Big Al

If Leicester are to be taken as serious playoff contenders, this is a match where they must come away with at least a point. There can't be any "we'll get something next time we ride there"....it's got to start straight away. Won't have a better chance than this.....

Get the feeling that even if he re-reads it 100 times it wont make a scrap of difference

From reading the output on this from various sources, it looks like one of the complaints raised by UKV&I is about situations whereby riders are loaned out by their parent club, where the parent club has acted as the sponsoring employer?? Also doubling up has been mentioned I think. Whatever......what effect could all this have on the transfer value of non-EU riders? Surely a downwards effect? I mention this within the context of a current high-profile transfer saga involving one such rider.

Hope your humour bypass operation went well

Dear Eurosport Please can you tell that imbecile who is commentating on the SWC at the moment, that the winner of a heat scores three points. Not three big points, just three. They only come in one size. But it's perfectly possible to say that a heat win is crucial, or vital etc. Better still, replace him with the guy who commentates for you on Swedish league matches (Dave Rowe); he seems knowledgeable and not like he is high on cocaine. Thank you

Brilliant news about Andre Compton. But what a dull, boring racetrack it is at Owlerton. Limited racing lines, riders having to scrub the speed off.......I'm surprised anyone would pay good money for that dross. Take a trip 60 miles down the M1

Well it had a limited shelf life anyway!!

Indeed!

I think one of Screen's biggest assets, is that he isn't an ex world champ

Kauko

Possibly a case of young Master Ford spitting his dummy out after somebody stole one of his toys?

Getting us ready for Elite League!

A bit skeptical if all of the announced "Bella Vista" team will actually appear! It's more like a Scunthorpe/Edinburgh select plus guests. Annyway, probably better having been "up front" and announce the team well in advance, so nobody will be able to claim they went along expecting Zagar, Zetterstrom, Wolbert, Dryml, Ostergaard. But really it should have been changed to another team name. The promotion must be banking on the Belle Vue name attracting people who havn't got much of a clue, and who won't notice anything amiss. If that's the case then they are con-men - but what the heck!

I'd be wary of riders who are into their 30's and who have had injury problems and whose averages have dropped. It may be tempting to take advantage of them being available at "bargain" averages, but sadly they all too often cannot stop their decline.This would rule out Kauko and Howe. Nick Morris is the only rider, at present, i would advise to bring in. The rest of the team depends totally on the league structure next season and where we are within it. However, Doolan and Karlsson are worth a punt providing the circumstances are suitable, and the rest of the team is age 20-30.

Shock of shocks! Website now carries a PLRC report-so they did realise it was taking place, after all! What a snub to Magnus, though, to not even mention anything beforehand. If he wants to come back again next year, (and if he does, it will probably be for the supporters and providing the money is worthwhile) I'd welcome his doing so. As proved yesterday, Glyn has said Magnus is in the top 4 riders in PL. I agree, providing things are all to his satisfaction. He just dips when things are not fully right, whereas the top guys seem able to keep producing the goods irrespective. The draw worked well in his favour yesterday and the track was bang on for him, but still a great performance. Maybe the lack of mention about the playoffs on the website, is because the promotion hope that nobody will notice that we've not qualified!!

Do I hear a rumour that Leicester are not in the playoffs this year? Also caught a rumour that Magnus Karlsson is representing Leicester at the PLRC today. Not a word about either on the Leicester Lions website. Anyone know anything about these??

Sounds like we'll have a team full of unknowns, operating in an as yet unknown league. It's fear of the unknown that bothers me

TTFN

A track that suited all riders prepared to attack it and have a go. GT and his "consultants" got it right, big help with the weather conditions being spot-on for good track prep as well. Alex deserves a slap on the back, obvious he was in pain but as usual he improves as the match goes on (makes the attempted comeback at Rye all the more baffling/annoying - sorry to harp on about it). Can be a good combo with Simon N, who seems to be better in the earlier heats of matches. Bit concerned with Gravs inconsistencies, but suppose you can't argue too much with 2 heat wins - just wish he'd reduce the zero's though. Liam Carr was great value for Embra and thought he was very unlucky to get chucked out when he fell. Shows BP can be tackled by young brits, especially if they can get out of the start on levle terms and not get spooked by mixing it on the first bend. Assuming KD not back for Newcastle, his r/r's should be availble to all the rest with him moving to no2 in the averages? Thik im right in saying Newky will be deffo in playoffs if they win today at home v Berwick, but with no chance of being in top 2. Maybe next Sunday theyll be just a fraction less charged-up and we can take advantage. Think Leicester took good advantage of Embra not being focussed enough on last nights match as they'd been giving all their attention to the cup semi - so maybe same again next Sunday?

