Roger Jacobs

The Regs don't say anything about making changes before 0% of League matches ...

(Previous replies deleted/lost!) Teams can replace riders up to the points limit - hence Ipswich had over 7 points to use when they replaced Heeps. Because teams are normally close to the points limit, the replacements tend to have a lower average. The BSPA has introduced a splendidly vague new Regulation this season whereby once the Prem started, there's a window between 25% and 75% of fixtures when replacements can be made. The 15th fixture (25%) is on 2nd June, by which time the new Green Sheets will be in operation, and teams will know how much scope they have to make changes, if required.

If you add those individual scores to the team totals, then it's not a Pairs event ... not that it is anyway, with a third rider *having* to take a ride.

Annoyingly, some Thursdays are used by either away matches (KL! and Sheffield), and more annoyingly by Premiership Pairs meetings Mondays don't seem to be an option - probably because of Spedeworth events at the weekend, and maybe even rider availability, e.g. Poland/Sweden, although I've no idea these days about travel, etc.

Protasiewicz

Predictable Witches - King has a poor record in Heats 13 & 15 anyway, so four similar races in this meeting have proved he's not in any sort of form.

There's nothing there about being allowed to be used during a match, other than when R/R is in operation.

From Peatboghorror press release: "... Normal Premiership admission prices apply, with season tickets not valid for this event ..." They've tried to make it trendy with the use of the Rising Star or #8 - a token gesture - and the semi-final and Final, and of course the GP-style points scoring for the aggregate totals over the six legs. Any sponsorship, any prize money?

Yes, as per the heat format published in the regulations. Red & Blue are 1&3, White & Yellow are 2&4, but each pair can decide in each race who will take their respective positions (as per published amendment).

Spot on about Hume. Watching on Eurosport, it was obvious he was riding the fourth bend too hard, and when he was off gate 4 I said he would override and fall off.

It is Danyon Hume for Ipswich in the first event. Rowe must still be out of action.

Yes, they need proof for an injury. If they are "unwell" it's an automatic 7 day break from racing.

In the 2022 Regulations under Section 016 Race Formats, and an amendment for the Pairs has also been published: http://www.scbgb.co.uk/regulations

Very sad to hear that Chris Ellis has passed away

It wasn't just "gated to win" - Musielak attacked the track, and absolutely dominated the other riders on the first couple of bends. Looking at King and Batchelor, neither of them got stuck in, even if they were quick away.

Just caught up with the TV coverage. I think Batchelor and King need to be at 3 & 4 to get full comedy value - neither of them looked like they had ever seen Foxhall before. Hawkins is an embarrassment - unable to communicate, and looks like he's been dressed at a jumble sale - there's no attempt to by speedway to educate people how to present themselves. Just when we thought the Witches were turning a corner, they've reverted to type with a complete lack of focus and voom ...

There isn't anywhere at Foxhall closer to the track that people want to be - you have to be high on the terracing to get a view over that Stock Car catch-fencing, and for some reason there are people who like to sit on ex-Olympic plastic seats very high up and a long way from the racing. Even with a decent attendance, Foxhall looks empty at ground level.

That was a superb lay down, and he was very unlucky to hit the fence. It's ironic that Holder is remembered at Ipswich for withdrawing with a bruised toe - seems that he doesn't like to race at Foxhall.

Compost Corner was a feature on Tiswas . There was a bunch of us who followed the Witches home and away late 70s, early 80s - and many different names and nicknames were used for riders and teams. KL were called the Deadbeets (after the sugar beet factory behind the first/second bend was demolished). Those of us who watched speedway then saw the last heyday of the sport.

We will never know what might have happened ...

Not sure that I've heard a Stars fan talk about "Compost Corner" before Takes me right back to the days of the Ipswich fanzine Witch Reminds Me ... Ipswich should own this. Holder has a bruised toe , Ellis was in Poland scoring 2 for Team GB - all set up for the Witches to win by 8 or more. I will be asleep while that match is on (sounds like many other Witches fans already are asleep!), and will catch up with the TV coverage on Tuesday morning.

Or a 5-1 would have left them 2 points down ... it's all about tactics and playing the remaining options.

But average manipulation involves deliberate low scoring ...

I have posted this in the general section, but thought it worthwhile for those who are only interested in the Prem ... The Green Sheet Rolling Averages have been based on 20 matches for a while, but this season (2022), the number of matches is reducing by 2 each month, so: June 18, July 16, August 14, September 12, and by October the Rolling Averages will be based on the last 10 matches. I checked with the BSPL office, and they confirmed that it has always been the last N matches, irrespective of home or away, i.e. not half of each. Therefore, by October it's possible that riders will have averages skewed by 6/7/8 home and 4/3/2 away, or even 4/3/2 home and 6/7/8 away. Obviously, the smaller the sample, the bigger the impact on the overall average - especially when a new score is added and the oldest is dropped. Another change by the BSPL for which the consequences have not been thought through ...

They don't even promote the League as a competition worth winning - it's not sponsored so, as far as we know, there's no prize money.