PotteringAround

It's like Richard Branson. They say he's a brilliant businessman, but have you tasted his homemade Vol-au-Vents? I found the pastry too flaky, and not enough filling. The bloke can't cook. I was up for a big deal, but they put me right off.

1. Sheffield - Decent top 3. (Though C Holder on the slide a bit). Need Rowe to perform as last season, and Flint to bring his reserve form into the main body. 2. Belle Vue - Powerhouse top two. If the younger members can keep improving, they have a chance. 3. King's Lynn - Best side for years, but feel more like individuals than a team. If they all fire, they'll be hard to beat. 4. Leicester - Solid enough, but might be lacking in heats 13 & 15 against the above 5. Ipswich - Unless they sign a big name, having Brennan at No.1 is a tough ask. Will be solid throughout, and if the rumour of getting a heat leader like Thorssell on a reserves average is true, it will boost them. 6. Northampton - Unless they have something special up their sleeves it could be Lidsey, Wright, Lawson as top 3. Enough riders out there to build a strength in depth team, but not play-off winners.

Agreed. I could get from Stoke to Brafield in around 100 mins. Maybe 1 hr 45.

Yeah, Rob keeps coming up with these great ideas, but they always have their knockers.

Coming next, the BSN Cup draw....

Louis certainly seems to have been a bit of a "James Hunt" this winter.

The NSS was there in 2018. I merely searched to find every appearance at the NSS. I didn't take into account appearances at the dog track, or anywhere else.

And Emil Sayfutdinov would be a good signing. But like Zagar and Wright, his average doesn't fit the BV second-string berth either. BV needed a 5-point second-string, to complete the team, and seem to have found one of good value. As I say, if Kildemand's age of 36 makes him a bad signing, then we must write off Sayfutdinov, Wright and Zagar too, along with Chris Harris, Chris Holder and Jason Doyle.

Seems to have only ridden the NSS twice. 7 years apart, and double figures each time

Seems a strange take to suggest signing a 36-year-old Kildemand is a poor signing, but a 37-year-old Wright, or a 42-year-old Zagar would be good.

SGP is a world FIM event. Totally unconnected to the BSPL and the Premiership.

Doubt that. Give them a big name first, then reveal some of the lower order before going with another biggie.

Nick Morris and Richie Worrall disagree

When did I say you weren't entitled to disagree? I totally respect your right to be wrong. (even about Screen's age). I don't count Loram as a genuine world champion. Won the world title without winning a single G.P. in a year when there were only 6 rounds with a silly format which mainly required finishing 2nd in a couple of races. I rate Screen as a far more naturally talented rider who could have won real world titles with a little more dedication.

Screen went straight into the top-flight with Belle Vue as a 16-year-old in 1989. I'd rate him better than Loram.