Grachan

I don't get the indignation over people cheering when Doyle came off. It would be the same everywhere. Top rider in the GP comes out on a TR, overcooks bend two and comes down. Of course they are going to cheer. If I was a Wolves fan I would have cheered too.

Take off the TR points from the two legs and it's 90-90. Wolves aren't so great. They just have that track in their favour.

And Wolves were gifted Doyle coming off on a TR.

Nick Morris indicated that they weren't taking any risks when he was interviewed, which was quite interesting. Heat 5 was the key. Suppose this was a play off, Doyle had won that race and Swindon had a 2-7, then you have a score of 50-43 and all to play for in the second leg, so this, maybe, wasn't as dominant by Wolves as it looks from the scoreline. Tough with no reserves, though. That will be our achilles heel I suspect, unless Bellago really has completely lost his mojo. Then we're stuffed.

That, plus the drop in Adam Ellis' average and the guaranteed reduction of Jason Doyle's. People took the mickey out of Swindon for signing these two on the averages they had, but long term it worked in their favour.

So how come you've known about it but Adam's father hasn't?

If it is true it will have been done and leaked at this time to unsettle Swindon in the play offs. Seriously, what sort of tactic is that?

How can a rider be transferred to another club without the rider even knowing or being consulted about it (if true)? No wonder they are starting to feel a need to stand up for themselves.

Pretty sure Swindon will pick Poole as crowd size will be the main priority. If looking for the most likely team to beat, then Belle Vue would probably be the pick, but it's about money. So don't worry. You are safely into the final because you only have to beat useless Swindon. Well, unless you have a major choke of course.

This is true. I remember him saying on tv and in the press that we were winning and needed the fans to come out and support the team.

Everyone seems to be writing Swindon off, and that probably suits us actually. The loss at Rye House probably did us good. Being league leaders could have put pressure on us, but first Poole fans and now Belle Vue fans are still just as dismissive as they were at the start of the season. We know we punched above our weight in the league, but if we click again we are still as strong as any of the other three. Maybe it's Poole and Belle Vue who are due a wake up call.

Pretty sure Swindon will pick Poole because it would be guaranteed to attract the biggest away support. You couldn't be sure either would get to the final if we picked someone else.

If you think Swindon are favourites, how come you were saying that their bubble had burst? Which one is it? You and Gater1 clearly thinking you have it in the bag now, judging from your posts on here.

So, at the end of the day, it is what I guess you'd call the big 4 that take their places in the semis. Big win for Poole, and it's clear that Poole fans now believe the title is theirs already, based on tonight's win. Although those in Dorset think they are favourites I'd say it's a pretty even play offs with all 4 sides having a chance and no safe picks. Obviously I hope Swindon can win but, as I posted a couple of days ago, they probably peaked just a bit too early, with David Bellego failing to score while the Pirates are hitting form at the right time. Maybe I'll wait for the Belle Vue fans to congratulate Swindon on winning the title because they came top of the league and try to convince myself it's true!! On form it's Poole's to lose now. I can see it coming. Well done to Rye House, too, for giving things a good go in their first season in the top flight.

No. I don't. But do you not, therefore, see the irony in you criticising Doyle when all you do on here is moan about UK speedway yourself? Why is it ok for you but not for riders to have a say?

Blimey, he must be getting on a bit now!! I wonder, is Bellego feeling the effects of his Superman impression on Monday?

Aren't you the guy who doesn't go to speedway any more because of the way it's run? Or am I thinking of someone else?

Easy solution. Let Second Division sides race on any day, but top league gets priority on riders. Having riders like Morris, Harris, Cook and so on in the Championship is ridiculous anyway. If these sides want to have international standard riders then they should be in the top tier.

It's odd that supporters think they can spend so much time on here slagging off the state of British speedway, but when a rider does it he gets criticised for it. If all the top riders are saying it's a pain riding in the UK and the tracks are not good, is it not possible that just somebody could take notice rather than a mass "stuff 'em" attitude until none are left? I, personally, believe the riders when they say these things as there are s many saying them. And Jason has stayed here longer than most have. Perhaps they just want things to improve, the same as everyone else.

Indeed. This will also be a good indication of whether or not Rye House have really improved. They should be able to beat a depleted Swindon tonight. If they can't then they won't deserve a place in the play-offs anyway. I suspect they will win, though with Swindon being without 3 key riders.

I agree. Although we are still winning we do kind of look like we've peaked. It's not something I can put my finger on. Just a feeling. Perhaps the lack of reserves is the reason. There isn't the same "wow" factor since we lost Zach, and we Bradley out too now the solid 1-7 is no longer there..

Rye House are 5 points behind Poole, and have 2 home matches in hand. On that basis you have to say Rye are favourites to qualify for the play-offs.

That is correct. I hadn't. I even looked him up when I got home and still didn't notice I had the name wrong. I've sure heard of him now though!

Like I said, I'd never heard of the lad. So it doesn't take a great deal of imagination to work out how I got his name wrong.

Such a long delay between the matches, then Somerset appeared with half a team. Decided to leave once they had a Sun break as I have to get up early tomorrow. I guess they needed to do the track but there must have been about 45 minutes between the end of the first match and the start of the second. I had never heard of Mitchell Daley and had him down as a zero pointer, but he impressed me. Would like to see him back. Missing Zach and BWD.