RebelDan

Cheers. No value there then

I’m not entirely sure about Bellego’s average but I think he last rode in the championship in 2016 averaging 7.63. I’m not sure if his PL average would supersede this.

We could have fitted both Ellis and Covatti into the team and a 4 point Aussie at reserve but Gazza went down the Barker route. Maybe Ellis or Covatti weren’t available (or both). There will be lots of pressure on both Barker and Bates to score consistently.

I doubt Pontus Aspgren could be tempted over but he’s on a bargain 7.17 average from last riding for the Rebels in 2014. Bellego is also quick around the OTA not sure what average he’d come in on though.

I’m not sure he’d improve his starting average of 7.42

Zaine Kennedy at reserve assuming he’s in the UK next season?

Blimey. I think he finished on 6.35 less 2.5% so 6.19. There must be two heat leaders coming to join Rory.

A good start to team building with Schlein and particularly Rowe. Hopefully Covatti is to follow but I guess Poole will be interested assuming they are in the Championship.

It will be fantastic to welcome Plymouth back to the Championship I hope this happens and the fans turn out to support the team.

I’m not too disappointed Harris has departed, he’s been a brilliant servant to British Speedway but I think his best days are behind him and I’m guessing he is costly. I’d love to see Covatti and Rowe back, and build from there. I’d also love to see Charles Wright return but on a 9+ average there isn’t any value there. I’d take Jake Allen back but I’m not sure if he’s burnt his bridges with the promotion.

Didn’t Ford say they’ve dropped by 25% (can’t recall the exact figure) with the change of race night ? Has it seemed a visibly smaller crowd this year ?

I think you need to read between the lines here. This seems like posturing ahead of the AGM by Ford IMO. He wants Wednesday night racing to protect his business interests which is fair enough - the timing is ahead of the AGM though to lay a marker to other Promoters. Would the top league survive with just 6 teams ? I don’t know I’m speculating but I suspect he has no intention of dropping down he just wants a change of race nights and is letting other promoters know this ahead of the AGM. Also whatever price he wants for the club is less likely to be achieved if Poole are in the 2nd tier. Just my opinion of course not being close to Poole or Ford before someone hijacks my post!

It appears a few Glasgow fans are playing down a 12 point win - this look all over to me. Heats 13 and 15 cost the Rebels tonight. Glasgow have already won at Somerset in the league and also won the pairs there.

Like many I thought the racing was v poor and the meeting instantly forgettable. It’s not a cheap day so the organisers really need to sort this out (last year at Cardiff was just as crap). There is nothing wrong with the riders, look what happened in the Polish GP when you give the boys a decent track. I said after last year I’d give it one more year but not again for me unless assurances are made to sort the track out. Also this is a big event and the overall pre event entertainment is poor IMO, the organisers have got complacent. The highlight of the day was Charles Wright ! Well done Charles

At last a decent GP. Last night makes you realise how dross the others have been - put these boys on a decent track and look what happens.

It doesn’t help when the team building average is capped ridiculously low at 38 points

As expected the guests were decisive and favoured Sheffield.

Somerset significantly weakened by the loss of Covatti he was flying - with the greatest of respect to Nielsen he’s unlikely to get anywhere near Nico’s scoring. Sheffield stronger with Allen for Howarth assuming Jake is now fully fit IMO. This should be a comfortable home win.

Most Rebels fans would prefer to see Jake in action IMO.

The weather forecast looks poor - rain all day

Mate no Reading fan would want Swindon to do well and vice versa - there was always intense rivalry between the two teams, so there is no way Dave Robinson would support Swindon. As a true Reading Racer at heart (followed them for over 30 years), you’d have to get Paul McKenna to do a job on me to support the old enemy(And even then I reckon my default position would be to support whoever the opposition were!) I hope all the riders recover from this morning.

Thanks for the update. The crowds seem quite a bit down on last year. I think it’s a combination of the wrong race night (they should have reverted back to Fridays in the lower league it kick started the weekend and had a feel good factor) and the wrong team - no crowd favourites - Wright Allen or BWD . I understand they have also removed or capped the OAP concession (there were always a lot of seniors at Somerset) and this may have turned away quite a few away who are now maybe picking their meetings. Add in the woeful presentation and it’s no surprise the crowds are down. The only thing constant is it’s still a cracking race track and regularly produced excellent speedway races. I had been a regular for 6 years up to the change in race nights to Weds which due to work commitments now means I can’t attend (we used to go as a family of 5) we can now only attend the odd meeting when I’m on leave. It’s also very quiet on the forum from Rebels fans this season - where has everyone gone ???

I’ts unfortunate it’s on the same night as Barca vs Liverpool - stay at home night for me. I hope it’s a decent crowd for the club and the weather plays ball.

It’s very quiet on here post meeting. How was the meeting ? Decent crowd ?

He was Armando Castagna’s mechanic for a while at Reading (I think). Good news on the new track - to be fair it can’t have been any worse than the old one!