Arch Stanton

We'd still have one more home loss to spare then Going to be a very interesting first meeting and a test for both clubs. Can't wait.

I'd forgive them a slow start this year TBH although obviously not too long! Sheffield are also a good looking side and the problem we might have early doors is that three riders are coming back from injuries, two of them serious ones. Patience might be the order of the day this year as it will probably take those lads a little longer than the others to get up to full speed but I'm confident once they do, we'll take some stopping. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we got turned over next Saturday by a good Sheffield team, but I won't be overly concerned if we do.

Yes definitely Kim. That was a nickname given to him by our presenter Kevin Long.

A little early but who cares. Less than a fortnight until tapes up on another season at Foxhall. We start with a cracker which I think is fair to say between two of the more fancied sides. Big early test for both clubs and a chance to lay down an early marker. Will also be interesting to see how the track rides after a winter of alterations/improvements? Fingers crossed for good weather for some Saturday night Speedway on the Heath.

3 weeks today and counting..

He didn't sign for Coventry first although the Bees announced him as a rider first. Wouldn't normally have mattered anyway as the top flight would have been given priority whether he'd signed for Ipswich first or not but as Bruv says, the circumstances this year changed that Ipswich will also have priority over Rory Schlein if he gets himself a Premiership ride.

Before going for Danny King it would be wise to check the fixture list first and see how many meetings he would miss. Ipswich have priority over him this season so that could be a factor.

Such a shame to now see a young British lad in Sargeant without a club in either league. I know it's a numbers game putting a team together, but I think he's very unfortunate not to have been asked back at Foxhall this year. IMO he handled the tricky number 2 position very well and racked up the bonus points. With the nature of the sport, I'm sure there will be an opportunity somewhere for him at some point.

Excellent stuff thanks for the details looking forward to seeing it. Having just seen the sad news of the Bees I suddenly feel even more fortunate to be looking forward to another season! Sad times.

Oh FFS!! Literally a fortnight until the curtain raiser with the Ben Fund we get this bombshell. Obviously there was lingering doubts about the longer term future, but I certainly expected the Bees to start the season after the "agreements" a couple of weeks ago. Really feel for the Bees supporters.

All the kerb down and track relaid and level Bruv? Did the shape look noticeably different?

KL look the best to me and although obviously in the minority looking at this thread, I really like the look of Coventry. Not sure about Rye. Would have said it was the best of the lot 5 years ago but it's got a dads army look to me with too many nowhere near the level they were a few years ago and only likely to decline further rather than improve.

Love the showground awesome race track. Good work to make an excellent race track even better.

I was one of those who wanted the team built this way with a strong top 5 and the young uns at reserve. Time will tell if that was the right way to go and thankfully not too much longer now to wait!

Agree and he used to do a "Bacon's blog" which was quite amusing too. Met him a few times at Foxhall and he's a smashing bloke.

Hardly an outlandish prediction tipping Ipswich for the title. Will be there or thereabouts.

I personally think common sense should come in to play with regards to intervals. Do people who are against them think meetings should be over and done with whatever the weather, or just when it's cold. I personally have no problem with intervals in the Summer months when it's lovely and warm, but at the start and end of the season when it's like the Antarctic at most open venues, they should get on with it as quickly as possible. Common sense should be the order of the day. I certainly don't think track staff NEED a toilet break. We're talking a couple of hours here not half a day! Go before the meeting starts and they shouldn't have a problem.

When is Chris Louis going to find out the Ipswich team is over the limit jenga because he'd got the 2 pointers rule wrong? Nearly in February so it's dragging on a bit!!

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis_wants_witches_to_hit_the_ground_running_after_danny_king_and_rory_schlein_boost_1_4861571 Here Chris Louis confirms, that Danny King (or Rory Schlein) don't YET have Premiership clubs.. Ipswich will also still have priority if, and most probably when, they do get a Premiership ride. Don't really get that and something must have changed from previous years because Ipswich have announced King first in previous seasons, and then lost priority as soon as he joined a top flight club.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis_wants_witches_to_hit_the_ground_running_after_danny_king_and_rory_schlein_boost_1_4861571

Interestingly, we have priority over both Danny King, and Rory Schlein if/when he joins a Premiership club. Kyle Newman at the moment, is due to miss 4 meetings.

I always look forward to a new season at this time of year but this year even more so. An excellent looking team that should be at the business end of the table with the two lads at reserve spiking my interest in particular. I'm looking forward to hopefully watching them progress throughout the season. And also it will be interesting to see how much if any, the track alterations has made to the quality of the racing.

Ah yes but that's to be expected seeing as I can't match your "A levels and O levels" credentials

Consistency is the key word. You can understand inconsistency in his first season as a young lad that is to be expected, but when everybody was tipping him to kick on in his second season, he produced a carbon copy of his first year. I'm not saying he's rubbish here don't get me wrong, but he's yet to prove he's worth the hype that came with his arrival. Big season this coming year even for somebody his age. If he has a third consecutive year finishing as an inconsistent 7 pointer, then you'll have to wonder whether that is his level. The worry from a Panthers perspective, is that they are relying on him to be their number 1 and lead from the front. He hasn't shown to be capable of that as yet. Time will tell and it'll be interesting to see how he handles the pressure. Excellent mature debating there Holder was absolutely abysmal at Foxhall last season. Every rider in the land has off days even the very best at times, but you can't be having those type of performances from your number 1 too often and Holder had far too many of those the previous two seasons. Again it's that word consistency, he needs to find it this year if Panthers are going to have a successful season. Big season coming up for him let's see if he delivers.

Holder is horribly overrated and is living off his surname. He's bang average.