Noelinho

CB doesn't seem to rate James, and unfortunately I get the feeling he therefore won't be back next year. James doesn't have a great away average, but that's because he's been forced to race higher up in the team than he should often this year. His home average should put him first in the team sheet for next year, but it's looking like the lessons from this year's team building are being ignored.

Since the thread is already hijacked, his “real” average is 3.67.

I'd pay for that tbh.

If he is in Riga there are flight options, but they involve squeaky bum time either getting to the airport after the SGP, or after landing in the UK.

I think it's points difference, but that's off the top of my head.

Make 6 rider teams and the maths gets easier. Reduces some costs and should mean riders earn a bit more for each appearance. There must come a time when that is a more attractive proposition.

This is speedway, not Cinderella. We're not making the playoffs.

So, Workington then.

Of course all teams want to. But they don't all have the same resources to hand. And I don't read a word of the PR nonsense that gets published!

I'd love us to sign Edwards, but I don't think he'd move. I'm sure Anders will be in the team if other commitments fit.

You'd hope, but what I heard last night made it sound like next year's team won't be any better. They don't seem to understand the problem. The really frustrating thing about it is this is a team that wants to win. They're not here to go through the motions with a mid-table team, but they really need to buck their ideas up.

Quite a few of those away matches were riding at 4, which is tough for him. He's not there yet.

Officially, no. But possibly a week on Sunday.

No, which is slightly ironic!

You’re right, yes. But he’ll start the month at 6.00. We all also knew we weren’t making the playoffs with the team we had, and the promotion decided sticking with a team that was known to not be good enough wasn’t acceptable. They showed they weren’t prepared to just accept the season petering out without trying it, even if it was ultimately fruitless. I think most of us expected more than we’ve seen though, even if we didn’t think it would be enough.

He can, but minimum is 4.00 as Jaizer said. He will still be on 6.00 next month as he’s only completed 5 matches with tonight’s cancellation, and I don’t think we’ll be needing to worry about next year’s average!

Indeed. It does feel that way. We had to try something if we wanted to make the playoffs and it was never guaranteed to work, but he's been very, very poor.

You'll be thoroughly deserving of the playoff spot. Wouldn't mind seeing you prevail in the playoffs tbh.

I really can’t see Friday being on. This week is a washout. Even if there’s less rain than expected, and with the improved drainage, the track must already be hideous for the track staff to work with.

In that case, they might use this year’s points.

The event becomes a lot less prestigious if the rules suddenly mean you have to put someone who is essentially a reserve in. May as well just tell them to not bother turning up.

We're not making the playoffs, short of some very unexpected results.

We'll do well with Anders, but I don't think you need to worry about us winning.

This year: 8.20/6.22

Yes, although the only Championship guesting was Bomber for Workington last week. Everything else was Premiership.