BWitcher

Whilst everyone jumps up and down that we are a four man team, they are once again forgetting we are built as a top heavy side. Let's take a little look at just who the riders are winning and losing against in our two league meets so far. The codes here are:- WH: Won against higher average opponent WL: Won against lower average opponent LH: Lost against higher average opponent LL: Lost against lower average opponent Lindgren: WL 14, LL 6 Howarth: WH 4. WL 9, LH 5, LL 0 Skornicki: WH 3, WL 4, LH 6, LL 3 Thorssell: WL 9, LL 7 Masters: WH 5, WL 3, LH 6, LL 3 Clegg: WL 1. LL 2, LH 10 Greaves: LH 16 The biggest problem thus far is Thorssell He is not there to be a second string anymore, He's our second heat leader taking up nigh on 10pts of team building. He is also riding at the easier Number four position yet he has lost almost half of his races (7) to riders with a lower average than him. Masters doesn't appear to have started all that well, however, he has a far tougher position at No 5 and as you can see is often racing against higher averaged riders than himself, against which he has held his own. He's lost 3 times to riders with a lower average. Skornicki, surely we all knew it would take at least a month for him to fully get back into the swing of things? He has eased his way in as expected, yet he's only been beaten 3 times by riders lower than him and he's won 3 against those above him. The reserves, it was obvious they would find it tough going. Again though the reality is, every opponent Greaves has faced has a higher average and bar the reserve race, Clegg is the same. Clegg has won once and lost twice against riders with a lower average. Clearly we have to hope for more from Clegg at home where he needs to start beating the opposing no 6's from time to time and beating the opposing no 7's the vast majority of the time.

Not really. The second and third heat leaders were the problem last night. We have been built as a TOP HEAVY side. That means the top three need to be scoring big points.

Wolves fans as usual looking in the wrong place. Greaves is pretty much the weakest rider in the league so any points he scores is a bonus. Clegg is one of, if not the weakest no 6's in the league so realistically his job is to beat the no 7's which so far he has struggled to do. However, it's a point or two either way. What should NOT be happening is a team built top heavy and a big 'top' three is one of those top three to be losing to opposing no 7's. Thorssell and Masters were the reason we came away with nothing tonight.

'One of'? Not good enough from Thorssell again. No point him scoring maxes at home if he can't beat opposing no 7's away.

Skornicki doing his job.. Thorssell needs to step up in Heat 14.

Not entirely sure why we're particularly concerned about Skornicki at this stage, Seemed to improve as the meeting went on at Poole and let's not forget.. he was put in a heat leader spot, under the old format and we know how tough that is. Thorsell, the actual heat leader was given the much easier second string spot and didn't deliver.

Not true in the slightest as Gavan the overwhelming majority of the time has very valid points when it comes to Poole. Col meanwhile has posted the same post, slightly re-worded at least twenty times now. Completely irrelevant as Klindt himself has confirmed that Wolves approached to sign him but he didn't want to and preferred to sign for Poole. Col struggles to understand that concept.

He's not a Premiership class act now either. He beat Thorssell which was an excellent ride, aside from that he beat Clegg and Greaves. Effectively he was racing at National League Level. That said, he certainly has a lot of potential.

Bleeds Pirate Blue, you might want to take note of this excellent post earlier in the thread which has garnered the most likes of any post made. So no, not argumentative, simply saying what any sensible fan would say at this stage.

I've ignored it because it's irrelevant to the point I made. Everyone knows Poole have as usual put together a team that will be competitive. How that will pan out over the course of the season remains to be seen and the results of a couple of challenge meetings ridden over a totally different heat format in which riders will be testing equipment, setups etc does little to change that.

Anyone making judgements on a challenge match contested on a heat format that won't be used during the season is getting carried away. Last year's champions was a different team so irrelevant.

I think Sid was talking about Nicolai Klindt

Very much the expected result from last night. Good to see some Poole fans getting very carried away. Shanes did well, but again, in reality, he had one ride I wouldn't have expected him to win and that was against Thorssell. All the rest he only beat Clegg or Greaves. Howarth was beating him when he packed up. I don't read much into challenge meets like this, it's simply blowing the cobwebs away, testing machinery and setups in preparation for the league. From a Wolves perspective it was obvious the reserves would struggle, Clegg needs to step up but that will be tough.

Sportsnation is you paying thieves who have stolen a service.

He did, but there was only one guy outside him as Andersen touched the tapes. He was programmed from gate 4 though in that race He can win off the inside if he makes a clear gate. Career average doesn't lie though, over a fair few seasons... around 4.4 of gates 1 and 2 at Monmore and over 8 from gates 3 and 4.

You beat me too it. Does Middleditch know how to manage him though?

Clearly you went to a different meeting to anyone else. Howe was pretty impressive given his time away from the sport and improved as the meeting went on. Thorssell and Masters between them scored 36pts, Nicholls and Harris scored 30. So more garbage. Wells is excellent at Monmore, it's his away form that lets him down. Of course Klindt didn't beat Thorssell by half a lap at all not that he is at all relevant as he didn't want to sign for Wolves.

Unusual, Ronnie could never be termed a dirty rider.

Tbh who cares about the 'shield'. I'd rather Adam rest than risk making the injury worse.

It doesn't matter what you suggest. There is a children's section though if you want to post your fantasies in there.

That was the race that amazed me when Ronnie dropped it over him into Turn 1, he wasn't having him come by!

Ronnie impressed me. I was a bit worried as the last time I'd seen him in races like this, for the first time, he looked to struggle a tad. His first race yesterday he was a little tentative but was very smooth in this final two. He slammed the door shut on Paul Hurry into turn 1 on lap two in his second race, dropping it on him in vintage style. I hope Sam hasn't done any damage to his knee, it was always a massive ask to try and ride so soon after his knee operation. It's a shame as would have been good to seem him racing with Mikael. In the main meet David Howe improved as the meeting went on and was pretty much at race pace, worth a shout for a Championship place I would say at the very least. A good day and a decent crowd to give the Man who put the A into Abba a good send off.

Pairs meeting

He knows plenty and has commentated on the World Cup previously, very well indeed.

Now that you mention it, yes, it very likely would. There has never been any link to 'quality of racing' equalling 'bigger crowds' in the history of the sport.