Marksman

Ha, now I know your probably trying to get at Jenga here, but please come on I mean when your team replaces Holder with Lanham I would say that's when the 'wheels fall off'

I was just presuming in the Comets thread, but the announcement could be anything, so lets wait and see...

It's on the Comets Facebook page and website, that there is 'Shock news coming later today!' Wonder what is could be? Has anyone has noticed Michael Palm-Toft's last tweet, might mean nothing but; Michael Palm Toft @MPT_Racing267 · 20 hrs 20 hours ago Hard decision. But need to get things sorted! Im sorry. Hope not, hope it's something good...

Yes, I see the concerns about Hansen, but I think he maybe more settled with being in the same team as Rene Bach and 2 other Danes, I think he may not be at Number 1 for long which will be a good thing. Ricky Wells was great in the last half of the season, and if he has a full season of just riding for the Comets I think he can get better, a rider who knows how to gate and even started passing from the back later in the season, I think he can make that step up like Richard Lawson did. Already mentioned what the others are capable of, won't be expecting too much from Barrett, if he can put in good scores at home and slightly improve his average that will be more than we've had from second reserves in the past. Big point scores of 14/15 might not be scored often, but will be distributed certainly between the top 4 and Campton in order to win meetings, I still believe we can finish in the Play Offs, and if one of the top 4 someone steps up and takes hold of the number 1 jacket we will be in a good position. Years ago when we used to build the team around Stoney, and sometimes his large average our teams used to very much lack depth, never had a reserve like James Wright since, so who knows if confidence remains high in the team. Excitement will be on the Track as riders like Hansen, Bach, Howarth, Palm Toft are racers and often spectacular to watch, whatever happens can't see it being a dull season.

We must be nailed on for the wooden spoon then , the thing is that you may be failing to see is that in Mason Campton we now have a rider that is capable of scoring heavy at reserve. Mason started the season scoring well in the main body of the team where he stayed all season, following on from his fine form in the Australian championships, he really suffered from lack of meetings this year with our farcical '6 week break' In the summer, which really set him back, but he ended the season in much better form, also he represented and scored very well for the Aussie u21 team in the World Cup. Palm Toft would be equally capable if they swapped places. Barrett has previous double figure scores at DP, and also away from home when guesting for us, not too shabby for a second reserve. Maybe some doubts about the consistency with Hansen, Bach and Howarth, I believe Hansen and Bach will push each other for the Number 1 jacket and then Howarth especially should put points on his PL average as we all know how good he can be. Leaving Wells, who is really good away from home and was the most consistent rider over the second half of the season and quite rightly our rider of the year, fans all wanted him back. Importantly, unlike last year Comets have the first call on all 7 riders, so there's no riding for other EL teams when we are riding. Hardly a 'shocking' team in my opinion, I mean we will still finish in the top six at least. I've seen a few shocking teams over our PL era and fail to see where your coming from, are you basing this on Kenneth Hansen being number 1? Maybe not ideal I'd agree, but we shall see how he goes.

Post from Steve Whitehead, promotor, on the comets forum; "interesting and annoying that Somerset have declared a team that adds up to 44.45. They were at the same AGM we were when we were told new visa riders from Aus would have to come in on 7 average as that is the criteria agreed with UKBA. New criteria is in process of getting agreed but could take months / years to agree. So why do they think that can ignore rules again The got Kurtz on a too low average last year ( should have been a 7 due to riding in Denmark previous year) but are at it again. This time though it could damage our whole sport due to UKBA current close monitoring" Wonder if we'll hear more about this from the other promotions soon!

Decent side with potential, but man for man with the comets would only take Josh G over any of our 1-7

Family connections yes, but doesn't even speak to his dad, that's the main reason he won't ride for the Comets again anytime soon. Dont be too sure he'll be riding at Glasgow in 2015.

Did you see the Quote from steve on the Comets forum, seems like a great bit of business. I don't think Richard will have had any say in it, or does he intend to ride for the Comets again. Especially while his dad is still in the Comets pits!

