Arch Stanton

Well he did end up winning a race and scored paid 10 from 5. He was very good value for Sheffield this evening. Definitely in heat 7. Seemed he was turning in to the first bend before the other three had even left the start line!

Has to be said that was very very easy and the Tigers never looked like taking anything from the meeting at any stage. The scoreline skewed by the dreaded 1-8 TR. How I hate that rule!! Didn't affect the outcome this time though thankfully. Everyone scoring very well apart from Mountain but the lad was always in the mix for points and it's clear patience is going to be required with him. The kid is returning from a broken back but is clearly a talented young rider and he'll improve as the season progresses no doubt about that. Same goes for JPB. Failed to score tonight but he's very young and patience is required here also. Looks comfortable on the bike and has a nice style. Bjerre and Branford very good for Sheffield, Hume my star man for the Witches. Get a fit Newman in this side and we'll take some stopping.

Rory looking in fine fettle, which is bad news for the rest of the league! Equals the track record in heat 11.

Thats always happened. I can remember on numerous occasions when we've had a rider missing we've changed the riding order to move R/R and it's always moved to #2.

will be shocked if Heeps scores that little from 5 rides Cookie! Think you're right though should be close either way.

Think the best bet is to leave Rory and Cam for the latter R/R rides later in the meeting. Would also give one of the reserves a good look at the track in heat 1 before the reserves race. https://twitter.com/gmacsuffolk/status/845567874529968128 Track looking in decent shape.

yeah you'd think so. We got two of the plum 2 pointers in Hume and Mountain and hopes are high for both of them, but they'll have their work cut out this evening that's for sure! Branford and the super talented JPB look a very good reserve pairing. The clashes between the four of them is what I'm most looking forward to this evening it's going to be interesting. Thats always the danger when you build the way we have though with a strong top 5 and two 2 pointers at reserve. You always run the risk of looking a bit vulnerable when one of the top 5 is missing but it's still my preferred way to build a team over strength in depth. As I say hopes are high for Mountain and Hume they're certainly going places but it does make us look a little vulnerable when they take a couple of rides off one of the top 5. Still think we can win but it's a really hard one to call. Wouldn't be surprised if either team win or it ended in a draw!

Confirmed R/R for Newman this evening, with Heeps moving to #4. Not a great start and has made an already tricky opening fixture even harder.

Definitely explains why he gave up in his first ride! But also promising that he gave it a go and won his second heat. We'll need him firing tomorrow and if he does, I still fancy us getting the win even if Newman is missing.

TBF after his injury problems he probably didn't fancy it much in his first heat as after a few heats the riders were asking for extra grading so the track was probably a bit tricky. No point risking anything this early in the season

"Aggravated an old shoulder injury". Great. He's actually one of the more important members of the side because of the way it's been built. IF he missed tomorrow and we run with R/R then the kids at reserve will be taking two of his rides. Fingers crossed he's just a bit sore and will be fine tomorrow.

Newman locking up in his first ride tonight and being looked over by the doctor delaying the meeting, and then Schlein struggles at the back in his opening ride and eventually pulls up on the final lap. Maybe I'll revise my initial prediction here..

Bit like two bald men fighting over a comb this one! Neither will make the play offs.

The Ipswich riding order revealed tomorrow night at the meet the riders event, anyone know the Sheffield riding order?

Gino has tweeted he's coming back to the UK at the end of June "Back on twitter with big news!! IM COMMING BACK TO UK! End of June! More details soon!" Assuming it's not just a holiday, wonder where he's riding.

Witches by 8. Will be interesting to see how Rory gets on Friday amongst very good company in the Darcy meeting at Poole.

https://twitter.com/mike_bacon/status/843777365373259776 Team photo courtesy of Mike Bacon

Funnily enough that's another track our weakest member of the top 5, Heeps, is pretty good on! I'm confident we can go anywhere this year and be competitive at the very least.

Agree https://twitter.com/ipswichspeedway/status/843762039575199745

Thought as much. Thanks Kevin.

Agree Bruv and no Championship team is realistically going to beat a Premiership club over 2 legs to get "promoted". Having said that there are one or two that could run Somerset close IMO with the greatest of respect to them but you'd still back Somerset over two legs. If they are serious about promotion/relegation then in should have been Champions go up and wooden spoonists in the Premiership go down. Guess the argument will probably be that a play off will generate a little extra income.

Well press day is here. Not sure there'll be any practice though. Been raining persistently through the night which is a shame as the riders need the track time especially those coming back from injury. Still light drizzle and due to stop so maybe it will dry enough to get some laps in this afternoon we'll see.

You can't draw any conclusions really from an opening fixture and a challenge at that. BUT, I maintain what I wrote earlier in the winter that Peterborough lack top end strength and in Holder as talented as he might be, isn't yet #1 material. He's had two seasons now and been an inconsistent 7 pointer in both and didn't really improve much if it all last year compared to his first season. Spells out injured may not have helped and I'm not saying he won't improve, but I'd be uneasy about having him at number 1 and leading my team as he hasn't yet shown he's capable of that yet. Away from the Showground I think this team will struggle.

Indeed Badge bodes well. Always expect King to go well just about everywhere but always fancy him at the showground. I'm confident we'll take points away from there this year as although it's always one of the more difficult away tracks to go to, we're going with some heavy artillery this year. King will always go well there and you'd expect good support from Schlein Covatti and Newman. Even Heeps has had his moments there so we should go with confidence.

Nice to see King go unbeaten and a positive opening meeting.