stevebrum

Only one team brought a rider in just for the play offs alone. That was play off Bob in 2022. Thankfully the rules have been changed back to stop teams doing this again, particularly as just the one team benefited from it. Poole brought in Hancock a month before the play offs also. Both above board.

Obviously when you have the best 2 riders in the league then they are virtually irreplaceable. That said any team losing their top 2 is massively up against it. Like Wolves were that year. Ipswich have gone from play off favourites to the team anyone wants to meet right now for a certain win.

Just caught up on this match and probably the worst in history. Racing was non existent, the odd pass but a near complete bore fest. The Witches are waving the white flag without their top 2. Guest won’t give the other riders the confidence boost they need. Both are irreplaceable. Such a shame however we all know it’s having riders fit and in form for the start of September that matter. Many teams before them have faced the same fate sadly.

Wolves lost both Freddie and Jacob as their top 2 so yes teams have been equally hit severely. I’m not sure what the answer is to it. Do we allow trophy chasing riders from abroad to join a play off team in only those situations which of course is open to abuse. Fricke wasn’t superb that year, was poor in the GPs and hadn’t scored 2 maximums all season long. It was highly unlikely he would have scored what Lambert did although not impossible of course. We know the rules were altered for one season and one team benefited from that rule change.

One of the world’s best riders at that.

A rule that rightly got taken out because of the lack of credibility and fairness to other teams. The rule thankfully has reverted back to pretty much how it’s been for a while now. Whether it is fair is a different argument. The ruling that no changes after 75% of matches completed and no changes for season ending injuries especially the play offs. whether it’s right or credible to allow teams to sign riders JUST for the play offs is open to debate as discussed. That all said the rule changes for 2022 allowed just 1 team to benefit greatly from it. I feel for Ipswich losing their top 2 and it’s up to them what they do moving forward. However the play offs are littered with teams hugely affected by injuries to key riders. Thems the breaks and that’s speedway. Ipswich aren’t the first team that might lose the title because of injuries and they won’t be the last. 2022 seemed an exception to the rule. And you have to wonder why it was allowed.

Unless you are allowed to sign the world number 5 after any cut off dates and during the play offs of course.🤫

Doing a job that doesn’t pay you mean? Feel free to offer your services at your local track. it’s quite possible track curators order there to be no raking. Just a thought.

Not forgotten all the seasons prior to that when he virtually topped the averages every season.

Or makes him as poor as Laguta? tbh any rider coming to the UK for the first time or mid way thru a season (even if they have been here before) is going to take time to adjust. Freddie is no different. Emil of course is an exemption to that rule plus Freddie was in the top 2 averages virtually every year he rode for wolves as number 1.

Ironically Laguta must have been the worst signing of 2023.

Started great racing wise for 2 heats and midday way thru got a bit lively but that was by no means a classic.

Personally I prefer BBW but that’s a completely different subject. 😉

He took the wee out of Wolves but we didn’t stand for no nonsense. Yet again the Poles showing complete contempt for British speedway, get rid.

By the track curators and management . im delighted if they are encouraging it tho these days as its the best way to get the deep stuff out the fence.

The problem is most track staff aren’t allowed to ‘rake’. i got told off for doing it at Birmingham. unlike the old days raking rarely happens.

Don’t think I’ve seen another rider sacked 5 times.

Leicester’s to lose on paper.

He makes KK look good in the UK. Best just ignore the troll.

Thought no team could sign anyone once they had ridden 75% of their matches?

Brums reserve pairing should be getting double figures every meeting between them. They cost Brum the win on Monday. If they perform well Brummies stand a chance.

Never been out the reserve berth in the top flight. Is dismal this season and should be scoring 4-6 points against fellow weaker RS every match. Milford is probably the weakest RS in the top flight. He would have stayed if Wolves wanted him tho. They choose to use Thorssell instead. Not many current top line riders have done more than 10 straight seasons in the UK which makes him one of the most loyal. Golden boy Emil had a few matches early on in his career and is now in only his 2nd full UK season. They have ALL started coming back because of the money I assume. It’s not like any of them will ride for peanuts. :-[

As expected another away mauling for the Aces. Good win for the Lions, they needed that.

A decent watch more for the scoreline than anything. Birmingham has never been a great track for racing. The Brummies did way better than expected but were badly let down at reserve. Sheffield with effectively two RS riders or 3 pointers score 12 points with only 1 last place whilst reserves with true averages can only manage 5 and one rider admitting he gave up when beaten up in one heat. Just dreadful. Cook must come in to replace Pawlicki who has yet again taking the mickey out of British speedway. Get rid now.

Probably the expected results. Aces aren’t much of an away team this season.