Richard Lawson ‏@RlracingLawson 2m 2 minutes ago Lakeside is almost sorted with Jon Cook looking forward to be back there in 2015 want to clarify I will NOT be racing for Workington in 2015

The quote from Laura on the website says “Without question he has a lot more to give and he is certainly capable of increasing his average substantially." Haven't people been saying that for 4 years now?, can't see it myself, the thing is away from home he scores 4 or 5 points too often, can't see much change unfortunately. Only 22.5 left for 4 riders now, one of Wells, Grajczonek, Howarth won't be back if not more, would of settled for Wells instead of Bach I think.

Rene Bach our third signing, not too happy to be honest!

Ha, you can have him then but I don't think we'll see him in the UK next season.

Pretty much like Rene Bach then, can't imagine they have got the average conversion wrong before announcing it, Tony Jackson knows his stuff. If it is 7.70, it's great because I would rather have Hansen than Bach

Great signing 7.70 average, the conversion rate from EL must be x1.4 now?

Good signing for the diamonds! Where is Robson off to?

Yeah, the main reason I don't think it's a winning team is consistency plus Robson, Harrison and Aarnio won't improve on what they average now, agree with the reserve pairing, but we need to be looking at a stronger top five.

Let hope not!, or we won't be in with a chance of winning anything next year

I'd like to see: 1 Josh Grajczonek 8.11 2 Adam Roynon 4.78 3 Kyle Howarth 6.57 4 Ricky Wells 6.49 5 Max Fricke 8.07 6 Simon Lambert 3.73 7 Mason Campton 4.66 Total 42.41 If Josh G doesn't return, could fit in Masters at 1, Ostergaard at 5 .

Comets modern era 1. Carl Stonehewer 2. Rusty Harrison 3. Simon Stead 4. Peter Kildemand 5. Peter I. Karlsson 6. Richard Lawson 7. James Wright

The current team averages total to 40.38, we can keep the spine of the team and add over 2 points to it. I'd keep: Josh G 8.11 Ricky wells 6.46 Howarth 6.31 Campton 4.55 Lambert 3.25 The reasoning in that would to have Campton at reserve, I think Bach will be elsewhere next season, and it wouldn't be a bad move for the Comets. That leaves around 13.82 left, next season a lot of riders will be forced to ride elsewhere because of averages, especially riders from the Monarchs and Rebels, there are lots of combinations to look at.

Starting this thread to state what I hope would improve British Speedway season as I don't believe this suggestion has been made?. I don't believe for one minute there will be radical changes, we won't see a change to a single race night in the EL, probably wouldn't work due to stadium commitments etc. The main changes I would like to see is for the EL to revert back to it's original race format, this seasons draft format has done the sport no favours IMO, to many races are uncompetitive from what i've seen on TV, which goes on to my main suggestion is that the Fast Track list is retained to an extent to provide a list of around 30 riders and Have 1 British rider to ride at Number 7 in both EL and PL. Mainly to include riders 25 or under, although Lewis Blackbird is 27 but was included on this seasons list. There may be a case for Adam Roynon or Robert Lambert (if he agrees) to be added to the list too but have gone for 10 names so far. EL British Riders List Howarth Auth Birks Wright S Worrall R Worrall Blackbird Kerr Garrity Newman With the above riding at reserve in the old format, they will ride against better riders with only one reserve heat. The list is fairly balanced, isn't many weak names on that list. The PL teams will then be allocated the next best riders with possibly a draft done in reverse order to this season league table: Ellis Nielsen Starke Morris Jacobs Bates Rose Greenwood Perry Sarjeant Lambert Morley Halsey Greaves This way the EL is strengthened and the points limit should be brought up to at least 37 for 6 riders with the lowest average rider riding at Number 6, but would swap places with the main body depending on averages. British draft riders would stay at Number 7 all season. Guests and replacement riders for both leagues would be taken from the draft list as they have this season. The PL points limit could drop to either 39.5 or 40 for 6 riders, but would not reduce the quality because most of the riders in the list are riding at reserve in the PL anyways. Around a 4/5% reduction could be given to all British riders, who are not Draft riders. Probably missed something I wanted to mention but they surely can't stick with the same system they had this season! Thoughts?

Good news, I wonder if Zagar had an influence in Gorzow approaching him, be interesting to see if he rides on Sunday.

Kyle Howarth fit to ride, R/R for Bach and Ryan Blacklock at 7 in place of Lambert.

Meeting off, looks like it's been run tomorrow? Guessing Poole won't be riding at Lakeside on TV tomorrow then!