Baldy

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.

Oh Bob, If you were a fish you would get caught every day, unfortuately you would be too small and get thrown back.

Going to be tough this evening with a useful Heathen team coming to town. Looks a good evening ahead and hope that there is no problems both on the track and off with regard to electric and medical problems. New lads on the track, which will add a bit more interest, although tough for the Potters with only seven riders to pick from.

Well reported as it saves me a load of time writing much the same. Pity for Richie that a clutch beat him and not a rider but that's the brakes(breaks sorry) in speedway. I went home satisfied with what I had seen; in fact it was like the semi at Stoke with all the falls and failure of the start line and time taken, see it does happen all over; even at the best of tracks. Well done to Joe on being champ and hope this leads to him getting his career back to where it promised to be a few years back. Hope all that fell are ok and able to take their place in their future riding commitments. Thanks to Wolves for putting it on a super show.

I think it might be a Saturday night without speedway....at least at Stoke. It's rain, rain and more rain for the next 4 to 5 days. If the lads cannot get on the track to prepare the racing surface then no chance of a meeting. Pity, hope I'm wrong as looking forward to this meeting.

Not sure that we will get anyone from Stoke commenting on your points made as the few that I know do not rate the forum and the views expressed that highly, so as a Potters supporter I may take a stab and the things i get wrong will be corrected I'm sure. 1 - I Think that the start time is set by the BSPA as it is their meeting. Stoke must have an input I'm sure and the length of the meeting did suggest that an earlier start was a must. 2 - Are two ambulances the norm at most tracks; not sure. Again very sensible to have two as one trip in the van stops the racing until a fresh one arrives. May be the cost, although what cost is there to safety. 3 - A lot has been made about the "state" of the track especially on updates which I find strange as your view can only be tainted as you cannot see the track. I'm sure I saw the water truck going around before the start but could be mistaken. Apart from bend 3 and 4 which were sorted with the track grade there wasn't anything wrong with the track; views expressed by one of the riders ; I cannot say I heard that but read it. The falls were caused by most trying to hard in their first competitive rides of the season; again in the press. The sentinel (thisisstaffordshire site) if anybody wants to look. The under 21 manager suggested that it be put back a month which to me makes sense as the riders will be in their stride by then. The money side of it is open to debate but there needed to be another four heats ridden to bring everyone "level" again with rides and with Jake's fall and trip to hospital, resulting in the wait for the returning ambulance, that was never going to happen before 10.00pm. Did we have two problems with paramedics last year?. I know on one occasion the reason for the none appearance of the paramedic was a fatal accident on the M6 motorway causing a delay as he/she was caught up in the backlog, not really Stokes fault I'm sure we would all agree. Stoke have a lot to get the speedway people back on side, but do feel they come in for some unfair stick at times. I'm sure someone more qualified than myself will reply......if they care to read the posts on the forum.

He was almost a sec faster than anybody else last night. All his wins were in the 63-64 seconds range. Nobody broke the 64 sec barrier apart from Marc. That was what I was using as my yard "Mark" for the night and his riding style. I agree that heat seventeen would of been a cracker and I was certainly not saying others did not do well.

I had not seen much of Marc before this season and I know you cannot go on just a few rides but last night at Stoke he was fast, aggressive rider( i mean he attacked the track not other riders!!) and quick out of the block. Joe was good too. Tom Perry is getting rides with Somerset and he rode well last night but if I had to pick one for going in my side I would pick Marc.

Head and shoulders best rider on the night. He looked good after his first couple of rides the other week at Stoke when he rode for I.O.W. He rode in fast times too. Impressed with the young man.

Who say's our education system isn't failing. Still can't get "inly". Seems like it always happens at our place. I too was surprised that we had 7.30 start as well but, not sure if true; BSPA say the timing of this type of meeting. More than two riders rode well; I just named two to give an example. Not only rode well but in good times too and if you had been there you should of seen that. There were problems on 3 and 4 and they should of been sorted as soon as seen but no rider I presume asked for the ref to come down to the track and the ref did not see a cause to come down. I can only gather from that they thought it was safe to carry on riding. It would be interesting if any of the riders who rode there or have rode at Stoke could give us a view. I could be wrong but if some riders can ride it and others can't, it points to the riders who can ride that type of track and the ones that can not.

