cyclone

Credit to Somerset in assembling a team which was not considered star studded at the start of the Season. They took a risk in bringing in Tungate who had an indifferent 2015, and courageously opted for two untried Commonweath riders at PL level who were saddled with 5pt min GSA for the Season. Even although Zak W has not so far lived up to media expectations, it would not surprise me if they equalled the success of the Monarchs in 2014.

Looks like too much Buckfast has affected your optic nerve if you reckon that's just a puddle Or is it just a normal case of Weegie paranoia towards the reigning PL Champs?

For all those who were sceptical about this match being postponed due to a waterlogged track, take a look at this picture on the Monarchs Official website:- http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/news-centre/article/2016-06-24/washed-away-again No doubt some will claim track photographer Ron MacNeill has doctored the image

So do Slangerup vs Esbjerg on 29/6

Esbjerg also have an away meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, so expect Bach to miss the Sky derby too.

According to Official Site a lost chain which brought him off in the final race

Plymouth lineup, with Newman returning for this League match at the Dale, plus the highly impressive Palovaara as guest reserve, must make the Devils favourite to win this one. Mark Riss will take time to settle in and I cannot see him scoring much against such strong opposition and hopefully Fisher's bikes are faster than they appeared to be last week, otherwise we could suffer a real gubbing.

Posted by a Weegie who might be trying to wind up the natives, given Monarchs are due at Shielfield on Saturday

SCB, averages marked up to the minimum are already used and have firmly been established from many years. Example:- an UK newcomer with no previous PL or EL experience, will initially be given an assessed average of 3.00. If after completing the required 4h + 4a qualifying matches, his CMA is less than 3.00, he will still be marked up to the minimum of 3.00. For instance, if you examine Issue 5 of the 2016 PL Green Sheets you will note that Ellis Perks, who had completed the required 4h + 4a was no longer classified as having an assessed average, but was still assigned the minimum of 3, despite his actual match average being less. However the likes of Dan Bewley, Lee Payne, Danny Ayres, & others were classified as having assessed averages of 3, as they had yet to complete the required 4h +4a to be no longer assigned assessed averages. The above confirms that after completing 4h + 4a, riders are no longer recognised by the BSPA/SCB as having assessed averages, irrespective of what you may think

The revised ruling also means if they opt for the 15m handicap, the "offender" now starts from his original gate position, 15m back, instead of always off gate 4, This will prevent tactical tape touching, when start gates 1 & 3 appear to be a too great a handicap compared to 2 & 4, as the original gate positions will be unchanged.

Etheridge apparently has patriality and therefore did not require a visa. If he had a required a visa, I believe he would not have met the qualification criteria based on his results in Oz.

As usual, the rules are open to different interpretation. IMO you have to consider the following four, as the relevant components.:- 16.2.7 An EL (not EDR) or PL rider starting the season with an Assessed MA will have an Established MA after 4 Home and 4 Away fixtures, becoming effective 7 days after the last qualifying Meeting. Should an Established MA not be achieved to be effective from 1st May, then the MC may issue a revised MA, based upon actual rides if the Team re-declares 16.3.2 Riders with assessed MA’s (other than an assessed 3.00) cannot be removed from a PL Team re-declaration. 18.6.2 The Assessed MA's for new Riders to the PL racing is: Cat 1 8.00 Cat 2 7.00 Cat 3 5.00 Cat 4 3.00 18.6.2.1 No rider with an Assessed MA, other than the Category 4 rider, can drop below 5.00 at any time during the Season. The above could be interpreted as riders will retain assessed MAs until they complete 4 Home & 4 Away qualifying meetings meeting, and will then be given an Established MA. If they are Cat 1 – 3, their Established MA cannot drop below 5.00 at any time during the Season. Therefore 16.3.2 would only apply until an Established MA had been achieved (i.e. 4 Home + 4 Away), with a minimum figure of 5.00, where applicable. If this not the case, then in addition to Etheridge, Peter Karger, and Jacob Bukhave, etc., will be guaranteed their team places for the whole Season.

Would assume if this impacted on the arrival of those involved at Newcastle, that it would not be unreasonable to delay the start of Diamonds vs Tigers.

Chapman's appointment confirmed on 4th November 2015. SCB 2016 Regulations publicly available 5th March 2016. So enlighten us of the actual date when the 2016 rules were introduced, or are you just making this up to defend Dear Old Buster?

Chapman was quoted in this week's Speedway Star that he wishes to rip up the existing rulebook and start again. Well Buster, this farcical change was added during your watch, so are you going to attempt to rescind it NOW?

Theo's previous two recommendations of David Bellego & Dimitri Berge, are currently prospering, so certainly worth a punt on Romano Hummel.

It pains me to say it, but given the comment of our Ipswich observer, I also doubt if JE will improve in the near future. I reckon he has lowest points return of all the PL newcomers and the point he recorded at Foxhall was courtesy of only three riders finishing that particular heat. How the lad is surviving on his Speedway earnings, God only knows, and it might be in the best interests of himself if he exited the PL sooner rather than later

If the "personal problems" are related to those detailed in his interview in the Glasgow vs Edinburgh programme of 3rd April, then I can appreciate why this would impact on his on-track performances. There are more important things in life than sport and this certainly would be one of them. I hope that there is positive outcome for Ben & his family and suggest that he is given credit for continuing to ride under such stressful circumstances.

Taken from the BV website today:- But it’s been confirmed that the home guard will be without teenage sensation Daniel Bewley owing to Premier League commitments with Edinburgh. Club No.8 Joe Lawlor will deputise at reserve. Bewley’s absence is a reciprocal gesture to the Monarchs’ promotion for their co-operation with his appearance for the Colts last Friday. Belle Vue will hereafter take priority over the 16 year-old. Do you mean the Plymouth leg as you have posted this on the Edinburgh vs Plymouth match thread?

Noticed this on the Official Plymouth website:- ....From today Friday 6th May The Official Website will no longer be updated or managed by Tim Locke for Plymouth Speedway..Good Luck to The Devils and I hope they stay around in the long term, over and out Tim........ What's Up Doc ? Is there another site for up to date info.?

Worth mentioning that online cost would be £18.50 at Armadale this Friday Correct me if I am wrong, but there is no price discount for online ticket purchases at Glasgow?

Can anyone find this "you cannot replace a rider with an assessed average" published by the BSPA/SCB ? If it does exist, does this apply to all assessed average bands, i.e. 3.00, 5.00, 7.00 ?

All the indications are that Glasgow should win this by more than 8. Not to be accused of reverse psychology in my prediction, suggest the following factors are relevant:-. Glasgow have put together a side that was the Speedway Star pundits choice to win the PL, and so far, they are living up to that.Monarchs have only raced twice at home since the start of the Season and have not had a decent opportunity to get dialled in.The gamble of signing newcomer Jye Etheridge on 5,00 has not been an instant success, and it remains to be seen if he will match the progress of the likes of Somerset's new Aussie, Jake Allen.Dan Bewley is a raw talent who hopefully will translate his potential into points, but it's too early to expect decent scores at the moment.Next to Ricky Wells, Aaron Summers is generally the best visitor to the Dale and Richie Worrall has also matched the homesters top men on previous visits.

Restaging date on BSPA fixture list as 6th May. :- http://www.speedwaygb.co/may16 No scheduled EL fixtures listed also, so unless some other commitments, expect both sides to be at full strength.

No such problem this Saturday if Jorgensen is still unavailable, as Monarchs will be at Worky. Berwick can get a guest up to 8.19 for the home fixture, such as Steve Worrall, Ostergaard, Kus, etc.