Baldy

I think he could be. He made massive strides last year and the only times he looked off it were when his bikes looked poor also. I know....I imagine it's quite an expensive game running speedway bikes and don't know the money Ben has, with backers to put into his bikes. Given he has the bikes he will be ok. He acquitted himself very well against some of the better riders in the league and I would think all who saw his races against Tom Perry ( Dudley reserve if I remember correctly) will be hoping for that kind of form. Always difficult with the distorted way that speedway do the averages what would be a reflective average for Ben at this stage. Last year he started as 3 and nobody thought that was right....he went to 8 point something...and nobody thought that was right, so maybe 7.7 is ok to start and the management must feel, like I do that there is still improvement in Ben. Lee is an "interesting" signing as it all based on him hitting his 2010 form from the off. One thing in his favor is that he knows he has the talent to do that average because he has done it before, so mentally he should be ok. Hope that Liam and ..Liam sign again and depending on the last riders it may tempt me back and have to face the ridicule of all my friends who I had said to that I would not be back next year. Has anybody seen Emerson ride?. Was he not in any of the midland teams last year?

I take it then James that Stoke have either not contacted you or messed you around; not wanting a reply to that, just taking from your plea that that is the case.Pity as you provided some entertainment for me towards the back end of our sinking season. Good luck, and hope you get taken up somewhere and enjoy your speedway.

Sounds like you are trying to pied piper us Potters fans to the land of the pork scratching's. There is a lot wrong at Loomer Road but the picture isn't quite as black as you paint, (and yes it does need a lick around the place). The track isn't too bad; doesn't seem to be as good as a few years ago but apart from the third bend that has some sort of a hole that jumps out on riders it gives reasonable racing if conditions allow. All tracks have suffered this year, so to judge so Stoke is a little unfair. The design has been copied by Vojens so the shape must be ok. Money stops the improvements in the bar etc and is very poor; so agree there. Food is poor also but I'm not a fish and chips and pies fan so all tracks get a miss on the food front for me. Teams are allowed to build as they see fit and no one way is the best way. If....and this is a big if the lads on the 3 point averages had come good then Stoke could of been sitting happy. Look at the lad that has signed for IOW; which I think will start on a 3 and be a heat leader in no time; of course, with the stupid rules speedway have he will stay there for most of the season. Unfortunately not every 3 pointer turns in to a heat leader and if removed to get someone else in the team gets shot for the change. Every successful teams have to have riders who increase their scoring potential massively before the averages catch up with them. That said I have had the stuffing knocked out of me but not by Stoke but by speedway in general and at present will not be going to Loomer Rd or any track next year. Too many riders who shouldn't be in the league because they are too good and too many who are not yet at NL standard, leaves the gap between the riders in the league too big. Speedway needs to get riders of similar standard riding against each other and not as we have at present. I thought Liam Rumsey did his very best for Stoke and if there were 14 riders of his standard riding against each other I would go, but to see "racing" from most tracks I visited (only four last year) with riders finishing 1/2 to 3/4 of a lap in front of the last rider is what is going to keep me away not the poorish state of the stadiums.

What Stoke fans have got to do with this I don't know. Why your problem with Stoke fans? You make loads of comments and I'm sure at some stage you have said something passable about Stoke but I'm not prepared to bet on it; anyway, two excellent teams battling it out and to go to one point was the best finish that the season could of had. Really is a massive downer with Adam and the way it finished for him. Hope the Potters and the rest of the teams next year get competitive line -ups as it's the only way forward for this league.

I think the shame of it all is that Dudley should be named "League" winners as they are head but not shoulders the best team in the League and the winner of the farce of the playoffs called "Playoff" winners.

I have been debating if I have made the right decision to bring my season of watching speedway to an end and after reading about how we feel about this young man I feel I have made the right choice. I have enjoyed parts of the season with great racing but 70-80% of the time I've watched Ash,Richie win by a country mile which for me brings no enjoyment at all. When Stoke brought Simon back was the last straw. I want to see riders of equal quality ride against each other not somebody who whould finish half a lap in front of everyone else. This lad has fantastic talent yet all want him in their side to bang max after max out. Our rules are a joke; rolling averages that rely on races from ages ago to give you a figure that is out dated and farcical. We have this all through the leagues because teams are force to track riders because of false average figures. Speedway for me is in a big mess and to be honest I cannot see it getting out of it, no speedway for me next year I fear. Why cannot we have riders of equal standard riding against each other?

I have been on holiday for a few weeks so had not seen your reply. That's a poor show by Stoke if they had said that a place was yours when the averages come in and that will now not be the case. We all have an opinion on who should be in or out of any side but the management of teams have (in my eyes anyway) an obligation to treat riders in the correct way. I have to say that although I have enjoyed parts of the season, I have fell out of love a bit with speedway with the way it operates and will not attend again this year...may be give a miss altogether next year. Keep you chin up Ross and take rides wherever you can to get to keep yourself in peoples minds for a possible spot in their team.