Could you try that again in English please? You have not explained how Marc/Tom P rode how they did and the others didn't.

I knew i should of bet a tenner instead of a fiver. I said somebody would be on here to complain it was Stoke's fault tonight. There seemed to be a problem on 3rd and 4th bend but that was sorted with the track grade, then Malc Owen in particular was going around the track as fast as I have seen anybody for a good while. Yes there was loads of people off their bikes but how do you level that with the ones who were putting times in as good as some premier matches a few years back. I assure you 1965 or whatever you code name is that your total rubbishing of Stoke is starting to move from the laughable to the tedious.

I was having chat with a chat who thinks our sport is a joke in the first place but found it a real chuckle that some people think that we would even think of starting the season with a ride against a team(I.O.W)in the league and then go back to a "practice" match as he called it. Promoters have to fill the dates they have at their stadiums as best they can to make money but you should really finish your "pre season" before you start your season. Certainly I.O.W looked good at our place but I would not think that we should be running scared of anybody.

So the right thing has been done.......the same as at Stoke yesterday because the riders safety has to be paramount. The promotion at Stoke are going to get mains electric back at Loomer road; again for riders safety, because a blackout like the one the other week would of been very dangerous indeed, some would say it should of been done last year and there is some credence to that but I'm sure if they thought it dangerous or more likely the authorities thought that it was dangerous they would not of gained a ticket to race. Taken time but on the right tracks.

Our team is 38.60.........oh I see you are talking about Ash Birks who is not if the declared 7, so cannot at this stage be counted in our points total. I wonder if Malcolm had not said anything and just declared his teams at the end of each month if people would of complained?. Sure would, people just point towards Stoke it anything happens; does make me laugh....even someone complained about the U 21 yesterday being called off because the rain that we had, stopped people getting on the track to prepare a racing surface.....Dave has many faults but don't blame him for the rain!!!. Adam had not got a ride at the beginning of the year and Malcolm doing what he is doing then more riders get races; is that a good or bad thing? Stoke cannot declare a team over the 40 points limit so what is the problem? On the guest...it was in a challenge where a 3 pointer replaced a 3 pointer, again what is the problem?. On the Elite rider point. Richie is on with Lakeside which I totally disagree with. Looks like our meeting at Rye is called off due to the rain we will probably have. May be wrong but looks like that may be the case.

According to the BSPA site we are off; must be the treat of rain. Saves people making the journey if they are so sure of the forecast.

Quite an enjoyable nights racing and would of thought that a draw would not of been a bad result, or unfair result. Not sure we caught a break as in heat five when Ben came in he finished third and would of been last in Ash Birks had finished the race. The lad is a three pointer have ridden all last year to get it!! Our guest was also a three pointer and got 4 plus one, a reasonable return for a 3 point man. Who should we have brought in ?.Somebody who would roll over a give you the points. I think if all riders rode to potential we would of had a similar result as Jamie would of taken a few more points as would Ash on the Heathens side. Give praise to both sides for giving a show last night.

Do I set out lads or not?. I'm 50 mins or so from the track.

