baiden

Amen to that. Amazing how many of these exchanges involve Toady. Anyway, in an attempt to get the thread back on topic, the Championship had as many as 36 league fixtures (each) as recently as 2017, and then playoffs after that. There was also a knockout cup, meaning that season Ipswich raced in 44 meetings, so it can be done. Not sure what's changed so much in six years.

I think the ‘most successful’ comment was meant from a financial/commercial point of view. Obviously not from a trophy perspective!

That’s debatable. Atkins (17+1) only managed to score one more point for the Chargers than Boughen (16+1) over the course of both legs against Leicester in the NDL playoffs. Plus Boughen had 4 heat wins to Atkins’ 2. Considering they were Boughen’s first ever meetings in this country, it’s fair to assume he will get even better…and better far quicker than Atkins will. Not saying Boughen is ready, but the lad clearly has potential. And if the Cheetahs were prepared to throw Killeen in even quicker, it’s not beyond possibility that Boughen would get the call.

You won't respond because there isn't anyone better!

You can pay on the gate for the greyhounds (cash or card). There is a booth ready and waiting to take your money. Always closed when speedway is in town, though.

Who said anything about paying with cash? You can’t pay by card at the gate either…

That would be some achievement.

So Kim Nilsson will do worse than Przedpelski? The only missing rider that would have made the series stronger is probably Dominik Kubera, but there was no chance they were going to pick another Pole as well as Dudek.

I’ll bet you he gets one. What odds are you offering?

Both on 102 I think

So Dudek misses out on top six.

Will there be a run-off between Bewley and Dudek as they are both on 102? Or will it go on countback?

Based on performances for Oxford, Ruml could be fantastic or okay....Starke could be awful or awful.

I've seen a few retro Reading Racers coats on the terraces!

Definitely been more fans at Oxford meetings than Poole meetings this year, but as orion said, will be interesting to see how it goes over the next few seasons. Although Oxford was always a well-supported club, and it wasn't a lack of fans that caused the closure in 2007 (you can thank the GRA and Galliard Homes for that).

Pretty hard to say exactly (especially for the Chargers), but I'd guess the Cheetahs get 1,800-2,000 per meeting and the Chargers 500-800.

For speedway fans like us I think the current system is great, but any outsiders must look at the Championship table and wonder what the hell is going on.

It does have a little bit. We all knew the rain was coming that evening…if it had been at Cardiff, the roof would have been closed and we’d have had a result. I’m not exactly defending Cardiff as it was pretty dire, but if I’d have paid my hard earned on tickets to both the British GP and the British Final, I know which would have annoyed me more.

Yeah, weird he celebrated winning his first GP. You’d have thought he would have just left the track as soon as the final finished, and packed his bikes away. Maybe just treated himself to a little smile on the way home, if that’s not too much?

You should hear how he pronounces Dillon Ruml every week!

Let’s call it a draw.

Yawn!

Redcar smashed Poole 7-2 just three heats earlier (off the same gates), yet you could only see a Pirates win in the final before Worrall didn't get off the start. Classic deluded Poole fan! Newsflash - it would have been exactly the same result.

That’s a bit of weird thing to say. The meeting hasn’t sold out, so either 1) Oxford could accommodate that number of people or 2) the number expected isn’t that high.

Plymouth stated Barker was taking prescription 'Co-Codamol and Zapaine that contain elements of Morphine' when he was first banned. Presume that's what he tested positive for (although that doesn't mean he also tested positive for something more recreational). If it is just the prescription medication, I guess he didn't inform the authorities he was taking it and didn't get an 'exemption certificate'. So facing a ban regardless I would have thought.