szkocjasid

If Sedgemen helps Berwick win at Glasgow, does that help or hinder Monarchs chances of qualifying?

Really tough match to call. Oxford look to have better all round strength, but Ipswich look amazing at 1,5&7. Narrow win for Ipswich for me, can't see Oxford having an 8 point lead ahead of heats 13&15.

They changed the rules to allow more guests. I guess because the fans all love guests?

I see Wojdylo now has a rolling ave of 5.00. I think most expected him to move above MPT. But MPT stays in the top 5 for the rest of April at least.

Now Nicholls os guesting I can understand why they chose not to use Klindt & Riss. But I also think if they kept Klindt, they could've used Nicholls at reserve. So is Nicholls (top 5) with Riss (reserve) stronger than Klindt (top 5) with Nicholls (reserve)?

Is that not Jan O'Pedersen or maybe Bruce Penhall?

An alternate view of the change regarding guests. Now like most people, I'm not a fan of guests but agree they are a "necessary evil". One of my biggest bugbears about them is there's no incentive whatsoever to sign a replacement, when guests are allowed. Now we have a team (Oxford) with an injured rider (Kerr) and a willing replacement (Riss) but they've decided to instead to replace Klindt because they'd rather use guests. So is there a rule / should there be a rule where the BSPL / SCB say to Oxford, you can't drop Klindt just because you'd prefer to use guests? Would be different if Riss didn't fit for Kerr obviously. I almost feel like "why should Oxford be allowed a guest, when they could easily change the team & not need one"?

That's his current Prem rolling ave, so he should be available on that for the rest of the season.

Imo poor scores will lead to nothing as far as the RS position goes. He's so far ahead of any possible replacement, he's got the spot for the season 99.99% guaranteed.

I think it would be madness to drop a 6.5 Champ rider, for one still on his 2.00 starting ave. While Flint has been a disappointment, he's still far better than Killeen. Maybe in the future Killeen would be a good signing, but Brummies need points now.

It was implemented, as a FIVE year plan. Which the Champ promoters dropped after ONE season. I think it works well in the Prem though.

You know before the match I thought you were being too negative, turns out you were spot on. Trying to be positive for the sake of British Speedway, but if Brummies can't win with Nicholls at reserve then Nicholls replacing Lampart, when will they win?

Pre-season Riss wasn't a mistake sign rider. For example despite Ipswich starting a point under the limit, they preferred Rew (who averaged less than 4.00) over Riss whose average is above 5.00. So by that logic Lampart over Riss was a sensible pick, especially as Riss has been going downhill in recent years. Now Riss could turn that around, but that's no guarantee. Normally I'd suggest it's too early for changes, especially for a newcomer to British Speedway who could come good, but I'd sign Klint for Lampart, I wouldn't have signed Riss for Lampart. The added advantage of Klindt is he keeps Zach Cook at reserve.

Worrall could have ridden at number 2 all season, normally I'd put the weakest top 5 rider at 2. But if it's the only way to get him to score points, put Worrall at 2 with Brennan & Lampart / Klindt in the 3&4 pairing.

Totally agree with these comments, Ross for Kerr, then decide who to drop when Kerr returns, seems an obvious solution.

Has Klindt been dropped by Oxford? Edit, just read he has been. Defo should sign Klindt.

I agree Cook is better at reserve than Milik, but that won't be an option once Milik & Lampart get new averages. My point was Milik at reserve is better than Lampart at reserve. Personally I'd give them a little more time before making changes, but they should at least be sounding out some possible replacements.

One advantage of Lampart missing last night's match, is it should take him longer to get a new average than Milik. This could allow Milik a match (or two) at reserve, where he should do better, before Lampart drops down.

Flint should be one of the best rising stars, especially looking at his Champ average, but he's not riding like it. Not to put all the pressure on him, but Birmingham needed him to show that's he's the highest ranked RS for them to be competitive. But dropping points against strugglers Boughen & Joe T (maybe not struggling anymore) ends any chance Birmingham had of challenging for victories. I wouldn't swap him for any unattached RS, as no-one would even score the one point he managed. Nor do I blame Brummies for picking him, he was the obvious choice. But as a young ambitious rider, who wants to make it on the world stage, needs to step up.

Can't believe Leicester's reserves have scored to 5-1s against Brummies top 5. I've tried to be positive, but can't any longer, this Birmingham team is just pitiful.

Pre-season I may have thought the same thing, but Leicester's top 5 haven't gone as well as I'd expect. Not that Birmingham have done much either.

Maybe the plan was to shore up heat 8 with Joe T struggling. But surely Lawson at 3 does that too? Still can't find the logic of their change.

I've not seen much racing at Perry Barr to comment on the form of Douglas, Lawson & Masters, but don't forget in the last couple of years they've been racing against a very weak Brummies side, certainly at heat leader level, so any Champ heat leader should have been putting up good scores there. Has Becker ridden much at PB? Won't be so easy against Nicholls, Brennan & Pawlicki. Tough to call, as on paper I see no reason why Brummies can't win. But after their performance against Oxford (excluding Nicholls & Brennan) I find it hard to back them to beat anyone.

Dulpicated

Especially when the put so much effort into changing the guest rules for the play-offs. There's really no reason, for them to allow it, there's 6 clubs to choose from if you're not allowed a guest from your own group. At least in this case Zach is riding against Poole's main rivals, so not likely to hinder Poole.