G the Bee

Trump?

Interesting. Kenni Larsen is on 7.26. But I suspect he's on that elusive heat leader list.

I'm not to worried about the KK of 2013 (even if he was distinctly underwhelming that season) because the KK of 2013 should still score well in this weakened EL (we seem to use this phrase to compare against previous seasons far too often). I'm more worried about the KK of 2015. The fact is, if KK rides anything like he is capable of, he is more than capable of being amongst the top 3 or 4 riders in the league. For me, Doyle is the best heatleader, followed by Holder. If Zagar returns to BV, then he will be up there too. KK? Who knows? He's an enigma. But what other options were there? To be honest, I think with the lack of top level riders about, and Bees losing Hans Andersen (surely KK can't be as disappointing as Andersen was last year) we've done well. I suspect there will be teams out there that would do anything for a top 3 of KK, Harris and King. I would have liked to have seen Larsen back but, if he's on form, KK is a better rider than Larsen. It's that big 'if' again. How many points do we have left?

From the Bees website COVENTRY have moved to bring former World No.2 Krzysztof Kasprzak back to Brandon for the 2016 season. The Polish star will be going into his third spell with the Buildbase Bees, having played a vital role in the dramatic title triumph of 2010. His second spell in 2013, the last time he rode in the UK, was less memorable in a struggling Coventry team although he still returns with a 7.97 average and the following year he was runner-up to Greg Hancock in the World Championship. He comes back to British racing to form a strong top spearhead at Brandon along with skipper Chris Harris, and it leaves Bees with one name to confirm to complete the team. Promoter Mick Horton said: "Almost every other club in the league has been after Krzysztof, but he wanted to come here and we've worked very hard to make it happen. "When you look around the league, and especially with some of the riders who aren't coming back next season, this gives us a very strong top order, which is what I always said I wanted in the team. "Krzysztof will probably start the season with the second-highest average of anyone in the league, and he was absolutely the best option for us. He is a World-class rider and it's only a year ago that he was second in the GP series. "He is very keen to have a positive season with us and make up for 2013. He has a point to prove and we're now in a position where I wouldn't swap our heat-leader trio for any other in the league." The remaining team place is close to being finalised, and an announcement on that is expected in the near future. Awaits the opening of the can of worms...

It's not looking good, but early days yet. However, I think there are going to be some pretty dire teams out there next season. Let's hope we're not one of them. A team of Harris, Garrity, Kylmakorpi, King, Barker, Sargeant and Bates doesn't bear thinking about. Harris aside, a team full of inconsistent riders, many of whom are poor away from home. We all know the above team will be cannon fodder, so common sense dictates that this can't possibly be the team for next year.

This sport is an absolute joke. I'll be there, like the fool I am, next March but, as I've said before, once Coventry closes, that's it. This fast-track draft was supposed to be a long-term plan to help develop the next level of British riders. As usual (and they can dress it up how they like) it's essentially been abandoned after 2 years. So much for long term planning. Now these riders have averages, and after 'x' amount of meetings will be subject to movement into the top 5 if their averages deem it necessary, they are nothing more than old-fashioned EL reserves. And to hear that riders such as Howarth are now allowed to be included as a 'draft' rider just confirms to me that the principles of the system (to improve young up-and-coming riders and give them opportunities to ride in the top league) have been totally abandoned. Howarth has been around for years! Then, of course, we get the average manipulations. EL riders, with EL averages going back for more than one season, now allowed to use converted PL averages? Please tell me that whoever has posted this has been misinformed. Kyle Howarth, who has spent the last 2 years gaining an average of over 5 as a second sting is now allowed to sign as a reserve on a converted PL average which will, of course, be less than his current, genuine, realistic, EL average. You couldn't make it up! And within 'x' meetings, Howarth and others will move into the main body of the team and the reserve berths will be no longer protected for up and coming British riders. Well done BSPA on another 'Grand Plan' superbly executed. The fact is, what Coventry have done (whether intentionally or not) is exactly how the draft should have worked. We've promoted our tier 1 rider into the main body of the team, moved our Tier 2 rider up, and brought in a new Tier 2 rider. Not rocket science, is it?

