MD

The decision makers certainly were but like I mentioned previously the wrong rider in the wrong season. In 2023 we could have carried him along and let him find his feet at his own pace with Bomber and Basso doing the heavy lifting. That may have set him up better to ride for us in 2024. Glasgow now have a dilemma, do they keep him having given him a season to bed in and bank on him improving next season or thank him for his efforts. The points limit will be a crucial factor however Claus is currently 0.3 below Leon in the newest averages.

We visit Edinburgh, Plymouth and Oxford this month so I suspect Leon's end of season average will largely mirror his starting one.

Shooting ourselves in the foot for the occasional Wednesday meeting.

Nor two in each of Apr, May and Jun, three if you include not running the Friday of the U21 Final (Sunday). August isnt any better with a further two blanks, one for Edinburgh away, the other for the Cardiff GP. The net result is another three week gap between home meetings just like in July.

That was your first mistake!

I reckon we should pay out the win bonus at 32.

I'll give you that as I couldn't remember it but would you see a race like that now?

Costa going to be busy this afternoon.

Back in the day yes, but in the modern era?

Definitely but dont hold your breath for more of the same in 2025.

Thats highly unlikely at Wimborne to be fair. Its passing rather than speed that makes the sport exciting and Poole doesn't exactly serve it up even for the best of riders.

Definitely did, we couldn't continue on as before. Its about this time of year that promoters start to think about/discuss the set up for the following year, whatever will they come up with this time, a 35 point limit, even fewer meetings than this year, a multiplier of 2 for Premier riders dropping to CL teams? God forbid they carry out any form of market research to find out what their customers want or just as important, don't want.

A decent meeting that we didnt deserve to win IMO. We had a fragility about us all night, too many points dropped when in scoring positions. Poole, like Edinburgh worked out there is a profitable inside line off turn four if you are prepared to go there, and we got rumbled several times. Well done to Poole. Ivacic looks a real find, of the wrong sort that is. Its only his second meeting but as well as being not very quick seems to often be in no mans land and vulnerable on the inside and outside. I keep reminding myself he's in for Starke but its not working. I wonder if Anders was auditioning tonight either for Steve W potentially not returning or next season. He put in a decent shift.

Barker seems to be guesting for Schlien at Edinburgh tomorrow. Wonder why we havent picked him up?

Harris, Flint and Pearson would be three rides with Pearson potentially getting the other if Ivacic isnt up to it. It could also be a Harris Tactical Ride if needs must. We've also got to hit the ground running unlike last Friday against Scunny when they got their own way for the first 5 or so heats before we woke up. If someone could also help Pearson with his chains that would also be appreciated.

If its in the interests of British speedway, well ........

And Mountain, all those years experience and believing the ref would change his mind. Thought higher of him.

Looked like Complins bike he was riding. His riding style was very loose and struggled to turn it tight just like Complin did. He deserves time to settle enough though he doesnt have much.

Its never that bad, ever. Try Berwick or Worky on the Sat first.

Thats true but the crowds have stopped turning out at Cardiff and it must cost a 7 figure sum to rent, lay a temp track, lift it again days later and clean the stadium down from dust. There comes a critical point where its just not financially viable anymore and an alternative needs to be found.

They could start by pricing the SoN appropriately and making it remotely attractive to fans. Its not a GP so automatically draws less interest. The backstraight and bend 3/4 temporary stand may be a bit sparse this evening. They could also be lobbying behind the scenes to get the rights to the British GP and get it out of Cardiff where its become long term, a non-event racing wise. How long it can continue financially is unknown but it needs re-invented at a new venue IMO, and not another temporary track. Manchester would be just the place.

Evidence if you needed it that our fixture list is killing us. That Plymouth fixture was off the back of 7 weeks without a home Tigers meeting and since then we are in a 3 week gap to the next one. As it is we then only have 2 home fixtures in August. The hardest bit is how to change it, the lack of fixtures has gotten incrementally worse from 2021 and if true that it was only Glasgow and Poole, who for example voted against lowering the points limit, perhaps other clubs in our league are happy with the fixtures this way and will vote accordingly. I don't want or don't see moving to the PL as a solution however I don't think this can continue either. Once upon a time I arranged my holidays around our July away fixtures, now I can barely muster the energy to head to Ashfield on rare Friday nights, but do admit to loving it once I'm actually there.

He'll fit right in at Glasgow then, we barely have a meeting from one week to the next. Its becoming ever harder to maintain enthusiasm for a sport thats become so infrequent and dragged out over 6 months when it could be done in 3 - 4 including rain offs and play offs.

Ivacic will be riding in Manchester tomorrow at the SoN. Hope he doesn't get injured!

The self imposed no foreigners rule has lasted half a season, and would likely have been far less were suitable riders available. As mentioned we've now possibly alienated Team Pijper. Stene looks a real prospect as well.