Tinker

Just been looking at all the team line ups and if there's one side I had to miss out on watching it would defo be Leicester. Just my opinion of course, but it just looks a very steady eddie type of side with not much excitement thrown in. Rather bland if I'm being honest.

Couldn't agree more. I still watch the GP's, but over the years most of them have become pretty boring and predictable. Give me British or Championship league racing any day of the week.

Thanks for that MP.

Can someone remind me what the Oxford team actually is for next season. Thanks.

I think Birmingham have put a very interesting and cosmopolitan team together and they might just surprise a few people. Hopefully, they can retain all seven riders throughout the full season and they certainly look a much more exciting bunch than last season. Will all the problems Birmingham have recently encountered (finances, crowds, lack of top riders etc), I'd just like to congratulate the management on the team they have ultimately assembled. Good luck and I hope your season is a success!

As far as I'm aware there has been no announcement from the Sheffield promotion that they are going to try and rectify the problem. Indeed, I don't even think they've publicly accepted that there is a problem. Would be nice to know if anything is going to be done before the season starts but all seems to be very hush hush?

Big mistake having two GP's at Belle Vue. Just cannot see the reasoning or positives behind this. One GP is something to really look forward to, just leave it at that!

To visit his gran in Basingstoke and then a pint down the pub.

I get what you're saying but if Phil Morris or whoever else is involved simply let Birmingham go to the wall and become another entry on the long list of defunct speedway tracks, a lot of people on this forum would then claim that PM etc had done nothing to help the Brummies and should hang their heads in shame. At least he's being proactive in trying to remedy the situation.

Hi there lbw. Haven't really chatted with you this season but I've certainly been following your posts regarding your travels and flat whites of course. You've defo had a good season (two trophies so far with a third surely in the bag) so congrats from me and I'm sure you've enjoyed hitting the road and sampling different flat whites along the way. Look forward to your posts in 2025! All the best, Tinker.

Fully realise I'm stating the obvious but just cannot see Poole losing this. Killen will be a huge miss for Oxford and the choice of reserve guests (presumably restricted) are poor. Cannot see either Oxford reserve stepping up to the plate but I'd loved to be proved wrong. Hats off to Dan Gilkes by the way for getting stuck in!

Great meeting, tough racing and lots of controversy. It's what it should be all about. What BSN do so much better than Eurosport is transferring the crowd atmosphere onto the screen. Super stuff!

Why not have a mini series prior to the GP's featuring the likes of Huckenbeck, Kvech, Dudek, Magic, Madsen, Thorsell etc with the top two clinching the final two spots. Would seem a much fairer way of doing it. One meeting at a Polish venue, one in Sweden/Denmark and one in Britain (perhaps a Championship track). The race offs could take place before a league meeting and imagine the interest they would generate! I know it's all a bit "pie in the sky" but there surely has to be a better way compared to the current system. Huckenbeck or Kvech over Madsen for example is just plain daft.

Maybe I'll have a dabble on the lottery this weekend Rob. Great win by the Aces and good luck to Brady in the Challenge.

Can see BV taking the Premiership title at a canter and would not rule them out actually winning on the night. I think their big hitters will all finally come to the party.

Howarth's a real hard charger, no doubt about that. Here we go ....

I think BV will sneak it. As already mentioned, Lidsey needs to carry on with the same form he showed on Monday and Cook needs to get going as well. Bewley and Kurtz need to get stuck in which I'm sure they will. As ever, a lot will depend on how the reserves do. Voulas has been riding well alately and Gilkes rode well at Oxford last night. Looking forward to it! Sheff. 49 BV 41

Got a feeling that BV will step up a gear tonight. They just don't seem to have properly got into their stride this season but that could all change this week. They defo have the riders to do it, we shall know soon enough.

It's all about entertainment so I've no problem with the additional races at all. The excitement builds and surely that is what the majority of fans want. BSN have been fab this year with commentary, analysis, regularity of meetings etc. Will really miss their coverage during the autumnal/winter months. Thanks IB.

Can see Scunthorpe running Oxford very close and possibly even sneaking a win. They'll defo be fired up and I think their reserves look a tad stronger than Oxfords. In relation to Oxford a lot will depend on how AB performs.

If the rain holds off and the match is on I can see Ipswich winning this. Very good choice of guests and they really came out fighting against Sheffield in the Knockout Cup last week. Certainly seem to have the advantage with their reserves as well. Should be interesting.

Totally agree. Phil Morris does seem to have the best interests of the sport very much to heart and comes across as a very knowledgeable and likeable guy. In my opinion there are not many people out there at the moment who could turn the sport around but Phil Morris is defo one of the few who could. Give him a chance.

Hi mikebv. Can't agree with your final point that "major sponsors and many thousands of fans stay away" just because of the guest system. I think your point is highly exaggerated. Due to the many injuries sustained during a normal season I cannot see how the guest system can be discontinued. If your star man is missing, the majority of fans I'm sure would want him to be replaced like for like as opposed to a junior rider. The guest system has been around for donkey's years and I have personally never really minded it. I remember travelling down to Swindon many years ago to watch Halifax minus Kenny Carter who was out injured. When I heard that we'd got Shawn Moran as a guest I thought great, we still have a chance. I appreciate your comments re guests but I just can't see what other system would currently work. I just can't see a squad system working in this country.

I don't suppose the Challenge will be on TV. It never seems to be. I would much rather watch this cut throat meeting than most of the GP's.

Is the racing always this boring? Falling asleep already!