SteveLyric2

I guess any 'newbies' wouldn't know about a track being deliberately flooded when their top rider was supposedly missing? An act which was caught out and officially punished by the SCB/BSPA? No? Just us 'oldies' then!!!

Many in the crowd thought it would be called off after heat 8 - in fact it was announced what the refund/readmission policy would be for a future meeting if it was called off then. However the ref went down to the pits and had discussions with both teams. Both teams wanted to continue racing subject to what time the paramedic was likely to return. A 'curfew' time of 10.15pm was agreed and announced.

I believe Len Silver is keen on this format and has spoken to several promoters, including at least one Premiership club!!

Rather than one league I reckon a format with 3 regional divisions is a likely next step depending on what happens with the TV deal in the future. Negotiations that are to be 'completed' before end August could severely affect the future structure.

Maybe the Aces should have waited til after Monday then?!

Could be a decent guest reserve on Monday!!? He would certainly be up for it - especially if there was the carrot of a team place being dangled?!

He's the centre green presenter in radio contact with the ref and the pits. so YES!

Berge would fit as reserve for Nico!!

Yes true. I was forgetting how far behind the others they are!!

Who is replacing Bjerre - assuming he's still injured?!

What average would Douglas be on? Ashley Morris is 3.44 (3.32 from Monday) and surely Douglas' converted average would be around 5.00?

Has anyone been sacked?

In my opinion Nico went for the inside line on turn 1 with just a little too much speed. He straightened up and caught Berge as the photo above shows.. Richie had nowhere to go except into and over Nico. It was agood race so you can't blame the riders for going for it - even if a 3-3 (rather than 2-4) would have been perfectly acceptable!!

Etheridge and Becker were certainly being considered last night with Wolves the only Premiership team NOT in action. Not sure about Etheridge (av 5.65 for Berwick) as he was dropped by BV last season, but the choice is limited so his NSS experience might prove vital.

Quite correct - he's only done 7 meetings!!

25-26 degrees at the stadium at the moment and due to get hotter with a bit of added breeze.

With Rory back at 1 from Monday, any thoughts on whether that will make any difference to team results?

If he does ride in Sweden then your (and everybody else's) view of fixture priority goes right out of the window!!!! Hopefully he'll be at 1 for the Pirates before he drops to 3rd heat leader from Monday!!!

Brady back at number 1 from Monday!!!!

The track issues are twofold. One is the base in certain places (as confirmed by the management in both the Speedway Star and the Matchday programme notes) which hopefully the blade will have improved during the reduced access allowed by the Stadium owners. The second is the shale (or lack of decent shale) which has become too 'thin' and therefore dusty. New shale has been put on the track during the past week which hopefully will have had time to bed in with the combination of torrential rain and high temperatures between yesterday and Thursday. It may well take away any home advantage during the early heats - unless there is any chance for the team to have practice beforehand?! Gating (as ever) and getting their set-ups right will be crucial.

The new track surface could well catch the Pirates out on Thursday but we shall see. In the meantime I'm sure the promotion will never tire from polishing all the trophies won over the past 10 years on a 'track bordering on dangerous'?!

After the Stars thrashing of the Aces last night - and in so doing cementing their reputation as the top East of England Premiership team - I don't think Aces are 'nailed on' at all. As for Ippo, lets see what happens when their free scoring reserve goes into the top 5. Play-offs will be Swindon, Poole, Ipswich and Kings Lynn imo.

fingers crossed then!!

Have you heard of VAT, Stadium rent and operating costs?

I know all that. Poole's is a scheduled Premiership meeting. I was just wondering if a televised Swedish meeting carried more weight?! It would seem not as Nicolai has today stated he has a 2 week break from all Polish/Swedish/Danish meetings!!