spin king

Could well be that the loan fee was the difference between choosing Edberg over Dyer. But for the record in my preview thread I did question the validity of choosing Edberg over Dyer. Berwick Gone with a very solid looking side, with Ricky Ashworth leading the side this season, the other two heatleaders are Crazy Kozza Smith and Robin Aspegren. Thoughts on those three, I hope that curse does not hit Ricky of the ex Sheffield rider 2nd season away from Sheffield like it did with Andre Compton and Ben Wilson. Kozza is coming back from a season out and I think may struggle a bit with the role of 2nd heatleader. Of the the three I think that Aspegren could be the one that could go on to better things, and I think that he may push Ricky for the top slot. The 2nd strings are where I think that Berwick are particularly strong Matt Wethers seems to score decent points everywhere and Bellego is a talent and will go on to better things if he can sort out his engines. The reserves were a surprise as I thought Berwick would have gone with Micky Dyer, but they have gone with the very injury prone Alex Edberg and the Dane Nicki Barrett. Both probably capable of putting something on their average, but can young Edberg stay injury free. Berwicks chances next season, I would say at best just outside the play offs, at worse mid table. I thin they will be an entertaining team though. Key Rider; Kozza Smith

I would not get to wound up about this result, over a season things can change. Mind you at the start of season the form books do seem to be overturning and it looks like there could be one or two surprises along the way this season I still cannot believe or understand why Berwick did not bring back Micky Dyer, when Berwick came to Sheffield last season and turned us over he was very much one of the reasons for that good win. If it was my club the only question that I would be asking the Promotion how much or did the fact that Alex Edberg Dad promising to buy the clubs race suits (very nice race suits) sway them to maybe go with Alex rather than Micky. But Redcar have made a very indifferent start to the season, so maybe Berwick could well comeback in this tie.

Same thing went through my mind when Edberg got the nod over Dyer.

Attending a meeting with you two is going to be a barrel full of laughs I see. Tsunami and Montie have a chat before last nights meeting.

Ipswich have said that they will pay their riders for the 3rd place bonus point, which makes the rule a mockery.

Not disputing the fact paying the bonus point for 3rd place, but how do you know that Kevin Doolan is paid £110 per point.

I think you will find that there was two reason why people complained about. (1) Him riding at number 4 especially at home(not the lads fault he don't pick the side) (2) His away form (Has improved, but the meetings he has done are Leicester and Scunthorpe two of his former tracks). But back to last night. Sterling performance from the Tigers and who would have thought that we would have topped the group, even without Adam Roynon you would have not tipped us do what we have done. But unlike last season this team looks and feels more like a team, and although I don't think that we will make the Play Offs I think this team will spring a few surprises along the way this season, but next season I think we will see this team reap the benefits and maybe challenge for honours. As for the meeting I would say after 4 heats I knew that we had the measure of Leicester and we were going to win by 7 or more,even when Leicester pulled it back to a 4 point deficit, never doubted it at all. Team Performance Sheffield Simon Stead; Proving to be the proper number 1 and leader that we craved last season, and for me the best since Sean Wilson. Facu Albin; Proving to be a big crowd pleaser and I only see him getting better. Joe Haines; Looked down on power most of the night, but pop up in heat 12 and gave a Bjerre a decent ride. He will have better nights. Richard Hall; Superb, and looks as though he could be finally producing what he has been promising the Sheffield speedway public for a fair few seasons. Damien Koppe;Still trying to find his feet, and may need a bit more time to find it, but I think he will. Jake Knight; Man of the Match for Jake The Snake for me, his race with Doolan in heat 14 nearly sealed the deal. Leicester Basically if they showed as much passion as their supporters maybe they may have made the Semi- Finals. Mission Accomplished for the Tigers and we move on to next weeks visit of The Comets.

We will win the League now thanks for your prediction.

Well live 20 minutes away from the track and we have no rain at the moment.it is due around 10 this morning but to be fair it don't look like its going to rain.

The car parking price is set by the stadium owners not the Promotion. But it is the best Car Park in British Speedway.

And I was hoping that you would be predicting a big Leicester win.

Not quite true see below, this is from the BSPA website, Sheffield only need to win by 7 to go through. LEAGUE SCORING SYSTEM Home loss by any amount of points = 0 Home draw = 1 Home win by between 1 and 6 points = 2 Home win by 7 points or more = 3 Away loss by 7 points or more = 0 Away loss by 6 points or less = 1 Away draw = 2 Away win by between 1 and 6 points = 3 Away win by 7 points or more = 4 As the league stands, Leicester have 6 points and Sheffield have 4

How could you have seen the free programme at Sheffield if you have not been since 1983?

The result tonight sets things up nicely for the meeting at Sheffield on Thursday. Leicester can afford to lose by 6 or less. Sheffield need to win by 7 or more. To top the group.. Lets hope there is a bumper crowd with lots of travelling Leicester fans to generate an electric atmosphere.

I think we need to be a bit careful about claiming riders staying down and get the race stopped, although I did get the feeling on Thursday that some of the Scunthorpe riders were doing it quite often. But only the riders themselves know whether they can clear the track and I sometimes think as fans we expect riders to do this when they might not be able to do for one reason or another and they do tend to balance themselves out over the season. Over the two meetings I guess Scunthorpe fans will try and claim the bragging rights, but I really think that they need to take a look in the mirror . They were very poor at Sheffield, Auty and Howe were poor and had to use 2 tactical's where as Sheffield because they kept the meeting tight throughout the meeting never used a tactical, and went into the last race with a chance of taking something from the meeting not something that Scunthorpe can claim. End of the day I am happy with my teams performance over the two meeting, and I think we can surprise a few teams this season on how competitive the Sheffield team will be. .

Your not very good at this predicting the scores lark.

Oh yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss.

Same goes to for the Premier League, sentiment won't come into it.

Tough one to call, could well go either way by no more than 6.

I don't think anyone should look too much into this meeting. The Birmingham team had 5 Premier League number one's in their top 5 (Danny King would be classed as a number 1). I prefer to give the team 8 to 12 meetings to see how they go. Lets give it a bit more time rather than one meeting where we riding a standard of team that we won't face in the league.

okay then lets have a go Martin Guest aka Spin King. (1) Somerset (2) Newcastle (3) Edinburgh (4) Scunthorpe (5) Workington (6) Leicester (7) Ipswich (8) Berwick (9) Plymouth (10) Redcar (11) Sheffield (12) Rye House (13) Glasgow

Some very interesting predictions in this week Speedway Star this week. None more so than the Ipswich correspondent, who seems to have a totally different outlook to the rest for next seasons Premier League.. Sheffield 4th Somerset 8th Scunthorpe 13th To be fair I hope he is correct with the Sheffield prediction. But somebody please get me glass of what Elvin King has been drinking.

Done it.

Have to agree with SCB regarding attracting younger fans and the old guard standing firm and not wanting change The fact is that the sport does need to be marketed a lot better and needs to target the younger people, because there are far few younger people attending speedway than when I was in my teens. These I stand on the terraces at Sheffield worrying 50% of the crowd may not be alive in 10 years time let alone attending speedway meetings.

Well according to his Facebook page he is no his way over. Lets hope he brings his thermals as it freezing here.