Well our team seem to have got a lot of people talking. I too would like a clear statement on how Adam fits in to all this. I know he is unattached but don't think you can just have a rider standing around for when your main riders are riding elsewhere. I don't like what we have done there even if it's within the rules. On the Oliver situation I cannot see a problem. Rhys is injured on a three average and there is a young, developing rider on a 3 average who is taking his place. I hear some unattached rider on a three should of taken this spot; well looking at the lads who tried out at Loomer rd, there wasn't anybody who was up to the mark and ready to be competitive against the Heathens tonight; and to be honest I want to see competitive riders giving it a go and Oliver is competitive. I too thought it wrong of Stoke to hold a meeting for places if one was already spoken for; although there was talk of Danny Stoneman being offered the place Rhys got( who rode on the day, Dan not Rhys) but was not suitable for him. Thought Danny looked ok for the IOW and hope he has a good season down there. For me it's not a case of Stoke winning at all costs, just a case of sending a team that have riders able to race close to the Heathen riders. I may be a little strange but I'm looking as much forward to see Adam R ride tonight with his start to the season and the battles from the other Heathen lads against the top Stoke lads and if the racing is good and Adam R/Tom P or whatever wins the race and I'm entertained with close racing I'm ok because it's what I pay my money for. Hoping for a Stoke win with safe racing for all the lads.

Seems like nobody wants to comment on last night, which is a pity as there was some good racing at times. Well I won't keep you in the dark any longer; all pun intended!!. Real pity that happened as it is firstly and most importantly so dangerous for the riders and secondly smacks of a poor effort all round by Stoke. Things happen of course but when things happen you have to make sure they do not happen again. These things happened last year and this fresh season should of been a fresh start. Easy for us all to say invest and buy new as we don't have to do; but like in all areas things have to be fit for purpose and the generator looks like it's not upto it for some reason. On to the racing. Tim started like a train and will certain be a force in the NL this year, would not be surprised to see him get some prem outings to. Marc is a rider I haven't seen to much of but looks very tidy. Dan W scored well and looked good when out front. Paul as always for me being a very up and down rider and last night looked excellent in some races and then of it in others. It wasn't Ben Hops' night; I expect he feels he must be pushing on this year in his developement. Dan S looks like he will mantain his 3 status this year and Gary impressed me in a couple then the steam ran out a little. Ash for Stoke was/will be all you can aslk of a number one. Couple of poor riders due to ? for Jamie, then the rider we saw last year appeared, no problem with him this year and expect a small increase in av. Tony was solid and even manage to hang on to points when his bike didn't want to play. Oliver looks like he will be in for a good year. Lovely smooth action, good luck young man. Richie rode some exciting lines to take points as he seemed to mss the gate a couple of times; star role for him this year. Dan B will need a be of extra speed to be in the points; bike sounded terrible, action good but way behind the others. Ben Reade looks ready for the season, if he can keep bikes in top nick will be looking for a good season as he is really attacking the track. Only one meeting I know but encouraged by what I have seen. If Rhys turns in similar performances to that of Oliver last night we will be ok.

Well done young man. For someone like myself who doesn't know any of the riders, it is great to hear their and Malc's views. Would of been interesting to hear Dan Berwick, but all in all a very interesting project you have there.

Will be good to see Tim ride too. A lot of people thought there was some fall out with Tim and the management before the start of the season. They maybe right but I think it was more of a case of him riding a different track as his home track every week in readness for him re-joining us when/if we go back in the Premier. That could be a dart out the board of course. Anyway on with this season and our battle with the IOW. Out of all the riders it's Ben Rhead I'm looking forward to seeing and if he can start the season well. As Vog has said the "Big" four will score well most weeks and the "winning" points will come from the other three. Ben impressed me last year and I still wonder how he did not finish with an average above three. The IOW are well tested riders and good riders; looking forward to seeing Paul and Danny Warwick ride( Dan seems to be the name of the moment) but will need to ride very well to be within 10 of the Potters as Ash and Richie have been going like trains in the Premier. On with the show.

Thanks for the encouragement. I know Vog saw a little bit more of him last weekend than I did and if I remember his quote correctly that he rode "solidly" or something like that. i too wish him well and that he doesn't try to make things happen too quickly for him and we as supporters give him the chance that Malc thinks he deserves. Nobody knows this area of speedway better than Malc and we have to trust his views and decisions on the riders. Don't no much about Rhys either. Intersting season ahead of us and of all the things we wish for; the most important is that all riders in all our teams have an injury free season. Lads in the Premier have had a shocking start with injury's and we wish a speedy recovery to them all.