Al Stewart

In the hotly-contested battle to find the stupidest rule in the book, the annual contortions of the heat 15 rule are very strong contenders. What is the point of the rule? Well it is to ensure that the teams give the public value for money with four in-form riders in the last race, and don't go for cheapness by putting in the two worst and least expensive. So instead of all this statistical waffle, the rule could be: "The referee must be satisfied that the team managers have nominated a strong pair for heat 15', or maybe "The referee may rule that teams must field a stronger pair than their initial nomination'. That's all that is needed.

That's very interesting, I'd love to get it. Any assistance in identifying the recorders gratefully received.

I don't suppose this match was filmed by anyone was it?

I suspect the Bandits think they can come and win this one, like the Bullets last week. We shall see. They certainly know the track. No surprises in the lineups. Big test for the new Monarchs. WTF MONARCHS: Sam Masters (capt.), Lasse Fredriksen, Paco Castagna, Kye Thomson, Josh Pickering, Jacob Hook, James Sarjeant. FTS BANDITS: Chris Harris (capt.), Ty Proctor, Theo Pijper, Leon Flint, Ricky Wells, Jye Etheridge, Kyle Bickley. As with all Armadale matches this season, Friday’s match will be Live Streamed. Details on www.edinburghmonarchs.co.uk

Delighted to hear it.

Is there anyone filming at Newcastle this season?

Unfortunately Graham missing tonight due to Covid, but Colin "Mr Junior Speedway" Mackie steps in.

Yes

I believe it’s available shortly after.

TEAMS FOR FRIDAY’S MATCH: Friday 8th April: Armadale Devils v Berwick Bullets (National Development League), Armadale, 7:30pm STELLAR DEVILS: Danny Phillips, Josh Embleton, Tom Woolley (capt.), George Rothery, William Lawson, Gregor Millar, Lewis Millar GRANT HENDERSON TANKERS BULLETS: Kyle Bickley (capt.), Kieran Douglas, Ben Rathbone, Greg Blair, Luke Crang, Mason Watson, Ace Pijper

Interesting NDL match in prospect on Friday. If you can't attend this one will be live streamed from Armadale. To access, hit the EMTV button on the Monarchs website, it's available now. You'll need to register for an account the first time you use it, thereafter just log in. It's £7.99. The Live Stream for the following week's Championship match Monarchs v Bandits can also be purchased now, £11.99

The coverage was OK I thought. Obviously a very one-sided meeting and yet all of the Brummies achieved something during the match.

It maybe just hasn't started yet?

Riders usually ride for expenses, and the beneficiary probably hopes some will re-donate these expenses. If big stars appear for riders they perhaps don't even know, that will probably be for an agreed fee. It's unlikely there will be much concession on rent because stadium owners will want their cash, though the rider might persuade the promoters to sponsor the rent. The ref may be kind enough to re-donate his/her fee.

Both capable of much better. After the league fixtures, Kemp finished the season 13, 2, 9+3, 8+1, 9, 7+2, 8+1. These didn't count for his CMA of course.

White boots - yes. Scottish Open - no. On his only Scottish Open appearance he scored 2, October 1963. Scores at Meadowbank were 6,7,12,9,13,2,10, between 1961 and 1964. He scored 9 in the PL Final of the World Championship in 1963, that was impressive in a very strong field. Of course he won the Provincial Riders Championship at Belle Vue in 1962, passing Wayne Briggs in the final. He scored 2 maximums at Exeter against Edinburgh.

I don't remember anyone saying that Kasprzak would not be able to ride the track. In fact it was a very wet track but he rocketed round in fast times, it would have to be mentioned in any list of best-ever Armadale performances.

This is a mistake, explained in the following post.

Before anyone starts jumping up and down, it says on the BSPA website today that Edinburgh have a doubt over Anders Rowe. This is a mistake, it was copied over in a team lineup we sent out which came from an old release of ours. Anders is riding. I've apologised to Anders and will also contact Andy Povey of the BSPA.

I just can't see Michael Palm Toft being the kind of rider who would pick and choose meetings without good reason. In my limited experience of him he seems a very genuine guy. It's easy to understand how he might try to ride last Thursday, struggle, then pull out of Friday. However if he rides on Monday I would have thought he has to ride the next day or forfeit the facility.

I understand we tried to arrange a second ambulance but there was not one available.

Completely right. At the other end of the thing, the RS system has forced some teams to use riders who either were not ready or who never will be, doing nothing for these guys or the teams they were in. Redcar fans should remember that another effect of the Rising Star system was that Edinburgh were forced to make changes they didn’t want to make which sent James Sarjeant to the Bears. I’ve got nothing good to say about the Rising Star system.

Not originally. When it was first run it was the only playoffs and it was the leading teams. EG in 2001 Edinburgh knocked league champions Newcastle out of the Playoffs and lost to Isle of Wight in the final.

I would never use such dramatic language as KJ but basically I agree with his sentiments - Playoffs stink. I yearn for the days when the league was the league - Poole winners - and the Playoffs were the Young Shield. It's not just an American obsession of course - English club Rugby is the same. Almost always in speedway it has been the league winners who have taken the title eventually, in the second tier anyway, though I regret I don't think that will be the case this year. Edinburgh have done their bit to keep things neat - three Playoff finals, won the two when we were top of the league, lost by 3 points in the year when we came 4th. I am sure we will comply again.

2015