salty

As far as I'm aware Matt can't stop any asset (who he's not including in the 1-7) riding elsewhere. Can make it hard by asking daft loan fees or "insisting" on a full transfer, but essentially it would be seen as a restraint of trade?

Classic stuff from Brain dead Bob. Though it is surprising given that Matt has been chasing Vaculik since he was an embryo and the Slovakian himself has often said that he dreamt of riding for Poole whilst in the cradle.

August 19th edition of the Star "it seems inconceivable they (Hancock and Holder) wouldn't be selected, especially with both key players for main SGP sponsor Monster Energy"Certainly at least one other piece in the mag where it mentions the sponsorship as a likely factor in the nomination choices.

Second. He got one the year following his bad injury, which was fair enough. I would have been annoyed if he'd got a pick instead of Vaculik, but can't really get too mad about his selection. Having said that, I hate the thought of Monster's sponsorship playing a part.

Not keen on the choice of Holder - would have preferred Iversen - but at least the Monster sponsored rider didn't get in at the expense of Vaculik, as that would have been truly unfair.

Big Rune fan and its been great to see him still banging in the performances. However, a few years ago when he was one of the top 8 on a regular basis, he knew if he ever slipped out of the top 8 he was unlikely to get a pick as his dual national status counted against him. Was probably the reason why his late season performances were always so strong as he knew he needed to qualify by right, whereas other riders knew their nationality would help them get selected. A situation mirrored somewhat this year with the respective showings towards the end of the series of Zagar and Holder.

If true, a monstrous decision.

They might like a second Swede (or Dane) but nobody has made anything like a convincing case to be chosen imo. I will be very disappointed if Vaculik gets overlooked in favour of Holder, but I would expect a 4 of Greg, NKI, Vaculik and Holder.

Congrats to Doyle. Well deserved. Holder Snr riding like he either knows the game is up or he's been tipped he's got a nomination in the bag.

Afaik, selection of meeting reserves was strictly on performance in the Aussie Champs, Kurtz was way ahead of Holder and as you say was known to be riding over a week ago. Can't see how Holder can be banned because a sick note trumps everything, but you would like to think promoters would steer clear for next year. However, with his brother on a "bargain" average I wouldn't be surprised to see the pair of them as Pirates for next year.

Cynics would say the reason he was left alone was because a) he was given permission by Peterborough making things a wee bit murky legally and any action in the form of a ban would have affected Poole.

Wasn't the worst meeting, despite the conditions causing the track to be very slick. Always enjoy seeing Palm Toft ride and it was also good to see Georgie Wood do well. How anyone could choose to watch West Brom play anti-football over Speedway is beyond me. As for the whole promotion/relegation farce - can it not just be binned for once and for all, certainly whilst doubling up exists. Pretty sure when the concept was introduced the time before, Terry Russell said the sport needed p/r to give it "credibility". How ironic.

No problem with the BSPA finally dealing with this issue, as long as they do it across the board and consistently. As far as I'm aware the Management Committee have invoked this rule which opens the thorny problem of vested interests.....

As a Cradley fan of a certain vintage there is no doubt who my favourite Swede was. Our Bernie. His arrival at Dudley Wood coincided with my first full season following the Heathens and to my 7 year old eyes Bernie could do no wrong. His first 5 years cemented his position as my hero as he carried the Heathens flag against the other top riders of that era, for a team who were generally near the bottom of the table. Who can forget Wembley 1972 where he so nearly won the ultimate prize. Ok so he was lucky that Olsen fell when they met and we'll gloss over the coming together with Briggo, but he had two bites of the cherry against Ivan to win the thing. Ultimately, the Kiwi maestro outwitted him twice at he gates but I'll never forget the roar as Bernie nearly pulled level coming off the second bend on the last lap. Even so we basked in the glory of his silver medal and the fact he finished ahead of the dreaded Olsen from down the road. Bernie's Heathens career may have finished with a growing plethora of missed meetings but for those of us who saw him in the early '70's he always makes any all time Heathens 1-7's regardless of the World Champions who followed. Of the other Swedes in that era who rode elsewhere the one who made the most lasting impression was Christer Lofqvist. I can't have seen him ride too often but he was so exciting to watch. Of the later crowd I thought Jan Andersson was a class act. He always appeared so introverted which was kind of refreshing compared to the self confidence of the Carter's, Penhall's and their ilk. Not to mention his loyalty to Reading and the veritable points machine that he became. Lesser known Swedes: Lars Hultberg - Bernie's protege in 1973 who looked like he was going to settle and score good points when injury finished his season and ultimately his British career. Anders Eriksson at Wimbledon looked like he could develop to something good but failed to build on his initial promise and fell foul of the points requirement to get work permit. Eastbourne's trio of Swedes in 1982 - Hammarberg, Ring and Johansson none of whom could score the points to back up the strong top half of their team.

I'm going for less than "just what the doctor ordered". He must have used that one in practically every heat on Saturday nght.

Unfortunate for Wolves with the injuries to Freddie and Jacob and hard to take that they so nearly covered for their absence. But I'm glad that the team that topped the table won the league.

But there's already fresh (ish) blood in for 2018 with Pawlicki, Laguta and Cook. A lot depends on what happens in the next 2 rounds but if Vaculik were to increase the distance between himself and Holder whilst remaining in 9th it would be a tough call to favour the Aussie over him. I fear Norbold is right, but the Monster sponsorship should not be a consideration. As it stands I would go Vaculik, NKI, Hancock and Holder with hopefully no push for a second Dane or Swede to muddy the waters.

Would have been funny if Poole had got two 5-1's in the last two and then hear Pearson mystified about the lack of golden heats!

Er no. Watch again he was rolling. 4 out of 4.Pearson not knowing the score - awfully unprofessional.

No he wasn't, he only rode for one full season. In that season his average dropped by at least a couple of points.

Medical certificate produced. Case dismissed.

Some exciting stuff up until halfway, but the second half of the meeting less so. Have to say it was exciting not because the track is good, but quite the opposite. With the racing line so wide you worry that one day somebody is going to have a really bad smash.

Couldn't give a fiddlers who won this until I came on here and saw Gater chappy having a strop about Newman guesting. Loving watching Kyle shove it up 'em. Holder coming across badly. Gesturing at the cameraman after his fall and then looking like a grumpy monkey after his win.

Could Kyle have replaced Starke? If so I'm surprised Ford didn't go for it, particularly considering how well Kyle has done in the play-off's over the past few years. The thing is, despite the end of July cut-off to stop teams being strengthened one thing you can't stop is the old injury/illness scam.

Some great names on that page... Robert Millar (as was) fantastic cycllst at 12.30. Keith Huewen in his racing days at 3.15 Alex Arguello, Aaron Pryor (fight 2) and Hit-Man Hearns at 4.00. Not to mention the St Leger at 3.05 (Sun Princess won for Willie Carson if I recall) John Noakes presenting Good Morning Britain at 6.25 - can't recall him doing that - but it was hardly a programme I watched.