Teromaafan

Lions will take that result for the first meeting of the season away. The Witches scoring pretty much reflected the way their team is built. Keep it tight until heat 13 and two of the biggest hitters in the league will get the job done. Great, but tonight they were at home. When you rely on JD & ES to bag 25 points plus, the set up looks fragile. If either of this pair has an off night away from home, they will get spanked. A previous post highlights that Riss under performed and will no doubt improve. The same can probably be said for Lawson to balance things out, but Riss was on his home track. Although the Witches have a slender lead to take to Leicester for the second leg, the outcome is by no means a formality since everyone apart from Rew and Emil (yeah , like he will struggle!) is very familiar with the Lions track.

With all these early call offs to date what exactly is the newly appointed CEO (Climb Every Obstacle?) doing for his money? He needs to have words with the sky. Joking apart, poor Phil might find that he has more control over the weather than the people that employ him when his supposed unbiased decisions affect their clubs.

A bit surprised that Morris is at 5. Apart form heat 13, he will be partnered in races by reserves. Could that be a weakness? The gaffer obviously doesn't think so.

Fair enough but there have not been a ‘couple’ of matches so far!

The important thing to take into consideration here is the number of team places available to riders. After my interest hiatus of 28 years from the sport (the period of Leicester’s absence), I was quite alarmed at how few tracks were operational in 2011 when the Lions roared again. That number has reduced further since then. Whilst not wanting to dwell on the past (I picked up on the sport in the 70s), the biggest problem for me is the amount of doubling up between the top two leagues at present. When I could last be bothered, a check highlighted that about 70% of Championship riders also rode in the Premiership. That speaks volumes for the credibility of the sport. Pitch that to someone that you are trying to introduce to speedway and see what reaction you get. (Stay clear of explaining rider’s guest appearances). The fact that riders double up is not so much a reflection of a rider shortage, but the fact the extra meetings are essential to most of them to make the sport pay, irrespective of Nationality. Whilst in principle, moves to create more opportunities for young riders should be the way forward, sacrificing a more senior rider to make way for them, will impact on team strength. This doesn’t sit well with Promoters or supporters, neither of whom have any patience with an under performing team. Wearing the financial hat, the ‘future’ of the sport doesn’t extend beyond next week unfortunately.

Just hope he is his own man and doesn’t become a puppet.

Doesn’t matter what anyone’s opinion is on him, he hasn’t got a team place simply because team’s decision makers consider other riders are better value. Matter closed……..until May, when someone somewhere is under performing and the scramble starts for unattached options.

……Despite a poor taste in hats.

Where's your sense of humour Lisa?

They've solved the farce of a rider who rides for both teams. Lawson will ride for the Lions and the Pirates will use a guest to cover his absence. Bomber is the favourite to step in.

That enthusiasm is great but riding in three leagues is an awful lot of time on the road for a young driver, particularly when you consider the geographical locations of Championship and National League tracks.

Er.. no…Flappy’s post says he is definite?

Agreed. Pretty sure he’s just waiting to be contacted by a Championship club around May time when teams have already lost patience with under performers or have injuries. Highly unlikely that he would then still stay with the Cubs, for whom it would leave a massive void.

Me too. It might be a good way to learn a second language. I would then be able to demonstrate to my old boss that, like him, I am also bilingual. He was fluent in both English and absolute b*ll*cks.

Leicester did make contact with him and requested his measurements. He was apparently furious when he found out that they weren’t for kevlars but were for the mascot costume.

Are you referring to Justin Sejman?

There are some valid arguments on this thread for retaining Connor Mountain. Despite what those involved in the running of the sport might claim though, there is no investment in the future, it’s only about doing the best you can for your club for the upcoming season. Short sighted maybe, but when tracks are closing faster than new ones appearing it’s understandable. It’s not even about a full season because clubs will have tapped up riders who haven’t currently got a British commitment, ready for when the domestic revolving door starts from May onwards.

As good as any other team's 1 to 7 I'd say.

We are obsessed with averages for team building in this country, but just how important is it? Take it to the extreme and let a team sign any seven riders of their choice. This will be dictated almost entirely by their budget based on expected average attendances, unlike the Poles who attract significant domestic sponsorship. Pushing the boat out and risking recovering money by attracting more spectators seems to be a tried and tested strategy failure. At what expenditure lengths would a team go to with regard to chasing silverware? The bottom line has to be that the prize for winning a UK domestic speedway title is peanuts so where is the justification logic in a heavy financial outlay? On this basis, why not just let a team build to its financial budget instead of everyone being hoodwinked into thinking that team average totals are the be and end all and a sport leveller. My honest opinion is that it would not make a massive difference to comparative team strengths in the apparent absence of a rider pay structure within in the sport.

Better off with Lord Lucan. More attractive average and more reliable.

My only recollection of Finn Jensen was him consistently trapping first and being last within a lap or two!

Connor Mountain to be confirmed soon (word from the inside).

A few seniors at Peterborough didn’t pay anything to get in for the last two seasons apparently. Their excuse? They were riding for the Panthers!

Team continuity is rare in this sport today and the fact that Dan is a local lad, it is great to have him back. I expect him to boss heat 2 at home and pick up some minor place points elsewhere. Points away are likely to be hard to get, but as young as he is, he can’t expect to be wrapped in cotton wool for too long. Lions fans will have a soft spot for him and if he can punch his weight, he will be key to the team’s achievements next year.

Doyle is first class and remains committed to British Speedway and for that reason he’s not all about money! As he has said many times, riding British tracks (more technical than elsewhere in Europe) makes him a better rider. His fellow Aussie mates have picked up on this when you consider that next seasons Aussie GP riders will all be riding in this country. Despite his high average I think most teams would try and juggle their team building if they thought they could get him to ride for them. Think he will get a good reception when he comes to Leicester with the Witches. We’ll secretly wish he has a stinker on the night, but know it is unlikely!