szkocjasid

I still don't understand why being ill means leaving straight away? If I had driven 7 hours to get to a track then took ill, the last thing on my mind would be turning round & driving straight back! Surely he could have let Ashton ride, slept in the back of the van to get his strength up, then gone home?

Personally I think it would suit Oxford better having r/r at 4. Feel Kerr would be "wasted" having his extra ride in heat 8 (as is bound to happen). Using r/r at 4 gives Oxford a strong finish: Kerr in 12, Masters & Nicholls in 13, Kerr in 14 & 2 of them in 15.

Not sure I understand the logic, Plymouth have him a NL spot & gave him the harder rides at number 6. Oxford gave him a NL spot but preferred Killeen to him last year (after only one NL outing). This year as at Plymouth he's been given the harder rides at number 6! Not much has changed imo (maybe it has behind the scenes) apart from Atkins scoring better.

Personally don't think it should be allowed, just messes up everyone's programme & besides there's no reason they can't use r/r at 4

Narrow win for the Cheetahs tonight

I'd have zero issues with that. They did have something similar a few years back, but that only lasted one season (as usual) That idea is even better than awarding races after 2 laps, means more chance of fans getting their money's worth

I've read many commenting on Ipswich being unlucky losing Thomas, but there were rising stars just as strong as him available (Kemp, Rowe) but for whatever reason they chose to go elsewhere. That's when I'll no longer call it bad luck, but poor team building.

Given how poor Kyle Howarth has been going at home recently, I'd have been tempted to leave Kerr at 2 to get off to a strong start (but not if they're using r/r for Jenkins)

Because the Championship is incredibly harder than the NL. Just look at the scores of several doubling up riders, many NL heat leaders struggle in the Champ.

Thomsen, Borke & Fredricksen x2 doesn't seem bad r/r cover though!

Don't forget if you sign a couple of world class riders, their team mates are likely to be weaker than most other teams, that's how the points limit works. Unless you have the likes of Lidsey on an old average etc.

The points limit doesn't matter if you're replacing a rider on an equal or lower average. Ipswich would have 6.14 available to replace Riss (if they wanted to)

I've often thought if one rider causes a stoppage the referee should ask the opposition team manager if they want a re-run? Fairest way to do it! There would be no room for gamesmanship as it wouldn't even matter if the ref thought the rider could have got up or not! If you're holding a 5-1, you'd want it awarded. If you're on a 3-3 you'd want a re-run. On a 4-2, then you've got a decision to make.

I'm sure Josh will ride where he wants to ride (proving he's wanted) just saying he shouldn't be "blocked" from returning to Lynn. Although last time he had a good season for Sheffield he was dropped because he upped his average (one of Speedway's faults) what's to say that won't happen again? Wouldn't happen at Lynn as they need all the heat leaders they can get lol!

They'll never get the 1,000 crowds that have been talked about. My thoughts are if they're only getting 300-500, hopefully now they'll get 350-550?

Joe T was scoring well at Scunny in the number 7 spot. I don't know if it's psychological or harder races (or both) but he's been much worse at number 6 for Birmingham. While moving him to 7 might earn him extra points, it also means Hagon will struggle to score much at all. While you say Hagon isn't too here to score points, he's got pretty much the same ave as Pearson in the NL, so they shouldn't really lose any points at reserve. Not sure about Ablitt blossoming now, he's had a couple of decent scores but then was repeatedly beaten by Trigger at home. Agree with your comments about Pearson, he has improved - but not by the amount Birmingham were hoping for. I've read comments like "he wouldn't have been dropped while Rodgers was in charge" & I think - I know, that's why they keep losing lol!

My exact same thought, has to be stronger than Plymouth at least

If they've been getting very poor crowds it must be easier to bring in more fans though?

Birmingham have been developing a Belle Vue asset. If he isn't doing enough to help the Brummies win, worth trying someone else imo

Not that Sheffield have done anything underhand, but everyone has to agree they are massively strengthened by Bellego being missing & not having his new average yet. But that's how Speedway works at times, injuries can make teams stronger, great when it's your team, horrible when it's the opponent's.

You'd imagine the management committee would have no issue with approving Pickering coming back, as he was clearly injured when being dropped & wasn't some ploy to navigate averages etc

Rising star aves from 2023 league meetings: Dan Thompson is pretty much half way up the rankings & far stronger than Joe, so should help Ipswich. I'd still have gone with Kemp or Rowe personally. J.Jenkins 4.14 (5.29) D.Kemp 4.00 (5.00) 1 match only D.Gilkes 3.76 (4.47) L.Flint 3.38 (4.21) D.Thompson 3.29 (4.00) J.Edwards 2.74 (3.37) J.Mulford 1.21 (1.67) J.Thompson 1.18 (1.73)

I think most team managers stick to the same riding order no matter what, I see no reason why Morris can't be 5 at home but not away?

One thing I will say is, if Lynn are using the former world champ to beat Sedgmen & the rising star because they don't trust any others to do that - they must be expecting to get thrashed & putting r/r at 2 is their plan to ensure they score 30+ points?

The majority of the times teams run with r/r it's for a second string with the rides mainly being taken up by reserves, putting r/r at 2 in that situation makes sense as your reserve is out with the number one. Not so in this case. Yes my comment was asking why finishing up the r/r rides early would be an advantage?