szkocjasid

Ipswich have put themselves into a good position, but it's by no means over.

He "only" finished 5th because he was behind two top-6 GP riders. Not beating top-6 riders shouldn't be a slight on any rider. Kvech also finished in front of riders like Lebedevs who got a wild card, Fricke who didn't make the final & Woffinden who didn't enter. So he deserves his spot ahead of many in the GP imo

But that's because there are 5 wild cards, the top riders don't need to enter the qualifiers so there's more chance of a "lesser" rider qualifying for the GPs.

Poole underdogs, you're having a laugh. They've won every 7 man competition since dropping down & have twice thrashed Glasgow at Wimbourne road this year. Bearing in mind Brennan doesn't go well round Poole, r/r for Vissing weakens Glasgow imo. Poole still clear favourites for me

When you have finals raced in October, you can't expect a perfect track, especially one that was postponed the night before. Just need to get on with it unless the ref says it's too dangerous to race on. Well done Ipswich, hopefully they can complete the job on Thursday.

Ace made his comeback from injury over the weekend, so Glasgow had no choice but to use him (even if they think Smith is better)

I agree with everything you've said, but read many comments saying Glasgow are stronger without him / won't want him back?

No one "should have a say" except Vissing, if he's fit - he should ride, simple. I certainly hope clubs would have more integrity than telling a riders to stay home as they're stronger without him, maybe I'm just being nieve?

I don't know why that would have to include leaving Berwick though. Could get a new track in the Prem & race in the U24 league in Poland, so will have 3 home tracks.

I think Glasgow would be silly to drop him, racing mostly at number 5 has left him with a low average, so scope for improvement in him.

But riders like Nicol, Ruml, Wethers etc who didn't get a team spot would likely agree to one team spot rather than staying home for another season. They need to make Speedway affordable for the fans, if that means riders have to work & race (some already do) then so be it!

I hope they don't have a strict 2.00 average for the number 7, as that just hinders riders like the two you have mentioned already. A similar thing happened in 2015, Edinburgh signed 2 x 3.00 riders (Branford & Clegg) when they didn't have to, then the following year dropped them both as they reached 3.5 for a new 3.00 rider (when a new rule came in).

I'd agree with that!

There's a massive difference between numbers 6 & 7 currently. As stronger number 7 (Borke, Kemp) meets a reserve in every race, you could argue for their development he should be racing stronger riders more often. A weaker number 6 (Wood, Ablitt) meet a reserve in heat 2, then race the 1/2 & 3/4 pairings, before often getting dropped from their last ride! Riders like Ablitt, Coles, Harrison, Trigger & Pijper are more likely to improve racing at 7, so I'd like a Prem style rule, where they have to be there (& not replaced in heat 8).

In the elite league fast track format heat leaders (1,3,5) never meet reserves (6,7). Second strings (2,4) meet everyone.

Could have races where 4 reserves are out being scored 2.5/1.5/0.5/0 & 4 heat leaders scored as 3.5/2.5/1.5/0.5? This would just be used to work out averages (so they are more realistic) not used for the match scores!

Surprised Flint is as high as that

Nope, referring to the thread, don't understand people asking "does anyone have any news" if there was official news we'd all know it, anything else would just be rumours / opinions.

I don't understand why people ask "does anyone have any news" when there's news the BSPL / SCB will announce it, until then it's just people opinions & speculation - which is interesting & what the forum is for. But don't expect concrete answers till the AGM.

It made sense in the past not to include KOC matches, but not now. Prem clubs race 24 meetings, but the rolling aves only count the last 20, so that creates an imbalance where some riders will be dropping 4 tough matches, others could be dropping 4 easy matches. In the Champ clubs only raced 16 league matches, so their rolling aves will include 4 (minimum) league matches from 2022. Is it really better to count the last 4 league matches from last season than counting the BSN series / KOC matches instead?

I personally really liked that format. Better for the fans imo, as they get more HL vs HL clashes, same with reserves. Obviously top riders won't like it as they get harder races, but if they are serious about getting to the top of the sport (Poland) they need to get used to tough opposition. Plus you could make pay rates for 1,3+5 higher than 2+4, which would be higher than 6+7.

Lowering the points limit could improve the racing, if it led to the top riders missing out on the Champ. Currently the 2.00 reserves are miles away from the Masters & Douglas standard riders. But if the 8.00 heat leaders become the top men, then there is a smaller gap between top & bottom riders, so the racing should be closer. Should help NL riders stepping up having more riders nearer their ability to attempt to beat. However of it leads to lots of 4-6 point riders being dropped and teams running with strong top ends & 4 reserves, then the gap is bigger & racing more processional.

I think the limit should be 40 or 39 to build a bigger gap between Prem & Champ and most importantly lessen the gap between Champ & NL. However if the NL disappears with Mildenhall & Workington stepping up, think it would have to be even lower so the strength is half way between Champ & NL level. If the likes of Oxford, Poole & Glasgow want to sign top riders, they'll have to move up a league

I see Ace Pijper has made his return from injury.

As rediciulous as that would be, King's Lynn were allowed to do that this season!