HGould

Incredibly sad news to wake up to. A very underrated rider especially at Hull An outstanding Promoter for Brummies and a man whose opinions were always worth listening to. A genuinely nice man and family and thoughts very much with Denise. It all sounds like a very sudden illness.

I remember Pekka had a habit of winning the reserves race in the 2nd half, then the heat that qualified him for and then a few times the final with some world class riders unable to pass him. In those days the 2nd half was a real event in its own right, often with a sponsored points prize at the end if the season that home heat leaders would really race for. You'd also see away stars wanting to get one over the home riders. Sadly today's breed just want to earn more than Clubs can afford for minimal effort.

"Hi I'm Charlie, ex British Champ, says so on me van. I don't like upstart little rubbishs getting in my way, just ask Brennan Got it, get it and we'll be good"

On his day I think he's better / faster than anyone but Zmarzlik All about opinions I guess.. I think the PL Tracks would really suit him.

It appears to be equidistant to Halifax and Bradford, both speedway venues at The Shay and Idsal There is a Rugby League Stadium called Larkholme Lane lately Cougar Park, it also staged soccer this milenium. Wondering if a start up there was possible as alternative to Shay or Odsal?

I'd say on the evidence of the last couple of SGP seasons that on his day, and increasingly so, that VACULIK far from being "decent" would be the best rider in GB Speedway IF he was signed by any Team. Better, faster and more consistent than any of the Aussies, Russians or Poles who are already signed in the UK. I can't see it being him though, bloody well hope i'm wrong though!

You never know Richard Lawson may return home to Cumbria. Leave Poole, make peace fully with his dad, become best mates with Craig Cook, have Kyle Bickley as his mechanic, and be happy to be second heat leader and bonus point king. Then still around 5 points to play with. Meanwhile on January 1st the New Year will bring reality back to life Happy New Year and sarcasm aside it's GREAT to see Workington back and I can't wait to get up there for a week in the Lakes and a trip to Northside

My Online usually lands in email box just after midnight - very early Thursday. Nothing as yet . I assumed as Monday and Tuesday were Bank Holidays that this weeks may be released on Friday ?. Not sure if that's too logical!

Hats off and respect to Workington. Building a cosmopolitan and entertaining team. Celina could gain massive Main Stream Media interest. 100% clear though she is worth a place on merit. To be fair she is half a lap better than any current British girl

Jittenda Dufill was half decent on a bike.

There used to be a speedway team at Tamworth when I was very young. It's now a housing estate next to Drayton Manor theme park. That area has been blighted by HS2. It might be a decent start up option next to M42 adjacent M6 near Bodymoor Heath.

It's statistically the most diverse city in UK and Europe. Thats the problem speedway has had for a long time. The traditional fan Base has gone. It's a university, Asian / West Indian mix. If you asked 1000 under 16s what speedway was I would bet the results would be terrifying. T20 and the Hundred, cricket hits the diversity and local imagination, full houses. It's not an easy product to sell.

TT will certainly have a baptism in BSF Cup Plymouth statistically considered to have best reserve pairing and solid second strings, Oxford a couple of real chargers at reserve and solid elsewhere. Could be out before League starts. How about a solid old timer, what's Carl Wilkinson doing, last heard of in that neck of the woods.

One thing he did say that made me laugh. "It's only a 20 minute drive from Wolverhampton when the roads are clear" I'm guessing Brummies Home Matches will start at 3am with a 5am curfew

I think Poole could have expected 14 to 16 per match regularly from Kyle and Anders combined home and away That would have taken pressure completely off Sam and especially Max. Brennan and Tidy I can't see more than 9 to 11 points combined. That puts significant pressure on Sam and Max especially away. It also puts more pressure than necessary on Cook brothers. Barmy really. Brennan having talked himself out of Glasgow probably saw Poole as only realistic option as most clubs already decided He'll need to really step up to cover for TT lack of scoring Not easy when Poland, PL and Sweden will take priority and stretch him physically and logistically. A rare balls up from Poole

Tolley in the Star. Claims to have spent ballpark £300k in past 2 seasons and may be another 70k on top. Claims to have spoken to Lindgren and "Russians", and "If say Bartosz Zmarzlik wanted to ride in this Country next season we wouldn't be frighted about what the money would be" Goes on to say he is looking to bring in at least one rider "of GP standard" Says at end that in further article NEXT WEEK "exciting news for Brummies fans ....and a new challenge way beyond riding in the Premiership"

Jesus... Never thought we'd see him back in UK Largely uncompetitive in 2019 before being dropped. No spring chicken either. Neat enough style just never seemed fast nor hard enough. Very strange choice.

Riders like Erik Gundersen came into top League with minimal experience. If Poole have found a 16 year old Dane with basically no League experience but massive potential fair play. He'll be very experienced though in junior racing

Kyle Bickley?

I don't think anyone should underestimate Sammy Hagon. Great pedigree, injury hampered his progress in 21 and 22,last year was his first really clear run. Hell do very well. Max Perry was head and shoulders best of his age group that included riders like Trigger all now 16 and provided those terrible injuries don't affect confidence he too will do very well. I predict both could be as good as the Cook brothers in 3 seasons. With luck of course

Anyone who saw Covatti at the OTA in 2019 will know what a truly spectacular and special sight he was in full flow. Him and Barker in 13 and 15 won't be pushovers and will certainly be entertaining Plymouth will have one of if not the best reserve pairings all season based of averages and form so strong in equally key heats It's really a case of Newman and Bowtell riding well to support top 2 and the other 3 progressing. It's clearly not the awful team some doom mongers are predicting and lots of entertainment Probable.

Reading what's been said about team spirit at Plymouth last season by management I can't see Gilkes being back there. Can't see Anders either, how's he going to get from Plymouth on a Saturday night to Poland next day? It's not like riding at a track near a decent Airport.. He'd have a 3 to 4 hour drive at least to Bristol or Birmingham or Luton Re winning heats Strong reserves give good chances in heats 2 and 8 and to a degree 14. Fair enough to be strong in 13 and 15 but if you're losing heat 2 and 8 just as important

Might be someone who hasn't ridden in UK for a while?

It's Ondrej Smetana. BSPL gave given him a 16% reduction as he's been locked in Bournemouth Airport Arrivals awaiting clearance for 30 months.

Never forget Workington won the League in 2018 with 6 riders between 7.5 and around 6.0. Plymouth will be a new track. If they have any sense they'll only allow home riders to practise on it. Barker was as good as anyone round old track, Bowtell rode like a 3td heat leader / top second string round there. If as rumoured they add Thompsons and Newman they can feasibly have solid second strings and always have decent reserves. They say Barker is 2nd highest average, a decent No 1 and a decent 4 pointer and a fully fit Newman, no one would feel comfortable going there. Fans desperately want to see home wins.. If they go to heat 14 or 15 so much the better. Excitement and not massive points costs a Promoters dream No 55 to 60 point pay outs at home, average 25 to 30 point pay days away.. In with squeak of play offs... What's not to like. Fair and not rigged local Cup and Shield draws would be good for them too, not Poole 3 times in first 4 matches. In fact surely no one would begrudge Plymouth v Worky as a Cup draw... Two Saturday tracks, and give both a crack at progressing.