Roger Jacobs

I don't think there was ever a rule about promoting junior riders - it was more a case of if teams had two similar riders missing there could be a "gentleman's agreement" between the promoters to use juniors. Certainly if, for example, one team had a heat leader missing, but the other had a second string missing, it was highly unlikely that juniors would be used.

But British Speedway still hasn't worked out how to encourage those watching the Semis and the Final to return for the standard league matches ...

A short drawn-out season ...

I’m iainb, and so’s my wife!

Apparently Kenp was using an engine borrowed from Joe Thompson!? He said on BSN that the track had to be ridden hard and fast, if you held back you were more likely to struggle on the loose surface - which happened to him when he had to take avoiding action when entering the bend hard while chasing. The track was awful.

Spot on. In the Prem, Harris' 2026 GSA from 10 matches is about a tenth higher than his starting GSA - whereas from 12 Championship matches his 2026 GSA is more than a point lower than his starting figure.

Duplicate.

I guess Simon Lambert turned them down …

Don't forget the huge difference in prize money between finishing second from bottom or third from bottom! Arthur Fery is now guaranteed £900,000, irrespective of his result this afternoon. Indeed he was guaranteed £80,000 just for reaching the First round - I don't imagine the British Speedway Premiership Champions actually get anything except a medal ...

On Witches Facebook responding to a taunt from a Witches fan about retiring at the back, Kemp said he lost his steel shoe in one race and had a puncture in another. I'm guessing his fall was tactical - certainly the sort of thing John Berry would have expected, e.g. if we can't get a 5-1, then keeping us 6 behind for a tactical is the next best ...

He's not allowed to ride because he missed Leicester because of illness. The other week he rode for the Witches, then missed a Danish match due to illness, then rode for Poole on the Wednesday. Danish teams have squads so replaced him, and because he didn't miss a Prem or Champ meeting he could keep riding here. The big worry has to be: is he actually unwell or, even more worryingly, is he picking and choosing for some reason?

Palm Toft ?! 🤣

Reminds me of the 2011 Fours Final when Matt Tréssarieu twice passed the unbeatable Kauko Nieminen on the original too narrow version of this track.

There must be a concern about Lawson, because he missed a Danish match recently citing illness. If he has an illness, perhaps it's finally caught up with him? Otherwise, there could be something else outside the sport causing an issue ...

The updates page says taken ill en route - can't see how they could possibly get a doctor's note?! The only option is a non-contracted rider as the replacement (even if they had been at full strength).

According to the SCB Regs (010.2.2 Assessed MA’s) the equivalent of a 4.50 Premiership assessed rider is 6.00 for the Championship.

FIM Moto TV is an option - I watched both Manchester GPs for €14.99 ...

The truth is that modern super-tuned finely-balanced machinery has ruined tacks like Ipswich. The rapid pick-up when the throttle is opened, plus the unpredictability on other than perfect surfaces makes them far less suitable on smaller tracks. The behaviour of these machines is resulting in more high-speed crashes (Jack Holder’s is a prime example) - previously that would only happen if the throttle jammed open. The riders are to blame for that incessant need to “improve”, yet all they’ve done is increased costs for everyone.

Not sure to what extent they "held" him, he never mounted a challenge ...

I remember when Adam Ellis first rode for the Witches. In reaching a Final I posted about winning the £250k prize, and his dad got really excited ... until he realised the sarcasm of my comment.

I think he's turned into something of a "throttle-jockey" (don't like the term) in recent years - he's much less interested if tracks are dry and slick, unless he makes a start. Certainly he's much more hit and miss, even in the Championship.

This is the R1 fixture rearranged from the rain-off in May. Poland takes priority because their fixture was (re)arranged first. You should moan to the BSPA/L or the Promoters: 10 home league matches in six months is a hectic schedule to sort out, and they shouldn't have committed to such a difficult task 😝

Can't think of any fans I'd want to share ...

To be fair, it doesn't really matter who's at #1, neither Lawson or King have an auspicious record there for the Witches. It's a tough place to fill, even in a "weaker" league.

Brennan remains at #1 for July ...