DC2

Poole move quickly to replace Brady Kurtz:

Don’t be dafter.

Don't be daft.

If it were 1938 Germany and he’d written “Let the dispossessed shopkeepers die in a concentration camp” you, no doubt, would have said that those words do not in themself, given that they do not specify a specific group of people, amount to a racist comment, but of course the context would have meant otherwise as we would know the target of the comment was Jews, just as it is now foreign refugees. No doubt also, semantics will argue that Jews are not a race but a religious group.

The semantics argument about what constitutes a “race” is really tiresome. It’s quite clear that the adverse remarks were against refugee boat people - people from abroad, people fleeing their country, whether on grounds of persecution or in search of a better life - not Dorset residing castaways, and as such they were racist. “Race” can be defined as a group of people who have some common identity, whether it be blacks and whites, Chinese, Muslim, Aryan or people fleeing the Middle East. Semantics should not be a defence to inhumane views.

You can neither follow the argument nor contribute to it constructively. I suspect that if we were talking about half-wits you might have a degree of expertise.

Many people want refugees to drown? And five people liked your post? Shame on you.

Fallacious? Ooooh, suck on that one!

Hmmmm. Is that the same Rye House that was above Poole when they closed? And had they kept going with Chris Harris, where would Poole have finished in the league?

It was abused in the EL too, with the better reserve having five or more rides and the worse one only three. Rather than make it compulsory to have new NL riders at reserve, attractive averages should be sufficient for them to be recruited, provided experienced CL riders are not allowed to have low averages. Say, 2 for those above NL 6.5 and 2.5 for those above NL 8.5, and a minimum of 3 for a second season in the CL. So that this year, for example, Rowe would be 2, Kemp 2.5 and Jack Smith 3. Foreigners should never be allowed to be less than 5, or maybe 4 for those under 20.

For me, staying there all season didn’t work in the EL because it gave some teams trump cards and an unfair advantage. Half the season would be reasonable.

That’s true for all UK speedway riders, which makes the 1.5 conversion rate, increasing every year until it gets to 2, to be a massive mistake. If Josh were to maintain his 6.7 average next season and wanted to double down in 2020 on a UK licence his CL average would be 10.72 and 11.39 the following year. Doesn't the BSPA realise that the existing 1.3 rate and 38 and 42.5 team limits are adequate to creat a “difference” between the leagues and that doubling up/down is crucial for most British riders to make a living?

Can’t argue with any of that! Good assessment.

Why not? Has he committed a crime?

Kildemand King Lawson Nicholls Kasprzak Summers Allen 42.48 If not Kildemand and Kasprzak, it's the likes of Tungate and Bellego unless Chris Louis can persuade Chris Holder or an Extraliga rider.

I make it 6.74 left if Lawson and Nick Morris signed so Ludvig Lindgren, Kus, Stuart Robson or Luke Becker could be alternatives to Ben Morley.

There's only five places left (at Newcastle and Eastbourne) and no prospect of him being signed unless he could come in on a 5 average for Eastbourne (who might also have Nick Morris) instead of the anticipated Ben Morley.

Ostergaard, Newman and Morris as heatleaders are well behind Palm Toft, Wright and Barker at the fancied Redcar, but Wajtknecht, Shanes, Thomsen and Castagna should individually beat their counterparts, Bacon, Stewart, Greaves and Smith, unless Stewart has a breakthrough season. There is hope of better than bottom for Brum.

Just looked at the 39 riders who achieved averages in both the PL and the CL in 2018 and the average "conversion rate" was: 1.32 On the face of the conversion comparable alone (and allowing nothing for anticipated increase or reduction in average): Chris Harris (0.99), Proctor (1.04), Klindt (1.05) and Schlein (1.08) would be the best value signings in the CL, but the worst in the PL; Auty (1.77), Jake Allen (1.62), Summers (1.57) and Ashley Morris (1.52) would be the best value in the PL, but the worst in the CL. So advantage Somerset in the CL and hope for Ipswich in the PL if they sign Auty, Allen and Summers!

We agree that 1.5 for next season is wrong. If there is to be a first division and a second division they can be regulated by team building points limits, not by arbitrary conversion rates which do not reflect the different levels of skills of the riders. I can't see the problem with doubling down (or doubling up) now that we have different race nights for the two leagues. In fact it should be encouraged for British riders, to make speedway more cost effective both for the riders, who need two pay packets, and for the promoters who can save on the air fares and running costs of foreign riders. Compare the Redcar and the Peterborough teams: Redcar have Wright and Barker as heatleaders and they should be second strings/third heatleaders in the PL; Redcar have Stewart and Bacon as second strings and they should be reserves in the PL. That's progression, not giving Barker and Bjerre PL reserve berths.

That's one 44.5 point looking team. Ah, the new conversion rate. Hmmmmm.

Apparently Matt Ford said you have to be unbiased and have no vested interest ........ as he lifted one of his bum cheeks from the chair and removed his vest. Ah, those loopholes.

All seven teams will have both a good chance of making the top four and concerns that they won't. None stands out.

No, I said 2 points in heat 8 was the only reasonable expectation, but you'd also hope a favourable gate or good start in two of his other rides might gain points. Any number two scoring 4 away has done well, unless of course he's against a weaker opposition number two, in which case 4 points is a reasonable expectation and 6 is doing well.

Yes, I've looked at sportowefacty for his Polish form and it's unspectacular.