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King was the best visitor to Perry Barr all 2021 season, he had little trouble with the track, Schlein was dreadful.

Never heard of Tudziej, is it safe to assume that Kubera will get all his rides? Is Drabik still eligible for #8?

Hope good turnout for new promoters & the track isn't dusty. 46-44.

Was going to make my way up the A38 for this, but as making that trek for the EIHL table topping decider between the Steelers & Belfast Giants at the weekend, so will leave my Owlerton visits until later in the season. Can the Ace's get 35? With two wins on the road at NSS & Monmore the Tigers have surely won this Northern section of the League Cup already.

Looks like its run by the Wolverhampton based Express & Star, who don't really cover Birmingham. They don't have Birmingham City FC match reports for example (although they do cover Aston Villa).

6 team pair format would surely be fairer than the traditional 7 team pair format. The pair drawn in position 7 in the traditional format are always at a huge disadvantage as in their first ride they're against a pair that have already had 4 racing laps to assess the track. If the format is adhered to and the best two riders from each team compete at every event. It's not often that you get to see Fricke v Doyle @ EoESg or Harris v King @ Monmore. Sadly I suspect the top riders from each time will often have a a stubbed toe in Poland and the likes of Worrall, Wright & Heeps will appear more often than Fricke, Doyle & Holder. The only issue is do the home fans turn up, to see so many heats when their riders are not involved?

It is odd In the early 90's Adams deployed Sam Ermolenko (best Wolves rider) at 4 with Graham Jones heat leading alongside the reserves. It looked crazy but worked. But the reserves then (possibly Wayne Carter & Scott Norman) were better than the second strings (possibly Lars Munkedal & Jan Steachman). Not sure if Wolves won the league that year or lost out to Reading narrowly. Worrall @#5 won't work. The reserves are not strong enough. Morris should be @#5 regardless of whether he & Douglas like riding together.

Toss up between Panthers & Witches to finish 2nd behind Tigers... Doyle, King & Batchelor > MPT, Harris & Nicholls was easy.

Surprised Panthers won this at a canter, perhaps Witches won't be the force I thought they would.

Well done Sheffield. You have to love it when a rider CVS & Adams are too stubborn to bring back returns too haunt them. That's the Northern section of the League cup decided. And I thought Sheffield had the weakest reserves, out performed Wolves reserves at Monmore. I do hope Kemp does kick on this season.

Will Musielak remember how to ride Monmore? Howarth & Cook should score well but can't see it suiting Ellis or Holder particularly, but should have the beating of Wolves engine room. Probably Wolves reserves only chance to score big against an equally weak reserve pairing on a track I doubt either relishes vising. Becker to win the golden heat, with crucially Ellis last. Can see the reverse fixture being humbling for the Monmore men.

Hope Jake Allen is better than he was on Monday.

I agree... Morris would be better at 2 than Shanes, but could you really partner Shanes & Auty at 3&4?

Probably. Cancel the KO cup!!! Leicester v Poole v Glasgow. Round Robin competition.

5 & 6 are partnered twice but reserve replacements could keep them apart anyway.

Last year Nicholls & MPT were 3&4 for most of the season, Andersen at 2. We know MPT will start at 1, but after that who knows. One would expect Ostergaard to be at 2, but could continue with Andersen there or move Nicholls there to continue the partnership. Harris was at 5 when in the 1-5 most of last year.

Why Lampart for Lublin?

Had a positive conversation with one of the new promoters this evening about redeeming unused 10 match season tickets.

If that is the case.. fingers Xed... I won't be bothering to go to Owlerton for the LC(N) fixture next week... I'll make that trek up the A38 when Zagar is in the team. It would also be nice to know if Zagar is doing the Prem Pairs!

No argument here!

Belle Vue have a used a point more on their reserves, Blodron 4.00, Nielsen 3.00 and they're riding their home track - granted Nielsen & Mountain have probably done more laps of the NSS than Blodorn.

Stefan Nielsen 4+1 (5), Connor Mountain 2+1 (3). You expect more than that?

I assume the figure listed for Wright's average on the Belle Vue site yesterday had already had the 2.5% removed then?

I don't want any riders career ended prematurely. The track that night looked much better than it had for some meetings, the Leicester visit springs to mind.

That's the hope! Looks like he's riding for Bydgoszcz Liga 1 this year rather than Ekstraliga, so no limits on other leagues, not that he appears to be riding in Elitserien or is not at least listed on the line-ups on the Svemo site. Don't know about Danish league - wouldn't know where to look.