Noelinho

Bangin' top5 and intrigue at reserve. Should be good. I would definitely put Basso at 5 ahead of Tom though. I'd say Tom at 3, Claus at 4, Marcin at 2, initially.

Sunday means competing with football at some times (not great when there's usually one of the Old Firm playing most Sundays during the season), and things like F1 at others. That's probably not great for attracting casual fans. That said, the racing at Armadale.isnt good enough to make it a big problem for me. If Edinburgh get a new stadium where you get better racing, maybe I'd feel more FOMO.

Just need them to add to the attendance at Ashfield! Hopefully the promoters can get some good promotion early in the season, or just before it, and not right before a three month break for the playoff semi final...

I don’t think we do press releases, isn’t that the whole reason our signings never appear in official places for ages?

Marcin Nowak will be on the inside. He’ll be the only one, but you’ll want to get out of the way fast when he appears!

I don’t know what to think about Complin. He had some good flashes this season, so maybe we’ll see a few more next season. We’ll see. If Claus is the missing link, then let’s be honest, it’s a very solid top 5, with experience at 6 and a 7 who might improve significantly during the season. All of the top 5 would make good heat leaders so it should take the pressure of reserve a little.

Awful conditions that night, and I'm sure that one match is the reason they try to call things off early now, but it was a good win all the same. Wait which thread is this?!

Yep, I’d gladly have him back. Low key compared to Rasser and Craig in 2019, but very reliable.

If you treat Cook and Harris as equal, and expect Vissing to be the other second string, the Glasgow team looks strong in three positions at 2-5. I think Vissing and Nowak would be an improvement on Ulle and Hume, and Tom is likely to be at 3 rather than 5.

Bomber, Basso, Brennan, Nowak? I'm in.

The only boring one was Newcastle, but they took the piss. Didn’t even send a replacement in heat two after a 2 minute exclusion. The meeting was an early glimpse into the inevitable doom of the team.

Yeah, the real "problem" is compared to the other consistently top teams, Glasgow don't have enough success away from home when it comes to the playoffs. At home, we lost once in 2019 (to Scunthorpe, on a dreadful track in nasty conditions), once in 2021 (to Edinburgh), and this season, once to Poole (plus a draw). I don't buy the lack of home advantage at Ashfield. Yes, other riders like the track, but that doesn't mean they ride it better. Connor Bailey is a great example of that, but you see it with the whole team really. The track helps our boys to pass when they don't gate just as much as it gives opportunities to others. And a wily home rider can still keep others behind - Ulle did this very well often this season, despite clearly struggling for pace on the bike on numerous occasions. It's not quite like Belle Vue where if a guy is faster, it looks like there's nothing you can do to stop them.

Who is saying they are investing money to not win, or to come second? That’s clearly not what’s being said.

Exactly that. Trophies are a bonus when you have great racing. If you don’t have great racing, they’re the only thing… and then, the numbers don’t add up. The best thing about the Facennas isn’t the money thrown at riders, it’s the investment in the track and the product. Plus a great team of track staff - Paul, Chris and the others invest incredible hours putting it together during the season and they almost always get it spot on, which isn’t always easy with our weather.

I'd be bowled over if Rasser came back. Was quality having him in the GP Qualifier final, provided his usual entertainment. Doesn't seem the most likely scenario though. He was the best to watch in 2019 (partly because Cookie gated very well that year).

Told ya Nowak would be back… just guessing with the rest, but that one thing I knew.

Looks a fun team. Looking forward to having them at Ashfield a couple of times.

Glasgow’s running costs were six figures in the negative in 2019, and I don’t see anything to indicate they’ve improved. Crowds certainly aren’t up. So I don’t think I’d be worrying too much about any possible notional rent to the profitable company that keeps the club going. For all the transformation of the facilities, and the success of running FIM events, I don’t think it’s turned into anything like a break even venture. I’m sure they’re trying to change that, of course. But it’s a big gap.

I don't know about that. I think a fresh start will do him good, but he showed in the British Final he's still up there with as one of the best British riders outside the GPs. The biggest challenge with Cookie is he's such a enigma, and you just can't he sure what you'll get at the moment, which can be frustrating when you know what he can do, but that's not always what you get. I hope he recaptures what he had whenever he ends up, because he's still incredible to watch when he's on it.

Why wouldn't Nathan be at Poole? Surely, they'd want to hang on to him, as the two-pointer with a year's experience.

Yeah, I’d prefer Harris for the entertainment, although it’s a big average with the limit where it is. Lawson’s very good, but I want a rider to make me draw breath, like Ben does, or Rasser did, or Ulle before his injury.

I’m confident both sides want it to happen. Connor had a great average at reserve, but struggled more when he was at 2, even at home. Nowak’s average in three home matches far outstripped Connor’s home average from any year. Only Craig had a better a average of the regulars (and Tom, who topped the home averages, but from three matches).

Yes, he absolutely is.

Even if you don't have faith in Cami, Gerry and Peter aren't fools. They sign the cheques. They have a clear idea of what and who they want.

I like Scott, but no. Travel would be horrific and he's not best suited to Ashfield. His average wouldn't be worth it, for me.