berwick for getting away with it.

How can you blame the BSPA for Nick Morris not being told he's dropped?

I don't think that's a reasonable statement. I've certainly heard quite a few fans say they will cancel if Sky doesn't have speedway, which is much the same thing in reverse. They are all idiots?

What has happened to this? The link I usually use says the domain name has expired and gives me links to all sorts of adult sites. (Maybe it will get more hits now).

2011 18 matches at home average 9.63 17 matches away average 8.59

To be honest I think most teams would welcome Gathercole. The thing about speedway is that every rider has a part to play and you don't need to be a star. The important thing is that you are not asked to play a part above your capabilities. If he was signed as a no. 1 he would probably fall short, if he was a no. 3, 4 or 5 he would be excellent. He's also entertaining. The only downside is he tends to get injured through trying too hard. I can't understand anyone rubbishing him in the way we've seen.

An away 5-ride maximum from a position in the team? Really?

You could never really say that, however he did get a 15-point maximum at King's Lynn (riding at no. 4), 15 at Scunthorpe, 15+3 at Rye House, so if you could get him back to that form you would be delighted.

One or two other falls, yes, but we never thought of him as a regular faller. He didn't ride the track very well admittedly but in full flight on the bigger tracks he was a great sight. Well worth a go on his average. As for whether he will be at Armadale, you'll have to wait for the rest of the team announcements, sorry.

I don't understand why anyone would be anything but delighted with that Ipswich team. They were a close second last year and have replaced Barker and Lanham with Worrall and Manzares. Pretty good, definitely challengers.

Because Kalle rode last season his average must be recalculated over 24 matches. I think that will make him about 4.9.

Claus didn't have many falls last season. Came off twice at Scunthorpe, had two big tangles at Armadale which weren't his fault but only missed two matches in total.