pointsmeanplayoffs

Just checking whether there is any Lee Smart news? Nothing on the Sky Sports News Breaking News Ticker...... As for Holder having a higher average than Ward, Poole were still within the 32 pt limit so fair play they bought him in so it's a valid re-declaration. As far as an injury goes, he's either injured or he's not. You can't almost score a maximum in Poland, almost win a SGP and be injured surely?

Slightly off topic here, but who did Adam Roynon ride for in the NL last season?

Anyone found Lee Smart yet? If Poole used a guest in place of him for no good reason, then they should be stripped of all the points they took at Belle Vue : ) Seriously, I'm sure there is a valid reason for Smart's absence, the lack of information is causing the problem. Again.

No-one can choose Bates as he withdrew from the FT draft system and isn't included on any of the lists. IF riders can be added to the list throughout the season, then that's when the problems could start.

Excuse me if I've missed a previous post (not got time in my lunch hour to read EVERYTHING! on here) but why can't Holder simply remain riding for Poole until the 28 days is up? I'm sure in the past when No.1's are injured, other EL No.1 's have been used as guests to cover which is what could have happened here. Instead Poole chose (and I think chose wisely) to re-declare their team without Darcy which meant that they could be guaranteed a former world champion could take the place and not have to worry about booking guests.

I echo the comments of 'Liam Gallagher Fan', a superb post and thanks for taking the time to work these numbers out. Thanks MP! Am I right in thinking that if for example Poole do not replace Lee Smart (2.15 Lee Smart (14) Poole 4 13 6 1 7) before the re-ranking of the riders, they will only be able to replace him with another rider with a lower ranking (of which there are none!) or with a rider who has yet to race as a draft rider? I hope this is the case as it would mean that teams have to persevere with the young lads when they go through a rough patch, and not just dump them at the first opportunity.

Looking at our first 3 home matches before the season, It looked like a tough start. Lakeside, Belle Vue and Wolverhampton will all be in the play off mix at the end of the season IMO so to take 3 points again last night was a great performance from the riders and management. Not seen a team consistently out gate us at home like Wolves did to begin with last night for a very long time....yet we still ground out the win. Fantastic! Another decent crowd too, it's almost like if you get a team with a mixture of top top riders and young/local riders, racing on a brilliantly prepared race track, you get entertaining racing which attracts more spectators - WHO KNEW?!?!

Just checked the scores, it was Richie who snuck around Lewis Rose not MPT.

Good meeting I thought, track was a lot different to what it's been recently which I think evened things out for the top boys, BUT definitely gave our young lads a big advantage who were far more used to the NA. Very happy with Lewis Rose, that lad can gate! Just showed a little inexperience to let MPT passed on the outside late on in the meeting but he's still learning and will only get better. Really enjoying the impact the 3 local lads are having on the meetings. Also, nice to see the programme changed and was easier to fill in this week!

After a tough night at Brandon on Friday, taking Rose out of heat 14 would have been a further knock to the lads confidence IMO. And he had just won his first race in heat 9, so I can understand why Rob kept him in. You can't expect all the fast track lads to hit the ground running on every track, and a longer term view must be taken. This show of faith will no doubt inspire Rose to a big score on Wednesday back at home where he's much more comfortable. I am still happy that we have the best reserve pairing in the league and enjoy watching these local lads race tremendously.

Enjoyed the meeting last night, some good racing on a fair track which isn't always the case so fair play Wolves promotion. Meeting was pushed through in good time too which is always nice for travelling fans. Only one grumble is at the ref for Niels' exclusion, but these are the decisions that you get at home. Thought Pawlicki was excellent, and Kenneth was much better which is pleasing for all Stars fans. Once again young Robert Lambert, on a track he's not had much time on, didn't take long for him to show he's the real deal. Some great racing, especially in heat 14. Credit should also be given to Lewis Rose who quickly cleared the track in that heat after falling when a more cynical sole may have stayed down. All in all, happy with a point which is what we wanted and thanks to the nice chaps who sorted us out with pit passes. Plenty of positives for Stars fans though : )

How about saving your useful contributions for the Premier League threads?

