Arch Stanton

He has you’re right, but I’m sure someone (apologies can’t remember which one) in the consortium was of a different opinion.

You’re right, it’ll be both ways. The consortium not sure what they’re buying, and Chapman not sure what he’s selling. Lots of ifs buts and maybes in there so more than likely very difficult and lengthy negotiations.

Has to be difficult to price and very complex because Chapman won’t be sure what he’s selling? In his view there’s no chance of racing at the Showground, the fellas in the consortium seem to think otherwise. I guess there’ll be stipulations in the contract that he’s owed extra x y and z if and when they get a stay of execution at the Showground for another year or two and this is what is holding things up? Could be miles off but just a guess.

After the British reductions, 9.34 or 10.34 depending on the limit being 40 or 41. With Hawkins saying they want to keep the bulk of this years team together, it all seems a bit odd to me.

Thought that was just for team building purposes. I lose track of these things. I know this cropped up a lot last winter and I can’t remember which way it ended up. And to be honest, past caring.

I can see your point about his gating. It isn’t great.

Barker would start in the main body but I’d expect him and Rew to swap after the first set of averages. Agree though, that looks a superb team. Pretty sure that won’t be it though.

He was at Belle Vue last week, he’s at Ipswich today. Tomorrow he’ll probably be at Lynn

Certainly one of them and if the club decide to go again with the top two, this kind of signing will be needed.

Im with you here. Whoever gets him is a getting a very smart signing on that average. Dropped over a point off his average last season, and let’s not forget he averaged over 8 the season before. He’s not an age either where you’d expect him to be on a permanent decline so his current average looks very attractive. No denying things didn’t go to plan last year for whatever reason, but a poor year can and does happen to several riders. The way this sport works, that then makes them attractive signings!

If you’re starting with a blank canvas then sure, but just going off the Ellis rumour it leaves 4.16 for a sixth rider IF the limit is confirmed at 40 for six riders at the AGM. Emil, Doyle, King, Ellis, Rew leaves a 4.16 gap. Personally I’d take Barker over Hume (both fit) all day long. Looking at the Green Sheets, only options appear to be Rowe, Kemp, Hume and Barker. Who would you go for? Let’s not forget Barker is popular with the management here, apparently he’s great in the pits and is a good team man. He’d soon swap with Rew after the first set of averages and I think he’d score decent enough points at reserve. Edit: This is the Belle Vue thread not Ipswich, apologies.

If it’s 40 points, Ellis for Riss fits with the others returning from this year. Could also squeeze in Barker for Hume.

They should get those four to do a couple of match races in between breaks of the main meeting. Nobody would expect a fast competitive race, but I’m sure the Wolves fans would just love to see them on track. I’m sure they could all still slide a bike around the bends.

Absolutely delighted for the kid.

If the points limit stays the same and Doyle Emil and King return, I don’t think you can build a team with Rew at reserve on 4.00.

Out of interest, are you an Ipswich supporter Falcon, or a supporter of another club? Or more a general fan of the sport with no real allegiance to any club?

Interesting if that’s the case Phil. Doyle is absolutely loved by both Chris Louis and Ritchie Hawkins to the point that if they decided to pick just one of them, I’d feel sure they’d plump for Doyle. As I’ve said, if they want the title they should be picking one of them, but I still think they’ll go for both. We’ll see.

We differ completely here. I love watching entertainment as much as anyone, and there’s no doubt whatsoever that Having Emil and Doyle brings that in bucket loads. But it’ll now be 26 years since we’ve lifted the title and my patience is wearing a bit thin. Entertaining over success? Not for me this time. Our best chance of a title IMO is going with one of the top 2 and then packing in below him. I wouldn’t want to make that decision though!

You’re right and this will become more of an issue if more of the top riders return next season. Lindgren is one who is heavily linked to return, and there could well be others. All it takes is for teams to take points off Doyle and Emil which will happen more frequently next year with the likes of Lindgren, Woffinden and maybe others, then the team will get soundly beaten because the bottom three won’t out score the bottom 3 of most others. Look what happened at Sheffield when Emil had a ropey first two rides and Doyle failed to get double figures. The result then was all too predictable. Im expecting Doyle Emil and King back, but personally I’d make a decision on picking one of the top two and then squeezing in a solid middle order rider to replace Riss and push Rew down to reserve.

Must admit that’s something I never noticed with him when he was at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago either.

If Louis wants him there isn’t a doubt in my mind he’ll be back at Ipswich. He won’t be better off financially anywhere else I know that much. He’s looked comfortable at Foxhall and his best performances have come there as you’d naturally expect being his home track. I do think he’d thrive with the NSS as his home track though. IF he moved there I could easily see him putting two points on his average and being a 6 pointer in his second season here. Hopefully Louis is smart enough not to give a rival that advantage!

I very much doubt it but we’ll see.

Reading the Speedway Star this morning, seems like you won’t be far off there. Currently slightly over this season’s points limit, but if it’s raised slightly, little change is expected. “I don’t want to change the team massively because we’ve got a great basis of a side here” Hawkins.

I did. We cleaned up big time

He might well be next year if the rumours are true!