Baldy

After a couple of heats I too was thinking that the track was not going to improve but thought that after the track grade it rode ok and Kyle put up some decent average premier level times. Some (elsewhere FB) complained that the track was graded after three heats; right thing to do and if grading has to be done after one heat then do it. The track still has for me that 3rd bend problem and the fact that stocks drive on it cannot be the best for the surface; for me it rides ok. I used to travel to other tracks that were at times in poor condition but that could of just been the night I was there, and to be honest that is what happens at tracks because you are constantly battling the elements; do I put water on as it looks like it may be dry; leaveve it off as it may rain, one downpour and all is ruined. I remember going to see the Potters at Somerset and it was always rated by some as the best, the night I went it produced poor racing with the riders looking like they were doing giant donuts and had one line to race; is it a terrible track?. I'm sure not. With Stoke's track, If constructive items can be put forward then great; put them forward. If it does not go right it's not for the want of trying as anyone has seen the effort Dave and Nigel put in would not say they are not trying.

Well said.Would not of said anything different.I follow Stoke and this is not a dig at Kent but speedway in general. All we want is to see the best lads in the country race against each other and not a system that "weeds" out the good to allow the lads of; shall I say, lesser ability at present get a ride. Very much disenchanted with our great sport.

Well said Malcolm.

Not sure where I stand on this with regard on having Emerson back in the first place or not but it was apparent that it was going to be a long process for Emerson to be upto speed with the rest of the league's reserves never mind the main body of the teams. We do seem ( and by "we" I mean speedway in general) that because there has been success from Moto; that it is the best way to find the next rising star.Different disipline and racing style and although it can be done; and has been done very well by certain racers; it is not the only way into this sport. I do feel sorry for those lads that are dragging their bikes all around the country and not getting the chance their hard work and dedication deserve. Chris Widman must be wondering how his efforts are not being rewarded with a chance at a track somewhere, unfortuately there are quite a few "Chris's" in this speedway world. The lad replacing Emerson looks like with regular racing could be amoungst the riders and not tailed off at the back, and will be interested how he goes on in his first steps in competitive speedway. Hope Emerson's injury heals and he and the Stoke promotion learn from the past few months and not repeat thee mistakes made.

Jayne, I would like to think that the majority if not all speedway supporters think/know you do a wonderful job just getting people along to quite an isolated position and problems do happen. I was trying to get you a couple more "regulars" but they thought that it was all a joke; that said I've in past years had some that I have brought along to Looomer rd that felt the same. Keep up the good work

Agree with everything said Vog. Don't normal go to many at Buxton as it's normal busy for me Sunday afternoon but for once I was visiting friends in Buxton and they came along for the first time........and the last; thought I'd brought them to the circus. Pity as it could of been a couple more for Buxton. Although if Shaun carry's on like that, then my visits to watch the racing may come to an end, certainly not gtting the buzz I used to and was in two minds if to continue this year. With Tedham it's not so much his poor performance but giving up in racing, if he can't be bothered then others will see it and can't be bothered themselves.

Was a good win by Lee and early signs are that all is ok with him with regards to fitness and mental toughness to take on the track. Good to see that he had the "nerve" to go around the outside of Tony in one race. For me; and realize this may sound strange, but Kyle impressed me the most. Very good style and attack of the track; could be a big year for them both. Luke P will be solid back back up and I think maybe Ben was trying engines or something last night as in some races he looked well down on power and then flying.....well better at least in others. Luke C will be ok if he can stay on a bike, can't remember a rider dropping off his bike so much.!!. If I say, I think that it is going to be a very steep learning curve for our two reserve lads and leave it at that. More importantly than all the above; just hope that Shane is ok after a very heavy fall; seemed to bounce on his head and tumble. Not looked elsewhere but do we know his condition?.

I would be interested in the results when you have finished. Bit like Chubby in that some of my answers to the question were not there but enjoyable all the same.

Averages are the biggest problem for me in speedway in general. Quite right with Kyle but others who have been out for a bit or like Jamie Pickard from last year are lumbered with unrealistic averages to how they are riding at present and stops them racing. I cannot believe anybody thinks it is a good idea to assess somebody on how they rode two years ago. I'm all for giving everybody a chance to race league speedway in whatever standard their abilities say they should. At present teams are forced to pick riders that are not as good as some sitting out just to get into the points limit. The points limit gives even teams?. No, it doesn't as you have to have riders of all standards and not one standard. The only way to get good, close racing is if all the best riders are picked. Ah you say, Dudley and "richer" teams would pick the best riders and leave nothing for the rest. Standardise the pay rates too so all are paid the same. Thought that was how it was anyway. Looking forward to the season as we all are but not to some riders finishing half a lap behind everyone else. Not complaining at your post; just clicked quote and couldn't find my way out of it

I really am very disappointed with Stoke over this. How can you hold on to money that the man has rightly earned. We really do need to lift our profile and this is not good enough. There may be circumstances that people do not know but come on get it sorted.

There are a load of ? about the Stoke team that's for sure but in a good way that has encouraged me for the new season to go along and see how it develops. I remember last year that my concerns were with other riders than Jamie Pickard as he was sure to get better from his 2011 showing. It did not quite happen for him which is a pity with such talent and it's good to see that he still wants to go on. So it shows that all riders can be ? at this stage because we haven't started yet. IOW do look good and I'm sure we have our first match as a challenge against them. Lets get those wheels turning and have a good competitive season for all teams.

Thanks Chubby; I thought we are starting at 7.00pm. Shows 7.30pm on the fixtures?

You certainly make enough noise for 2000!!. Strange that we never do get to hear the crowd numbers. In the past few years I've not travelled to too many tracks but having called in at Somerset on way back from hols and seen Wolves and Dudley on occasion it does seem that we need more through the gate at the majority of tracks.