How about; Stars 1 Iversen 2 Lambert 3 Bjerre 4 Porsing 5 Schlein 6 Kerr 7 Rose Bees 1 Andersen 2 Howarth 3 Harris 4 Fisher 5 Hansen 6 Garrity 7 Sarjeant Heats 1. 1 & 3 vs 1 & 5 2. 2 & 5 vs 2 & 5 3. 6 & 7 vs 6 & 7 4. 3 & 4 vs 3 & 4 5. 4 & 6 vs 2 & 7 6. 2 & 5 vs 1 & 5 7. 4 & 7 vs 2 & 6 8. 1 & 5 vs 1 & 3 9. 6 & 7 vs 6 & 7 10. 1 & 3 vs 2 & 5 11. 2 & 6 vs 4 & 7 12. 1 & 5 vs 3 & 4 13. 2 & 7 vs 4 & 6 14. 3 & 4 vs 1 & 3 15. Nominated 1. Iversen & Bjerre vs Andersen & Hansen 2. Lambert & Schlein vs Howarth & Hansen 3. Kerr & Rose vs Garrity & Sarjeant 4. Bjerre & Porsing vs Harris & Fisher 5. Porsing & Kerr vs Howarth & Sarjeant 6. Lambert & Schlein vs Andersen & Hansen 7. Porsing & Rose vs Howarth & Garrity 8. Iversen & Schlein vs Andersen & Harris 9. Kerr & Rose vs Garrity & Sarjeant 10. Iversen & Bjerre vs Howarth & Hansen 11. Lambert & Kerr vs Fisher & Sarjeant 12. Iversen & Schlein vs Harris & Fisher 13. Lambert & Rose vs Fisher & Garrity 14. Bjerre & Porsing vs Andersen & Harris 15. Nominated Reserves are only against other reserves or second strings.....

That would mean each rider would ride against their opposition no. in every single race?

It's on the Sky Sports News Breaking News ticker! Great News!

I was concerned about this as the next person but after playing on spreadsheets, I'm happy that it's not going to be a big deal. With a half sensible new heat structure (with EL draft reserves protected), for the main body of the team, the comparative av. CMA of opponents each rider will face during their own programmed will only vary by around +/- 10% per race versus 2013.

Speedway in the UK needs a strong Belle Vue, and this line-up is the strongest BV have put together in a good few seasons. The balance of the team looks in keeping with the predicted new heat format - where 3 good heat leaders are essential. I think Richie Worrall presumably will ride at 4 and will absolutely clean up on his average if as, predicted second strings line up against reserves more often than in the past. MPT should also find it easier to score well with that in mind. Now you've just got to make sure the track is up to scratch : )

Predicting team changes already? Before the heat format and rider positioning have been confirmed? You guys are good! Any chance one of you could point me in the direction of 6 lucky numbers for Saturday night's lottery!?!? It is good fun though... DEPENDING on the heat format, it could mean second strings racing against reserves and could result in a scenario for Lynn where...... .....Whilst Rory maintains his 7 average, Porsing up's his average to over 5 by beating EL reserves with ease. Then, heading into the play-offs, and with with his other league commitments simmering down we could bring in Nicki P and a 4 pointer as replacements to form arguably the most power packed top 3 the EL has ever seen in : )

Riders like footballers, can have different numbers for different teams without the world exploding - I think Suarez wears No. 9 for Uruguay as Edinson Cavani wears the No. 7 shirt : ) Fans can cope with such 'complications'. I love this discussion topic, it is making me smile.

I have a friendly wager with my old man that Lambert will finish the season on an average no higher than 5.0 which I think would be tremendous for him in his first season, especially as he is in the main body of the team. Anyone who can win races around the NA in below 60.00secs will win races in the EL. Don't want there to be too much pressure on the young man. Porsing's end of season form suggests he too is on a lovely average from a Stars point of view.

And having things like merchandise available creates engagement for fans with the sport. I think it's a good way to 'hook' youngsters into the sport. Remember how many kids were wearing Woffy or Holder shirts at Cardiff last year? Quite a few.

Is there a list of these 6 or 7 riders? I imagine that they must have been seeded lower than the original 23 draft riders OR had 'done a Robert Lambert' and stated that they were after a regular team spot instead. I am a supporter of the EL draft, and hope that teams/riders do not exploit any new loopholes there may be in this new initiative, an initiative which aims to PROMOTE THE FUTURE OF BRITISH SPEEDWAY.

What is the ruling if we 'run out of' the 23 draft reserve riders? With 20 assigned, and 3 'spare', what happens if another 2 riders like Josh Bates withdraw from the system? I assume that Swindon will need to simply pick from one of the 3 remaining riders to fill in Josh's place? I can already see a situation where teams will move out there draft reserves and instead try and replace them with riders who were not part of the original draft list which would be a complete farce.

Timo Lahti! Didn't he put 3 points on his CMA and end up riding himself out of job in 2014?! Ty Proctor before his injury was over-performing too, but what about Smolinski?!?!

Good signing for Poole, completing another play-off bound 1-7. I guess this means the heat structure will have been decided, as Poole will have waited for this before naming their full team IMO. Also, Interesting news of the Poole / Scunthorpe NL link-up. Wonder how that will work when it comes to 'protected riders' in future reserve drafts. Surely Poole would want first dibs on any rider who rides in this Scunthorpe NL team whether they are a Poole asset or not (unlike this year when only proper assets were protected). If such an arrangement is allowed, then I can see other EL teams agreeing such link-ups in the future. Excluding King's Lynn obviously.