So no guest for KD - just r/r (with limited options as new averages don't take force till Sunday). Why?

Assume r/r for KD can only be taken by MK, LE, JG and reserves? All due respect to the latter three, but that's a bit fragile, isn't it? Can't a guest be acquired, or don't the rules allow? Also LB is still a bit bashed up (and i don't just mean by Kozza) if his points outcome last night at KL is anything to judge by. Generally agree with comments re decision-making of management, sad to say. Reserves has been a botch from the start. Re-iterate my previous comments and those of many - too late, and the Rye House episode (both matches) a huge screw-up by the look of it.

Isn't Simon Neilsen injured? Steffan Neilsen released by Sumzet? Thats a surprise move - who have they got in to replace him? Agree he falls off a fair bit, and seems to take other riders down when he does - quite often team-mates. Maybe that's why Sumzet have shipped him out - too much of a risk. I'm not a statto so someone else could know this - but when (presumably) the new averages come into force from 1st Sept. , how far down the pecking order will Nemo drop? Could be he goes down to 4th? It will only be relevant - in the short term anyway - to the Newky away match where we'll likely need to get at least a point, but it would render using R/R more of less out of the question. Or will he be fit again by then? Anyhow, the reserve situation needs to be sorted once and for all, but it could all be too late - like re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic!

Glyn is unable to win with the track prep, there will always be somebody it doesn't suit. Put on too much dirt and the riders struggle to turn their bikes and guys get thrown off and break collarbones or worse. Magnus needs it slick on the inside with some grip on the outside of bends 2 and 4, Lasse wants it grippy but not so grippy you can't turn it properly, the crowd don't want to be covered in dust so its got to be kept watered but they also want overtaking, but that might not suit all the riders..... need I go on?? What we saw on Sunday was dirt being taken off, and dumped on the back straight. This was being done by the toy tractor and took a lot of time (on top of the previous sun break). In a previous match (can't recall which one - Newcastle?) Glyn was out towing a blade, shifting dirt from the inside/mid track to the outside. This seemed to work very well and was reasonably quick and effective . I think he used the blade later-on in the match to bring some dirt back from the fence. Why hasn't this been used again since?

Long Eye - I'm referring to the matches Kauko rode in following his knee injury up until his unfortunate spill on Sunday. Even after his knee brace was fitted, he's been severely limited and especially so on tighter cornered tracks (like BP!) where he's clearly unable to put any significant weight or pressure on his left leg, so he tries to do an Alex Edberg impersonation (a fit version of Alex, I should say!) but gets in a pickle and loses too much control of the bike. I have nothing but respect for Kauko for trying, but I question the decision-making. Leicester pinned their remaining hopes of getting into the playoffs (already thin - despite the "talking-up" by the promotion) on Kauko and Edberg being able to overcome their injuries, return and score well. That just didn't happen, and as far as the rest of this season's concerned, and making changes, the words horse, stable door, shut and bolted come to mind. Trying to find replacements is doubtful, unless we're looking ahead to 2014, but we don't know if there will be a Premier League next year! Where guests can be effective, is when a team develops its own "regular" guest because he pretty much becomes part of the team. But it's too late now to do that, i suppose, so looks like we are left to keep on muddling through. As someone else has said on here, it's just been a series of poor decisions this season. If i can finish on a positive, though, Kev Doolan has been brilliant - he gives it a go no matter what the track's like, rides just about every day somewhere (or so it seems) and keeps everybody's spirits up. Good on yer, Aussie!