Chewbacca

If I remember correctly the same happened to Tungate last season. His first visit to Brough was superb, I think he got 12, but when he came back at the end of the season he looked a shadow of that rider. A Witches win by 8 would set it up nicely as I reckon that's about the most Newcastle would win the home leg by.

US sport is so cheap compared to Europe. I went to see the San Francisco Giants versus the San Diego Padres in a Major League baseball game last summer. A local derby and two top teams (SF won the "World" Series that year). It cost us £8 each to sit in the bleachers. A couple of years before, I went to the NHRA drag racing in Las Vegas. Pinnacle of the sport and it was £18, in addition to which, the lady on the turnstile asked if we had the money off ticket from the local newspaper. We didn't but she instantly pulled one from the pile next to her gave it to me then took it straight back off me - £16. Surprise, surprise, both events had huge attendances.

I would suggest that if the Newcastle - Somerset match doesn't take place then Newcastle should be crowned Champions.

Says someone who's team have been rubbish all season, finished in mid table, but can still be champions

Try winning the league but having it count for nothing if you really want to get annoyed

Mikkel Bech does indeed look a real prospect. A pretty impressive showing on his first ever visit to Brough Park. He didn't get close to Richie Worrall but he certainly had speed and was not afraid of the outside line required on the second bend. Poor meeting otherwise. Well done Diamonds. 3rd place in the qualifiers is a great effort considering the three long term injuries suffered this year. Hopefully we can now 'win' the 'league'.

To be fair, he was struggling to ride slow enough to 'keep up' with Deek.

Not sure this is the foregone conclusion everyone thinks it is. That Plymouth team has an easy 40 points in it. A lot will depend on Lemon and Palm Toft who could be matchwinners if on top Brough Park form.

Whatever set up Cook has found for Brough (and I cast no aspersions regarding engine size, it could be wheelbase or gearing or jetting related) he is sensationally quick coming out of the bends. The drive he gets is incredible and he just walks away from the Diamonds time and again. The Diamonds were fortunate that 1. Summer went completely to bits in the second half of the match 2. Lewis Kerr obviously needed the points riding his second bike to pay for the damage to his first. Lindgren and Tully did their jobs well, although Ludvig has a habit of starting slowly and coming good at the end of matches. Richie had another poor one by his standards. That's two on the trot. Maybe he is getting tired riding every night of the week!

Not Edinburgh. They'll be in Workington.

Ippo wouldn't but Somerset might. Thrashed us on aggregate in the league.

Cookie is pretty darned good around Brough but Richie is capable of beating him. Fricke being fit is also a bonus as he has impressed mightily on his two appearances at Newcastle. Going for a narrow Newcastle win. 47-43

Can't argue with that team but we might be adding Anton Rosen by the end of the season.

The league matches are valid because I LIKE watching speedway. Winning is great but secondary.

A 'level break' should not mean all 4 leaving the line together. The riders are given the same opportunity and as long as all four are stood still behind the tapes then why should one rider who drops the clutch first, or finds more grip, to get ahead be pulled back? I'd be well fed up this morning if I was Andrew Tully. I have no idea how much he is paid but it was 3 points off his total. I'm not annoyed for the team as we can always just put Lewis in to the heat and he'll win it anyway, but for the individual riders. This is what was happening to Robbo earlier in the season when he was accused of getting 'flyers'. He just had a run of finding his perfect technique for about a fortnight. Trapping is part of the sport (ask Ivan Mauger) and I don't think people who are good at it should be penalised.

Good job Ricky Wells was there. So pleased with the progress Lewis Kerr has made this season. I only hope we get the benefit of seeing him become a heat leader next season. Anton Rosen is one already. What an excellent find (again) by the Diamonds promoters. . The only annoyance is the fact that good starts are no longer rewarded. Anyone making a perfect gate seems to get pulled back by referees who seem unable to believe that sometimes a rider just gets it absolutely spot on. It must really upset riders who spend hours practising starts and large sums of money on clutches to get that advantage to have it negated by referee's who have decided that only a level break is 'fair'.

Certainly won't be another 60 pointer. Something like 49-41 I would say. Agreed that Welks for Karllson is an upgrade at Brough

Anton Rosen is another 7 point assessed rider seeing PL tracks for the first time. He has won at least one race in every meeting and his lowest score was on a sick bike (which he still nursed to a win). Some teams can spot these guys and others can't.

Doyle's to lose Worrall and Cook to battle for second

Better Wouldn't let Simon Lambert near a Diamonds team though.

I expect he'd go to Belle Vue. Far less travelling and he could still pick up a ride in Poland. Much as I love having him as a Diamond, if he wants to be the next British GP star then he has to try a race in Poland and get the big sponsorship bucks. As has been said, I'm happy to leave it George English's hands. We seem to pull at least one rabbit out of the hat per season, two this year with Kerr and Rosen.

Richie and Lewis I would agree with, the other five, definitely not.

Not a great meeting, especially after Kozza crashed out, but it was still interesting to watch Anton Rosen finding his way around Brough. Definitely a keeper for next season. I think the bends are a little bit too left for David Bellego but I was surprised to see Aspegren struggling so badly on a track he has ridden well in the past. I don't think Newcastle are anywhere near favourites and over two legs I would expect defeat by Edinburgh, Ipswich and Somerset, albeit by narrow margins.

42.5 is about the average age of that team

I can't believe all of these 2014 threads. We don't even know the league format for next season yet. If it's stays as is, Richie should be off looking for a Polish club If it is one big league, maybe he would stay too many unknowns to even kick off thiis discussion for me