Tom Turner

Hope Hansen will face some sort of ban and fine after that disgraceful display tonight. It's clear a rider that volatile cannot be trusted on track. His actions could easily injure another rider.

Good to see the moving at the tapes rule has been removed for Coventry.

Let's hope for a massive away win for the Pirates! Thoroughly deserved of some good luck.

Injuries are part and parcel of league racing, as you have an entire season to make adjustments and adjust your strategy. One or two bad matches can easily be recovered from in league racing. The play offs do not have room for strategy or adjustments, and cannot be considered fair unless all teams are at full strengh. You cannot rally behind a guest like you can your own team member, and you cannot look forward to the play offs when you have not a clue who will be representing your team. It's common sense, but of course speedway didn't end up in this state by heeding common sense.

Doesn't that highlight a fundamental flaw in the system? All play off teams should be at full strength or defeats the entire purpose of having a play off at all. Interesting to see that some Polish riders do feel Britain is a great place to ride: Taken from bournemouthecho.co.uk

I love the play offs, I think they add great value entertainment to the sport. If my team came first in the league and then got subjugated in the final by the fourth place team, I would congratulate the fourth place team on their rightful title. However, this only works when every team is at full strength. It is beyond a joke that King's Lynn and Poole must replace their number 1's with substandard riders and have a whole season of hard work potentially chucked down the drain. The play offs should be about 4 teams battling at full strength to determine a winner in an epic showdown of Britain's most elite riders. 2 weak and crestfallen teams will not provide quality entertainment, they will not drive fans through the gates, and will only be of further detriment to this already ailing sport.

Nail on the head, I've been saying this for a long time. You need a track that riders can race on the edge of their ability, not potter around to try and make it back in one piece.

I certainly wouldn't say Stevebrum has no idea whatsoever.

Because British league takes a back seat in speedway. We can't take a stand against them, they will just refuse to ride here. We need them more than they need us.

Yeah, I have no problem with that if Barker cannot ride. I'm not talking a big difference, I'm talking something like 10%. The point is we all want a level playing field in the play offs. Any team that wins the league ahead of Poole or King's Lynn will always know they only won because the other team was unfairly disadvantaged. But hey, if that's entertainment to you then go ahead and enjoy...

No. It's because British speedway is crap already. A play off final between 2 teams without a number 1 between them is a pathetic embarrassment. Stars and Pirates supporters shouldn't have a year of paid attendance thrown away in a heart beat through no fault of their own. King's Lynn riders getting injured, Darcy turning up to an international match drunk, and Matt Ford missing an incredibly narrow window of time to make a big signing from a very limited pool of riders shouldn't be taken out on the few remaining paying supporters who just about keep the sport alive. It is a play off final, not a league match. These teams have already proved their worth throughout the season and should be given an equal playing field in the play offs.

No, that isn't my view at all. Did you even read my posts or could you just not wait to slam Poole? I am saying it is not fair on King's Lynn or Poole supporters to go into a play off final without a number 1. An adjustment to the rules to allow King's Lynn and Poole to make a "crisis" signing is best for everyone involved. There are plenty of riders internationally who would be happy to fill the last few meetings of the season and will at least level the playing field. It is beyond a joke that two teams, who were affected by injury and the actions of another rider that were out of their control, should go into a play off final without a number 1.

Yes, given the circumstances. I mean come on, we both know that Darcy Ward and NKI are two of the very best riders in the world. There are not many out there who could do a better job than these two in a play off final. The new fast track system means number 1's do not come up against reserves anymore, so their averages are already artificially lowered. It's completely unfair on Poole and King's Lynn supporters to go into the play off finals with guests. All supporters of all clubs deserve a real show.

Well I know Chris Holder wants to ride for Poole. I am sure there are plenty of riders who would be happy to ride here for a few matches and a decent pay cheque. Situations like this should allow flexibility in rules and averages. The rules are of utmost importance but when it comes down to a situation where the 2 top teams are going head to head with guests in a play off final, common sense should prevail and the supporters of Poole and King's Lynn should be given a rider they can call their own, even if just for a few matches, who they can really get behind until the end of the season.

..............anybody in the world who want's to ride for them?

Poole and King's Lynn should be allowed to sign a new number 1 each. It makes complete sense.

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10 Radical changes to improve British Speedway 1) The rider who finishes a race in last place is shot with a bean bag gun by the opposing team's manager. This will ensure riders race for every point. No more "agents" and no more poor guest appearances. 2) Double points to be replaced with tactical opposition. If a team has fallen behind by at least 8pts they may nominate a rider from the opposing team to take one of their rides. See rule 1 for motivation. 3) Super loud exhausts. Exhausts that produce a sound on par with a 90's Formula 1 car. 4) Heat 15 to be replaced with "Team Derby". All 7 riders from each team will compete in one big race. 5) Fireworks after every heat. Need's no further explanation. 6) Rider height limit of 4ft 10 inches. Will add a subtle hilarity to racing. Sure to bring the punters in. 7) Kevlar racing suits to be replaced with medieval armour. See last point for reasoning. 8) Start girls to be entirely nude. Attendances will go through the roof. 9) Inconsistent track surface. Some parts of the track will be incredibly dry, others incredibly wet. Will make for much more exciting racing. 10) No rain offs. All matches to go to the bitter end. No excuses.

Any of them would be fine! Can't be worse than 4pts in 2 meetings. Why can't we use rider replacement? Or let Kyle take some of their riders... Can't hurt!

Does anybody have a copy of the 2014 rules and regulations? In particular, the part covering guest appearances. Thanks

Any guest is better than Bjarne!

Because Poole tried to call off the meeting and were refused. You could hear an SCB official (not sure who he was by face) telling Neil that the racing would get easier after a few heats. You could clearly see that Neil wasn't happy. As soon as heat 10 arrived and past, Poole were still happy (sort of) to ride, it was Lakeside that called it off. Sky announced the meeting had been called off before Middlo had even confirmed it.

Try two thirds.

What a farce. Totally unfair. Poole wanted to call it off from heat 6 and weren't allowed and then Davey goes whinging after they've won the meeting. If it was too unsafe to ride, then it was too unsafe to ride after heat 6.

My second wrong thread of the day...