GiveusaB

No grip for Hume...he tried to work every inch of the track...just nothing there!

Summed up quite well ....although Cook was ruthless in passing King in Heat 9 ? Ref dropped a couple of clangers IMO....I don't think Morris moved in Heat 7 (start) and I don't understand why he re-started Heat 13 when Lawson clearly penalised himself by moving....these things happen I guess. We 'Bham' have one of the weakest sides in the clubs history...'who actually assembled this team I wonder'!? Bowtell/Proctor first to go IMO! Zach Cook was the only highlight last night! Great choice of guest... give the manager credit for that....shame the other choice of guest couldn't contribute to the team's tally! (not criticising young Joe here...he tried his best). Track was slick as....which produced boring/processional racing!

It didn't take long for Proctor to go missing!

Proctor ruled out tonight...Joe Thompson guesting! I'd have thought Adam Roynon or Lee Complin ??

My concern from LR's statement is that he claims that 3 current riders missed a chunk of last season and need time to get dialled in etc... Why sign half a side that are not going to produce in the first place?

35-55 tonight! P.s I would've opted for Paul Starke as a guest!

May be the O.P should have just named 'Wolves' ? Can't remember what the weather was like, but if it was the right call, then I can't see the necessity for any complaints?

12 races won from gate 2/4 last week .... that's quite a high percentage! Irony is...we won the toss, chose gates 2-4, but the opposition get to use those gates 8 times, as they get choice in Heat 15! No benefit from winning the toss!

Forecast is dry....so should be ok ! Lawson in for Riss! Not sure how we're going to cope with King/Wright/Lawson..... Edwards/Bailey/Hume all better than our second strings! Think we could be in for a right thumping!

As soon as they introduce a new rule that only permits a guest for your No.1, the better. A second string can be covered by R/R and there are plenty of reserves out there NDL etc.....

What is the Berwick plan?

Really ? I didn't know that if you get excluded for a tapes offence, then it doesn't count as an official ride ? does that mean the '0' points doesn't contribute towards his calculated average? As for the harsh exclusion? he definitely moved in the first attempted start, but I think he got a flyer in the second attempt (Ref was wrong to exclude him...) Thank you for explaining. However, I still think we would've benefited by replacing Nielsen in Heat 9?

I don't think there will be any changes until Morris gets an appropriate average....

Quite right... I meant Heat 9 ...replacing Nielsen would've been the obvious option. As for losing by 6 points? this would be better than 8, as there is an aggregate bonus point to play for!

One criticism from a managerial point of view.... We were 6 points behind prior to Heat 10.....why didn't we use a T/S for Bowtell who had only scored 1 point from 3 previous rides and looked the slowest rider out there? Yes, people are going to say that Bowtell was left in and won the heat thanks to some fine team riding by Morris....but I'll tell you now, nobody with half a speedway brain could/would have predicted that!!!

Decent meeting for the first one of the season....the crowd level looked poor from an outdoor perspective...not sure how many were inside though ? So far as performance/s go....bit harsh to make judgments on riders that haven't rode for a while.... Yes, we're going to struggle to win many meetings, but I have to say that you couldn't fault commitment and effort.... Morris ....was brilliant....superb team riding....forceful when had to be and would've no doubt have been unbeatable had he been on Gate 4 in the races that he was beaten! Bowtell.... needs to improve on speed...looked slow to me! Paco... rode fantastically well (hands-up on my part) best I've seen him in a 'B' race jacket (using outside lines for the very first time...) Nielsen... struggled, but we know that he can do better....'just a bit rusty' last night. Sedgemen.... rode hard for his 7 points...got unlucky with the gate draw....Gate 4 was most favourable last night and he was in that gate only once (which he won from...) Proctor....rode well in his first heat....got held up by Pearson in his second....and to be fair to him, he only rode in one heat all night, where he was up against an opposing reserve. Pearson....got better as the night went on...seemed to get quicker and grow with confidence....certainly has the tools to become a future star! To sum up Scunthorpe.... they were better than B'ham on the night, but I don't think they'll win anything! Lambert rode really well for a paltry 5 points which could so easily have been more had he been off gate 4. (7 Heat winners from the first 8 races !) he just never gave up and was as entertaining as anybody.... MTP looked very fast...he seems to have a liking for PB! Well done to Scunthorpe! P.s track staff have done a brilliant job

Having said that, it will most likely end up being a T/S ride for Morris !

Looking forward to simply hearing the 'engines' roaring!

Getting back on topic.... Personally, I think we'd of been stronger had we used R/R for Wright tonight. Paco is slightly above average if he gates, but I can't remember him passing anybody in all his time with us. I hope to see an improved Paco tonight!

I think from Proctors perspective...its all about getting some laps under your belt....especially after his long lay-off and all these rain-offs to boot! I don't think there is any right/wrongs from a guest's point of view...he no doubt just 'wants' the money (as Lisa points out....)

Please see Mike Baker's post !

As predicted....it's 'PACO' in for Wright! I'm sure Paco will give it his all, but I fear the worst tomorrow night so far as the result goes! Scunthorpe far stronger with Edwards....B'ham weaker with Castagna!!

I'm not that fussed who Scunthorpe use as a guest, I was just making a point about 'advantages' etc.... I'm looking forward to seeing Edwards ride, he's great around PB...it's a shame that we didn't sign him !

Certain riders ride certain tracks better than others...hence changing Edwards for Kennedy (similar ave) will definitely make Scunthorpe stronger. If Plymouth were riding at B'ham and Turner wasnt available, Edwards would make them far stronger. Edwards average at B'ham last season was more like a 7 average... Hopefully you get where I'm coming from

I think so far as guesting rules go, I think that a guest should be allowed for a Heat leader....R/R should be used for a second string and a 2.00 ave (max) for any reserve guest.... Just my opinion. My point being, that a 'guest' shouldn't effectively make a side stronger than it would've been, had it had it's original 7 in place.