I think most people feel sorry for Ross but whatever position he would of taken would of made no difference as week in week out he pick up points only if other riders had problems. Strangely he had a fantastic race at Scunthorpe and beat some good racers but for me looked way out of his depth. He raced against reserves every week and even on his own track he was not in the running. We all hope he keeps at it and comes back for someone and shows everybody that he is capable of racing a bike.

To applaud every race winner is ridiculous? It's what I do. So I am sorry villiers I come under your ridiculous type. I did not use football as an example as I packed in watching our local team quite a few years ago as I did exactly what you say at the Brit and applauded Middlesbrough scoring as it was a fantastic goal. The reaction from the "fans" was one of kill!!. I too support Stoke through and through but it's the sport that I support more. I do realize that my type of support is a dying one but It's the way I have watched sport for over 60 years and the way i was brought up and i don't expect i will change now. I have better ways of having a laugh. I was not saying anything about "our" supporters are better than other supporters; all I was saying was that, I enjoyed the banter between the supporters of the teams i mentioned than those that are around today. What has the time that Ellesmere been shut to do with anything? I would expect Heathen fans more than any other to have some thoughts for the Gunners supporters. I have watched speedway since 1976 and sport for a lot longer and you want me to tootle off and leave speedway? A sport that is crying out for supporters and you want me to leave? That would help. You are miles off with the comment about not taking to NL racing. It's the best racing I've seen for years; unfortunately a lot of Stoke supporters do not feel the same and do not go anymore and if Stoke ever decide to go back to premier then I'm not sure they would come back. I take it you do not like rugby then? Pity as you are missing probably the best sport there is and the best supporters there are about. Speedway as a whole has less supporters now than I can ever remember and to tell someone to tootle off really does not help our cause to get more to come and keep it going, for all their support if there are no other teams then Dudley go too.

never mentioned booing but that to me is part of the game. The Heathens regard themselves as the best in Speedway. Pity it,s only the Heathens that think that. Uset to enjoy visits from Glasgow,Newcastle and Elesmere Port;unfortuately the Dudley drone of self importance is warring on others.The sign of true supports of any sport is that they view the evert through sporting eyes and not see just their sides players/riders. Take yourself off to rugby and see for yourself. Most supporters in speedway? Probably but at 1500 it's still pitiful against most other sports. Good luck to Dudley for the rest of the season and hope wwe meet again in the playoffs and have just a good meeting.

What a great advert for national league racing. Some fantastic racing tonight and how Stoke kept it close with two riders I will never know. Steve as a guest was top form and Tom Perry is improving week on week by the looks of it and Dudley fully deserved the win. With Ash taking his remaining rides and Ben taking the forth rides for Adam,Ross( who is not up to NL standard) and Jack(how small is he!! Good effort Jack), then Stoke would of won but would not deserved as all riders need to chip in like the Dudley riders did tonight. With Stoke it's the four riders and hope that the rest can just get a few. Liam was missed but cannot fault Jack for his efforts and Adam as he is just coming back from injury. If Ritchings lost a stone or two he would become a middling rider. He got vital points the the Heathens tonight. Tony for us never looked like getting any wins which was disappointing but that's the breaks. A very entertaining meeting for me only spoiled( well only a little, by a few Heathens fans who only seemed to applaud their winners of races ) small minority.We all support our own teams but just show a little respect to the racers whoever they ride for. Great meeting.

Surprised no Ben Reade?. Must have 6 matches under his belt and a top average

I thought someone would say that the Tony remark was rubbish. I only put it in as that is actually what Ash said on the dvds done at Stokes practice this year. So if Ash has said it, must be true. Agreed that Simon is too good but I suppose for him it's better to ride than not to.

Quite interesting comments on your posts. To keep Stoke competitive and me watching they had to sign a rider that was of a heat leader standard and as you say there are not too many about. Rambo would not of been my ideal man as he has grown past the NL but he needs a ride and we need a leader. Strange that you forgot that the NL has a 40 points total limit, for someone that takes an interest in the league that's a poor mistake to make. You are saying Gary Gottham has been around for a few years and only averaging 4 and drop him and striking at Stoke for letting Jamie go, who has been around for a few years and is averaging in the 5 point range this year. Could say that Jamie has more potential but who can say who will bloom late and who will not. Stoke have a 16 year old lad at reserve so that is some developing would you not say? The NL suffers from the problem that different teams have different agendas. All teams have to be competitive if they want the public in and paying at the door. Those that have teams in other leagues are a little more understanding as they see riders developing for their sides, plus the NL match tends to be tagged along with the "main" feature. Stoke, for me have it about right to keep me going along and with Tony they have one of the best developing tools any team could have; someone would knows speedway inside and out who is out there riding with the younger lads and also helping with bike pre etc. If you asked Ash Birks,(and I don't know him) he would most likely say that people like Tony are helping out with bringing him on as a speedway rider.

