CardinalSin

Totally agree. Would be a shame not to include him now after his years experience this year and almost certain to up his average.

Feel sorry for Leigh one of the real nice guys and I'm sure he'd have loved to stay. Hope he gets fixed up quickly elsewhere and I'm sure he will. Must be the worst part of a promoters job having to tell riders they're not in your plans, especially local lads like Leigh but that's business I suppose. Looking forward to some positive team news tomorrow hopefully.

Nearer the mark to what? Are we talking about one particular match here, or general performances over the course of the season which is what I thought we were discussing?

Interesting. May or may not mean that he's in Louis' plans. Pretty quiet on the Witches team building front so maybe the promotion are still working out which way to go team building wise. Ellis won't have a problem getting a team place in the PL, so if Louis does want him in the 1-7 he better hurry up and offer him terms before someone else does. Think we'll regret not signing him again if he goes elsewhere.

Christ you're hard to please! Yes, it was a superb team, just pipped to first place in the final heat of the final meeting by a slightly better team. We picked up points at just about every League fixture bar one or possibly two?

That's because those 6 and one of the best heatleaders weren't all riding when the trophies were handed out. Our 1-7, when all fit, was a superb team. All teams pick up injuries, but we got stuffed by them at the worst possible time.

Probably very similar to last years, Louis has hinted as much in the Ipswich Star more than once since the season finished. I think the only change will be Barker out and a replacement up to the points left after this years 6 have re-signed. We'll see but I hope I'm wrong and we get a surprise or two. A fair few have now named at least one rider, very quiet from us so far.

He was definitely a 5.00 when Plymouth I think it was named him as a signing last winter, only for that move to not materialise for whatever reason. Manzares was very impressive I thought on his Foxhall debut this year in the Star Of Anglia, and Chris Louis was also very impressed and did hint that he could be a future option when interviewed on the mic. He would definitely be a signing that would capture the imagination, and goes back to comments earlier in the thread that I feel it's always better to include a new rider or two to freshen things up.

Manzarez would be 5.00 not 7.00 wouldn't he?

Last I heard Gino now has a young family and had little interest in committing to a full season in England. This was as recent as the summer so I'd say he was doubtful for any club.

Was never likely to be on the shelf for long, good rider.

Very surprised Mellgren has been ousted! Impressed me this season. Very good rider with a lot more to come.

Worrall 8.64 Heeps 6.74 Tungate 7.05 Howe 6.34 North 6.55 Hawkins 3.96 3 pointer 42.28 Would just about accept that

I've more than likely lost track of the rules, but wouldn't Larsen come back on his established PL average he last achieved rather than his converted EL average?

Agree completely. Also wouldn't mind a fresh rider from abroad to add to the asset base. The lad Rosen at Newcastle looks a decent find so there are riders out there. Always exciting seeing a new rider you know very little about and agree that's it's always good to freshen things up with new faces. I was convinced that both Risager and Lanham would be retained, but now I'm not so sure. If a Worrall or another 8 pointer is signed at number 1, then you're not also going to fit Heeps, Tungate, Lanham and Risager. I think just about everyone would be peeved if either Lanham or Risager were included at the expense of either Heeps or Tungate.

Agreed. Cam will be, or should be highly sought after. To do what he did last season whilst carrying a troublesome hand injury for most of it was a terrific achievement. I'm tipping Heeps to be the Ipswich number 1 by the end of next year, he has the talent to go a long way.

The worry is though that the EL teams will obviously try and arrange their fixtures to include them as much as possible. The likes of Tungate could be a very busy boy now with the EL extending its fixtures, and he generally runs out of gas around August as it is!

I see Tressarieu has popped up on a few team line ups. My overwhelming memory of him is hitting the deck whilst under no pressure time and time again whilst in scoring positions and costing us points. No thanks.

Pretty sure Hawkins said last week that he wanted to ride for Ipswich next season now that his studies had finished.

Yes not sure how that's going to work but I guess we'll find out soon enough. Chris Louis' thoughts on the AGM in tomorrows Ipswich Star.

Personally I'd have thought it would be right up the promotions street financially but still obviously didn't fancy it. Most PL reserves will more than likely be stronger than EL reserves, which would make an EL Vs PL match a little more interesting and closer.

Maybe the idea is that although they won't be riding against the top boys, they will be in and around them which might help them improve. Learning from them from watching them on track as well as in the pits with set ups etc and taking advice. The youngsters will learn a hell of a lot being in the team and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Holder and Woffinden.

The EL certainly looks to have cut costs as expected, which has left me a little surprised that we didn't throw our hat in to the ring. Or maybe we did but weren't accepted? If we didn't apply, then if Louis doesn't think we could cut it with a 32 point limit + two NL reserves, then I'm not sure we'll ever return. One of the plus point of the PL was more regular meetings, but the EL has now extended their fixture list to 36 meetings.

So basically the fans will be paying the same money for roughly a 70% EL meeting and a 30% NL meeting

Same.