To be honest, I didn't realize that Signal 2 was still on air!!. I think that you may not be far off with your guess, although everyone would say that their crowds at their tracks would be down over the last 10-15 years; or would they?. My mum, who is now 86 remembers crowds of 20 odd thousand at the Sun Street stadium. I'll be happy to remember anything at that age!! I just hope that enough of us; at all tracks; keep going to continue the sport. I was in two minds about this year but expect I will make it again.

Whilst mildly amusing and true. Do other tracks have that many more spectators compared to Stoke?. I hear talk of Dudley having 1500-2000 at home matches which is very good but in comparison with other sports is not much really. What do other tracks get?. In fact what do Stoke get as I'm hopeless at guessing crowds.

I think I have "got real". There is nobody with a pile of money to turn it into a top sporting stadium regardless of Premier speedway or not. I'm not a beef(horse) burger chips and that type of food fan so your description is correct, again that will not change in the Premier; although them may move up market with pickled eggs!!. Quite right that a lot of the riders are probably at their level but to call them no hopers is grossly unfair. Watching Ben progress last year was very rewarding and Liam Carr will be a bright star if given the track time. The track craft of Richie, Ash, Tom Perry, Adam Roynan, Blackbird, Jacobs, Heeps...the Scunny boys and the development of riders like Richings is great to see. Ok the times were slower in majority of races but when they are all going at a similar pace then the racing is just as close. Would I invite someone to Stoke as a first timer with everything in the poor condition it is in? Well, yes because that's what we have at present. Yes the meetings are drawn out and other things could be better and it is a little expensive but I'm enjoying it and I want it to continue. We do need the profile of the speedway team raising in the city and we can all have a hand with that. It is cold up there but a curry on the way home normally sorts that. I had to do that in the Premier too.

I quite understand your frustrations with how it has all gone with the Potters and I would like to throw Tom Owen and Billy Burton who were my early favourites but times have changed and balances have to be meet at the bank and at National is were we find ourselves. Some very good riders in the league at times and my main complaint...if I have complaint is that the range of ability of the lads racing at times can be large with some big gaps in riders. Plenty are holding out for the return to Premier but it could be no return at all with few punters paying.

I hope I am proved wrong but I don't think what happens on the track will affect the crowds too much at all this year. When we moved to national quite a few decided that it wasn't worth following; quite wrongly may I add, then Stoke got back in the Premiership and now the Vale are doing well. In an area that this well known for poor pay compared to the rest of the country and unemployment like the rest of the country terrible; people prefer to buy a few cans and stay in or spend it on something else. Speedway is no longer looked on by the majority of the sports watching public as the one that can do without. I enjoy rugby union and the speedway and if one had to go because of funds then I'm sorry the speedway would have to go. Yes money is that tight for some people.

I think even Malc would struggle to get a 6 point man into a 3 point slot. James McBain was spoken of as a replacement. Is he a 3 point man?

Should we be worried?

Quite true Vog. You could watch Gareth in three races and think that he was a 9 or 6 or 3 point rider. Gareth and his family have done an awful lot for the Stoke set-up in the past and only wish that his form this year reflects the effort he puts in. Good luck Gareth.

Malcolm's comments elsewhere make me wonder about the money side of it as he talks about the areas in the country needing teams to cut down on the travelling of some riders (including Liam). It is incredibly hard to put together a team and views will always vary but for me a rider at 3.61 that could, I think achieve a 6 point if not a little more is better than a 4.something rider that on past seasons not really put too much to his average. Of course Luke could explode this year and turn into the rider he has promised to be. For me though, Luke gates and then gets caught, if that can be sorted then he will do the job. I know we have to use all the points available if possible but only if those points are ones that can be increased over the year. A 4.5 man that still is a 4.5 at the end of the year really doesn't benefit us. It's all thoughts at this time of the year and I'm sure we all will be behind anyone who pulls the Potters race jacket on.

I think you have it right in the money area being the reason for Liam not being offered a team spot. I'm not stupid enough to say that his signing or not makes the difference in me going or not but these are the sort of riders that need to be automatic for this league and the type of riders I want to see ride. He made great progress last year and is primed for a better one this year. He has the potential to put more on his starting average than most in the league and if you are looking for a sucessful side then you need riders who are going to do this. Baffles me?.Good luck Liam.

We really do have a side that is going to have the biggest ???? against it until the season gets underway. Luke completes that side of ???. We wish Luke well in the 5 stars of the Potters (should be 6 really but that's another issue). He has always looked good to me although he is a rider that you expect to break thorough big style but as yet has remained on the bubble. He has great talent that is given and I hope that he shows us that he can do it. I feel good about this side but I know the ?? are because it's seeing if the top men can regain the confidence that both need to make a sucess for the season. A few ?? against Ben as some tend to think that Ben has hit his level, I'm not so sure; looks more in Ben to me and I would not be surprised if his sortees in the premier reserve ranks don't get him a few points. Luke P again is a past Premier rider and I think that anybody that thinks Luke is past it in regards to racing should think again. I do think we have missed a trick not finding a place for Liam Carr but hope he can get fixed up somewhere and I get the chance to see him race. Thought he would of been nailed on for Stoke this year. Much debate on if this side is good enough or not but we will only know when it takes to the track.

I remember James racing against Ben Reade when the reserve spot was up for grabs two years ago. James was quicker out of the gate but Ben passed him in the races. Surprised that we did not take him on three last year as he was as close an equal with Ben the time before. Think at times we only look at using every fraction of points you have. Might be good to take someone like James then it still gives chance to shuffle in the future; that said, we shuffled more times than a top croupier last year and that is not good in my view.