Because the sport is an absolute joke and run appallingly. I refer the gentleman to my answer above!

You know, if that's an exclusion, we might as well go home now. HE WAS IN FRONT FOR HEAVENS SAKE!

You are no way a lone voice. If the situation had been reversed earlier this year and Pedersen had clothes-lined Greg, I suspect the repercussions would have been far greater and the punishment dished out much harsher. You would have seen riders pressurising the authorities for a lengthy ban... refusing to ride against him. All sorts.

Exactly. There's an 'In Crowd' now.

My thoughts exactly. Ever since his confrontation with Saint Greg earlier this year it's seemed to me he's been up against it from everyone.

If I type Aussies into my phone, it auto corrects to Sissies. Go figure.

What's Doyle doing, whinging at Pedersen?

Unless I missed a round, which is entirely possible, I thought, bar the odd decent race, he was pretty poor in the Euros.

It's not ideal having Bomber go out in Heat 1 and I do think team managers should be allowed to chose whether their number 1 rides at 1, 3 or 5 like they used to be able to. But, realistically, not many available riders have a higher average. If the rules stay the same, we'll have to go with it I suppose. If it's a choice between that and letting Bomber go, then it's no contest. Bees without Bomber for their last season at Brandon is unthinkable. People knock him but he's been the finest servant to our club of the modern era. I forgot about Peterborough. I'd still sign him on that though. Go with Harris, Larsen and Garrity and build from there. Harris - 7.34 Larsen - 7.26 King - 6.48 Garrity - 5 (ish) = 26.08 14.42 points for last 3 riders. Still think Garrity is good value on a 5. If we can get Sarj on a 3, that means we have about 11 and a bit points for the final 2 riders. Bjerre would be great on 5.87. Leaves 5 and a half for the last rider. Go for Peter Karlsson!

All I can say is that I would have been disappointed if Hans Andersen had been in the team next year 'false' average or not. He really was dire this year and his poor form really messed up the balance of our team. The fact is, there are few false averages. Hans is a 6-7 point rider now. At least at Coventry he is. He's been on the slide since he first left Coventry at the end of 2008 when he was a genuine world-class heatleader. A move to another club might rejuvenate him (I suspect it won't) but if all Coventry were going to get was more of the same then, to be honest, it's a case of 'Close the door on your way out, Hans'. The only 2 of last year's team I would definitely want back are Harris and Garrity. Otherwise, we need to shake the whole team up. I'd like to see Doyle if he wants away from Leicester. Suspect he's earmarked for elsewhere though. I'd certainly be happy to see Larsen back. He's on 6.57 I believe, which is only 0.12 higher than Andersen and certainly at Brandon I think would be worth more to the team in terms of points that Hans was this year. To be honest, assuming we retain Bomber and Jason, he'd be the first name on my shopping list.

No one is disputing that, Steve. But it doesn't make it right.

Pirates lift the trophy and how many of us give a subconscious groan.

Lost on a pair of goggles.

Nicholls should have laid it down and got a re-run. Easier said than done though. Split second decision. Absolutely gutted that Poole won. Well done Belle Vue for giving them a run for their money. Unfortunately too many of their riders came up short on Monday, where the tie was really lost.

And Zagar shows how to ride a grippy track. Attack it.

They can't ride their own track. Wobbling around like juniors. It's game over already I fear. Why is the track not set up perfectly for the Aces? Has weather in Manchester been poor over the weekend?

We punched above our weight all season, mainly due to Garrity at reserve. We didn't strengthen when we should have. We had no real number one all year and, like last year, were always going to be found out at the business end of the season. The problem is, where do we go from here?

You're not. I feel exactly the same way. I only go now out of misguided loyalty. The Bees are my team and I support them. But when they close, I'll walk away from British Speedway with a sense of relief. I'll pick and choose a few meetings, go to the odd GP overseas and, perhaps, take in a meeting or two in Poland building it into a weekend away. If you could have told me a couple of years ago that I would feel like this, I'd have never believed you.

Well I have plans for Friday, so I won't be going. So from a purely selfish standpoint, I hope it hammers down all day.