wjm

Genuinely, you would ask that to a person? Wow..... There are some utterly mental comments made on this forum, but that is a stand out

You would think so, maybe not end of season average wise, a Barker or Doyle will, come the end of the year, be your top men, but career trajectory wise, Mellgren and Morris are your long term talents in the PL (maybe Fricke, early days to be fair) Mellgren is the baws...

It is just weird that Mellgren isn't part of an EL squad, excellent rider. Generates EL speed even at PL level

Albin looked pretty decent the limited number of times I saw him last season. That being said, it is still early days and more often than not your more “bat sh*t crazy” riders will start the season in decent form while others work themselves in. It will be interesting to see how he manages across the season, but he does look a talent.

It was pretty rushed, sounded like R.E.M “It’s the end of the World” on karaoke before every race Other than that, it was really good.

Biased, I know. But Somerset v Berwick would be one of the better fixtures to put on….. Excellent track, league favourites against a side packed with guys who ride the OTA well and would give them a test..

Scud or Pingel I would imagine. Christ what a clueless twit he is.

Without fail, like a puppet on a string. He will reply to this.

Well if anyone knows about making embarrassing comments it would be you.

I would hope not, while not overly popular on here, he still has something to offer IMO. His programme articles, more often than not offer thought provoking articles and I always enjoy the rapport he has with the riders, Dick in a roving reporter role in the pits chipping in when track work was going on would work well IMO. Dick tends to ask riders questions that are a bit out the box rather than the usual sort of brain dead stuff you get on Sky. I don’t think there is much an issue having people with the enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport Dick has involved somewhere…

You are of course working from the assumption that Leicester won’t bring in a star guest so as to even the meeting up a bit aren’t you? When the reality is they more than likely will, and then split the riders between the number 6&7. Ow and don’t worry, I will get it in before you do. “well what’s the point in bringing in a guest, they ruin speedway, give the rides to the kid etc”. The counter point. Benefits the young riders being in a meeting which involves a Nicholls, seeing their professionalism, a bit of envy when they are surrounded in the pits etc, a bit of motivation to get to that level. Just enjoy it for what it is.

The first meeting of the season at Berwick is actually one of the bigger meetings held in Britain, it’s the Ben Fund Bonanza… It’s understandable that clubs would look to attract the biggest meeting possible for their opening night, the opening night can quite often set the tone for the season, it’s a lot of clubs chance to start with a bang, get as many fans new, and old in as possible. Even as a PL fan I know that even a Nicholls or Kasparzak is a better, bigger draw than a local challenge against a PL side.Get people, in and do something to get them back, its pretty sensible. As well as that, an EL side, different faces and names is a break from the norm, the repetition of say a Berwick v Newcastle, or Edinburgh v Glasgow, or a local meeting you will see 4 or 5 times a season, which is then down to 3 or 4 instead. Clubs actually put a bit of effort in to put on a show for fans, but naw, as per with quite a growing minority on the BSF, its always with the “what way can we spin this to look sh*t” line.

The end result shows and the speculative post above shows why people struggle to take posters seriously.... Excellent work by the promotion to attract such a sponsor to Britsh Speedway, and not just Berwick.

The BSPA site today probably confirms what a few have thought for a while (and not just on this subject) its about time you shut yer pus.

Having a good/winning season and finding the right place for an assessed rider is pretty hard, unless you have a Tabakaish reserve who will swap in and out the top 5 with your 5.00 man you are going to have a difficult season IMO. 5.00 average doesn’t sound much but for a first season kid in the PL that’s a big ask to hit it, more so when you have 2 at once and a side structured that will more than likely see one spending a large chunk of the season in the 1-5 5.00 average, that’s a figure that guys like Kurtz, Campton, Heeps and Dyer didn’t or have not hit yet, and they are good, talented riders who in theory should have decent careers. Unless you are making wholesale changes, the introduction of a couple of assessed riders in their first season, more often than not will mean you are in for an average season (I am not saying that is a bad thing) nor is this just aimed at Glasgow, just a general comment. All that being said, being near the top of the league, while great, isnt the be all and end all. Glasgow should,have a couple of long term assets, with their heat leader trio and Bager be solid at home, and with Grieves and Wright (if he finds his form) have a couple of the more entertaining riders in the PL this season, for a first season effort, and new promotion that’s not a bad start at all.

I take it Wells must be a fan of The Smiths, seems to be of the assumption that England is his and it owes him a living. If he likes the place, the fans, and the club so much, maybe he should think about their tomorrow as well as his? He is already having his “loss of earnings” subsidized by….another team place in England. I have some degree of sympathy with riders when they point out the financial strains on them, I am struggling in this instance.

If James Wright gets his head straight again he could stick a point or so on his average, being in the same team as Screen should help. Big year for Wright, if he is average Glasgow are pretty poor, if he hits form they have a third heat leader pushing on 8.00 which means they are going to have a decent year. Kling on 6.6 is an interesting one, in theory an EL guy coming down should be upping that without a problerm, but, I dont know, could be a Risager sitting here in a few years saying "talent alone will get him a 8" , he seems to be excellent at Plymouth,which should seem him around 7.00ish, maybe being harsh on him based on his display at Berwick last year when he was turgid and didnt look interested, might be a one off or might be the norm.

Aye I would go with that, 6.5? He can better that IMO, not the worst signing in the world.

Be interesting to see if Proctor can meet that assessed average, I like him as a rider, he is an entertainer, but he has his limitations IMO, doubling up/down will help him. But I don’t know if he is good enough from the gate often enough to carry that sort of average, 8.5ish might be a bit more realistic. Decent enough side though.

I will ask a speedwayish question. Anyone think there is a possibility that either Bellego or Wethers could have a spell at reserve next season (and I am not asking that as I expect their own performances to decline)….win/win either way if they don’t IMO.

Last few years there has been a genuine standout side, don’t know if there is this year, each team has their strengths and weaknesses in equal measure IMO. Newcastle do look decent, but Nedermark and Lemon (despite a below par season last year) are a massive miss, as well as that the twins are both coming back from pretty serious injury.You could make the same sort of + and – minus points for a lot of sides across the league.

Taking it a bit far this time KKS.

Lemon is probably one of the older riders that wont decline as quickly as certain others have in the past, he is outstanding from the gate which should always see him round for about 7 points a meeting minimum, which isnt the worst basic return from a third heat leader. Not really been the wholesale changes I had expected at Glasgow this year, but you can understand a new promotion coming in and playing it pretty safe in their first year.

Wee bit cringing reading patter as poor as that. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz