False dawn

Pity he didn't have a spot, since he could have stepped down to let Tai have a go.

Funny thing. I saw (for the 1st time in 50 years) a rider gardening on bend 1 last night at Wolverhampton under the 2 minute warning

Just thought the two sides seemed pretty equal. Sorry if I offended. I am a bit strange.

There would seem to be a feeling that clubs should not be allowed to make changes to their line up during the season, for strategic reasons anyway. Its a hard one isn't it? I guess we're from a different era when there were few changes mid season. There weren't none, as I recall, but it tended to be a foreign second string back in the day. Now we have teams top riders being swapped out with the playoffs coming up. Long term injuries are one thing, but the wholesale heat leader changes really don't sit well, do they? As an example, I will quote Bomber. I haven't gone through my copious records, but I wonder when he was ever dropped mid season. Oh I know he's not the very best anymore, but he is still winning races and just when you want him to. Dropping him doesn't sit right. We used to think that losing a key rider to injury was just bad luck. Now we'll build a team to "just win" regardless of allegiance.

I agree, but BV are still dining out on last year's win.

From the "highlights" shown in the breaks on Eurosport, that did look like a well contested match for which a draw would have been a fair result (were such a thing possible). 9+1 from 5 for Doyley has to count as a victory for the Peterborough lads. But Emil was class. He is the league's number 1 star this year, no question.

I thought I was a genius, and I don't understand it.

Apparently, according to the league tables, Leicester lost. We can't have a fair result i.e. a draw, anymore.

Stop it, you naughty boy. You'll have (some) people thinking you're serious.

Now is not the time to talk about:: Health and safety (whether or not signs are posted). Refunds The lack of empathy or sympathy for those who have been injured. That can all come later. Let's (all) just spare a thought for all the injured parties especially the photographer.

I've had problems finding upcoming meetings in the Discovery+ schedules. However if you go to All Sports and select speedway, upcoming meetings are shown: Monday 7/8 19:30 - 22:00 Peterborough vs KL [nearly right] Friday 11/8 15:50 - 18:30 Speedway of Nations - Riga [a bit confusing although there is a similar calendar date on the FIM website SON section] Saturday 12/8 08:55 - 10:15 Riga Qualifying Saturday 12/8 14:30 - 18:15 Riga Race [GP?] Monday 14/8 19:00 - 22:00 British Premiership Day 10 [British Final]

With respect, that's not so. In the forum's early days (~20 years ago) I built a circle of friends, amongst the regular posters, that extended all around the world. And continues to this day. Groups of posters used to meet at the British Final, go and sit together at Cardiff etc. Perhaps most important was the quality of debate on here. We didn't all agree, far from it. But we knew the value of a considered and well presented argument. As well as some truly amusing comments. I see elements of those early days, to this day, which is why I'm still here. Although I agree with much of your analysis in that the eternal bickering, trolling and conspiracy theorists are much in evidence. Not to mention those that have "inside knowledge" but refuse to tell, beyond the click bait initial posting. We could all leave. But that would be a case of "throwing out the baby with the bath water". Better still, completely ignore those that don't play "by the rules". And before you say, "What rules, Fd?" consider how we'd behave if we were all physically together, rather than sat behind our keyboards.

One assumes that Leicester would have run tonight if at all possible given that Sheffield were mathematically weakened.

So we get to see Tai at BP after all. Got to find a silver lining.

Well it is relevant to me. I was looking forward to seeing Tai at BP tomorrow (actually today). I didn't question Emil's commitment to British speedway when he came to BP, I just sat back and looked on in awe. Each meeting is an event. Enjoy it for what it is. You seem to suggest that a rider has to be fully committed to our national sport for his appearances to mean something. That is, with respect, a rather outdated concept. Are the foreign riders participating in the Polish leagues "committed" to Polish speedway? I think the pay cheques out there might have more to do with it. There are riders. There are meetings / races. Enjoy one taking part in the other and be thankful that sometimes you see something quite memorable. The fact that Tai is British, the fact that some believe his loyalties are more Australian, are all meaningless. We can claim him as ours when he rides for GB but otherwise he is no more or less "valid" as a participant in "our" leagues than Max, NKI, or any other rider, foreign or carrying a British passport.

It's not so much hindsight as "I told you so" 2 years ago. I was not happy to see Dougy leave Leicester at the end of 2021. [apologies for posting on the "wrong" thread]

Weight may not be a factor in top speed, but it will be in terms of acceleration. Coming out of the start or exiting the bends are theoretically improved by a lower weight. I say theoretically, because the assumption is that the rear wheel can get the power down on the track the same, regardless of the weight applied. This is clearly not necessarily the case. So there may be an optimal weight. Maybe a rider needs to of a certain weight but good, aerodynamically. Hell this is more complex than I'd thought when I started this response

Good job I'm not a BV fan. I might take offence Edit: Whoops. I just noticed you are. A BV fan that is, not offended

So if you know that, why not tell us which club?

And that was 2016. You'd have to say he was a better rider then. So assessed at 6.50 now? Discuss.

Clearly not. But watching those highlights through, I still thought we might win despite knowing we didn't. It's such a shame. Because had we won, we've have been talking about it for years. It was truly a special meeting.

We'll sack you as well then

Wow. Well done to Dan indeed. His form has been improving of late and this is a really reward for all his and his team's efforts.

That is so wrong on so many levels.