Fourentee

Let's hope that does not keep him out; unfortunate enough that both sides may be operating RR as it is, but there you go -- it's a rough game! I think the play-off final has the potential to be a cracker over both legs. Had it taken place a few weeks back, I would have made Dudley marginal favourites, but their recent lack of race time may have tipped the scales slightly in the other direction. Having said that, Roynon has clearly returned from injury in blinding form so that may be a counter-balance. Perhaps not much in it either way, but Mildenhall perhaps just appear to have found momentum at the right time. Good assessment of the sides earlier, by the way, Mr M.

I think that's a fair point. However, Britain is one of the heartland markets for televised speedway and the Cardiff GP is one of the sport's major showpiece events. So, politically and financially, I would be very surprised if there is no British representation. If that's the case, Woffinden clearly has as good a claim as any other British rider (he's the highest averaging EL Brit by very nearly a point) should he want to pursue a GP place next season.

Dudley, for leaving and taking their fans with them. Obvious!

Dudley's line is that a PL application is not being ruled out. Discussions to follow. No stronger than that ATM.

Neither did I.

I can understand the opposition on this one, but you could go a tad easy on the 'fantastic season'. Joe is rebuilding well after injury (does that sound familiar in a Dudley context, by the way?) but isn't north of five points yet in the PL. They're not parachuting in Greg Hancock.

Cut-off extended to the night of the 19th, I believe.

Yeah, in retrospect you're right. We ought to have a regulation tweak next year and put any rider whose club name starts with a D off 15 metres.

I understand there may be an issue with getting the Lynn/Wight fixture run before the cut-off in any event. Going back to the guest, I would regard it as part courtesy to the play-off chasing visitors and part insurance when so near to fulfilling the aim of finishing top of the NL. Imagine the home outcry if someone had got hurt or had a torrid night mechanically and the match had been lost. So many potential pitfalls with RR.

Perfectly legitimate move and a club asset at that. All helps promote interest in the build-up to the NL season's climax.

And you spent your previous 499 posts working up to that? Well done, well done indeed.

Pleased to hear it. Joking aside, though, work it out. Those two matches (only two out of the season) equate to an average of about 10.3 and he was managing 9.5 in the team anyway. Edit: And off the top of my head I think all those matches in the team, bar one, were away from home.

Yep, those two league matches he's had at reserve this season have made all the difference.

Methinks the poster's tongue was in the cheek, to be honest.

Ah, drat, the master plan to send Perry to Somerset, ensure his matches clash and get him into the reserve berth for the Mildenhall fixtures is uncovered. And they would have got away with it if it hadn't been for that meddling kev...

It's not the destination, Rob, it's the route!

To be honest, I wouldn't argue with any of that. But it was advanced as a factor and, in fairness, I felt I should include it.

Sure. The issue is whether agreement was reached on a 3pm start time before a change of heart (and, to a certain extent, why). Leicester clearly think so. Dudley clearly think so. The BSPA clearly think so (or why would they rule for 3pm?). I hope Villiers210 isn't holding his breath waiting for an answer to his question or he might be in a bad way come Tuesday! Edit: Oh, and to be fair to Mildenhall, they estimated a 15 per cent reduction in crowd figure for the previous week's different start time so that may be a big factor.

Don't forget that Perry would not have been there in any event, regardless of start time.

Thanks for blurring the issue. Simple question: Why did the BSPA rule the way it did in the teeth of Mildenhall saying that 3pm was never an option? Two: The upshot is that Dudley will be without two of their best riders; isn't trying to win the match largely (though not solely) the point of competitive sport? Three: Where have I indicated a lack of support for Dudley's younger riders? Four: 'Take a chill pill.' What's that about? I wouldn't regard my post as argumentative though would, of course, willingly accept that interpretation if honestly offered by others. Five: To borrow your own words, which part of my post goes anywhere near mentioning Stoke?

Dismissed? What a curious interpretation. Or are you attempting to indicate that Dudley's chances of victory on Sunday are not significantly damaged by the absence of two riders averaging 20.5 between them?

The answer to No.1 is that Dudley asked them to do so. Dudley chairman Nigel Pearson: “We were then told only last week that Mildenhall would be starting at 4.30 and the club then asked the BSPA to rule on this." The answer to No.2 is, presumably, that the BSPA have sifted the evidence and decided that the 3pm start time had been agreed and should stay. That's a very curious conclusion to reach if, as Mildenhall maintain, the time was never going to shift from 4.30pm, don't you think? Anyway, it's all done now. On with the motley.

Good meeting. Congratulations to Dudley on a fine performance. Commiserations to Stoke who battled away throughout and particularly to Ben Reade, who went shoulder to shoulder on the inside with Tom Perry in heat 12, gave him a racing line throughout and was finally passed only to be ambushed on the final corner by Byron Bekker as well, thus completing one of the finest and fairest efforts for the least reward that I have seen in some time.

Agreed, but equally with so few fixtures a rider would only have to miss one or two home matches to be artificially low or a couple of aways to be ridiculously high. Not easy either way.

Fair point, although Bekker also had two efs earlier and Dudley were running RR for Perry which was hardly adequate at the time. But, yes, you take what luck is on offer and the Heathens were certainly fortunate there.