guitar_art

So what I think you should do is to try and visit each championship track at least once this year and make your mind up from that. You could even come onto 'The Speedway Tavern' and review each track for us as you sample them. Would be an interesting excercise to get the view of a nuetral as each fan usually believes that there own track is the best. Even sparrows fans!

In 2008 Birmingham had a team that was many peoples pick to walk the premier league. With the likes of Kyle Legault, Adam Roynon, Phil Morris, Jason Lyons I think that was a reasonable prediction. However 13 injuries in that season put paid to that and the team (from memory) finished one of the bottom. Not a lot of luck there.

For the record Andy Grahame WAS number one for Birmingham for at least one of the seasons that Hans Nielson rode for us. Something he is still proud about.

Birmingham for one

I love, absolutely love, that so many are writing us off. Are they right to do so? I have no idea, its gonna be an interesting season finding out. In 2012 we had a similar looking team. That team finished 3rd in the Elite league in 2013 We had a similar looking team. That team finished 1st in the Elite league. Both seasons we were written off in a similar way. Now I am not predicting the same for us this year. I leave the predicting to those with far more knowledge and bigger (crystal) balls than me.

Neither is Eastbourne

Tobias Thomsen to Birmingham as a full asset

When you check out the BSPA site and go to the Championship 2019 Team line ups page you discover two things. Firstly Eastbourne and Birmingham are not listed and, at the top of the page, the following statement : - NOTE: New teams entering the Championship in the 2019 season will be added to this list when they have completed the official entry criteria and logged it with the BSPA Head Office. I have to wonder if one of the entry criteria required is to have a certain amount of Assetts. This would explain choosing Paco over Danyon who I sincerely hope will ride for us again another season.

I agree that another season in the NL could be beneficial for Leon. However his high average might prevent this from happening (with the low team building limit set.) But another season in the NL would not stop him becoming a championship rider and if he cant get a NL ride I think we owe him the chance. (anyway I have a feeling that he will end up at Berwick.)

Thank you to the NL. You saved our Bacon when we were at our lowest ebb. I have to be honest and say that when we first joined I was a bit of a 'higher league' snob. But I was wrong and I will always keep an eye on this league as new riders are coming through. Watching the progress of raw but talented riders has been something that I shall miss. So thanks Zach Waj, Liam Flint, Tom Bacon, Jack smith, JPB, Danyon Hume and Tom Bacon. Forgot to say I shall also miss beating Cradley.

Read it again. Its not a quote by Alex Harkess

That is a misrepresentation of the facts. The meeting was called off by the ref after a Buxton rider tested the track and was not able (in the refs opinion.) to ride safely. Another Birmingham rider (Leon Flint) was due to test the track but the ref had seen enough. I have spoken to some of the Birmingham riders since the incident and they have all confirmed that they were prepared to ride if needed. In any case it was a trophy meeting and not a league meeting.

I find it interesting that some are saying this meeting was an affront to supporters when it was at the suggestion of a supporter that the three team format was used.

Its fairly simple why these matches have to be run. And its all mathematical. Teams and riders averages will be lop sided and potentially unfair if the same number of matches isn't run. Of course this doesn't stop averages being lop sided when a particular riders season is finished early due to injury or being sacked! The simple truth is that clubs should finish before the cut off date and except in exceptional circumstances there is no excuse for not doing so. People have suggested that if a club does not complete a fixture then the points should go to the other club. I think this would be unfair particularly if a club got points at a club that they would, in normal circumstances, not have a hope of getting. There are two paths that I can see that may be fairer. The most obvious one being if a club does not complete its fixtures then ALL fixtures at that club should be expunged from the final reckoning. This would be the fairest way but I don't think that people would like it. Particularly if at a club that all of a sudden goes for fourth to fifth place. Perhaps then the best way forward would be for the offending club to have points deducted. Although that wouldnt have troubled Buxton overmuch this year! For gods sake get your flipping fixtures in!!!!!!

I think Tom Bacon would have the beating off him if HE was fit

He was not able to post in the brumies site as his account was suspended. He has also apologised to me personally via pm on this site. Havent been able to reply yet.

Have to respectfully disagree. If there is someone better than Greenwood available, then by all means sign him. (Incidentally when is the cut off for making signings?) But Danyon is fourth in the averages which means only one of our top three (Leon Flint.) can take his ride with the rest being shared our between Walker and the reserves. I would suggest that Dan Greenwood would score higher than them. It would be unfair to expect him to score as high as Danyon. We're stuck between a rock and a hard place But, to be honest, none of this is important. Danyon is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet and I am devestated for him. Get well soon mate.

Looking forward to this one. It will be my first visit to Kent as their start time has always prevented me from making the journey. However its BH so no excuses for not going. Hoping there will be enough Brummie fans in attendance to make some noise. I really feel we can get something out of this, even a consolation point would be usefull at this point. Should be fun trying at any rate. See you there?

Twas a great match with some fantastic racing. James Shanes in particular was spectacular. Also Tom Bacon gave lie to the myth that he cannot make a pass as he went around Ben Morley. I have heard of some misdemeanours from some Cradley fans and hope this isn't true. From my vantage point I wasn't aware of any. I wasn't expecting the match to be that close and thought we were dead and buried when 8 points behind. But the guys gave it everything and I am proud of each and every one of them. I am also proud of the support we gave them. Most (and I have to be honest and include myself) thought we were in for a hiding and thats never nice particularly when its the noisy neighbours inflicting the pain. But we turned up in numbers and never stopped supporting even when 8 points behind. For me thats what being a Brummie fan is all about and I know that the riders appreciated it. Now the next thing I have to say is well done to the Cradley Cubs. I wish you luck in the Final. However you really should have been able to put us to the sword last night and if you want to win the Cradley Benefit Trophy then you will need that luck if you ride like that again. I think last night we saw the difference between a real team and a team of mercenaries. I also wish Mildenhall luck as well. Obviously my hopes will lie with them. Now we have to concentrate on the League and fight as hard as we can for the play offs. Its going to be difficult but not impossible. We will need to make changes but I know that Lawrence Rodgers and the management are working day and night to make that happen. Watch this space. Looking forward to the Cradley Cubs Hammer meeting as well. I think Tom Bacon has a good chance in that.

I agree with every word. And would also like to point out that some also said that we should not have signed Tom Bacon at the cost of JPB. And yet Tom is now pretty near unbeatable at this level and arguably the best rider in the league.

I think you owe the whole team an apology.

Well he seems to have been able to attract James Shanes and JPB!!