Wee Eck

The press release advising of the re-signing of Tobias went out yesterday but was embargoed until 7pm tonight. I suspect either someone who saw it sent it on to Lewy or else Lewy received it directly. Either way, the protocol for press releases was breached and was allowed to fall into the irritating realm of “I know something you don’t know” I would expect that @Skidder was one of the recipients but, as an experience journalist, he had the class to observe the embargo

Did SKY and BT Sport not use the same production company for the broadcast? I seem to remember that Steve Saint was involved and a Northern Irish guy called Keith (?) did the graphics. Steve Saint now runs his own company called Saint Media

I think David would be surprised to hear that he’s in a wheelchair. Yes, he suffered long term and career ending injuries but he’s one of the most positive people around - and mobile. I spoke to him and his wife at the Pairs at Oxford and they were then going on to Cardiff for the GP. Speedway was a sport not a living for David and, despite what happened, he is really upbeat about his time racing and his life in general. He held down a job when riding and continues to work now. He has also been spannering for Edinburgh’s Lasse Fredricksen. As far as Armadale is concerned, he’s certainly not “left”

Some of this surprises me, some doesn’t. The absence of the Russians doesn’t. Rumours of a deal struck between them, PZM and FIM which allows them to ride in the Ekstraliga means they have agreed not to be in the GPs Two of the four - Doyle and Michelsen- are correct in my view for the reasons others have said. Likewise, Madsen’s exclusion due to his no show at the SON and his disagreement with the logistics company seems fair. The other 2? This should be the top 15 riders in the world and be unrelated to political considerations. Having two riders who failed in the GP series and failed in the GP challenge shoe horned in because of their nationality is just wrong. Whateve you think of Poland and Polish speedway, not including a third Pole could - and maybe should - come back and bite WBD/FIM on the arse. And justifying Kvech’s inclusion because he’s CZ champion but not even including the Polish champion as a substitute is just plain wrong. In my view.

I’ve just been called by a usually reliable source who has said Laguta and Sayfutdinov both said it would be unfair for them to be seeded back into the GPs so they are looking to get a slot in the GP Challenge qualifiers. Meanwhile, WBD contacted Hancock to see if he would consider a return as they need a USA representative. He declined but suggested another American. So the wildcards will be Blodorn (because they want a German) Tai because of the Monster connection, Berge because of the French Eurosport connection and Manzares. But, like LagutaRacingFan, I might have just been listening to the voices in my head.

As this thread is headed guest options, it seems entirely reasonable that’s what it should be. It’s a forum for discussion after all. So here’s another one - is Adam Ellis available? His average fits.

I can understand the hurt but I think the Scunthorpe supporters are being unfair. Oxford started strong this year with two big heat leaders and have been strengthened by the improvers in Boughen and Killeen. Scunthorpe have history of being a solid team at home but often poor away and this year has been little different - unbeaten at home in the league but 6 out of 8 losses away. Compare that to the performances of the two teams above them and you’ll see what I mean. it’s fair to say that MPT was a disappointment last night, but that was almost guaranteed. He has a tendency to start strongly, pick up an injury and fade. But 2 more points from him last night would have turned defeat into victory. Of more concern has to be Howarth whose average has dropped in a weaker league. Scunthorpe have made the top three this year, higher than previous power house teams like Glasgow, Redcar and Edinburgh so enjoy that. As to the final, if it is Oxford vs Poole then both tracks will be packed and the racing should be hard. Both tracks are “tricky” in different ways which makes predicting the out-turn impossible. Should be fun.

I expect Brady has various priorities including helping Rybnik to a league title and qualifying for the GPs. He’s bust a gut helping BV to the play offs and their expected failure in the semis against Sheffield is no reflection on him. I doubt there’s another BV rider who has done more for the Aces than he has this year but his discomfort was plain to see after last Monday’s home meeting.

They did just that when Joe Screen signed for Glasgow in June 2010 and he wasn’t permitted to ride in the Pairs the following month. My recollection, possibly flawed, was it was a stitch up to stop Glasgow winning the Pairs. Which they did the following year. With James Grieves. And, of course, Joe Screen

Would you not think it unfair that those that qualified from the group stages could count their play off matches in assessing the 75% mark, unless you see it as a reward? And why wouldn’t that also apply to league play offs? Knowing the way these things work, the play offs for the BSN and the league could be in September so some teams wouldn’t know until then how many meetings they’d be allowed for changes. It would have been easier, rather than going with a percentage if the rule was an absolute number. Like 15. Which is what I think it is.

Workington reached 15 meetings - league and BSN series - last Saturday so had until then to advise BSPL of the change. Once the meeting vs Poole was finishrd, Workington hit the “no team changes after 75% of their matches” threshold. On the second point, I’ve no idea. It keeps changing! It was 6 home and 6 away at one point but I’m sure that changed. Perhaps Crescent Girl knows?

It refers to the Championship League which is 16 meetings - 8 each home and away and BSN Series which was 2 home and 2 away so a total of 16. It doesn’t mention the play offs so the total for each team is 20, 75% of which is 15. There is a 3 day rule for team changes so BSPL needed to have been informed on Friday for the announcement to have been made today. As of Friday, Workington had raced 10 league and 4 BSN meetings so under 75%. The change was also advised to BSPL before Celina won heat 14 on Saturday.Was that coincidental or a deliberate FU moment?

I think it might be the right move to make to help Glasgow make the playoffs

I’d missed that about Manzares and could see the merit in replacing Celina with him rather than him replacing Tate, assuming he comes in on a 4. But Manzares has been unsuccessfully angling for a UK team place for a couple of years now, and you have to wonder why no one has taken him up

Anyone who saw Manzares at the SON knows that would be a poor move. The press release says the release of Celina is to allow for strengthening to help the Comets make the playoffs. I don’t see a Glasgow reject and a rider who hasn’t raced in UK for several years doing that. Comets were riding high due to a rejuvenated Cook and Tate hugely exceeding his average. They’re well over the building limit so need to be looking for like for like replacements - another 4 pointer and someone close to Tate’s 7.36