szkocjasid

Massive match for both teams. Especially Scunny as they're not used to getting to play-off finals!

I see no problem with people being hopeful & picking a team for next year. Both Swindon & Edinburgh have carried on after racing a farewell meeting. Besides this post can do no harm to Peterborough's future, anyway if you don't like it, don't read it.

It's happened in Sweden before, 9 team league - top 8 qualify for play-offs. One team dropped out, so everyone made the play-offs

I suppose, some fans may not be bothered attending a play-off match if you've already been knocked out of the competition?

Seems strange they'd want to run it on a Tuesday rather than the normal Wednesday?

As an Arsenal fan, I could never support Tottenham if Arsenal closed down, but would probably switch my allegiance to another club I don't mind (West Ham). I supported Rye House exclusively, then in 1992 Arena-Essex became my second team as they were in a different league. When Rye closed Arena became my main team, dropping to my second favourite when Rye came back. What helped was my Dad was Speedway mad & would go to as many matches as possible. He was a Speedway fan first, but not many will be like that, but any extra fans from former clubs will help the current ones. I had a friend who was an Edinburgh fan, he'd go to Berwick & Glasgow to cheer on the opposition, but that still brings in funds even if you don't gain a fan. I guess a bigger issue now, is fans can get their Speedway fix online / on tv, especially if it's not your own club, 30 years ago that wasn't the case.

Well this year they planned ahead & the play-offs were supposed to start early. But then they didn't plan for poor weather in July / August holding thing up, meaning the play-offs are delayed, despite clubs only having to race 8 home league meetings.

I honestly can't understand anyone thinking finishing 6th out of 9 means you deserve to be in the play-offs. But "officially" (as it was voted in) they deserve their shot at the title.

Half the team have actually upped their averages this year (Cook, Castagna & Fredriksen), statistically Pickering has been one who's dropped the most off his average. Of course that means, he now has the potential to up his average next year.

Has anyone said that?

Which is "worthy" of being in the play-offs. The 6th best team in the league "deserves" to have a chance at the title, as voted by the clubs pre-season.

Redcar aren't racing on the 29th, so there would be no reason to swap the Oxford fixture in that case? EDIT just found out Redcar are racing on the 29th, so good idea by @Noelinho

Very ambitious by the Brummies, but I fear for their future if true. Hopefully they'll get some Wolves fans attending to make it work.

Silly comments suggesting any team is in the final or out of contention already. Certainly 3 clubs are weakened with injuries, but the remaining riders & guests won't make it easy for the opposition. I think Belle Vue & Wolves are favourites for the final, but they're far from certainties.

Everyone won't be using Harris, he can only ride for one club in the play-offs (I'm pretty sure that's the rule)

Hard to make predictions when you do t know the points limit / league set up, but I wouldn't think they'd make many changes of they can avoid it. Will certainly want to keep Sayfutdinov & Doyle of the can fit them in.

I don't think you can blame Speedway fans for this one, there are far too many rules to keep track of.

I'll go for Scunthorpe 51-39 Edinburgh

Why not? The rules (stupid as they are) agreed by the teams pre-season are that finishing 6th out of 9 means you deserve a shot at becoming Champions

It was a weak field because of the reserve situation, if everyone has to qualify, plus taking the reserves from the top non-qualifiers, then people can't complain about it being a weak field! ok they will complain, but we can reply with "they are there on merit". I would never comment Kim Nilsson isn't good enough to be there, as he qualified. Personally I don't care if it's the same 15 every year, or "fresh" riders in the GPs, I just want the best riders (ideally no wild cards) in the field, regardless of age / nationality / gender.

Did look that way. Part of the reason is the reserves are no longer the next best riders in line from the qualifiers, but riders from weaker nations with no GP riders. For that reason even if Kolodziej (or Kubera) had finished 4th in the GP qualifiers and 2nd in the SEC & was the highest averaged non GP rider in the Extraliga, he still wouldn't get a reserve slot!

Obviously Dudek (21000) finishes above Lebedevs (210XX), but wondered where does Basso (210) fit into that? I know 4th is better than a non-finish, but is a non-finish worse than a not having a ride?

Must have been a heart in mouth moment for Glasgow fans, when Basso fell. Thankfully he gut up & walked back to the pits

Wouldn't call it farcical, Belle Vue had the option use him as their RS, obviously they feel Bailey is stronger.

Disaster for Doyle & Ipswich. Hope he's not too badly hurt