Arch Stanton

Batch’ form dipped right at the tail end of last season which is why he’s now on a 5 and a half point average because of the way the averages are now calculated. But if you look at the stats on the BSP website over the whole season including bonus points he comfortably averaged more than Riss. Similar to Cook, he’ll never be everybody’s cup of tea and if you’re expecting him to fight like a Tiger when he misses the gate then you’ll end up disappointed. But his gating is generally pretty good and I agree with Baldyman, when he’s in front his track craft and intelligence is superb in keeping faster riders behind him most of the time. He teamed up with Doyle in a few last heat 5-1’s that helped us pinch a few at the death last year as well. Never seen an attitude problem with him either. I appreciate others seem to have at various clubs in the past, but he’s had two stints as a Witch now and been good as gold both times.

Also a good choice. Enjoys Foxhall far more than Pickering who always looks very uncomfortable there.

He was absolutely fine last season and didn’t cause any issues whatsoever.

Paid 13 for Sheffield at Foxhall last week from reserve so an excellent choice.

What a tune that is.

I mean Craig Cook isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, there is definitely baggage there and there’s always an element of risk involved in signing him. But speedway is very short term thinking anyway. Ben Cook has done ok so far, but if Peterborough removed him and replaced him with Craig Cook, Peterborough would immediately become a stronger outfit. No ifs buts or maybes, they simply would. Nobody even knows if Craig Cook wants to do a full season in the Premiership either. He may be happy enough riding for Edinburgh and doing the odd guest booking here and there in the top flight, who knows.

Lisa, Ben Cook at this moment in time isn’t close to Craig Cook in terms of ability and point scoring is he?

I get that, hopefully he’s in a better place currently. But when options are sparse, I personally would sign him and IF things take a turn for the worse and he goes awol, deal with that if and when it happened. The bloke is a 9 pointer in the Championship and has started this season very well. He’s a sub 5 in the Premiership and in my opinion is excellent value for that. I’d take him as a short term replacement for Riss at Ipswich without any hesitation.

Problem is other options. Drop Klindt and a couple of others sure, but who is out there and within a tight budget that could come in and strengthen? Isn’t easy or straightforward. Very few who would make a difference want to race here, and those that would consider it are very expensive. It’s the age old problem isn’t it. I’m not sure how well off Lynn are as a club in terms of sponsorship? I’d guess nowhere near as much as others, my team Ipswich included. All well and good supporters wanting better riders and a strong team, we all want that, but it isn’t us that has to pay the money to get them and potentially face the financial losses that we all get told most clubs make. It’s a fine line balancing what you can afford and risk losing the punters through not being competitive, and pushing the boat out for a few expensive riders and hoping that the extra gate receipts go some way to paying for them.

You don’t have to watch ANY meetings to come to that conclusion, the stats speak for themselves. Currently, Ben Cook isn’t anywhere near Craig Cook that’s a simple fact.

Same. I get the reliability issue, but currently Ben Cook is nowhere near Craig Cook’s level.

If Lynn have any sense they’ll book Cook for Bank Holiday Monday as well. Cook is far superior to Pickering around Foxhall. Hopefully you’ll get S Lambert again.. Two good replacements here, makes this a tight one for me. Two point win either way.

Pretty pathetic from Lynn. Not a single heat winner between Klindt, Jorgensen or Jakobsen at home is unacceptable really.

Both look absolutely desperate has to be said.

Nicholls wouldn’t be an option. Batch would be my preference although I’m not sure he’d be interested in a 28 day contract. They have to make a move though as R/R has only been scoring three points and we’ve already lost one league meeting at home. Leaves us too vulnerable to sit and wait for Riss.

You’ll be fitting Bewley, Lambert, Fricke, Kurtz AND Zagar in next season at this rate…

I see Barnsley on Tuesday as a bit of a free hit. I fully expect town to beat Exeter at home, and then I’m confident of doing the business away to Fleetwood on the last day. But yeah all focus on Tuesday, win there and it’s done.

Quite important to get over the line here. Back to back opening home defeats is never ideal and would have already left us playing catch up. Hume with a very important couple of wins. Fingers crossed Riss is back for Bank Holiday Monday against Lynn.

Early heats could be tricky. Wet and greasy

R/R just doesn’t cut if for Riss as it’s already shown. Not with the way our team is built. I still thought we could just about get over the line against Belle Vue but it didn’t happen and I fear it may also be the case again this evening. If it was Lynn or Peterborough I’d still fancy it, but not so sure against Sheffield. We’ll see.

Definitely said Riss was hoping to ride, seems not in the end, which is a blow. Correct. Original preview listed Riss as riding. Been dry for days and Met Office is still saying a 50% chance of a shower for Ipswich mid-late afternoon, with the heavier showers more to the south East. If you have a long drive it’s obviously up to you and I don’t want to tempt you in to travelling and then the forecast is wrong! But personally, the forecast wouldn’t be enough to put me off from travelling.

Nicholls paid 14 at the end of last year at Foxhall, albeit at reserve. Nicholls has started the season very well and top scored for Oxford again last night away to Plymouth. He’ll be a threat tomorrow, pretty much always is at Foxhall.

https://ipswichwitches.co/raceday-preview-sheffield-premiership-r1-h/ Riss returns, Nicholls guests for Musielak. Good choice for Foxhall! Makes the meeting even more interesting. Edit: Should say that Witches are HOPING Riss returns having just read the preview. Taking it day by day with him.