Col

In team building terms, IMO you only need one reserve that will win races, if Sarjeant is only going to have 3 rides because Newman (or Bates/whoever when Newman moves into the top 5) why waste the 1.81 team building points to the detriment of your top 5?

I was talking about Sarjeant.

Very unlikely. I emailed them two months ago asking what Pieszczek starting average was. No reply.

So the Somerset theory is... sign World Champion, get bums on seats. He'll win enough races, the other 6 just avoid last places. Can't see it happening, but the theory isn't bad.

Woryna will be #1 after the first set of GSA's are out. He beats every GP rider, every race. I don't know how he performs against none GP riders. Perhaps he'll only beat Vaculik... hmm that bode well.

Not really. I'm sure there is a decent prospect Leicester could sign on 2.00 who would be as valuable. You only really need one good reserve. if Newman doesn't have that covered what is the point of signing him? He drives me mental watching him (only on TV), no rider needs two tapes exclusions a meeting.

I'd take Harris over Nicholls every day. I'd take either in any team I built but never both, since they generally perform an identical function & I don't think they really like each other. Hoping your last 3 signings are 1 of them, plus Sundstrom (assuming he is 7.22) & Nilsson.

Underwhelming signings for a 2nd day on the trot.

If Sarjeant starts on his 2016 figure of 3.81 it is terrible signing, he only averaged 3.33 in 2017 with Ipswich & Workington in the Championship. It (4.65) wouldn't even leave enough for Eric Riss (5.75) to complete the team. Terrible team compared to that which was mooted on here a few weeks ago. I am assuming that Vaculik is assessed as starting on 9:00 & Pieszczek on 7.00.

Maybe it'll be a great night to celebrate 90 years of the Aces, maybe it will be on a par with the Grand Opening of the NSS.

Underwhelming start to team building by the Rockets, I was expecting Doyle to be announced after the build it was given.

Probably, sensibly waiting to see if there is any TV money, which sadly seems unlikely.

I saw somewhere, I forget where a quote from Ford that if Somerset wish to sign C Holder, they will have to do so as an asset as the no TV money means revenue is down 20% for the Pirates. If it is 20% for Poole, I dread to think what it is for other clubs. I guess it depends how the TV money was shared, if a club hosts more televised fixtures do they get a greater percentage of the cut?

I guess as BP's are not included in official averages that could be true. Looking at http://www.speedway-stats.co.uk/Averages/2017/1 Morris scored way more BP's than Doyle, I guess the majority of these came in heats 13 & 15 when partnering Doyle? Although his home/away stats are more impressive than any of the other riders in the top ten. Home - 9.41 Away - 9.35, the only other rider that comes close to such a small gap in home/away split is Andersen.

Andersen 7.75 J Holder 5.82 Lawson 6.43 C Holder 7.16 Wilson Dean 4.67 Allen 5.07 Leaves.... 5.6 for your final.

I know the art of team riding is almost lost, but if you are partnered by a more capable rider, you are more likely to be able to have a plan on arrival at the first turn. The only argument you could really make is that rider #5 is off the outside in heat 13, which makes that the more difficult position.

How is riding at 5 easier than riding at 1? I would argue it is more difficult as you are partnered by a less capable rider (reserve) for 3 of your 4 programmed rides.

Also, see how many Gnomes or Dwarfs or whatever they are you can find! There are hundreds of them.

From my reading of this, Aces 2018 will be Cook 8.45 Tungate 6.18 S Worrall 6.77 Fricke 7.39 Bewley 4.71 Smith 2.00 35.5 Leaving 7.00. Do they splash the cash on a new 7.00 International rider, or with no TV deal find a cheaper option. Kennett, Lahti, Hougaard many options... as yet unsigned.

They are not. Przemysław won the GP challenge so is in the GP's next year, Piotr was a GP rider 2016 & 2017 but finished outside the top 8 in 2017 so will not be in the GP's next year.

If I remember correctly they tried to run a GP from Riga and it was rained off, so moved to Daugavpils the next day. Struggling to find a direct flight to Daugavpils from the UK. Anyone have any idea what train services are like in Latvia?

Thanks for the info, anyone ever traveled to Daugavpils? Any info gratefully received.

Heeps should. Slim pickings I know.

Yes, yes I am.

Tatum may have loved riding in them, we hated watching it. As fans.. We will not flock to this rehashed SWC as we did the tried and tested, but oh Well Poland are going to win again event we have loved for the last 10+ years. FANS HATE THE PAIRS FORMAT. Put me in charge of the SWC, I have limited organisation & marketing skills but I couldn't fail to make it better than a one of pairs event.