Ben91

Rob Lambert.

He finished second behind Craig Cook one year, though I can't remember which or be bothered to look it up!

He's an asset of Belle Vue, they're allowed to own riders because they're an EL side.

A National League meeting at the National Speedway Stadium. The title of the place says it all, it's for the whole nation not just the oh so Elite League... Still complaining about things is always a worthwhile use of time.

It is a good rule, there's no two ways about it. Karger would have to step down but that could always happen.

The rule is in place to stop teams signing duff foreigners, as frustrating as it is as a Rye fan it's a good rule and we've fallen foul of it. The lesson is to do plenty of research when bringing a rider over. There are so many riders in this league who are still under the assessed average they first came over on, that says it all. Letting NBJ go is something we'll be frustrated about for years, that and building a team around a rider who hadn't signed a contract show there is a lot to learn for the new promotion. That said there's a better feeling around the place and the new promotion are exactly that, new. They will learn from their mistakes hopefully. Karger has to go somehow and Branford come in though, plus a change further up the order.

If the lad was signed because of what his dad did then it's a sorry state of affairs. Not enough research was done by the looks of it, his Danish scores are poor and there are riders heavily out scoring him there who struggle in the PL. that should have been enough to realise he isn't up to it. There is nobody or no rule to blame execpt the promotion for signing a duff rider.

Plenty of British riders about who could share the job with Bewley.

Both 2005 tours were great, for the northern tour we left after a Friday night home meeting against Berwick, two meetings on the Saturday, Raiders at Armadale in the afternoon and then Rockets at Berwick in the evening with Glasgow on the Sunday. Southern tour was also great as it sealed the league title at Exeter and it meant I got the Monday and Tuesday off school, bonus.

Alan's summed it up above, basically it should deter teams from signing assessed riders who they don't think will make the grade in the first place. If they sign a guy who isn't good enough they only have themselves to blame when they can't sack him because the rules don't allow it.

It's actually a really sensible rule, teams should be thinking about whether signing these assessed riders is a good idea because they can't sack them if they're duff. Unfortunately our promotion haven't done that and we've signed a rubbish import and now can't get shot of him unless he quits.

They could have used Dugard for Johnson and kept Perks too, a rider who will average much more than Compton this year.

The 1922 Wombwell Wickermen were unavailable at such short notice.

Any EL rider up to an eight point average

The top trios look very even, Mason and Clifton are going to have to match Bacon and Hume and I can't see that happening realistically. While the Kings' reserves are doing very well this season they will likely be out scored by their Brummie counterparts. That second string battle will be the difference between Kent taking something home or not.

To be fair if all three of them can ride a unicycle at once I'd beat them too.

Even Bukhave had done enough beforehand to merit an assessed seven average somehow!

Did you stop watching in 1947 and start again this season by any chance?

I'd like to know who was responsible for identifying Karger as a signing in the first place. I can't remember the last time a Dane hadn't done enough in his previous career to merit an assessed seven point average in his first UK season. Even then the majority fall a long way short of that. Alarm bells should have been ringing from day one. Teams should be built to win, we shouldn't be applauding spirited performances where we steal a draw at home when we could have built a decent side in the first place. A draw at home is never a good performance in speedway unless you lose riders early on in the meeting as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps Hopwood hadn't got any equipment to ride? If he's blown an engine etc and waiting for it back or a new one then he's no good without a bike to race on. The NL isn't full of flush riders either so no guarantees a team mate would be able to lend him a bike.

We can claim Doyle for his cameo for us a few seasons back, before he was replaced by the superior rider that is Steve Boxall.

Of course there will be more than seven fans coming from Workington, it's two cars worth.

Edinburgh could get rid of Wolbert and Etheridge and bring back Cook and one other. Belle Vue being a Friday night track now would rule it out though.

Part of their job, there will be more fans that are travelling down than riders, I'd feel worse for them than the riders if it ends up in a late rain off.

Especially not Arsenal! But I digress...