lucifer sam

I know. But the Poole supporters are struggling enough to come to terms with losing to a five-man team. Tell them that they lost to a team containing only four fit riders and it would be too much for the poor little lambs.

I think you've got confused. Poole still had 7 riders at the end - it was Oxford who completed the night with only 5 riders.

Has anyone got the time of Heat 15 from last night - thanks. Another quick question - what time is the curfew at Poole (if there is one). It was a topic of discussion on the terraces last night.

The usual rhetoric, I see. No doubt if a Poole rider was missing, it would make you much weaker. Will miss my usual chat with the late Steve Pijper prior to the meeting tomorrow (Steve will be much missed) but still looking forward to hopefully a strong performance from Cheetahs tomorrow.

Many claimed the same about Tai Woffinden. How did that go?

REPORT: Tough night for Spires at Ipswich – OXFORD SPEEDWAY

It was posted on the website yesterday morning, pretty much at the same time the Cheetahs report was posted the previous morning. I think you need to go to spec-savers!

Nice twist of the facts. Yes, Ellis passed Wright, but Ellis was first from the tapes, Wright under him on the third bend, Ellis back around on the fourth bend. Ellis elbowing another rider to get the advantage at the first turn and then not being able to take it when confronted about it after the race. He would soon moan if the same was done to him in reverse. Still, it livened up a meeting which, up until then, didn't have a lot of atmosphere.

Maybe Ellis shouldn't elbow other riders on the start-line. Comedy booing from the Ippo fans without realising what was going on, which backfired when Wright flew out and won Heat 14.

Plus Kildemand has nerve damage in his back, in addition to concussion. He's back in Denmark recuperating.

Call it the Alan Wilkinson Stand then.

Ivan Mauger was an OBE as well as an MBE.

More than likely! Although Cradley Heath were also blocked from bringing in a lower average rider in 1979 (Teromaa for Bastable), because it still left them over the point limit, which was 50 by then. At some point after that, it was allowed to make a change as long as the rider coming in had a lower average, even if that change still left you above the limit (i.e. the rule that has stayed in place to this day). I've never completely understood how the 1977 points limit worked. I think it was based on start of season averages rather than how they developed across the season. By 1979, it was current averages and several teams ran squad systems at the start of the season to manipulate a way around the 50 point limit!

It was actually 52 (including bonus) in 1977. Reading were the first team to come a cropper, when it was found their new signing (Boleslaw Proch) had transgressed the rules and they had to release him - but not before Reg Fearman had run his team above the limit for a couple of months!

Very funny when Spires make a signing that winds up poor old Orion. Last season Magic - the season ahead Kildemand.