If Jamie had just started out then I would tend to agree with you but he has been around the speedway quite a bit now and last year was getting rides at reserve in the Prem. This year it just has not happened for him; I suspect through a bit of motor trouble and a few falls which has knocked his confidence. You have said the problem; and it's not Stoke; it's the anarchic way that speedway averages are worked out. His now average( one that he is able to ride to if fit and confident, and even increase) from last year will stop people signing him because he ( at present) cannot achieve it. A rolling average should reflect his and every other riders ability now and not want he did last year....or in some cases the year before that. Not Stoke, system

Wasn't expecting that when I woke this morning. Initial thoughts without my coffee is it makes us stronger.....how can i say that when one of the best developing riders in the country drops out of your side?.(that's Richie not Jamie) Well we end up with ( when Ben moves up) 5 riders of average 5 and above and two reserves who at present averaging 5 and 3.81. With the fantastic rise of Ben, people seem to have missed that Liam is a fine young prospect who will not let points go easily and Ross who is not that far of the pace. Jamie was really struggling this year and has banged himself about a bit with falls which could of knocked his confidence. The other option would of been to go with two 5'ish ponters and drop Ross out. Now Jamie could of turned his season around but that's a could be and I don't have crystal balls but I don't think so. Who is the last rider? I have no idea but you don't make these changes without having someone lined up......do you? O forgot to mention but I'm sure all knew. Richie hasn't ridden a league match for us this year so we (in the league really haven't felt his presence)

The track was understandably very heavy and not the best or easiest to race on; I am not a rider but in conditions like that you must get out of the gate so that you have the clean run and IOW really did not do that, they looked like( think Vog mentioned somewhere) they did not want to be there which made for a poorish nights racing. Aaron did ok but nobody on the IOW side did anything that their averages suggested. Their big point advantage race should of been a 0-0 as the pair of them did not race at all and I'm sure that there is something that say's you should at least try to race. So It could of been worse; bit picky that point but I'm more interested in if there is something in the rule book that says that. Ok one bike was failing but the other was ok. A night to forget the the Islanders

Not heavy rain at the moment but would be surprised if this is on after the rain of last few days.

Of course Jason should be allowed to ride in the NL. Marmite rider which is great for the sport.

I disagreed with you; not stopped you having an opinion Sparky old chap. Differing opinions are what the forum is all about. We all want good speedway and discussing how that comes about is most enjoyable. How is my comment an old Red herring? A Red herring is a false lead.......I'm not leading anybody anywhere with my comments?. I can't ride a bike, so whats wrong with admiring people who can?. The result was lopsided but that happens from time to time and we ALL like to see a spectacle but how often do we get one. If I see on average 4/5 good races per meeting I have done well. Most seem to be FTG but if the chasing riders are trying to chase the riders in front down then we cannot complain. Saw the article in the Star and a good article it was too and similar like you say to Deans views.

Sorry to disagree but I'm sure the Buxton lads tried as best as they could. Even young Neale who was tailed off in most of his heats seemed to be trying. If people can do something that I would not have the nerve to try, then I applaud from first to last. Nothing embarrassing for me.

If Crabby said that then I bow to that as these were/are the people who race the bikes. Memory is a terrible thing but remember rakers bringing the dirt back to the track. Of course the tractor could be doing that. Tracks do seem slicker to me but the people who prepare and race on the track say different I go with their view.

I think you have it summed up nicely there Vog. Although I don't think the track was bad at all. The second bend had a problem that did skittle the riders some what. For me what Dean said was interesting and it is true that the modern day speedway rider seems to struggle with dirt on the track and that's what seemed to happen. They should have more set-ups like that as I always enjoyed riders riding how it was meant to be. I know some tracks cannot take dirt on as it makes it impossible to ride; I think Rye House is one of these. So even though for me the dirt caused the riders to perform like novices at times and for me added little or any entertainment value as most of the time riders seem more interested in just staying on than lining up passing moves, they should have more dirt on the tracks because when the riders get used to it again it is the best possible racing. Riders did not complain because they probably thought I should be able to ride this!!!.At present riders struggle but we should start a campaign to bring back the dirt!!. In another post somebody said that Stokes match was embarrassing?. What was embarrassing about it?

Think you have it spot on there Vog. So pleased for Ben, his overall bike craft has improved in all departments. Liam will be/is a very good rider; for some one on his first visit to place he has to be pleased with his efforts; I, and all those in the stadium must of noticed the effort he put in. I have not seen anybody miss the gate as badly in his last race since Jason Bunyan and like Jason he raced every second of the race after that. Top notch young man.

Sounds like I missed out on a good meeting there. I'm interested on how Rhys and Ross looked. On Saturday you could tell both were feeling their way into riding again and I must admit I though it would be a while before Ross took his first flag but must of rode well to win heat 13. Scunthorpe have some very good youngsters on the go which is great to see. Ben has started really well and showing what we all knew that he can ride in decent company.