Col

"Hi-Ho" Andrew Silver. I'll keep my thoughts to myself. Suffice to say give me James Wright everyday of the week.

I think James Wright on 4.00 starting at reserve is a gamble worth taking. Doesn't look as though Danyon Hume will be a 2020 Pirate, they're look for some young Aussies to complete the team.

But wouldn't have started at reserve!

I think the Brummies have gone about building a team in the right way but think a few of the signings are a little risky, mostly the top 3. No problem with Morris, Castagna & Shanes being retained. One of them will always be a high scoring reserve, you'd think. Surprised Thomas picked over Hume. THJ is a total wildcard, who knows what he'll do, worth a gamble. But Harris & Garrity are both likely to miss the gate in critical heats, not sure I'd have gone for both & Jonasson.

Brummies injury situation(s) meant Hume was limited to a few outings. If Thomas is as quick as Hume was I'll be very surprised.

I once got dumped by predictive txt msg. Easiest end of a relationship, ever

We usually get to/from Perry Barr on the North A34 and park at the One Stop, how affected are we likely to be by the changes?

Wasn't going to join in until all teams announced but only a couple of riders for the Pirates left to be announced and have two days of work to get through. Berwick. - Look solid enough, hopefully some improvement from youngsters Flint & Bickley, but I don't think Summers, Etheridge or NBJ are going to improve and will be found wanting in heats 13 & 15 especially away from home. Birmingham. - League entertainers take 1. I like this team as it always looks ike it'll always have a strong reserve (Castagna/Shanes/Morris) but unless THJ has a stellar season (and who knows what to expect) I don't see much improvement at the top end and no doubt Harris & Garrity wil lmiss the gate critically at the wrong time in heats 13 & 15. Surprised Hume wasn't signed at reserve Eastbourne. - There is room for improvement from the youngsters at the lower end and the top end is solid enough, will be strong at home and may surprise a few away. Edinburgh. - Masters could push Cook for Championship #1, Worrall & Pickering are decent heat leadlers. Can't see there is much more to come from either Lawson or Sarjeant and the other two riders are complete unknowns. Glasgow. - Strong top two, both regular top scorers at Championship level. Bailey, Jensen & Nicol should all improve but one will always be in the team so may struggle then, the other two signings are a little uninspiring. Kent. - League entertainers take 2. Solid top 4 but like Brummies all are capable of missing the gate at cruical times, Heeps does blow hot & cold and needs to be more consistent. Two youngsters who should improve but the signing of Ledwith is a little odd. Leicester. - There top 5 will blow teams away at times when they're on their game, all are capable of having better 2020's than 2019's with the exception of Proctor. If the Thompson twins are competitive they could have another good year. Newcastle. - I'm glad the Diamonds are on track but unless Smetana & Skorja settle quickly they are going to struggle unless Wright recaptures is form of around a decade ago. Mountain is an improver but could struggle as he could be in the 1-5 quicker than he might have expected to be. Poole. - Strong top 3, Ellis is also an improver less convinced there is more to come from King or Worrall. Neilsen has been a promising reserve for too long now for whatever reason, just don't think it's going to happen for him. Redcar. - Look the strongest team to me. Riss & Wright are the best spearhead, both could push Cook for Champiosnhip #1 if they can stay free of injuries. Potential improvement from all the others in the line-up which is what wins titles. Scunthorpe. - League entertainers take 3. Like Berwick, solid but lacking in top end strength. Palin & Ayres could improve. Somerset. - Decent top 4, it's looking unlikely Bates will ever reach the potential he showed a few years ago sadly. Don't think there is any room for improvement from any of them however, but the youngsters at reserve could go either way. Play-off certainties: Redcar, Poole, Leicester. Play-off maybe's: Glasgow, Eastbourne, Birmingham. Also rans: Edinburgh, Somerset, Berwick, Scunthorpe, Kent. Woodspoons: Newcastle.

How old is Erik Riss? Best rider I saw in CL level last year. I can't fail to hope that one of the British youngsters will be a better rider than Ellis by the time Ellis prowess surpasses Cooks.

Stevie Worrall was GB's top performer at the last SWC at Leszno in 2017. It isn't saying much. Sayfutidov secured Russia's bronze on his own. When I saw him last year, he was very Kasprzak. 3 3 0 3 0. Gate & go fast, or nothing.

Ellis will never be a GP rider, he might make Eliteserin regular at best. While Cook is around he'll never be #1 in Championship. Good value on his average, Poole have a good spearhead for sure.

Unless James Wright can find his form of a decade ago, might as well hand the Wooden spoon out.

For the SEC a couple of years ago we flew into & out of Vilnius as it was much cheaper than Riga. If you are planning to be around for a week or so, then Riga is worth a visit. So is Trakai Castle & the very spooky Hill of Crosses north of Šiauliai. You'll also be fine driving in Latvia & Lithuania. However you will notice the difference between the two nations roads. The money Lithuania spent on roadsigns to direct you, the Latvians spent on resurfacing (or vice versa, I can't remember which way around it was). I'd rather drive in either than Poland.

Good idea. 2 grandstand tickets, row L section C available to swap for one of the days with another grandstand ticket. My preference would be as high as possible on the exit of turn 4, obviously two tickets together required.

How disappointing, you have to have the same seat on both days!

Just seen that the Greyhound Stadium is to be demolished for housing.

The reserves are much better than any PL reserves.

Having seen him ride for Brummies, I think Hume is a bargain on 3.19.

Well I'd say anyone riding in the Swedish Elitserien regularly (with the exception of Swedish youngsters) would be the next level below Ekstraliga.

I'm not saying there isn't, the problem is British riders get in a comfort zone of riding in both British Leagues and don't push themselves to the next level which is what they need to do riding on the continent.

But it fills their calendar meaning they have less opportunity to ride on the continent, which lets face it is where the very best riders spend most of their time.

I do hope the temporary stand on turns 3&4 returns (SWC 2017?) I'd buy a ticket for that for one day & grandstand on the other.

NYC's Bryant park Christmas market is just market stalls but is cash less, card only.

Unfortunately, I can't see any surprises unless Ļebedevs has a good partner. Lindback & Lindgren both spent a couple of years racing for Lokomotīve Daugavpils

Think it has been Friday & Saturday last couple of years, but it could have been a Saturday & Sunday. I just hope BT don't televise Sale Sharks v Saracens at a silly time that weekend so I can attend that too.