Aces51

Far be it for me to try to make excuses for the BSPA but now that the SCB seem to have realised that they need to be more active in overseeing them it could be that the teams have to be authorised by the SCB and that the delay lies with them. Assuming, of course, that the BSPA have given them the information.

I think Belle Vue had the right approach last year by effectively using the Colts to try to get people to attend and then hopefully, to want to see the Aces. Entrance fees for the Colts were £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and under 18's free. Most families could afford that, it gave those new to the sport an opportunity to see what it was all about and the risk to the promoters was minimised.

Nor do I. He used the lack of fixed nights as an excuse in the past indicating he would return it it changed. Now we have fixed nights he's changed his excuse to the standard not being high enough. That's what he said himself, not what CVS said at a fans forum in November.

I also think that Zach has great potential and could make significant strides this year. I hope he does.

We all know that riders will often say what they think fans want to hear. This was different, there is no reason why he couldn't have said that no club had offered him a team place, if that was the truth. It would have presented him in a more favourable light to the many fans who criticise him for not riding here. However, the purpose of my post was that I was interested in Stevebrum's opinion that it doesn't matter that he gave an entirely different reason on TV to that put forward by others on here.

I'm not sure what you are suggesting. Are you saying that he was not telling the truth when he was on the Claire Balding Show?

I think the best that Swindon fans can do is go and have a look at this car park where the stadium buildings are supposed to be. I really do hope that it is built but there is certainly sufficient reason to be sceptical.

Didn't he say on the Claire Balding show that he wasn't riding here because of the poor standard of the PL or have I imagined it?

Never, is perhaps going too far.

What has happened has happened and I'm not one for what if. I go along with Hyderd that the champions are the team with their name on the trophy. However, the discussion was about what might have happened if certain riders had not been injured and whether Belle Vue have choked. I don't see it as paranoia in those circumstances to point out that results could have been different if Newman and Lindgren had been excluded and if Woffinden had not been allowed to return on an average which didn't reflect his ability at the time. All valid points if you are of the opinion that those decisions were wrong.

I think we have three good heat leaders, some young talented riders and a blend of experience. It's not the powerful team we had last year but it's going to be good to watch them progress and if the results come, all the better.

Payne and Bowen now confirmed.

The great majority of riders racing in the UK are not earning big bucks in Poland and riding in the top league in Sweden. The UK is their only option to earn a living but Doyle is one of the few exceptions still prepared to commit to the UK when he can earn a very good living abroad, that's what you're missing. Most riders racing in the UK aren't in the GP's and most of those racing abroad who are in the GP's won't entertain racing in the UK but Doyle not only does but regards it as a priority, that's what you're missing. Doyle is the World Champion which makes him different to every other rider racing in the UK, that's what you're missing.

Just let me find my Cosmo Smallpiece glasses.

I agree. So long as the women involved are happy to do the work. Personally, I don't care whether we have them or not. They now only appear at the NSS for shared BSPA events and I can't say that I think the presentation or entertainment level has suffered but that is my opinion and I wouldn't dream of imposing my opinion on others who think otherwise. I have never come across a female supporter who has ever said they feel strongly and are offended by the start line girls nor have I come across anybody who has given it as a reason not to attend any of the sports where they or, their equivalent, appear. In the present climate too many seem to be afraid of offending the snowflakes who believe they know what is right and best for the rest of us.

Tungate also averaged over 6 and didn't ride in the CL last year so is in the same position as Nicholls and Kennett. Also, he rides in Poland so I doubt he would be interested even if he was eligible.

You are right. Harris was the number one at the start of the season but Schlein was by the end of the season

I think it was Simon Stead in 2007. Rory Schlein was our number one in 2011.

His Ekstraliga average was 5.5. He was 46th, just below Damian Drozdz.

Sundstrom had a relatively poor season in Poland last year so I'm not sure he will be better than Worrall. Steve is still improving and I agree with others that there won't be much between them. It is ridiculous that riders can be signed on averages 4 or 5 years old. As I have said before it would be easy to have an open, transparent and fair system by creating mathematical formula to convert all foreign league averages to UK averages, just as we do to convert PL to CL averages and vice versa.

Try updating your Freeview channel list. It should be in the set up menu for your TV if Freeview is installed on your TV. May be listed as Update DVB channel list.

Lindgren had an excellent UK season in 2017. We shall not be able to compare him with NKI in the UK this year, unless the situation changes and he signs for a PL team but I doubt there would be much between them. Not using Green Sheet Averages, because I can't find them split between home and away average but taking account of all league matches and not including bonus points, Doyle had the best away average last year and was therefore the best visitor. He was followed by Morris, Cook and then Lindgren, although not much difference between those three. Doyle also had the best home average and Lindgren was second. They were the only riders to average over 10.

I got a lot of pleasure watching the Colts last year. Yes, winning the league was great but I got by far the most pleasure from watching the progress made by Bewley, Smith and Bickley. That to me is what the NL is about. I don't expect or, think, that the team will achieve as much this year but that doesn't matter if two or three of the team are gaining from the experience and making significant steps forward in their racing careers.

Vaculik and Iversen in, so potentially not much in it if you want to use that as the criteria. A team building limit of 42.50 against the team average of 42 at the end of last season so, again, not much in it taking account of some assessed averages and some teams not building right up to the 42.50.

Pleased to see Iversen back, a rider I enjoy watching. Hopefully, he will be back at his best.